Mike Kubacki and Kevin Mikalouski fashioned
the first baker 300 game in the tournament's 10-year history in the sixth and final
qualifying game, vaulting them from eighth position into the top qualifying spot. The pair
used that momentum to dismantle Greg Kolisz and John Cleve in the semi-finals and then
Greg Steapleton and Doug Sheets in the title match, to claim the 2006 title, Mikalouski's
first and Kubacki's second. The championship tandem rebounded from a 277 - 239 thrashing
in game 1 of the championship match with a convincing 253 - 199 triumph in game 2, sealing
the title by a 2-game total of 492-476. This marks the second consecutive IAA championship
tournament where the team jumping out to a commanding lead in the title match failed to
close the deal due to a second game collapse.
The event attracted 32 teams to Hebron Lanes January 29th, 2006. The top six pairs
advanced to the championship round following the six game qualifying segment. Kubacki /
Mikalouski's 1,444 total set a new tournament qualifying round record averaging nearly 241
per game. Bob Kammer Jr and Kathi Tucker's 1,435 secured second, while Steapleton - Sheets
placed third with 1,405. Facing an uphill battle following what looked to be a crippling
112 start, Greg Kolisz and John Cleve regrouped to finish at 1,397, good for the fourth
position. 2005 tournament runnersup Mike Kraushaar and Tim Croy claimed fifth at 1,389,
while the final championship position went to Ron Schuitema and Ron Kerstan at 1,374. The
duo edged Mike Cawthron and George Clarke by 6 pins for that final spot, despite a
mediocre 169 closing game.
Championship round competition witnessed Cleve-Kolisz defeat Kraushaar-Croy, before
falling to Kubacki Mikalouski. Steapleton - Sheets defeated Schuitema - Kerstan and then
Kammer Jr - Tucker to advance to the finals. Kubacki and Mikalouski collected $550 for
first while the runnersup received $300. In addition, the champions added $250 with their
grand bracket victory. Other grand bracket cashers were Croy - Kraushaar (2nd), Steapleton
- Sheets (3rd, 5th), John Riffle and Chuck Podkul (3rd), and Kolisz - Cleve (6th). High
games were won by Kraushaar - Croy, Jerrry Michalak and Sam Hansen, Cleve - Kolisz,
Kubacki - Mikalouski, Tucker - Kammer, and Steapleton - Sheets.
