2009 Las Vegas Main Event Open Scratch Singles

champ Brent Bowers and runner-up Christian Jensen

        Brent Bowers, Mulvane KS, became the first two-time Main Event singles winner by capturing the Open Scratch Singles title at the 2009 Las Vegas Main Event, presented by Ebonite International and the Junior Bowlers Tour, and hosted by Texas Star Lanes.

        An extremely demanding condition challenged an extremely talented field that contained some of the best under-22 talent in the country, requiring only a 192 average to make the cut to the semifinal's top 60 bowlers.  Mike Fujita led the 8-game qualifier at 1766, and hung on through the six-game matchplay semifinals to nab the #10 seed for the 16-man bracket-style stepladder finals.  In the first round, he had to face three other bowlers, and his 225 was enough to advance over #16 Justin Tan (212), #14 Jake Peters (180), and defending champion #12 Brad Miller (196).  In a simultaneous 4-way match, #11 John Patrick's 202 eliminated #9 Cameron Weier (153), #13 Miguel Lopez (180), and #15 Travis Zehntner (183), who did claim the scratch all-events title with his tournament-long excellence in singles, doubles, and team.

        In round two, #5 Christian Jensen (215) eliminated Fujita (205) and #7 Jeremy Glover (184).  In the other bracket, #6 Steven Manier defended his seed with a 198 that ousted Patrick (162) and #8 James Hawkins (149).  In round three Jensen rolled on with a 216-198 win over #4 Josh Jackson, while #3 and 2006 Main Event champ Nathan Panaligan edged Manier 200-189. 

        Down to the semifinals, #2 Bowers beat Panaligan 178-163, while Jensen ousted top seed Josh Blanchard, who is about as veteran as you can get for an under-22 bowler, 200-193, setting up an all-Kansas title match.  Blanchard finished third for $2,000, while Panaligan added $1,500 to his JBT earnings for fourth.

        The pair that Bowers had been on was definitely the tougher of the two, and as the higher seed Brent chose to bowl the title game on that pair.  It was a grind all the way, but a ninth frame 6-7-10 from Jensen gave Bowers the edge he needed, and his tenth frame strike sealed a 212-196 win, the championship, and a whopping $5,000 first place scholarship prize.  As the only two-time singles champ, he's now earned well over $10,000 in scholarships in only a handful of career JBT events!  Jensen, one of the JBT's most veteran bowlers, wrapped up his Main Event career in fine fashion with a $3,000 scholarship windfall.

        In total, over $52,000 was awarded to bowlers from all over North America.  Thanks again to Jerry Francomano and the fantastic crew at Texas Station for an unparalleled job hosting this prestigious event.  Complete results and so much more are all at www.bowljbt.com  , check it out today, and make plans for the 2010 Main Event, at Texas Station December 24-28, 2010.

Finalists:

Rank Last First City State prize
1 Bowers Brent Mulvane KS $5,000
2 Jensen Christian Witchita KS $3,000
3 Blanchard Josh Wichita KS $2,000
4 Panaligan Nathan N. Las Vegas NV $1,500
5 Jackson Josh Everett WA $1,000
6 Manier Steven Vista CA $750
7 Glover Jeremy Compton CA $650
8 Hawkins James Perris CA $600
9 Fujita Michael El Sobrante CA $500
10 Patrick John New Smyrna Beach FL $450
11 Weier Cameron Federal Way WA $400
12 Miller Brad Raytown MO $350
13 Lopez Miguel Peoria AZ $300
14 Peters Jake Decatur IL $250
15 Zehntner Travis Goleta CA $200
16 Tan Justin Flower Mound TX $180

Semifinalists:

17 Chapman AJ Machester IA
18 King Kyle Glendale AZ
19 Kent Marshall Yakima WA
20 Bidwell Devin Simi Valley CA
21 George Kris Las Vegas NV
22 Hattori Zack Las Vegas NV
23 Mochizuki Peter Honolulu HI
24 McBride Josh Wichita KS
25 Young Geoffrey Denton TX
26 White Clarence Mountain House CA
27 Lavery-Spahr Sean Pasadena TX
28 Tatrow Kevin Bel Aire  KS
29 Setchel Jacob Manteca CA
30 Lee Nick Tuscon AZ
31 Shern Brent Los Angeles CA
32 Geering Greg Phoenix AZ
33 Chuo Joey La Quinta CA
34 Sloan DJ Las Vegas NV
35 Hayes Mike Witchita KS
36 Edwards Wes Blue Springs MO
37 Uppdegraff Daniel Alta Loma CA
38 Paris Blake Brentwood CA
39 Pirtle James Waipaitu HI
40 Curtis Tristan Fife WA
41 Kraye Brandon La Habra CA
42 Patacsil Austin Kailua HI
43 Leong Dallas Las Vegas NV
44 Nakagawa Jonathan Honolulu HI
45 Monteith JR Orange CA
46 Plunkett Jordan Everett WA
47 Boyle Scott    
48 Dias Alex Lafayette CO
49 Lou Justin San Diego CA
50 Hewitt Travis Fremont CA
51 Myers Mark Anaheim CA
52 Del Cerro Mark Fremont CA
53 Ballard Brian San Diego CA
54 Franklin Brandon Hampton VA
55 Tang Darren San Francisco CA
56 Ursillo Tim El Cajon CA
57 Cote Randy Tucson AZ
58 Pacheco Frank Goleta CA
59 Garcia AJ Covina CA
60 Inafuku Keene Mililani HI

