The Tribune

THE campaign to crown the 2014 Bahamas National Bowling champion got underway in earnest on Monday as both men and ladies 2013 champions took to the lanes to defend their coveted crown.

With brief opening ceremonies out of the way, which included remarks by Director of Sports Tim Munnings, bowlers were anxious to let the lanes “speak” for them.

With speculation ripe, especially on the men’s side, on who would make the “elite round of 18,” spectators witnessed a “barrage” of 200-plus games in the first game of the six-game set as David Slatter, Stan ‘da Man’ Bethel, Ryan Davis, Lee Davis, Byron McClain, Anthone Williams and Ansel Williams all went to “deuce city” (bowled over 200) to set the pace early.

Current champion Sonith ‘Kemosabee’ Lockhart stumbled out of the gate early with a paltry 161 game, but would soon recover in the next five games to finish the night just behind Slatter, who sent a message to the field early. His message was simple: “I’m going to shoot 1,344 with a 224 opening six-game set average in the 1st block and see if you can match that.”

When the dust settled in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, only Lockhart was a distance second with 1,184 total pin fall, 160 pins behind Slatter, “The Great Lefty.’

Slatter, who approaches the game like future PBA hall of famer Chris Barnes, who they call “The Technician,” is very meticulous in his preparation. He does not do too much talking other than letting his game speak for himself on the lanes.

There are one or two ‘A’ category bowlers that have yet to bowl their 1st block, but they will be hard-pressed to match that set bowled by Slatter.

Knowing Lockhart, however, he is not rattled by this opening “shot” that Slatter has sent to the field.

Here are the current leaders in the men’s division very early in the mandatory 18-game campaign before the field is narrowed to 18 men:

Men (Top 5)

David Slatter....................1,344 total pin fall Avg. 224

Sonith Lockhart...............1,184 total pin fal Avg. 197.33

Alfred Burrows..................1,183 total pin fall Avg. 197.17

Stan Bethel .........................1,161 total pin fall Avg. 193.5

Mario Brown..............................1,158 total pin fall Avg. 193.00

On the ladies’ side, Joanne Woodside-Powell appears to be on a miission. Even though the whole field did not bowl well in the opening games, when the six-game set was in the books, she emerged as the leader on the ladies’ side, albeit only two pins separate her from the current champion, Driskell Rolle. Rolle had difficulty finding her game in the first five games of the six-game set and had to rely on a blistering 226 in the final game to catapult her into 2nd place overall.

Xynea Johnson and Janice Hoyte are tied for 3rd place with identical pin falls of 1,049. BTC’s Jonice ‘Joy’ Lockhart is in 4th spot.

The rest of the ladies’ field did not bowl well on this 1st night of the campaign and they must step it up on Thursday if they are going to make any noise in these championsips. This includes former champions McClain (Marina) and Harts (Paula), veteran bowler Angie Smith and newcomer Tara Johnson.

Women (Top 5)

Joanne Woodside-Powell............1,057 pin fall Avg. 176

Driskell Rolle....................................1,055 pin fall Avg. 175.83

Xynea Johnson................................1,049 pin fall Avg. 174.83

Janice Hoyte....................................1,049 pin fall Avg. 174.83

Jonice Lockhart.......................1,045 pin fall Avg. 174.16