The Shark ready to defend Masters title

Defending champion Mark “The Shark” Halstead likes his chances of repeating in this year’s May Masters Bowling Tournament, which is set to unfold tonight at the Saipan Bowling Center in San Jose.

The 40-year-old southpaw said he has extra motivation for completing a rare back-to-back, as the 2005 edition of the May Masters represents only the second time he is able to defend a big tournament.

“Of the four or five big tournaments I’ve won, this is only my second time to actually defend it because of some problems in past competitions,” said Halstead.

The Mt. Carmel High School alumnus said scheduling and other snafus conspired not to allow him to defend his bowling championships in the past.

“Like about 15 years ago, I won the King of the Lanes—not the tournament sponsored by Pepsi now—but the next year, the organizer somehow changed its name to Bowler of the Year, so I wasn’t able to defend my championship,” he said.

Asked how he has prepared for the May Masters the past several weeks, Halstead said he did not do anything special and stuck to his daily routine.

“I’ve only been practicing a little by playing two or three games on non-bowling nights. I’m not really preparing for this. I’m going through my normal life although I have to admit I’ve kept myself in shape by swimming all the time,” said Halstead, who is a boat captain and is co-owner of a dive shop.

He said he is looking forward to the challenge coming against veteran keglers and the young crop of up-and-coming bowlers, who like him, have also set their sights on the coveted May Masters plum.

“A lot of bowlers are playing well right now, but if you ask me who are the bowlers I would be wary of this weekend I would name just two: Jess Rebusada and Robert Talavera,” he said.

Halstead said if Rebusada, who is known to many as Kuya J.R., is in shape he would be hard to beat and would definitely contend, while Talavera is always dangerous because of his ability to raise his play in big tournaments.

He also said that youth bowlers, like his protégé Jonathan Halstead and the Zapanta brothers, Ruselle and Raymond, could also spring some surprises because of their level of fitness.

However, he said bowling in back-to-back-to-back days is grueling and fitness could only get you so far in the May Masters.

Halstead said winning a big tournament like this weekend’s marathon roll-off is 50 percent physical, 40 percent mental, and 10 percent luck.

“All things being equal in the physical and mental aspects, if you have more luck then you’re going to win, that’s why I always win because I’ve always been very lucky,” he said.

As well as luck, Halstead is also hoping his killer instinct would serve him well this weekend. He said he always starts slow but is usually in contention the first two days of the tournament before turning in the heat in the final day.

“I killed people many times. With ‘kill’ I mean when the game is over I usually am 190 pins in front of the nearest bowler. If that happens, I usually don’t even play the last game. If money this big is at stake, I will always be there,” he said.

“I’m not saying I’ll win but I would like everyone to know I’m going to try and get me a back-to-back [championship],” said Halstead.

Last year, Halstead overcame a hot start by fellow lefty Ronald Epan and his own early struggles to win the May Masters championship, also at the SBC. He rolled a total of 3,155 pinfalls to beat Epan, who was just 43 pins behind at 3,112.

Registration for this year’s May Masters will begin today at 1:45pm. Men are required to pay a $30 fee, while women players pay $20 to play in each category.

An all-events fee of $10 is also required for men and women. Men will pay $50 to compete in the Masters event, while women pay a fee of $40. Youth bowlers are also welcome and have a cheaper fee of $20 per event and $35 for the Masters.

To qualify for the Masters competition, individuals must bowl in the singles, doubles, and team categories and pay for the all-events fee. The all-events fee must be paid during registration. Deadline to register for the women’s Masters event is tomorrow at 5pm.