SUNSET LANES

champs Courtney Nikolas & Nick Bruketta

        Courtney Nikolas and Nick Bruketta rode off into the sunset as JBT titlists, winning in exciting Pacific Northwest Conference action at Sunset Lanes.

        Josh Mullen began a climb up the scratch division stepladder finals with a 206-183 win over Brian Monnette.  Mullen then got past Darren Stanley, who completed one of his missions since returning home from college with a top 5 finish here,  200-167.  Josh then stopped Tanner Spacey 200-151 to move on to the title game.

        Spacey and Nikolas were tied for the lead after five games, and rolled the same score in the first semifinal game, which in the day's exciting 'megamatchplay' round meant they remained tied.  But Courtney took over from there, nabbing the top seed.  In the final game, Josh lost the look he had had the rest of the ladder, while Nikolas remained strong, cruising to a 198-150 win and the title.  It's Courtney's 3rd career win, and despite all the great female talent we have, it's the first scratch singles win by a female since she won in November 2012 at Hazel Dell! 

        Previous day's champ Dayton Wickham continued to have the breaks go his way this day, squeaking by Hannah Russell 173-172 to open the handicap division stepladder finals.  Wickham then got by Kyle Jonson 208-194, before Alexa Lanning avenged her title match loss to Dayton the day before with a 207-164 win to advance for another crack at a title against top seed Bruketta.

        Nick had the biggest 'up' of an up and down, but still solid, season by leading here.  The title match was a struggle for both bowlers, but in the end Nick had just enough for a 187-177 win over Lanning, who had to settle for a frustrating second consecutive runner-up finish, while Nick claimed the 5th title of his excellent JBT career with the win.

        Courtney couldn't quite pull the doubleheader sweep on the day, though, as Wylicia Faley came up with a 211-207 win for the day's Women's Series title.

        Thanks as always to the staff at Sunset for hosting our Tour.  Want in on all the fun for all averages and all ages?  Just check out our schedule and come on down!