Red Rock Lanes

champs Brandon Kraye and Ian Hanuscin; Women's Series champ Melissa Huether

    Brandon Kraye and Ian Hansucin captured JBT titles in exciting Mojave Conference action at Las Vegas' brand new Red Rock Lanes.

    Devin Bidwell, by far the hottest bowler on Tour, was right back at it again, opening up the scratch division stepladder finals with a 237-184 win over Kris George.  In round two, Bidwell and Zack Hattori, who battled it out for the JBT Touring Players' Championship over the summer (Hattori won), couldn't decide anything in ten frames, tying at 194.  Devin won the rolloff 10-9 to avenge the TPC loss and advance, using that momentum towards a 234-201 win over Riley Dempsey, thus moving on to his fourth JBT title match in the last nine days (on house, viper, Earl Anthony, and today's shark)- amazing! 

    Top seed Brandon Kraye had been consistent on the demanding PBA Shark condition all day long, and grabbed the tournament lead with a 650 semifinal set.  It's sometimes on tough on top seeds in stepladder formats, as they effectively have to win the tournament twice, but Kraye put on a clinic in the finale, rolling 10 of 12 strikes for a big 268 (the second highest game of the whole event), defeating the 217 effort from Bidwell, for his second career JBT title.

    First time JBT bowler Nick Willis began the handicap division of the stepladder finals with a 209-192 win over JBT veteran Drew Stern.  In an all-Nick round two, it was Nicholas Pollak beating Willis 195-173.  The semifinal was a thriller, as early-round leader Ian Hanuscin got the 20 pins he needed in the tenth frame for a 205-204 win over Pollak, advancing him to the title match.

    Top seed Randi Speiler had a wonderful day en route to the top seed, including four 200+ games on the tough pattern, and the fourth-best female scratch total of the day as well.  The title match turned out to be a classic battle, with the higher-average Hanuscin getting strikes when he needed to stay close.  Both bowlers started to throw brooklyn hits late in the match, and by the tenth frame, Randi needed a mark to win.  However, her tenth frame shot left a 2-4-7-10 which she could not convert, and the stunned Hanuscin came away with the 189-181 victory and his third career JBT title.

    JBT Women's series action was also closely contested.  Allie Ijams led the field, with Melissa Huether grabbing the second finals spot by one pin over April Urban.  Melissa took advantage of that and remained in control the entire title match, defeating Ijams 194-180 for the Women's Series title, the second of her career.  Melissa will have a shot at the $500 bonus at the Girls Invitational, held in spring of 2010.

    Thanks to the crew at Red Rock for a great job hosting our Tour for the first time.  Over $1,700 in scholarships were awarded to bowlers of all ages and averages.  Want in on all this fun and excitement?  Come on out to the next JBT event, it's as simple as that!