Here is my report of the Round of 16 at the Miller High Life Open in Vernon Hills, IL.
My match in the round of 16 was against Patrick Healey Jr. Patrick has been bowling very well lately making it to the TV finals 2 of first 3 weeks including his first tour win a couple of weeks ago. I started the match using a new reactive ball with some particle in it (#0061)
and playing around 10 at the arrows. Patrick was playing closer to 15 going out to about 7. In the first game, Patrick started with a tripped 4-7-10 strike. I started with a double. Patrick came back with a 4-7-10 split which he missed and a 3-10 split which he spared. I had back to back 10 pins. Patrick doubled and I also doubled. Patrick then left a 2 pin and a 10 pin. I also left a 10 pin and then left the 4-6-7 which I missed. Patrick left a 9 pin and struck in the 9th frame. I now had the chance to lock up the game. I struck in the 9th frame and the 1st shot in the 10th, but left a 10 pin to leave the door open for Patrick. Patrick threw great shots in the 10th frame striking on his first shot, but leaving a solid 10 to allow me to win the game 212-203. In the 2nd game Patrick started with a missed 3-6-10. We were having a very competitive game with me having a 10 pin lead into the last frames. Patrick finished first and went high on his first shot in the 10th frame to leave the 6-10 and shoot 215. I needed a mark in the 10th frame to win and ended up striking out for a 248-215 win.
In the 3rd game I had a couple of taps early while Patrick had a solid 10 in the 4th. I was striking to stay within 10 pins of Patrick until the 8th frame when I pulled the ball leaving the 3-6-9-10 which I spared. Patrick continued striking to win the game 279-245.
I started the next game with a 4 pin. Patrick started with a strike and a solid 8. I then threw a double. Patrick struck followed by a solid 10. I threw another strike and went high again on the left lane leaving the 3-10 which I made. Patrick struck and left another solid 8! I left a 10 pin and then struck. Patrick finally doubled. I left a 4 pin and struck in the 9th frame. Patrick struck out to lock up the game 240-237 and tie the match 2 games a piece.
In the 5th and final game Patrick started with a turkey while I started with a 4 bagger. Patrick left a 4 pin, another solid 8 and a solid 10 while I left 3 consecutive strikes. Patrick left a 4 pin in the 8th while we both had strikes in the 9th frame. I finished first and needed one more strike in the 10th frame to win the game and the match. I threw a pretty decent shot tripping the 4 pin and leaving the 9. Patrick needed all 3 strikes in the 10th frame to win the game by one pin, but he also left a solid 10 which he missed to lose 236-205. After the first game and half, Patrick threw the ball great hardly missing the pocket flush. I was able to hit the pocket on most of my shots except on the left lane when it started to hook on me. I ended up moving inside to around 17 by the end of the match on the left lane and 15 on the right lane while Patrick was playing around 18 and 17 on those lanes. I felt fortunate that I came out the winner of that match. My next match was to be against Mike Devaney.
| PH | X | 72 | 8/ | X | X | 9/ | 9/ | 9/ | X | X9- | 203 |
| WR | X | X | 9/ | 9/ | X | X | 9/ | 72 | X | X9/ | 212 |
| WR | X | 9/ | 9/ | X | X | X | 9/ | X | X | XXX | 248 |
| PH | 72 | X | X | X | 9/ | X | 9/ | X | X | 8/9 | 215 |
| PH | X | X | X | 9/ | X | X | X | X | X | XXX | 279 |
| WR | X | 9/ | 9/ | X | X | X | X | 6/ | X | XXX | 245 |
| WR | 9/ | X | X | X | 8/ | 9/ | X | 9/ | X | XXX | 237 |
| PH | X | 9/ | X | 9/ | X | 9/ | X | X | X | XXX | 240 |
| PH | X | X | X | 9/ | 9/ | 9/ | X | 9/ | X9- | 205 |
| WR | X | X | X | X | 9/ | 9/ | 9/ | X | X | 9/X | 236 |
In the match against Patrick Healey I had 39 strikes out of 58 shots. I don't think I had any strikes while missing the pocket. I missed the pocket 3 times.
My strike % on pocket shots was 39 out of 55 pocket shots or 71%.
I had 1 open when I missed the 4-6-7 in the first game. I did pick up the 3-10 and the 3-6-9-10.
In the match against me, Patrick Healey Jr had 36 strikes out of 56 shots. I seem to remember that Patrick had tripped 4-10's in the first frames of games 1 and 3 and the 2nd frame of the 2nd game. He missed the pocket 8 times.
His strike % on pocket shots was 33 out of 48 or 69%.
He had 3 opens. One was a split, the 4-7-10 in the 2nd frame of the first game. He missed a 3-6-10 in the first frame of the 2nd game. He also missed the 10 pin in the 10th frame of the last game after it had cost him the match.
We both had a pretty good reaction to get to the pocket. Patrick had a little bit of trouble hitting the pocket in the first 2 games, and had quite a few solid taps in the last 2 games. I was able to keep the ball close to pocket and get just enough strikes when I needed to for the win.
Walter Ray