Smith pounds pins in win

Hard-throwing bowler shoots 276 in final game to secure victory

in local PBA event

LIHU’E – Once Robert Smith’s foot was in the door, there was little Tony Reyes could do but try and avoid a freefall.

Heading into the last of 12 games bowled on the final day of the Second Annual Rice Shopping Center West Region Open at Lihu’e Bowling Center, Reyes held a wavering 16-pin advantage over Smith.

By the time all the pins had settled, Smith led by 34 – his margin of victory – as he completed a 51-pin turnaround in the final game. The victory was worth $2,000 to Smith.

“I guess I saved my best for last,” said Smith, a Professional Bowlers Association Tour member, and the most decorated roller in the field. “I knew to beat Tony I’d have to come into the last game and bowl at least a 240.”

Instead he tossed a 276, and was perhaps a single 10 pin away from notching his second perfect score of the tournament. In the 10th frame he left the lone pin standing.

“I thought I had another one,” Smith said of his quest for a 300. “I was feeling pretty good that last game.”

The win is Smith’s second in a row on the West Region Tour, and also the second consecutive to come at the expense of Reyes – also a PBA Tour member.

“I’ll be honest, I feel bad for Tony,” Smith said. “That’s his third second-place finish in a row, and the last two have been to me.

“But, when you get down to it, I’m a competitor and I’m not going to back down to anyone.”

Smith also stressed that Reyes, who held a narrow lead for much of the day, could have put him away during the second block of six games. In the afternoon session, Smith fell on some hard times, cascading nearly 100 pins behind his Tour mate.

“He really had the chance to finish me off and that’s going to stay under his skin for awhile,” Smith said of his friend. “But he left the door open and I was able to jump on it like you’re supposed to do.”

If Smith were searching for someone other than himself to thank for the victory, he might choose last year’s champion, Gene Bruihl.

Though Bruihl finished sixth this year, it was his victory over Reyes in Tuesday’s 11th game that seemed to rattle the leader. The two were tied in the eighth frame, but Reyes could not capitalize, which left his margin for error in the final game against Smith slight.

“Tony and I have a great, healthy rivalry,” Smith said. “I think that we can really help drive each other, and bowling, in the future.”

The Rice Shopping Center Open’s two top bowlers have known each other for a long time, Smith said.

“We came up in juniors together,” he said. “And have been pushing each other ever since.”

Smith said he thinks it’s the kind of rivalry that could help promote the PBA in the future. But Smith was working on that Tuesday, as well.

Following his dramatic victory, the 27 year old hung around the winning lane taking pictures with fans and signing autographs. Despite the clamoring for his attention, Smith never abandoned his smile.

“When the media doesn’t really follow you, you have to go relate to the fans,” he said. “Then, hopefully it will catch on with them and the press might follow.”

West Region Tour rookie, David Billings, the leader after Monday’s action, finished fourth overall. Chad Pojas was the top finishing Hawaiian entrant. The Kapolei resident finished ninth.

The Final Tally

Here’s how the field finished at the Second Annual Rice Shopping Center West Region Open held Monday-Tuesday at the Lihu’e Bowling Center

Bowler Total Pins Prize

Robert Smith* 5235 $2000

Tony Reyes* 5200 $1200

Bob Markiewicz 4966 $1000

David Billings 4964 $800

Troy Kendrick 4869 $700

Gene Bruihl 4848 $600

Sean Daniels 4713 $550

David Leverage 4689 $520

Chad Pojas 4611 $500

Mike Kanada 4548 $480

Tim Paul Jr. 4535 $460

G. Abrahamsen 4515 $450

*Professional Bowlers Association Tour members

Sports editor Jason Gallic at 245-3681 or mailto:kauaisports@pulitzer.net