TRIANGLE BOWL

champs Eddy Smith & Thomas Nylund

       Eddy Smith and Thomas Nylund captured JBT titles in esciting Pacific Northwest Conference action at Longview's Triangle Bowl.

      Smith won four matches in the scratch division stepladder finals to claim his first career JBT victory.  He began with a 189-176 win over first-time finalist Ray Nugent.  He then beat Todd Hopfner (who won the Pac NW Invite at this house) 192-164, and followed with a 235-232 thriller over Marshall Kent, with both bowlers bowling extremely well on a demanding lane condition that took under a 180 average to reach the semifinals.

      Top seed Tristan Curtis' two JBT titles have come in California, far away from his home conference, and he looked to end that anomaly by leading the event here after both the qualifying and semifinal rounds.  However, after a back and forth start, it was the untested Smith who performed best down the stretch, and his 211-192 victory gave the 15 year-old claimed the championship.

     Tyler Boe looked to make his own run up the handicap division stepladder, beginning with a 200-169 victory over Sam Burns.  he then followed with a 238-226 squeaker over Leslie Strong, before Brianna Hemming stopped him with a 197-139 win that sent Hemming to her second title match.

    Top qualifier Thomas Nylund had come heartbreakingly close to victory back in November before a tenth frame gutter ball ripped it away.  Despite a good effort from Brianna, fate was kinder to Nylund as he stayed strong through the end, winning the match 208-196 for his second career JBT title.

    Thanks tp the whole crew at Triangle for another great job hosting our Tour.  Over $1,600 in scholarships were awarded to bowlers of all ages and averages- want in on the fun? Come on down to the next JBT event; it's as simple as that!