The Manitoba Open made its return this past weekend in Winnipeg after a one year hiatus due to the pandemic. The 2022 Manitoba Open switched up the format to include more qualifying shifts with a re-entry option. With $4000 added prize fund money, the tournament was able to guarantee a $1500 top prize.
Despite pandemic related border restrictions, protests at the border, and weather issues, the 3 qualifying shifts garnered 72 total entries. Each qualifying shift was a 6 game block on a 2.64-1 pattern that played extremely difficult at Chateau Lanes. After 3 shifts, only Mitch Hupé was able to post a score over 1200. Mitch received a $150 bonus for being the qualifying leader and would advance to match play on Sunday with 23 other bowlers. The cut to the top 24 was Summer Farhat at 1125.
Sunday featured 8 games of match play where it was once again lead by Mitch Hupé. Hupé defeated 2-time Manitoba Open Champion, Eric Parvey, in the position round to secure the top seed in the stepladder finals. Hupé was joined in the finals by Johnathan Domingo, Jeremiah Smith, Eric Parvey, and Austyn Ducharme.
Stepladder Finals:
Ducharme def Parvey, 209-198
Ducharme def Smith, 216-193
Domingo def Ducharme, 197-180
Hupé def Domingo, 151-145
The win gives Hupé his first NDBowling.com Major Title. Congratulations, Mitch!
Big thank you to Melody Savage and the entire staff at Chateau Lanes for making the tournament possible this season. Looking forward to another great tournament next year!