What better way to start the year, than to TOP last years Opening Day payout by over $2,500!!  We didn't quite reach the Record Doubles turnout from last June's Dad's Day Doubles Tournament, but we came close.  120 Doubles teams produced a diverse Cash List of 24 teams, with 31 different individual Members Cashing.  Many bowlers took advantage of the 'Multiple Cash' opportunity, with ELEVEN of those 31 Cashing at least twice and THREE of them hitting the Cash List 4-times each (Rey Alvarez, Samson Ibale & Earl Kleist), by making their big scores count with more than one partner.  Those three bowlers ALL paired-up with each other in the middle squad and got VERY HOT, all at the same time, dominating ALL 3 of the Top spots.  Earl had the High individual score of the Tournament, which resulted in a 1st & 2nd Place finish, Samson, a 1st & 3rd, with Rey holding down 2nd & 3rd.  That kind of 'Top of the Standings' dominance has NEVER happened before.  Both theProgressive Pot and the 9-Tap Jackpot are beginning the year with MORE money in them than they started-out with last January.  This should make our first Singles Tournament, at Skyway next week, another BIG turnout.  At Imperial, Bill Jones got his year off to a nice start too, taking home $375.00 from the Jackpot for his 5-Taps.  Thanks to Imperial Lanes, who again provided the Tour with a nice atmosphere and some very strong scoring.  WELCOME to the 17 New Members who joined Saturday and CONGRATS to Michael Carlile for earning his Life Member status!

 

Our DOUBLES CHAMPIONS are both Members of the Tour "Hall of Fame", Earl Kleist & Samson Ibale.  Earl was just inducted into the HOF last month.  He ends his 'Dry Spell' with his first Title in over two years.  But during that 'Dry Spell' of Titles, Earl still managed to earn the2011 Bowler of the Year honors.  Earl joined the Tour in 2002 and thiswin pushes his Career totals to SEVEN Championships and his $1,595.00 in winnings Saturday moves his Career total to $29,865.00 in earnings.  Samson was an original Member of the Tour in 2002, with Member #11, and he was voted into the HOF in 2009.  His share of the Doubles Prize money was $1,083.00, which gives Samson a RECORD TWELVE Titles and he's also #2 in Career earnings with an amazing $34,455.00.  This makes TWO Doubles Titles in-a-row for Samson, since he and Paul Bitzer won the Dad's Day Doubles last June.  But that also means that he's had a bit of a 'Dry Spell' of his own, not winning a Singles Title since 2010.  WATCH OUT for Samson!!  After continuously using his 20+ year oldRed Hammer for all these years, and ALL those Titles, it got stolen last month.  The lefty FINALLY had to get a new ball, a Brunswick Eclipse, which Ed Dolfay at Skyway just drilled for him 2 weeks ago.  Samson bowling with a ball made in the 21st Century could be a scary proposition!  Earl, on the other hand,  has an 'arsenal' of balls, which is appropriate for the Retired Special Forces Trooper.  He used a Super Trooper by Columbia and also a Motiv Cruel both drilled by Dave Martin at Bowl Arena (JBLM), one for each game, of his HUGE 535series.  CONGRATULATIONS to our both of our Hall of Fame Champions!

 

Sharing 2nd & 3rd places, was Tour Veteran Rey Alvarez who came close to his 5th Tour title.  Rey is a relative youngster on the Tour, compared to Earl & Samson, not having joined until 2003.  Rey has now earned $12,024.00 in his years on the Tour, which has been interrupted several times by knee injuries.  Rey works for Boeing, after retiring as a Warrant Officer with 23 years in the Navy.