It took some overtime dramatics, but the championship of Kitsap Scratch Bowlers Organization’s Westbay Auto Open held at Hi-Joy Bowl in Port Orchard was finally decided and Tim Clemens earned his 13th title by overpowering top qualifier Nick Bachteler in the title match, 253-168.
Clemens had to work extra hard to get to the championship showdown with Bachteler. Lisa Barfield gave Lonnie Sharkey all he could handle in a match that roared to a 257-255 victory for Sharkey.
Sharkey, the top bowler in Kitsap County for ages it seems, got into another close one in the semifinals with Clemens. Sharkey could have beaten Clemens by striking on his last ball but instead got eight pins to leave the door open for Clemens to strike to tie the match and send it into sudden death.
And sudden death wasn’t so sudden. They each bowled strikes with their first three balls to remain tied. Sharkey then blinked, leaving one pin with his fourth ball. Clemens then rolled a strike to dispatch Sharkey and head into the finals where he beat Bachteler.
In the Tom Myers Sr. Memorial 205 and Under Division, Brandon VanWinkle defeated Cody Moen, the top qualifier, 279-189, to win his first KSBO title of the bowling season.
The last regular KSBO tournament of the season is Saturday (April 15) at Laurel Lanes in Port Angeles. The open division is being sponsored by James & Associate and the 205-and-Under Division is being sponsored by Olympic Artistry and Bill’s Auto Detailing.