Golden Pin Lanes

champs Aaron Foshie & Corbin Hirsch

            Aaron Foshie and Corbin Hirsch had all the right antidotes en route to victories in our exciting 'pick yer posion' format, as the JBT visited Tucson's Golden Pin Lanes.

            After a cut to the top 16 after 5 games on the challenging 2010 USBC Nationals pattern, higher seeded bowlers had their choice of which bowler they wanted to face in best 2 out of 3 matchplay.  Scratch division top seed Foshie averaged over 218 for five games, and was the only bowler averaging 200 after qualifying.  He got past Rane Lacona and Joe Lewandowski, who is always tough at Golden Pin, to reach the final four.  #2 Gregg Kern and #3 Justin Givler also defended their seeds, while #6 Riley Dempsey rounded out the semifinalists.  In one game semifinal matches, Dempsey ousted Kern (making his third straight top-5 in 3 weeks in 3 different conferences) 198-144, while Foshie eliminated Givler 177-153 to set up the finale.

            Dempsey is continuing an outstanding beginning to the 2010-11 campaign with yet another title match, but Foshie had the best look all day, and made a great move to continue the great look as the shot started to transition, and he beat Dempsey 228-193 for the title.  It was the 2nd scratch win and 6th overall of the talented righty's JBT career.

            Top seed James Burke led all five qualifying games in the handicap division, then fought off #13 Jared Boscarino in round one of pick yer poison to move on.  #2 Kristen Lee was upset by #10 Valry Swaim in the opener though, as was #4 Cortez Schenck in three tough games by #14 Danny Varholdt.  In the nest round, Swaim defeated Varholdt 2 games to 1, Burke swept #15 Josh Molloy 2-0, #9 Hirsch ousted #6 Nick Skalicky 2-0, and #12 Ryan Zent snuck by #3 Bethany Baker 2-1 in  match that came down to the final frame.

            In single game semifinal matches, Hirsch beat Zent 240-225 in a high scoring affair, while in a match that can't be described in any other way than a struggle, Burke beat Swaim 170-128 to advance to the title match.

            The title game was a close game throughout as both bowlers were eager for their first title.  A tenth frame open ended James' fine day, though, and the 217-210 win for Hirsch gave him the championship.  It was also a landmark win for the Tour, as Corbin becomes the first child of a JBT SW alumni (season 1 bowler Brian) to win a JBT event, hopefully the start of the second generation of JBT stars!

            Thanks as always to the venerable Golden Pin Lanes for hosting our Tour.  Almost $3,000 in scholarships were awarded this weekend alone to bowlers of all averages age 21 and under- want in on the fun?  Then come on out to the next JBT event, it's that simple!