With the Progressive & Jackpots so large, we expected a big turnout at Secoma Lanes this week and went with Mike's suggestion to add an early 10:00AM squad. As it turned out, this was a good idea with 36 bowlers showing up for that early squad, setting the stage for our biggest turnout in a regular format tournament in several years! There were 173 total entries with 35 making the Cash List with the Cut Line at 901. We wound up paying out a total of $11,588.00 for the day and for those who were at the  first squad, you'll recall that we had a $100 mystery score up for grabs...That score was a 244 (game w/handicap) and we had a three-way tie with two at 245 and one at 243.  We wound up paying $35 each to Vyron Kuver, Brian Kuykendall& Greg Burdsall. 

The Jackpot had several contenders this week, especially the the 'Middle 7' as there were at least five who had the  five straight, only to be derailed on their sixth shot. Reuben Pedro actually had the front four, then a real strike followed by the next two 9 taps. Bob Rouse wound up with the $250.00consolation for hitting the front five as the Jackpot grew again and now sits at a very hefty $7,513.00as we head to Narrows Plaza Bowl next week! We'll also have another big Progressive Pot as with the huge turnout, it stayed almost exactly the same. 

Congratulations to newcomer Golden Powell as she joined the Tour this week and was over 1000 in her first tournament, ultimately finishing in 5th Place for $245.00.  Thang Duc Thai was just ahead of Golden as he shot 1009 for 4th Place and $260.00! John Moore, Jr., seemed to be on a mission Saturday as he posted 1035 for 3rd Place, later saying "I'm gonna win this thing one of these days!" John settled for the 3rd Place $552.00 check, which is his best pay day on tour, despite a 2nd Place last November which netted him an $500.00! 

Ajay Jarata shot GREAT scratch games of 277 & 288 in the 2nd squad on his way to a 1060 series which held the lead until the very last few shots of the day...Instead of sitting around with the added stress, Ajay opted to bowl in the final squad where he actually added a 300 game to his day and found himself on the very lanes with the ONE bowler who would threaten his lead. That bowler being Steve Wilson who was on fire, shooting 263, 288 and 233, needing just a 212 in the final game where in the 4th frame he converted a 3-6-7-10 split, then he needed the first two in the 10th frame to get it done for a 1079 winning set!  Ajay was going for his 5th Tour title, settling for a hefty $1,104.00 2nd Place check.  Wilson, on the other hand earned his first title on Tour after having a 2nd Place finish over six years ago!  He picked a great week to win as the $2,459.00 check is one of the highest we've had in quite some time! Secoma's Robert Kelley drilled up Wilson's Sinister ball as he wore his Dexter SST shoes. Steve said that he didn't have anyone physically there to root him on, but credited his fellow bowlers for cheering him on, especially at the very end. When we confirmed that he had won, Steve was emotional saying "I felt like it was my time to do something special for my family...a wonderful woman, Tevis Lingle is battling cancer and this is for her, I love you, Tevis!" Congrats Mr Wilson!