Starlite Scratch Matchplay Challenge

champion Jerod Florez

Jerod Florez, Bosque Farms NM, topped a very strong field of 55 scratch bowlers to win the Starlite Lanes Scratch Challenge, a special event conducted by the JBT SW in beautiful Flagstaff.

The entire field rolled six games of matchplay on a demanding lane condition, after which the field was cut to 16 for single elimination, best 2-of-3 matchplay.  Top seed Shane Peck led a parade of upsets in the round of 16, as 6 of the 8 higher seeded bowlers lost their matches, often in heartbreaking fashion.

The tension was even greater in the round of 8.  In those matches, #8 seed Florez swept fellow New Mexican Bill Grant 2-0; #11 Jeff Spiesman blasted a 248 and 243 to dismiss #13 Theo Douthit; #12 seed BJ Baker ousted #3 Steven Black 2-0, and #10 Brian Weyrauch outlasted #15 Elias Ewert 2-1.

In the semifinal matches, Florez defeated an exhausted Spiesman 188-147 and 203-133.  In the other semi, Baker snuck by Weyrauch in three tight games to advance to play Jerod for the title.

The title match was a runaway for Florez, who began with the front four and never looked back, defeating BJ 223-171 for his 4th career JBT SW title, and a big $400 scholarship payday.

Everyone who finished in the top 5 qualifies for the 2006 JBT SW Arizona Invitational Tournament, the regular season's year end event, featuring a guaranteed minimum $1,000 first place scholarship in each division.  Top season-long point scorers also qualify for the 2006 JBT SW Touring Players' Championship, featuring a guaranteed minimum $2,000 first place scholarship per division! 

Thanks to Roger and Ilene Hailey and everyone at Starlite for a great job hosting one of our best events of the season.  The center has remodeled with new lanes and looks great, so check it out!  Over $2,300 in scholarships were awarded to the field.   Please continue to help spread the word about the terrific benefits of bowling JBT SW events!

For more info, feel free to write us at jbtsouthwest@aol.com.