TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

champs Kyle King & Zach Rapp

        Kyle King put on a clinic on a brutal pattern, while Zach Rapp completed a dream weekend with his first title, in exciting action at the JBT Tournament of All-Time Champions (and almost champs), hosted by Let It Roll Bowl in Phoenix.

        King began a run up a scratch division stepladder finals that featured an amazing 132 titles between the four bowlers with a 224-212 win over 36-time champion BJ Baker.  In a much-anticipated match against 26-time Jakob Butturff, who is shattering many of Kyle's records this season, Jakob had some uncharacteristic late opens, and Kyle took advantage for a 200-174 win to advance to the title match.

        Kyle had averaged 230 in qualifying on an extremely difficult Los Angeles pattern to take a big lead, but Bryanna Caldwell climbed past King into the lead with a solid matchplay round.  The finale, featuring our winningest bowler ever, and our winningest female bowler ever (Bryanna is the only girl to reach 10 titles), lived up to its billing as they each ground out the marks.  However, a tenth frame split from Caldwell spelled her doom, and Kyle defended his T of C crown with the 214-182 final score.  It's the 62nd title of his amazing JBT career.

        The handicap division stepladder finals opened with defending T of C champion Brendan Lindsey escaping with a 243-226 win over Kyle McCracken in a high-scoring game.  The semifinal match was another close, high scoring affair, and again Lindsey squeaked through, this time 230-224 over Cierra Chamot.

        Top seed Zach Rapp, fresh off a third-place finish in the Invitational the day before, had an even better day today, leading since game two and holding off Chamot for the #1 spot.  He had his hands full though with a determined Lindsey, who was eager to defend his title.  The match came down to the tenth frame, when Rapp lost the lead he held most of the game with a disastrous 2-8-10 split.  Needing a mark to win, Brendan left the 1-2-8, but on apparent good attempt at the spare, Lindsey left the 8 standing, shocking everyone, and giving the match and title back to Rapp, 217-214.  Zach came into the event as one of the 'almost champs', but can erase that from his resume with the first win of his career.

        Thanks to the many JBT champions from all 17 seasons who came back to bowl with today's champions, as well as to Let It Roll for another great job hosting our Tour.  Want in on the most fun in bowling?  Check out our summer schedule and come on out to our tournaments, it's that simple!