MOJAVE INVITATIONAL

champs Cameron Smith & Brendan Lindsey; Girls Invitational champ Kyli Selley

        Cameron Smith rebounded from a rough start to the weekend to capture another JBT major title, while Brendan Lindsey was untouchable in the handicap division, earning $1,000 scholarships each at the 2012 JBT Mojave Invitational tournament, hosted by Strike Zone at Sunset Station in Henderson.

        Smith missed the cut in the final regular season event the day before to fall almost 100 points behind Zack Hattori and Jakob Butturff in the Bowler of the Year race.  But with the Invitational worth triple points, a motivated Smith came out blazing with a 297 on the tricky 'Winding Road' lane pattern.  In the 16-bowler, triple elimination matchplay finals, both Jakob and Zack uncharacteristically struggled, bowing out early and giving Smith a golden opportunity.  Cameron took full advantage, going undefeated through six rounds to lock up the scratch Bowler of the Year award.  Now with the prestige and $1,000 payday of the Invite title on the line, Cameron stumbled with two quick losses, keeping Oscar Chan and Riley Dempsey alive.  After Riley eliminated Chan in the penultimate match, Smith and Dempsey engaged in a tense battle for the title.  Needing a good count mark to win, Cameron caved in all the pins on  high hit, winning the game 215-213 to win the 34t title of his JBT career, and 4th career major.  He breaks the 3-year run of DJ Sloan (who has aged out) as Mojave Invitational champ- who won the last Invite DJ didn't win?  You got it- Smith, back in 2008!

        Brendan Lindsey seems to be a youngster that thrives on matchplay, winning the stepladder at Pahrup in dramatic fashion, and then cruising through matchplay undefeated here at the Invitational.  By round eight, all other surviving bowlers in the triple-elimination matchplay had two losses, and one by one they were eliminated, with James Gabour (6th), Kyli Selley (5th), Collin Deppe (4th), and Kevin Mette (3rd) all bowing out.  Gabour didn't leave without doing Alexis Atkin a huge favor though, as his win over a hard-charging Joe Gerencser sealed the Bowler of the Year award for Alexis Atkin, who was eliminated early in matchplay.  Joe would have caught her for the title with a fourth place finish or better.  

        While most eyes were on Joe's climb up to Alexis, David Galvan was quietly staying alive to throw his name in the conversation as well.  Eventually he was the only one left to face Lindsey, and had the daunting challenge of beating him three times for the title.  The first game was a strange one, as Lindsey twice went gutter-spare, but Galvan couldn't take advantage, with opens of his own.  In the end, Brendan won the first game 198-176 to complete the sweep and earn the second title of his JBT career, as well as the $1,000 windfall.

        Kyli Selley defeated Marina Stever 188-179 in the title match of the simultaneous Girls Invitational, earning a $200 Big Impact bonus from Imapct Bowling Pro Shop, sponsor of the JBT Women's Series.  Stever had enough of a margin to hang on to the points lead, earning her the Mojave Girl Bowler of the Year title.

        Thanks as always to the crew at Strike Zone for an excellent job hosting our events.  $5,902 in scholarships were awarded to the 70 qualifiers of all averages and ages.  Want in on all the fun?  Check out our schedule and come on out to a JBT event, that's all there is to it!