BILLY "O"'S JOURNAL

Fountain Valley, California

January 16, 2007 – 45' Strips Pattern similar to PBA conditions used in the early 1990

Well sports fans this week we are in good ole Fountain Valley California, where the weather is nice and warm.

I want to give a shout out to Ozzie and Mona  for hosting a great tournament.  For those of you that never had tri-tip before you are missing a treat.  Thanks for all the food you guys had for the players, as much as I love to eat, that was nice.

This week we are bowling the old PBA retro format, where everybody has to qualify.  There is no guaranteed money.  If you want a check you have to earn it.  I like that.  Its going to put a lot of players on their best bowling behavior, because nobody can afford to take a loss out here, well maybe a few can but most can’t.  This weeks pattern is retro as well.  It’s the old PBA strips pattern, where they oil the lanes 45 ft. and starting from the left gutter with 3 boards of heavy oil application, then 3 boards of light application, then 3 boards of heavy, 3 of light application, and so on. This pattern tends to favor the lefties, which is a good thing because I am a lefty.  The right-handers were not looking forward to this pattern, however I was.  Last year, Jason Couch won here, this is a new year so we need a new winner so why not me? 

The format is a long grueling 15 games of qualifying, three five game blocks, followed by 24 games of match play, followed by a 5 man stepladder finals.   I hope my body can take it.  Here we go.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007 – 11:00 a.m.  Today I am bowling B squad. The lefties on A bowled good, we bowled on the burn 1^st.  Then after we bowl, they oil the lanes and then we bowl again, then A squad bowls on the burn.  

After practicing for 15 min, I had 2 balls in mind, my Widow, pin outside the ring finger, CG  in, and the mass bias in the thumb hole, with a small hole.

1^st game  207   I couldn’t carry the 7 pin to save my life. I left four of them.

2^nd game 195   I started with my Pain then switched to my to my Vibe after leaving a split and missing a 7 pin.

3^rd game  236  That Vibe started working

4^th game  220 These lanes were a little tighter then the last.  I switched to my toxic with a small hole threw a 4 bagger  and salvaged that 20 plus pins.

5^th  game  224  Let the 7 pin saga continue, 5 of them, with three bagger and double sprinkled amongst them.

Not bad, respectable, however I am going to have to step it up if I want to make match play.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007 – 4:00 p.m.  I have better idea of how to play the lanes. The 1^st  block the shot I played the lanes more direct, this block I am going to slow the ball down and cover more boards to increase the ball reaction on the back end to change the entry angle. Lets see how that works.

1^st game  237 Much better three 7 pins and one 10 pin and struck out in the 10^th. We are on the way.

2^nd game  189 What happened to my reaction? Three 7 pins one 8 pin, and one split. I have got to do better if I want to make match play.

3^rd  game 215  Out the gate with a 3 bagger and then my carry left the building. Two 10 pins, and three 7 pins.

4^th  game 249  Switched to my Hawgzilla with no hole, and the pin over the ring finger. 6 bagger sweet, with a 7 pin in the 10^th.

5^th  game  238  Stayed with the Zilla, threw a 5 bagger, and made my spares. Good block.

I’m definitely going to move up some spots after that block. One more block to go. See you tomorrow.

Thursday, January 18, 2007 – 8:00 a.m.  How do I play the lanes?  Do I go more direct or do I cover more boards?  I have a good look either way.  I had my highest block with my Zilla on the fresh, so lets try that first.

1^st  game 258  Yes! 7 bagger with a 7-10 split on the fill ball. Good call. Now lets keep it going.

2^nd  game 258  Oh baby. I am throwing the ball great. My Zilla is reading the lane good, and the pins are falling. 

3^rd  game 265  Spare, open, sheet.  183 over for three?  That’s huge. Don’t stop now, you have miles to go before you sleep.

4^th  game  225.  5 bagger with a split. My ball is starting to push, but I don’t want to change the zone I am in. one game to go.

5^th  game  188  That’s ok I can live with that. Out 15 games, I missed 1 spare, a 7 pin, and had 4 opens.

Good bowling. Now I have a good chance to make it to the show, but 1^st I have got to get thru 24 games of match play.  

MATCH PLAY ROUND 1

MATCH PLAY ROUND 2

MATCH PLAY ROUND 3

I finished in 9^th place.

I am sure it will make good reading. Next week we will be in Henderson, NV, bowling on the Viper pattern.

Until then, may your scores be high!