What better way to welcome new sponsors South Tacoma Honda and 1st Citizens Bank  to the Tour, than with a Record SHATTERING Tournament.  The HUGE Total Paid-Out for the Tournament was more than $2,000.00 higher than the previous high.  Even the Scratch Pot (game & series) had it's high of $650.00 this week.  The large list of 44 Finalists forced an extra (3rd) elimination round, before we got down to the final 16.  12 bowlers were supposed to get 'Byes' in the 1st Elimination Round, but a tie for the last spot forced a 13th Bye.  Then another tie in the 2nd Round pushed an extra Member through to the 3rd Round.  In the "Bad Break" department, Rich Eaton was bowling well, until the 4th Round of the Finals when he was beset by a rarity.....THREE 7-10 splits that derailed his effort.  Or Patrick Robbins near miss of 7-Taps (middle) leaving the door open for Jason Parker and Alfredo Oriza to each take home $375 for getting the first 5-Taps.  The extremely diverse Cash List was well represented by every level of bowler, from 70 pins handicap all the way to -5 pins.  Earl Kleist came close to catching Saturday's Top Score with a 1055 on Sunday, but the 1069, turned-in by Randy Day, held up for the Top Qualifier honors and the 'HOT' New Hammer Taboo and 9-Tap Tour Jacket.  Extra THANKS to Narrows Plaza and their staff for keeping things going smoothly and a special nod to Lee, Skip and Fred for helping to come up with a perfect adjustment for lane condition that moderated the scores just right!

 

Our SOUTH TACOMA HONDA/1st CITIZENS CLASSIC Champion is Martin McElroy.  This is the 64 year olds first Tour Title.  Martin was the survivor of the largest field of Finalists, and the most Final Rounds that the Tour has had.  As a reward, he also earns the largest payday, taking home a sweet $3,351.00.  Martin originally joined the Tour in May 2002, at the Tour's very first Tournament, at Paradise Village Bowl.  He and I bowl in the same league at Daffodil on Wednesday's and after he heard about how the Tour was doing, he re-joined us last June.  Martin has had some frustration in his Tour entries recently, but despite that lack of success, he kept trying.  When he arrived at Narrows on Saturday, he commented, "I don't know why I'm even here".  Well, you just never know when you're gonna get HOT!  Having the tenacity to keep trying, was well rewarded when he got 'On-a-Roll' this weekend.  His scores in the Finals were consistently strong, winning all his matches by 17 to 30 pins, until the Championship Match when he won a close battle by just 3 pins.  I've been giving Martin a 'good natured' hard-time all year, about the jacket he likes to wear (with a competitors name on it).  I told him last week that he should bowl at Narrows, and if he was the Top Qualifier, the Tour would give him a new jacket.  He obviously did one better by going and winning the Tournament!  When asked what he'd do with his HUGE winnings, the only thing he could think of was... "I'm gonna buy a new 9-TAP TOUR JACKET"!!  Keith Boyd's 'Revolutions' Pro Shop at Paradise Bowl is where Martin got the Storm 'HyRoad' he used for his win.  CONGRATS Martin on Win #1!!

 

Chim Saechao was also gunning for his first Tour Title. .  He was ON FIRE in the Head-to-Head Brackets, until he came up only 3 pins short in the end.  Chim earned his biggest payday to date, taking a mammoth $1,460.00 for 2nd.  In one of the days great stories, our 4 finalists decided unanimously, that 3rd place would be 'Winner-Take-All' for the Progressive Pot share.  That left Danny Ramos taking home $870.00 for his share of 3rd Place and Rebecca McDonald earning a still nice $440.00.  Rebecca was also going for her 1st Title, while 'Life Member' Danny was seeking his 3rd Title.  CONGRATS to ALL 44 Finalists and THANKS to ALL 220 Entrants for a Memorable weekend.