The JTBA’s final stop of the 2007 calendar year took us to Park Lanes in Mansfield for the Pepsi/Park Lanes Open. We’d like to thank the staff at Park for their hospitality for the second time this year, as they also hosted our Championship event in June. Special thanks to everyone who attended for braving the treacherous road conditions to get to the event as well. Also thanks to Pepsi Cola for their sponsorship of this event, along with Park Lanes. After the dust had settled on the 37 foot pattern, two products of the USBC Jr. Team USA program were left standing as our champions. Tim Pfeifer and Ben Galloway

On the men’s side 50 boys braved the elements outside to compete, and after qualifying it was a pair of Wright State University bowlers at the top of the standings with Jeremy Fleck and Dean Reynolds holding the top two spots at +99 and +73 respectively. Cut score was -53. Once match play began however, it was Robert Morris University’s Tim Pfeifer and Ben Galloway who marched their way through the field to reach our title match. Pfeifer defeated Chris Creeks of Zelienople PA in the semi-finals, while Galloway bested Jon Leonard of Medina, OH. Galloway was looking to turn around what had already been a rough weekend for him after a slight traffic accident on the way to the event Saturday night, while Pfeifer was looking for his second title of the season. In the end it was Pfeifer however, who found the path to the pocket on a tricky pair of lanes and took home the 2-0 victory, as well as $500 in scholarship. Ben received $250 for his second place efforts.

On the ladies side, Sarah Germano of Rochester NY, a member of Jr. Team USA 2008, paced the field during qualifying with a score of -26. Germano didn’t stop after lunch either, defeating last month’s winner Marissa Matassa of Verona, PA in the Round of 8, and three time JTBA titlist Bethan McGeary in the semi-final to advance to the title match. On the other side of the bracket it was her Pikeville College teammate Ashley West of Columbus besting both Joy Arrigo and Mary Wells to advance to the title match. Germano was not to be denied in the title match, sweeping West with scores of 226-210 and 213-182, to claim her first JTBA title. Sarah Germano and Ashley West

In other news, we’d like to remind everyone of the scheduling announcement made in Mansfield. The JTBA Doubles Championship in Lorain, originally scheduled for March 9th, has been moved to March 30th. For more information, log on to www.jtba.com. Thanks to Rick Rebman and the staff at Rebman’s Recreation Center for accommodating this switch.

The JTBA takes a two month break for the holiday season and high school bowling before resuming action February 24th in Zanesville. It will be our first trip to Sunrise Bowl, for the ABI Phone Systems Open. We’d like to thank them for their support. Zanesville will also be the first opportunity for members to complete another part of the Championship Tournament eligibility, as this will be the first of our last four events, of which you must bowl two in order to bowl Championships. Additionally, we’d like to remind everyone that any non-member who has cashed in a JTBA event this season must become a member prior to bowling in another event. Happy Holidays, we hope to see everyone back in Zanesville in February.

Best Wishes,
Carl Pfeifer, Bob Black, Jason Wunderlich
JTBA Board of Directors