Doha, Qatar, The Qatar Open, the last event of the calender year where I played. The previous 2 events I played (the PBA events) did not go exactly as planned so I was hoping to bowl a little better here and make the 3 week tour not a complete disaster.
The format is one of the better formats that we play on the European Tour (a little side note, Qatar Open joined the European Tour as of last year and has the largest prize pool of them all. 30,000 Euro for 1st).
Anyway back to the format. 6 games, re-entry with top 6 getting 2 byes, 7-12th getting one bye, the rest of the cut field making the finals.
The first cut play 6 games cut to half the field. The next cut is then joined by those who placed 7-12th in qualifying, then cut half again after another 6 games, those remaining 10 are then joined by the top 6 from qualifying to form the top 16.
The top 16 then play another 6 games, with 8 going through, the pinfall is then carried over (just from the round of 16 scores) and then the top 8 play another 6 games then it cuts to the top 4 for the semi finals.
Its a fair bit of bowling, but thats the way I like it.
I qualfied early on but not enough for the byes. I tried a few more times, then on my last attempt I shot 1401 to qualify 3rd and get the all important 2 byes.
The pattern was not so easy on the fresh, but after a few games the lanes opened up a little and shooting 250 was considered a huge game.
The first 6 games I played I started off aweful. 340 something for 2 and was sitting last. I knew the number was going to be low so I dug my heels in and fought my way back to 55 over to be the number for the top 8.
I was pretty happy with myself to come back and knew that another 6 good games and I had a chance to win the event.
This is where the story becomes amazing.
The last 6 games was always going to be close. I was the number for the top 8 but only 30 pins out from 4th, so anyone had the potential to make the semi finals. I bowled some great games to shoot 690 for my first 3 to jump into 3rd. I shot 208 my 4th game and slipped to 4th, then 232 my 5th game to give myself some breathing space.
I had a quick glance at the scores and this is how it all sat.
Remy Ong from Singapore was out in front and couldn’t be caught. Nina Flack from Sweden was in 2nd, 40 pins in the number, Dom Barrett from England was also 40 pins inside the cut, then I was the number. I had a 35 pin buffer of Nick Froggatt of England and a 56 pin buffer from Wu Su Hong from Hong Kong.
At first I thought I was really the only one who was in trouble. Dom and Nina were well infront of me and that would make them WAY infront of the other 2 boys.
I started ok, strike, 2 spares then a double. Nina hit a wall as did Dom. Nick and Su Hong both had the front 6.
All of a sudden, only Remy was safe and at this point I’m in the biggest amount of trouble. I string another couple of strikes and then leave the most ridiculous ringing 10 of the trip. I could punch out for 247 and with a few frames left I didnt think it would be enough. I needed someone to miss.
Nick left a 7 pin and then threw some great shots to shoot 279. Su Hong left a 3-6-7-10, then made it, then struck out, leaving Dom, Nina and myself all to strike out.
Nina was up first, BANG BANG. Doubled like it was easy. Dom actually only need the first hit and he dead nutted it. Su Hong was now out. It was me Vs Nick for the final spot.
I needed a double in the 10th and count to beat him and secure my spot in the final 4.
First shot was perfect. Normally I get a little nervous but for some reason this time I had no nerves and just knew I could do it. I let it go perfect and carried all 10 into the pit.
Remy was 1st, Nina and I tied for 2nd and Dom was 4 pins behind us, with Nick just a whisker out by 6 pins.
It was the most amazing last few frames of bowling I have been a part of. The crowd would yell for every strike and for every open a gasp would be heard.
Nick was a true gentleman and came to congratulate me after I doubled and said great bowling. A sign of a great competitor.
I made the final 4 and now I had the chance to win the event.
Nina and I would play the semi finals against each other (format was 2 games total pinfall). This is where the wheels came off. I had played so well but for some reason I just forgot how to bowl. It’s never easy to play against a lady on the European tour. For a start they get 8 pins handicap a game and are just as good as the men.
Nina bowled a solid 480 and I had no reaction to compete. 3rd Place for me and to be honest I was happy with that. Some stages it looked like 16th was the more obvious place for me.
