Imagine you're heading into game 14 of the USBC Masters, coming off
games of 170 and 160, knowing you need to go about 60 over the last two games
to make the cut into match-play.
This is the exact situation that Track's Matt Sanders faced on
Thursday night at The Orleans in Las Vegas, NV.
Going into the final block of qualifying, Matt had positioned
himself in the top 64. However, after bowling 171 game 12 and 168 game 13, he
now faced the real possibility of missing the cut.
"That 168 game was rough," Matt told us. "The
front part of the lane hooked a ton. After talking to Rob Gotchall, I decided
to move right and throw it harder. I was lucky to spare out for 168 but
knew I needed something big the next two if I wanted to make it back into the
cut number."
The young southpaw managed to bowl 235 game 14 and headed into the
final game of the tournament sitting less than 20 pins out of the cut.
After starting the final game with a split, he was able to regroup
and spare in the 2nd frame, strike in the 3rd, spare in the 4th and then fired
off 8 consecutive strikes with his Black Hammer to finish the block with a 248
game vaulting himself into 51st place overall.
"I have never had to do anything like that before," Matt
exclaimed. "I literally threw the best 8 shots I could have
thrown."
Sanders, who decided to join the PBA this season and is looking
for his first title, will face Dick Allen in round one of the double
elimination match-play today at 12pm ET.
Track wishes Matt the best of luck in the Masters as well as all the
upcoming PBA events that he will be participating in.
***UPDATE***
Matt defeated Dick Allen 642-585 in the first round and now moves on to face BJ Moore in round two at 2pm ET. Tune in to XtraFrame for live Masters action.
***UPDATE #2***
Matt defeats BJ Moore by a score of 631-582 to advance in the winner's bracket. He will now face Bill O'Neil at 5pm ET.
After talking to Matt this afternoon he says that he is still using his Black Urethane Hammer and was able to break the lanes down a bit better that second block for himself. This allowed him to stay much more aggressive while going shot for shot with one of the hottest bowlers on the PBA tour in BJ Moore.
***UPDATE #3***
After loses to Bill O'Neil and Michael Tang it looks as though young Mr. Sanders' run is officially over. It was fun following along from the sidelines.
***UPDATE***
Matt defeated Dick Allen 642-585 in the first round and now moves on to face BJ Moore in round two at 2pm ET. Tune in to XtraFrame for live Masters action.
***UPDATE #2***
Matt defeats BJ Moore by a score of 631-582 to advance in the winner's bracket. He will now face Bill O'Neil at 5pm ET.
After talking to Matt this afternoon he says that he is still using his Black Urethane Hammer and was able to break the lanes down a bit better that second block for himself. This allowed him to stay much more aggressive while going shot for shot with one of the hottest bowlers on the PBA tour in BJ Moore.
***UPDATE #3***
After loses to Bill O'Neil and Michael Tang it looks as though young Mr. Sanders' run is officially over. It was fun following along from the sidelines.
