Green 4
Brian Kretzer
vs
Wes Malott
I have to say that Brian is the favorite here because his natural game is a better matchup. Especially if Wes tries to play in. I will be surprised to see Wes try and play in with Brian in this match. But playing to the right with as much hit and revs that Wes has, the lane doesn't stay the same very long. Wes has too much hit for this environment. BK should not be surprised by anything this morning because his reaction is largely due to the lane surface. Wes could get in and effect Brian's look and carry. It will be interesting to see how this match progresses. Will Wes play defense against the natural advantage of Brian?

Green 3
Chris Collins
vs
Paul Fleming
Paul has a little trick that is matching up this week than makes the track area look awful good. I have always admired Chris Collins ball roll. These two will not be able to see the lane the same way. Paul will have to have more options because his trick may not be there today. The pattern is playing tapered both front to back and side to side. Alot of that is the surface characteristics so as long as Paul can still feel this push in the middle part of the lane he should be able to stay slow and use his hand rotation with extreme tilt. He is doing this with a very high diff ball allowing the ball to face up at the right spot down lane. Chris isn't tricking anything.

Green 2
Michael Fagan
vs
Chris Loschetter

Dog gone it!

I was working with Chris a little bit this week and I wanted to keep and eye on it but not this way. Seems like a lot of the independents I have been working with this year are drawing staff guys in match-play. I always try and think of the players and believe in the idea that helping bowlers get better is the right thing to do. Then they meet a staffer in match-play. I still think it is the right thing to do. I will continue to do it. It is the right thing for everybody when they know Brunswick cares about people. But I will have to back off for this match.
Good Luck guys!

Green 1
Dino Castillo
vs
Michael Machuga

Unless the snow effects the playing surface Dino can just use this match for practice. This is suppose to be a short range field goal for Michael but the snow we had last night might make the footing difficult.

This is Michael's nut and everybody knows it. It is not a cut on Dino to say he doesn't have much of a chance in this match, Nobody would.

The only thing that can happen is the lanes play differently.

Is that possible?

Professionals don't complain they adapt.

Blue 4
Pete Weber
vs
Rudy Kasimakis

Burn baby burn!

These two may try and fool everybody including themselves by throwing practice shots outside of 8 during practice. They might even think of starting there, but they won't stay there. Pete will try and use touch and tilt to get the ball to look right. Rudy doesn't have touch to use but he does have plenty of hand, elbow and whack!

If  the pattern provides push in the middle Pete will win easily. If there isn't Rudy will whack the track and Pete will win just not as easily.

 

Blue 3
Mike Wolfe
vs
Dale Traber
Ball choices are a little too critical for Mike this week. He is trapping himself thinking his ball isn't picking up enough when in reality it is reacting too hard forcing him to move into a self imposed trap. Less reaction off the friction means less angle through the front part of the lane which translates into better carry. Now all you have to do is keep the ball from burning up. Speed is your friend this week. Actually you have two friends this week. But they don't like each other. Keep them around but not very close to each other. Straight  Ann Hard will keep you outside. Your other friend Slow Wheel needs to stay away from the track

Blue 2
Ritchie Allen
vs
Tommy Jones

Here this. I won't say it often. Ritchie is my favorite to beat Tommy Jones. Why? Because it is early in the morning and I didn't get to sleep much last night. Sorry Tommy but I don't think you are going to be able to come back from your early deficit in this match.

Wake me up when the alarm goes off? I must be dreaming.

I must be spending too much time trying to figure out someway to beat Tommy because the guy just doesn't loose very often.

Blue 1
DJ Archer
vs
Patrick Healey Jr.

If there is much oil at the end of the pattern in this match. There is going to be a mess to clean up after wards. I hope Mat (the lane man) has plenty of cleaner and he might need to use a little elbow grease to clean up this mess. It might be a good idea to just take lanes 21-22 out of play after this match. It hasn't been a real good pair already. You will need to get a pencil and paper to keep track of the 2-8-10's in this match because you don't have enough fingers to keep track of them. I guess you could take your shoes off and use your toes. Unless it goes 7 games...bring the pencil and paper.

