To date my performance in PBA regionals has been less than spectacular. I bowled there a few years ago and well did not fare well. This tournament pattern was the Viper.

Friday practice session:

I bowled really well a few weeks ago in the PBA X league and took balls that I used in the Pasco regional as well. I hit the practice session and had a pretty decent look, the swing was nice & loose. I spent time with Steve (the Lane Dude), Chris Warren, & Ernie Schlegel during the practice session. I liked the reaction I was getting with the Agent (14lb), Roto Grip Mystic, T-Road Pearl and did not really roll anything else for the practice session. I didnt use my Pyro or Shift. I was not needed for the Pro-Am but stuck around and watched.

Saturday morning qualifying:

I chose my Pyro (scotch brite 800 - Gray pad) and had a nice look. Started the first game with a 226 & clean. Still using the Pyro I followed up with a 202 with 2 opens. 28 over after 2 and in 13th. I am pretty happy with spare shooting, the mental game was good (thanks Ernie), and the swing was very good. I figured scores would be going up the leader was 114 over after 2 and on my pair. Still using my Pyro in Game 3 a 197 (+25) ... 1 open, not plus but not a big hurt. Game 4 204 (+29) another clean game. I am dropping like a rock in the standings but do not feel like I am out of making the cut. Game 5 212 (+41) another clean game & still using my Pyro, made some great shots that did not carry. I am hoping to really get it going now still using my Pyro. Good start in Game 6.... a couple of strikes and spares, then 3 splits in a row 6,7,8 frames.... I grab my Agent and manage to salvage a 169 .... drop to +10 after 6 games.... OK mentally stay positive, I have bowled decent all day, very few opens and using the bowling math that Ernie taught me I have 6 plus games and only 1 minus game, my performance thus far has been very good and I am still feel like I can make the cut even though the cut is looking to be atleast 100 over.... Game 7 - 244 (+54) ... very nice look and got some good carry and an open frame (DOH!!!), there are a big group of guys that can go either way in making the cut, the number being around +120 after 7. One game to go... I could use a big one to finish off the day. Game 8 looked promising early but lack of carry ... I manage to shoot 192 with an open frame. The cut goes to +137. I am really happy with my bowling even though I failed to make the cut. Today's performance again gives me incentive to continue, I am planning on making the journey in August to Milwaukee OR.

July 4th.... man what a drive - 7 hours to Burley.  My son came with me and helped with the driving, we rolled in and dropped of equipement.  Found our hotel.... it was a dive, but they co-sponsored the regional.  The center was nice ... looks like an old grocery store converted nicely  into a  bowling center.  Very spacious surrondings with automatic scoring and some  Brunswick Anvil lanes synthetics.

PRACTICE SESSION - OMG... this is the Cheetah?  WoW... there is a lot of oil on the heads.  These played very different than our PBA X league.  My best look is with an Storm Agent (14lb - for added ball speed that I thought I would need) that I drilled up along with a new Storm T-Road Pearl.  The other equipment pretty much stayed in the bag. I spent some time with Chris Warren again..... the dude has a ton of knowledge and is a pretty good bowler.  8)

QUALIFYING - 176 (-24), 200 (-24), 176 (-48) .... oh my I will need much better scores, spare shooting is pretty good  just cannot get a good look to the pocket to throw strikes.... the swing is not good.... 175 (-73) after 4 games I am pretty much toast..... 140 (-133) .... lots of splits in this game. 216 (-117)... hey I showed up only 5 games late.... the swing is better.  215 (-102) .... 2 games in a row over duece... there will be dancing in the streets... LoL ..... Game 8 ... 169 (-133).... about the only good thing about my performance is that I was even for the last 3.  I never panicked but never got a good swing until later in the day.  I was not needed for the PRO-AM so I packed up the gear and headed back home.... DISAPPOINTED.... I spent a few hours looking back during the drive home... thats the easy part, well somedays you have it and others you don't.  Another sub-par performance.... in 4 regionals to date this season I have yet to be plus.... makes me wonder why I do this.

Well, I am done pouting/kicking myself regarding my performance in Boise a few weeks ago.

Friday practice session: I thought they played vary similar to last years event.  I had to rough up my Shift but had a decent look.  Spent time with Chris Warren chatting about attack and ball choices. No PRO-AMS scheduled for Friday night so a bunch of us gathered @ Joes Crabshack and had a great meal along with a few tall-tales.  Picked the brains of our "lane Dude" and Mitch Beasley. A lot of knowledge on patterns & layouts and always willing to lend a hand.

Saturday Qualifying Round:  I used my Storm Shift playing around 8 to 6 board @ 25 feet.

GAME 1: 9 spare (2 pin), strike,6 spare (bucket) 9 spare (2 pin), strike, strike, 9 open (4 pin), strike, 8 spare, double 6 count for the fill ball. 202 .. not bad .... at the time I was ticked about missing that 4 pin.

