'Like Riding A Bike'

Two years ago when Tom Daugherty hoisted the championship trophy at the Spring Hill Open, he did so under different circumstances.

That marked the first PBA title in four full years on the South Region Tour, and created an understandably emotional moment for the Wesley Chapel resident.

Coming into the 20th annual Spring Hill Open at Spring Hill Lanes this weekend, Daugherty didn't figure to find himself in that position once again.

He has decided to stop traveling for tournaments, having only competed in five previous events this season. He attended this tournament only because of its location.

Turns out old habits do die hard. Daugherty survived the grueling two-day affair on the challenging scorpion oil pattern, and even benefited from a little luck en route to his second Spring Hill Open crown in three years.

"It's like riding a bike," Daugherty said. "I was not 100 percent sharp. I started with a 160. I started to bowl good at the end of the first day (Saturday) and really good (yesterday) morning."

Tight till the end

In earning his fourth regional title and a first-place prize of $2,500, Daugherty needed every pin in his final match with Lee Vanderhoef of Greenville, S.C. Daugherty would win, 213-180, but that differential doesn't tell the story.

Bowling on lanes 19 and 20, neither bowler could take advantage of opportunities to pull away, both struggling to strike on 19.

Going into the tenth frame, Daugherty held a slim one-pin edge over Vanderhoef, meaning he needed to strike out to close it out. However, he would have to do it on 19.

After carrying a slightly high hit on the first ball, his second ball crossed over into the left-hand pocket, yet still managed to go for a fortunate strike.

"As soon as he let it go, I knew it," Vanderhoef said of that strike. "The tough part is when the match is that close."

Daugherty had carried a similar strike in the eighth frame, but required no such breaks on his final ball, a clean strike that put the game out of reach of Vanderhoef, who had yet to throw his tenth frame.

"It's fun," Daugherty said. "Two years ago I needed the first one and got eight. It was nice to go up and shut the other guy out. That's what you bowl for. It gets your juices flowing when you come through."

Vanderhoef accumulated the highest pin total of the tournament at 4,924, averaging 234.48 across 21 games, and came into the stepladder-format playoffs as the top seed following 13 qualifying games Saturday and Sunday.

"I'm extremely angry right now," Vanderhoef said. "But I'll take the $1,210 (for finishing second) and be all right. I'd rather that than missing a check."

Daugherty became just the second person to ever win this tournament more than once, joining fellow Wesley Chapel resident Darin Hays, who has won the tournament back-to-back twice (1995-96, 1999-2000).

"It's one of my favorite ones," Daugherty said. "I bowled my first one here 10 years ago. Winning my first title here was nice. I'll always come back here."

Mahr struggles

Defending champion and Spring Hill resident Jason Mahr, owner of KMA Pro Shop at Mariner Lanes, struggled this year, finishing tied for 43rd with 1,583 during eight games Saturday. He did not advance to the second qualifying round.

"I had a bad feeling Saturday morning, I had a feeling I wasn't going to bowl that great and I put myself in a bad mental state," Mahr said. "I kind of did it to myself.

"The shot was different. They modified the patterns a little bit. It's a scorpion none of us have bowled on.

"...I didn't feel like I was going to repeat but I wanted to come out and have a good showing and I didn't feel like I performed to my expectations."

The highest Hernando County finisher was youth bowler Chris Polizzi, who earned an entry by finishing second in last Sunday's sweeper at Spring Hill Lanes. Polizzi finished 21st with a 2,721 during 13 games.

He was the only county bowler to advance to the second day and the only one to cash. He earned $400, which will go into a special fund set up for youth bowlers to use on education or bowling-related activities.

Pro-Am winners

Michael Laird took home $210 for winning the regular division of Friday's Pro-Am tournament with a 1,601 total. Lance Smith won the senior division and a $115 prize with the same score.

The junior 130 average and below division was won by Ryan Stellato (1,548) while the junior 130 average and up division was won by Dakota Smith (1,568).

"I think it was real successful," Spring Hill Lanes owner Carlos Martins said. "I'm pleasantly surprised with the turnout. A lot of participation in-house but also Ocala and other towns, Bradenton, the Tampa area. It's always nice to see people come out from those areas."

20th annual PBA South Spring Hill Open
Name, Hometown Record Pins Average
1. Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel 7-1 4738 225.62
2. Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C. 6-2 4924 234.48
3. Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga. 5-2 4552 227.60
4. David Boyd, Clearwater 5-1 4286 225.58
5. John May, Lincolnton, N.C. 4-3 4370 218.50
6. Troy Wollenbecker, Miami 4-3 4328 216.40
7. Brian Brazeau, Ocala 3-3 4142 218.00
8. Josh Chambliss, Summerville, S.C. 3-2 3801 211.17
9. Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C. 1-3 3769 221.71
10. Terrance Reeves, Valrico 1-3 3686 216.82
11. Josh Guinand, Palm Harbor 1-3 3657 215.12
12. Don Stephenson, Palm Bay 1-3 3551 208.88
13. Christopher Collins, Fayetteville, N.C. 0-3 3413 213.31
14. Richard Langton, Tallahassee 0-3 3404 212.75
15. Justin Veitch, St. Petersburg 0-3 3391 211.94
16. Thomas Wall III, Fayetteville, N.C. 0-3 3354 209.63
21. Chris Polizzi, Spring Hill n/a 2721 209.31
41. Anthony Oliver, Spring Hill n/a 1594 199.25
T43. Jason Mahr, Spring Hill n/a 1583 197.87
75. Matt Slaga, Spring Hill n/a 1506 188.25
T86. Brandon Curley, Spring Hill n/a 1441 180.12
89. Scott Dooley, Brooksville n/a 1400 175.00