Vista Entertainment Center

champs Kyle Karpovich & Justin Patten

        Kyle Karpovich and Justin Patten survived the challenge at Vista Entertainment Center to capture JBT titles in exciting Southern California Conference action.

        The field enjoyed our popular 'survivor; format, where it's the low bowler out on each pair game by game, after a cut to the top 50% after five qualifying games.  Top scratch seed Ronnie Fujita had no problem surviving through early rounds, and reached the final four with a 247-174 win over Steven Manier.   In other quarterfinal matches, Karpovich beat Mark Myers 213-166, Cameron Smith bested Ben Canfield 235-191, and Mark Mansfield rolled past Curtis Lindeman 203-147.

        In the semifinals, Mansfield outstruck Fujita 249-213, while Karpovich strung enough to eliminate Smith 227-213.  It was an interesting finale with Mark making his first finals of the season, and Kyle making his first title match since 2009, which was a handicap finals.  Both players rolled solid games, but it was Karpovich who came up with the goods in the late frames, pulling away for a 227-213 win and the fourth title of his JBT career, and a long awaited first scratch win.

        Twenty-four handicap finalists were whittled down to eight, and in those quarterfinal matches, Patten beat Steven Acuff 237-226, Stephen Cano beat Dawn Richards 207-198, Kyli Selley got past Garrett Welsh 216-203, and Rance Dvorak defeated Taylor Wells 222-203.  Down to four bowlers, Patten ousted Cano 224-202, while Rance just squeezed by Kyli 210-207 to reach the title game.

    Patten has been a JBT regular for quite a while, but had yet to even crack the top 5 before it all came together for him today.  He looked good in the title game as well before a few late opens gave Dvorak a chance to make up the handicap difference.  Needing a double in the tenth to win, Rance got the first one, but was unable to get the second strike, and Patten claimed his first JBT title with the 224-218 final score.

    Valerie Riggin won her 2nd Women's Series event of the season with a 214-206 win over Selley, who qualified out of the handicap division and had previously beaten Riggin for a Women's Series win .  Valerie needs one more win to qualify for the 2012 Girls TPC this summer.

    Thanks to the whole crew at Vista for a great job hosting our Tour.  Over $1,500 in scholarships were earned by bowlers of all ages and averages.  To get in on the fun, just check out our schedule and come on down, it's that easy!