GAME 2: strike, 9 spare (4 pin), 9 spare (4 pin), 8 count spare, 9 spare, strike, washout --- horrible execution!, 7 count open, strike, strike, 9 spare. OK until that wash-out followed by the open. I have to be mentally tougher and get rid of that baggage.  -16 after 2 .... not bad.....

GAME 3: 9 spare, strike, strike, washout (here we go again), 9 spare, 8 spare, 9 spare, 9 spare, 9 spare, 8 on the fill ball. OK a tougher pair.... good shots made with the exception of the washout.  -24 after 3 games.... still at a point that a couple of good games.... I have yet to start pressing to make good shots....

GAME 4:  8 open - chop, 8 open, 7 spare, 9 spare, 8 spare, 6 spare, 9 spare, washout - open, 8 open - chopped some wood in this game..... ball change to Storm X Factor Reloaded turkey  to salvage a 144 ...  OUCH  -80 after 4  ......  stay calm & make some good shots.... the cut line is already near 80 over

GAME 5: strike, strike, strike 8 open - chop!, strike, 8 spare, 9 spare, 8 spare, 9 spare, 8 count - open --- chopped again!   -91 ....  Hard to not press now....

GAME 6: 9 spare, strike, 9 spare, 9 spare, 9 spare, strike, 7 spare, strike, 9 spare, 9 spare and 8 on the fill ball  for 195.  -96 after 6 .... all practice now... cut is @ 120 or better.  I would need to be perfect for 2 games for any slim chance.....  and they way my day was going.... I didnt figure... but I never give in.

GAME 7: 9 spare, 9 spare, strike, strike, 9 open ( 10 pin !!!!), 9 spare, strike, strike, strike, strike, 8 count 1 for 193  ..... another minus..... @ -103 now..... its all practice now....

GAME 8: strike, 9 spare,9 spare,9 spare, washout ,  8 count open, split 4-7-10, split 4-7-10, 8 spare and 6 on the fill ball - a whoppin 145..... obviously the big problem here was the splits. -158 for the day.... not impressed.

Overall.... no carry....  lots of spares and a few opens in bad spots.  You cannot give away pins with those opens.  One of my worst finishes in some time....   Ill be back next year.... looking for a title there. 8)

PETE WEBER probably was the highlight of the whole weekend, but I will get back to that.

This was a doubles event with some great teams bowling. The viper pattern was used for the one day event.

Practice session on Friday - I had a pretty good look with my new Brunswick Sidewinder, Storm Sure Fire, and Storm Spit Fire, but I knew that the lanes would be a little tighter the next morning. I was not asked to bowl the Pro-Am... pretty much you had to have 10 regional titles to bowl as the PRO. Think about these teams:

• Pete Weber / Shawn Copeland
• Ernie Schlegel / Don Allen III
• Chris Warren / Kevin Croucher
• Dave Husted / Corey Husted
• Dave Leverage / Mitch Beasley
• Rob Rice / Tim Bowers
• Jason Williams / Bob Davidson
  

Qualifying Round - Saturday

I think the hardest thing for me to do is to get the stroke going early. During practice I was not very happy with my release, but remembered to be patient... good things will come. My partner - local left-handed bowler and new PBA member Dave Gifford and I were crossing with Dave & Corey Husted, I felt pretty good about that draw and we started on 1 & 2... I'm thinking perfect... get that end pair out of the way early. I ended up starting with my Storm Pyro, left foot on 16 and targeting 5-7 board at 25' .. just a little swing... I start out with the first 4 (HAMBONE!).. I am still struggling with the release ... trying not to grab the ball, but its hard!.. Focusing on (over the bar & under the bar) and crush the hole in the 5th, followed by grabbing one and catching a break for a 6-bagger, then I show up. 8 count open, spare / spare / 6 count for 240... unfortunately my partner shot 150-160 so we are 10 under.. but I am not panicking... Next pair 5-6 ; hooking a little more -> 9 count spare (2 pin) and I grab the Side Winder (I wonder why I mad this move after shooting 240??) and move feet and target right a couple of boards, Strike, 9 count spare (2 pin again). Strike, strike.... BIG 4... Strike, 9 - open, 9 spare and strike for 181 .... the big 4 cost me a ton of pins +21 after 2. Pretty happy with my bowling at this point. Next pair 9-10; Still using the Side Winder... 9 count spare, Double, 4-9 split, 3 bagger, 6 open, 9 spare, 8 spare & strike for 196 - +17 still happy except for the open. Dave is having difficulties... and we are close to 100 under for 4 games. Next pair 13-14 still using that Side Winder.. strike, baby split - open, 9 count spare, 9 count spare, brooklyn strike, 6 count open, 9 open - missed a 10 pin!!! >>GRRRR<< 9 count spare, strike, 7 count spare and a gutter for the fill ball ... NICE! a beautiful 154 ...Well not to bad... 29 under after 4... keeping working..... move to the next pair -> 17-18.. Strike, split 4-8-10 open(ouch), spilt 4-6 open, strike, 5-10 split open, 9 spare, strike, 4-7-9 spare !! Thank you!! 9 count open - another missed 10 pin, 8 spare & 9 count for a SMOKIN 136. OUCH ... - 93 after 5... the day just got really long. Move to 21-22 and managed to stay cool - 6 count spare, 9 count spare, 3 bagger, 6 open (DANG IT!!!), 9 spare, 8 (2-10) open, 3 bagger and 9 count on the fill ball for a 206. Pretty much just a practice session now Game 7 - 2 open frames (10th frame open!!) for 173. Last game ... looks like it will take about 100-120 over to make the the top 8, pretty low scoring considering the teams bowling. Corey & Dave Husted had bowled well all day and were top qualifiers @ +316. Well.. finishing on 7 & 8 - 9 open, spare, 9 spare, 4-6 split open, 3 bagger, 9 open, double & 6 count to finish with a 187. 127 under for 8 -> 184.2 average. Same old story as the last few tournaments.... I seem to have to have one/two games were spares or splits cost me.... I watched most of the finals.. watching some great teams lose, and some individuals making great shots when needed. Congratulations to Jaime Flynn and Bill Hewitt for winning. Jaime bowled great all-day and Bill made great shots when the chips were down.

