We would be at Bowlero Via Linda this weekend for another 2-squad tournament! We would see 103 total entries (74 qualifying and 29 parlays), 28 cashers, 1 in 3.8 cash ratio and paid out over $5,800.00 in main and side event prize funds! The players bowled on a very tricky 39ft PBA Chameleon oil pattern. A lot of bowlers would think that it would play similar to a house shot, but with all the oil in the front of the lanes it made it very hard to swing the ball. On the fresh if you got too wide with your angles too early, then it would overreact and go through the nose for a split. We had a variety of bowlers start off well, but once the pattern started to breakdown, then we would see players that like to curve it move left and see some higher scores. The cut scores were not too high as you only needed to bowl a few pins over your average with the A Division having high scores than the other two Divisions.
We would like to welcome Beverly Oleson and Kevin Novella to the SFT family. We hope you both had a good time and hope to see you again. We also had some Parlay Power Players this weekend in Josh Brown and Arthur Lara! Both bowlers made it to the quarterfinals off of their $30.00 Economy Parlay entry with Josh making it the farthest as he would just come up short of the Finals! We also want to congratulate Caden Ament and Trinette Green for making their first quarterfinals. We are up to three pots for Momma’s Mystery Score but we would have no winners this weekend. The next chance at the Momma’s Mystery Pot will be at AMF Tempe Village. Your winner of the free plastic ball raffle, with an option to upgrade to any Track high performance ball for $95.00, was Eric Flick.
Since this event was only 2 squads, there was no re-oil before the quarterfinals. This resulted in some medium to high scores with the standings being very, very tight. We would have 21 quarterfinalists and with our 1 in 3 cut ratio from the quarterfinals to the semi-final round, we would cut to the Top 2 in each Division.
The A Division would see Parlay Power Player Josh Brown (+45) emerge as your #1 seed and he would have to face off with Eric Flick (+44). The B Division would see Caden Ament (+60) lead the division and he would take on Ryan Griggs (+46). The C Division would have Seth Krich (+132) as the #1 seed, and we would see him matched up against Maddisen Rook (+29) in the semi-finals.
The A Division semi-final would be a close match with it all coming down to the tenth frame. Eric Flick would finish up the match with a Brooklyn strike to finish with a score of 208. This would mean that Josh Brown would need to double to win the match. Josh’s first ball in the tenth would look good off his hand and crush the pocket but leave a ring 10-pin. Josh would finish out the match with a score of 199 sending Eric Flick to the Finals, 208 to 199.
The B Division semi-final would be a grind fest of a match. Both bowlers would struggle with the pair for most of the match. Caden would get a couple strikes to keep the match close but Ryan would pull away with a huge double in the ninth and tenth frames to pull away late to win the match, 190 to 167.
The C Division semi-final would see Seth Krich continue to run hot. Maddisen would try her best to keep up but Seth would runaway with it as he would win the match, 233 to 168.
Going into the Finals Seth Krich was the #1 seed overall and was looking to win his first AHT SFT title. Eric Flick was looking to win his fourth title and while Ryan Griggs was looking to win his second title. Eric’s previous Final’s appearance was last July at this very house (Via Linda), so he was looking to improve and take home the win. Ryan was determined to win as he had already literally left the center, after quarterfinals thinking he didn’t make the cut, only to have to rush back and here he was with a chance to win the Finals.
Seth would start off the Finals with a 5-10 split as his first shot got a bit left early. Seth would not convert the spare for an open frame. Ryan would be up next and he would hit the pocket light leaving the 5-8, which he would spare. Eric would start off strong with a strike. Second frame would see Seth’s ball hitting high through the nose leaving the 3-9, which he would pick up. Ryan would hit the pocket a bit light leaving the mixer 7-pin but would miss his spare attempt for an open frame. Eric would finish up the second with a 3-pin which he would spare. Seth’s ball in the third frame would go a bit high leaving the 3-pin and he would miss the spare attempt a bit wide. Ryan would see some carry down on his first shot as he would leave the 1-2-10, which he would pick up. Eric’s third frame would see him hit the pocket light leaving the 6-10 and he would go on to spare. Seth would throw a good shot in the fourth frame but leave a mixer 7-pin which he would pick up. Ryan would get a crushing strike in the fourth while Eric would miss a bit high for an 8 count which he would spare. Fifth frame would see Seth leave a stone 8-pin which he would spare. Ryan would pull it a bit left and leave the 6-10 and he would spare. Eric would leave the 4-pin standing and go on to convert the spare.
Just over midway through the match and all three bowlers were within 10 pins of each other. It looked like whomever could string something together would have the advantage. Seth would get a much-needed Brooklyn strike in the sixth. Ryan would flat 10-pin in the sixth but miss the spare attempt. Eric would again leave the 4-pin but make the spare conversion. Seth would see an unfortunate break as he would hit the pocket a bit high and leave the 4-6 split. Seth would not pick up the spare as he would get the 4-pin just behind the 6-pin. Ryan would cross over and leave the 5-pin and would pick up the spare. Eric would leave the lefty bucket (3-5-6-9) and pick up the spare to stay clean. Seth and Ryan would both strike in the eighth frame while Eric would miss leaving the 5-pin which he would spare. Ninth frame would have Seth leaving the 6-10 and he would spare to set up the tenth. Ryan would double up with another strike to give himself a shot to close out the match. Eric would lave the lefty Greek Church (4-6-7-8-10) and would only get three to open up and let Seth and Ryan back in the match.
Tenth frame would see a clutch strike from Seth on his first ball. Seth’s second shot would not come back and leave the 1-2-4-6-10 washout. Seth would chop the spare conversion to finish with a score of 203. Eric would strike on his first ball in tenth to try and make up for the open in the ninth. Eric’s second ball would come up light and he would finish up with a score of 195. Ryan would be up next and leave the 9-pin standing on his first shot. Ryan would pick up the spare and get a nine count on his next ball to win the match with a score of 220. This would give Ryan his second AHT SFT title and $1,100.00! Congrats to Seth Krich on second place for $600.00 and also congrats to Eric Flick on third place for $330.00!
Thank you to everyone that came out today to bowl the tournament. I know that there are a lot of options out there to bowl and appreciate everyone that continues to bowl our events. A big thank you the staff at Bowlero Via Linda for having us out this weekend. Also, a huge thank you to Tyler Andersen for stepping up and helping to run the tournament this weekend.
We’ll be back for another 2-squad tournament on Sunday, February 4th at AMF Tempe Village! Hope you all have a good week!
Bowlero Via Linda Finals - Eric Flick vs. Ryan Griggs vs. Seth Krich
