JOE MERRILL RULES THE 2006 SOUTHERN NEVADA USBC MASTERS

Las Vegas, Nevada

Joe Merrill used his methodical approach and knowledge of tournament lane play to move to the top of Southern Nevada’s elite bowlers by capturing the 2006 Southern Nevada USBC Masters title at the Suncoast Bowling Center on October 1^st.   Merrill topped a strong field of 76 bowlers and went undefeated in the final round.  On his run to the title, he beat a Murderer’s Row of opponents, including former champs Terry Leong and John DeBenedetta, and the top three qualifiers, David Haynes, Adam Ishman and Mike Taylor.  Merrill put the pressure on his opponents by going ahead in the first game of each of his five two-game matches and then either staying even, or in one case, pulling away, in  the second game.  In the championship match against Mike Taylor, Merrill jumped out to a 70-pin lead, then matched Mike shot for shot in the last game to seal his victory, 442-367.  Joe adds this title to his 2000 Southern California Masters win over Robert Smith, his 40+ High Roller victory in 2002, and his two PBA Regional crowns.  In addition to his $1,800 winnings, Merrill was awarded an entry to the 2006 USBC Masters Tournament and an attractive wall plaque honoring him for his accomplishment.  This plaque matches one hanging in the Gold Coast Bowling Center concourse that names each of the past Southern Nevada Masters champions.

Mike Taylor [5 wins, 2 losses], a multi-time PBA regional champ, made it to the championship match after defeating third-place finisher Terry Leong in a rematch after Terry had dumped him into the Challengers Bracket in the third round.  Leong 3-2], the 2001 champion and High Roller champion,  took home an entry into the 2007 USBC Senior Masters by topping all other seniors in the 10-game qualifying round.  In the finals, Terry was undefeated until his close match with Merrill in the fourth round of the Championship Bracket and his loss to Taylor in the Challengers Bracket.  Qualifying leader David Haynes [3-2] ran into the red-hot Merrill in the third Championship round, then was ousted from contention by Mike Taylor in a close Challengers match in the fifth Challengers round.

Merrill and Joe Salvemini both posted 278 games, and Merrill and Leong had two-game totals of 522 and 501, respectively, in the third round of the Championship Bracket.  The overall finals average was 206.  In the finals, Merrill averaged 225, Taylor, 209, Leong, 228, and Haynes, 207.

David Haynes led the 10-game qualifying round, followed by Adam Ishman, Taylor, Chris Klerk, and 2003 Champ John DeBenedetta.  Highlights of the qualifying round included a rolloff for the 16^th spot won by John Congro over Paul Cardinale, a 299 10^th game by Tom Enright that catapulted him into the final round, 289 games by Mike Taylor and Chris Klerk, and a 288 game by Andrew Graff.  For the second time,  The field qualifying average was 200, with 38 of the 76 bowlers above and 38 bowlers below that mark.

 FINAL ROUND RESULTS

Championship Bracket Round 1-Ch

1 Haynes d. 16 Congro, 408-361; 2 Ishman d. 15 Forkel, 398-376; 3 Taylor d. 14 Enright, 440-397; 13 Salvemini d. 4 Klerk, 499-421; 12 Merrill d. 5 DeBenedetta, 394-389; 11 Smith d. 6 Wodka, 434-374; 10 Reynoso d. 7 Sherman, 397-329; 8 Leong d. 9 Machin, 483-400.

 Championship Bracket Round 2-Ch

1 Haynes d. 13 Salvemini, 416-403; 12 Merrill d. 2 Ishman, 440-385; 3 Taylor d. Smith, 395-274; 8 Leong d. 10 Reynoso, 472-361.

Championship Bracket Round 3-Ch

12 Merrill d. 1 Haynes, 522-383; 8 Leong d. 2 Taylor, 501-393.

Championship Bracket Round 4-Ch

12 Merrill d. 8 Leong, 451-426

Championship Match

12 Merrill d. 3 Taylor, 442-367              Merrill, 1^st - $1,800, Taylor, 2^nd - $1,000

Challengers Bracket Round 1-Cl

16 Congro d. 4 Klerk, 449-408; 5 DeBenedetta d. 15 Forkel, 435-429; 6 Wodka d. Enright, 431-421; 7 Sherman d. 9 Machin, 418-348.

                            Klerk, Forkel, Enright, Machin eliminated.  13^th – 16^th Place - $250 each

Challengers Bracket Round 2-Cl

2 Ishman d. 16 Congro, 428-377;13 Salvemini d. 5 DeBenedetta, 438-364; 11 Smith d. Wodka, 495-393; 7 Sherman d. 10 Reynoso, 475-396.

                            Congro, DeBenedetta, Wodka, Reynoso eliminated, 9^th – 12 place,   - $320 each

Challengers Bracket Round 3-Cl

13 Salvemini d. 2 Ishman, 405-390; 7 Sherman d. 11 Smith, 384-342.

                            Ishman, Smith eliminated, 7^th – 8^th Place - $400 each

Challengers Bracket Round 4-Cl

1 Haynes d. 13 Salvemini, 463-418; 2 Taylor d. Sherman, 447-368

                            Salvemini, Sherman eliminated, 5^th – 6^th Place - $500 each

Challengers Bracket Round 5-Cl

3 Taylor d. 1 Haynes, 436-402.                                     Haynes eliminated, 4^th Place - $600

Challengers Bracket Round 6-Cl

3 Taylor d. 8 Leong, 440-405.                                        Leong eliminated, 3^rd Place - $800

QUALIFYING ROUND RESULTS (10 games)