Nina went on to win and beat Dom for the title. 30,000 Euro’s (around $40,000 US). A huge pay check by anyones standards.
So I finished out the year with a smallish bang. Could have been better but it could of so easily been so much worse.
I just want to thank everyone for their support this year, it means a lot. Also have a safe and Merry Christmas and New Year.
Till next year
Cheers and be good
Belmo
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The PBA - A closer look
The PBA Tour is the last hurdle in any ones bowling career. It’s the place where legends of the game are made and it’s where I want to be.
Something that ‘rookies’ of the PBA must first except and then understand is that bowling on tour is unlike any thing else.
The transitions are so much different, the people you are crossing with are so much different and the most important aspect that is completely different is the talent levels.
In Europe and Asia, the talent I bowl against is of a very high standard but the depth of that talent pool is quite shallow compared to that on tour.
Everything you can do on the lane can be done by some one else out here and 9 out 10 times, that person can probably do it better than you
You are constantly fighting the lanes and are constantly thinking about your next moves. In Europe/Asia you do get a period of time to ‘just bowl’ and not worry about anything.
I have played in a few PBA events before, but they have all been majors, where the lanes transition more like ‘normal’ because of the large number of amateur participants.
I have had great success in these events but what i experienced the last 2 weeks taught me a quick and firm lesson about how the tour is really played.
The Scorpion Championship actually was an OK event. I bowled really well. The scoring pace was extremely high and it basically came down to who could knock over the pins the most based on carry. Normally this is something i would like, I mean, being a 2 handed player one of the biggest advantages is being able to strike more….. NOT THIS TIME.
I had just too much power. For the entire week I had 1 game where I had more than 5 strikes in a row. I did shoot 280, but 1 of those games just wasn’t enough.
I think i finished in 29th and to be honest was happy with that start.
The following week, the Cheetah Championship, showed me a thing or 2 about what happens when you play poorly.
It’s been a long time since I have bowled 14 games and could honestly say that I never bowled 14 full games where every shot was different.
I was a mess, missing left and right at my target and my speed control (which is something i pride myself on) was dis-graceful.
I was extremely upset with my performance but Kimberly (my wife) offered her wisdom and made me feel a little better about myself. Basically she told me that even the best have awful weeks, and the important thing is not to dwell about the past so much and work hard to improve the future.
Good advice right.
I watched the Pro’s make a difficult pattern look easy and how they did was amazing. It’s the little tricks (that a rookie needs to learn) that these guys have mastered. The ability to change a breakpoint (like from 40 ft to 36 ft) at will and the ability to generate angles into the pocket that amateurs can’t see is awesome to watch.
These are the tricks i need to learn and trust me when i say that I will learn them and i will be able to keep up.
The next time I ’shoe up’ will be in QATAR, next week to play in one of the biggest events (dollars wise) in the world. Hopefully i’ll be able to turn my form around and finish the 3 week tour off with a BANG.
Cheers and be good
Belmo
Something that ‘rookies’ of the PBA must first except and then understand is that bowling on tour is unlike any thing else.
The transitions are so much different, the people you are crossing with are so much different and the most important aspect that is completely different is the talent levels.
In Europe and Asia, the talent I bowl against is of a very high standard but the depth of that talent pool is quite shallow compared to that on tour.
Everything you can do on the lane can be done by some one else out here and 9 out 10 times, that person can probably do it better than you
You are constantly fighting the lanes and are constantly thinking about your next moves. In Europe/Asia you do get a period of time to ‘just bowl’ and not worry about anything.
I have played in a few PBA events before, but they have all been majors, where the lanes transition more like ‘normal’ because of the large number of amateur participants.
I have had great success in these events but what i experienced the last 2 weeks taught me a quick and firm lesson about how the tour is really played.
The Scorpion Championship actually was an OK event. I bowled really well. The scoring pace was extremely high and it basically came down to who could knock over the pins the most based on carry. Normally this is something i would like, I mean, being a 2 handed player one of the biggest advantages is being able to strike more….. NOT THIS TIME.
