Editors Note: Since it has been a while now, that the MMA 65th Open has become official. Dan Quilt, of Maricopa, AZ. Will always remember his performance as one of his personal best accomplishments in bowling.
Pictured Is: Dan Quilt.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg
Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com
Director Mesa Metro Association
Chandler, AZ. - - - Dan was definitely the man, when it came his time to bowl. In the 65TH Mesa Metro Open Championships, at AMF McRay Plaza Lanes in Chandler, on February 19-20.
All that Dan Quilt, a right-hander from Maricopa proceeded to do. Was put on a clinic for the other bowlers in the field to follow that weekend, on the importance of picking up spares in tournament competition. After leaving a 3-6-10 spare in the first game of doubles in the ninth frame. And missing it by leaving the 3 pin. He started out with 38 clean frames before he opened in the 39th. He then finished the last 51 clean going 89 out of 90 clean for the tournament.
"It was my first game of doubles in the 9th frame. I left a 3-6-10 spare and I left the 3-pin standing after the spare attempt," he said, of what would be his only open moving forward. "I will say that is one of the spares that I have been struggling with lately. So much so, I have changed the way I shoot at it in order to see if closing up my angles at the spare will help. Only time will tell if closing the angles will be better."
It didn't take long for time to tell, if closing up his angles in spare shooting would be the key to success for him at AMF McCray. But it was what the doctor ordered. He proceeded to roll series of: 753 in team, 760 in doubles, and an 803 in singles. For an all events total of 2,316.
"It would be the best I have ever bowled in a Mesa City tournament," he would end up saying afterwards. "In fact, I don't think I have ever bowled higher than that, in any nine games. Team, Doubles, and Singles tournament at any level. Yes, I have had 30 clean frames in the past. I can't say how many times that has happened. I don't recall ever having 90 clean frames, but in my 35 years of bowling, it may have happened."
In the official standings list that has since became official, which was provided to us through the MMA . Quilt finished second at 803, in the hdcp Division A Singles.
"I think it is getting as much information as you can about bowling in the tournament. Whether it be practicing there ahead of time, or bowling there the day of," he said, of the importance of the 10 minutes of practice that is given on a pair prior to the start of the event. "And observing other squads and seeing how the lanes are playing. As well as being familiar with the bowlers around you. Being able to talk strategy with your teammates and bouncing ideas off of them is very beneficial. Bowling with: Dylan Taylor, Jeremy McElliott, and Chad Summers definitely helped in being successful in that event."
In the Singles Scratch Division, Division A, he also finished in second place with an 803. And he finished in first-place in the Division A all-events scratch and Handicap division with a total pin fall of 2,316.
"I have bowled in a few events there in the past," he said, of how well he knew AMF McCRay Lanes before bowling in the MMA Open Championships. "Cedrick Bell has held a couple of six game singles events there. So, yes, I have bowled there and was familiar that they have a higher friction surface there. It had been probably at least six months, since I last bowled at McRay."
Now that the 65th has been made official for quite some time now, there is one thing that he will always remember about his performance.
"I will always remember the fact that even though I am averaging about 15 pins lower than last year, in this event," he said. "I was able to execute better than any other 9 game tournament in my 35 years of bowling."
Originally from Rapid City, South Dakota. And according to Bowl. Com, Dan's highest average recorded there. Came during the 2009-10 season, when he averaged 238 for 96 games in the Classy Trio League. The League bowled out of Meadowood Lanes. Also, according to Bowl. Com, he has rolled 24 300 games since the 2001-02 season. This total includes a 300 game at a PBA regional event in Madison Wisconsin. His first one came on 1998, at the Robinsdale Entertainment Center in Rapid City. And his most recent one was rolled at Bowlero Mesa on February 18, 2021. He has rolled 300 games in South Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Arizona.
- Arizona's size definitely helps it having some of the best bowlers in the country. Anytime you have a metro area with over 4.5 million people living in it, you will find many more people that are considered the best in their field," he said, on why he feels Arizona has the bowling talent we have. "There are many events held here, that helps us continue to get better. From the City and State events, to the Strikeforce Tour and Complete Bowling events. It seems like there is always a tournament to bowl in every weekend and that helps out a lot. I strive to be considered among the best bowlers in the area where I live. I feel great pride in saying that during those nine games, no one else bowled better than I did. I will keep on doing the best I can. And let others decide if I fit into the category of the most talented bowlers in Arizona."
He said this bowling season has been very up and down for him. Since the beginning of 2021, he has lost around 65 pounds. The weight changes have had an effect on his game, such as needing to have a couple of smaller thumbs. But what he accomplished in the Mesa Metro Open, has more than made up for the season he has had prior to the tournament. The success he had at the Mesa Metro Open, carried over to the TAT in Las Vegas.
