Sawgrass Lanes Sunrise, FL

Today I bowled in the South Florida Masters. This tournament is held, like it always is, at Sawgrass Lanes, in Sunrise, FL. Of course, this would be the true test of my new "toy", the Icon 2 (Click here to read what I think of that ball).

I bowled in the 5 PM squad, and started on lanes 1 and 2. I started out with the first 9 strikes, before throwing the ball a touch fast, leaving at first the 5-7, until a last second messenger toppled over the 7 pin. I picked up the spare, and struck on the last fill ball for a very well bowled 279. In the second game, lane 3 was a bit tighter then any of the lanes that I bowled on so far, and after alternating spares and strikes until frame 6, I struck out for a 238. In the last game, I started with the first three strikes, then threw a few bad shots, including a 4-9 split. In the tenth frame, I left the 3-9-10 split, which I was able to convert, and then a 7 count on the final fill ball of the 10th for a 200 game.

I wound up not making the cut, even though I bowled very well, and was very impressed with my level of competitiveness, accuracy, and overall performance. Definitely a good performance. However, being a handicap tournament, I don't receive many pins at all (this is both literally, and in comparison to the rest of the field). So for me to make the cut at this tournament, I need to shoot at least 730, on an average scoring day, to barely make the cut. Even though shooting 717 is great, it's not as good as shooting 630 or 40, + 50 or more pins. (Keep in mind that this tournament bases it's plus / minus at 675, NOT 600).

Even though I technically "lost", my performance definitely was up to my highest of standards, and I really feel that I am now at the Golden Gates of an elite caliber player.

Next week, I have a regional PBA tournament at Fort Pierce, FL. The week following, I may be bowling mixed doubles at the Cream of the Crop, but that is not confirmed yet. Hopefully, I will be there, because I really want to bowl at the CoC, as the field is as strong as a regional tournament, if not stronger.

- Joe Tex

<<< Click Here to go back to the reports page.