This weekend’s event was at Brunswick Via Linda lanes where we had 83 total entries (59 qualifying and 24 economy parlay), 23 cashers a 1 in 3.3 cash ratio and paid out over $4,000.00 in main and side event prize fund. The bowlers bowled on the 39ft PBA Viper oil pattern that was very difficult on the fresh, but seemed to breakdown and allow for some higher scoring. Over the years, it has also appeared that the lefties do fairly well in this particular bowling center.
As always we like to welcome the bowlers who bowled their first event with us this weekend. For the first time in a long time, we only had one new bowler! Rick Measels, welcome to the SFT AHT family! Hope to see you again buddy!
We also like to congratulate the parlay power players, which was only Jason Satterlee this weekend. Also congrats to Bob Hanson, Tawna McDonald and Mark Brower on being players that made it to their first ever SFT AHT quarter finals, or bowlers that are breaking out of a slow streak.
The quarter finals was clearly the best of the best, as the scores were still pretty high for being on fresh oil conditions. We had a few 700 series and most people advancing bowled over average, except in the B division where we may have set a record. The record being for the biggest gap between two players both advancing to the semi-finals. Eric Flick was +157 as the #1 seed, and at #2 was a very surprised Steve Convirs at +22 who didn’t even expect to make it to the next round. The other divisions were Jason Satterlee vs Wes Marema and Stacie Huglin vs Mike Stockinger.
The B division match looked close at first, but some late opens by Steve allowed Eric to lock up his match before the 10th frame. The A division match came down to the 10th with Jason finishing first and throwing a strike to shut Wes out. The C division was the most exciting with Stacie Huglin throwing the last 5 strikes to force Mike to mark. Mike throw a perfect shot only to leave a stone 9 pin, which then missed and took away his chances of a final match.
Jason, Stacie and Eric would square off in the final match with Eric being the only one that hasn’t won a title yet. This was a very close final match with all three players being in the hunt going into the 9th frame. Jason was the first one to fall out, as he was a bit behind to begin with and needed to strike to have a chance. Getting 9 made it very unlikely for him to win, but then missing it made it impossible. Stacie finished first and was able to fill the frame, but didn’t strike out. This put Eric in a tough position. He had to throw the first strike to win his first ever SFT AHT title. It’s not the easiest way to win your first title, but I think that’s how most competitors would want to do it. Eric seized the moment and throw a great shot to clinch his first ever title and $800!
Thanks to everyone for coming out! We look forward to seeing everyone for our first event of the Spring Circuit at AMF Chandler lanes on April 8th.
