20TH CENTURY LANES

champs Josh Mullen & Nikita Benton

        Josh Mullen and Nikita Benton captured JBT titles in exciting Pacific Northwest Conference action at Portland's 20th Century Lanes.

        John Jordan claimed the top seed after the five game qualifier at +25, indicative of how challenging the Dead Man's Curve pattern proved to be.  Bowlers then competed in 2-game, total pinfall matchplay, and unfortunately for John, the #1 jinx was alive and well, as #16 Mullen toppled Jordan 470-318.  #2 Brian Monnette, and #4 Eddy Smith all fared better, winning their first round matches.

        Mullen kept rolling in the quarterfinals, ousting #8 Daniel Hanson, Smith defeated #12 Tyler Boe in a 433-428 thriller, #6 Curtis Lindeman stopped #14 Correen Lieber, and Monnette eliminated #7 Zach Hemming.  On to the semifinals, Mullen beat Smith 434-383, and Lindeman stopped Monnette 469-364 to set up the title match.

        Though Lindeman was riding the momentum of his first title in two years two weeks ago, Mullen was riding the the momentum of the #16 seed, and his 238 first game gave him an insurmountable lead.  The 418-365 final was good for the 2nd title of his JBT career.

       Nikita Benton, on her eleventh birthday, earned the top seed in the handicap division, and defended that seed with a 494-396 win over Stephanie Arndt in round one of matchplay.  #2 seed Nick Bruketta was still red-hot in qualifying, but fell to #15 Latoya Rogers.  #3 Hannah Abney and #4 Max Polhill also got through to round two.

        In the quarterfinals, Benton beat #8 Michelle Jensen, but all the other higher seeds were upset, as Rogers bested #10 Sebastian Polhill,  #6 Jordan Heard beat Abney, and #5 Johnny Legget defeated Max.   With four bowlers left, Benton neat Leggett 427-381, and Rogers beat Heard 443-391, setting up the final matchup.

        In the finale, Benton stayed in control almost the whole match, until a late charge by Rogers turned a blowout into a one-mark affair.  In the end, the birthday girl had just enough to hang on to a 406-402 win and her first career JBT title.

        Makayla Douglas defeated Correen Lieber 187-173 to win the day's Impact Bowling Women's Series event, getting closer to the three wins she needs to qualify for the 2013 Girls TPC this summer!

        Thanks as always to the crew at 20th Century for another great job hosting our Tour!