Our 9 Tap tournament was back at Ft. Shafter Lanes and as predicted, there were moments of anxieties, excitement and close scoring.  Hickam Bowling Centersurprised the tour at the end of March with 75 entries, total payout of $4,850.00, some great scores at the top and produced a 1st time Champion in Dave Salis.  Ft. Shafter produced 87 entries and a total payout of $5,825.00. 

Ben Ballesteros 

Last season Ft. Shafter produced 6 out of 7, 1st time Champions.  Thisseason 5 out 6 1st time Champions at different venues, then came the “SPOILER”.  The old members had it in control.  Ron Loo posted the top score of 784 to lead the first squad.   In the 2nd squad Ben improved on his first squad score with a 811.  Then it got real interesting when Ben and Virgil Dela Cruz both shot 300’s to start the final and 3rd squad.  Sonya Baker and Lauralyn Samson both started slowly but in game 2, both ladies went ballistics as Sonya shot 264 and Lauralyn posted a very nice 278 game.  Ben faltered in games 2 and 3, to give Sonya and Lauralyn a chance to overtake him.  In the final game, Ben kept the heat on the women as he posted a nice 262 game and add pressure to both women.  Lauralyn couldn’t get things going and finished at 792, for third place.  Sonya on the other hand started exceptionally well posting the front 6 strikes.  But a split in the 7th frame and a miss spare in the 8th frame all but pulled the plug from under her.  She finished in 2nd place and a nice prize win.  It’s like “Red Wine”, the older it got the better it tasted;  former HPD Officer (Lt., ret.), Ben Ballesteros bowled the 1st squad and put together a decent score of 739, reentered and posted the squad leading score of 811, reentered again and shot the winning score of 817.  Ben wins his 5th title and another shirt.  Congratulations, Ben!