QUALIFYING

Matchplay

December 1st, 2019

26th Annual St. Paul Open Team Challenge

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

On a snowy December day in Mounds View, Minnesota, the On Track South St. Paul team was victorious and won the 26th annual St. Paul USBC Open Team Challenge at the Mermaid Entertainment & Event Center on Sunday December 1st, 2019.

The Team Challenge is an all Baker style format of bowling where the first bowler bowls the 1^st and 6^th frames, the second bowler the 2^nd and 7^th frames and so forth.  Again, this year we had 32 teams consisting of 5 bowlers each and well over a 1,000 bowling balls.  The tournament paid the top twelve teams. The top prize of $1,400 for first place was not the only thing the teams were shooting for as we also ran brackets during the qualifying rounds.  In addition, there was a $250 bonus for the first team to shoot a 300 score. 

The Qualifying round of the tournament consisted of 12 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 On-Track South St. Paul team, captained by Scot Arndtson led the field with an average of 232.2.  The lowest average to qualify for the eighth position was 212.3 and an average of 210.3 was required to cash.  The eight teams moving on to Match play competition were;

            ON-TRACK SO. ST. PAUL                 FARMINGTON LANES NO. STAR BLUE

            STATE OF BOWLING.COM I           LOCKER GUY II

            ON-TRACK SOUTHTOWN                 STORM 50 RED

            LOCKER GUY I                                  MIXED BAG

During the Match Play Competition, The State of Bowling.com I team averaged 212.6 to achieve the 1^st place ranking, followed by the On-Track South St. Paul team with an average of 206.6, and the Storm 50 Red team with an average of 209.6.  Match play competition consists of 7, two game matches and an 8^th, position round match. Winners of each game in Match Play receive 15 bonus points and the team with the highest total during the match receives another 20 points for a total 50 possible points per match.

In the stepladder semi-finals, the On-Track South St. Paul team bowled games of 213 and 235 for a total of 448 to narrowly defeat The Storm 50 Red team (256, 182 total 438) and a chance to bowl the State of Bowling.com I team for the championship.

In the finals, the On-Track South St. Paul team bowled games of 223 and 189 for a total of 412 while the State of Bowling.com I team bowled games of 212 and 180 for a total of 392 and win the 2019 St. Paul USBC Open Team Challenge.

At this time, we would like to congratulate the team members of the On-Track South St. Paul team; Scot Arndtson, Ethan Frank, Brian Crane, Will Mateffy, and David Pashina.  Also, a big thank you, to all of the bowlers that participated in this tournament.  And finally, we would also like to thank; The Mermaid Entertainment & Event Center, Mike’s Pro Shop, the St. Paul USBC Association, and the Bowling Proprietors Association for their financial assistance.

During the 10^th game of qualifying, The Triple X Team bowled a baker 300 score to win the $250 payout. The Triple X team consisted of; Jeff Broberg, Adam Goetzke, Patrick Hanson, Dave Ryan, and Jason Smallman.

The 27^h Annual Open Team Challenge is yet to be determined.  The USBC board will keep everyone advised as to when this tournament will be scheduled.

Submitted by:

Wells Wescott and David Hoglund

Tournament Chairperson’s