Many nice stories and competitions emerged from our Mom's Dayweekend Tournament.  We predicted that Narrows Plaza would provide a big opportunity to assault the enormous 9-Tap Jackpot... IT DID!  Bowlers were stringing 9-Taps right out of the gate.  In the 1st game of the 2nd Squad, we went running for the camera, when we had THREE Members (D.Kim-P.Sedeno-E.Arneson) all with 5-Middle Taps going AT THE SAME TIME... all 3 neglected to get the needed seven.  However, both James Pippin & Willie Manning Jr later managed to start strings of 5-Taps in the 1st frame, making theirs worth a nice $375.00 each.  The scoring was tremendous in every squad, with 1000+ scores posted in each squad and an 'ideal' range of scores from 1047 to 932 on the Cash List.  Most impressive were the TWO bowlers making a run at'Natural 300' games Saturday (we've had NINE 'Sanctioned' 300s on the Tour).  James Black had a great run going with the front 9 natural strikes (he has 10 Sanctioned 300s), after an earlier run byPat Riley who had the first TEN real strikes.  Pat was gunning for his first ever Perfect Game, spoiled only by a 9-count on the 11th shot (see pic) and he got all 10 pins on #12 as well.  Meanwhile, all the Mom's were competing for the Mom's High Game Pot(w/hdcp).  How appropriate was it, to have an expectant Mom (August due date), Ashley Kochel capture the #1 spot with her 269 and earn $125.00 to get her Mom's Day weekend off to a great start?  Lisa Seifert's 260 game was enough for #2 and $90.00, while Jan MacDonald's 254 held up for #3 worth $60.00.  Ashley & Lisa also won a piece of last years Mom's Pot.

It's always gratifying to have a 1st-Time Champion, who has a genuine enthusiasm for finally breaking through for that initialWin.  Peter Davis has participated on the Tour, off and on, since joining in 2014.  But, earlier this year, Peter started competing more regularly with his son Collins.  He commented on how much he enjoys the Father & Son competitions, but this weekend, Collins had to work.  Peter said that he was very motivated by Collins recent 2nd Place finish... but, he was not happy with Collins owning the family 'bragging rights'.  This weekend, Peter said that he made a conscience effort to "Stop trying so hard" and just enjoy himself!  His plan obviously worked and now Dad owns the Bragging Rights.  After shooting a very steady 1047 series (averaged 232 scr) in the 3rd squad, Peter had to endure a nerve wracking few hours, watching at least 5 different bowlers who had a shot at knocking him off the Top Spot.  Peter commented after the last squad, that he didn't expect the wait to be as intense and exhausting of an experience as it was.  He used his Storm 'Intense' (my favorite also), drilled by Dean at Daffodil, for his biggest payday yet of $1,874.00.  CONGRATS Peter on Win #1!!!

One of the bowlers that Peter really had to worry about, was John Moore Jr, who recently Won his 1st Title in March.  Speaking of Father & Son duos, John was bowling with his son (John III).  John needed a BIG finishing game to catch Peter and was on pace to do it, until a errant shot in the 9th Frame left him just 7 pins short of his 2nd Win.  A nice 2nd Place Prize Money check for $850.00, went well with the extra $235.00 he earned from the Scratch Pot, making for a very rewarding days work.  In 3rd Place, Jesse Rowemade his travel from the Portland area worth while ($436.00), having his best performance with the Tour, since his VERY HOT week in Las Vegas last January.  Shooting in the first squad, Jesse held the lead until the 3:30 squad, with his solid 1029 series, while three other Members (Arneson-Koprek-Johns Sr) were all within 7 pins in the 2 early squads.