Fla. This time, the Ocala, Fla., resident helped his Brazeau Pro Shop quintet win the opener of the BWTC's ninth season Jan. 21 at Seminole Lanes. It meant another trip from Seminole to the Grand Championships for Brazeau and Rakauskas, who won in Florida last year and in 1997 while Brazeau was victorious in 1995. Colton also won in Seminole in 1999 and 1998 with another team. The eligibility change will make this event more competitive. Saturday qualifying has added excitement as teams know one in four teams advance to the Baker match play rounds and start even as qualifying scores are dropped.
Teams also earn prize money both for their qualifying positions and final finishes.
Brazeau Pro Shop took advantage of the new rules after finishing eighth in qualifying. It finished first in the Baker semifinal round and also won the final Baker match play block. It then waited as Jeff Eden's Pro Shop beat Team Pro Shop of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 385-381 in the semifinal. In the title match, Brazeau's took a 259-229 lead after one game as Colton struck in the eighth frame, Rakauskas in the ninth and Brazeau three times in the 10th frame. Strikes by Boyd, Biondi and Colton to open the second game made sure Brazeau's Pro Shop won the match.