STRIKE ZONE

champs Oscar Chan & Rance Dvorak

        In the continuation of a weekend that saw talented bowlers breaking records everywhere you looked, Oscar Chan and Rance Dvorak won JBT titles in thrilling Mojave Conference action at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center.

        Many bowlers absolutely crushed the WTBA Paris lane pattern, producing the third highest scratch cut in JBT history (+102), but none more than Oscar Chan, who started with 279 and never looked back, breaking our five-game scoring record by over 30 pins with +358!  He slowed to a +429 8-game finish, but cruised into the top seed to await an opponent.

        Curtis Lindeman began the climb to face Oscar with a 245-187 win over Cortez Schenck, who finished with back to back fifth place finishes on the weekend.  Dallas Leong then defeated Lindeman 257-188, then stopped the nearly unstoppable Jakob Butturff 224-214, to advance to the title game.

        Sometimes it can be hard on top seeds, especially after a performance like Oscar's, but not this time.  Chan just kept on striking, winning the match 268-216 for a completely commanding second career title.  So, on two WTBA patterns this weekend, the scratch winners averaged a combined 284 in title matches- these kids are GOOD!

        Scores were through the roof in the handicap stepladder as well, beginning with Ethan Maler's 245-234 win over recent champ Zach Lewandowski in round one.  Cerell Cardines then showed off his powerful strike ball in a 310-225  rout of Maler (yes, 310).  Rance Dvorak then stopped Cardines 269-236 to advance to the title match.

        Top seed Skyler Moss was just as dominant in handicap as Oscar was in scratch.  After struggling early this season, he found his shot today, breaking the 5-game handicap record, which had stood since 1999, by one pin (+340)!  He had the 8-game record within range too, but settled at a whopping +489 by over 200 pins- wow!   However, Skyler ran into the unavoidable problem that he wasn't Justin Patten- the 8 year-old Patten has defeated Dvorak in both of Rance's previous title matches.  Despite a fine 209 from Moss, Dvorak blasted a 252, good for the win and the long awaited first title of his JBT career.

        Courtney Schultz avenged the previous day's loss with a 227-159 win over Marguerite Evans to capture the day's Women's Series title, the first of three she needs to get into the Girls TPC in the summer of 2013.

        Thanks as always to the excellent Strike Zone crew for hosting our event.  To get in on the fun, just come on down to the next JBT event!