Weber is amazing.... and really did a great job during the PRO-AMS... one of the junior bowlers from the junior program at Spare Time.. really gave PDW some attitude and the battle was on 8) ,,, everyone around that witnessed the shaninigans were laughing hard. In the end I think that she was the real winner as Pete literally gave the shirt of his back to her.

The staff at Go-Bowl did a good job and are commended on the effort! Thanks for hosting an exciting event.

Well another regional tournament where I learned alot. 1st of all I would like to thank Kevin Croucher and his staff @ Caveman Bowl for treating me so well, as well as thanks to Chris Warren for letting me use the shop during my visit. These people put on a great PRO-AM and did a fantastic job during the Regional, I am looking forward to my next visit.

We left late Wednesday evening and got in around 2 AM, I had travelled down with David Gifford and family. We crashed at Alan Taylors home and were up around 9, headed for the bowl around 11 AM on Thursday. Kevin had the shot laid down for us on Lanes 1-4, the bowls lane machine laid the pattern down a little heavier than the PBA machine. We bowled until 5. I needed to adjust the surface on the balls with the best reaction. Checking the roster and lane assignments I found that I would start on 3 & 4. I noticed that 3 played slicker and Kevin confirmed this for me as a characteristic of the pair.

Practice session came and went, I was happy with the look I had. I just needed to execute. We had a suprise for the whole event as Rhino Page entered the tournament (more on the Rhino sighting later). I was asked to bowl the PRO-AM and bowled well on the house pattern for the amatuers - 277,300, and 278. We all had a good time.

Qualifying- I had found out that I would start on 3&4, I really figured I had a good break in finding that 3 notoriously played slicker than 4. I was also crossing with Scot Archabald from Boise, we bowled well together on this pattern early in the year, also crossing with us was Rick Guined from Portland area and a younger player from the west region. I started with my Shift that I roughed up with gray scotch brite pad. I played them out standing 15 and targeting from 4 to 6 at about 30 feet, I fired a 224 and was happy with a good start and confidence was high.  Next move was to 7&8, the wheels fall off the bus.... 4 opens in 5 frames. I managed to salvage a 141, I was upset and started pressing knowing I would need to be plus to make the finals.  Next to 11&12 and switched to my Reloaded, I managed to cover a few spares and shot 182, a much better look than I had on 7&8.  15&16 were more to my liking 203 with 2 opens in the freakin 9 & 10 .... grrrrr.... spares spares spares.... that cost me getting to even and changed my whole outlook.  Next to 19&20 .... I know I was still fuming about the opens and shot 145. Mentally I have toasted myself..... Next to 23&24 another game of nothing going right and pressing mentally... 141. Practice time now.... it appears that Scot will easily make the top 18... great bowling......  I finish with a 178 and a 190 .... add a few more opens to the 2 dozen in the first six games.  I finish the worst I have for sometime.... not pleased at all.

PRO-AM & RHINO PAGE

I was lucky enough to be asked to bowl the pro-am event again, and even luckier to have Rhino Page next to me.  He is a heck of a bowler and a very pleasant young man to visit with.  He has a bright future in the PBA and is sure to be a fan favorite.  Again I bowl the pro-am event and the day has become extremely long, sore arm and a fried mentality.