JBT EAST COAST'S LAS VEGAS OPEN

champs Dean Richards and Zach Hattori

Dean Richards and Zach Hattori captured national titles in the East Coast JBT's 11th annual Las Vegas Open, held at The Orleans August 3-5.

Richards, Tacoma WA, led the qualifying round easily, and held on to that lead through matchplay.  After Devin Bidwell, Simi Valley CA, defeated Chris Pierson, Waukesha WI, 249-207, to reach the title match, Richards pulled off a mid game seven-bagger to defeat Bidwell 246-216.  The win was the second of the Junior Team USA member's JBT career, and came with a $2,500 top scholarship prize, plus optionals.

Hattori's win was as historic as it was statistically unlikely.  The 2006 Las Vegas Open champ came in with an average 27 pins higher than last year, and this year's lane condition was far more challenging.  Despite that, he blew away the field in qualifying, then went 7-1 in matchplay en route to the top seed.  When Taylor Ray defeated Jeffrey Suma Jr., Lake Orion MI, 235-223 in the semifinal, an all-Vegas title match was set up.  The finale was all Hattori, though, as Zach won 220-184 for the title and a $2,000 scholarship.  Hattori has now gone an incredible 20-1 in matchplay in the last two Vegas Opens.

For more info, please visit the East Coast JBT's website at www.jbtbowling.com.  Prizes above do not include any bracket, high game, sweeper, or eliminator results.  Again, this is the east coast JBT's event, not ours...