THE ORLEANS

champs Chris Clemence & Shane Peck

CLEMENCE CLIMBS LADDER TO VICTORY
When the Junior Bowlers Tour Southwest (JBTSW) last visited Orleans Bowling Center in November, DJ Sloan won four match games in the stepladder finals to claim his first singles title.  This time around, on an identical sport condition, Chris Clemence pulled off the same rare feat, climbing the ladder to earn his first title on the junior tour.

The low scoring affair began with Clemence knocking off Southern California's Jared Lawrence 196-157.  The close match took a turn in the 8th frame when Clemence put together a triple to pull ahead for good.  Lawrence had the distinction of being the only bowler to average over 200 for his eight games.  Clemence then took on third seed Steven Black, the lone repeat finalist from the November trip.  Despite his 33 tour victories, Black could not manage to stay up with Clememce as he once again strung strikes in the closing frames for a 236-204 win.  UNLV star Cayson Coyle opened three times early in his semifinal match and, despite a closing four-bagger of his own, fell to Clemence in a close 194-189 battle.  The final match saw tournament leader Bobby Majdanski taking on the confident Clemence.  Majdanski was feeling good himself having been the only bowler to roll four consecutive deuces during the day.  The title match remained close through the first several frames, however, two unfortunate splits late in the match derailed Majdanski's bid for a first singles title while Clemence rolled to a 202-163 victory.

PECK KEEPS BALL IN PLAY FOR 3RD TITLE
The handicap division was given a more traditional oil pattern to play on.  Shane Peck came all the way from California and, similar to his awesome display just three weeks ago at Lake Havasu City, AZ, led the event from the third game on.  This time around, however, Peck would keep the ball on the lane, showing no signs of his ill-fated championship match from Havasu (See Havasu Lanes, Mar.13) winning 235-208 over Nicole Olriksen.

The eight person finals began with Taylor McKenrick, Mojave Conference Points leader, firing a huge 235 actual game to beat Alvin Chan, 216, and Breezy Sharma, 183.  The next match saw Alyssa Madrid sneak past both Zack Newman and McKenrick 216-209-176.  In the semifinal match it was newcomer Olriksen taking the measure of Blaine Hellman and Madrid 236-216-213 to set up the title match against the hot Peck.  The match remained close for several frames but it was Peck who pulled ahead for good for his second title of the season, third career.