NARROWS PLAZA BOWL

champs Thomas Nute & Samm Cosby

        One veteran returned to the winner's circle, while a second finally got her first win, in exciting JBT Pacific Northwest Conference action at Narrows Plaza Bowl.

        The always exciting pick-your-poison format was used, where after five qualifying games higher seeded bowlers choose who they want to play in a 2-of-3 match.  Eddy Smith led the scratch field after qualifying as the only bowler averaging over 200 on the tough pattern, and chose #10 Quinton Miller, whom he beat 2-0 to lock up his sixth consecutive top-5 finish to start the season!  #2 seed Nick Devlin had about the worst luck you could get, picking #15 Luke Jordan, then starting with what turned out to be the second highest game of the whole tournament (254), only to lose to Luke's 277, the highest game, en route to a 2-1 defeat- ouch! 

        In the round of eight, Smith swept Connor Jackley, Correen Lieber swept Zach Hemming, Nute got by Darren Stanley 2-1, and previous day's champ Daniel Hanson escaped from Jordan 2-1.  Down to single game semifinal matchups, Lieber beat Hanson 183-157, and Nute upset Smith 189-176 to set up the finale.

        Seeing a female in the scratch title match is no surprise anywhere in JBT, but especially in the Northwest, where Correen, Makayla, and others hold their own each event.  Lieber was still looking to break through for that scratch title though, but Nute was hungry to end a long winning drought of his own, which he did with a commanding 223-164 win, for the fifth title of his JBT career.

         In the handicap division, Toby Shepherd owned the qualifying round, and kept things rolling with a 2-0 sweep over Josh Steward in round one.  #2 Cosby also advanced, as did defending champ #3 Josh Alvarez, but #4 Alexa Lanning fell to #8 Jonathan Bautista 2-0.

        In round two, Connor Gracia beat Nicholas Wawrin, Cosby swept Bautista, Shepherd edged Jacob Grimes 2-1, and newcomer Jacob Corona swept Elisa Couch 2-0.  In the single-game semifinal matches, Cosby beat Gracia 202-166 while Corona upset Shepherd 196-191 to set up the title game. 

        Cosby had flirted with victory often towards the end of last season, but this time was able to seal the deal, beating Corona 228-169 to finally earn her first career JBT title. 

        Lieber's good day wasn't done yet, as she faced Makayla Douglas for the day's JBT Women's Series crown.  This time Lieber was able to get the better of Douglas, winning a close match 210-207 to notch another title in what is shaping up to be a terrific battle between these two talents.

        Thanks again to Narrows Plaza for always doing a fantastic job hosting our Tour.  To get in on all this fun, all you have to do is come on down!