This week, we had some great competition, and close Battle, for the Title that went right down to the wire.  Squad after Squad we saw solid scoring and every squad had a significant number of bowlers with a chance to WIN going into their last game.  Saturday was also a day that contradicted recent history at Secoma.  The overall scoring was higher than our previous visits.  We had a healthy jump in the 'Cut-Score' this week, which increased from an average of 901 in our previous 3 visits, to a strong 930 on Saturday.  The EIGHT Members who topped the 1000 mark, were evenly distributed, with 2 coming from each squad.  While the scores went higher, the history of big payoffs from the 9-Tap Jackpotwent in the other direction.  Although a few bowlers had strings of as many as 5-Taps in the middle of games, only TWO bowlers managed to string just the first 4-Taps.  Manny Avila and Del Wiggins each took home $150, leaving the Pot to grow to near Record heights.  The Jackpot has NEVER reached the $10,000.00 mark, but next weeks Pot, at Pacific Lanes, will be the 2nd highest ever at $9,687.00.

 

Secoma produced another 1st-Time Champion, with Mai-Lee Bowyer taking the Crown (tiara).  It required a 'Clutch Performance' to pull-out this win.  Needing a solid 4th game, she struggled through a few tough frames, caught a few breaks and converted 2 critical spares to leave herself a chance in the last frame.  In that final 10th frame, she needed 2 strikes plus at least a nine count to take the lead.  Like a true Champion,she buried ALL THREE which earned her the Title by just 2 pins.  Mai-Lee hadn't done much bowling over the last 15 years, until her Dad (Steve) talked her into joining a league with him at Secoma last year.  Joining the Tour earlier this year, she has steadily improved her game along the way.  Robert Kelly, at the Somoff Pro Shop in Secoma, did the work on her new Storm 'Tropical Heat' that Mai-Lee says has helped her improve her game.  She and her fiance' recently bought a house, which may now be furnished a new washer & dryer thanks to the hefty $2,419.00 payday.  Mai-Lee usually bowls with her dad Steve, sister Lynn and brother-in-law Steve.  It was Lynn who wanted Mai-Lee to bowl with her in the 3rd squad, which prompted Mai-Lee to re-enter.  Dad said that both sisters were fierce competitors in High School.  Mai-Lee and Rich Eaton were 'bantering' while in line, challenging each other to finish in the Top 5.  Dad said the story with Rich reminding him of an old MONKEE's song, "I'm a Believer"!  We're all believers now... CONGRATS Mai-Lee on win #1!!

 

Also on a re-entry, Jeff Scott held the lead with a nice 1030 after the 2nd squad, before being nosed out.  Jeff's been on the upswing lately, even his 1st squad score would have been enough to Cash.  An excellent 2nd Place check for $1,077.00 should soothe the wound a little.  In 3rd Place, one of the original 2002 Tour Members, Gary Woldt spun a sweet 1015.  Like Jeff, both had an opportunity for a higher finish, slip away with a late tough frame or two.  In 4th, Rich Eaton kept to his word with Mai-Lee with a Top 5 Finish.  Rich said that despite his doctors orders to stay off a bad knee, he wasn't going to let Earl run-away with a tight Bowler of the Year competition.