I’ve had this date circled on my bowling calendar since the Northeast Amateur Tournament announced their newly-acquired USBC certification, as this was their first Westgate Lanes tournament since then, and I wanted to make my debut in the NAT at “home.” I hung around the first squad (10 AM), having breakfast while doing so, then signed up about when they opened for the 1 PM squad. I knew the NAT bowls on whatever the THS (Typical House Shot) is where they’re running tournaments, but I also knew I needed to bowl much better than I have been bowling in league to have a chance.
My qualification attempt, frame-by-frame (Linked to BowlSK sheet)
All I can say is I gave my best, and scored better than I have in months in the first game, which was clean. The third game was my undoing, as I couldn’t stay off the nose, particularly on Lane 43, but, other than the five splits, my spare game was excellent, and is where I need it to be in league.
The cut in the 49-under (age) division in my squad was 751, meaning I missed by 72 pins, but I told the bowlers I knew I thought I had a respectable showing, and they largely agreed with me. I told Jay, the tournament director, that I’d definitely bowl this again. I might think about bowling the first squad, however: Fresher oil may help me stay in the pocket.
The Tenth Board 