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Scorpion King?

Photo by TIM NEDDY

Last summer, Spring Hill Lanes’ owners Carlos Martins (left) and George Martins (right) congratulate the 2007 Spring Hill Open Bowling winner Jason Mahr. Spring Hill’s Mahr returns this weekend to defend his title.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: July 18, 2008

A year ago, Jason Mahr lived a Cinderella story.

First the Spring Hill resident and owner of KMA Pro Shop at Mariner Lanes earned a berth in a qualifier into the 19th annual Spring Hill Open, a PBA South Region event at Spring Hill Lanes, the house where he learned the game.

Then, he won. Mahr beat out legendary Walter Ray Williams Jr. by two pins to take the top seed heading into the stepladder format, and eventually topped Patrick Allen, one of the top bowlers on the national tour, 222-202 in the championship final.

That marked Mahr's first regional crown, an outstanding achievement for the then 25-year-old who has held his tour card since 2000.

"Winning that particular one, it was everything," Mahr said. "I put a lot of pressure on myself to win a regional. Until I won one I didn't think I belonged there. To win it at the house I started at, you couldn't write it any better than that."

This weekend the 26-year-old hopes to write another chapter in his fairytale, as he defends his title in the 20th annual Spring Hill Open, a three-day event at Spring Hill Lanes beginning with today's pro-am tournament and continuing with the actual regional event Saturday and Sunday.

"I know I'm going to have to a little more attention on me being the defending champ and a local guy," Mahr said. "But I've been pretty determined to better myself on not just the cheetah pattern. I'm going into that determined to prove myself again."

King of the cheetah

Reflecting on last year's tournament, Mahr repeated a line he uttered just minutes after winning, "the planets must have been aligned."

While part of that had to do with the event's location, he also meant that the oil pattern that weekend - the cheetah - suited him perfectly.

The shortest of the PBA patterns with oil only up to 35 feet, the condition encourages the bowler to play close to the gutter. That caters to Mahr, whose incredibly high backswing allows him to throw the ball at eye-popping speed.

In March, Mahr found success at a national tour event that used the cheetah, the GEICO Classic in West Babylon, N.Y., where he finished 25th overall and reached the match-play round, collecting $2,170.

He admits he has become known for dominating the cheetah, but this time he must figure out the scorpion.

"It's a completely different world than the cheetah pattern," Mahr said. "The cheetah pattern is shorter; you typically have to play right up the gutter.

"The scorpion is the complete opposite. You have to play more inside. It's a 41-foot oil pattern. It's a completely different element. That's why I'm determined to prove myself.

"...Last year compared to this year was a walk in the park. It'll be different equipment, slower ball speed, keep my head in the game. I've got to make spares and leave everything out on the lanes."

He won't have quite as stout a field to deal with this time around. Neither Williams nor Allen are expected to attend.

However Darin Hays, who has won this tournament four times (1995, 1996, 1999, 2000) and 2006 champion Tom Daugherty are scheduled to compete.

Local youth bowler Chris Polizzi, who anchored the Nature Coast Technical bowling team to a state championship, has also earned entry after finishing second in last Sunday's sweeper.

Mahr comes in hot, having bowled two 300s on Monday night at Mariner Lanes, and recently shot an 802 series and a 279 game in a summer league using a PBA pattern at Spring Hill Lanes.

Since winning the Spring Hill Open, Mahr has not competed in many PBA events. This season he ranks 47th in the region, having only bowled in five tournaments.

However, he has taken his league bowling to the next level. A few weeks after his win, he set a new county record with an 878 series and averaged 251 over the summer.

In 108 games of the Kevin's Pro Shop league during the winter season, Mahr averaged 242, a testament to his consistently.

"I definitely have much more confidence," Mahr said. "Knowing that now I'm looked at as a PBA champion, every bowling center I go to if it's a regional my banner is going to be up there (signifying past champions).

"If I'm struggling, I know my name is hanging with other great bowlers in our region. The hard work paid off. Now it's a matter of proving myself a little bit more."

Pro-am

Today's pro-am will feature four squads - 12:30, 3:30, 6 and 8:30 p.m. The cost is $17 for junior division, $25 for senior division (55 and older) and $30 for regular division. Cash and trophies will be awarded.

Last year's pro-am set a record with 267 entries, and as of Wednesday Spring Hill Lanes owner Carlos Martins said over 200 entries had already been received.

"We expect a good event," Martins said. "We're pleased with the turnout, given the economy has been a little bit harsher.

"Hopefully we'll get the same thing we've been getting out of it all these other years, people can come out and enjoy some good bowling and cheer on their favorites."

Spring Hill Open Champions
- Compiled by CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.
Year Winner Hometown
1989 D.B. Van Horn Atlanta, Ga.
1990      Jeff Bellinger Columbia, S.C.
1991      Mark Salka                         Tampa, Fl.
1992      Joe Viscomi                        New London, N.C.
1993      Bob Handley                      Tampa, Fl.
1994      Jason Couch                       Clermont, Fl.
1995      Darin Hays                         Tampa, Fl.
1996      Darin Hays                         Tampa, Fl.
1997      Jason Couch                       Clermont, Fl.
1998      Steve Hoskins                    Tampa, Fl.
1999      Darin Hays                         Tampa, Fl.
2000      Darin Hays                         Tampa, Fl.
2001      Don DuPree Fort Walton Beach, Fl.
2002      Walter Ray Williams Jr.     Ocala, Fl.
2003      Roger Bowker                    Ocala, Fl.
2004      Ritchie Allen Columbia, S.C.
2005      Gary Morgan                      Atlanta, Ga.
2006      Tom Daugherty                  Wesley Chapel, Fl.
2007      Jason Mahr                         Spring Hill, Fl.

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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