I had just too much power. For the entire week I had 1 game where I had more than 5 strikes in a row. I did shoot 280, but 1 of those games just wasn’t enough.
I think i finished in 29th and to be honest was happy with that start.
The following week, the Cheetah Championship, showed me a thing or 2 about what happens when you play poorly.
It’s been a long time since I have bowled 14 games and could honestly say that I never bowled 14 full games where every shot was different.
I was a mess, missing left and right at my target and my speed control (which is something i pride myself on) was dis-graceful.
I was extremely upset with my performance but Kimberly (my wife) offered her wisdom and made me feel a little better about myself. Basically she told me that even the best have awful weeks, and the important thing is not to dwell about the past so much and work hard to improve the future.
Good advice right.
I watched the Pro’s make a difficult pattern look easy and how they did was amazing. It’s the little tricks (that a rookie needs to learn) that these guys have mastered. The ability to change a breakpoint (like from 40 ft to 36 ft) at will and the ability to generate angles into the pocket that amateurs can’t see is awesome to watch.
These are the tricks i need to learn and trust me when i say that I will learn them and i will be able to keep up.
The next time I ’shoe up’ will be in QATAR, next week to play in one of the biggest events (dollars wise) in the world. Hopefully i’ll be able to turn my form around and finish the 3 week tour off with a BANG.
Cheers and be good
Belmo
Monday, October 27, 2008
The best and the worst days
The cashes round.
I was in a great position to remain in the top 8. Sitting 4th, with a 50 pin kicker from the top 8. The format for the cashes round is 9 games straight.
9 games against the best bowlers in the world meant if I didnt bowl great, i could easily fall out of the top 8 and if that happened, i would have to play 2 extra best of 7 matches.
I started the day with a huge break in the 10th frame for 234. That single break took all pressure off my shoulders and i felt like i could just relax and bowl.
Bowl I did. I made every single spare, almost every single spilt and threw the ball amazing. I was lofting the left gutter cap a fair bit and was in a part of the lane that noone else was, giving me the advantage of going pair to pair with a lot more confidence.
I shot 418 over for 9 games and ended up leading the field by 240 pins and securing the number 1 seed.
I was extremely excited at the prospect and now i just had to wait for 2 matches to see who I had to play.
Here comes the 'worst' part of the story.
I waited around and watched Chris Barnes come back from 3-0 down to win against Tom Baker.
I was really happy to bowl Barnes. If your going to win a major, you always want to knock out the best along the way.
I started the match GREAT. 236 and 247 to go to a 2-0 lead. Chris wasnt looking good and i was looking great. I felt like i had a great chance to win the match,
The something happened. I dont know what, but all i know is that what ever happened turned me into a nervous and un-focused player.
Chris got a little lucky in games 3 and 4, by going brooklyn 4 times over the 2 games to create 2 four baggers in both those games.
I didnt really get unlucky, i just did strike as much as i could of. The 5th game i gave away, missing spares left right and centre and then the 6th game was practically over by the 8th.
I was more upset with how i spared in the match then actually losing. I missed a bunch of spares, considering the only spare i missed in 27 games of qualifying was a single 3-6-9-10.
Chris was nice and apologized for some of his lucky breaks, but thats how the games goes. Its been there from the beginning and luck will be with bowling till the end of time.
The only positive i can take is over a many games i know i can compete with the best.....now i just need to learn how to break down a pair of lanes in the best of 7 matches.....Patience and practice and i know i will master it.
Cheers for everyones support over the past 7 days. Means a lot
Be good
Belmo
I was in a great position to remain in the top 8. Sitting 4th, with a 50 pin kicker from the top 8. The format for the cashes round is 9 games straight.
9 games against the best bowlers in the world meant if I didnt bowl great, i could easily fall out of the top 8 and if that happened, i would have to play 2 extra best of 7 matches.
I started the day with a huge break in the 10th frame for 234. That single break took all pressure off my shoulders and i felt like i could just relax and bowl.
