SAM'S TOWN BOWLING CENTER

champs April Urban & Katelyn Scott

      The unofficial "Ladies' Year" continues on the Junior Bowlers Tour, as April Urban and Katelyn Scott captured titles in exciting Mojave Conference action at Sam's Town Bowling Center.

    April climbed a very tough stepladder for her first career JBT title.  She began with a 205-195 win over her boyfriend Kris George.  Kris said he was okay with the defeat as long as she went on to win, and she kept that request alive with a 217-182 win over Mojave points leader Cameron Smith.  Urban really cranked it up in the semifinals, firing the high game of the entire tournament in a 268-161 drubbing of Brandon Allred, to advance to the title match.

    Top seed Zach Hattori, the current JBT TPC champion, put on an impressive display to lead this double-points tournament on a very challenging sport lane pattern.  In the title game, however, Hattori struggled a bit on the right lane, and Urban strung the strikes for a 227-200 win and the long awaited championship.  Urban thus becomes the third female to win an open scratch division title this season, something never done before in JBT history- and it's only November!  The only previous time two females have won in a single JBT season was way back in 1996-97, when Amy Rocco and Shannon Pluhowsky turned the trick. 

   Lindsey Ailport opened up the handicap division stepladder finals with a 197-188 win over Kenny Herbster.  Samantha Meyers, who made it "her town" with back to back finals appearances, then best Ailport 182-179.  Kevin Weis then survived an admittedly nervous performance for a 165-159 win over Meyers to reach the title match. 

   Top seed Katelyn Scott had tied her good friend and fellow Sam's Town bowler Weis for the lead after 8 tough qualifying games, but earned the top seed with a higher qualifying game.  Both bowlers battled the demanding conditions and the new title match atmosphere, but in the end Scott eeked out a 128-113 victory for her first career JBT title.

   Thanks as always to the Sam's Town staff for a great job hosting our events.  Over $1,500 was awarded to juniors of all ages and averages- want in on the fun?  Come on down to the next JBT event, it's as simple as that!