Xtra Frame subscribers were once again treated to unfathomable drama Saturday night during the position round of the 67th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open.
Coming just a week after Brian Voss' epic 7-10 conversion at a critical point in last week's position round match, and just two weeks after Chris Barnes' legendary 300 game to propel him to the top seed in the USBC Masters, this week's action may have (I mean TOTALLY) topped both.
Let me set the stage for you. In the #1 versus #2 match you had Bill O'Neill and defending U.S. Open champ Mike Scroggins (who by the way tossed a 300 game in front of the Xtra Frame cameras earlier in the final round) in a match to determine the top seed for Sunday's ESPN finals. Then, there was Tommy Jones looking to shoot a big game to try and steal the #2 position. And these were by far the most boring two scenarios!
In the nos. 4-8 spots (only four would make the show) you had five players separated by just 88 pins: Jason Belmonte (who pulled a hammy earlier in the block and could barely walk), Walter Ray Williams, Jr., Norm Duke, Jason Couch and Pete Weber (who only have 117 titles and god knows how many majors among them). All five had a legitimate chance of making the show.
After jockeying for position the last game, about 4,321 possible scenarios could have happened heading into the 10th frame.
First, Belmo had a pop to post a score that WRW, Duke, and Couch would then have a chance to beat (PDW needed a huge game to make it and struggled early to put himself out of the running). The Aussie sensation couldn't muster anything more than 190, literally limping over the finish line (but nevertheless earning our respect with a gutsy performance to even give himself a chance), but still holding onto a slim chance of making the telecast.
Next, Norm Duke overcame a 2-4-10 and a bizarre 5-7-10 (both resulting in open frames) to cobble together a clutch 6-bagger to pull out 201 and finish ahead of Belmo.
Couch needed a double to sneak in past Duke (assuming WRW was unable to double in his 10th frame, giving Duke the 30 bonus pins for their match). Couch produced, knocking Norm out of the show. This left Walter Ray, the greatest winner in PBA history needing a double and seven pins to qualify for TV, and a chance to win his second consecutive major (he took the USBC Masters a few weeks back).
Williams crushed the first two, eliciting huge reactions from himself and the standing-room-only crowd at historic Woodland Bowl. Then, the most shocking thing I've ever witnessed in my 30 years of watching bowling occurred. Walter Ray de-celled one through the nose, leaving the dreaded 3-6-9-10, leaving him tied with Duke, (which gave him just 15 bonus pins for the match) and putting Jason Couch on the show. Pandemonium ensued.
I could tell you more about it, but since a picture (or in this case, a video) is worth a thousand words, you should probably just do yourself a favor and subscribe to Xtra Frame today. Don't miss another moment!
