We would wrap up the 2024 season and the Fall Quarterly Circuit with a 2-Squad tournament at Bowlero Gilbert We would see 91 total entries (68 qualifying & 23 parlays), with a cash ratio of 1 in 3.25, paying out over $6,200 in main and side event prize funds. The bowlers played on a higher scoring 41ft PBA Bear oil pattern. We would see scores increase throughout the day as the oil pattern broke down. Since this was a flatter pattern, bowlers were able to play a variety of angles to get to the pocket. Bowlers would need to get to around +60 to advance to the Quarterfinals.
We would have a few new bowlers for this event and we would like to welcome Trent Ironside, Sinatra Grace, Loretta Rock, Martin “Al” Rock, and Drake Williams. We hope you all had a good time and hope to see you at future events. Congrats to Julius Carter and Jeromie Frost for making their first Quarterfinals. Also, congrats to this weekend’s Economy Power Players in Sergio Hilburn, Michael Lemos, and Charles Halse. These three bowlers received a Quarterfinals check off their initial $30.00 Economy Parlay investment. Congrats to Autry Dogans for winning Momma’s Mystery Pot, with a score of 210, for $500.00! Your winner of the free plastic ball raffle, with an option to upgrade to any Track ball of choice for $95.00, was Justin Surat.
Since this was a 2-Squad tournament, we would move directly into the Quarterfinals after the 12pm squad with no re-oil. We would have a total of 23 Quarterfinalists, and with our 1 in 3 cut ratio, the Top 2 bowlers would advance, in all three Divisions, after 3 games. We would see scores continue to climb in the Quarterfinal round and it would come down to the last game for determine who would advance to the Semi-Finals.
The A Division would see Myles Hamilton (+141) emerge as the #1 seed and he would have to face off with David Roppel (+84). The B Division would have Brandon Bailey (+161) as it’s #1 seed and he would take on #2 seed Jim Cote (+101). The C Division would see #1 seed Nate Prince (+150) up against SFT veteran Ken W. Davis (+28).
The A Division Semi-Final match would be a close one with both bowlers going back-and-forth throughout the match. It would come down to the tenth frame as David would defeat Myles, 238 to 232, to advance to the Finals.
The B Division Semi-Final match would also be a close match. We would see Brandon and Jim trade leads throughout the match and it would come down to the final two frames. Brandon would get good count and a strike to defeat Jim, 222 to 210.
The C Division Semi-Final match would start off close but would see Ken struggle a bit with the pair. Nate would take a lead and never look back as he would go on to win the match, 234 to 203, to advance to his first Finals match.
The Finals would see Nate Prince looking to win his first SFT AHT title and the $900.00 first place prize. Nate has been working on his game and has recently seen all his hard work finally paying off with this Finals appearance. Standing in Nate’s way was “Dr.” Brandon Bailey. Brandon was looking to take home his fourth AHT SFT title and looking to jump back into the Player of the Year points race. With a win today, Brandon would have a chance to jump into third place and earn some tour exemptions for next season. David Roppel would have to be the favorite for this match as he as been on fire for the last month or so. David took some time off from bowling and recently started up this past August and already has a title at Bowlero Kyrene and a second-place finish at AMF McRay. A win today would lock up first place in the 2024 Fall Quarterly Circuit.
The Finals would start off with David Roppel leaving the 2-8, which he would spare. Up next would-be Nate Prince who would leave a 5-pin and would convert his spare. Brandon would finish up with a strike as he looked to be lined up early. David would lead off the second frame with a 4-pin, which he would spare to stay clean. Nate would see his ball go a bit high and leave the lefty “Baby Split” (2-7) which he would not convert for an open frame. Brandon would be up next and leave a flat 7-pin, which he would spare. Third frame would see Dave miss a spare for an open frame, Nate would strike and Brandon would stay clean with a mark. Fourth frame and Dave would leave split (2-4-8-10) which he wouldn’t convert. Nate would go “Brooklyn” to double up while Brandon would throw one of his own “Brooklyn’s for a strike. Fifth frame and Dave would get a much-needed strike. Nate would leave a flat 7-pin, which he would not convert for an open frame. Brandon would mark to complete the frame.
Midway through the match and Nate had a fairly good lead. Dave would strike in the sixth frame for a double as he looked to try and get back into the match. Nate would leave a stone 8-pin, which he would spare, while Brandon would also strike. Seventh frame would see Dave strike for a three-bagger. Nate would pick up a difficult, 4-8, spare. Brandon would double up with another strike. Dave’s eighth frame would see him lined up as he would strike for a four-bagger. Nate would pick up the 4-7 spare conversion while Brandon would leave the 5-pin, which he would spare. Ninth frame would see Dave get a light mixer for five in a row. Nate would get a strike to keep pressure on Dave and Brandon. Brandon would close out the ninth frame with a ringing 7-pin, which he would spare.
Going into the tenth frame and all three bowlers would have a chance to win the match, as they were all within a few pins of each other. Dave’s first ball in the tenth would be a swisher 7-pin, which he would spare. Dave’s fill shot would leave the “Baby Split” (3-10) for a score of 227. Nate would be up next needing to fill out the frame. Nate’s first ball in the tenth would leave the 4-pin, which he would spare. Nate’s fill shot would get 6 as he would leave the “Big Four” (3-4-7-10), for a score of 235. This would mean that Brandon would need to double in the tenth to win the match. Brandon’s first ball in the tenth would crush the pocket for a strike. Brandon’s second ball would hit a bit high through the nose to leave the 7-8 split. Brandon would need to pick this up for a tie, but would pick off the 8-pin to finish with a score of 234. This would give Nate Prince his first AHT SFT title and $900.00 first place prize by 1-pin!!! Congrats to Brandon Bailey on second place for $450.00 and also, congrats to Dave Roppel on third place for $250.00!
Thank you to everyone that has come out to bowl and support our tournament club throughout the 2024 season. Thank you to Jodi Bach and the staff at Bowlero Gilbert for having us out today and providing great customer service. Also, thanks to Michael Dragon for coming out to help work the event on short notice. Final points and averages will be up later this week.
We’ll see some of you in a couple of weeks for our 2024 Matchplay Invitational at Bowlero Kyrene!
Hope you all have Happy Holidays and see you all in 2025!
Bowlero Gilbert - David Roppel vs. Brandon Bailey vs. Nate Prince
