We had a GREAT day at Roxbury Bowl, with a nice turnout (116), a very healthy total payout $8,343.00 and other than some small speed bumps, a pretty smooth running Tournament all day.  The increased focus on the 9-Tap Jackpot, thanks to the 50% jump in the payouts, resulted in several near misses.  Earl Kleist already holds the record for hitting the largest Jackpot, he almost took down the 2nd largest when he hit Taps in 7 of his first 8 frames.  Almost hitting 7-Middle Taps were both Judy Buchanan (recently turned 84) & Juanito Montanez, each getting to throw 'one magic ball' for $750.00, both made great shots that could have done the job... but didn't.  Instead, 3 Members (R.Abella-D.Novelo-E.Kleist) had the front 4-Taps, taking advantage of the 'Ties paid in Full' status for the Consolations, pocketing $150.00 each for their efforts.

In 2014, Bruce Gorr & Kathy Johnson were named 'Couple of the Year' for their yearlong battle (Family Feud) in the Bowler of the Year competition, 

where they finished 12th & 13th only separated by 0.4 (four tenths) of a point.  Kathy won that 2014 competition and Bruce vowed revenge this year.  He certainly made a step in that direction this week, shooting a HUGE series in the 12:00 squad and hanging on ALL DAY for the Win and a hefty $2,273.00 payday.  His nearest competitor was Kathy, who had a shot to catch Bruce in her final game.  Back in 2008, Tour favorites Buddy Budbill (then 74 - now deceased) and his wife Ardie finished 2nd & 3rd for the previous best finish by a couple.  Now the Kathy & Bruce tandem achieve a new standard with their 1st & 2nd Place finish.  

Bruce first joined the Tour in 2008 and Kathy in 2009, before they moved to Arizona for a while.  Although Bruce had numerous high finishes over the years, he didn't earn his first Title until 2014.  He took a heapof abuse when his sister Lisa Ohm won a Title in 2009 and it got worse when Kathy earned her first Title in 2013, after they returned to the area.  Since Bruce broke through with his first Win last year, he's now earned his THIRD Title in the last 18 months.  That certainly qualifies as a great example of 'patience paying off'!  Bruce used his Tropical Storm, drilled at Kent Bowl, to earn the White Champion shirt for #3.  CONGRATS Bruce & Kathy!

Kathy re-entered in the 2nd squad, telling Bruce she was going to beat his score.  She ended up with a BIG 2nd Place check for $1,009.00 for coming the closest to catching him.  In 3rd Place, also shooting in the 1st squad, Mark Hitchcock breaks out of a very 'dry spell' over the last few months.  Ironically,Friday night he smashed a finger on his bowling hand, making it pretty painful to throw his ball.  He decided to give it a try anyway and earned a $515.00 payday as a result of that decision. In 4th Place, Judy Buchanan would have probably preferred that Mark rested that finger, since she finished just 4 pins behind.