LEXINGTON — The players at the top of the standings for Round 2 of the BowlerX Ohio Masters had the same goal at the outset.
Find a place in the top eight.
“I didn’t have the greatest of looks, but I had a look good enough to make the top eight, which was the goal,” said Westerville right-hander Zeke Bayt, who sat second behind leader Graham Fach following the first 10 games at Lex Lanes on Saturday.
Fach, who led following the five-game opening qualifier, maintained his hold on the top spot in the second round, which included the top 53 from the original 106-player field. He finished the day with 2,410 total pinfall, 75 pins ahead of Bayt, who trailed by 99 after the early shift.
The top eight receive a first-round bye during today’s two-game match play rounds, with winners determined by total pinfalls.
“You don’t win the tournament (Saturday). You have to beat the person on your pair. That’s how you win,” said the 30-year-old Bayt, who won the 2018 Masters at HP Lanes in Columbus.
“That first year, I had the best look in the building by far. I threw the best shots and I dominated a lot of matches with very high sets. If you don’t have that look to beat everyone, you have to have the fortune, the right circumstance to beat everyone.”
Fach, the 30-year-old Urbana left-hander and native Canadian, admitted “it’s always nice to lead.” But …
“Ultimately, the scores drop so it’s still elimination match play. Tomorrow, it’s a new animal,” said Fach, whose high game of the night block was 258 after a pair of 270s during the opening five games. I have to come back prepared for that.”
Cassidy Schaub, a 38-year-old two-handed lefty from Ashland, had the high block of the second round with 1,196, including a 280 in Game 4.
“I thought it was actually a little tighter (Saturday night), which kind of helped,” said Schaub, who sits third with 2,324, 34 pins ahead of Dean Vargo (2,290). He was 10th after the five-game qualifier.
“I was able to keep my angles a little straighter. I just kept it in front of me and let it roll. I’m just hoping the pattern gets a little tighter and we can keep it in front of us tomorrow.”
Dave Meadors shot just 198 the final game, but earned the final spot in the top 24 with 2,151, just nine pins ahead of Matt Diamond and Reginald Petty.
Petty shot 300 the final game to earn one of the the final two cash spots in a tie for 25th with Diamond.
Defending champion Brandon Novak, who was 12th after Game 9, shot just 166 in the finale and fell to 28th, missing the cut and leaving Bayt as the lone former champion in the field.
Fach, who only had two bowling balls at his disposal after learning prior to qualifying that several in his arsenal could not be thrown because they were not yet available to the public, planned to return home Saturday.
“I’m going to go home, see the wife, get some more balls and get some sleep,” Fach, a PBA touring professional, said. “It’s always nice to sleep in your own bed.”
Bayt has been here before, and knows what it will take to cash in for the $2,200 top prize.
“You have to hope you don’t meet that person that has the look to shoot 800,” Bayt said. “If you’re not the person doing that, you have to be the one to beat that person who has that look. It’s that simple.”
NOTEBOOK
SUNDAY FORMAT: The top eight qualifiers receive a first-round bye, while seeds nine through 16 will open with two-game matches, with winners based on total pinfall. Two-game matches will continue until two players bowl for the championship. Opening matches begin at 10 a.m.
PERFECT GAMES: Brandon McVicker joined Petty in shooting 300 during Round 2. McVicker finished 17th to make the cut to match play with 2,174.
MAKING THE CUT: Among those reaching match play are Dan Higgins (11th, 2,197), who won last week’s Akron Open Doubles, along with his partner Chad Roberts (22nd, 2,155); Ten Back Pro Shop operator Frank Testa (20th, 2,157), who shot 257 his final game; and John Klonowski Memorial defending champion Tim Voytko (23rd, 2,154). Roberts and Higgins meet in a first-round matchup. Canton’s Scott Vandegrift, who finished second a year ago, missed the cut, finishing 46th with 2,025. Uniontown’s Rocio Restrepo, one of two women to make the cut, finished 35th with 2,099.
WOMAN IN THE CUT: PWBA pro Jordan Richard of Maumee, who was 12th after qualifying, finished 10th to advance to match play with 2,198.
BOWLERX OHIO MASTERS
FIRST-ROUND PAIRINGS
(Top eight receive a bye)
Chuck Reynolds vs. Brandon McVicker; Chris Via vs. Dave Meadors;
Jalen Molsey vs. Brandon Kennard; Nolan White vs. Ryan Liederbach; Gary Schluchter vs. Ryan Ashby; Jordan Richard vs. Tim Voytko; Simon Mote vs. Frank Testa; Dan Higgins vs. Chad Roberts
