Nesbit’s Open – Pittsburgh PA
Over the weekend I participated in this very well-known tournament as a first timer. This tournament has been going on since well before I was even born. The only way I can describe this tournament is with one word; Unique. The format is one I have never seen nor been a part of before. The bowling center has three different bays of eight lanes. For anyone who has bowled in centers like this know how big the difference in bays can be. Another very unique aspect of this tournament is that the bowling alley doesn’t carry alcohol so the players can bring in whatever they would like and as much as they would like. I am sure many of you know what I am getting at with saying that.
For me the pattern was very fair. It was very tricky to me at times, especially with how different pair to pair was. I was trying everything to find something I can use as a way to make pair to pair easier but nothing made them that much easier. I bowled the first squad so I did not get a chance to watch a squad before and get an idea of what may be right or wrong. I went in with expectations that they would be very difficult and I wasn’t wrong.
I started the day on 1-2 where lane 1 had a wall so close that every shot I threw my right leg hit the wall. One of the biggest faults of having such long arms and legs.... However it did not affect me much. I ended game 1 with a 184 after having 64 in the fifth frame, a pretty good save. Second game I bowled a clean 187 while struggling to blend the middle of the lane while figuring out much the second pair differed from the first. After ball changing in the fill and watching Chris Loschetter be 100 over after two games I figured out a way to get my ball to blend them out and go through the pins. I finished game 3 with 225 and game 4 with 241(after starting with the first seven strikes). Game 5 and the final qualifying game was in the one bay I have not bowled in yet and was told was the most hooking. Trying to be prepared I took a step in but never far enough on the left lane. I bowled 155 with striking on right lane 4/5 times. I left the 4-6 combination 4 times on the left lane. Now going from +37 to -8 in the final game I became a bubble boy. Definitely not my favorite.
I ended up being the number and drawing Chris Loschetter first round due to how the format works. Top 16 off of each squad make the cut and go into a 2 game total pin fall bracket, 1vs16, 2vs15, etc. The final two in every bracket go into a 6 game round robin match play format till the winner is determined by total pin fall of those six games plus bonus pins. Long story short Chris beat me 500-380. He had a look I just could not create. After trying 5 different balls the second game just to see if I could come close to creating the look he had, I still never got anything I thought would compete with what he had. Chris ended up making it to the final 6 round robin before falling a couple short of Mike Shady who won. Mike is a bowler I don’t see all that often but you can tell is always a competitor when the lights are on. Congrats to him for the win.
All in all, I thought it was a great tournament with a great turnout. Very unique and I think that is what makes it such a great tournament. I definitely will be making the trip back for many years to come.
Next up for me is the Detroit Cup this weekend at Thunderbowl in Allen Park Michigan. One of my favorite houses. Pretty excited to see how it goes!
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