Josh Blanchard Wins Two PBA Titles In Nine Days
MUNICH, Germany - Josh Blanchard of Gilbert, Ariz., won his first PBA Tour title Sunday, defeating Malaysia's Li Jane Sin, 248-211, in the title match of the 12th Brunswick Euro Challenge at Dream-Bowl Palace.
Blanchard, a 27-year-old fourth year PBA player and PBA's 2011-12 Rookie of the Year, was the top qualifier following the six-game Step 2 qualifying round and a seven-game Step 3 match play round. Sin, one three women to advance to the Step 3 round, defeated Sweden's young two-handed star, Jesper Svensson, 225-214, in the semifinal match.
The Brunswick Euro Challenge was a PBA International-World Bowling Tour event. Competition points were earned by men and women in the event, leading toward three berths in the World Bowling Tour Men's and Women's Finals, presented by the PBA which will be contested during the PBA World Series of Bowling VII at South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas this fall.
PORTLAND, Maine - Nine days after winning his first Professional Bowlers Association Tour title in Germany, Josh Blanchard made it back-to-back titles, winning the PBA's Xtra Frame Maine Shootout at Bayside Bowl with a 2-1 victory over Australia's Jason Belmonte in the best-of-three-game title match.
The Maine Shootout, the first PBA Tour event held in Maine, was a best-of-three-game, single- elimination match play tournament that was covered live on PBA's exclusive online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.
Blanchard won five consecutive best-of-three-game matches, including a stunning Round of 64 decision over Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, on his way to the title. In his first match, Malott won the first game, 270-202, but the 2011-12 PBA Rookie of the Year then rallied for consecutive 258-256 victories to begin his march to the title.
He then eliminated Greg Ostrander, Freehold, N.J., 2-0; Jason Sterner of Covington, Ga., 2-0; Bryon Smith of Roseburg, Ore., 2-0, and Osku Palermaa of Finland, 2-0, to reach the title match against the two-time reigning PBA Player of the Year where he won the first game, 243-180, lost the second, 204-234, and started with six strikes en route to a 249-211 in the deciding game.
"I just decided to stop trying to hook the ball," Blanchard said of his career-changing strategy. "I decided I just don't have the ball rotation to hook the ball with these guys, so I went back to playing it straight, and I think I'll keep doing for awhile."
For his victory, Blanchard earned $10,000 and he denied Belmonte a third 2015 title.
Article was posted with permission from Stars & Strikes, America's Bowling Newsmagazine. www.starsandstrikesbowling.com
