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Smith's bid for first tour win comes up short By Tim Trower Mail Tribune The page-turner Bryon Smith was scripting is, to the dismay of many Southern Oregon bowling fans, no longer a work in progress. The ink ran dry before the storybook finish. Smith, who left his Sutherlin home eight years ago to try his mettle on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, was hoping to make the first Medford Open at Lava Lanes the site of his first career victory. Kevin Mitchell had other plans, however, and handed Smith a resounding defeat Saturday in the round of 16, winning their best-of-five series, 3-0. Smith, who entered the tournament ninth on the season points list and 22nd on the earnings ledger, made $3,500. Mitchell is from Tulsa, Okla., but he was well aware of the importance of this tournament to Smith, now of Roseburg, and his followers. "Hey," said Mitchell, "he's my hometown favorite, too. I love Bryon. He's a wonderful guy." But Mitchell, who also is winless on tour since joining full time in 1999, had other priorities, namely taking care of himself in his first foray into the top 16. "This was my first time under the lights," he said. "It was kind of unique and very fun." With the crowd politely applauding Mitchell's success and audibly living and dying with each of Smith's shots, the former won the first game 216-188, then took the competitive second game, 238-228. Smith had a chance to take command but made a bad shot in the ninth frame and couldn't recover. Down 2-0, he knew he still wasn't out of it. "Three times earlier," said Smith, the No. 2 seed in match play, "I've been up 2-0 and ended up losing in five games. If you can get a win in that third game, sometimes the tide turns." Smith began the third game with nine-spares in the first three frames, while Mitchell responded with a turkey after sparing the first frame. Then the tide did turn, Smith finally getting the pins to react for him and throwing back-to-back strikes as Mitchell opened in the fifth. But just as quickly, there was another ebb, Smith getting a spare, then opening in the seventh when he left the 2-8-10. Meanwhile, Mitchell followed his open with another turkey. The game and match were sealed when Smith missed a 10 pin in the eighth, leaving Mitchell to close out a 230-181 victory. "I threw four different balls," said Smith. "I was searching for a ball to read the lane right, and I didn't have one in my bag that I could manipulate to read the middle part of the lane. It was going too far down the lane before it was hooking, and that's why the 10 pin was happening." He was disappointed he wasn't more competitive in the final stages of the tournament, but he also deemed the week a success. "Overall, I'm happy," said Smith, who finished the tournament with a 218.73 average. "There are 110 other guys who would rather have been doing what I was doing today than what they were doing." He rated Medford's first tournament - the PBA has a three-year deal with Lava Lanes - as the best the pros have had this season, which dates back to January of last year. He praised the hospitality of the home house, the fans and the media exposure. "It's nice to see the way the community has supported the center and everyone who helped bring the tour to Medford," he said. Next year, he'll write another chapter here, possibly with a happier ending. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.