The second JTBA event of the new year rolled into Fred Borden’s Stonehedge Place in Akron, OH on Sunday August 19, 2007. After a ½ hour delay due to an issue with the lane machine the event got underway on a modified 44 foot PBA Shark pattern. Thanks to Randy Hart and Stonehedge lane man Earl for the challenging yet playable pattern. Also our thanks go out to Isaly’s for their continued support of youth scholarship bowling as they once again added money to this event. We also would like to thank Jimmy Mansfield, Jimmy Comedy and the entire Stonehedge staff for their effort to accommodate the JTBA.

When the event finally started only one player was able to go plus in the 6 game qualifying block. 2007 Junior Team USA member Tim Pfeifer of Cranberry Twp. Pa was the lone man over par at +183, with Milford, MI’s Jonathon Schiller second at -15. It took only a -104 score to make the cut to the brackets. On the girls side Heidi Sanders of Freemont, OH lead the girls at -49 and it took -210 to make the cut to the top 8 bracket round. 2008 Junior Team USA member Josh Burkhardt of Beavercreek, OH had the boy’s high game with a 279 in match play. Girl’s high game was 248 by Mary Wells of Westerville, OH, also rolled in match play.

Josh BurkhardtAs the lanes opened up after a grueling day of competition, the experience of the field came to the forefront as Josh Burkhardt and last event Champion Tim Pfeifer met for the title, with Burkhardt able to solve the left lane to string strikes in a very well contested final match. Josh defeated Tim 236-203 and 227-214. Burkhardt reached the finals by defeating young Chris Bolam of Irwin, PA in the semi-finals 254-182 and 192-189. Pfeifer advanced by besting Wayne, MI’s Brian Odom 184-168,156-212 and 235-152

Heidi SandersIn the girls final we had two longtime JTBA players reach the title match. JTBA Brunswick/Varsity Lane Open winner Ashley Stahurski of Bexley, OH was stopped in her attempt to win back to back by Freemont, OH’s Heidi Sanders 168-142 and 190-186. Sanders reached the finals by defeating 2008 Junior Team USA member Sarah Germano of Rochester, NY 194-158 and 185-159. Stahurski reached by besting young, future JTBA star Mary Wells of Westerville, Ohio 197-229,186-149 and 218-159.

Our next event will be the Dayton Open at Beaver-Vu Bowl on Sunday September 9. 2007. This promises to be a big weekend in youth bowling as the Midwest USA Junior Gold event will be held on Sat Sept 8, at the same center. Please remember to get you entries in early as we always have a large field for these two events. For more info on the Saturday event log on to www.daytonbowling.com and for the JTBA event, visit our newly redesigned www.jtba.com. Also to anyone interested in an educational clinic, USBC Gold Coaches Fred Borden and Ron Hatfield will be holding a two day clinic at Beaver-Vu on September 22 and 23 sponsored by Legends Bowling Balls and Wright State Bowling. For details phone (937)272-4480 or on the web at www.raidersbowling.com