Cook & Kercher Capture Titles in Final Regular Season Major of the Season

The PJBT held its 9th and Final Regular Season Major Event at Berks Lanes on Sunday, April 19th.  There was a great turnout for this final major, with 92 bowlers competing on this day.  The breakdown saw 55 bowlers compete in Scratch and 37 in Handicap.  The Major Event was bowled on the challenging WTBA London Pattern.  Format for major was 6 games qualifying, top 40% advance to 3 additional games of match play.  After Game 9, the top 6 advanced to the final.  The finals was 1 shootout amongst seeds 4,5, and 6.  Winner advanced to Game 1 of 3 stepladder matches to determine our champion.

In Scratch, Jack Cook captured his 2nd career PJBT title.  Cook did it the hard way.  He squeaked his way into the final and walked the ladder.  Jack shot 1226 for 6 in qualifying and was seeded in a comfortable position of tied for 8th on the leaderboard.  22 Bowlers advanced to Round 2 with a cut of -28.  In Match Play, Cook won 2 of 3 matches and advanced himself into the 6th position and final position to make the finals.  The finals was a Cook domination.  Cook started in the shootout round vs #4 seed Isaac Kim and #5 seed Brian Kennedy.  Cook shot 247 and defeated Kim and Kennedy who had 240-216.  Cook then bowled 3rd seed Jarrett Defalco.  Cook shot 277 and made sure Defalco had no chance.  Cook won 277-220.  In the semi-final, Cook took on #2 seed Alex Glinski.  Cook again got off to a hot start and never looked back.  Cook defeated Glinski 254-215.  To complete the entire ladder, Cook took on tournament leader Bradley Crouse.    This final match was neck-and-neck….but in the end Cook outlasted Crouse 256-236 to take home the title and the $300 top scholarship prize.

In Handicap, Vaughn Kercher captured his 1st PJBT title.  Kercher qualified 7th after qualifying of 16 bowlers.  He shot 1187 and trailed the leader Brenden Hunsicker by about 70 pins.  Kercher made his run in match play.  He shot some over-average games and won his matches.  Kercher jumped to 2nd place behind tournament leader Briana Strickland, entering the finals.  Kercher began his finals run in the semi-final match vs Lexi Kile.  The pattern was a struggle for both of them but Kercher found a way to outlast Kile 122-117.  Kercher then took on Strickland for the title.  This match came down to the 10th frame.  Kercher finished 1st and forced Strickland to double in the 10th frame to win.  Strickland did not strike on her first ball in the 10th….and Kercher got the title.  Kercher defeated Strickland 158-147.  Kercher captured the title and the $300 top scholarship prize.