BOWLIUM

champs Wesley Low & Mandy Arriola

        Wesley Low capped off a great weekend with a landmark title, while Mandy Arriola capped off a crazy title match with a wild but winning tenth frame, in exciting JBT Southern California Conference action at Montclair's Bowlium.      

        Zach Martinez began a climb up the scratch division stepladder finals with a 215-214 squeaker over Matt Zweig with both bowlers doubling in their tenth frames.  In another close match, Zach won round two against Oscar Chan 205-200.  The semifinal match was not as close, as he defeated Aaron Yamamoto 213-159 to advance to the title match.

        It's been a few years since Martinez' last win, and top seed Wesley Low was not in a giving mood.  The ultra-talented lefty led every round of the event, and was in control the entire title game as well, eventually winning 198-147 for his 15th career JBT title.

        Fellow Arizona Jake Hilton also climbed the ladder over in the handicap division, starting with a 210-208 squeaker over Nick Condon.   Hilton then just got past Kylie Shishima 214-207, and in a bizarre finish to the semifinal match, defeated Steven Acuff 208-207 when Acuff, needing nine total pins in the tenth, went 8-out for a very tough loss.

        Arriola grabbed the top seed with a big game eight, and after a second half of the title match that saw only two marks between her and Hilton, Mandy found herself in the same position as Acuff, needing nine pins on two balls to win.   As if this stepladder needed any more drama, Arriola promptly threw her first ball in the gutter.  Now still needing nine pins to win, Arriola somehow threw a perfect 10 in the pit shot on the spare, locking up a 192-181 win and her first career JBT title.

        Shishima also made the Women's Series title game, but top seed Ashley Dunn was too much, cruising to a 193-167 win, the first of three Women's wins she needs to get into the Girls TPC this summer.

        Huge thanks to Scott and the Bowlium crew for an outstanding job hosting our Tour.  Want in on all the fun?  Check out our schedule and come on down, that's all there is to it!