CACTUS BOWL

champs Derek Acuff & Bex Boyko

        Derek Acuff and Bex Boyko captured JBT titles in exciting action at The New Cactus Bowl in Tucson.

        Both divisions used the 'best 4' format, where the lowest qualifying game is dropped.  That was a big boost for Acuff, who started the event very slowly on the tricky Beijing pattern, and got do drop his 134 game two.  He was much better after that, and finished the semifinals with 474 for two to sneak into the #5 spot for the stepladder finals.

        From that point on, it all went Derek's way.  He began with a 210-191 win over Cortez Schenck, and followed with a 227-188 win over Ben Canfield, who earlier in the day threw the event's only 300 game, which is also the first 300 rolled Tour-wide in JBT this season, a great accomplishments with the generally tougher patterns we're putting out.  Acuff came close to perfection himself in the semifinals, beating Austin Thompson 276-180 to advance to the semifinals.

        After beating three of the hottest bowlers on tour in the stepladder so far, for the title he had to play the hottest in a resurgent Jakob Butturff, coming off back to back titles in California last week, and dominating the field here.  This time though, Derek won the all-lefty matchup, winning 241-206 to earn the 18th title of his JBT career.

         We constantly say that JBT is for any age and any average, and 6 year-old Daryus Alo proved once again that's the case by stating the stepladder finals with a 177-172 win over Jake Hilton.  Gillian Coyle then defeated Alo in a thriller/heartbreaker 208-206.  Bex Boyko left no question in the semifinal match, beating Gillian 263-206 to move on to the title game.

        Top seed Zach Rapp is off to a fast start this season, and had another great day here, leading all eight rounds.  But Boyko would not go away in the title game, and in the end it was Bex putting the hex on Zach, eeking out a 220-214 win for her first career JBT title.

        Kristen Lee became eligible for the Girls TPC with a 165-137 win over Brooke Martinez in the Impact Bowling Women's Series title game.

        Thanks to Dale, Sandra, and the crew at the New Cactus, which proudly lives on in its fancy new digs, check it out!  Want to check out the best under-22 bowling?  Then just check out our schedule, and come on down!