Eric Liphart defeated Jeff Taylor 228-183 to win the MAST event at Leisure Lanes in Monroe Sunday.
Liphart qualified third at 972, then averaged 236 through three matches en route to the victory, his first career MAST title. Taylor qualified fifth at 964, and averaged 250 through the first three rounds of match play to reach the title match. Taylor was seeking his second career title, with his first coming back in 1999.
Liphart earned $438 for the win, with Taylor taking home $302 for second. The other match-play payouts Sunday were $194 for 3rd-4th, $154 for 5th-8th, and $118 for 9th-12th.
Forty-one bowlers competed on Leisure’s house pattern. The cut after four games of qualifying was 909. Defending champion Chris Pounders led qualifying at 1,004, finishing with games of 267 and 278 to climb from thirteenth to first; he earns an additional twenty-five points in the M & J Truck and Auto Points Race. Despite the relatively-high scoring pace, there were no honor counts posted Sunday.
Tour co-sponsor Matt Maly and M & J Truck and Auto added $300 to the prize fund for this event. Tour co-sponsor Bob Holzbauer and Phoenix Pro Shop donated a Storm Phaze V bowling ball at cost, won by Jay Heinzelman. Host center Leisure Lanes added three $10 gift cards, won by Liphart, Heath Haug, and Mark Newkirk. Combined proceeds resulted in $537 added to the tournament’s prize fund. MAST extends a huge Thank You to M & J Truck and Auto, Phoenix Pro Shop, and Leisure Lanes for their generosity.