December 10^th, 2018

22nd ANNUAL ST. PAUL LIMITED AVERAGE MIXED TEAM CHALLENGE

Submitted by: Wells Wescott and David Hoglund – St. Paul Team Challenge Chairpersons

On December 9^th, 2018, in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, the 22^nd Annual St. Paul Limited Average Mixed Challenge was held at Drkula’s 32 Bowl. This tournament which is probably the best time tournament around, is a handicapped all Baker Format style of bowling where the first bowler bowls the 1^st and 6^th frames, the second bowler bowls the 2^nd and 7^th frames and so forth.  Teams are comprised of either 3 men and 2 women and or 3 women and 2 men with a maximum combined average of 950.  Handicap is provided based on the team average at 100% of 950.

The top prize of $600.00 for first place was not the only thing the teams were shooting for as we ran brackets during the qualifying rounds.  In addition, there was a $125 bonus for the first team to shoot a 300 score. The tournament paid the top twelve teams and awarded metals to the top three teams. 

The Qualifying round of the tournament consists of 10 games with the top 8 teams moving on to Match Play competition.  The top 3 teams after Match Play then move on to the Step Ladder finals. 

During the Qualifying competition of the tournament, The You’re my Boy Blue team, captained by Andrew Jacobson led the field with an average of 208.4.  The lowest average to qualify for the eighth position was 187.8 and an average of 184.1 was required to cash.  The eight teams moving on to Match play competition were;

            You’re my Boy Blue                           On-Track Eaganory

            Drkula’s                                             Outcasts

            Polar Beers                                         Weber’s Woody’s

            N  A  Q                                              Mediocre at Best

During the Match Play Competition, the You’re my Boy Blue team averaged 1921 to achieve the 1^st place ranking followed by On-Track Eagan with an average of 198.8 and The Outcasts team with an average of 195.8.  Match play competition consists of 7, two game matches and a position round match of two games. Winners of each game in Match Play receive 15 bonus points and the team with the highest total during the match receives another 20 bonus points.

In the stepladder semi-finals, The On-Track Eagan team bowled games of 218 and 186 for a total of 404 to narrowly defeat The Outcasts team (163, 209 total 372) and a chance to bowl the You’re my Boy Blue team for the championship.  In the finals, On-Track Eagan bowled games of 213 and 214 for a total of 427 while The You’re my Boy Blue team bowled games of 172 and 204 for a total of 376 and win the 2018 St. Paul Limited Average Mixed Team Challenge.

At this time, we would like to congratulate the team members of the On-Track Eagan team; Melissa Pohl, Dennis O’Bryan, Brad Gregory, Ashley Sullivan, and Gary Green.  Additional, thank you, to all of the bowlers that participated in this great event and finally, we would also like to thank; Drkula’s 32 Bowl, Mike’s Pro Shop, the St. Paul USBC Association, and the Bowling Proprietors Association for their financial assistance.

No team bowled a 300 score during the qualifying round of the tournament. Therefore, a drawing was held for those teams not cashing.  The bonus of $125.00 for the Baker style 300 game was awarded to the Lucette – Drkula’s team captained by Marie Krey.

The 23rd Annual St. Paul Limited Average Mixed Team Challenge is planned for December 8th, 2019 at a Bowling Center TBA and will be open to the first 32 paid entries.  Paid entries will be accepted starting in September and typically close by the first week in November.

Submitted by:

Wells Wescott and David Hoglund

Tournament Chairperson’s