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Couch advances as top qualifier, while Allen records 300 game Photos by Roy Musitelli / Mail Tribune Kevin Croucher, a Professional Bowlers Association member from Grants Pass, lets loose with a shot Thursday during first-round qualifying in the Medford Open at Lava Lanes. The field was cut to the top 64 following nine games by each of the 119 bowlers. Croucher did not make the cut to today's action. By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Patrick Allen knew he needed at least an average game to ensure he would make the first cut in the Professional Bowlers Association Medford Open at Lava Lanes. What he got, essentially, was overkill. Allen, throwing the last ball of the morning squad, finished off a perfect 300 game and advanced to today's qualifying as one of the leaders as the inaugural tournament began. Each pro bowled nine games Thursday in one of two squads. The top 64 advance to today, when another nine games will determine the remaining 32 players. Elimination match play begins tonight at 6. The evening session produced the top three scorers for the day - Jason Couch, Chris Hayden and Michael Haugen Jr. Couch had a 2,069 pinfall for a 229.89 average. Hayden was at 229.33 and Haugen 223.44. Ricky Ward led the morning session with a 1,990 pinfall and 221.11 average. Among those to advance are PBA Hall of Famer Marshall Holman of Medford, who is in 43rd place with an average of 205.67. Bryon Smith out of Roseburg advanced with a 210.67 average, as did Blaise Bedolla of Sutherlin at 207.00. Among the prominent names not to make it through the first round were Steve Wilson and Del Ballard Jr. Allen, from Tarrytown, N.Y., averaged 218.33. He's in the midst of a breakout period in his career, and the perfect game is evidence the upturn is continuing. "I didn't bowl very good a couple of games before that," he said. "I cut down on my ball speed a little and got out of the gate with a couple of shots. That loosened me up a little and I just went on from there." Going into the last game, he figured he needed to bowl about a 180 to be a lock to advance. "It wasn't like I needed a 300 to make the cut," said Allen of his third 300 on the national tour. "I've bowled them before, so I was just trying to make the best shot I could and, hopefully, please the crowd. "I'm sure it won't be the last 300. There are so many great bowlers out here, and if you get lined up on a pair, you can throw a lot of strikes." Allen, a reputed trash-talker during competition - a byproduct of growing up and competing in New York - earned his first tour title in October at the Greater Detroit Open. He put himself in position for his second last week at the Earl Anthony Memorial Classic in Seattle before a misstep cost him dearly. Bowling in the semifinals against Patrick Healey Jr., Allen had a lead of 10 pins in the seventh frame but fouled on his first ball. He struck on his fill ball for a spare, but the damage was done. Allen lost the match by seven pins and Healey advanced to the finals, where he lost to Parker Bohn III. Allen, who joined the tour in 1999, has earned $74,590 this year and has been in the money 12 of 19 events. "I've been bowling a lot better since September than I did before," he said. "The first 11/2 years I was paying my dues. "I definitely think I've turned the corner, but there's a long way to go. I've been matching up to the sport pattern (tournament oil condition) pretty well, but anything can happen. One little change in the lane conditions, and it can go the other way." Couch, who is seventh on the year's earnings list and has a win to his credit this season, had things going the right way. "I was very consistent today actually, with no really bad games," he said. The Clermont, Fla., resident is hoping to recapture the form he had early last year, when he made six of the first nine TV finals. The day's scores were lower than average, he said, putting "a premium on making spares." Couch did more than that, posting a high game of 267 and rolling only two games under 227. A win here would allow him to surpass the $1 million mark in career earnings. He's made $979,504. He hopes to put together another strong nine games this morning and carry the momentum into match play tonight. "Hopefully," he said, "I can put something in the back of my opponent's mind like, hey, this guy's bowling good; I definitely have to bowl good against him." Ward praised the conditions of the center and the surfaces of the lanes. He only had to make "three or four ball changes" over the nine games to keep up with conditions, and it served the left-hander well. "I just tried to keep it simple," he said. "I was making good decisions out there and trusting my swing." Dennis Horan Jr. led most of the morning round before finishing with a 159 game. Ward trailed Horan by 74 pins heading into the final game and finished with a 239 to take the early lead. Williams, five times the tour's player of the year and holder of 34 championships, wasn't far behind. His pinfall of 1,952, for a 216.89 average, was nice, but not all-important. "It's more what you do compared to everyone else," he said. "A 600 might be a good score some places and not a good score in others. "I feel fairly confident about this week, but you have to get through every week. I'm looking pretty good to make it to (tonight), but you never know. Stupid things can happen and you might not make it." 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.