SAM'S TOWN

champs Eric Hatchett & Michael Rose

        Eric Hatchett and Michael Rose put on impressive performances to capture JBT titles in terrific Mojave Conference action at Las Vegas' Sam's Town Bowling Center.

        Bowlers in both divisions competed in the very exciting 'super survivor' format, where the lowest single game and lowest overall totals are eliminated game by game, creating do or die moments all throughout the center.  Nine scratch survivors were carved down to five, and in that round Cerell Cardines bowed out with the low game (a still-nice 196), and Teagan Smale was eliminated with the low total of +54, but still made his first career scratch top 5 finish.

        In the round of three, three talented Las Vegas bowlers fought it out, with Eric Hatchett (225) and Dallas Leong (244) outlasting Nick Pollak (206) to advance to the title game.  The title match was a very high-level display of bowling, with 18 strikes between the two bowlers.  Though Dallas bowled great, Eric was unstoppable, with only a miss in the third preventing perfection in a 277-244 win, and his 13th career JBT title.  Though Leong hasn't won yet this season, he also hasn't missed the top 5, and the consistency is paying off in the points race.  Meanwhile, on a sport and challenge pattern (Boardwalk and Abbey Road), it took a total of 577 (Eric's 277 and Ben Canfield's 300 the day before) to win a scratch title this weekend- these guys are GOOD!

        Fifteen handicap survivors were whittled down to six, and in that round, Kyle Rendon (174) had the low game, while Jopfel Gafate (+145) and Marguerite Evans (+123) had the lowest two totals, eliminating them and advancing three players to the semifinals.  In that resulting three way match, Dylan Amico (235) and Michael Rose (245) eliminated Kevin Mette (213) to set up the title game.  In the finale, first-time finalist Amico struggled a bit, and settled for a career-best second place finish and Rose cruised to a 228-194 win and his second career JBT title.

        Randi Speiler swept the women's series on the weekend, this time beating Brooke Martinez 238-181 for the second of three wins she needs to get into the 2015 Girls TPC.

        Big thanks to Tom and everyone at Sam's Town for a flawless job hosting us.  Want in on all the fun?  Just check out our schedule and come see us at the next JBT event!