Our Newest Champion . . . 

"It only took me 5 years, 3 months and 21 days", said Cora Naki-Souza.  It took"Dedication and Perseverance", as her best was a 3rd place finish; Cora finally hit the jackpot.  Another successful 9 Tap tournament concluded at K-Bay Lanes this past weekend, despite the long lines at K-Bay Main Gate, where we crowned a new Champion.  The scoring was just at the level we like to see, where it took a 936 to cash and with only 3 bowlers topping 1000.  We saw a few BIG games Saturday, but those few bowlers were not able to string those big games together. 

In Bowling, “Success” is not measured by how well one “Cranks Up” a bowling ball; or the “Speed, Strength and Control”; or the “Smooth like Silk” motions of a bowler, but how “Cool, Calm and Focused” a bowler remains amidst the “Wolves”.  Cora was able to hold her composure to “Tame those “FEROCIOUS WOLVES”. 

Daniel Toyooka-Lim set the tone early as he posted a fine 1004 (actually, he shot the best score of the day 1035 but holds a -7 handicap for a 1004 score), followed closely by Puget Sound Member Pearl Sedeno; the second squad saw Cora Naki-Souza post a nice 4-game total of 1025.  The final squad was headed by Brian Pineda, Cameron Cofield, Lawrence Ambush and Edward Estoesta.Brian started "Gangbusters" shooting a 242 and a 9Tap 300 but faltered in the 3rd game and couldn't right the ship in the 4th.  Cameron was going along real smooth like shooting games of 247(283 hdcp), 230(263 hdcp), 217(253 hdcp) but threw a "Nasty Split" in the 6th frame and couldn't put it together the rest of the 4th game.  Lawrence Ambushstarted the final squad slow but concluded with a "big bang" to finish in 4th place.  Edward Estoesta went riding on a "Roller Coaster" but a big score in the last game (296 + 34hdcp= 330) moved his position to  5th place in the tournament.  The Tour’s newest Champion, Coralene Naki-Souza, posted three great games but was a little unsteady midway into the last game of the second squad,  righted her game and was“Cool, Calm & Focused” the rest of the way to beat Daniel by a mere 21 pins, posting a score of 1025. Cora collected $1,175.00 for her win.   Asked what she was going to do with her winnings, her answer“On to Las Vegas”.  She used a Gold Rhino Pro drilled by John, a friend from the Koolau Senior League at Pali Lanes.  Cheering her on was 9 Tap Tour Champ and nephew Emory Carrick, Pearl Sedeno, Randy Kaea-Cook, Bob Kailewa and Ron Loo.  She also thanked the whole 9 Tap Tour Staff for holding this awesome bowling venue.  Congratulations!  Cora Naki-Souza!! 

Hawaii Region welcomed home one of our dedicated members, Pearl Sedeno, who moved back to the Great Northwest.   In 2007, my wife (Frances) and I (Kawika) moved to South Puyallup to help our daughter and son-in-law with their young family.  While there,  I joined the 9 Tap Tour,  met Pearl and her husband Ray, and our friendship was established.  Since then, Pearl and Ray have won 2 and one tournaments respectively in the Hawaii Region and 4 and one tournaments  respectively in the Puget Sound Region.  Coincidently this weekend they were both bowling in the last squad in different regions! 

Our Progre$$ive Pot stands at $933.00 and the 9 Tap Jackpot increased to$2,031.00.  Next tournament at Schofield, September 5, 2015.