Bowl I did. I made every single spare, almost every single spilt and threw the ball amazing. I was lofting the left gutter cap a fair bit and was in a part of the lane that noone else was, giving me the advantage of going pair to pair with a lot more confidence.
I shot 418 over for 9 games and ended up leading the field by 240 pins and securing the number 1 seed.
I was extremely excited at the prospect and now i just had to wait for 2 matches to see who I had to play.
Here comes the 'worst' part of the story.
I waited around and watched Chris Barnes come back from 3-0 down to win against Tom Baker.
I was really happy to bowl Barnes. If your going to win a major, you always want to knock out the best along the way.
I started the match GREAT. 236 and 247 to go to a 2-0 lead. Chris wasnt looking good and i was looking great. I felt like i had a great chance to win the match,
The something happened. I dont know what, but all i know is that what ever happened turned me into a nervous and un-focused player.
Chris got a little lucky in games 3 and 4, by going brooklyn 4 times over the 2 games to create 2 four baggers in both those games.
I didnt really get unlucky, i just did strike as much as i could of. The 5th game i gave away, missing spares left right and centre and then the 6th game was practically over by the 8th.
I was more upset with how i spared in the match then actually losing. I missed a bunch of spares, considering the only spare i missed in 27 games of qualifying was a single 3-6-9-10.
Chris was nice and apologized for some of his lucky breaks, but thats how the games goes. Its been there from the beginning and luck will be with bowling till the end of time.
The only positive i can take is over a many games i know i can compete with the best.....now i just need to learn how to break down a pair of lanes in the best of 7 matches.....Patience and practice and i know i will master it.
Cheers for everyones support over the past 7 days. Means a lot
Be good
Belmo
Friday, October 24, 2008
Day 2 and 3 of the PBA World Champs
Yesterday was a little bit of a grind.
I started with a couple bad breaks mixed with a couple bad shots to start the day a little slow. I didnt really pick the pace up to much but i didnt want to push, make a bad ball choice and shoot a couple of low games. I stayed consistent and shot 109 over for my second squad....basically it keep me near the top.
The lanes played much drier than they did the first day and my angle of entry was a little different, hence the solid 9's and flat 10's i left all day.
Today was, well, more like a roller coaster. I played the burn squad and the nick name for the carry down squad lived up to its name.
The left end of the house hooks like 15 boards more and i really didnt know which ball to use. I guessed and like usual i guessed wrong haha
188 out of the blocks and started to feel a little pressure. I struck in the fill shot with a different ball (Hy-Road) so i felt i could string a few together with that ball.
String a few together i did.... I bowled my first ever PBA 300. It was a great feeling. I have bowled 300 in many countries, on TV, but this was one was nice. I was very proud and excited.
The perfect game calmed me down a little and i was much more relaxed. Finished the day with 162 over and am now sitting 5th with a squad to go.
One more big day and ill make the top 8 and get the all important byes into the round of 16.
Will keep you up to date
Belmo
I started with a couple bad breaks mixed with a couple bad shots to start the day a little slow. I didnt really pick the pace up to much but i didnt want to push, make a bad ball choice and shoot a couple of low games. I stayed consistent and shot 109 over for my second squad....basically it keep me near the top.
The lanes played much drier than they did the first day and my angle of entry was a little different, hence the solid 9's and flat 10's i left all day.
Today was, well, more like a roller coaster. I played the burn squad and the nick name for the carry down squad lived up to its name.
The left end of the house hooks like 15 boards more and i really didnt know which ball to use. I guessed and like usual i guessed wrong haha
188 out of the blocks and started to feel a little pressure. I struck in the fill shot with a different ball (Hy-Road) so i felt i could string a few together with that ball.
String a few together i did.... I bowled my first ever PBA 300. It was a great feeling. I have bowled 300 in many countries, on TV, but this was one was nice. I was very proud and excited.
The perfect game calmed me down a little and i was much more relaxed. Finished the day with 162 over and am now sitting 5th with a squad to go.
One more big day and ill make the top 8 and get the all important byes into the round of 16.
Will keep you up to date
Belmo
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