We had an amazing competition across-the-board Sunday... a GREAT Tourney Finish... a Tough 'Mom's Pot' battle... along with Multiple runs at the Jackpot!  We had another super turnout with 160 entries, producing 33 spots on the 'Cash List' thanks to a tie for 32nd Place and another monster Total Paid-Out of $11,083.00.  The Top 3 podium finishers were all seeking their first Tour Titles.  For the second or third time in his career, Michael Hallbach had his first Tour Title snatched from his grasp at the last minute... this time Michael held the lead all day, until the next to last recap was processed.  The 'Mom's Pot' was also quite a battle, with a very hot Kathy Matthews tossing a 295 & a 294 game in back-to-back entries, taking both the 2nd & 3rd spots ($155.00) to go with her 13th Place finish overall.  While Chandra Martinez was the TOP MOM, with a timely and first ever 300 game (324 w/hdcp) in the 2nd squad, to earn a nice $215.00, while also finishing in 14th Place.  The 9-Tap Jackpot was lucky to escape intact.  Two bowlers, Chris Bolter & Earl Kleist, both earned the chance to throw ONE-BALL for $500.00, after tossing SIX Middle Taps... both left too many on #7.  A few other bowlers also strung 6 of the first 7 Taps, but Jesse Sherman did it after stringing the first 5-Taps (pic below), joining Kathy Savage at 5 Taps and since we're now paying the Ties in Full, they each took home $250.00.

Jeff Price has repeatedly promised that he was "Gonna Win" his first Tour Title soon.  He's been very determined, which sometimes results in trying a little too hard.  That was probably the case much of the last 6 months while he'd been experiencing a 'dry spell'.  That dry spell ENDED Sunday, when Jeff tossed his two highest games in six months, closing out his Final Squad entry, ending up with a great 836 series, to earn Title #1.  Jeff's $2,205.00 Winners share, made him the 9th straight Champion (14th out of 15) this year, earning over $2,000.00.  The weapon of choice for this Fantastic Finish, was Jeff's STORM Proton Physix, drilled by Robert Kelly at Secoma and of course his shoes were Dexter 6s.  Jeff asked us to thank his friends and fellow bowlers who have helped and supported him, including Willie, Patrick, Isaac, Mark & Lee, along with the rest of the Tour.   We're excited for Jeff's breakthrough Win and to say that he was excited... that would be an understatement!

Michael Hallbach has done very well over his 2 1/2 years on the Tour, this week's finish was his THIRD 2nd Place and SEVENTH Top 4 finish.  His sweet 817 series gave him the first squad lead, but that score did seem a little vulnerable.  His lead came within 5 pins of being caught in the second squad and as we said, it held on through most of the final squad, until the next to last recap of the day.  We know that elusive first Title can't be far off and hope the hefty $992.00 runner-up check was enough to soothe the wound a bit.

Dan Pero also had a superstar finish to his second squad entry, tossing the best two games he's shot in more than six months. That great finish was enough to propel him within 5 pins of the lead at the time.  In the end, that total held on for 3rd Place and a $383.00 payday ($10 Pro Pot).  Like Michael, Dan also has THREE previous 2nd Place finishes and seems to creeping up on that first Title.