CAL BOWL

champs Kyle Duster & Costa Gastouniotis

        Kyle Duster remained on a major roll, while Costa Gastouniotis tasted victory for the first time, in exciting JBT So Cal Conference action at Cal Bowl in Lakewood.

        Harley Sweigart opened up the scratch division stepladder finals with a big 261-219 win over Ben Canfield.  Brandon Wanders then turned the tables with a 256-188 win over Sweigart.  Brandon kept rolling in the semifinals, defeating Eric Hatchett 235-214 to move on to the title match.

       Duster was 100 pins clear of the field going into game seven, then put an exclamation mark on the day with a perfect 300 game, his second in as many JBT events.  Sometimes stepladder finals can be tough on top seeds when they lead by so much, but not this time, as Kyle came up with another 11-strike performance in a 262-177 win over Wanders.  It's his tenth career JBT title, making him only the 35th bowler in JBT history to achieve that incredible accomplishment.

        Kyle Reed opened up the 8-bowler handicap stepladder with a big 236 that defeated Ryland Pimentel's 210 and Jacob McGough's 193.  Reed stayed hot in round two, firing 242 to oust Arizonans Kyle Ponzo (172) and Abby Franklin (186).  Points leader Zack Long then shot a fine 218 in the semifinal, but could only watch as Costa Gastouniotis got his revenge from a crushing loss to Reed earlier this season by firing a 255 game that just edged Kyle's 245, moving Costa on to his first title match.

        Top seed Justin Patten dominated the tournament en route to the number one spot, and showed why with a great title game, but he had his hands full with Costa, matching him strike for strike in an impressive display by both youngsters.  Justin ended up needing a tenth frame strike to win, and when he didn't get it, Costa was left with a thrilling 267-250 win, and his first career JBT title.

        Two talented ladies home from college, Correen Lieber and Brittany Kolatzny, squared off in the day's girls' title match, and it was Lieber winning 248-199, with the resulting points enough to squeeze both players into the next day's Girls Invitational.

        Big thanks to everyone at Cal Bowl for a great job hosting our Tour for the first time.  Want in on all this excitement for bowlers of all ages and averages?  Just check out our schedule and come on down, that's all there is to it!