Mongoose Clean Shot Wrist Support, Pays Off Big Time
Ben Laughlin Battles Through Soreness, To Claim Title
By Michael 'Chip' Begg
Managing Editor - The tenpinexpress.com
Director Mesa Metro Association
Gilbert - - - Let's face it!
As a bowler, sometimes we have to deal with minor aches and pains when we participate inleague play, or tournaments. That's just the human element that the game brings us. The other partof the human element, is that we have to deal with these aches and pains to get through it.
Prior to the start of the annual Mesa Metropolitan Associations (MMA), Masters event on SaturdayMarch 26, at Flipside in Gilbert. Ben Laughlin was dealing with some soreness in his right wrist.
But, you would not have known he was having an issue with his right wrist from the way he bowled duringthe qualifying round of five games. The Mesa right-hander rolled games of: 215, 199, 236, 204, and 269 to lead the other 20 participants at + 123. Defending Masters champion, Robbie Patterson, was second in the field at + 84.
"My legs were tired, because I have not bowled 11 games in-a-row- in a while. My wrist has been feeling a lot better since I have been using the Mongoose Clean Shot wrist support for the last two months," he said, on how hgot through the wrist issue. "I had signed a contract with the company to endorse the product. It has been amazing.
"It has given me a new life in bowling, and I am not bowling in pain anymore," he continued. "A friend let me try one at the recent Military Bowling Classic at the Orleans in Las Vegas. And I have used this product ever since."
Out of the 600 former members of the armed services who bowled in the event, Ben finished sixth following the completion of the sweeper, and his team placed third. He placed 16th, in all-events. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1988-1995, and his ending rank was an E-5.
"Any win is special. As I keep getting older, I savor them more, because of the fact I am getting older," he said, of his win. "This is my third Mesa Masters win. None of them were more special than the next one. I put a bigger emphasis on the three Masters titles, because it will always be a proud accomplishment of mine."
Ben was elected into the MMA Hall of Fame last year along with Cliff Connors for bowling superiority. His other Masters triumphs came in 2014 and 2000. Outside of league play, he did not do any extra practicing for the Masters.
"The confidence I have in my game, really paid off today," he said. "The last game of qualifying, when I rolled the 269, was when I started to feel like it was my tournament to win. The lane conditions were starting to change to my strong point.
"If there was one game I would like to have back, it would be the third game of match play when I shot a 161," he continued. "I made bad ball choices to let the field get back into the tourney. If I had the chance to bowl this game over again, I would have been a little smarter in the way I approached it."
Others who made the cut to the top six were: Robbie Patterson, +84; Mike Bonsart, +79; Mike Calderon, +66; Mike Ramsey, +55; and Tom Foster, +41. Mike Calderon's sister, Michelle Dragon, won the Queens event. The Masters also included a round robin format.
"The finals field was very strong," he said, of the competition. "It was a very diverse field that had numerous bowling accomplishments between them. I felt the shot was tricky, but fair. Nothing was given to anybody. You had to make good crisp shots. If you threw a bad shot, you paid for it. It was nice to bowl on a shot like this, and I feel I am getting close to being competitive again."
Like Michelle, Ben was in the winners circle prior to the Masters also. He won the 59th annual MMA Open doublese title with Ron Schloss at AMF Chandler in February.
"I enjoy bowling with Ron. Its fun bowling together and being successful," he said, of his doubles partner. "The MMA Open win concluded a very good month of March heading into baseball season. I am a big Yankees fan, and baseball is my other passion besides bowling. I am generally able to watch 140 of the 162 Yankee games on television"
Be is employed by Wells Fargo, as a Loan Administration Manager. He over sees nine employees who refinance home loans for customers who are in trouble with their loans.
"I am off to a great start in 2016," he said, of his performance up to this point. "My success has provided me the confidence when I bowl in high profile tournaments. It also encourages me to do better."
Coming up for Ben is a PBA Western Regional in Hawaii. The USBC Nationals in Reno, and the Arizona State Open.
"I am glad my game is heading into the right direction for a busy upcoming summer," he said, of his schedule. What I learned today, was it was nice to turn the Masters event into a successful weekend. And, get back into the winners circle."
Mesa Bowling News - April 6, 2016