Black 4
Jack Jurek
vs
Brad Angelo

The winner of this match might be the one who gained control of the TV remote in their room last night. Can you imagine sitting down to eat dinner and then going back to your room and watching TV with your opponent of the next day. Especially if strategic thoughts are going through your head.
Hey Jack what do you think my opponent will do tomorrow?, Geez! I don't know Brad but I suggest you grab the rollest ball you have, dull it up and hook the whole lane, because you can do that. Wow thanks for the advise Jack and no you can't have the remote.

 

 

Black 3
Mika Koivuniemi
vs
David Traber
The only oil left on the lane outside of 8 after this match will be in the first 10 feet, because neither of these two are going to be using that part of the lane for very long. The winner of this match should be the one who can still keep their elbow in when they are forced to loft it. That makes Mika the huge favorite as long as he has a ball that doesn't force him to use too much angle. It is possible that Mika may be forced to move left of the track late in the match. Dave isn't moving, He will stay outside and suffer with plaque 10's much longer than Mika will. Get out the measuring tapes and stop watches This is going to be a Track and Field event

Black 2
Mike DeVaney
vs
Ryan Shafer

AGAIN!

How is it that this two bowlers keep getting paired up against each other. Ryan has the natural matchup advantage in this environment. Mike will have to rely more on his ball choices to keep up with Ryan but he did a great job of that last night when he came out of nowhere with a huge set. His ball transition was Vapor Zone to Absolute Inferno to Smokin Inferno. If that works today Ryan may not be able to stay up with Mike's look in the middle and late games.

Black 1
Michael Haugen Jr.
vs
Randy Weiss

This is a matchup between a bowler who likes this weeks environment and one that has lost a lot of confidence. I will let you guess who is who in this one but it is hard to win out here without more confidence than the one is showing, especially when your opponent really likes what he is seeing. Not a good draw for a bowler looking to gain a little confidence. But it did snow last night and who knows maybe somebody left the doors open.

Red 4
Tommy Delutz Jr.
vs
Nathan Bohr

First I want to congratulate Nathan on making his first match-play appearance of the season. Nathan has been working very hard in adapting his game to the tour environment. It looks like the hard work is paying off. Nathan has been able to play out for about 3 games each set and then makes the big jump in. This will be an interesting match-up if for no other reason then to see which bowler makes the right moves through transition. Tommy's slower speed is the advantage inside. while Nathan's firm speed is the advantage outside.

Red 3
W.R. Williams Jr
vs
Doug Kent

This is the type of condition I have seen Walter dominate on many times. His move match up very well on this type of breakdown and his opponents won't be able to just take advantage of his breakdown. Doug can actually get away with his hit on this pattern and surface. This should be a very exciting match. I will give the advantage to Walter just because he is Walter and won't be the first bowler in this match to move left. The bowler with the least amount of
2-8-10's will win this match. Don't use too much surface Walter.

Red 2
Tony Reyes
vs
Brian Voss

Fresh off of his "Final Frame" victory there has to be a little less concern when his ball isn't doing the right things. This bracket is full of bowlers who could play straighter angles. I like the straighter angles this week. It gets a little tricky when the bowler has to move off their angles. With this many guys wanting to play in the same area they will certainly be asked to change those angles. I like the chances of winner out of this bracket on the show because they should have a pretty clear picture of the transitional moves needed on the show.

TV

Green
Round of 8
Chris Collins
vs
Michael Machuga

Beep! Beep! coming through.

Excuse me Chris but I have a show to catch.

I know that may sound a little premature but something is going to have to change pretty drastically for Chris's scoring pace to match that of Michael's

There are no guarantees but after averaging 260 plus for two rounds  of match-play. It is a pretty safe bet, if you want to buy your seat on the Chuga Train...first stop Clifton Park, NY

Blue
Round of 8
Mike Wolfe
vs
Patrick Healey Jr.

Mike did some really good things against Pete and the breakdown against Patrick should be very similar. I don't expect Patrick to be able to play on top of Mike. I expect him to try and take advantage of his slower speed and ability to create recovery. I think he will have similar problems that Pete had against Mike. Carry. Mike was able to follow the breakdown by switching to a Classic Zone late in the match and his ball reaction was too good to be true. It was obvious at the point Pete was out balled.

