The 2023 Manitoba Open will be held this weekend (Jan 13-15) at Chateau Lanes in Winnipeg, MB. The tournament will feature a guaranteed top prize of $1500 with over $5800 in added money from sponsors. Here are a few of the storylines heading into the season’s first Major.
Taking the Beat’n Path
The 2023 Manitoba Open will once again feature 3 qualifying shifts with one being conducted on Friday evening and the other two on Saturday. The pattern being used this weekend will be Kegel’s Beat’n Path V2. The 41 foot pattern has been updated over the years to hold up under modern day conditions, but I expect the pattern to play similar to its older versions. Last season, a custom 2.64-1 ratio oil pattern was used and played extremely difficult. Only one player was able to shoot plus in the qualifying round, and the cut to match play was -75. Mitch Hupé would go on to defeat Johnathan Domingo in the championship match, 151-145. Expect much more playable conditions this season which will result in better scores overall. Look for a cut in the +25 to +75 range. Don’t forget, the top overall qualifier will receive a $150 bonus!
Buffa Returns
Fresh off his induction into the Canadian Tenpin Federation Hall of Fame, Mark Buffa is scheduled to appear in Winnipeg this weekend in search of a second Open crown. The 2009 Champion will continue his return to competitive bowling after taking a brief hiatus the last few years. Despite the time off, don’t be surprised to see Mr. Buffa in contention on Sunday.
A Return to Normal
As many remember, the 2021 event was cancelled and the 2022 tournament was postponed to February. The 2022 Manitoba Open was held under various restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time of the event last season, there were also protests going on at the Canada/USA border crossing, causing many players to take an alternate route to Winnipeg. This season, the restrictions at the border and local establishments have been lifted making it easier for bowlers traveling to Winnipeg this weekend. With the 2023 event returning a little closer to normal, I expect a small boost in entries this season.
Shout out to Melody Savage and the tournament staff for working hard to keep this tournament alive given the challenges of the past few years. Your efforts are appreciated.
Bold Predictions
Without knowing the full roster, here are my bold predictions for the 2023 Manitoba Open.
– Jeremiah Smith
– Liam Naylor
– Austyn Ducharme
– Mark Buffa
– Mitch Hupé
To sign up: Call Chateau Lanes (1-204-667-1550)
Just a reminder that NDBowlTV will NOT be covering the finals of the Manitoba Open this season. Please refer to the Manitoba Open Group Page on Facebook or the Chateau Lanes website for updates throughout the weekend. Tune in next Tuesday for a complete recap of the event.