What a day at Skyway Park Bowl!!!  With Rob still in Las Vegas and Steve home (sick, choosing not to share with everyone), Jason, Lynn & Margie ran the show with Floor Director's Leon, Jon & Pops keeping things going smoothly...

 

Let's first talk about the Jackpot and quickly state the fact that it was not hit...However, TWO bowlers did hit the front 5 taps for $375.00 each.  Oddly enough, the two consolation winner's couldn't really be further apart as far as longevity on the Tour is concerned. Cecil Abay-Abay (member #8) has been with the Tour since its inception in 2002 while brand new member, Eric Onosko (#2639) for just about an hour.  In sharp contrast, the middle 7 was under heavy   assault this week, twice by the same bowler!  Kathy Johnson (a name you're gonna see quite a bit in this newsletter) had TWO golden shots at $750.00.  Click HERE

 OR on picture to the left for video and see what happened. Matt Carlson, who was was bowling with Kathy, also had a shot at the middle 7, barely missing as we tried in vain to get video of his attempt (sorry Matt!).

 

With 105 entries and 21 making the Cash List this week, scores were mostly within our target zone with the exception of our Top 2, who found 'THE ZONE' bowling together, sort of fed off of each other and ran away from the field!   Rhyme or reason go out the window if you're thinking lane conditions were ideal for these two as one throws a backup-style of shot and the other, a lefty, straight ball thrower.  Who are the two we're talking about, you ask???  Answer:  Kathy Johnson and Matt Carlson!!!  More on those two in a minute.  Thang Duc Thai was the early leader as he and Leon Bemis were 1-2 after the 1st Squad and wound up 3rd & 4th for the day, shooting 1028 & 1019, respectively.  Oddly enough, it is rare that 3rd outpays 2nd Place in a tournament, but with Matt finishing 2nd and having ZERO in the Progressive Pot, while Thang had $20.00 in the pot, the payout was $500 for 2nd and $507 for 3rd.  We don't think Matt will complain over the $7.00 difference!

 

Thai's 3rd Place finish was his 7th career time on the podium as he was chasing his 3rd Title and he did take an additional $220.00 from the Scratch pot with a 980 series and a 300 game!  Nice shooting, Thang! 

 

Carlson's 2nd Place finish comes with a career best 1011 scratch, 70 pins over his previous best 941.  Talk about finding 'The Zone'!!!  Matt mentioned to Margie & Lynn before entering in the final squad "I can't break 1000!"  Well, that turns out to be incorrect and Matt now refers to himself as "Mr A.D.P." (Always Do Progressive) as putting $0 in the Pot wound up costing him an extra $525.00 in winnings.  Great shooting, Matt!

 

No need to sugar coat it, it was simply Kathy Johnson's day and it could've been even more lucrative had she succeeded in one of herTWO 'Golden Shot' attempts at $750.00.  Kathy said that she didn't really even want to bowl for some reason, but with the ever so  persuasive Bruce Gorr by her side, she entered at 2:30, didn't do so well, then got lined up, reentered and fired a career best (by 83 pins) 980 scratch series for 1119!  This is Kathy's 2nd Title, first since 2013 and the $2,313.00 pay day is her biggest pay day which takes her well over $12,000 in career earnings!  Robert Kelly at Secoma Lanes drilled her DV8 'Misfit' ball as She and Bruce bowl a lot, both here and at there home away from home down in the Phoenix area.  Kathy said "I love going to Arizona and spending time with family and being in the sun!"  Initial plans for the winnings were to go to 13 Coins for dinner after leaving Skyway with the open invite to anyone that wanted to join them.  Kathy had plenty of "Thank You's" to dole out for rooting her on including Bruce (of course) and lane mates, 'Pops' Steve Bowyer, Matt Carlson, Dan Watts & Peter Davis.  "I was just going for 9-Tap strikes today, trying to keep up with Matt and didn't even realize how well I was bowling."  That is exactly why they call it 'THE ZONE', Kathy!  Great Job!  We're all happy for you!