PBC 2018 Youth Challenge Series 2

After the long PSL series that concludes last Sunday, here we are again at Temasek Club bowling centre the following Sunday for the Plaza Bowling Club (PBC) Series 2 of the Youth Challenge.

Series 2 Oiling Pattern is similar to the National Age Group Competition (to be held starting 10th March 2018). That is the reason there are more participants for Series 2. Under 12 Girls there are 29 competing as compared to 12 Under 12 Girls for Series 1.

Ash was here yesterday to bowl on her own and try to find the line. (The lanes are supposed to be oiled for the NAG) Initially on 16/10 or 18/10 , Ash’s Super Gate was not entering the pocket nicely and hitting low. SF managed to find her whatsapp message to me regarding the line for last year’s Novice Competition which has a very similar oiling pattern.

Ash was throwing the ‘Red ribbon’ line – which is Stand 16 to 19 , throw 7/8. After trying the red ribbon line, she begin to hit the strikes. Her last game (she bowl 4 games yesterday) was a good 201. We left Temasek feeling good having finding the line for today’s PBC Series 2 (and NAG next week)

Also yesterday evening, Ash had her usual weekly training with her coach. Her coach was working correcting her extending arm as not to extend too far out so that she can catch the release at the lowest point. Also Ash was standing a bit far for NSRCC lanes. (the markings are different lengths from Temasek).

After training we went for dinner and then home where Ash work on transfering her bowling notes from her current notebook which in quite a bad shape to a new notebook that SF bought for her. The new notebook has different sections so that Ash can put different bowling notes into different sections.

((sidenote : In the meantime, I went to close on a deal for fitbit charge 2 on carousell. It was selling way below market price and for such deals you need to act fast to close it before the seller realized that. Ash fitbit charge HR strap had worn down alot that it was ‘fixed’ temporarily with super glue. The fitbit charge 2 has interchangeble bands, so will not have that same issue as fitbit charge HR.))

At Temasek Club, there are many familiar faces as most of the under 12 girls are playing for Series 2. Ash is in good mood as she chatted and later warm up together before commencement of the competition. Ash registered and bought the PBC T-shirt. (It was out of stock previously)

During practice, Super Gate was not reacting the way it was the previous day (on the same oiling pattern. Supposedly). Stand 16 and throwing 7/8 was not turning into the pocket. And after  few throws, concluded that she going to Stand 16 but throw 10.

Game 1 on Super Gate started ok. Not hitting the pocket clean but she picked up the spares on the first 3 frames. Then strike on the 4th frame. Frame 5 the ball was not turning enough and causes the split (1,2,4 and 10). After the strike on Frame 6, Frame 7 was exactly like Frame 5. Same split.

Super Gate not reading the lanes early and was not turning enough at the backend. She chose to change to Code Red where it normally go longer than Super Gate but has a more aggressive turn at the back end. And sure enough the Code Red enters pocket on the same line and she strikes Frame 8,9,10 and finished strong 192.

Game 2, 2 Open frames with one of them is single pin spare (pin 3) but that will be only single pin spare that she will miss for the tournament. (93% single pin conversion rate). The other is a tricky 1,3,8,9. Ash converted 5 spares and finished with 169.

Game 3, 4 open frames with 2 splits. Luckily she have 4 strikes and finished 151. We normally do not look at the scoreboard during competition until at the end. But we got word that she is leading after 3 games.

Game 4 is, in my opinion, her best game for the competition. She finished 168 but she grind her way to that 168. Game 4 has one open frame. Frame 9 is a strike but the rest are spares. She even converted 2 splits during the spare run. With the oiling pattern being not so easy+unpredictable and they had to move lanes every 2 games, sparing becomes very important being strikes are hard to come by.

Game 5, was challenging. She have 5 open frames including 3 spilts. And the other 2 open frames are multiple pins 2,4,5,7,8. She miss right on one frame (took out 5,8) and miss left on the other (took out 2,4,7). She look a bit frustrated and we kept encouraging her and telling to reset herself. There will be games like this. Grind it out and keep the composure.

Game 6. Ash decided to change back to Super Gate at the start of Game 6. The ball reads earlier seems to be able to find the pocket. She starts off Game 6 with a spare and strike. The hitting power seems to be back and that lifts her mood.

I took the opportunity to take a quick restroom break and on the way there passed by the score board. After 5 Games, Ash is 2nd behind Darlene who was leading going into Game 6 by 47 points.
I was thinking it’s not easy to gap 47 points. 2nd place is good.

Ash continued her form for Game 6 scoring either spares or strikes when she eventually miss and left an open frame on frame 10. She finished with 197 (2nd highest game for the competition)

She was rewarded for her determination on the last game.

Final Score. Ash managed to pip Darlene by 15 points and emerge as Champion!

Ash receiving the Champion trophy and cash of $200. Woohoo!
Well done Ash!

 

The winners! (Girls under 12 category)

 

We were hungry after the event and settled to have our at Spize which is located on the 3rd floor.

 

Reference :
Balls Used 14lbs
Storm Super Gate (1,6) – First ball out until mid of 1st game
Storm Code Red (1,2,3,4,5)
ABS Sure Line (1,2,3,4,5,6)

Lanes : Temasek Club
Games 1&2 : Lanes 29 and 30 (Starting 16/9 or 16/10)
Games 3&4 : Lanes 31 and 32
Games 5&6 : Lanes 32 and 33

Lines: (for reference)
Red Ribbon  – Stand 16 to 19 throw 7/8
Yellow Line  – Stand 26/27 throw 18/19
Blue Ribbon  – Stand 18/19 throw 12
Pink Ribbon  – Stand 8/9 throw 6/7

 

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