Jack Celmer Captures Epic Win #20 & Completes Strike Zone Sweep while Tyler Barnhart Wins His 1st on New Years Eve Day

The PJBT continued our 19th season with a trip to Strike Zone Alleys in Pottsville PA for our annual New Years Eve Day Event of the 2017 Campaign.  This year’s event saw 56 bowlers take to the lanes, including 36 in Scratch and 20 in Handicap.  The event was bowled with our standard format on Easy Street Kegel Recreational Pattern.

In Scratch, Jack Celmer made history…collecting his 20th career PJBT title.  The win was Celmer’s 3rd win on the year….including a sweep of Strike Zone….as Celmer won this event and an earlier event at Strike Zone this year.  The 20th win for Celmer tied him for 2nd All-Time in PJBT History with Kevin Beers.  He now only trails his older brother, Travis Celmer….who has the all-time record of 24 titles.    Celmer began the day with a solid +201 qualifying round.  He shot games of 2217, 268, 256, 224, and 236.  Celmer was seeded 2nd entering match play.  Celmer went 2-1 in match play with games of 218, 197, and 256.  Celmer maintained his 2nd seed position entering the 5-bowler stepladder final.  Celmer entered the finals in the match play round vs #3 Dylan Zimmerman.  Celmer squeaked out a win over Zimmerman 205-201.  This set up the title match vs tournament leader Brandon Runk.  In the final match, Celmer struck often while Runk could not figure out the left lane.  Runk continued to strike on right lane and split/open on left.  This led to a dominant win by Celmer 248-192 over Runk in the title match.  Jack Celmer received a $200 scholarship and plaque for his 20th career win.

In Handicap, Tyler Barnhart of Ridgely, West Virginia, captured his 1st ever PJBT title.  Barnhart entered the event with a 160 average and 36 pins per game.  Barnhart shot scratch games of 177, 200, 142, 169 and 220.  After 5 games, Barnhart stood at +88 and was tied for 2nd of 10 bowlers advancing to match play.  In Match Play, Barnhart goes 3-0 with games of 194, 225, and 147.  This propelled Barnhart into the tournament lead entering the finals.  In the title match, Barnhart took on #3 seed Cole Oberst.  Barnhart started the match out fast and never looked back.  Barnhart defeated Oberst 215-152 to win.  Tyler Barnhart won a $200 scholarship and plaque for his victory.

Congrats also to Brandon Runk on bowling the only honor score of the day….an 11-in-a-row 299 Game during qualifying.

That concludes the 2017 calendar.  Onto 2018….and our first event of the new calendar year is Sunday, January 7th.   Regular Season Singles Event at Hiester Lanes, Reading PA.  10:30am