CACTUS BOWL

champs Josh Blanchard & Josh Shoup

Josh Blanchard claimed a landmark title, while Josh Shoup finally won his first, in exciting JBT action at Cactus Bowl.

The scratch division used our mulligan format, allowing three ‘do-overs’ in the qualifying round, and they came in handy for everyone, as the PBA’s Viper pattern proved to be extremely challenging, in contrast to the four 300 games rolled last time the JBT visited Cactus and bowled on the house pattern.

Matt Jones had no problem in the opening round of the stepladder finals, though, rolling a big 248 to oust defending champ Greg Garbera (196) and fellow Californian Ken McElvaney (164).  Jones was good again in round two, rolling 194 to beat Andy Byer (191) and Mike Cross (169).  In the semifinal match, BJ Baker struggled to 177, while Blanchard opened in the tenth for 221 to give Jones a chance.  Matt couldn’t get the double he needed, finishing with 217, and advancing Josh to the title match.  Meanwhile, the loss prevented BJ from recapturing the point lead from Christian Jensen, who has had a red-hot spring to grab the top spot, no matter what I announced at Bedroxx.

Top seed Kevin Saunders proved his versatility again by leading the largest scratch field in a few months thanks to an impressive 738 semifinal set.  However, he had his hands full with Junior Team USA member Blanchard, a fellow wizard on all conditions.  Both struggled, however, on the deteriorating pattern.  Josh never did strike on the left lane, but stayed clean, and that turned out to be good enough for a 191-183 win.  The victory was the 10th of his fantastic career, only the 13th bowler in JBT history to reach that milestone.

Alysha Vessey, a member of the state champ Sahuaro girls’ high school team, opened the stepladder finals with a 221 game that beat Daniel Cotten (205) and Cody Vanderweyst (202).   Rebeca Reguero then fired a big 233 in round two to defeat Vessey (182) and Anthony Tripi (157).  In a close semifinal match, Shoup came up with a strike in the tenth for 215 to edge Reguero (211) and also beat Lee Kirby (162), sending Josh to the finals.

Top seed William Witt won his only other JBT appearance, at Ft Huachuca in January, and found himself back in the finals again.  This match was to be a different story than his previous title tilt, as the determined Shoup, who has come so close to victory before, finally closed the deal with a 186-163 victory and a sweet first JBT title.  

115 bowlers competed in the event, and we hope everyone who attended had a great time, and will spread the word about the great benefits of bowling JBT.   Everyone who finished in the top 5 qualifies for the 2007 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 2007 JBT Touring Players' Championship, featuring a guaranteed minimum $2,000 first place scholarship per division! 

Big thanks to everyone at Cactus for their usual terrific job hosting JBT events.  Over $2,800 in scholarships were awarded.  Want in on the fun?  Come on out to the next JBT event, it's as simple as that!

Cactus Bowl- final results and optional scholarship winners  
5/19/2007      
Arizona Conference    
     
