I have finished last on many occasions. Most of the time the reason why I finished dead last was because I was either in a slump or couldnt handle the level of competition. Most of my slump events were planned 3-4 months in advance and since none of us bowlers knows when that will happen...well just bad timing mainly. All I wanted to do at the tournament was just find some sort of line that got me in the area of the 1-3 pocket and just convert spares all day long. Take the strikes when they came. That was the plan anyway, ended up having 4-5 splits per game in a 8 game marathon.... talk about a LONG day!!
Now 2 other events I was bowling quite well at the time, got to the tournament, checked in and my equipment was checked and considered legal. Start practice, 1st 5 shots in the right gutter.....Wasnt told the shot was a sport shot but i didnt complain, just moved right and played around the 3 board and softened my speed. Couldnt really carry for crap. Just played the lanes and tried to make spares. Finished at the bottom of the sheet at the end of the day but I was at least a mark from the guy 1 spot above me.
I took it all as a learning experience.
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Mike Zadler
"When in doubt, Pull out" - Rob Stone
Below, my stats from previous seasons:
http://members.bowl.com/SearchUSBC/ViewMember.aspx?prefix=552&suffix=12886