The early bird catches the worm means that if you start something early, you stand a better chance of success. That this is also valid for megabuck tournaments was proven by Maxine Nable, Bob Belmont, Gary Kinyon (right), David Palojarvi Sr. and Daniel Falconi (left) this morning at the 13th Annual Mini-Eliminator in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Not as many players as usual bowled in the 10am squad on Saturday morning and those five players took full advantage and advanced to the finals plus earning a bye as a squad leader worth $1,000 apiece.

The most happiest guy in The Orleans Bowling Center was Palojarvi from Streamwood, Ill, who was the best of just four players in the 2005 and under Division with 494 three-game total, the lowest score ever to earn a bye in the Mini-Eliminator history.

Nable (pictured with compatriot Jason Belmonte), a former PWBAer from Australia, shot 628, the lowest score this week to lead a squad in the 35 and under Division, while Mexican international Falconi became the first player to win an Open Division squad with a sub-par total (591).

Belmont, N Las Vegas, had a solid 692 block to top the 36 to 49 Division and Kinyon, Lockport, NY, advanced from the 50 and over Division with 664.
Qualifying continues on Saturday with three more squads at noon, 2pm and 4pm.