We haven't had a TIE for 1st Place since February 2008, when we had a 3-Way Tie at Bowlero (Willie Downing - Kim Bigham - Sararn Mang).  With the Extra Large Progressive Pot this week and the nice turnout of 156 Entries, there was plenty of money on the line.  Had the Co-Champions decided to Roll-Off for the Title, there would have been a $1,552.00 difference between 1st & 2nd Place, with 1st taking $2,770.00 and 2nd at $1,218.00.  Instead, they agreed to split the sizeable amount of money resulting in an impressive payday of $1,994.00 for each.  With the exception of the two winning scores, which were 61 pins ahead of everyone else, the rest of the field was tightly packed and perfectly within the normal range of scores.  The tight scores helped create a total of SEVEN TIES on the Cash List.  One of those Ties was an interesting story... Engaged Couple (John Kaanapu & Malou Aninion), both longtime Tour Members, hadn't been able to bowl for quite a while due to work.  They returned Saturday and John shot a 948 early in the day and when he went to work, Malou came back for the 7:00 squad, also shooting a 948.  It was nice to see all the returning Members at Imperial, several that we hadn't seen for some time.  We also welcome back home, Pearl &Raymond Sedeno who moved to Hawaii nearly 3 years ago.  They've both worked as Floor Directors for our Hawaii Tour and each won a Title in Hawaii, with Pearl becoming the first Champion in both Regions.

 

Our Imperial Co-Champions are Tom Briskey Jr and Lawrence Mariano.  Tom earned his 1st Career Title and Lawrence won for the 2nd time.  Tom joined the Tour last August, having some very nice individual games, but not putting 4 good ones together until this week when he SMASHED his Personal Best series by 139 pins.  His best previous finish was a 13th Place, but he's also made some nice Cash from the 9-Tap Jackpot along the way.  He used his Hammer Vibe this week, as he got into that famous 'Groove'.  He didn't waiver through 4 solid games, except for onefrustrating 6 count shot late in his last game, that he said cost him quite a few bucks.  Lawrence won his 1st Title in February 2011 at HiLine Bowl, when he shot his Personal Best series.  This week he topped his old PB by a healthy 37 pins, but like Tom, the costly shot that he'll remember was the 5 count he had in the 10th frame of the last game.  Lawrence has never shot a 300 game on the Tour, but came very close when he shot a 288 in his 3rd game, which also topped his highest game ever by 20 pins.  Lawrence used his old favorite ball, a Columbia 300 that he bought when he was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.  He asked us to THANK his friends and lane mates Gina Jason & Joe Villanueva for their support.  When asked what they'd each do with their $1,994.00 paydays, Lawrence said pay bills... Tom said it will come in handy for the Vegas trip he and his wife are taking... Tom's wife Alicia said she's going to buy a Coach Bag with it?!?  CONGRATS to our Co-Champs!!!

 

Just edging his way into 3rd Place in the last squad, Hyong Kimmade his return to the Tour a profitable one.   He takes home a nice $644.00 for his strong 1028 series.  James Black's 1022 is what got nosed out, settling for 4th Place, but that also extended his lead in the 2012 Bowler of the Year standings.  The Top 50 in the 2012 BOY standings will appear in Wednesday's email, using the new format for this year.