Josh BurkhardtThe JTBA’s fifth event of the 07-08 Season took the JTBA’s finest to Tim Voss’ Sequoia Pro Bowl in Columbus, for the 2007 Isaly’s Open. We’d like to thank Tim and his staff at Sequoia for another fine job in hosting the JTBA, as well as Isaly’s for their continued support of youth scholarship bowling. Additionally, we’d like to once again thank Randy Hart for his assistance in designing the lane pattern for this event. Once the dust had settled Jr. Team USA 2008’s Josh Burkhardt had claimed his second title of the season, completing the sweep in Isaly’s sponsored events, and Bethan McGeary had won her first title of the season.

For the boys, it was Mentor OH’s Bobby Bures pacing the qualifying round at +77. We had three bowlers in the positive numbers for qualifying, and our 16th place cut score was -85. Bures didn’t let up once match play began, advancing through to the title match by defeating Milford MI’s Jonathan Schiller, last month’s winner, in the semi-final. Burkhardt qualified 6th on the day, and defeated Jacob Casto in the semi-finals. The finals were all Burkhardt, as he took home a 2-0 victory to claim the $420 first scholarship prize. Bures received $210 for second.

Bethan McGearyOn the ladies side, Nicole Monto of Walbridge OH led qualifying at a score of -87. Our eighth place cut was at -227. Monto, like Bures, found herself advancing to the title match, as she defeated Marissa Matassa of Verona, PA in the semi final. On the other side of the bracket, it was #2 seed Bethan McGeary of New Kensington PA advancing to the final by defeating Pam Gorny of Rossford OH in the semi-finals. In the finals it was McGeary stepping up for a 2-0 victory, and her first title of the season.

In Columbus, we received a number of complaints in regards to player behavior during the event. Unfortunately, I am unable to be everywhere during the tournament, and so some behavioral issues are slipping by. During the coming month before the Adult-Junior, the Board of Directors will be meeting to discuss potential Junior Board Members from our membership, who will be contacted prior to the Adult-Junior, and appointed to the board there. Junior Board members will be responsible for assisting during check-in, if needed, as well as will be given the power to fine anyone during any point in the tournament for rules violations. This will ensure that while I may be unable to see everything, there will be a number of other eyes out on the lanes helping to ensure that our organization is at the level of class and integrity which we expect.

Our next event is the JTBA Adult-Junior Championships on November 4th at Southwyck Lanes in Toledo. It is our hope that moving this event to November for this season will help add to the event, as many high school players should be able to participate. Additionally, we are once again piggybacking on the American Heartland Conference as they have an event on Saturday in Cleveland. If anyone, youth or adult, is looking for a partner for the Adult-Junior, please contact the JTBA office, and we will do our best to match everyone up. Additionally, as discussed in Columbus, we will be slightly altering the dress code for the Adult-Junior. In order to allow teams to match, we will be waving the requirement that the youth player have his/her name on the back of their shirt. All other parts of the dress code will still be enforced. One last reminder, adult partners must be the same gender as the youth, and may not be, or have been a PBA Exempt Professional since the start of the all exempt tour in 2004. We hope to see everyone in Toledo!