Green 4
Danny Wiseman
vs
Tony Reyes

Interesting match up. There is nothing Danny can do but make the lanes better for somebody that can get inside of him just a little. As soon as Danny tries to follow Tony his carry will suffer. Danny's confidence has to be better after his qualifying performance but I expect it to get shook up eventually this week. Ball speed will be Tony's biggest challenge. Slow down Tony.

Green 3
Ritchie Allen
vs
Tommy Delutz Jr

I have been in the locker room doing most of my web site work this week. Ritchie has been a regular visitor of the locker room this week to vent his frustrations. Knowing where he wants to play and who he is bowling against I expect to see him back in the locker room venting some more.

Green 2
Chris Collins
vs
Mark Williams

I wonder what Mark is going to say after he experiences Mt. Saint Collins.

Mark hasn't been out here and doesn't know Chris. It is a real treat to see the difference between Chris on and off the lanes. I guarantee Mark will have something hilarious to say.

I never know what to expect from Chris but I will tell you he has great ball roll for the tour.

Green 1
Nathan Bohr
vs
Jeff Carter

Both of these guys are going to be doing what they like to do. It will just be a matter of who bowls better.

Nathan know he has something special this week and I like his level of confidence. That is going to be one of the keys in Nathan's progress as a professional. Right now he is still growing.

Blue 4
Bill O'Neil
vs
Robert Smith

Lets pick the two highest rev rates out of the top 32 and put them together to see what happens. Robert has been very good in the round of 32...Bill has been very bad. Who should I pick?

I like Bill's roll and angles but I am afraid his ball choices won't be as good as Robert's when they get the lane torched.

Blue 3
Chris Loschetter
vs
Parker Bohn III

I am not as comfortable in the match as I would like to be. Parker wants to find the hook and have hold second. I would rather he find the hold and create hook off of that. That may require and little softer speed than he is good at. Loschetter is naturally slow and has always been able to get the ball back and through the pins when others can not. I am hoping that Parker can get a burn spot that will help him late.

Blue 2
Michael Machuga
vs
Steve Jaros

I am not comfortable with this match up for either bowler. Mike is using something that isn't meant to go up the lane and arc and playing a part of the lane that is better off with that look. Steve is wanting to hook it because he is not as comfortable that close to the right gutter. Those that have the best look are real close to the gutter. I think I am going to take Mike because of his hips are squarer.

 

Blue 1
Mika Koivuniemi
vs
Brian Voss

I would rather see Mika bowl somebody who doesn't have a natural match up but that wouldn't be fair. Mika has a very good look from a different part of the lane. Mika is not as good as close to the right  gutter as he is when he can move about 5 boards or more off of it. He can do it if necessary but won't start there. So I expect this match to last a while.

Black 4
Amleto Monacelli
vs
Patrick Healey Jr.

I would like to think that the balls I drilled for Amleto would make the difference against Patrick. But the fact is Patrick throws it half the speed of Amleto and will be able to make his ball hook more and Amleto will walk off the pair wanting his ball to hook more. Amleto is trying to not use the hook but will probably be envious of Patrick being able to.

Black 3
Mike Scroggins
vs
Norm Duke

This will be a mirror match. Mike and Norm will be in the same area on the opposite sides of the mirror. Norm may look a little prettier doing it but the difference will be following their own transition. I like Norm's tools through transition better than Mikes' this week.

Black 2
David Traber
vs
Jim Wolcott

lefty/righty match of a different version. David will be playing righty of 5 ...Jim will be playing lefty of 20. Jim has had a unique look all the way through the TQR and qualifying. No professional would even want to throw the ball like he does it doesn't work very often but then against he is out here very often. It looks good this week. This match could go either way.

Black 1
Doug Kent
vs
Joe Ciccone

Some will say Doug has just gotten hot after his win last week. Well I bet he is a little more comfortable with and exemption in his back billfold...but anybody that knows Doug realizes he gets real comfortable when he is able to square up to the lane against bowlers that don't do it very often. Joe can do it but he hasn't wanted to very often the last couple years.

Red 4
Dave D'Entremont
vs
Chris Barnes

This is not going to be much of a match. I don't see DD having the ability to attack the gutter the way he likes. To be honest I am surprised he made match-play which probably means he wasn't playing his "A" game. No disrespect to Dave but Chris on the gutter following his own transition can only get better. If a gust of wind forces Chris left than DD is back in the game.

Red 3
Brad Angelo
vs
Patrick Allen

Brad has not been liking his draws as of late because of he lefty/righty issues. I don't think this week will be the same issue. Yes the left had it pretty good last night but I think they are very beatable today when they have to deal with their own transition and Patrick's break point is deeper than the lefty usual advantage.

