Tyler Jensen of Keller, Texas, did not lose a game in the 12-game series. Finishing 12-0-0, Jensen catapulted to the championship of the 9th Annual PBA West/Northwest Regions Rice Shopping Center Open with an undefeated record and 4,869 pins following
Tyler Jensen of Keller, Texas, did not lose a game in the 12-game series.
Finishing 12-0-0, Jensen catapulted to the championship of the 9th Annual PBA West/Northwest Regions Rice Shopping Center Open with an undefeated record and 4,869 pins following two days of bowling.
Jensen had dominated the lanes at the Lihu‘e Bowling Center from the onset of the tournament, rolling an 1837 pin count following the first eight games of the opening day, and never looked back.
“The best part of winning this tournament is I get to come back here next year to defend this,” Jensen, who was enjoying his second appearance at the PBA tournament, said.
Throughout the remaining games, a contingent of well-wishers watched the No. 1 and Ryan Oldham exchange balls, Jensen stopping to chat with some of them en route to earning the trophy and a $2,000 pot.
Ryan Oldham of Fairview, Oregon, rolling to third place by nine pins, following the eight-game opening round, improved to a second place finish with a 6-6-0 record and 4,386 pin count following the 12-game final series.
“He’s not even a PBA member,” Gary Mage, the regional director of the PBA West and Northwest Regions, said. “He comes because he has relatives in the islands.”
Chad Uyehara, who finished in the No. 2 spot with a 1775 pin count on Monday, dropped to No. 3 in the finals with a 4-8-0 record and 4,325 pins.
Another Chad, Chad Pojas who will be hosting the PBA tournament at Hickam AFB this weekend, finished in fourth place just 10 pins in back of Uyehara. Pojas’ final numbers were 7-5-0 with a 4,325 pin count.
Keith Odette of Waipahu filled in the fifth berth with a 7-5-0 record identical to Pojas, but falling short in pin count, finishing with 4,273.
Jon Brandon of Santa Clarita, Calif., improved from his No. 12 finish Monday to finish the tournament in sixth place with a 6-5-1 record and 4,265 pins, just eight pins shy of Odette’s fifth place.
Don Allen III of Vancouver, Wash., improved from his No. 11 finish Monday to finish the tournament in the No. 7 slot with a 6-6-0 record and 4,263 pins. He was challenged by Craig Diver of Spring, Texas, who also finished with a 6-6-0 record, but was relegated to the No. 8 position by a dozen pins at 4,251.
Darryl Izumo, of the tournament host Lihu‘e Bowling Center was the only Kaua‘i bowler in the 12-bowler finals field, but dropped from his No. 8 finish Monday to end the tournament in ninth with a 5-7-0 record and 4,163 pins.
Roger LeClair of Clackamas, Oregon, also dropped from his Monday finish, ending the tournament in the No. 10 slot with a 4-8-0 record and 4,138 pins. Michael Hartter of Honolulu filled in the No. 11 slot, a drop from his No. 6 finish Monday, with a 6-6-0 record and 4,084 pins.
Jason Craigen of Mesa, Ariz., rounded out the field of 12 with a 2-9-1 record and 4,000 pins, a drop from his No. 10 finish during the tournament’s opening day.
The PBA series moves to the Hickam Bowling Center on O‘ahu this weekend where Pojas will host the group at the PBA West/Northwest Hickam AFB Open, starting Friday.
