2009 proved to be a Special year from beginning to end. We finished the year with FOUR straight Tournaments topping $2,000.00. The unique format of the Year-End Championship was a GREAT way to close out the year. All 80 available spots were filled, with 8 bowlers per pair. The scoring was consistently nice all day, with lots of BIG games. The day started with a Husband & Wife (Rudy & Liza Laed) battling Head-to-Head in the first game... Liza won! But, the guys got even later, in the Bracket Finals, when Dad (Child Abuser-Bill Peterson) knocked-out Daughter (Shannon Peterson). We appreciated the extreme effort that a few made to make it this event... Lee Baggerly drove over from Coeur D'alene... Kawika & Frances Kaea flew in from Hawaii... Karen Jost came all the way from Washington D.C.

Our Year-End Champion is Mike Ducay, won his 4th Career Title and this was his 2nd Win of 2009. The $2,087.00 Winners share, boosts Mike's career earning to $11,445.00. Mike joined the Tour in 2004 and often bowls with his League teammates Rollie Abella, Mholee Divina, Edgar Caindec and John Nissen. This was a strange day for Mike. His daughter was ill Saturday morning and he initially decided not to come. Then in the Round Robin qualifying, he captured the last "At-Large" spot to get into the "2nd Chance" Roll-Off. He made it into the Bracket Finals, then in the 1st Round, he threw his ball and still had the finger grip stuck on his finger. That was the ball he had shot well with all day, but when forced to switch, he said the new ball was working even better than his first ball. I guess he owes it all to a loose finger grip?!?!? His winning ball, a Storm "Domination" was drilled by Bob Sanchez at the Acme "Precision Pro Shop". As the 2009 Year-End Champion, Mike's name will also be added to the new Pennant Program, to be displayed with the Bowler's of the Year and Hall of Fame members. CONGRATULATIONS Mike on #4.

In 2nd Place, Char Patton continued her hot streak after a 3rd at last weeks EQC. She started slowly in the last match, but after converting the 6-7-10 split, she got on a run to make it close. Char also made the Finals through the "2nd Chance" Roll-Off. This one was worth a healthy $973.00. Tied for 3rd Place was Bernadette Alford and Santos Saloy each winning $375.00. Santos finished 2nd in his Pool and had a high game of 278. While Bernadette qualified with a 1st in her Pool and she had the closest game in the Finals, beating Bill Peterson 242-241.

HALL of FAME & AWARDS: Our first THREE Hall of Fame inductees were voted in by our Members last week at HiLine. The voting was extremely close, which was fitting, since any of the 9 Nominees would have been worthy choices. Appropriately, the first person to be Inducted, was the original Tour Founder Jon Schneider. Samson Ibale the career leader with 8 Titles, was next. Floor Director Leon Bemis was the third Member named to the Hall. Also, the TOP 10 finishers in the Bowler of the Year competition were recognized and STORM provided new Storm "Reign" or "Virtual Energy" Balls to the TOP 4. CONGRATULATIONS to ALL of the honored Members.

Year-End Championship results:
(This will appear in the Tacoma News Tribune on Tuesday)
Final matches - Elite Eight: Santos Saloy 278 d Rob White 207, Char Patton 193 d. Alfredo Oriza 186, Mike Ducay 217 d. Wes Puishis 197, Bernadette Alford 242 d. Bill Peterson 241. Final Four: Char Patton d. Santos Saloy 187, Mike Ducay 242 d. Bernadette Alford 212. Finals: Mike Ducay 237 d. Char Patton 221.

OTHER PAYOUTS

NEW PROGRESSIVE POT TOTAL: $1,824.00
NEW 9-TAP JACKPOT TOTAL: $4,432.00

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION