Another SUPER turnout! For the second straight week there were well over 150 entries, this time 157 as we revisited the SouthCenter area at Bowlero South Seattle (formerly Acme).  A BIG 'Thank You' to Joe and the entire crew at Bowlero for hosting another great tournament! 

The decision was made to use the same oil pattern as we did a few weeks back at Bowlero Lynnwood.  The end result: Lower scores with the cut line significantly lower (by 21 pins) at 871 as 31 bowlers made for one of the most competitive cash lists we've seen in quite some time.  There were countless bowlers with a chance to take home the title, but one by one, they were derailed by untimely & very costly splits, most of which were in their final game! 

The 9-Tap Jackpot again wasn't really threatened, but we did have two bowlers with a 7th shot at the 'Middle 7' for $750.00, but Ruong Tang & Dean Hale both let the nerves get the best of them with errant attempts. Tong Nguyen & Virginia Aguilar were able to hit the first four taps, earning $150.00 each.  As we head back to Secoma Lanes next Saturday, the 9-Tap Jackpot climbs to $9,332.00 and with the big turnout, the Progressive pot will be at $2,209.00, virtually a guarantee for some big squads. 

Skip Shear (4th), Ashley Kochel & Brian Selck (T5th) were all in the mix for the title, while James Strand's 974 set was good for 3rd Place & $520.00. This was the 4-time Champ's best finish in a year and a half. Nice shooting, James!  Just two bowlers were able to get over the 1000 mark this week as Kris Tong nearly earned his first tour title, shooting 1009 for his best EVER finish in 2nd Place!  Kris earned $970.00 and we're fairly certain we'll see him with the big winner's check soon!   

Maybe we'll nickname our winner, Ed Berg, 'ICE', as in'IceBerg'? Maybe not, sounds kind of tacky, huh?  Whatever the case, Ed was the opposite on Saturday as he caught FIRE, shooting an impressive 1022 for his 2nd title after getting his first just under four months back.  You think bonus pins aren't important??? Without them, Ed who had four (16 total) wouldv'e finished 2nd and handed the win to Kris.  He bested his $1,959.00 check then with $2,149.00 this time and he didn't stop there earning some more cash from the bracket table and scratch pot.  Berg used his Storm 'Astro Physix' ball, drilled up at HiLine Lanes by Pat Johns and with his winnings, he'll bowl more tourneys, make an extra car payment or two and perhaps use some of it for his upcoming fantasy football league buy-ins.  Ed is a bartender at The Outback Steakhouse and is a die-hardSeattle Mariners baseball & San Diego Chargers football fan.  He wanted to thank the tour staff along with his good buddies, Thang & Huyen Thai for rooting him on and he saved his BIGGEST 'Thanks' for last to his best fan and girlfriend, Carla Rivera, who encouraged him to "Go win the tourney!" after he considered not bowling due to some pain issues. Congrats ED!