At least six bowlers, maybe more, recorded personal best averages in last Sunday’s 14-game final of the 21st “Champion of Champions” tournament at Tenpins & More.
The top five place-getters averaged 214.3 over 70 games among them, ably led by Gallup’s Kyle Hastiin-Nez, ironically the last man to make the cut after qualifying and, luckily for him, able to convince his boss to allow him the day off from work.
Hastiin-Nez went 11-3 in the all match-play final, adding 330 bonus pins to his lofty 220.3 average that included nine consecutive games above 200, including a 279, setting the seal on his victory, worth more than $1,000.
Rio Rancho’s Mike Lee was next with a 9-5 record after losing three matches, each by less than five pins. Lee carded a 219.9 mark that included his first perfect game in match seven.
Former Volcano Vista High School anchor Joshua Burnett finished third, 10-4 and 35 pins behind, followed by early leader Khesean Manning, 22 pins back in fourth place.
Local left-hander Joe Chacon edged Gerry Smith for the fifth, and last paid spot, in the well-contested men’s final.
This weekend the top eight women and youth bowled their divisions, with seniors scheduled for Jan. 29, bringing to a conclusion this season’s record $5,000 tournament.
• Long-time Cleveland High School bowling coach Dennis Helmick had a dream run in a recent session of the Wednesday night “Bud Trios” league at Tenpins & More. The Rio Ranchoan threw an amazing 43 strikes from 47 deliveries to roll an 1,135 series over four games, the second-highest in state history going back over more than 80 years.
Helmick’s games were 289-279-267-300.