by Bill Vint

The 2014 PBA Oklahoma Open demonstrated that you don’t always have to have high scores to create exciting competition. The CBS Sports Network stepladder finals of the fourth tournament in Oklahoma’s Grand Casino Resort PBA Summer Swing was believed to be the first four-match final in PBA history without a 200 game by any of the five players. But it also was a telecast that produced a lot of drama.

For the second time in 2014, Australian two-handed power player Jason Belmonte ran the table for the win, and in the process became the first player to win a PBA Tour title by bowling four games under 200 in the finals. In fact, no other player has ever won a title by bowling three sub-200 games on TV.

Belmonte opened the finals with a 187-171 victory over Tommy Jones in a match in which Jones was unable to solve the right lane. Despite his inability to strike on that lane, the match was undecided going into the 10th frame after Belmonte left the 3-4-6-7-10 and failed to convert in his ninth frame. Working on a strike in his ninth frame, Jones was in position to win with another strike on his first shot in the 10th frame, but he again left a 2 pin on the right lane.

In match two, O’Neill struck on four of his first five shots and Belmonte started with a double, but then the difficult conditions slowed the pace. O’Neill could have locked Belmonte out with a double in the 10th, but left a 2 pin after striking on his first shot. Belmonte, working on a strike in the ninth, still had to double and he threw two clutch strikes on the right lane to pull out a 199-191 victory. Belmonte left a 9 pin on his fill ball to fall short of 200.

In the semifinal match, Belmonte eliminated Chris Loschetter, 194-175, by converting seven spares while Loschetter converted a battery of difficult spares. But neither bowler doubled in the entire match.

The championship match – a rematch of the 2014 USBC Masters title match won by Belmonte – became a runaway 193-145 victory for Belmonte over top qualifier E.J. Tackett, but it also was in doubt early. Tackett started with a double and Belmonte missed a 10 pin, and the match was tied at 74-74 after five frames before Belmonte’s turkey broke it open.

Despite the difficult scoring conditions, the Oklahoma Open wasn’t the lowest scoring four-match TV show in PBA history. That distinction unofficially belongs to the 1992 Showboat Invitational in Las Vegas, won by Harry Sullins. The 1992 event had an aggregate score of 1,423 for four matches (204-168, 206-157, 193-170, 175-150) – 32 pins less than the Oklahoma Open’s aggregate total of 1,455.

“Just witnessed Parker Bohn switch his first class seat with a Military man sitting in coach. My man is all class all the time.”

The PBA South Region has adjusted its three-event PBA Women’s Regional schedule to include a tournament Aug. 22-24 in Fayetteville, N.C., replacing the previously-announced event in Franklin, Va., Oct. 17-19. The South Region also will host PBA Women’s Regional events July 11-13 in Spring Hill, Fla., and Aug. 15-17 in Gloucester, Va. Details for all PBA Regional tournaments, including entry information, can be found under the Regional Tour tab under the Schedules drop-down menu on pba.com.

Don’t forget: HotelPlanner.com, the official travel partner of the PBA, is running a sweepstakes that will award $250 lodging gift certificates to lucky winners in both July and August. All you have to do is book a hotel room through any link on pba.com, or by using this link: https://pba.hotelplanner.com/, before Aug. 31. For each reservation you make, you’ll receive an additional free entry into the sweepstakes. Drawings will take place on July 31 and August 31.

Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C., spoiled a remarkable performance by 2012 PBA South Region Rookie of the Year Connor Pickford of Charlotte, N.C., in the third annual PBA Reality Check Classic presented by DV8 at Brunswick Harbour Lanes in Melbourne, Fla., Sunday.

Jones defeated Pickford in the title match, 246-238, to win $2,500 and his 11th PBA Regional title after Pickford – who qualified 16th for match play – raced into the top qualifying position for the stepladder finals earlier in the day by rolling a PBA South Region-record four 300 games (most 300s in one day and in a single tournament) and posting a 10-2 record during the 12-game match play competition.

Jones defeated defending champion Sean Riccardi of St. Petersburg, Fla., 300-205, in the semifinal round match to advance to the title match.

● Steve Rogers of Manteno, Ill., defeated Brian Gunn of Chicago, 216-196, to win the PBA American Family Insurance Midwest Open on Saturday at Tinley Bowl in Tinley Park, Ill., and in the second tournament of the doubleheader weekend, Craig LeMond of Jasper, Ind., defeated Dave Beres of Waukesha, Wis., 220-214, on Sunday for his second PBA Regional title and a $2,000 first prize.

On Saturday, Rogers defeated Aaron Lorincz of Belleville, Mich., 257-190, and Gunn edged LeMond, 246-156, to set up the championship match. Rogers earned $2,000, but doesn’t get credit for his third PBA title because he is no longer a PBA member.

● Amateur Jay Nephew of Houston, Texas, defeated George Duke of Vidor, Texas, 207-189, to win the third annual PBA San Antonio Southwest Challenge at Astro Super Bowl Sunday.

PBA Challenge tournaments are open only to players who have never won a PBA event. Because he is a non-member, Nephew won’t receive credit for a PBA Regional title.

After qualifying second, Nephew received two byes in the elimination finals. In the best two-of three games Round of 8, Nephew eliminated amateur Maria Rodriguez of Austin, Texas, 2-1, and he then eliminated Steve Lemke of Nacogdoches, Texas, 235-217, to advance to the title match.

● A busy June 27-29 schedule closes the month. Tournaments will include the Colorado Ebonite Southwest Open at Holiday Bowling and Billiards in Lakewood, Colo.; the Fort Meade East Challenge presented by Roto Grip, a reduced entry fee event for non-champions, at Fort Meade, Md.; the joint Pro Bowl West Lanes Central/Midwest Challenge, also a reduced entry fee event for non-champions, in Fort Wayne, Ind.; and a doubleheader joint regional at Secoma Lanes in Federal Way, Wash. – the PBA and PBA50 Secoma Lanes Northwest/West Opens presented by Storm.

For complete PBA Regional schedules, rules and entry information, visit pba.com, open the “schedules” tab and click on Regional Tours to find the event(s) in your area.