We are seriously trying to figure out who 'Spiked' the water at Bowlero on Sunday. After only TWO 1000+ scores on Saturday (90 entries) and a cut score of 947... Both squads on Sunday (49 entries) exploded to TEN 1000+ scores, with a cut of 1005. TEN Sunday bowlers shot above the Saturday cut score, without making the Sunday cut, including a nice 1003 by Steven Hanna. It was exactly the same shot! Was it the fog or the humidity that changed the shot? Maybe it was just that the stars and the planets were properly aligned? Or, was it just a more intense focus and determination to make the finals? Whatever caused the difference, it was some very impressive and exciting bowling!

A 2009 high turnout of 135 entries, included 18 New Members, with a few of them even making the Finals. With both the 1st & 2nd place finishers only in the Pro Pot for $10, the Pot takes a HUGE leap to $2,365.00 for next week at Roxbury Lanes. Even with the lowered Pro Pot payouts, the Tournament still Paid Out a nice $8,500.00.

Our Miller-Lite/Venture Bank Classic Champion is Lou Taylor. Back in 2003 thru 2005 Lou used to regularly travel up from Portland, to shoot 9-Tap Tournaments, until some injuries kept him out for a while. With over 20 9-Tap Tour Tournaments under his belt, he had never even shot a series over 1000 before and his best previous finish had been a 2nd place. This weekend, the shot obviously fit his game very well, resulting in a fantastic 1150 on Saturday. It also didn't hurt, that as a lefty, nobody was impacting his line. Lou thought he'd 'messed-up" when he neglected to enter any high game pots or brackets. He made up for it... by getting 5 No-Taps which got him $250 from the Jackpot + $100 Saturday Bonus + $190.00 HAMMER "Psycho" Ball + a 9-Tap Jacket. He was also limited to $10 in the Progressive Pot, because it was his first time back, after a 3 year absence. Despite that, Lou still managed to collect $1,580.00 for the win and if you add on all the extras, a total haul of $2,235.00. Lou was 'On-Fire' throughout the Bracket Finals and became the 2nd member to throw a 300 game in the Championship match (Leon Bemis was the first). He was so HOT, that he would have won all his matches shooting scratch. Lou used his 12 pound Storm "Secret Agent" to craft his masterpiece. He thanked his wife Marlys for being there to support him and also complimented all the Members he shot with for their friendliness and positive attitudes.

There quite a few other extremely HIGH scores shot in the Finals too... Malou Aninion shot a 278 and LOST by 2 pins, to Bob Berryman in one match. In the Championship Match, Lou needed that 300, because his opponent, 2nd place finisher Dan Norlin, shot a scratch 275 against him, good for $750.00. Dan made the Final match from the other end of the Qualifying list, he captured the last spot on Saturday. Our 4 Finalists decided to let the highest scoring 3rd place finisher take that share of the Progressive Pot. Bill Fowler's 236 nosed out Ben DuMont's 219 for the 3rd place share of the Pot. Bill's share totaled $510.00 and Ben took $360.00.

NEXT WEEK:We will return to Roxbury Lanes for the first time in 3 years. It should be another BIG Tournament, thanks to: 1) A GIANT $2,365.00 Progressive Pot. 2) A GIGANTIC $7,194.00 9-Tap Jackpot. 3) A Valentines Day Special Pot. A separate Pot will be created, for the high combined score, for an entered Mixed Doubles team (M/F). We will kick-in $100 to start the Pot, plus $5 from each team member. At least the Top 2 teams will share the Pot, more if entries allow. Bring your "Honey" or "Hook-Up" with a partner at the Tournament. The ladies will be in high demand, so we will allow the ladies to enter with one extra partner per Tournament entry, if they'd like. It should be fun!