AMF McRAY LANES

champs Randy Cote and Kyle Karpovich

    Randy Cote and Kyle Karpovich captured JBT titles as the 2007-08 Arizona Conference season wrapped up in exciting action at AMF McRay Lanes.

    Cote won four matches in the stepladder finals to claim his fourth career JBT title.  He began with a 201-173 win over Brian Weyrauch, who made his first appearance in the finals in a while.  Randy then snuck past JR Monteith 199-189, and followed with a 241-171 win over Matt Jones, to reach the title match.

   Top seed Greg Geering has had an outstanding spring that has seen him knocking on the door of his first title, and put on his best performance of the year here at McRay, leading the event and rolling the high game (286) on a very tricky lane condition.  Cote, meanwhile, made the switch from one-handed to both-handed in the middle of the season, and has answered the skeptics with great performances as well.  In a fun and very vocal title match, Cote's power carried him to a 255-224 win and the championship.

   Amanda Ailport also won three matches to climb the ladder in the handicap division.  She won round one with a 228 game over Jay Prewitt and Nicki Nunez.  Ailport then amped it up to 262, beating Chris Spinner and Jason Mertens in round two.  In the semifinals, it was Ailport again, rolling 235 to beat points leader Daniel Cotten and Tucson's Ashley Collins, to reach the title match since the first time since her win in Las Vegas in September.

   Top seed Kyle Karpovich is very tough to beat when his big-hooking A game is the right look, and it was today, as he led qualifying and then confidently rolled to a 224-197 win over Amanda, for his third career JBT title.

  Thanks to everyone at McRay for hosting our Tour again.  Over $2,600 in scholarships was awarded to the 112 entrants.  The field is now set for the Arizona Invitational, which features a $1,000 guaranteed first place scholarship prize per division- don't miss it!