THE Tenpin Bowling Association of South Africa allocated the 2015 TBASA Cup tournament to Dolphin Bowl, the first time this it has been held outside Gauteng.
While the number of bowlers competing in the event was disappointing the quality far exceeded expectations.
Twenty six bowlers set out to bowl 20 games each to determine who was the best-of-the-best.
Bowling started early on Saturday morning and the first to show was Theolin Govender (KZN) with a fine 255 game. The women showed the way in the second with Stacey-Lee Hooper (KZN) achieving a 237 game closely followed by Gillian O’Neill (Eastern Gauteng) on 232. In the third game Alan Kewley (Central Gauteng) showed the form that won him national colours, with 254. The fourth game was over to the women again with Bronwen Elbourne (KZN) 237 and veteran Tony Sham, also of Central Gauteng, 235. Youngster Dylan von Berkel (KZN) shone with a great game of 285, to claim the first lane record of the weekend in the fifth, while Theo fought back in the sixth with a 235. All the bowlers seemed to battle in the seventh except for Stacey-Lee who had the high game of 233.
Alan Kewley then decided it was time to showcase his abilities with first a 279 and then he 235. The last game in this round belonged to Paul de Villiers of Eastern Gauteng who managed a 266.
This left Alan Kewley in the lead at the half-way stage from Jivi Sewcharan by only 56 pins. For the women, the KZN pair of Bronwen Elbourne and Stacey-Lee Hooper was separated by only 73 pins in first and second place.
The tournament continued on Sunday morning and first to show were Gillian O’Neill and Fran Louw (Northern Gauteng) with 243 and 238 respectively. At this stage, youngster Jivi Sewcharan decided that it was time for him to show his class with a great 299 game which was at that time was the highest game in the tournament and won him a new lane record. Alan Kewley and Theo Govender bowled 267 and 253 respectively in the second and Alan followed up with 247 in the third. Next to show was Fran Louw with a 279. Tom Haller (Northern Gauteng) followed this up with a 288 new lane record on lane eight, which he followed up with a 248 in the next game.
After this it was just class all the way, almost seeming as if they had been holding back, as Jivi bowled another lane record with a 288 game and Bronwen followed suit with her own record of 259.
Jivi then achieved the perfect game, much to the delight of competitors and spectators alike, as he bowled 12 strikes in a row to record a 300 game and yet another lane record. The 20th game saw fine performances from Tom (276), Alain Regnard (Eastern Gauteng) 258 and Alan Kewley 257.
Women’s final results based on overall pinfall over the 20 games saw Bronwen in first place from Stacey-Lee in second and Elsabe Stoltz in third. Jivi won the men’s division by only 13 pins from Alan with Fran in third place. Dolphin Bowl is thrilled to have been awarded the SA singles tournament which will take place from Friday to Sunday, 10 to 12 April. Spectators are welcome and entrance is free.
