Bowling World Newspaper July/August 2021

July/August 2021 - www.bowlingworld.com 33 Slimmed Down AJ Chapman Has Sights Set On First PBA Tour Title by Jill Winters (FLOBOWLING) In March, he earned a fourth-place finish at the PBA Odessa Southwest Spring Open. Two months later, at the 10th annual PBA FireLake/Grand Casino Resort South- west Open, he won his fourth PBA regional title. And he just teamed up with Breanna Clemmer for a ninth-place finish at the PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles. Before his recent success, it was what he saw after watching himself on TV while finishing fifth at the 2021 PBA Players Championship Southwest Region finals in January that led him to want to make some changes. ―I watched it and I was pretty upset with how I looked,‖ the 27-year-old admitted. o help himself on-and-off the lanes he reverted to the Ketogenic diet that had worked for him before. But this time he made sure to include working out. He dropped 25 pounds on the Keto diet. He knew his diet wouldn‘t be a permanent fix, but he felt it would get him to a point where he would start eating better and exercising to get his body to where he wanted it to be. ―I try to hold myself accountable and to stay disciplined,‖ he said about his efforts to stay healthy. ―I have used my social media quite a bit when I am working out to hopefully inspire others to make a change and to better themselves, too.‖ Chapman, who now calls Double Oak, TX, home, has even been approached by people who have read his posts and tell him that encouraged them to start exercis- ing, which he said is pretty cool. Since committing to his healthier lifestyle, he feels lighter on his feet, and he gets loose in the morning easier than ever before. He has already lost over 40 pounds and, as a result, he has also had to tweak a few aspects of his game. He noticed he was taking his first two steps a lot quicker after he began shedding the extra weight, so he had to be more conscientious of that to make sure he was keeping those steps slow and smooth. ―My body was changing so I had to adapt a little bit,‖ he said. ―Just let my swing be free and make sure I continue to use my legs.‖ Those small changes have been paying off. ―I really do think that I am physically throwing the ball as sharp as I ever have,‖ the fifth-year PBA Tour player said. ―I feel really good. I‘m comfortable, and I‘m confident.‖ His confidence along with the other PBA players confidence will be tested begin- ning on Saturday at the third stop on the PBA Summer Tour, the PBA Jonesboro Open. ―Patience is the big thing because Jonesboro is one of those bowling centers that has a really tough lane surface,‖ Chapman said. ―The scores have been historically low there so knowing that it is going to be a grind, I think my mental state is proba- bly at its best going into this building.‖ To keep his mental game strong, the three-time member of Team USA continues to re-read books that he first read while attending and bowling at Wichita State University. His two favorites, ―The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance‖ by W. Timothy Gallwey and ―Way of the Peace- ful Warrior‖ by Dan Millman. ―If I am going to better myself physically then I should better myself in all aspects of my game,‖ he said. ―If your mental game is sharp all it is going to do is make your physical game better.‖ Mentally, Chapman knows the Jonesboro Open is going to require him to have a sharp spare shooting game and to take it one shot at a time. He hasn‘t had much success at the Hijinx Family Entertainment Center in his first two attempts, but last year, he had his best results. He missed out on a paycheck by just 11 pins, finish- ing in 24 th place. With this tournament featuring the Marshall Holman 41-foot oil pattern on an al- ready tough lane surface, Chapman expects urethane balls to be in play. He is positive that he is headed in the right direction. ―I just want to get to a point where I am happy with the way I look and feel,‖ he said. ―People should aspire to get to a spot where they are happy. That is the most important thing.‖ Shawn Maldonado Wins In Lubbock, Claims Second PBA Tour Title by Jef Goodger (FLOBOWLING) July 25th: Shawn Maldonado won his second PBA Tour title of 2021 by defeating Jake Peters in the championship match of the PBA Lubbock Sports Open. Maldonado, who won his first career title earlier this season in the PBA Chameleon Championship, overcame a strange fifth frame in which both Peters and Maldonado opened. After a rare gutter ball from Peters, who then got nine on his second shot, Maldonado had a chance to cut into Peters‘ lead but left a 7-10 split. ―When it went in the gutter, it was obviously a shock,‖ said Maldonado, ―but I thought that was my chance. I was on a double, I threw it as well as I could, but left the pocket 7-10. That was a good shot, but I knew I had to make a ball change to face up a little better. That‘s when I got rolling.‖ Maldonado began a new string of strikes after the open frame in the fifth, eventu- ally catching and passing Peters for the victory. ―I‘m just as excited to get this win as I was to get the first one,‖ said Maldonado. ―I‘m confident, excited and thankful for the support I get back home. There are so many emotions right now.‖ While a string of strikes helped him win the championship match, Maldonado credited his spare game with earning the No. 1 seed. ―I‘ve been working on my spares,‖ said Maldonado. ―In the past, I‘ve had some good days when I make spares and then the next day my spare game is kind of off. Coming into the Summer Tour, I‘ve really been working on my spare game and my touch. It paid off.‖ With the win, Maldonado also takes the early lead in the PBA Summer Tour points race, with a $40,000 bonus prize fund that includes $20,000 for the player who accumulates the most competition points during the five events. (Continued on next page) Andrew Anderson Wins 2021 PBA Strike Derby by Jef Goodger (FLOWBOWLING) July 12: Andrew Anderson out-struck 11 other PBA players to win the 2021 PBA Strike Derby. ―I knew, against Simo, I would need to throw as many as I could,‖ said Anderson. ―I knew he was going to get more shots off than me, so I had to make better shots. That‘s all I could think about.‖ Simonsen, the higher seed, chose to have Anderson bowl first. In two minutes, Anderson struck 11 times. Simonsen was unable to catch the total, striking nine times to finish second. ―My goal was to get 18 shots off every round,‖ said Anderson. ―I did a couple practices and I could get to 20 shots, but they weren‘t quality. Eighteen was the most I could get and still have enough good shots. I got some breaks along the way, but the energy from the crowd kept me going.‖ In each round of the PBA Strike Derby, players were given two minutes to strike as many times as possible. After all 12 players had a turn in the qualifying round, the top six advanced to the match play bracket. Anderson qualified as the No. 5 seed. He, along with four others, rolled nine strikes in the qualifying round, tying for fourth. Ties were broken first by longest string of strikes, then by fastest ball speed, leaving Kyle Troup, Anderson and Wes Malott inside the cut to the top six for match play. EJ Tackett and Sean Rash fell outside. ―I feel like this is my environment,‖ said Anderson. ―When I grew up, I just rapid- fired shots. I tend to thrive in these types of situations. I love it.‖ In head-to-head match play, Anderson put up 12 strikes to eliminate Troup, who managed five strikes. In the semifinals, Anderson defeated top seed Norm Duke, 8 -4, to advance to the championship match with Simonsen. ―I just feel comfortable here,‖ said Anderson. ―I bowl well in this building, my ball strikes quite a bit here and I threw a lot of messengers. I‘m not really known for throwing a lot of pins around, but I felt like Troup and Simo a little bit today. It was awesome. What a fun time.‖ (Continued on page 34)

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