 

 

Red 2
Steve Wilson
vs
Tommy Jones

This two bowlers will have no effect on each other as their ball paths won't even be close to each other until the ball gets to the pins. I think Steve's angles are a better match unless Tommy can square up to push in the mid-lane. If Tommy is forced to open up his head belly because of early friction, Steve will have a very good chance.

TV

Green
Round of 8
Danny Wiseman
vs
Chris Collins

Danny isn't as desperate as people may think he is. I am sure he wants to win again but he already has his exemption for next year. Chris is in pretty good shape point wise for next year.

I am going to pick Chris because I don't like flames.

 

 

Blue
Round of 8
Steve Jaros
vs
Bill O'Neil

Bill is the last of the high rev players in the tournament. The amount of early hook on the gutter with the length of the pattern making it feel like hold for those that can get far enough right and angle into it is very unique. We have never been able to attack this pattern this way. Steve knows this and is playing his angles very well.

Black
Round of 8
Joe Ciccone
vs
Norm Duke

Joe is a very long shot in this match. His best bet would be for a whole lot of oil getting to Norm's break point. But as straight as Norm is playing that won't effect him much. If Norm starts to change his angles the story could change but he is way too smart for that. Joe drilled up  an Absolute Inferno hoping to keep his angles shut down and not have his ball jump

Red
Round of 8
Walter Ray Williams Jr
vs
Chris Barnes

I am sure everybody would love for this to be on TV.

If I have to pick one I have to pick Walter this week. I am sure that if you were here you would pick Walter as well. His look is pretty special. Chris has got a good look but he has to move a lot quicker and a lot more. Walters moves are much more simple

 

Green
Round of 16
2
Danny Wiseman
vs
Tommy Delutz Jr

I picked all the others so I am going to let Larry Verble and Nathan Bohr pick this one.

Nathan: Danny struck a lot this morning.
Larry: I think Danny is on a mission

Nathan: I think Tommy has the natural advantage

Larry: I picked Tommy D. not going on anything but gut

 

Green
Round of 16
1
Jeff Carter
vs
Chris Collins

Jeff has been wanting to play left all week but got by Nathan by going right. I don't think Chris will present that option to Jeff. I don't think I can pick a winner in the match very easily because both will be looking for hook. I can't get comfortable in what they seem to be looking for. So I will pick the guy who likes being further left

Jeff

Blue
Round of 16
2
Bill O'Neil
vs
Chris Loschetter

Chris Loschetter did a great job of following his own transition this morning but he had the whole right side to himself. That will not be the case against Bill. Bill effects the conditions quite dramatically.

I would have to pick Bill in this match with Chris being forced deeper than he wants to be

Blue
Round of 16
1
Steve Jaros
vs
Mika Koivuniemi

Mika stepped up in his match and showed me a little something. By game three he recognized that he was going to need to get right and go left over the right gutter. He will probably need to do this again and I can sense a lot more confidence in it than I expected.

Steve didn't do anything impressive in his first match and was seeded 20th.

Black
Round of 16
2
Norm Duke
vs
Patrick Healey Jr.

I don't want to waste too much time writing about a match that won't take long.

Black
Round of 16
1
Joe Ciccone
vs
Jim Wolcott

Jim is riding his natural match up for all it is worth. I can see that match up working again. It will be interesting to see how Joe reacts the part of the lane that Jim is playing. I don't see either of these two bowlers being to read off of each other. If the match can get into the late games and Joe doesn't chase Jim, I think Joe's chances increase.

Red
Round of 16
2
Brad Angelo
vs
Chris Barnes

Both Chris and Brad are fighting for a spot in the top 16. These two bowlers are fierce rivals anyway, that only adds to the intensity level.

Chris is much more comfortable on the gutter than Brad. Brad may not have the best look on the gutter but his look in the track is plenty good. Once Chris loses his look on the gutter, Brad will have the better physical match up.

 

Red
Round 16
1
Walter Ray Williams Jr
vs
Steve Wilson

Walter's transitional moves match up very well this week and I don't see anything that can be to change that. Steve will have to figure out some way to out carry Walter. Since Steve can not loft the ball I don't think that is possible.

 

Red 1
Walter Ray Williams Jr.
vs
Mike DeVaney

Don't be fooled by what happened yesterday. Walter didn't have to follow his own transition and Mike had to deal with other human obstacles on the lane. Walter was able to use angles that no other bowler in the building could use. He was hitting the second board about 4 feet out on the lane going right to left. If those angles have to vary today he will be in the same boat as everybody else.