Bowl El Paso

champs Gregg Kern & Steven Acuff

        Gregg Kern won his first scratch title, while Steven Acuff steamrolled through the weekend, in exciting JBT NM-TX Conference action at Bowl El Paso.

        Our always exciting 'survivor' format features low-bowler out action, pair by pair throughout the center.  The scratch division was whittled down to six bowlers, and in those matches Kern beat Rebeca Reguero 243-183, Kevin Ives edged Billy Read in a 238-234 thriller, and Chris Brown eliminated Nick Lee 229-199.  Lee had done his damage, though, firing the weekend's only 300 the game before.

        This set up a three way, three state semifinal, and Arizona's Kern (231) and New Mexico's Brown (216) edged Texas' Ives (209) to set up the title match.  In that game, Kern was in control until a late missed spare, but Brown returned the open the very next frame, and Gregg was able to cruise to a 224-193 win, the first scratch title of his JBT career, and third overall.

        Handicap bowlers were eventually carved down to four survivors, and in those matches Samantha McFarland beat Lacey Shelton 203-173, and Steven Acuff beat first-time finalist Rolando Posada 222-207 (Steven and Rolando had just combined to oust Rolando's sister Geny in fifth place).

        In the ensuing title match, Steven had lots of pins to make up against McFarland, and just like the day before, got off to a hot start (this time the front seven) to make up the difference quickly.  Amazingly, despite that it was still a match at the end as Samantha more than held her own, also bowling a way over average game.   Eventually though, Acuff's tenth frame spare sealed the deal, and his 246-223 win earned him a spot in the elite group of handicap bowlers to win back to back titles in one weekend, the 4th and 5th titles of his JBT career.

        Samantha's big sister Bailey avenged the McFarland family in the JBT Women's Series title match, presented by Impact Bowling.  The talented 13 year-old beat top women's qualifier Reguero 212-179 for the Women's Series title and a shot at a $500 bonus at the JBT Impact Bowling Girls Invitational.

       Thanks as always to Bowl El Paso for a fine job hosting our Tour.  Over $1,100 in scholarships were awarded to bowlers of all averages- want in on the fun?  Come on out to the next JBT event, it's that simple!