Missy Heads to Hawaii for PBA Regionals

This past week, I headed to the Big Island of Hawaii as well as to Oahu for three total PBA Regional Tournaments. These events are by far one of my favorites throughout the year! I’ve been competing in Hawaii since I was 12 years old, bowling the Aiea Singles Junior Bowling Tournament for many years, prior to competing in PBA Regional events. So it’s always nice to be able to visit with many that I’ve known for a long time, as well as make new friends along the way!

At the first event held at KB Xtreme in Kona, Hawaii, we held a high school bowling clinic prior to the practice session and pro-am. The next day we started qualifying for the PBA Kona Open. I started out with games of 228, 268, 203, 246, 253, 200, 225 and 184 for +207, being the only female and leading the entire field. I used my Columbia 300 Disorder, N’Sane Antics and Eruption Pro.

The field was then cut to the top 8 players for singles elimination matchplay. I faced local boy Rodney Torres in the Round of 8, making his first PBA cut/check debut.  In close matches, I ended up winning the first 3 games, shooting 214, 200 and 198. I then went on to face Josh Blanchard in the Round of 4 for the single game match. Although I bowled well and didn’t miss the pocket, Josh threw the first 8 strikes to prevail. I lost 224-268, coming in 3^rd place overall in the tournament. Not a bad start for the trip!

Besides the bowling Scot Norton and I ventured around the island, visiting petroglyphs, sea turtles, Waipio Lookout, Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls. Then it was off to Oahu for the next two PBA Regional events.

Waipio Lookout

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls

Before the next two events, we had a day off and took that opportunity to venture to North Shore Oahu. We visited turtle beach, Waimea Bay, Pipeline and Sunset Beach, which were getting some decent surf that day. We then hit up the shrimp trucks for some amazing garlic shrimp – a MUST for all that go to North Shore.

The next day, we competed in the one day event at Schofield Bowling Center. I started out well, but then struggled in the transition and ended up missing the cut with +37 coming in 16^th place. However, I did then cheer on bestie Scott Norton to  a 3-peat as he won the tournament defeating Tom Daugherty.

We then had another day off and used that day to travel to parts of the island that I had never seen before (which is saying a lot since I’ve been to Oahu 15+ times.) We visited a secret tunnel near the blow hole, ate amazing shaved ice at Uncle Clay’s House of Aloha (highly recommend), stopped to see the Makapu'u lighthouse and then ended up at Lanikai Beach, which is absolutely breathtaking!

The following day, we bowled practice session and pro-am for the last of the 3 PBA Regional events at Hickam AFB. Qualifying was the next day and I bowled very well, shooting games of 245, 204, 255, 185, 258, 193, 188 and 233 for +161. I used my Hammer Red Legend to qualify 3^rd overall and face Josh Blanchard in the Round of 16.

The Round of 16 was a best of 5 format so the first person to win 3 games would move on to the Round of 8. The first game was close, but I left a 10 pin in the 10 frame to lose 183-189. I won the next two game 223-192 and 245-237. I then lost some carry at the end of game 4, losing 224-269. So it came down to the last and final game. I couldn’t carry on one lane in the beginning of the match. Meanwhile, Josh pulled a repeat of Kona, striking the front 7 strikes. I ended up striking out for 239, but lost to Josh’s 278.  I finished 9^th place overall for the tournament. 

I then cheered on Scott for the rest of the tournament. He went on to win, again defeating Tom Daugherty in the finals. Scott definitely likes bowling the regionals in Hawaii as this now marks 4 of his 9 PBA Regional titles being captured in the islands.

Overall, the PBA Regionals were a lot of fun and I feel very good going into my next event – the USBC Queens in Green Bay, WI.

Til next time…