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46 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, February 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 18, 2004 Commentary Medford oil pattern is a gift that keeps on giving By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune The Professional Bowlers Association kept its promise. It said there would be a scoring overload, a gift for the fans, at the Medford Open, and it made good. Just ask Chris Barnes, who Saturday added games of 289 and 280 in the round of 16 at Lava Lanes to a pair of 279s he tossed the night before. Or Brian Voss, who rolled his third 299 of the tournament, coupled with a 289, and still lost his best-of-seven match to Brad Angelo. Or Ricky Ward, who was on the verge of shooting a 300, only to leave the 7 pin on his first ball in the 10th frame to settle for a 289. Advertisement And a loss. In a match that punctuated the scoring bonanza in Saturday’s first session, Tommy Jones bowled the tourney’s third perfect game but couldn’t shake Ward. If Ward, the 2002 champion here, could pull off the same, it would be only the fifth time for dueling 300s and the first time since 1995, when Doug Wallace and Norm Duke did it. Jones wasn’t putting anything past the man they call "Bulldog." "Any time you’re out here and somebody can strike out to beat you or tie you, you have to figure they’re going to," said Jones, adding that the vast majority of the time, that’s exactly what happens. "That’s how good these guys are. "But if you knock them all down, you can’t lose, you can only tie." Jones had the preferred position of finishing first and putting the pressure on Ward. "That was a good time to have one," said Jones, "because he wasn’t giving me very much." For Ward, it was the second time in three tournaments he’s had a perfect game thrown at him. This one put him in a 0-3 hole. However, just as quickly, Jones lost his shot and Ward found one to his liking, running off three straight wins to force the deciding Game 7. Coming off games of 176, 212 and 166, Jones went to the paddock, picked out another ball and turned the tide again. "I guessed right," he said. Ward could only applaud the move that resulted in a 245-215 win for his opponent. "He made a PBA professional move," said Ward. "My hat’s off to him. He didn’t stay on the horse and kick it. He got off and got on another horse and it worked." It wasn’t an accident that scores skyrocketed once match play began. With so many players rotating lanes in the first 18 games of qualifying, the oil was constantly pushed around and adjustments had to be made more frequently. Barnes likened it to a ski slope that turns from a fast track to one pocked with moguls as traffic intensifies. In match play, only two players share the lanes. Barnes used his big games in the early session to dispatch Jason Couch in the featured matchup, 4-1. That he’s right-handed and Couch is left-handed enhanced the scoring opportunities because they had their lines to themselves. Barnes didn’t go lower than 246 in his four wins. "I was able to keep enough pressure on him and not let him back in the door," said Barnes. "If you feel like you have to strike on every shot, even when you have good ball action, sometimes you don’t throw it as well. It’s tough to play from behind. I’ve been on the other side with Jason, and I didn’t like it very much." What he does like is the B oil pattern being used here. The only other time it was used, at the Empire State Open, he made the TV finals. This after not having much success on it last season. "It’s my newly acquired favorite pattern," Barnes laughed. "Put it this way, it’s my favorite pattern this week." And one the fans can appreciate as well. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times