Bowlero Via Linda - 2/13/21

Our event this weekend was at Bowlero Via Linda and it was our first Saturday event of the season.  We had a nice turnout with 75 total entries, with 49 qualifying entries and 26 economy parlay entries, and paying out over $4,000 in main and side event prize funds.  The players bowled on a very soft 38ft Atlanta oil pattern that saw some of the highest scores that we’ve seen in a long while.  It seemed that everyone had a good look and it would be a strike fest all day.

We do want to welcome Brian Hainline, Charles Wells, Nicholas Tejada, Wendy Orth, Brenda Peaslee, Ryan Kuxhaujen and Jennifer Mayer to the SFT AHT family! They all bowled in their first event this weekend and are happy to see them come out! We hope you all had a good time in your first event, and we look forward to seeing you all at your next one!  Congrats to Kish Israni on being this weekend’s only Parlay Power Player!  Also congrats to Brenda Peaslee on making her first ever quarterfinals in her first event! Your winner of the free plastic ball raffle, with an option to upgrade to any Track high performance ball for $85.00, was Eric Flick!

Since this was a 2 squad event, there would be no re-oil before the start of the quarterfinals.  Also, there would be only 5 bowlers in the C Division, so that meant that the top bowler in the Division would advance to the Finals.  In the A and B Divisions would cut to the top 2 bowlers in each Division.  The quarterfinals would be another high scoring affair.  In the A Division, your #1 seed would be Michael Dewey (+174) and he would take on Josh Williams (+131).  While in the B Division, we would see Ron McDonald (+143) facing off with red hot lefty Josh Anthony (+134).  The C Division would see Kish Israni (+180) lead all bowlers in the quarterfinals and punch his ticket directly in the Final match.

The A Division Semi-Final match would go back and forth between Michael and Josh.  It would all come down to the tenth frame with both bowlers having a chance to win the match.  Josh would get up in the tenth and throw two strikes and get 8 on the fill to finish at 204.  Michael was coming off a strike in the ninth and would need to double but his first ball would go a bit high and would end up chopping his spare attempt to finish at 184.  The B Division would also be a close match with Ron and Josh neck and neck to the final couple of frames.  Ron would pick up a big 5-7 spare attempt, in the eighth frame, in order to stay close to Josh.  Going into the ninth Josh would miss a 10-pin while Ron would continue to stay clean.  Going into tenth Josh would finish the match first and he would need to strike in order to put the pressure back on Ron.  Josh would throw his first shot, but leave another 10-pin on the first ball in the tenth and he would spare and get nine on the fill to finish at 224.  Ron would get up and need to mark in order to get the win and he would crush the pocket to win the match at 233.

Going into the Final match it would be anyone’s game.  Kish Israni has been on fire for most of the season and was looking to get his first win.  Kish has already made 3 out of the past 5 Finals so far this season.  Josh Williams was looking for his 3rd title in the past 6 months.  Josh was also our 2020 SFT Rookie of the Year and so far has jumped out to the top of the season point’s race with Kish on his heels.  Ron McDonald had been bowling great all day and was looking for his fourth title.

The Final match would start with all three bowlers trying to find a good line.  Ron would jump out to a quick lead by throwing a double to start.  Josh would try to keep up by striking in the third frame, but could not get any carry in the next few frames.  Kish would stay clean and keep up with Ron throughout the match.  Going into the final frames it would look like it would come down to Kish and Ron as Josh would open in the seventh frame chopping his 2-5 spare attempt.  Josh would throw the next three strikes in a row, but it would be too little too late as he would finish at 209.  Kish would need to double in the eighth, ninth or tenth frames in order to make up some pins on Ron.  Kish would strike in the eighth, but would flat 7 in the ninth and tenth frames to finish at 232.  Ron would strike in the eighth, ninth and tenth frames to give himself the win with a score of 261.  This would give Ron his fourth AHT SFT title and the $700.00 first place prize.  Congrats to Kish on 2nd place and also to Josh on 3rd place.

Thank you to everyone that came out to support our event.  Hope to see you all next Saturday at AMF Mesa for our next 2-squad event!!!  Have a great week!

FINALS - Josh Williams vs. Ron McDonald vs. Kish Israni