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Luck of the Irish
David O'Sullivan overcame an open frame to claim the Fran Bohlman Open at Avalon Bowling Center Sunday.
O'Sullivan opened the first frame of the championship match against defending champion Sam Zurich to win 268-209.
After the open in the first frame, a 5-10 split, he realed off nine consecutive strikes to win the match.
“Those kinds of things happen,” O’Sullivan said after claiming his second regional PBA title. “When you make a bad shot you just have to shake it off.
“Sam is a great guy and it is fun to bowl against him, I have had a lot of fun this weekend.”
Despite the open O'Sullivan was able to even up the match with Zurich until the seventh frame when Zurich suffered a pocket 7-10 split.
From that point O'Sullivan went from a two-pin lead to a 34 pin advantage just two frames later.
“Anything can happen on Sunday,” Zurich said after making the semi-finals field of 22. “I haven’t bowled in almost a year and I am not in physical or bowling shape this weekend, but I wanted to come back and defend my title because of Joey and Mandy (Bosen, owners of Avalon Bowling Center).
“I had a great time here last year and it is just as good this year. They know how to make the bowlers feel welcome and appreciated.”
Before Sunday’s final there was quite a bit of excitement as O’Sullivan was pushed in the opening round best of five series and the quarterfinals best of three match to the limits.
“I had to do my job and make my shots,” O’Sullivan said. “As a bowler you want to be challenged and tested through the day and today I met those challenges and advanced each round.
Also Sunday Richard Langton bowled a perfect game in the quarterfinals.
Langton bowled his perfect game in a re-match of last year's championship game, but ended up losing the best of three series match to Zurich.
Another interesting note on Sunday was the fate of A.J. Rice.
Rice was eliminated from the best of three round when he fouled on his last ball in the tenth frame and lost to Matt Taylor.
Rice was already down one game in the best of three series and trailed 214-210 when he prepared to throw his final ball on the game and only needed a five count to force a deciding third game.
As he made his approach the buzzer sounded to indicate the foul and ended the tournament for Rice, who threw a 300 game in last year's open.
Local bowlers Zach Dwyer and Dwayne Dwyer finished the tournament in 19th and 20th place respectively. The brothers were separated by just 14 pins.
The brothers, who could pass as twins, both cashed even after an eventful evening Saturday night after qualifying for the semis.
Zach and Dwayne had to go to Ft. Walton Beach where Zach runs the pro shop at White Sands Lanes.
“I guess we got back around 2:30 a.m.,” Zach said. “We had to go there and patch up Dwayne’s bowling ball which suffered a crack on Saturday.
“Of course while I was there I drilled myself a bowling ball as well.”
For Dwayne, who hasn’t bowled in 10 years, his brother has served as his inspiration.
“I have been watching Zach do so good I decided to get back into it,” Dwayne said. “I can tell you this, he has helped me out a ton on getting back into bowling.”
On the Thursday in league play Dwayne bowled a 290, but Zach could not let his brother out do him and bowled a 300 on the same night.
But Sunday did not get off to a great start for a bowler from Ft. Walton Beach.
Don DuPree, who started Sunday in the top 16 and appeared to be locked into the finals missed roll call Sunday morning and the first of five games.
He admitted to having the wrong time in his mind for roll call and made the mistake.
The mistake cost DuPree 200 pins and a $50 fine.
In the Pro-Am on Friday the youth title went to Alan Meyers with a 1475 series while Clarence miller won the adult division with a 1478.
Results of local bowlers of interest
- 16. Marty Womble Pensacola 3255
- 19. Zach Dwyer Pace 2572
- 20. Dwayne Dwyer Milton 2558
- 22. Don DuPree Ft. Walton Beach 2445
- 28. Richard Blackmon Milton 1597
- 30. Ricky Smith Gulf Breeze 1596
- 38. Travis Pittman Pensacola 1552
- 42. Charles Clifford Ft. Walton Beach 1524
- 48. John Perry Pace 1483
- 49. Anthony Meyers Pensacola 1481
- 50. Jerry Bohlman Milton 1477
- 54. Raymond Holley Pace 1466
- 55. Mike McHaley Pensacola 1464
- 58. Bill Ziegler Gulf Breeze 1430
- 61. Phillip Warr Milton 1404
- 66. Dennis Thomas Ft. Walton Beach 1370
