Non-PA Residents Joey Ocello (NJ) and Jennifer Williams (WV) Win Major Titles at ABC East

The PJBT continued its 18th Season with our 6th Major Event of the Season.  We traveled to ABC East Lanes in Harrisburg, PA.  This event had a special format, being it was a major.  In addition, we paid out extra scholarships for a major event, including the high top 2 girls.  This year’s event saw 70 athletes competing with 41 in Scratch and 29 in Handicap.  The tournament pattern for this event was Kegel Boardwalk Pattern.  The format for our Major was 6 qualifying games, the top 40% of each field bowled 3 additional head-to-head match play games.  After 9 games, the top 7 bowlers in each division advanced to our major final.  The final was 2 Shootout Rounds (3 Bowlers Compete/Top Bowler Advances) and 2 Stepladder Matches.

This event saw a common theme of this season continue.  The PJBT tour is based in all Pennsylvania bowling centers, with the exception of some pro bowler events we help out with.  This event saw two winners who don’t reside in PA and travel to our events regularly.  This week’s winners were Scratch:  Joey Ocello of New Jersey and Handicap:  Jennifer Williams of West Virginia.

In Scratch, Ocello captured his 3rd career PJBT title but his 1st Singles Scratch Title.  Ocello previously won in Nov 2015 in our Adult/Junior Event.  His other singles title came in Oct 2014 in the Handicap Division.  Ocello started off strong on the tough lane condition.  He shot 223, 227, and 204 for his first 3.  Then he had his only real bad game in game 4 of 149.  He knew he had to make up ground after that game….and he did!  He shot a tournament high game of 288 in Game 5.  He followed it up with a 257 game and moved to the top of the leaderboard after qualifying.  Ocello shot 1348 (+148) for 6 games.  The top 16 scratch bowlers advanced to match play with the cut being -64.  In Match Play, Ocello only went 1-2 with games of 232, 167, and 190.  However, he was able to maintain a slim 3 pin tournament lead entering the finals.  In the title match, Ocello took on #4 seed Anthony Neuer.  Neuer was on a run to the top.  He won the 2nd shootout match over Brian Jordan and Andrew Lazarchick.  He then won the semi-final match vs Dylan Zimmerman.  In title match, Ocello continued to play the extreme outside line on the right and it worked.  He defeated Anthony Neuer in the title match 205-170.  Joey Ocello took home the $300 top scholarship prize and a glass bowling pin trophy for his major title.

In Handicap, veteran Jennifer Williams captured her first ever PJBT title and it was a major!  She entered the tournament with an entering average of 175 and 22 pins handicap per game.  She shot consistent games thru qualifying.  She started slow with 145 but then shot 190, 174, 182, 176, and 177.  She stood at 1176 (-24) after 6 games and was in 3rd place.  The top 12 advanced in Handicap and the cut was -133.  This pattern was challenging for our handicap bowlers.  In Match Play, Williams went 2-1 in match play with games of 138, 195, and 227.  This propelled Williams into the tournament lead after 9 games.  Williams led the tournament by just 1 pin over 2nd place bowler Nate Davy!  In the final match, Williams took on Davy in the title match.  In a close title match, Williams defeated Nate Davy 181-170 to capture the title.  Williams won a $300 top scholarship prize and a glass bowling pin trophy for her major title victory.

In addition to paying out over $1400 in scholarship, we paid out scholarships to our top 2 finishing scratch girls.  This week’s winners were Paige Boyd $50 and Lauren VanDaniker $30.  The 300 Pot was not hit this week and carries over to next week.

Next PJBT Event is Sunday, January 29th, at Trindle Bowl, Mechanisburg, PA.  It is our traditional 21 & Under Doubles Event.  As of this post, we could take around 68 max doubles teams for the event and we have about 60 signed up.  If you plan on bowling, don’t get shut out!  Sign up with deposit online now!  Event starts at 10:30am.