Martin Luther King Jr. weekend is right here as soon as once more and now for the twentieth time it hosts the Storm Utah Open. Cameron Henning is available in because the defending Champion in an occasion that loves its again to again champs. Although this 12 months will probably be robust because the Storm Utah Open heads south to the Salt Lake valley for the primary time. A brand new venue with new lane surfaces goes to pose a novel problem to the bowlers this weekend. Additionally the absence of some fairly large names which have traditionally carried out very nicely. This leaves numerous room for a brand new winner to emerge this 12 months and with solely 10 spots on the rankings, it was extremely tough to whittle down who these 10 had been. Bowlers like KT Simpson, Riley Woodard, previous champion Clay Rees, and Dallas Burke had been left off, however definitely have a case for a spot on this prime 10. The Storm Utah Open has offered too many wonderful moments to rely, and CB has been part of a few of the largest. Lets dive into the highest 10 that I believe may have the most effective probability at succeeding this weekend.
10. Daria Pajak – Daria has been overseas for a while now, coming off a stable efficiency in Korea. Onerous to rely her out at any occasion she’s bowling, particularly along with her expertise bowling on exhausting patterns. I examined the sample on the venue and it’s fascinating to say the least. The recent is getable with urethane or a really robust reactive on the gutter, however past that its very very exhausting. I’m undecided this matches up excellent for Daria, however she has been bowling nicely and is a world class athlete. Look out for her to make a run this weekend!
9. Manny Ferrell – Manny had an up and down 12 months final 12 months however is coming off a robust end on the CB TOUR Championship and Group USA Trials. He additionally completed 4th on this occasion in 2023 falling to champion Cameron Henning within the step ladder. I believe this many will have the ability to management this sample higher than most together with his ball roll, and if he can get out early on the recent, he should not have any downside making one other run on the step ladder, This occasion is way completely different than CB TOUR occasions the place it’s a lifeless dash in qualifying and the finals. Like I discussed earlier than, Manny wants to fireside off sizzling when the getting is sweet to have a shot after they get actual robust.
8. Andy Kinney – I have not seen Andy bowl in a pair months now because the Grand Finals. Though his sizzling streak has cooled a contact, Andy has cemented himself as a risk anytime he laces up. I additionally suppose Andy will have the ability to handle this sample fairly nicely in comparison with the remainder of the sector. His ball roll matches up nicely, and he is ready to play closed angles for longer. Andy is definitely capable of throw some good scores early which I believe will probably be everybody’s key within the finals. Andy has gotten snubbed on some horrible breaks most notably on the Rumbi Island Grill Traditional leaving the 4 pin in his roll off in opposition to champion Alex. Andy had a stable end right here final 12 months, however I’m considering this 12 months he improves on that and chases a title.
7. Giorgio Clinaz – Gio is one other man with an up and down season final 12 months. Successful and lacking cuts is sort of the curler coaster trip. The final time we noticed him as on the Grand Finals the place he completed very nicely, however weeks earlier than that in Las Vegas he missed the minimize. Traditionally Gio has struggled at Sparetime however because the venue change, what does this occasion have in retailer for Gio? It sounds cliche however once more, his ball roll will handle this sample nicely, we are saying this in burley the place the gutter performed on new panels. I have not seen Gio bowl shortly so if there’s any rust, hopefully he has shaken that off. My prediction is Gio makes a run on the ladder, however might want to discover some magic to beat the fellows forward of him.
6. Kyle Morrison – Kyle had a breakout 12 months in 2023, taking third within the CB TOUR factors championship, and constantly putting within the prime 10 at occasions he bowled at. We noticed Kyle take 4th place on the CB TOUR twice! Kyle has a ton of expertise on this bowling heart taking pictures some huge units. Though the panels are newer, having that form of confidence right here needs to be a plus. I believe Kyle additional proves why he’s a pressure to be reckoned with on this area with a stable end this weekend, and in the long run I believe he may have an actual shot at making the ladder,
5. Josh Hyperlink – Josh Hyperlink is considered one of a handful of again to again champions falling simply wanting being the primary to threepeat. Josh can nonetheless be the primary to be a 3 time champion with the one different 2 time winner within the discipline being Clay Rees. I discovered some success on the recent and I believe Josh may have the closest rev charge to mine and have the ability to do comparable issues that I did to strike. We’ve got seen Josh do some gutsy strikes within the ladder to attempt to win previously, and this could possibly be one other a kind of years. My solely pause for thought is Josh hasn’t bowled all that a lot currently and the fellows in entrance of him have been actually rattling good. Time will inform how a lot of an impact that will or will not be.
4. Dallas Leong – Dallas is coming off an eighth place end on the CB TOUR Championship and simply narrowly lacking the minimize on the Gamers Championship in Kansas. If the flights work out and he makes it on time to bowl this weekend, Dallas was the one participant left within the finals plus on this occasion final 12 months, and was plus 100 going into the ladder. Unlucky for him the pair he and Cameron bowled on was horrific, and Cameron discovered a strategy to grind out a victory. Dallas has been excellent all final season, and if he makes it, his ball roll will in all probability be the most effective on the market on this sample. Watchout for Dales.
3. Cameron Henning – Cameron is the defending Champion this weekend, an honor solely a handful of individuals get to expertise. Cameron thrives when the sample is tough and he could also be one of many few I believe doesn’t should go insane within the first spherical of finals. Cameron can out grind nearly anybody and he proved that final 12 months. The one subject is he has 2 of the most well liked bowlers within the area in his means. If the sample will get as ugly because it did final 12 months, Cameron is for positive the favourite. Nevertheless, the battle these 3 may have goes to be epic regardless.
2. Alex Hoskins – Alex remains to be trying to find his first Storm Utah Open title. He has come very shut previously, however has simply fallen quick yearly he has competed. Alex dominated the primary half of the CB TOUR season going again to again within the first 2 occasions. He was shocked within the CBTC by Riley Woodard which allowed Kendle to seize the factors championship. Had these occasions not occurred, Alex can be CB TOUR season 1 factors champ, nevertheless, that is not how the story ended. Alex wants to fireside off within the finals, and get the momentum on his facet to push him although to the step ladder. As soon as he’s there he will probably be exhausting to beat.
1. Kendle Miles – Kendle placed on one hell of a present in Reno for the CB TOUR Championship. It was a storybook ending for season one and Kendle stood tall within the face of an enormous second. What I’ve came upon is Kendle is exceptionally good underneath stress, which the CB TOUR throws you into continually. These longer finals codecs have had Kendle’s quantity although as he has come so shut within the closing video games earlier than the ladder. The mountain of confidence he has proper now’s greater than sufficient to push him by to the ladder. If Kendle can buckle down late within the eliminator, and give attention to the duty at hand, I believe he’s the favourite proper now within the discipline. Hopefully I didn’t Madden curse him although.
The 2024 Storm Utah Open kicks off Friday January twelfth at 10:00 AM MST with the primary of 11 qualifying squads. Tune into Championship Bowling on YouTube to catch all of the motion LIVE!
