We'd like to THANK all the Tour bowlers for helping to make 2012 another GREAT Season!  The $380,433.00Paid-Out in 2012 pushed our total for the last 3 years to OVER A MILLION DOLLARS!!!  We had a year with a number of firsts, the most notable was our first Woman winning the Bowler of the Year competition (BOY Top 10 & Awards below).  BIG Congratulations toJohn Nissen for his well earned election to the Tour'sHall of Fame!  I think it was obvious to everyone present, that it was meaningful to John when that announcement was made.  Awards were also earned by 3 'Rookies' who each won TWO Titles in 2012 Patrick Dennis, Jerry Hendrickson & Chuck Gonsalez.

  

Our Year-End Championship Tournament and it's unique 'Pool' format, made for some fantastic competition... as usual!  The ladies string of dominance over the last two years (Sue Packman & Shannon Peterson), was broken by Alfredo Oriza's convincing run through the Bracket Finals.  His closest game being a 224-218 match with Roy Akioka in the Semi-Finals.  But... getting into the Bracket Finals was nearly a 'Holiday Miracle'!  Alfredo didn't finish either 1st or 2nd in his 'Pool', but got into the 'Last Chance' roll-off by having one of the next 4 highest scores.  But, since he tied for the last spot (4th highest score), we had to add a fifth bowler to the Roll-Off.  Six bowlers would move on to the Finals from the Roll-Off and, of course, Alfredo snuck into the 6th Spot, then he took advantage of his good fortune by winning four straight matches for the Win.  This makes FOUR Tour Titles for Alfredo, earning him a rare Gold Champions shirt and a Tour Pennant which will hang at every Tournament site.  Since joining the Tour in 2009, he's earned nearly $15,000.00, PLUS he hit the 9-Tap Jackpot in 2010, worth $2,074.00 (2nd time it was hit in back-to-back months).  The $2,070.00 he earned for this win is excellent timing for the Holidays!  Alfredo used his Roto-Grip 'Defiant' drilled by Pat Johns at HiLine, for his Miracle Win.  Alfredo nearly didn't bowl Saturday, since he and wife Marielyn have been so busy since they recently opened their own wholesale Goldsmithing business (Oriza Jewelers).  Marielyn was also eligible for the YEC, but she worked so Alfredo could bowl.  Great Story!!!

 

Coming within a few frames of pulling off his 1st Tour Win in the biggest Tournament of the year, Terry Morton finished in 2nd Place.  He qualified for the YEC by finishing 44th in the BOY standings.  Terry also took the same lengthy route to the Finals as Alfredo, but he didn't cut it as close, avoiding the last spot in each round.  What a GREAT time for his highest finish & best payday, earning $960.00 for his effort.  Tied for 3rd Place wasRoy Akioka & Jim Reppert.  Roy was looking for his first Singles Title, although he does have a Fathers Day Doubles Title won with his son Eric.  Roy was the #1 Seed in the Finals with the Top 3-game Qualifying score of 794.  Jim was also looking for his first Tour Title and he was the lucky bowler who tied with Alfredo to sneak into the 'Last Chance' roll-off's final spot.