The format of the TAT is bowling a 3-game qualifying score, in your division to beat the board format. TAT then takes one bowler from every eight entries into the finals on Sunday. Dan bowls in the 36 to 50 age scratch division. This year, he made it to the finals on Sunday. After making it to the finals, each finalist bowls a one game eliminator where you have to be in the top 50 percent of bowlers. He missed two spares in the division finals that cost him from advancing to the next round.
"I would say I have been more successful at South Point recently," he said, of bowling in the center where the TAT and Nationals were being held this year. He has averaged 207 for 27 games in the Open Championship "Last year for Nationals I shot a 555 for team, 687 in doubles, and 657 in singles. For an all-events score of 1899. I like the environment of bowling in the bowling plaza. It is always fun bowling on a bigger stage."
He works for Synchrony as an Assistant Vice President in Workforce Planning. He is responsible for the service levels for Payment Solutions and Care Credit Dealer portfolios. He has worked for Synchrony for 23 years and six months. He has been doing his current job with the company for the last seven years. He has built up a lot of vacation time throughout the years, that allow him to take time off to bowl in tournaments.
"I currently have five South Dakota State tournament titles. I would like to get an Arizona State Tournament title as well. I just want to continue to bowl and learn all I can about the game," he said, of what he would like to accomplish moving forward. This isn't the best I bowled in my career. I still need to practice more now that I have lost this weight. I don't feel I am as stable at the line with less mass. It will just take more practice to get to where I need to be. I would like to get back to averaging 230 in a fall league. That is something I routinely did in South Dakota when I was younger."
He also finished in second place in the 420 and above Div A HDCP and Scratch doubles event with Jeremy McElliott. They posted a score of 1,493.
Final Standings From 65th MMA Open. Division A Only.
Team, A (840 & above), Handicapped 1 Plaid Assassin's Crew 21 2,978 Sun City, AZ 2 Empire Strikes Back 35 2,892 Maricopa, AZ 3 Sweep The Leg 14 2,870 Chandler, AZ 4 Grobmeier Nation 68 2,856 Phoenix, AZ 5 Throw It Better 15 2,797 Glendale, AZ 6 Tower of Power 20 2,793 Gilbert, AZ 7 Slippery Dreams 67 2,753 Mesa, AZ 8 Your Strike Shop 26 2,703 Buckeye, AZ 8 Team Virtue 47 2,703 Maricopa, AZ 10 We Need A Team Name 58 2,697 Maricopa, AZ.
Team, A (840 & above), Scratch 1 Plaid Assassin's Crew 21 2,978 Sun City, AZ 2 Empire Strikes Back 35 2,892 Maricopa, AZ 3 Sweep The Leg 14 2,870 Chandler, AZ 4 Grobmeier Nation 68 2,856 Phoenix, AZ 5 Tower of Power 20 2,793 Gilbert, AZ 6 Slippery Dreams 67 2,753 Mesa, AZ 7 Your Strike Shop 26 2,703 Buckeye, AZ 8 Throw It Better 15 2,698 Glendale, AZ 9 We Need A Team Name 58 2,697 Maricopa, AZ 10 Team Virtue 47 2,690 Maricopa, AZ.
Team Scratch with Prize Fund, A, Scratch 1 Plaid Assassin's Crew 21 2,978 Sun City, AZ 2 Empire Strikes Back 35 2,892 Maricopa, AZ 3 Sweep The Leg 14 2,870 Chandler, AZ 4 Grobmeier Nation 68 2,856 Phoenix, AZ 5 Tower of Power 20 2,793 Gilbert, AZ 6 Slippery Dreams 67 2,753 Mesa, AZ 7 Your Strike Shop 26 2,703 Buckeye, AZ 8 Throw It Better 15 2,698 Glendale, AZ 9 Entry 58 Fitzgerald 58 2,697 Maricopa, AZ 10 Team Virtue 47 2,690 Maricopa, AZ.
Doubles, A (420 & above), Handicapped 1 Schloss Ronald J. \ Opp Jeremy D. 21 1,498 Sun City, AZ 2 McElliott Jeremy L. \ Quilt Dan W. 35 1,493 Maricopa, AZ 2 Young Virginia C. \ Fitzgerald Michael S. 58 1,493 Maricopa, AZ 4 Bailey Michael P. \ Howard Kyle R. 64 1,487 Queen Creek, AZ 5 Jenkins Kevin \ Klerk Chris T. 14 1,481 Chandler, AZ 6 Gerken Steven C. \ Devlin Nick M. 67 1,473 Mesa, AZ 7 Wolfe Brett W. \ Rodman Hugh V. 20 1,466 Gilbert, AZ 8 Smith Jason C. \ Toon Michael J. 15 1,429 Glendale, AZ 9 Estep Gary L. Jr \ Cain Andrew 14 1,421 Chandler, AZ 10 Taylor Dylan P. \ Summers Chad V. 35 1,420 Maricopa, AZ.
