A BIG turnout of 156 Entries at Skyway, combined with some tantalizingly reachable scores, made for an exciting competition all day long.  The turnout also pushed the 1st Place check above the $2,000.00 mark for the 17th time this year!  Only one bowler cracked the 800 mark (812) in the 12:00 squad and by the end of the day, that score still held.  After the high Cut-Line from the previous week, we had a teasingly low mark this week at a mere 703.  As expected, we also had the third Tournament in-a-row with a bowler getting One-Ball for some BIG money, but this week it happened TWICE.  First it was Pen Hagen, for the second straight week, shooting for the 7th Middle Tap, this week she was derailed by an 8-count.  Then one of the 'Original Tour Members, Samson Ibale, got into the act getting the Front 6 Taps for the first time in his Career.  That gave him that 'Dream' ONE BALL for the Jackpot, worth roughly $4,000.00 this week(see video below).  Hard to believe that after 11 years as a Tour Regular and$41,014.00 in Career Earnings, this was his first shot for the 9-Tap Jackpot.  Despite not getting Tap #7,  he still took home a sweet $500.00 for the Front 6 Taps.  The Jackpot's total still managed to inch above the $5,000.00 mark, now standing at $5,020.00.  Next week, the Tour heads one hour north of Seattle, to Mt. Vernon, for our second Satellite Tournament at Riverside Lanes.

 

 

Skyway Champion Jim Reppert joined the Tour way back in 2003 and won his first Title at Paradise Bowl just a few months later.  He was a Tour regular from 2003 to 2005, before taking an extended break from bowling.  He returned to the Tour in January 2012 and has had seven Top 10 finishes since, but he stillquestioned his ability to Win.  Before the first squad at Skyway Saturday, Jim had a conversation with new Tour Partner, Steve Freeman.  He told Steve that he, "Didn't think that he could Win a Tournament, with only 6 pins of handicap".  Steve explained that anybody can Win when they get Hot.  So, Jim got HOT right out of the gate, with his biggest game since his Tour return, a very nice 298.  He used a Track 930T, drilled at the Daffodil Pro Shop, to shoot the only 800 series of the day (812).  The highlight of the day for Jim was beating his fellow countryman Tong, in 'The Legend's' own house.  Jim came to the US from Vietnam as a teenager in 1983 and he started bowling while in High School.  He plans to use his winnings of $2,053.00, plus another $160.00 from the Scratch Pot, on a new bowling ball.  CONGRATS Jim on Win #2, let's make #3 a little sooner!

 

Breaking out of an extended slump in 2013, Tong Nguyen had his first Top 5 finish this year.  Tong has had lots of success at his 'Home House'... he used to live just 1/2 block away.  The nice 2nd Place check of $931.00, pushes Tong's Tour leading Career total to $44,268.00 and that total doesn't include any of his considerable earnings from the side pot table or Jackpot money. Francis Loyola joined the Tour in May and made his first time on the Cash List a strong one, with a 3rd Place finish and a check worth $501.00.  Jerry Hendrickson finished 4th, coming within ONE PIN of 3rd, with his 771.