Starlite Scratch Matchplay Challenge

champion Jerod Florez

Jerod Florez, Bosque Farms NM, topped a very strong field of 55 scratch bowlers to win the Starlite Lanes Scratch Challenge, a special event conducted by the JBT SW in beautiful Flagstaff.

The entire field rolled six games of matchplay on a demanding lane condition, after which the field was cut to 16 for single elimination, best 2-of-3 matchplay.  Top seed Shane Peck led a parade of upsets in the round of 16, as 6 of the 8 higher seeded bowlers lost their matches, often in heartbreaking fashion.

The tension was even greater in the round of 8.  In those matches, #8 seed Florez swept fellow New Mexican Bill Grant 2-0; #11 Jeff Spiesman blasted a 248 and 243 to dismiss #13 Theo Douthit; #12 seed BJ Baker ousted #3 Steven Black 2-0, and #10 Brian Weyrauch outlasted #15 Elias Ewert 2-1.

In the semifinal matches, Florez defeated an exhausted Spiesman 188-147 and 203-133.  In the other semi, Baker snuck by Weyrauch in three tight games to advance to play Jerod for the title.

The title match was a runaway for Florez, who began with the front four and never looked back, defeating BJ 223-171 for his 4th career JBT SW title, and a big $400 scholarship payday.

Everyone who finished in the top 5 qualifies for the 2006 JBT SW Arizona Invitational Tournament, the regular season's year end 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! 

Thanks to Roger and Ilene Hailey and everyone at Starlite for a great job hosting one of our best events of the season.  The center has remodeled with new lanes and looks great, so check it out!  Over $2,300 in scholarships were awarded to the field.   Please continue to help spread the word about the terrific benefits of bowling JBT SW events!