Bobby Bures of Mentor, OH and Meagan Seavey of Fenton, MI solved PBA Regional Pattern #3 at the 1st annual JTBA PBA Experience Championships to win their first JTBA titles. This was the first two day regular season event and things went rather well thanks to our host Cedar Lanes and PBA and JTBA Lane Maintenance Director Randy Hart. Randy did a super job coordinating the event with the PBA Central Region’s Credit Max Open held at the same time. Also, thanks to Isaly’s, the Sortino Family, and the Sandusky Men’s Bowling Association we were able to award over $2,000 in scholarship money even with the limited field of 43 bowlers. Qualifying leaders Chris Creeks of Zelienople, PA and Nikki Lewandowski of Buffalo, NY each received a $50 scholarship from Cedar Lanes and the Sortino Family of Sandusky. Creeks shot an 8 game total of +307 to lead all qualifiers including the PBA players from earlier in the day. Lewandowski was at +59, the only girl in positive numbers. All ten girls advanced to Sunday’s match play but it took a score of -52 on the boy’s side to make Sunday’s match play. Aaron Morgan of Parma, OH defeated Ben Galloway of Moon Twp. PA in a one game tie breaker after they tied for the 20th and final Sunday ticket.  Along with Creeks, the next three high scorers on Saturday received two byes into the Super Round of 8 on Sunday. 2nd was Jon Leonard of Medina, OH at +162. 3rd was Bures with +136,  and 4th was Justin Marcinko of Brook Park, OH at +103. High Game of the event was 278 by Chad Close of Toledo, and on the girl’s side Pamela Gorny of Rossford, OH had a 269.

10 girls and 20 guys came back Sunday for match play trying to take home the hardware. The first round of the boys saw 7 out 8 matches go to lower seeds from Saturday. Following the first best of 3 matches in the second round of eight two of the top 4 on Saturday were left standing. Creeks fell to eventual 2nd place finisher John Kaashoek of Jenison, MI, while Leonard lost to last months winner Jon Schiller of Milford MI. Marcinko advanced to the Round of 4 along with Bures . Kaashoek then defeated Marcinko 236-195 and Bures defeated Schiller 233-208. The title match was close until Bures put together a 5 bagger at the end with a key hit in the tenth for a 226-194 win.

On the girls side Seavey game from the 9th seed on Saturday to reach the final match. Defeating the leader Lewandowski in the Round of 8 and Brandy Hensley in the semifinals to meet 2 time JTBA winner  Gorny in the championship match. Gorny reached the final by defeating 3 time JTBA titlist Jessica Fleck of Dayton, OH, 211-188. Seavey then bested Gorny in a clean, close match 213-194 to win her first title in only her second  JTBA event.

Next month the JTBA will welcome back it’s high school players for the annual Junior Doubles March 11th, which are being held in a new host city this season. Rick Rebman will be hosting their first JTBA in quite some time, and they look forward to our return. If anyone is in need of a partner, please contact me either by email (cpfeifer@jtba.com) or by phone (724-779-9875), and I will do my best to pair everyone up.

Just a reminder that to be eligible for this seasons JTBA Championship Tournament, that you must have competed in at least 5 JTBA events this season, including two of the last three events (Doubles, Cincinnati, and Columbus), as well as advanced to match play in one or more events. Anyone who has entered all 11 events will also be eligible, regardless of match play advancement.