This weekend, the 9-Tap Tour stopped in Puyallup at Daffodil Bowl for the 3rd Quarter Championship for another record breaking weekend.  We had 238 entries, which was 19 more entries than we had last year.  A total of $17,298.00 paid out was the highest total paid out for this event, which included the record day that Linda and Kim did at the Bracket Table, $4,083.00. 

The 9-Tap Jackpot fended off the big hits on Saturday, and continued that trend on Sunday.  Ashley Kochel hit a total of 9 9-Taps in her 1st game, but never strung them together to get the cash.  At the end, 3 bowlers, Camron Figg, Larry Dunson, and Mike Hammersmith all hit the Front-4 9 Taps, each receiving $150.00.  This makes the 9-Tap Jackpot over $11,000.00 for the first time in history at The Angel of the Winds Casino, in a couple of weeks. 

The Last Chance squads on Sunday morning, saw the scores a tad lower than on Saturday with a cut line of 685, and Brian Chong getting the automatic bye from Sunday with a 787.  Brian Selck who won the Storm Bowling Ball on Saturday, also will receive the Top Qualifier Jacket with his 799 performance on Saturday. 

Brian Selck - New Storm Bowling Ball & Top Qualifier 

Elite 8 - Karl Helbich, Elsie Pickering, Skip Shear, Bob Rouse, Camron Figg

Greg Burdsall, Anthony George, Huyen Thai 

With a total of 49 entries making the finals, we had 3 Monster Rounds before we got to the head-to-head competition.  In an unusual circumstance the lanes definitely changed during them with a cut line of 205 in the 1st, and then dropped to 186 in the 2nd, and then going up to 222 in the final Monster Round to get us to the knockout stage. 

We don't know if Elsie was in a groove, or in that famous 'Zone', or just possessed, but on the Tour, we take NO GREATER PLEASURE, than to periodically have the opportunity to watch a bowler having their "Very Special Day!!"  Elsie Pickering clearly had her day on Sunday, bowling 10 games to win her 1st 9-Tap Tour Championship.  Elsie joined the Tour last November with her husband, Dave, and they have bowled regularly since.  Sixteen years ago, we had a similar Head-to-Head Championship match between a lady with 63 pins of handicap (Elsie had 62 Sunday) vs the Tour's highest average bowler at the time.  Despite a SEVENTY-FOUR pin difference in handicap, we reported that she seemed nearly possessed, as she also had her "Very Special Day".  She bowled so far above her average that day, including that Championship Match where she threw a 248 game and won that Match SCRATCH, not even needing the 74 pins.  Sunday, Elsie brought back memories of that day, by tossing her TWO highest games on the Tour, beating her Personal Best by 32 pins in her Quarter-Final match and by 18 Pins in the Final.  Although the handicap differential was not as large as 16 years ago, Elsie didn't need the handicap either, winning her Title match SCRATCH, against an equally 'On-Fire' Anthony George.  Elsie received a $2,615.00 for her great bowling throughout the day.  Congratulations Elsie! 

Anthony George was also chasing his 1st Tour Title.  Anthony was also setting a blazing pace through to the Finals.  In his 7 games to the Finals, SIX of those games were well above his average.  Anthony's only mediocre game was in the 2nd Round of the Finals, when the Cut-Line was so mysteriously low, that many bowlers were surprised when they got to move on to the next round.  Anthony earned $1,154.00 for his efforts.

 

 

Final 4 - Greg Burdsall, Elsie Pickering, Anthony George, Camron Figg

Earning a tie for 3rd place was Greg Burdsall and Camron Figg.  Greg was looking for his 4th title in his career.  The bowling centers that Greg has won those 3 Titles are all closed now.  Camron was also in the Zone this weekend, hitting the 9-Taps, and has had only 1 game this year over 200, shot career games this weekend.  Greg and Camron earned a nice $431.00 this weekend.