BRC ZONE GLENDALE

A lesson in lane conditions dictating the scoring pace resulted in victories for two JBT SW veterans as the Arizona Conference began its 9th season stretch run at BRC Zone Glendale.

The scratch division bowled on the 2005 ABC tournament pattern, a very demanding condition as anyone who has bowled on it knows.  Bill Grant, who has grown a reputation for being tough on the hard patterns, opened round one of the stepladder finals with a 187 game that was enough to get by Jason Arnold (165) and Berman Sae-Aee (148).  Chris Weyrauch then returned to the top 5 with a big 220 game that eliminated Grant (203) and Steven Black (200). In the semifinal round, another shotmaking specialist, David Sevier, rolled a 210 to advance over Weyrauch (156) and Kevin Saunders (200) when Saunders got only one of the two strikes he needed in the tenth frame.

Top qualifier Josh Blanchard took care of earning his Arizona Invitational bid by leading the large field.  Josh has averaged over 240 in other JBT events this year, but his 210 clip was enough to lead on this pattern.  Strikes were hard to come by for both bowlers in the title match, and when David finished with 185, Josh needed a double to win.  A pure shot left a solid-10, however, and the relieved Sevier claimed a long-awaited 7th title of his JBT SW career.

The handicap division bowled on a standard house pattern, and given some room top play, the higher-average handicap bowlers lit up the scoreboard with big numbers.  In round one of the finals, #7 seed Corey Sandberg, who won his only JBT title from this seed, got on his way to doing it again with a 203 game that beat Kris George (156) and just edged Taylor Brennan (201).  

In round two, Mark Mandell, who recaptured the points lead with this finals appearance, solidified that with a big 262 that defeated Sandberg (190) and Tim Bonneville (211).  Mark struggled to a 188 next game, and watched as Alex Van Kirk, the low average in the finals, doubled in the tenth for a 245 game that defeated Bryan Caldwell's 224, advancing Alex to the title match.

Top qualifier Kyle King had a slow start to the season, but has put it all together in the spring with an impressive run that has put him into the Bowler of the Year hunt.  Van Kirk more than held his own in the title match, but in the end Kyle had enough in the tank for a 225-216 victory, good for his 3rd career victory, and second this season.

$2,365 was awarded to a 107 bowler field.  Thanks to BRC Zone Glendale for another fun-filled visit to their center!