Sarah Lokker (New Baltimore, MI) won her fifth Michigan Junior Masters Association title while James Koss (Brighton, MI) won his second MJMA title, this being his first singles title in what proved to be one of the most challenging patterns our members had bowled on the entire season. The 39 foot flat pattern put down on the lanes at Galaxy Lanes in Grand Blanc, Michigan tested everyone this weekend and only one bowler, Carrie Hopkinson (Drumbo, Ont), managed to finish above a 200 average for the event.

Hopkinson had qualified second to Brandie Reamy (Livonia, MI) during the eight games on Saturday but seemed determined on Sunday by going 8-0 in match play and averaging over 218 for her match play. Hopkinson sat atop the ladder when match play was over but had to wait to see who she would face in the finals match. The first match pitted sisters against each other for the second straight event. Kara and Haley Richard (Tecumseh, MI) faced each other in the forst match in Taylor last month in the event Haley eventually won. This time though it was big sister Kara who took control early and when Haley had splits pop up in the 4th, 5th and 6th frames, Kara Richard cruised to a 213 – 179 win and a spot in the semi-finals.

Lokker and Richard have faced off many times in the past and both ladies entered the match tied for the lead in active tournament titles with four each. Lokker started fast throwing strikes in 4 of the first 5 frames and when she converted a 4-7-10 split in the 7th, it seemed to take the wind out of Richard as Lokker won the match 191-170. Hopkinson was waiting in the finals for the second straight event and once again it seemed the long wait effected Hopkinson. The match was tight until the 6th when Hopkinson opened the had splits show up in the 7th and 9th frames that all but ended her great run in the event as Lokker cruised into her 5th title with a 184 – 160 victory.

The guys provided evidence that it is never over until it is over on the final game of match play. Nic Sutherland (Grand Blanc, MI) shot a 258 game to jump from 5th to 2nd and Michael Van Peeren (Wyandotte, MI) shot 210 to move from 8th to 4th place. Travis Hardesty (Zanesville, OH) who was in 2nd, shot 168 but held on the 5th and final step ladder position.

Hardesty faced off against Van Peeren in the first match and it seemed Hardesty was primed for a long run up the ladder. With the exception of an open in the 8th frame, Hardesty was clean through out the match and ended Van Peeren’s afternoon 180-149. Hardesty next faced a newcomer to the step ladder finals in Adam Digon (Casco Twp, MI). Hardesty was clean the entire match as Digon was solid with the exception of a Greek Church split in the second but could not get ten pins to fall on the first shot after the 5th frame as Hardesty won his second match 216-174.

In the semi finals, Sutherland and Hardesty were back and forth the entire match but when Sutherland threw three strikes in the tenth, the day was over for Hardesty and Sutherland advanced to the finals 180-177. In the finals Koss and Sutherland where neck and neck most of the way through and when Koss threw a double and a 9 count in the tenth all Sutherland needed was a mark to win the match. However, it was again “not over unti it is over” as Sutherland threw a 4-7-10 split on his forst ball in the tenth and converted only two to give Koss his first singles title 190-182.

The total scholarships awarded for this event was over $3,200.00 which brings the season total to nearly $43,000.00. This can only happen with the help of our sponsors and the cooperation of the bowling centers. Brunswick once again allowed us to raffle off a bowling ball and Galaxy Lanes continues to help us by holding down costs to allow us to put the most we can into the scholarships we can offer to our members.

The next event is our final regular season event of the 2009-10 season. Spectrum Lanes in Wyoming, Michigan will once again be the host for the one-day event on Saturday, May 15th. Starting time on Saturday is 11:00AM with eight games of qualifying prior to the top 16 guys and 8 girls moving on the PBA style brackets for match play.

Brunswick will once again be sponsoring this event with added scholarship money for the event and a special scholarship to be awarded for the top finishers who are using Brunswick equipment during the event. Brunswick will also be hosting a try it before you buy it event both before the event and after qualifying is completed. They will have a number of their new bowling balls available for you to try them out on the lanes before you decided if it ios the right ball for you. Brunswick staff will be on hand to assist with the trial and possibly help out with the “Beat the Otter” event.

“Beat the Otter” is an annual event started by Dan “Otter” Ottman to give the members a chance to beat the high score posted by Ottman on the same conditions the kids were bowling on. We have continued that tradition since Ottman’s passing with guest “Otter’s” ranging from yours truly to the likes of Bill Orlikowski of Brunswick and Tom Reaume of the Detroit Athletic Club and long-time friend of Ottman.

The field will fill up quickly for this event and as of this posting only a few spots remain, so get those entries in soon or you will be left out of the field. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Jerry Tarabek (or call 616-780-2095).