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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 17, 2004 Sweet 16 matchup looms between Couch, Barnes By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune The road wasn’t as easy as it looked for Chris Barnes Friday in the Professional Bowlers Association Medford Open. He’s not likely to find Easy Street today, either. Barnes was repeatedly pushed to the limit before defeating qualifying leader Wes Malott, 4-0, in their best-of-seven bout in the round of 32 at Lava Lanes. So what did he earn for all his hard work? A berth against Jason Couch today in what might be the best round-of-16 matchup on tour this season. Play begins at 11 a.m. with eight matches, followed by the round of eight at 5 tonight. Advertisement Barnes, a four-time tour winner, was rookie of the year in 1998 and points and average leader in 2000. Couch, who swept D.J. Archer in the round of 32, is the only three-time winner of the Tournament of Champions and owns 11 career titles, including the Pepsi Open in November. "Our matches are always great," said Barnes. "Both of us always show up. We both love the intensity and love to compete. Neither one of us will touch the other’s side of the lane, so I expect it will be pretty high scoring. I expect whoever strikes out in the 10th will win the match." Couch was fairly succinct. "I guess I’d better have my work shoes on," he said. They were among a handful of top-flight players to advance, including Brian Voss. The Hall of Famer who came into this event 73rd on the points list and needing a strong second half to gain exempt status next year, downed Jim Tomek Jr., 4-2. Also, 2002 champion Ricky Ward defeated Tony Reyes, 4-1; 2002 finalist Ryan Shafer downed Jason Duran, 4-2; Hall of Famer Pete Weber swept Christopher Collins; and reigning rookie of the year Brad Angelo topped Tom Daugherty, 4-3. Barnes averaged 262 in his four games, but Malott, in his first full year of touring, still forced him to strike in the middle two games and had a chance to tie the fourth. "Wes was the best bowler out here this week, and I don’t think this match did much to change that," said Barnes. "I guess it did change his opportunity to win the tournament. I knew I had to do something special, and even that might not be enough." Malott averaged nearly 17 more pins a game than Barnes in qualifying, but Barnes got out of the gate with a 266-225 win in Game 1. Then things got hairy. In Game 2, after Barnes struck on his last five balls, Malott needed a double in the 10th to win; he struck, then left the 10 pin. In Game 3, Malott had a 270 and Barnes needed a double to win. He struck out for a 279. In Game 4, Barnes threw another 279, and Malott had to strike out to force a tie and one-ball roll-off. Malott buried his first shot but left a stone 7, finishing with a 258 to end the match. Barnes had mixed feelings about his victory, aware that Malott is 51st in points and on the bubble for exempt status. The two are good friends from Texas and had long competed in the Southwest Region. "Honestly," said Barnes, "I feel terrible for him. He bowled so well all through qualifying and in our match." Couch had an easier time of it as Archer struggled to find a line. Couch took the first two games, 232-179 and 225-189, then went strike-spare to win by a pin in Game 3, 227-226. In the final game, he struck out in the ninth and 10th frames to force Archer to do the same, but the latter left the 10 pin on his first ball. "I haven’t thrown a lot of big games," said Couch. "I’ve been more consistent than anything." He might need a big game or two today. "You know when you bowl Chris Barnes, he’s not going to give you any room because he’s not going to make any bad shots," said Couch. "I’d better have my A game because my B game won’t cut it against Chris." Voss, meanwhile, will take on Angelo today. Voss hit Tomek with a 299 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead, lost the fourth game, then closed out the match with a 269 and 234. "Today went exactly as planned," said Voss, who made it to match play only one other time since the first event on the regular tour schedule. He didn’t even mind that the match went six games. "It’s good to be tested in these matches," he said. "If you have something that’s easy, you don’t get stronger. It’ll be good for tomorrow to go six games. "It really is just nice to bowl good again." 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