Six To Compete In National Tourney

Sullivan County bowlers scheduled to compete in the
USBC Open Championship In Reno, Nev., are from the
left, Tom Belgiovene, Jaryl Scott, Paul Minton, Mark
Wegener, Vinnie Collura and John Fischer.


Six accomplished and high average Sullivan County bowlers will
compete for the United States Bowling Congress Open championship on April
10-11 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.
Making the trip from Sullivan County to Reno will be the Medicap
Pharmacy team consisting of Paul Minton of Liberty, John Fischer of
Callicoon, Jaryl Scott of South Fallsburg, Vinnie Collura of Monticello and
Mark Wegener of Woodridge.
Also competing in this tournament in the doubles and singles
competition is Tom Belgiovene of Wurtsboro. Tom will most likely hook up
with another team for the team competition event.
The Medicap Pharmacy team will enter the competition with a 1078 team
average. Individual averages include Minton with a 212, Fischer 215, Scott
218, Collura 213 and Wegener 220. Belgiovene carries a 197 average in the
doubles and singles event.
This Sullivan County team will compete in the regular division and
bowls in the team event at 2:30 p.m. on April 10. Doubles and singles
competition is scheduled for April 11 at 9:20 a.m..
In Doubles competition the teams consist of Minton and Wegener, Scott
and Collura and Belgiovene and Fischer.
It has been 30 years since the United States Bowling Congress Open
Championships was first held in Reno, Nev., and the tournament's love
affair with the Biggest Little City in the World continues in 2007 after
the Open Championships kicked off recently at the National Bowling Stadium.
USBC Hall of Famer Jim Schroeder, dignitaries, The Twelve Irish
Tenors, Olympic medal-winning rhythmic gymnast Maia Tabakova and 760
bowlers turned out for the opening day events, which included the
traditional Mass Ball Shot Ceremony, a marriage proposal and the crowning
of "Joe Bowler."
Howard Babbitt of Millerton, N.Y., earned the distinction of Joe
Bowler, a tradition that began in 1951, and rolled the ceremonial first
ball, signifying the official start of the 2007 USBC Open Championships.
The tournament will run for 135 consecutive days and more than 16,000
five-player teams are scheduled to compete
before the tournament concludes on July 1.
"Each year when I sit in the squad room, I hope they don't pick me,"
said Babbitt, who has bowled on opening day for 17 years and rolled a seven
count to open the tournament. "But it was quite an amazing experience to
be out there on the lanes wearing the cape and crown. I wasn't really
nervous, but my thumb did stick a little bit."
Prior to the earlier squad, Cecil Whitehouse of Clarksville, Tenn.,
proposed to his girlfriend Maribel DeJesus and the couple shared the
engagement with nearly 400 anxious bowlers.
Presenting sponsors for the 2007 USBC Open Championships are
Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other
participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Sands
Regency Casino and Hotel, official brackets sponsor and supporting sponsors
Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa and Harrah's Casino and Hotel.
For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit
USBCopen.com.