JBT MEMORIAL OPEN

champs Kyle King & Cortez Schenck

        The once and possibly future Kings of our Tour picked up JBT titles in exciting Arizona Conference action at the JBT Memorial Open, hosted by AMF Deer Valley.

        Cameron Smith had been on a roll in previous scratch division stepladder matches.  He opened the festivities with a 216-190 win over Nick Lee.  Smith followed with a 170-162 struggle over Chris Brown, and then re-found the look in a 247-221 win over Joe Lewandowski, to reach the title match.

        Top seed King had run away with the event, leading since round two, but Smith is also one of the very best we have, looking to become the 5th bowler in JBT history to win 20 titles.  He's been snakebit lately though, and unfortunately for Cameron that continued here, as Kyle was on absolute cruise control in a 268-211 win for the title.  That made it back to back on the weekend, and 52 for his unparalleled JBT career.

        Schenck also won three matches prior to the title game, beginning with a 212-206 squeaker over the quickly improving Brooke Martinez.  Cortez then got by first time finalist Stephen Haanpaa 225-188, and followed with a 235-212 win over defending Bowler of the Year Danny Varholdt to reach the title game.

        Top seed Brittany Kolatzny had owned this event, firing 724 scratch to open the day, and 289 later on, to take complete control.  However, the title match did not go as well for her, as the look she had started to go away, while Schenck just continued to build on the momentum from the previous wins.  In the end, Cortez won the match 227-193, good for the second title of his young JBT career.  Whenever Kyle finally wraps up his JBT career, he'd better set the title bar high, because this guy might just be coming after those lofty records.

        This event is also our annual chance to remember those bowlers, parents, family, and friends that we've lost along the way over the years- fortunately very few, but yet, still and always, far too many as well.  Please be careful as you travel the fun road of JBT, and the even more fun road of life, and cherish the moments with those that surround you.

        Thanks as always to Deer Valley for hosting our event, which awarded over $1600 to bowlers of all ages and averages. If you want to bowl in the most exciting, professionally run events around, get on over to the next JBT, it's that easy!