Well, I guess those two last minute training sessions with my coach paid off....I ended up winning the tournament this weekend

. I finished the 12 game qualification in 3rd place, and then on Sunday played really well in the first 4 game session to move into 1st with a decent sized lead. The second 4 game session Sunday didn't go so well, but it seemed a lot of people were struggling with the lanes (with a few exceptions); I entered the step-ladder final in first place.
Finishing first ended up being a pretty big advantage, it was REALLY hot in the center and most people were sweating and tired from playing 20 games in 2 days in those conditions. I got to relax and kind of regroup after struggling the previous 4 games while the other guys had to keep playing. I also had a little luck in the final, the guy who finished 3rd bowls thumbless, and he advanced to play the guy in 2nd place (who is a pretty great bowler and the only one in the final I was worried about at all). The second place guy had a bad game though so the thumbless player advanced to play me in the 1st place game. I think he started to cramp up a little bit (a lot of strain on your forearm with no thumb, and like I said it was really hot), and he just couldn't get anything going against me. I felt pretty good after the 30 minute break, and started off really strong 9/, turkey, 9/, and already had a 57 point lead after 5 frames. From there it was just a simple coast to the finish line.
It was my first Swiss tournament win, and I didn't feel too bad about getting "lucky" in the final, since that's the kind of "luck" you earn after winning the first 20 games

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