2024 Manitoba Open
January 12-14, 2024
Chateau Lanes | Winnipeg, MB
POSTER
STORYLINES
Lane Pattern Analysis
The 2024 Manitoba Open will be contested on the Chichen Itza pattern. Chichen Itza is a 40 foot challenge pattern that features a shade under 24 mls of oil and a 3.09 to 1 ratio. While this pattern is filed under the “challenge” category, one could argue that the pattern plays to sport compliant conditions. While a variety of angles will be in play, bowlers will be tasked with trying to get the ball to slow down and read the lane properly in the first 30 feet in order to carry the corners. The lane surface and topography of Chateau Lanes will make this pattern play slightly more difficult than it appears on paper. I expect the cut to be in the -35 to even range.
Left Out
The Manitoba Open has, historically, been good for the left handers. The Open has been claimed by a south paw 7 times since 2005 which is more than any other Major in that time frame. Recently, however, the lefties haven’t had it so nice. When Eric Parvey won the Open back in 2019, it marked the 3rd consecutive year a lefty won the Open (Wade Scott in 2017 & Matt McNiel in 2018). Since that time, 18 Majors have been contested with only 1 title going to a left hander (Blake Wallstrum @ 2020 KFYR). Will the lefty drought end this weekend in Winnipeg? There are quite a few talented lefties on the roster including past champions Dan Tereck, Eric Parvey, and Wade Scott.
Rare Repeat?
Defending champion, Austyn Ducharme, will have a chance to become the 3rd bowler to successfully defend their Manitoba Open crown. Daron Hansen was the first to do so in 2006 and Michael Schmidt did so on two occasions in 2007 and again in 2015. Exactly how rare is the feat? Across the 4 Majors, a successful title defense has only happened 7 times in 125 tries.
John Juba (x2) – KFYR TV Bowling Classic (1989 & 1990)
Jim Diederick – NDBowling.com Classic (2000)
Daron Hansen – Manitoba Open (2006)
Michael Schmidt (x2) – Manitoba Open (2007 & 2015)
Mike Morris – NDBowling.com Classic (2009)
Bold Predictions
Based on the roster as of Monday January 8th, here are my bold predictions for the final 5 at the 2024 Manitoba Open:
– Dan Skitt
– Austyn Ducharme
– Tayler Wallstrum
– Dawson Unrath
– Israel Potter