WOW!  We admitted that we were guessing at the lane conditions... but we didn't expect to see so many BIG scores like we had on Saturday!  EVERY squad produced several scores over 1000.  By the end of the day we had a total of ELEVEN 1000's and a Cut-Line that was well above average at 965.  We even had two bowlers that came close to NATURAL 300 games.  Stan Tappe & Carl Nichols both strung real strikes all the way to the 10th frames, before being derailed.  Unfortunately, while the scores were big, the turnout was the smallest of the year, with only 111 entries.  Special THANKS #1 - To all those that made the extra effort to get to Kenmore!  Impressively, the South Sound bowlers actually outnumbered the Seattle area bowlers in every squad!  Special THANKS #2 - Our Members have always demonstrated an incredible amount patience... we never appreciated that more than on Saturday, when the Gremlins were obviously out in force.  With all the real strikes, the strings of Taps never got beyond FOUR, with 3 Members (Tom Briskey-Lynn Freeman-Martin Boner) reaching that total and taking $150 each from the 9-Tap Jackpot.

Despite all the huge scores, Carl Nichols took the Top Honors by only ONE PIN at Kenmore!  Carl captured his 2nd Title and $2,127.00, with an amazing finish that re-affirms the proverb "Never-Give-Up".  Since Carl has very little Handicap (3 pins), his second game 199 could havebeen enough to take the 'wind-out-of-his-sails' with so many high scores already on the board.  After that game, it would require a nearly impossible finish of back-to-back 300 games if he were to have a shot.  Sometimes winning a Title requires getting 'HOT' for 4 games, occasionally you can do it getting 'HOT' for 3 games, Carl did it by being PERFECT in his last TWO games.  This was a comeback that's worthy of a page in the Tour History Book... Back-to-Back 300 games to win by ONE PIN!!  You just never know when you're going to get 'HOT' and it usually happens when you least expect it.  Carl makes the trip every week from his home in Blaine (U.S./Canadian Border), to compete wherever the Tournament is hosted, often with friend Bob Blakeslee (Mt.Vernon).  This week he used his"Blue" HAMMER, drilled by buddy Bob Blakeslee at Riverside Lanes.  CONGRATS Carl on Win #2!

Just as 'Hot' was Lynn Freeman, who was within ONE 10th frame shot of her 1st Tour Title, topping her previous best series by a HUGE 150 pins margin.  She takes home a well earned $951.00 for her best ever finish in 2nd Place.  Also with his best finish (3rd) and best series by 70 pins, Martin Boner was limited to a $250 payday due to zero in the Pro Pot.