Jan 12th, 09
The 30th edition of the Bradley Open Bowling Tournament concluded this weekend with the most exciting finish in the 30 year history of the tournament. Jeff Fehr from Cincinnati OH defeated Brian Waliczek of Birchrun MI, 2 games to 1 in the best 2 games out of 3 championship match to take home the first place prize of $3,600 and a paid entry to the 2010 USBA Masters. The tournament is a sanctioned Sport Bowling event and has a reputation of having an extremely demanding scoring condition.
Jeff is a 12 year veteran of the Bradley Tournament. He began bowling in the tournament as a 15 year old and has returned each year since. Jeff’s father, Steve, has been one of the top amateur bowlers in the country for decades; now Jeff is continuing the tradition. Jeff’s bowling accomplishments include winning the Hoinke Doubles Championships, a runnerup finish in the High Roller and most recently winning the 2008 Super Hoinke. This makes the second year in a row that the winner of the Super Hoinke has won the Bradley. Brian Dennis pulled it off last year.
Jeff lost the first game of the championship match, 166 to 182, setting the stage for an amazing comeback. In game 2, Jeff was ahead by 1 pin the 5th frame, with both bowlers on an open. Each bowler had a spare in the 6th frame, and Brian rolled a perfect strike in the 7th frame followed by another strike in 8th frame. When Jeff left a 10 pin in his 7th frame, Brian had a 9 pin lead. Brian finished first rolling another strike in the 9th frame, but left the 2-8 in the 10th frame. Brian converted the spare and got 9 on his fill ball for a score of 210. Jeff had struck in his 8th and 9th frames, but needed a strike his first ball in the tenth. Jeff carried a perfect pocket shot and followed with an 8 count spare for a 211 win. This was just a warm-up for the tie breaking game.
Brian started game 3 with a split and failed to convert. Jeff started with a solid strike and 10 pin spare in the 2nd frame. Brian doubled in the 3rd and 4th frames tying the match. Jeff had left a 10 pin and a 4 pin in the 3rd and 4th frames, when Brian stepped up working on a double. He threw perfect strikes in the 4th and 5th frames taking a 21 pin lead. With the match on the line, Jeff came to life and rolled 2 solid strikes to narrow the lead. Brian threw another strike in the 6th, but his ball was a little wide in the 7th leaving the 2-8, which he converted for a spare. Jeff seized the opportunity and threw 2 more strikes in the 7th and 8th frames. Brian recovered by striking in the 8th and 9th frames. Jeff was in control of his destiny, and he was up to the challenge. Rolling 4 more strikes, Jeff shutout Brian with a 258 final score. Brian struck out in the 10th frame for a final score of 257. Brian took home the runner-up prize of $1,800.
This year’s tournament drew a field of 176 bowlers. Saturday’s Hammer Heavy Hitter winners (top score each squad) were Jim Wolcott (1149), Eddie Graham (1180) and Brian Waliczek (1099). Each bowler was presented with the $500 prize compliments of Hammer. The tournament paid out $26,850 in prizes this year. As usual, The Friday night Hammer Shoot Out featured a lot of high scores and several 300 games. Each sweeper paid out more than $2,000 plus bracket money.