First PBA Regional Bowled

Well, I got the opportunity to bowl my first PBA Regional here in Phoenix, AZ at Sunset lanes on July 12, 2008. I will admit I was a little nervous going into the event, I haven't bowled with this type of caliber bowlers before, I've been to some large tournaments in Las Vegas, but nothing like this. I wasn't sure if I was ready or up to "pair" with the pros, etc. I went to the practice session on Friday before qualifying on Sat to line up on the Chameleon pattern which I have only bowled on once.

The practice session went well, I had a killer line and was crushing the pocket, so I felt REALLY good about Sat and was anxious to bowl. The only downer was the center was hot, the temp outsite was hot enough, and at the lanes you were sweating pretty bad, so keeping dry was going to be an issue and keeping my hand dry, time to bring an extra towel :)

Sat I was B squad (afternoon squad) so I had some time to kill, I showed up at the center about 45mins early to see how the bowlers were doing and chit chat with some fellow bowlers. When it was my time to bowl I was ready, felt great about the line and wasn't that nervous. When things got under way I found out the line was completely different and I had to start adjusting, I figured it out and started to bowl.

I struggled my first game and then recovered the next two, my 4th game I found some trouble and rebounded again my 5th game. Game 6 game me some trouble and game 7 I was on fire, had the front 9 and the 10th shot was a smash pocket 10 pin, picked up the spare and the 12th shot was another pocket 10 pin for a 278, I would have LOVED to roll another 300, especially in a regional, but not today :( After game 7 I was at +18, which was the cut line, so I think I added a little extra pressure to myself to bowl well to stay in the cut, we moved to the high end pair and my ball was reacting really hard and inconsistently, so I ended up giving back some pins and finishing -2 for the tournament.

All in all I was VERY dissapointed with my performance, I should have been able to make the cut, some bad breaks and bad shots kept me out, live and learn I guess. I know what to work on now, I feel I can continue to grow and do much better in the regionals to come. It was a GREAT experience and I met a bunch of new faces and saw some pros that I have been watching on TV, well worth it in the end.

Until next time...

-Scott