February 1, 2008

By: Mark Martin

MDUSBC MASTERS

Kerry Kreft of Warren won the Metro Detroit USBC Association Masters Tournament at Cloverlanes in Livonia Saturday when he defeated Paul Koehler of Roseville 644-616 to win the $4,000 first prize and the title. Koehler settled for the second place check of $2,000.

Kreft qualified seventh with a six-game total of 1,283 and won matches against Angelo Newby of Waterford Township 591-527, Christopher Simonson 619-574, Harold Sullins of Chesterfield 693-593, Mason Brantley of Detroit 557-507 before beating Koehler the first time 609-573. Kreft then only had to wait for a challenger.

In the finals Koehler defeated Kreft 670-651 giving both players one-loss in the double elimination format. Kreft then finished the job for the championship. Kreft averaged 209.1 for the competition.

Kreft previous best finish was second place in 1997 to Ken Kossick at Astro Lanes.

“This is the one tournament I’ve always wanted to win and now I’ve accomplished it.” said the emotional Kreft.

In the first match against Koehler, Kreft was down 41 pins after two games when both started the third game with doubles. Disaster struck Koehler when he threw two consecutive gutter balls and Kreft threw four more strikes. Before Koehler could regain his composure the match was over putting Koehler into the loser’s bracket.

Koehler qualified 20^th with 1,226. He defeated Edward Campbell of Rochester 562-471, Terence Haines of Garden City 680-671, Brian Hatcher 684-677 and got a forfeit from Kurt Pilon of Warren to advance to the finals of the winner’s bracket. After falling to Kreft the first time he knocked out 2006 Masters champion David Ewald of Macomb 730-717. Koehler averaged 213.4.

Ewald was the top qualifier with 1,329. Once in match play he fell to the 32^nd seeded player Travis Franz of Waterford Township 688-684 in the three-game match to fall into the loser’s bracket in the double elimination format. Once in the loser’s bracket he beat Michael Calhoun of Wyandotte 683-544, Christopher Simonson of Howell 723-549, Richard Wayne of Westland 689-633, Brian Hatcher of Roseville 657-604, Franz 755-596, Brantley 635-534, Sullins 656-639 before losing to Koehler.

In the rematch win over Franz, Ewald shot a 300 in the second game to virtually clinch the match. Ewald took home $1,500 after averaging a tournament high 228.1.

Sullins settled for fourth place and $1,000.

Pilon forfeited both matches due to his mandatory appearance at the pro-am for the PBA Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas .

Franz cashed for $500 as the only Oakland County kegler in the elite eight.

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HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

Jan. 18, John Martin Jr., Clinton Twp., Plum Hollow Lanes, Friday Nite Out

Jan. 18, Michael Busch, Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Friday Nite Guys & Dolls

Jan. 19, Brian Baldwin, Lapeer, Drakeshire Lanes, Michigan Elks Tournament

Jan. 22, Christopher Reed, Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Tuesday Shootout

Jan. 23, David James, Royal Oak , Bowl One Lanes, Ford General Classic

Jan. 23, Pamela Jones, Livonia , Country Lanes, Wednesday Nite Ladies

Jan. 24, Todd Ulrich, South Lyon, Beech Lanes, Original Detroit All Star Classic

Jan. 24, Michael Blansfield, Madison Hts., Five Star Lanes, 5 5 5 League

Jan. 24, Shawn Kind, Brighton , Century Bowl, Thursday Men’s House

Jan. 25, Evan Karzynow Sr., Livonia , Country Lanes, Swinging Nineties

Jan. 25, Jerome Penxa Jr., Romeo, Bowl One Lanes, Bowl One Classic

Jan. 26, Dwayne Anderson, Southfield , Plum Hollow Lanes, Hartford Memorial Baptist Mixed

Jan. 26, Milton Graham Jr., Southfield , Thunderbowl Lanes, Chapel Hill Mixed

Jan. 26, Jeremy Thomas, Detroit , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles Tournament

Jan. 27, Harold Marsh, Ortonville, Fairlanes, Strikes & Spares

Jan. 28, Lelon Bell, Pontiac , 300 Bowl, Pontiac Community Mixed

Jan. 29, Michael Reiley, Royal Oak , Fairlanes, Pioneer Men’s

800 Series

Date, Name (Score), Hometown, Center, League

Jan. 22, Eric Crane (821), Pontiac, Airway Lanes, Airway Sweepers

Jan. 23, Tim Brittain (825), Lake Orion , Collier Lanes, Oxford Wildcats

Jan. 24, Scott Woodward (812), Auburn Hills, Beech Lanes, Original Detroit All Star Classic

Jan. 24, Travis Franz (804), Waterford Twp., Century Bowl, Thursday Men’s House

Mark Martin writes a weekly bowling column for The Daily Oakland Press and is the association manager of the Metro Detroit USBC Association. He can be reached at (248) 443-2695, faxed at (248) 443-2690 or e-mailed at mark.martin@mdusbc.com.