AMF UNION HILLS

champs Ben Canfield & Adam Lebbs

        Ben Canfield and Adam Lebbs captured JBT title in exciting Arizona Conference action at AMF Union Hills Lanes.

        Sixteen semifinalists in each division were tested by our 'oadotat' matchplay format, where higher seeded bowlers only need to win one game to advance, while lower seeded bowlers have to win twice, putting an emphasis on qualifying score even though pins drop in matchplay formats.  Kyle King, back from a Rookie of the Year and Team national championship at Robert Morris, reminded the Tour he is still our King by qualifying first, and then getting through round one of matchplay with a 259 over #16 Courtney Schultz, and a second straight 259 in round two over one of the heirs apparent, #9 Cortez Schenck. 

        Down to four bowlers remaining, Kyle was obviously fed up with only shooting a puny 259, upping it to 267 to defeat 37-time champ Cameron Smith 267-255, aided by a costly tenth frame open from Smith.  In the other semifinal, #3 Ben Canfield stopped #10 Derek Acuff's run in a 182-164 grindout to set up the title match.

        Canfield has had a very solid season all the way through, and as a veteran himself, showed no fear against playing King.  Ben won a thriller first game 248-243, but the deciding game unfortunately turned on a mid-game finger injury from King, and he obviously slowed down after that, with the pain of the injury and two more tournaments to come on the weekend.  Ben didn't need the extra assistance the injury provided, as he bowled a great game in a 223-177 win, good for the 7th title of his JBT career.

        In the handicap division, Trevor Thompson put on a big show to lead qualifying, but stumbled against #16 Kyle Lawrence, who pulled off the huge 16/1 upset with two straight wins.  #12 Keith Fung also pulled off a round one upset, as did #6 Josh Franz, whose 273 beat Gillian Coyle's 264 in a heartbreaker loss.  #9 TJ Rock completed the unusually high number of upsets with a win over Megan Carlson that included a front-9, 278 scratch game.

        Eventually down to four bowlers, #2 Adam Lebbs stopped Franz 233-204, and Rock defeated Fung 231-208 to set up the title match.  In the finale, Lebbs completed the turnaround from a so-so season with a 224-175 win over Rock for the title.  It's Adam's second JBT title, but first since way back in 2008 at the Expiring Pickle.  Both Adam and Ben earned an extra $25 for the win, courtesy of Bowling Dynamics.

        Schultz avenged her loss to King with a win over Shelby Dempsey to earn the day's Impact Bowling Women's Series title.  She needs one more win to lock in to the Girls TPC this summer.

        Thanks to the whole crew at Union Hills for a great job hosting our Tour for the first time in four years.  Want in on all the fun and excitement?  Check out our schedule and come on down, it's that easy!