PALM SPRINGS LANES

champs Wesley Low & Michael Ma

        Wesley Low and Michael Ma captured JBT titles in exciting JBT Southern California Conference action at Palm Springs Lanes.

        Bowlers competed in our demanding 'super-survivor' format, where after the qualifying round, the low individual game and the lowest two overall totals are eliminated each game until only one remains.  Thus, the higher seeds are 'safer', but anyone can go out with a bad misstep.  Twelve scratch survivors were whittled to sixth, and in that round Cortez Schenck had the low game (178), while Matt Zweig (+61) and Bobby Hornacek (+58) were eliminated with the lowest two totals.  In the resulting semifinal, lefthanded talent reigned supreme, as Derek Acuff fired a big 264, only to be outdone by Wesley Low's near-perfect 299 effort, while Curtis Lindeman bowed out in third with 'only' 212.

        Moving pairs for the resulting title game, both bowlers had a lot of trouble adjusting to some tighter backends, but it was Low who got himself together first, eventually cruising to a 210-148 win, and the 9th title of his outstanding JBT career.

        Eighteen handicap survivors were carved down to six also, and in that round Jerod Walker had the low game (179), while Leah Zweig (+86) and Greg Adler (+111) had he low to totals to be eliminated, setting up the final three.  The resulting semifinal game was very tight between all three bowlers, with Michael Ma (207) and Kyle Andrews (204) advancing, while Kayla Goad (196) settled for third place.

        Andrews was the runner-up here last season, and was eager to avenge that loss, but just like in scratch, both bowlers struggled to adjust to the new pair the title game was bowled on.  Unlike in scratch though, both bowlers were able to get lined in by the second half, creating a close finish.  In the end, Ma got the tenth frame mark he needed for a 219-211 win, and the second title of his JBT career.

        Brittany Kolatzny won her fourth Women's Series title of the season with a 187-155 win over Kayla Goad, increasing her lead in So Cal girls' points.

        Thanks to generous contributions from Palm Springs Lanes and Felix Chac Chuo Farm Inc., each winner earned $300 for first, and over $1,700 was awarded to the field!  Want in on all this action?  Just check out our schedule and be there at the next JBT event, it's that simple!