Schofield Highlights 

What a Fantastic final 9 Tap Year End Championship Tournament we had this past weekend at Schofield Bowling Center sponsored by The Dexter Shoe Company.  Hawaii's 5th Annual YEC was a "Huge Success", in spite of our tours new method of qualifying to bowl in the YEC.  We had 85 qualifiers however only 63 entries could commit to bowl,  The Tour was still able to pay the 1 in 4 prize money for this tournament .  We paid out $6,725.00 with 1st Place worth $1,670.00; 2nd place wasn't too shabby at all as we paid out $839.00 and 3rd place received $501.00. 

Senior Lopaka Chun Defends YEC Title 

Our 2-time YEC Champion Lopaka Chun entered the YEC in Defense of his title and a possible 3 peat.   Back up to2015, Lopaka had taken off his shoes and was about to leave when another member said  "braddah put your shoes back on" Title #1.  Last year Lopaka had barely made the cut beating out Mike Naehu by 7 pins, got to the final 6 bowlers, struck out from the 6th frame and Title #2. 

Present time:  2017 Dexter Year End Championship: 

Round 1:   In round 1 it was all Tonja Jenkins leading the field of qualifiers to round 2, putting together a super score of 1048.  With that score on a regular tour event, she possibly could have won her first title however . . . Tonja bowled awesome.   Following Tonja was Sidney Remigio with a score of 1004 and Ricky Laguana close by with a nice 1003.  Rounding out the qualifiers were:  Ericka Ebia (964); Claudia Ferrari (957); Darlee Horiuchi (943); John Hata (942); Al Melchor (935); Verna Rapez (932); Jessica Muehr-Begazo (929); David Hancock (927); Susan Rosario (923); Defending Champion Lopaka Chun (920); Mike Asuncion (911); Keanu Deboma (881); Duke Ducosin (876); Kelly Magsanay (855); Samuel Ho (855);  Jody Loo (845); Kenny Reynolds (838). 

Round 2:  Round 2 was led by Kenny Reynolds (268) followed by John Hata (265), Ericka Ebia (262), Mike Asuncion (260), Jody Loo (230), Darlee Horiuchi (228), Duke Ducosin (228), Susan Rosario (216), Kelly Magsanay (206) & Ricky Laguana (191).  To make the brackets even, 2 bowlers with the highest scores were brought back in to complete the brackets to 12 bowlers.  They were Tonja Jenkins (243) and Keanu Deboma (224).  Just missing the bracket of 12 was defending Champion Lopaka Chun who narrowly got beat out by Keanu.  What a great run by Lopaka nearly getting into the mix at round 3. 

Round 3:  In all 3 brackets the competition was "close and harrowing" as the field is cut to the final 6 bowlers and round 4.  Duke Ducosin (253) led his bracket with Kenny Reynolds (231) beating out John Hata (229) by 2 pins.  Ericka Ebia (222) narrowly led her bracket followed by Kelly Magsanay (219), who beat out Keanu Deboma by "one (1) pin".  Leading the last bracket was Ricky Laguana (246) and Tonja Jenkins (227) edging out Mike Asuncion (215). 

Round 4:  The final 6 bowlers, bowling for the Dexter YEC were Duke Ducosin; Ricky Laguana; Kenny Reynolds; Tonja Jenkins; Ericka Ebia; and Kelly Magsanay.  In the finals all bowlers will bowl one game and the highest score "WINS IT ALL".  The match of 6 was close and intense as everyone had a chance to win it all.  It literally came down to the final frame as Ericka (210) finished ahead and waited for Kelly (196) missed in the 10th frame;  Kenny (209) needing to  strike out in the 10th could only muster one;  setting the stage for Ricky, who needed to do the same as did Kenny.  Ricky's first ball in the 10th was a little high on the head pin but got a break on messenger giving him a 9-pin tap for a strike.  Thatwas all Ricky needed as he then buried the next two to beat out Ericka by a mere 2 pins and the Dexter Year End Championship.  With this, Ricky picked up his fourth title, a "Yellow Shirt and a 9 Tap Tour Jacket". 

Congratulations, Ricky!  Ricky used a Motiv Primal Rage ball, drilled by Wes Flores of Schofield Bowling Pro Shop.  Ricky says " Lucky, started off calm, but then got a little nervous at the end".  He thanks wife Vanessa for all her support and for keeping him calm.  He also thanks Randy Kaea-Cook and the 9 Tap Staff for all that they do for bowling, "Awesome Job". 

Here is what Vanessa Couch-Laguana says about her hubby, Ricky, " Some highlights from yesterday's 9 Tap Year End Championship tournament.   8th place for BOY; high Scratch Series (1007) for qualifying round, tied for high game 300 & 3 rounds of elimination matches till the finals.  Coming in with negative -4 pins handicap against 5 other finalists with lots of pins (3 with 40 + pins), the odds were against him, but faith, perseverance and listening to my voice of reason LOL kept him pushing through till the very last ball . . . it was very close and intense but so super proud of him". 

Bowler Of The Year (BOY) 

The competition for the 2017 Bowler of the Year (BOY) was led by Mike Yutaka, Rashidi Domville, Mike Naehu, Claudia Ferrari, Vergilio Repollo, Kevin Asato, Randy Kaea-Cook, Ricky Laguana, Kenny Reynolds and Mike Dudley.  Mike Yutaka was at the forefront for most of the year with Mike Naehu and Rashidi Domville on his heels.  By early October it became imminent that it would be a three way battle for Bowler of the Year.  In November Mike Naehu slipped and Rashidi Domville bowled well and overtook Mike Yutaka at Thanksgiving by 8 points.  Mike however did not give up as there was one more tournament before the end of the season.  It was "de ja vu" of the 2016 BOY standings, when Randy Kaea-Cook took the lead by a mere point (1) until the last tournament at Ft. Shafter Lanes.  The last tournament held at Ft. Shafter, Mike took the lead and the Bowler of the Year (BOY) title by placing 2nd in the tournament, out pointing Rashidi.  Mike will receive a Storm Bowling Ball of Choice and his first Green BOY Champion shirt.  Thanks to Storm, Inc.  for their great support and sponsorship of our Tour and Bowler of the Year.