WHITEWOOD LANES

champs Danny Cobine & Auston Hart

        Danny Cobine and Auston Hart survived tough fields to earn JBT titles in exciting Texas-New Mexico Conference action at Lubbock's Whitewood Lanes.

         In the day's 'super survivor' format, the lowest score each game, and the lowest overall totals, are eliminated, meaning everyone is vulnerable every game, but the higher totals have the biggest advantage.  Qualifying leader Mason Edmondson was never in danger of having the lowest total, consolidating his pinfall lead with a 290 in game seven.  But a high scoring round of four saw Mason's 205 being the low game, eliminating him in third place.  Meanwhile,  Stefan Woods finished in fourth, but had the individual highlight of the day with the weekend's only 300 game, which was only the third on Tour this season.

        That left Cobine and William Yoder as the last two standing, and it looked like the title match would go William's way after a spare-five bagger opening.  But Cobine responded with a six-bagger of his own in the late frames, taking the lead away from Yoder and sealing the 236-219 win with the first strike in the tenth frame.  It's the seventh title of his JBT career.

         Fifteen handicap survivors were narrowed down to five, and in that round, Texas eliminated New Mexico, as Cerra Strickland bowed out in sixth, and sisters Kelly and Katie McNeil finished in fourth and fifth.  In the ensuing semifinal three-way match, Hart (242) and Jennifer Fortenberg (234) eliminated Roy Delgado (211) to advance to the title game.

        Top seeded Hart, a Colorado native attending Texas Tech, continued his excellent day-long performance, beating Fortenberry 233-211 for the win and first title of his JBT career.

        Olivia Stedman pulled off the sweep of the weekend's Women's Series events, again defeating Adel Wahner in the title match.

        Thanks to Bill and Monica Wood, and the staff at Whitewood, for a great job hosting our Tour.  Want in on all the fun for all ages and all averages?  Just check out our schedule and come on down!