PAC NW INVITATIONAL

champs Nick Bachteler, Makayla Douglas, & Robert Altieri

        Nick Bachteler and Robert Altieri earned $1,000 scholarships as champions of the JBT Pac NW Invitational Tournament, while Makayla Douglas added a bonus $200 as Girls Invitational champ, in dramatic action at Vancouver's Crosley Lanes.

        Bachteler earned the #4 seed after five qualifying games on a challenging lane pattern, then had to hang on through the first rounds of triple-elimination matchplay, going 2-2 before starting his winning streak.  Meanwhile, Perry Crowell IV, looking to avenge yesterday's brutal title match loss, steamrolled through the field, beating top seed Aaron Foshie en route to a 6-0 start before losing to Thomas Nute in round eight.  There were only three bowlers left by then, so Nute's reward was playing Perry again, while Bachteler enjoyed a bye.  This time Crowell won the game, eliminating Thomas and setting up a situation where Nick had to beat Perry twice to win the title.

        Bachteler's seven-bagger coupled with a brutal solid-8 from Crowell (a pin that has plagued him in his JBT career) gave him the game one win 224-208,  The loss seemed to take the wind out of Perry's sails while Nick looked determined to join his brother Vince as JBT major champions.  In the end he did just that, winning game two 192-174 for the title and the $1,000 top prize.  Perry's $500 boosted him over $800 for the weekend, but his quest to make the TPC fell just three points short- nobody has ever come close to making the TPC in that few events before.

        The handicap top seed, David Scott, also struggled through early matchplay rounds, just surviving long enough to earn his round five bye.  Meanwhile, Jake Mullen stayed undefeated all the way until a round six loss to Robert Altieri.  By round nine, only three bowlers remained, each with two losses.  In this round Scott earned a rare second bye, while Altieri eliminated Max Polhill in a close match to set up the title game.  In that match, Altieri had all the answers, rolling to the win, and the $1,000 top prize, while Scott earned a hefty $500 for second.

        Pohill's third place finish was just enough to pass Kelsey Abrahamsen for the handicap points lead and earn the Go Wireless Pac NW JBT Bowler of The Year honor.  In the scratch division, Tanner Spacey didn't have a huge weekend, but none of his nearest competitors did either, and he cruised to the scratch Bowler of the Year crown.

        Makayla Douglas defeated top seed Marina Stever 183-164 to earn the $200 top prize as Girls Invitational champion.  The win wasn't enough to catch points leader Correen Lieber, who earns the Pac NW Impact Bowling Girls Bowler of the Year crown.

        The top 20 season long point scorers now advance to the Touring Players Championship, where northwest bowlers have often enjoyed disproportionate success, let's see if it will happen again!

        Thanks as always to the crew at Crosley for hosting us- over $6,500 was earned by bowlers of all averages and ages 22 and under.  Want in on the best action around?  Check out our 2012-13 schedule and plan to not miss any JBT excitement!