Youth prevailed over experience as Lamar Richardson upstaged veteran bowler Kevin Swan to capture the bragging rights in the men’s roll-off on the final day of Bermuda Rendezvous Open Tournament at Warwick Lanes yesterday.

Richardson, 24, held it together when it mattered most to get the better of a rival twice his age in the final. He rolled a 247 game, which included eight strikes, while Swan finished on 206.

The win was Richardson’s first at this event, surpassing the second-placed finish he achieved in 2007.

“It feels awesome and I cannot believe I have finally won,” he said.

“Everybody has always given me licks for it, but I finally came through in the clutch and I am happy I did it for all the supporters and everybody.”

Swan held his own until the middle frames before falling off the pace.

“Snarls [Swan] is a good bowler who always shows up in the big matches,” Richardson said. “I knew I had to get off to a strong start — and that’s what I did.”

Richardson took the shortest route to the final of the roll off after accumulating a 743 scratch series. Swan reached the final after prevailing against LeVinc Samuels in the third round of the roll-off.

The men’s roll-off comprised of the top five bowlers with the highest scratch series.

The final of the women’s roll-off featured Bermuda’s Patrice Tucker prevail against American rival Dara Rimes. Tucker rolled a 211 game while Rimes returned a 192.

The win was Tucker’s second at the annual event.

“It was very competitive which was very good and this is a very prestigious tournament,” Tucker said. “I just stayed focused, tried not to be nervous, stay in the shot and have fun.”

Rimes took the shortest route after compiling the highest scratch series of 688 while Tucker defeated American Michele Brown and compatriot Dianne Jones en route to the final. Like their male counterparts, the women’s roll-off featured the top five bowlers with the highest scratch series.

“Everyone had a really good time and we had a really nice turnout this year,” Tucker added.

Rickai Binns won the men’s handicap singles title with a 808 series while Samuels finished second on 796 and Richardson third on 778.

Women’s handicap singles honours went to Rimes, who finished tenth overall with a 724 series followed by Elizabeth Hickmott in second on 710 and Kathy Christopher in third on 700.

Richardson teamed up with Damien Matthews to capture the men’s handicap doubles crown with a 1,607 series while Samuels and Omar Harvey finished second on 1,476 and Akeem Talbot and Binns third with a 778.

Bermuda love affair, page 17