The today started good when I found out that the tourney was using last year's average. .. regardless if this year's average was higher.  So I went in with a 185 avg.  Oh yeah.  My partner went in with a 165 average.

The format was three game qualifying for top 16.  From then on it was match play one game.

I felt real good in practice and had a lot of room to start off.  We switched lanes every game like any other tourney.  Here are my qualifying scores.

                 ME               Partner

Game 1:   236                 168

Game 2:   213                 178

Game 3:   236                 194

                685                 540

There were 35 teams that showed up.  My friend bowled the last time and he said there were 50+ last time.  With our scores plus handicap, we ended up qualified 2nd overall.

In match play, we easily took care of the first match by 60 pins.  We had two pins more in handicap.  My partner shot 179.  I shot a 238.  It should have been 250+, but a ringering 10 in the 10th.  The second game is a whole different story.  We had to make up 80 pins in handicap.  We bowled against mother-son team and man she sucked at bowling.  But that handicap was a killer.  I think she had 98 pins handicap.  The son had a 165 avg. but shot a 234.   Nothing you can do there.  To make matters worst, our lanes were bone dry.  I couldn't get it across and had to loft it to get anything in the back end.  In the 9th frame I decided to use my spare ball just for kicks.  I struck out.  Unfortunately it was too late.  We lost by 53 pins.  I shot a mediocre 171.  My partner beat me with a 174.

It always sucks to lose, but all in all we did fairly well for the first time in this event.  Next time I'll have my ball that's drilled for these stupid dry lanes.