Well it finally arrived.  If you have the means and abilities; you have to try to compete in a TQR at least once in your lifetime.  The week started with a meeting on Tuesday night at the bowling center.  I found out that my "mental crutch" was not allowed in competition because it isn't on the registered products list.  A word of advice; don't wait until the night before competition to find out that your bowling bag and/or accessories are not allowed in competition.  I had to leave my bowling bag and Masters wrist strap in the locker room.  I bought the wrist strap last fall when I sprained my wrist and have used it since my wrist healed as a mental crutch.  I thought about buying a new approved one but I decided to set it all aside and concentrate on the bowling.  Wednesday morning was a tough one for nerves.  I arrived at the bowling center around 8:45am.  One other stipulation that affected me was the fact that smoking is not allowed during competition.  I knew that I would be going through a very nerve racking experience and this would be a tough day.  I've never had the opportunity to bowl on Sport conditions let alone the Viper pattern, so when they told us we would have 30 minutes for practice and that we could spend the first 20 minutes on any lanes we would bowl on that day, it took a little bit of the pressure off.  It's a little different when you are bowling in leagues with house oil conditions and can pretty much be anonymous unless your shooting for a 300, compared to bowling with your name on your shirt in front of bleachers of people.  It was intimidating but since I decided not to put a PBA patch on my shirt, I'm still an amateur so I had that option, I could stay somewhat out of the spotlight.  Once they started the competition I was absolutely shaking.  The other guys on the pair were doing their best to help me calm down.  A big thanks to John Riffle, Ed Smaglik, Chad Kloss and James Wallace for their help.  I spent the first 2 games trying to get the lanes figured out and timing the professional 2 lane etiquette.  Most of the pros were very helpful in regards to the lane etiquette rules.  I knew right away that I wouldn't be the top amatuer qualifier so I just concentrated on not making a fool of myself.  I found out the hard way that my lazy way of shooting left sided spares is not an effective way to do it on pro conditions.  You had better get used to shooting straight at the pins instead of using/relying on your "hook" to pick it up.  Also, try your best to loosen up before the competition.  I was so nervous and tight that I couldn't extend my arm out enough to pickup the 10 pin until about the 4th game.  At the end of the day I was -141 and clearing out my stuff from the locker room.  I had a couple of highlights to be happy with in the end.  I didn't finish in last place.  I made a few more friends.  I had 2 games over 200 and was able to string some strikes together.  I picked up a strange 3-6-4-7 split and finished the qualifier on a high note with 4 strikes in a row.  So, in the end, you will definitely want to join a PBA Experience league and get with your pro shop to get your arsenal ready for competition.  I thought I had all the equipment I needed, but I was lost for about 2 games towards the end.  Buying the right "tweener" ball would be critical and could have helped me to be on the plus side instead of on the minus side.  I have the "bug" now and feel that I could definitely do better in the next TQR.  Hopefully I'll see some of you out there on the road at a Regional event or TQR.