The scoring Saturday was ideal, fitting our 'Target Range' perfectly at the Top and Bottom (832 Top/738 Cut-Line).  There were several side-stories going on within a Dramatic and Exciting Tournament competition.  Long strings of Taps brought out the cameras on numerous occasions, with 4 bowlers starting games with 5 Taps and several others with either 6 middle Taps or 6 of 7 in the middle.  James Strand nearly made the highlight reel twice, once with the Front 5 & earlier he had a shot at #7 in the middle for $1,000.00.  But, it was 79 year old Stu Gallagher (see video below) who collected the 3rd $1,000.00 payout in two weeks for his 7 in-a-row (actually he had 8).  In that same game, Stu had his first Tour 300 game and he's also put himself in the middle of a Major Battle in the Bowler of the Year competition with his 6th Place finish.  In that relentless B.O.Y. Battle, 3 of the Top 4 in the standings also finished in the Top 11 on Saturday's Cash List.  That narrowed the gap between #1 Pen Hagen (could be first woman to win) and #2 James Black (who's led most of the year) heading to the last Tournament of the year to count for B.O.Y. points.  Not far behind the two leaders, we have a new#3 in Stu Gallagher who slipped ahead of L.C.Cofield. this week.  What a perfect time to have the Appreciation DayTournament that should produce the largest points totals ever, with the potential for 1st Place to produce as much as 70-80 points and so on down the Cash List.  10am Squad added for Dec 1st Tourney at Narrows!

 

Jerry Hendrickson posted a very nice 832 in the first squad and then nervously held on, weathering assault after assault to the very end.  Jerry earned his 2nd Title in 2012 and his first outright win, after finishing in a Tie at Skyway last August with Marielyn Oriza.  After starting out with two solid games, Jerry really struggled through his 3rd (throw-out) game, but it was his final game that made all the difference.  In his 4th game, Jerry shattered his Personal Best, with a 298 (315) game, to vault himself into the lead.  He said it was a "Long afternoon", waiting to see if the score held-up.  That 'long wait' is something that Jerry is somewhat used to... having been away from bowling for 16 years after breaking his back.  This is Jerry's 2nd year back to bowling, makes for a tremendous success story and a nice example of persistence.  The ball he used this week was a Hammer Infection, drilled by Dan Sanchez at Kent Bowl.  Jerry said that the timing of the $2,072.00 for this Win couldn't have been more perfect.  Not only are the Holidays fast approaching, but he owns his own Construction Company and he said that, "My old work truck is giving out".  We asked him what other interests and hobbies he had and he responded, "Bowling, Bowling & Bowling".  CONGRATS Jerry on Win #2 and earning the Red Champions jersey.

 

In 2nd Place, a VERY HOT Joe Fincher came close to becoming the first Member, in a long time, to earn 3 Titles in one year, missing by just 7 pins.  A large $929.00 payday helps to push his 2012 earnings to nearly $6,000.00!  In 3rd, Tour Hall of FamerJon Schneider came close to his first Title in 2 years, with a strong 819 and earned a $397.00 check for his effort.  Denise Hindman made the trip down from Mt. Vernon and she came just ONE PIN short of 3rd Place with her 818 series.