Andrew Cain comes from behind to win 7th New Mexico Open
08/26/10
United States
Record entries, record prize-money in spite of economy
Former Team USA member, and current USBC Board member, Andrew Cain (pictured left), of Phoenix, Ariz., proved Sunday he knows how to come from behind in winning the 7th New Mexico Open tournament at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho.
Cain topped 2002 ABC Masters champion and fellow Arizonan, Brett Wolfe, 184-160 in a low-scoring title match to win a record first prize of $6,750. Wolfe was consoled with $3,525 of the record $34,190 prize-fund.
Cain followed in the footsteps of friend and 2009 New Mexico Open champion, Chris Klerk (right), in barely qualifying for the semifinals after shooting 709 the last three, then squeaked in with 805/4 to stave off George Brooks and Brian Skidmore by ten pins for the twelfth and final spot in the match-play section, a distant 261 pins behind then leader, Kyle King.
Wolfe dominated proceedings with a 10-2 won-loss record in match play to earn the top seed with 5,926, ahead of last year's runner-up, Josh Blanchard 5,591, King 5,551, Frank Guccione 5,402 and Cain 5,387. Cain finished only six pins in front of two-time winner, John Young of Albuquerque, whose closing 235, 255 was not quite enough.
Cain still had a road to travel, particularly coming from fifth. He beat Guccione 218-208 when the Colorado bowler "grabbed" the ball, needing a double to win. Guccione received $1,375 for fifth place.
King had his chances but threw a foul/spare that put him in trouble after an opening four-bagger from Cain. He lost 200-225 for fourth place of $1,625.
Blanchard couldn't "buy a strike", getting ten only twice after averaging 214 the previous 25 games. He left four 10-pins to lose 224-166, as Cain fired eight strikes.
Still moving lanes right after each match but with momentum and a stable attitude on his side, Cain engaged Wolfe in a match with more than $10,000 on the line, not to mention the New Mexico Open title that is gaining in prestige each year.
It was almost a non-event. Neither bowler could find the trick to carrying on lane 9, leaving eight corner pins between them, but Cain's tenth frame double put the match away by 24 pins for the second year in a row that the number five seed went through the field.
Entries of 147, 41 more than last year, came from 13 states with most representation from New Mexico (76), Texas (25), Arizona (17) and Colorado (14). Prize-money was paid to 58th place.
To accommodate more entries, organizers are planning to add an extra qualifying squad on August 19, with the event dates set for August 17-21, 2011 and a projected prize-fund of about $ 40,000 on an entry fee of about $200.
Cain topped 2002 ABC Masters champion and fellow Arizonan, Brett Wolfe, 184-160 in a low-scoring title match to win a record first prize of $6,750. Wolfe was consoled with $3,525 of the record $34,190 prize-fund.
Cain followed in the footsteps of friend and 2009 New Mexico Open champion, Chris Klerk (right), in barely qualifying for the semifinals after shooting 709 the last three, then squeaked in with 805/4 to stave off George Brooks and Brian Skidmore by ten pins for the twelfth and final spot in the match-play section, a distant 261 pins behind then leader, Kyle King. Wolfe dominated proceedings with a 10-2 won-loss record in match play to earn the top seed with 5,926, ahead of last year's runner-up, Josh Blanchard 5,591, King 5,551, Frank Guccione 5,402 and Cain 5,387. Cain finished only six pins in front of two-time winner, John Young of Albuquerque, whose closing 235, 255 was not quite enough.
Cain still had a road to travel, particularly coming from fifth. He beat Guccione 218-208 when the Colorado bowler "grabbed" the ball, needing a double to win. Guccione received $1,375 for fifth place.
King had his chances but threw a foul/spare that put him in trouble after an opening four-bagger from Cain. He lost 200-225 for fourth place of $1,625.
Blanchard couldn't "buy a strike", getting ten only twice after averaging 214 the previous 25 games. He left four 10-pins to lose 224-166, as Cain fired eight strikes.
Still moving lanes right after each match but with momentum and a stable attitude on his side, Cain engaged Wolfe in a match with more than $10,000 on the line, not to mention the New Mexico Open title that is gaining in prestige each year.
It was almost a non-event. Neither bowler could find the trick to carrying on lane 9, leaving eight corner pins between them, but Cain's tenth frame double put the match away by 24 pins for the second year in a row that the number five seed went through the field.
Entries of 147, 41 more than last year, came from 13 states with most representation from New Mexico (76), Texas (25), Arizona (17) and Colorado (14). Prize-money was paid to 58th place.
To accommodate more entries, organizers are planning to add an extra qualifying squad on August 19, with the event dates set for August 17-21, 2011 and a projected prize-fund of about $ 40,000 on an entry fee of about $200.
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