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P/SUNNY Temp: 57 °F Wind: NNE at 4 mph Sunday, April 20, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 5, 2003 Local contingent to take the lanes with pros By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Nearly 20 years ago, Jim Brockbank chased a dream. The Medford bowler left home at age 18 to compete on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, no doubt fantasizing about a long, successful career. It was not to be. Brockbank competed in seven events in 1984 and made the top 24 once. "That wasn’t that good," he says now, able to smile about it. "I came home and got a job." In the coming week, the 37-year-old carpet installer might well experience deja vu as he and a handful of other area bowlers compete in the Medford Open at Lava Lanes. Local PBA members — headed by Hall-of-Famer Marshall Holman — and several amateurs who received exempt entries will bowl this week alongside the game’s most revered players. Other Southern Oregon participants will be Jason McCleary, Allan Reyes, Jason Bieghler, Kevin Croucher and Greg Newtson. A year ago, Blaise Bedolla of Roseburg and Jason Taylor of Klamath Falls were local entrants just starting their PBA careers. They now compete regularly and room together on the road. All but Brockbank and Bieghler bowled the event last year. Brockbank had to be coaxed into entering. He had been retired from the PBA for seven years, then rejoined last fall when he cashed in one of the association’s regional events in Bend. He has captured two regional titles over the years. "I don’t know that I’m ready to bowl against the national bowlers," says Brockbank. "I’ve been competing on the regional level, but these are the best bowlers in the world. It’s a difficult task." That was evident last year when most of the locals struggled mightily with lane conditions far more severe than they experience on league night. Three of the bottom six spots in the 119-player field were occupied by area bowlers. Only Taylor, who lost in the Round of 32, Klamath Falls’ Newtson, who placed 41st, and Holman, 42nd, made the first cut of the top 64. During league play, the oil pattern is such that even bad shots find their way into the pocket. Heavy oil in the middle allows pulled shots to stay on line; light oil toward the gutters enables balls to grab and sling back toward the head pin. On tour, the relatively flat oil pattern means the margin for error is minuscule. Brockbank and other locals have occasionally practiced on taxing lane conditions. "It gives you an idea of where to play the lines," he says. "It may not be exactly the same as the PBA shot, but it’s pretty close." Brockbank, who bowls two leagues a week and carries a 220 average, is well aware of what he’s up against. His goal is to make the cut to 64. That will be more difficult this year because there are roughly three dozen more players than a year ago. "I think I can grind it out," says Brockbank, "but the tour players have a big advantage because they know what’s coming. After the third game, they know to switch balls or change lines because they’ve experienced that condition. That, plus they’re very good. They have the knowledge of where to play it when the lane breaks down." McCleary, who has excelled in mammoth amateur tournaments, would like to do better here than he did last year, when he averaged 176 in the nine qualifying games. He won’t make any guarantees, though. "It’s a very, very demanding condition," says McCleary, a 31-year-old window salesman, "and tournament play is different, too. There are so many different styles being used that they change the oil pattern in different ways. You can’t anticipate that, you can’t practice that, you just have to go through it to know what it’s like." Until recently, McCleary had been rolling scores about 10 pins lower than he’s accustomed. In part, that was because he became a father and bought a house in the past year, curtailing his practice time. Bieghler, 25, a top Medford junior bowler before entering the adult amateur ranks, cashed in two of four PBA regional events — the qualifying standard to compete in a national tournament — and now gets a shot at "something I’ve always wanted to do." A lane condition similar to the national shot is used in regional events, he says, giving him an idea of what he’s up against. "You have to be able to learn how to adjust," says Bieghler, a machinist. "If you play one shot, or one line, or you have one ball speed, you’re not going to go very far. That’s what separates the good bowlers from the great bowlers. They have all the shots." He wants to prove to himself, above all else, that he can compete at the highest level, similar to that of his friend, Bedolla. Bieghler won’t determine his bowling future until this tournament has run its course. "That’s how you start, by taking baby steps," says Bieghler. He hopes this is a step in the right direction. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S