Scratch Division    
rank name city, state prize
1 Josh Blanchard Fresno, CA $425
2 Kevin Saunders Goodyear, AZ $210
3 BJ Baker Tempe, AZ $185
4 Matt Jones Canoga Park, CA $134
5 Andy Byer Albuquerque, NM $85
6 Mike Cross Tucson, AZ $80
7 Greg Garbera Tempe, AZ $115
8 Ken McElvaney Chatsworth, CA $50
9 Shane Peck Riverside, CA $30
10 Mike Armstrong Tucson, AZ $40
11 Kyle King Phoenix, AZ $75
12 Theo Douthit San Diego, CA  
13 Tom Anderson Chandler, AZ $60
14 Miguel Lopez Peoria, AZ  
15 Brian Weyrauch Tempe, AZ  
16 Kevin Narciso Phoenix, AZ  
17 Kris George Glendale, AZ  
18 Chris Davenport Tucson, AZ  
19 Elias Ewert Chandler, AZ  
20 Tyler Shipman Chandler, AZ  
21 Matt Cormack Woodland Hills, CA $30
22 Amanda Falk Tucson, AZ  
23 JR Monteith Orange, CA  
24 Bill Grant Rio Rancho, NM  
25 Matt Zang Tucson, AZ  
26 Bear Wiltfang Lake Havasu City, AZ
27 Brian Ballard San Diego, CA  
28 Shawn Whitelaw Tucson, AZ  
29 Kevin Schoenfeld Peoria, AZ  $45
30 Ken Lange Tucson, AZ  
31 Cameron Smith Santee, CA $15
32 Jeremy Medina Santa Fe, NM  
33 Delano Coveris Sierra Vista, AZ  
34 Timothy Crosswhite Tucson, AZ  
35 Dan Bodinet Maricopa, AZ  
36 Jordan Ferrer Henderson, NV  
37 Melissa Del Rio Tucson, AZ  
38 Christian Jensen Anthem, AZ  
39 Justin White Phoenix, AZ  
40 Holly Gordon Tucson, AZ  
41 Lana Lycan Santee, CA  
42 Kris Beach Freeport, IL  
43 Will McPherson Chandler, AZ  
44 Eric Rubin Phoenix, AZ  
45 Marc Burris Tucson, AZ  
46 Nicholas Lee Tucson, AZ  
47 Marc Algeri Phoenix, AZ $10
48 Chris Varholdt Chandler, AZ  
49 Erica Lockhart Tucson, AZ  
50 Andy Holick Tucson, AZ  
51 Allie Ijams Mission Viejo, CA  
52 Ernest Cook Phoenix, AZ  
53 Chris McHenry Tucson, AZ  
54 Chris Weyrauch Chandler, AZ  
55 Amanda Albani Phoenix, AZ  
56 Tera Bolton Tucson, AZ  
57 Randy Cote Tucson, AZ  
58 Jon Reed Tucson, AZ  
59 Rane Lacona Phoenix, AZ  
60 Mike Aguilar Tucson, AZ  
61 Bryanna Dawson Phoenix, AZ  
62 Francisco Peralta Tucson, AZ  
     
Handicap Division    
rank name city, state prize
1 Josh Shoup Tolleson, AZ $255
2 William Witt Ft Huachuca, AZ $125
3 Rebeca Reguero Phoenix, AZ $120
4 Lee Kirby Chandler, AZ $75
5 Alysha Vessey Tucson, AZ $55
6 Anthony Tripi Avondale, AZ $105
7 Daniel Cotton Glendale, AZ $35
8 Cody Vanderweyst Glendale, AZ $45
9 Rachel Lynn Peoria, AZ  
10 Kristen Lee Tucson, AZ  
11 Devon McCormick Tucson, AZ  
12 Kyle Klein Phoenix, AZ  
13 Kevin Farthing Tucson, AZ $14
14 Natalie Mounier Phoenix, AZ $15
15 Bethany Baker Tempe, AZ $39
16 Jacob Smith Tucson, AZ $15
17 Jordan Vanderweyst Glendale, AZ  
18 Jacob Guerrero Tucson, AZ  
19 Keaton Karpovich Chandler, AZ $15
20 Samantha Aguilar Tucson, AZ  
21 Matt Payne Phoenix, AZ $45
22 Jarrod Davenport Tucson, AZ $50
23 Michael Owens Phoenix, AZ  
24 Mike May San Diego, CA $11
25 Brandon Longo Chandler, AZ  
26 Joey Longo Chandler, AZ  
27 Ashley Collins Tucson, AZ $30
28 Sandy Truman Phoenix, AZ $15
29 James Hawkins Jr Anaheim, CA $30
30 Aurora Popple El Paso, TX  
31 Bobby Gil Green Valley, AZ  
32 Courtney Dutton Chandler, AZ  
33 Michael Kenny Prescott Valley, AZ $15
34 Rebecca Bodinet Maricopa, AZ  
35 Chelsea Zemelka Phoenix, AZ  
36 Kyle Karpovich Chandler, AZ $15
37 Brittney Levins Tucson, AZ  
38 Eric Vitzthum Glendale, AZ  
39 Tim Ribbeck Sahuarita, AZ $15
40 Ashley Olriksen Albuquerque, NM  
41 Taylor Knight Phoenix, AZ  
42 Rachelle Davis Tucson, AZ  
43 Matt Erb Phoenix, AZ  
44 Darcie Staggs Bullhead City, AZ  
45 Gino Salaverria Phoenix, AZ $30
46 Jay Prewitt Chandler, AZ  
47 Kyle Frederick Chandler, AZ  
48 Bryce Techmer Chandler, AZ  
49 Holly Emery Gilbert, AZ  
50 Joey Gordon Tucson, AZ  
51 Selena Coveris Tucson, AZ  
52 Jay Girkin Phoenix, AZ  
     
 Ball Winner: Matt Payne    
     
TOTAL AWARDED THIS EVENT: $2,869