King Pin Scratch Open -- Hill gives tournament a makeover

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 29, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Clarke Hill felt it was time for a makeover.

He sought some advice.

Then he devised a plan of action.

The result? Hill may have perhaps just created a one-day bowling tournament that could gain considerable recognition along the east coast in the future. His unique change to the annual King Pin Scratch Open, contested at the AMF Boulevard Lanes, has already received rave reviews from this year's entrants.

"They all love it," a beaming Hill said.

The bowlers love it now.

Just wait until the first ball rolls down the lane.

Clarke has flooded the lanes, which makes ball motion critical. Bowlers won't be able to bend and everything will roll straight toward the pins.

"I'm increasing the volume and making it more challenging for these guys to score," Hill said. "(One-day play) makes the lane conditions more receptive because you're only laying the pattern out one time.

"When we did it two days, that would change the pattern. (I thought) the tougher, the better makes your good bowlers rise to the top."

More than 50 bowlers are expected to contend for a guaranteed first-place purse of $2,000. Morning play will consist of two squads and the top 16 scores -- eight from each squad -- will advance to the "knockout round."

That change has also pleased the bowlers.

In past years, bowlers who were expected to advance beyond the round of 16 or at least reach the semifinals have endured upsets. Hill thinks his new system will reverse that trend, although it does reduce the margin of error as well.

Each bowler gets two games in the "knockout" phase.

"The uniqueness of match play is it doesn't matter how well you bowl in qualifying," Hill said. "If somebody gets your 'number' for two games, you're done. That's where you have to adjust quickly in transition and make the right move because you've only got two games."

Only once in the 10-year history of the tournament has a bowler come back from a huge deficit. Hill recalled a competitor who erased an opponent's 65-pin lead, but couldn't remember how he finished.

The other unique factor regarding the Open is no defending champion has successfully protected his crown. Charlotte-area resident Chuck Richey won last year's tournament with a 222-215 conquest of South Carolina's Randy Weiss.

"That really helps the integrity of my tournament," said Hill, who remarked that nine previous Open champions are in this year's field.

"There's not a unique style that wins every year. It's versatile. I think a lot of those guys will make the cut (but) I truly think there will be a new champion."

Deacon Jones, RA Jeffreys, Brunswick and Turbo Grips are the main sponsors of the King Pin Scratch Open.