MIRA MESA LANES

champs Tristan Curtis & Harley Sweigart

        Tristan "pulled a Curtis" again, while Harley Sweigart tasted victory for the first time, in exciting JBT So Cal survivor format action at Mira Mesa Lanes.

       In our survivor format, the lowest score on each pair is eliminated game by game, creating do or die situations throughout the center.  The scratch division was eventually whittled down to six bowlers.  In those matches, Matt Hutchinson eliminated Justin Lou 203-137, Jamie Ferry stopped James Hawkins 203-135, and Tristan Curtis defeated Foster Phandanouvong 205-144.  Foster was consoled well though, having won 20 brackets earlier for a $300+ payday.

      In the three way semifinal, Curtis blasted a 244 on the very demanding conditions (-134 was the scratch cut today, as opposed to +24 yesterday) to advance, while Hutchinson's 156 was good enough to survive over Ferry's 137, landing Matt in his first career title match.  In that finale, Curtis remained in control, and despite a late comeback from Hutchinson, Tristan won the title with a 226-203 victory.   The win was Tristan's second, both coming in the So Cal Conference, which is notable given that he is a resident of Fife, Washington!

    In the handicap division, 24 survivors were chopped down to 8, and in the round of eight, Karlie Loop beat Andre Hernandez 220-189, Dan Hansen beat Isaiah Cleveland 199-190, Harley Sweigart beat Brandon Turner 205-168, and Erika Garcia beat Brandon Matthews 202-147.  In the resulting semifinal matches, Sweigart beat Loop 189-168, while Hansen got by Garcia 212-179 to set up the title match.

   Both Hansen brothers have been having fine seasons, and today was Dan's turn to shine, coming back from near-elimination a few times throughout the day.  However, Sweigart, bowling in only his second JBT event, hung tough in the totally different environment of a JBTtitle match.  In the end, Harley won the match 219-207, good for his first career JBT title.

     Thanks as always to the whole crew at Mira Mesa for being very accommodating hosts for our Tour.  Over $1,900 in scholarships were awarded to juniors of all ages and averages- want in on the fun?  Come on down to the next JBT event, it's as easy as that!

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