SAM'S TOWN

champions Nathan Panaligan & Ryan Yadao

Note to the rest of the Mojave Conference scratch division: look out for Nathan Panaligan in the first two events of a JBT SW season.  Nathan won his second consecutive tournament to open the Mojave season for the second straight season, while Ryan Yadao finally broke through for his first JBT SW title, in exciting action at Sam's Town Bowling Center.

The scratch division stepladder finals opened with defending Mojave Conference Bowler of the Year Steven Black falling to Brandon Allred by a 200-195 score.  In round two, Theo Douthit, one of our Tour's best southpaws, came up with a 235-181 defeat of Allred.  Douthit backed that up with a 228-151 win over current So Cal Conference points leader Forrest Holland. to advance to the title match.

Top qualifier Panaligan flirted with an 800 series in the semifinals en route to claiming the top seed at +354 for his eight games.  The match remained close for eight frames, but a late clutch triple by Nathan sealed a 228-189 win.  The victory was the fourth of his JBT SW career, and with our next stop at Gold Coast, the site of one of his other wins, he'll look to put a stranglehold on the Mojave scratch points race at that double-points event.

In the handicap division, Scott Schickling escaped round one of the stepladder finals with a 226-220 decision over Jordan Ferrer.  Schickling continued his winning ways in round two, defeating San Diego's Michael May 215-199 in round two.  Yadao stopped Schickling in the semifinals, 238-204, to set up the deciding match. 

Top qualifier Jennifer Roach had looked strong all day in her best-ever JBT SW performance, but ran into trouble in the title match against Yadao.  Ryan, who has been improving dramatically this season, consistently filled frames, and the end result was a commanding 227-164 win over Roach, good for his first career JBT SW title.

Everyone who finished in the top 5 qualifies for the 2006 JBT SW Mojave Invitational Tournament, the regular season's yearend event, featuring a guaranteed minimum $1,000 first place scholarship in each division.  Top season-long point scorers also qualify for the 2006 JBT SW Touring Players' Championship, featuring a guaranteed minimum $2,000 first place scholarship per division! 

80 entrants shared in over $1,700 in scholarships awarded at the event.  Big thanks to everyone at Sam's Town for another fantastic job hosting our event.  Please continue to help spread the word about the terrific benefits of bowling JBT SW events, and we'll see you at Gold Coast, our next regular season stop, at 8:30 AM on November 13!