Doubles, A (420 & above), Scratch 1 Schloss Ronald J. \ Opp Jeremy D. 21 1,498 Sun City, AZ 2 McElliott Jeremy L. \ Quilt Dan W. 35 1,493 Maricopa, AZ 2 Young Virginia C. \ Fitzgerald Michael S. 58 1,493 Maricopa, AZ 4 Bailey Michael P. \ Howard Kyle R. 64 1,487 Queen Creek, AZ 5 Jenkins Kevin \ Klerk Chris T. 14 1,481 Chandler, AZ 6 Gerken Steven C. \ Devlin Nick M. 67 1,473 Mesa, AZ 7 Wolfe Brett W. \ Rodman Hugh V. 20 1,466 Gilbert, AZ 8 Estep Gary L. Jr \ Cain Andrew 14 1,421 Chandler, AZ 9 Taylor Dylan P. \ Summers Chad V. 35 1,420 Maricopa, AZ 10 Oswald Richard M. \ Taylor Dylan P. 21 1,418 Sun City, AZ.
Singles, A (210 & above), Handicapped 1 Dabrowski Joseph A. 72 838 Gilbert, AZ 2 Quilt Dan W. 35 803 Maricopa, AZ 3 Eales Warren 9 780 Chandler, AZ 4 Harris Arthur D. 45 761 Mesa, AZ 5 Thompson Gregory A. Jr 67 758 Mesa, AZ 6 Lewis Robert D. 9 753 Chandler, AZ 6 Eales Justin 9 753 Chandler, AZ 8 Wolfe Brett W. 20 751 Gilbert, AZ 9 Taylor Dylan P. 35 742 Maricopa, AZ 9 Novak Julian M. 73 742 Chandler, AZ 11 Jenkins Kevin 14 741 Chandler, AZ.
Singles, A (210 & above), Scratch 1 Dabrowski Joseph A. 72 811 Gilbert, AZ 2 Quilt Dan W. 35 803 Maricopa, AZ 3 Eales Warren 9 780 Chandler, AZ 4 Thompson Gregory A. Jr 67 758 Mesa, AZ 5 Lewis Robert D. 9 753 Chandler, AZ 6 Harris Arthur D. 45 751 Mesa, AZ 6 Wolfe Brett W. 20 751 Gilbert, AZ 8 Taylor Dylan P. 35 742 Maricopa, AZ 9 Jenkins Kevin 14 741 Chandler, AZ 10 Jones Mathew D. 68 738 Phoenix, AZ.
Singles Scratch with Prize Fund, A, Scratch 1 Quilt Dan W. 35 803 Maricopa, AZ 2 Eales Warren 9 780 Chandler, AZ 3 Thompson Gregory A. Jr 67 758 Mesa, AZ 4 Lewis Robert D. 9 753 Chandler, AZ 5 Harris Arthur D. 45 751 Mesa, AZ 5 Wolfe Brett W. 20 751 Gilbert, AZ 7 Taylor Dylan P. 35 742 Maricopa, AZ 8 Jenkins Kevin 14 741 Chandler, AZ 9 Jones Mathew D. 68 738 Phoenix, AZ 10 Eales Justin 9 735 Chandler, AZ.
For Complete Results Of 65th MMA Open. Please Visit Bowl Mesa.Com.
****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
King Of The Hill - Courtesy Of Svet Vukomanovich.
Tucson - - - On 23 April 2022 at 12:00pm there will be a King of the Hill at Bowlero Bowl. Entry is $55.00 with an optional $30.00 for high games. The pattern is 2018 London (44ft, 2:2 ratio). I hope to see everyone there. Bring friends. A flyer is attached. See you there!!!
****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Strike Force Tour News - Courtesy Of Strike Force Tour.
Chandler - - - We had another great turnout today, April 3, at AMF Chandler! We had 141 total entries (96 qualifying and 45 parlays) paying out over $9,000 in main and side event prizefunds.
Congrats to Joshua Molloy for coming out on top for his 1st AHT SFT title and $1,300!!! Also congratsto Robert E. Smith Jr on 2nd place for $800 and Buddy Darnell on 3rd place for $500! Thank you to everyone that came out today to bowl the event. Tournament results and event summary will be online tomorrow on our website.
We’ll see you all in a few weeks at AMF Tempe Village on April 24th.
****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
AZ State USBC News - Courtesy Of AZ State USBC.
Phoenix - - - Arizona State USBC WILL ALLOW the 6 Storm/Roto Grip/Global 900 Bowling Balls for tournament play. This includes the Storm Phaze 4, Storm Electrify Solid, Storm Trend 2, 900 Global Altered Reality, 900 Global Wolverine and Roto Grip UFO Alert. The Arizona State USBC Open Championships and the Arizona State Women's Open Championships will continue to allow these balls in tournament play. The Purple Hammer with 6 and 7 serial numbers and the Storm Spectre are still not allowed at any playing level. Thank you and we look forward to seeing everyone on the lanes.
****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************