History does repeat... all of the Stats that we shared in the WednesdayNewsletter, held true on Saturday at Narrows Plaza.  From the 'Ideal' range of scores (847-724) with just 3 bowlers topping the 800 mark... to the 'Balanced' Cash List of Low-Middle-High Handicaps (7-5-6)... to the 'Tight' competition that we also predicted.  With the outcome not decided until the Last frame, of the Last game, in the Last squad!  As usual, we also had the typical unique side stories, like Dan Grass who shot a nice 742 at 4:30, decided to re-enter at 6:30, feeling he could improve that score, then finishing in a tie... with himself (another 742).  Dale Coleman, Earl Kleist and Samson shared a HUGE Scratch Pot of $410.00 this week.  The 9-Tap Jackpot got off easy this week with Tom Melberg & Earl Kleist sharing the $100.00 for their 4-Taps, leaving the Pot to grow to $2,799.00 for Roxbury next week.

 

The odds of Winning the VISE 2-Ball Bag, donated by Jimmy Smith at the 'Strike Zone' Pro Shop, were nearly 100 to 1.  But beating those long oddsSaturday was Samson 'LUCKY' Ibale who won drawing for the ball.

Patrick Dennis ended his 2016 Winner's Circle drought, with a SPECTACULAR FINISH that came down to a 10th frame, late falling 7-pin, that made the difference between 1st & 2nd Place.  Patrick needed a HUGE final game to pull out a Win, but a third frame split looked like itwas going to derail that effort.  The only way Patrick could Win after that split, was to run strikes the rest of the game.  He had the strikes he needed thru the first shot in the 10th, despite what he described as, "Having his heart in his throat".  His pair was the last to finish, so with a large group watching, most (& Patrick) knew that he needed to strike on his 11th shot to take the lead.  With a 4-7 still standing, the crowd started to groan an 'AAWWE' in unison, just as the 7-pin slowly fell over backwards, changing the groan to cheers.  That late 7-pin resulted in a 20 pin swing in his 261 score and he only won by 18 pins.  It always seems to take a break or two, along the way, to win a Title.  Patrick doesn't play favorites either... he now has SIX Tour Titles, in 5 years, spread out in SIX different Bowling Centers.  We're checking to see which Centers where he hasn't Won yet, so he can work on a 'Variety Pack', with one of each flavor.  The only boring part of the day, was when Patrick said he would use his $1,726.00 Winner's share to pay bills.  That will also boost Patrick's very impressive career earnings to $22,156.00.  Patrick used both a Radical 'Guru' drilled by Kent's Norm Gianussa and a DV8 'Outcast' from HiLine's Pat Johns for the Win.  Patrick offered his Thanks for the support of his final squad lane mates Willie 'Steel' Manning & Krisha Naff.  Spectacular Win Patrick!!!

The victim of Patrick's late 7-pin, was Roland Jarata who held the lead from the 2nd squad till the last frame of the day.  This was Roland's THIRD recent near miss, with 2 previous 2nd place finishes coming in July.  The 6-time Champion's runner-up check of $782.00, pushes his Career total to an enormous $34,446.00.  In 3rd Place, we had the other end of the spectrum from the multi-title guys in front of him.  Shane Thompson has several previous 2nd & 3rd Place finishes, but was chasing his first Tour Title Saturday.  Shane had the only other 800 series of the day, which was worth a nice $393.00 for his effort.