What Happens In Vegas, Doesn't Always Stay There.
Craig Spencer, Wins $5,000 In Roto Grip Challenge.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg
Managing Editor - The TenPin Express.Com
Director: Mesa Metro Association
Las Vegas, Nv. - - - As the franchise holder of the
Strike Force Tour Central Arizona Division, Craig
Spencer is used to handing out big checks to bowlers
in the Valley, who bowl in his events.
The thing he is not used to however, is earning
big checks in a bowling tournament himself.
But, that's what happen to him recently, at a
tournament he competed in at the Orleans Hotel
and Casino.
The tournament was the Roto Grip Challenge, a
side event of the True Amateur Tournament. It had
an unusual format, where you bowled one shot at a
time. And if you got nine or better, you continued on
in the event. Anything less, meant you were out of
it.
And, this is also one occasion where he did
something great bowling wise, that didn't stay in
Vegas.
"Winning $5,000 in a tournament will always
mean a lot to me. Money comes and goes, but the
experience of being in the situation with so many
friends cheering me on. It gave me the feeling like
I had to make a good shot under pressure for them,"
he said, shortly after returning to the Valley from
Vegas. "And making those shots (in most cases)
was really special to me. Not everyone gets to
experience this in their lifetime. I am especially
grateful for that."
He liked the format of the event, because it
was not a stepladder final. It was also a squad based
event, which means you can bowl as many times as
you like. If you bowled once and didn't bowl well you
can try again.
"It was five on a pair. Scores determined the
overall finish. I was pretty nervous. I had never
bowled for $20,000 before that. This kind of format
works well for me. Bowling isn't high on my priority
list anymore, so I don't get much practice, or bowl in
many tournaments," he said, of what kind of tourney
format he likes.
"This also means I need some time to really get
back into 'tournament shape', and the re-entry
format they use allows me to do that at the event,"
he added. "The first couple of squads I bowled, I
bowled poorly, but eventually got dialed in and made
the cut."
He honestly admits that he never felt like he
had a chance at placing really high in the event.
"I just slowly built up more and more confidence.
I got iin a really good place mentally, of just taking
it one shot at a time. So, I never really thought
about anything further ahead of that," he said.
And, there is one thing he would do differently
in the final match if he had the chance to do it all
over again.
"I would have taken more time, once I got the
lanes figured out," he said. "I needed to slow time
down a little bit, and take my time. Shots on the
right lane were not terrible, but that is why they
were not great."
The host center usually does not have lanes
available to practice on during the course of the
tournament, so he looks for another center to get
loosen up.
"I go down the street to the Gold Coast. I make
it a point to practice every morning I am there. It
helps me get loose, and make up for the lack of
bowling I do prior to the event," he said. "The lane
conditions were very tough at the Orleans. And,
much, much harder than a normal 'house condition.'"
There were also a lot of his SFT/AHT bowlers who
cashed in the handicap and scratch divisions.
"Yes, a lot of the SFT/AHT bowlers cashed in the
handicapped divisions. There were also a number of
bowlers who cashed in scratch," he said. "Right after
the event, I was really sharp physically, but also burnt
out mentally. How well I bowl, tends to have more to
do with mentally how bad I want it."
Next up for Craig, is a PBA doubles event with
Josh Blanchard.
Phoenix/Mesa Bowling News March 9, 2010
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