PBA South Region Flagship Open - Results and Report.
{ 10-3-02 }

The PBA South Region held it's second annual Flagship Open this weekend at Rip Van Winkle Lanes, in Sarasota, FL. I had "A" squad for this tournament, and the pattern used for this tournament was pattern E-3. This pattern is very short, with a lot of oil in the head area of the lane, and no oil on the outside 2 boards. That, plus the surface and condition of the lane surface, kept scores low. Mike Machuga and Norm Titus were the only two players the entire tournament, including match-play, to average 220 or over.

I pretty much tanked the first four games of this tournament. No matter what I did, I could not strike. If the goal of this tournament was to leave as many splits as possible, I would have won. If I got the ball to the right, it would react too violently (despite 2 ball changes). If I tried to throw it a little straighter, it would veer left quickly. I even picked off 3 from the left, as I tugged one shot pretty bad. And then I would miss easy spares, further putting me in the hole.

As game 5 came around, I guess I had, subconsciously, have had enough of it, and started bowling well. We bowled game 5 on lanes 21-22, and I managed to only open once, no doubles, for a 180-something game. I was happy that I finally bowled something respectable. We then moved to the end pair, 1 and 2, and I managed to spare, spare, and a 5 bagger. Then I opened and spared out for a 210-something game. The 7th game was another decent game for me, as I somehow managed a 190. The last game I bowled a 180, as the lanes really started getting to dry for the ball that I was using, which was the Reaction Ricochet, which is highly polished, by the way.

So, after the dust settled, I finished at -250 - something for the 8 game block. Considering that most of the damage was done in the first four games, turns out I didn't bowl as bad as I thought I did. I wound up going about -30 for the last four games, which would have been at least respectable. It wound up taking +40 to make the top 16, and about -60 to cash. Had I bowled as well as I did the last four games in the first four games, I would have been too close to the check number to leave town as early as I did! But, seeing as many other bowlers, including regional champions, also struggled, I don't think that it was as bad as it may sound. This may sound naive, but I must keep a positive outlook on things, or I'll never win one.

Walter Ray Williams, who finished qualifying 3rd, wound up winning the tournament, making this his second tournament victory in a row where I have been in attendance. Coincidence? Purely...

- Joe Tex

<<< Click here to go back to the reports archive.