THE ORLEANS

champs Nathan Panaligan and Amanda Ailport

Nathan Panaligan continued an already historic run, while Amanda Ailport made her own personal history, in season-opening JBT Mojave Conference action at The Orleans.

Brandon Allred made a great run up the scratch division stepladder prior to his meeting with Panaligan.  He began with a 224-179 win over Kyle KIng.  He followed with a 207-199 win over JR Monteith, who won the previous day in California, and then beat up and coming Zach Hattori 223-142 in the semifinals to reach the title match.

Nathan has won the season-opening Mojave event each of the past three seasons, and started strong yet again, averaging over 210 on an extremely demanding lane condition to nab the top spot.  In a tough battle with Allred, Panaligan calmly threw three perfect strikes in the tenth frame to shut out Brandon, winning 213-194 for his eleventh career JBT title, and making it an astonishing four-in-a-row for season openers!

2005-06 Bowler of the Year Alesha Pannier opened the handicap stepladder finals with a 203-185 win over first time finalist Chase Cole.  Pannier then get by another finals rookie, Jonathan Kozich, by a 210-206 score, before Arizona's Amanda Ailport defeated Pannier 209-176 to reach her first title match.

Top seed Donovan Koff had already made the finals in So Cal one this year, and the 8 year-old Las Vegan showed he's going to be a force all season long by leading today.  However, Ailport made 9 of her 10 spares in the title match to win the match 212-179, good for her first career JBT title.

Big thanks to everyone at The Orleans for another great job hosting our Tour, just like they do every time.  Want in on the fun?  Come on down to the next JBT event, it's as simple as that!