DESERT OPEN

champs Riley Dempsey & Ryan Zent

            Riley Dempsey and Ryan Zent earned $500 scholarships each and a large list of bonus prizes each as champions of the 2011 JBT Desert Open, hosted by Glenfair Lanes.

            All bowlers rolled fifteen games on three very challenging patterns, emphasizing shotmaking all weekend long.  Scratch division leader Derek Acuff thus earned the right to choose which pattern to bowl matchplay on, and he chose the short pattern he dominated on in the first block.  The decision seemed wise as he reached the final four with wins over Brian Monnette and Kyle Karpovich. 

Joining him in the last four was a cream of the crop in youth bowling: all-time title leader Kyle King, Teen Masters winner Zack Hattori, and all-conference Bowler of the Year Dempsey.  In single game matches, King beat Hattori 187-180, and Dempsey ousted Acuff 202-174 to set up an appropriate match featuring the 1-2 bowlers in Arizona this season. 

            Both bowlers started the final game out strong but struggled in later frames.  Riley’s tenth frame mark was enough to put away the always-tough King 194-182, earning him the 12^th title of his JBT career.

            Washington’s Kara Lieber led the 15-game qualifier and chose a longer pattern for matchplay, but was unable to get past round one as 16-seed Alexis Atkin came up with her best bowling of the week to pull the upset 3-2 in the best-of-5 first round.  Atkin then lost to #8 Marina Stever, who moved on to the final four, and as joined by Zent, #14 Alyssa Williams, and #10 Lindsey Sanchez.

            In one game semifinal matches, Zent beat Stever 252-192, and Sanchez beat Martinez 242-181 to set a finale between Ryan, who won his first title in May, and Lindsey, sister of NM-TX Bowler of the Year Nick Sanchez, who was bowling in her first JBT event.  In the finale, Zent maintained the momentum and came up with one of his best games of the weekend for a 244-209 win and the second title of his career.

            In addition to the win, both bowlers earn the traditional glass cactus trophy, get free brackets and raffle tickets at every JBT event next season, and a free practice card from our terrific hosts at Glenfair.

            Over $4,000 in scholarships were awarded at the event, which wrapped up the 15^th season of JBT competition in the Southwest / Northwest.   Everyone is now tied for first for 2012 Bowler of the year with zero points, so come on out to every 2011-12 JBT event you can, starting at Cliff Castle in September, and experience the best in under-21 bowling for all averages!