Qualifying:

61 Kawada Ethan    
62 Patty Dan Alamo CA
63 Ragland Lance    
64 Perry Devin    
65 Garriott Andy    
66 Lamek Nick Las Vegas NV
67 Alford Nicholas    
68 Lavery-Spahr Anthony Pasadena TX
69 Benoit Kenny Topeka KS
70 Smith Cameron El Cajon CA
71 Hogan Paul    
72 Fujita Ronnie El Sobrante CA
73 Allred Brandon Las Vegas NV
74 Hair Charlie Lake Forest CA
75 Fukumizu Preston Los Angeles CA
76 Svoren Andrew Bakersfield CA
77 Ezrol Matt Coconut Creek FL
78 Peden Ryan Sanger CA
79 Foshie Aaron Tempe AZ
80 Lemus Keyon Inglewood CA
81 Takara Ray Honolulu HI
82 Fry Billy Antelope CA
83 Leach Labriel    
84 Teaney Ryan Kansas City MO
85 Earle Alexander Spokane WA
86 Herbert Matt Prescott AZ
87 Cruz Tyler    
88 Jones Kevin Diamond Bar CA
89 Thiedke Adam    
90 Berry Kyle Chesapeake Beach MD
91 Ono Jordan Pearl City HI
92 Douglas Anthony Tacoma WA
93 Hefley James    
94 Bonneville Kylee Mesa AZ
95 McPherson Cort Simi Valley CA
96 Chin Reily   CA
97 Hansen Dan Henderson NV
98 Tang Michael San Francisco CA
99 Horst Alex Garden Grove CA
100 Cormack Matt Woodland Hills CA
101 Malacky Brandon Aurora CO
102 Gagliardi Jess Alamosa CO
103 Curtis Mark Torrance CA
104 Clemens Sam Beaverton OR
105 Phandanouvong Foster San Diego CA
106 White Schrader Kalama WA
107 Hansen Brad Henderson NV
108 Walker Matt Atwater CA
109 Simon Zach    
110 Dempsey Riley Avondale AZ
111 Griener Alex Richmond CA
112 Dukes Jon    
113 Kamiyama Micah Clovis CA
114 Ford Zach Las Vegas NV
115 Ward Matthew Loveland CO
116 Ardo Chasen Kaneohe HI
117 Grinfelds Dzintars    
118 Pixley Michael Sacramento CA
119 Oceguera Adrian Selma CA
120 Hughes Chris Syracuse UT
121 Ferrer Jordan Henderson NV
122 Robbins Matthew Pacifica CA
123 Akau Landon Honolulu HI
124 Coveris Delano    
125 Hatchett Eric    
126 Wyman Robert    
127 Stanley Marcus    
128 Tajiri Joshua Mililani HI
129 Ho Matthew Kailua HI
130 Akau Leland Honolulu HI
131 Herbert Zach Prescott AZ
132 Kanda Justin    
133 Young Ryunn Danville CA
134 Godoy Armando   CA
135 Kennedy Logan Las Vegas NV
136 Tindell Kevin    
137 Owen Brandon Las Vegas NV
138 Spacey Tanner Burien WA
139 Arakawa Bryce    
140 Lindeman Curtis Spokane WA
141 Raymond Aaron Bloomfield NM
142 Englehart Scott West Hills CA
143 Tanna Scott Honolulu HI
144 Brown Ricky Daytona Beach FL
145 Jordan John Bellingham WA
146 Williams Jeff Surprise AZ
147 Honcuuada Philip Houston TX
148 Kinzler Randy    
149 Fukuda Justin Honolulu HI
150 Hopfner Todd    
151 Kern Gregg    
152 Kutcher Chris Las Vegas NV
153 Katz Jordan Henderson NV
154 Pandoff Wesley Charlotte NC
155 Page Robert Los Angeles CA
156 Hernandez Andre Chula Vista CA
157 Sims Justin Ventura CA
158 Bronstein Michael Costa Mesa CA
159 Cruz Anthony San Diego CA
160 Billman Jared Phoenix AZ
161 Corrao Andrew    
162 Karpovich Kyle Chandler AZ
163 Becker Richard