Black
Round of 8
Ryan Shafer
vs
Jack Jurek

Jack's look against Mika for the first three games was unbelievable.  There is no way Ryan will be able to play the same part of the lane that Jack is playing. Jack bowled on a pretty tight pair with somebody who broke them down with him. They actually broke down too much for him and he struggled during games 4 and 5. In game 6 he moved in and played another zone. If he does that against Ryan that other zone is liable to be right where Ryan is at. We are going to drill up a couple options to go either way. Hopefully he will be able to shell down and stay to the right.

Red
Round of 8
Mike Scroggins
vs
Tommy Delutz Jr.

Tommy is smelling blood. I can see the old Tommy D. on the lanes. I love his intensity. He is totally unaware of who is around him.  I am not sure what pair these two are bowling on but that could be the deciding factor. In both of their round of 16 matches I didn't see either ball reaction looking very dominate.

 

 

Green
Round of 16
2
Wes Malott
vs
Chris Collins

The right played a lot better for Wes this morning than I thought it would. One of these days Collins is going to make it to the show and because of the surface this would be a good opportunity. Problem is he has Some pretty tough guys to get by in the next two rounds.

This match could go either way but since Wes seems to be the more confident bowler right now, I will pick him. If Wes can't play to the right I think Collins sneaks by.

Green
Round of 16
1
Michael Machuga
vs
Michael Fagan

I am sure everybody fears Machuga in this environment. Fagan will have to try and get Choogs to move his feet if possible. I am not sure that will be possible and I see MM to be the victor. But there is nothing wrong with being the underdog especially if it can take some pressure off of you.

I expect the train to get to the show with out too many bumps along the way.

Fagan will try to derail him forcing him to take another route

Blue
Round of 16
2
Pete Weber
vs
Mike Wolfe

I will never count Weber out of many matches because he can match up his hand and speed very well. In this match I expect Mike and Pete to be in different parts of the lane and when Pete moves I think he will try and take advantage of what Mike is doing to the lane. I don't think he will be able to because of the track area. I see no reason to think Mike's scoring pace will be low enough to allow Pete to cover as many boards as he wants to.

Blue
Round of 16
1
Ritchie Allen
vs
Patrick Healey Jr

I am giving the advantage to Patrick because I think his speed rev rate allows him to create a higher scoring pace than Ritchie. The track can be played as a hook spot if your speed is right. Ritchie is using a lot more surface than I think he should be if he is going to follow his own transition.
 

Black
Round of 16
2
Mika Koivuniemi
vs
Jack Jurek

Jack is going to have somebody playing with him this time. This match should favor Mika late because the area won't be as wide as it was with Brad and his angles should be more sensitive if the back-ends are a little tighter. Since the bowlers are allowed to throw it harder I don't see Jack's arms getting any longer before this match. He will not be able to stay in the same spot as long. The key for Mika will be having a ball to go to when the friction increases.

Black
Round of 16
1
Michael Haugen Jr
vs
Ryan Shafer

Interesting match up that should favor Michael Haugen with Ryan not having anybody to help him blow a hole in the track. If Ryan can get a hole in the track early he will have a chance, If he starts too deep the match will be over before it gets started.

Red
Round of 16
2
Doug Kent
vs
Tommy Delutz Jr.

Doug did a great job of matching up against Walter in his first match. It will be interesting if he is able to follow it as easy without somebody to help him widen the friction spot. Tommy will jump to a different zone by game 3 and I think that is when Doug will take control of the match. I see Doug having the advantage early and late in this match up.

Red
Round 16
1
Mike Scroggins
vs
Tony Reyes

Somebody is going to have to slow Scroggins down to stop him. Maybe they can throw his bowling shoes in the snow, steal his wrist brace or put Vasoline in his thumb hole.  I guess they will just have to try and out strike him if possible,

Tony has his work cut out for him.

 

 

Red 1
Mike Scroggins
vs
Stephen Wagoner

Most of the time 1 vs 32 doesn't mean much, but it sure seems to here. Scroggins has been catching a lot of flack lately, most of it simply because he is left handed. How do you answer the question about no other lefty making match play and Mike is leading the tournament. I know. Mike Scroggins is good. I have watched every left hander in the building look like they are fighting oil down lane and Mike's ball is splitting the 8-9 on almost every shot. I can not comment on Stephen because I did not get the opportunity to watch him.