Bowling Highlights Column 3-27-09

Chris Barnes with his winning Go RVing Match Play Championship trophy.

Livingston Manor bowler Bob Cady, left, with PBA Pro Tour bowlers Tom Baker, center, and Jason Couch .

Monticello bowler Dean Shattuck, right, with PBA Pro Tour bowler Tom Baker.

Sullivan County bowlers attending the Go RVing PBA tour stop at Norwich, Conn. last weekend included, from the left, Barbara Cady, Bob Cady, Dean Shattuck, Kelly Shattuck, Shirley Townsend, Joan Redington and Bowling Highlights Columnist Ed Townsend.

Professional Bowling Association tour bowler Rhino Page, left, shared some bowling time last weekend with Joan Redington of White Sulphur Springs.

Joan Redington Attends Her First PBA Event

White Sulphur Springs bowler Joan Redington calls her first appearance at a Professional Bowling Association (PBA) Tour stop "just awesome" and "I appreciate and liked the dedication and professionalism these professional bowlers show towards us fans."
Joan attended the Go RVing Match Play championship last Friday through Sunday at the Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center at Norwich, Conn.
This 51-year-old local well-known bowler grew up in the bowling industry and started bowling at the age of five in her mother and father's four-lane George's Colonial Inn Lanes in Jeffersonville.
George's Colonial Inn Lanes were owned and operated for many years by George and Joan Redington where Joan remembers they had double shifts bowling there six nights a week. The Redington family purchased the building in 1950, added the lanes in 1952 and installed Brunswick automatice pinsetters in 1958. They sold the popular 4-lane Brunswick bowling center in 1979 to Ed Mootz and Dan Fisher.
Joan started bowling in leagues as a teenager and has bowled in leagues throughout Sullivan County for some 32 years.
In most recent years Joan bowled actively in doubles leagues with her late husband, well-known local bowler Tom Skiff Jr., who passed away last October.
Not only did Joan view the professionals in competition on Friday, Saturday and during the Sunday ESPN finals she also actively participated for the first time in her life in the Saturday Pro-Am No-Tap Tournament and bowled with Professionals Steve Jaros, Robert Smith, Mike Edwards, Chris Warren, Tom Baker and one of the new upcoming stars of the PBA tour left-handed ace Rhino Page.
Joan noted that she just couldn't get over "how approachable these PBA bowlers are with all the dedication and professionalism they possess....they definitely are not like other professional athletes....when signing autographs they thank us for coming out and watching them."
She expressed "amazement" at the ESPN Sunday Afternoon TV show where the finals are played "and all the work that is put together to put this show on the air." "I don't know how these professional bowlers can keep their focus with all that is going on," Ms. Redington said.
Other Sullivan County bowlers attending last weekend's PBA event in Norwich were Bob and Barbara Cady of Livingston Manor, Dean and Kelly Shattuck of Monticello, Shirley Townsend of Livingston Manor and this columnist.
And quite a TV show is was last Sunday afternoon as reigning Lumber Liquidators PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes fought his way back into contention to repeat with an impressive three-game 722-693 victory over Walter Ray Williams Jr. in the title match of the Go RVing Match Play Championship.
Barnes, the No. 3 seed in the PBA's "March Madness" match play elimination tournament, used the three-game, total pinfall format to his advantage in winning his 12th career title and back-to-back titles for the first time in his career. Two weeks earlier, Barnes won the Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator in Columbus, Ohio. Barnes, who has been notorious for making critical mistakes in a number of past TV losses, had the luxury of three games to make up for an error this time, and that's exactly what he did.
Williams and Barnes both flirted with perfection in the first two games, but unforced errors by both players kept the contest up in the air going into the decisive third game.
The No. 5 seeded Williams, the PBA's all-time titles leader with 45 titles, looked like he was going to run away with the match early. Williams, who has been the victim of three perfect games on TV without ever bowling onehimself, started the match with nine strikes. But when he left a 7 pin on his first shot in the 10th frame and missed the spare, he gave Barnes hope, finishing with 267 to Barnes's 241. Instead of a possible 59-pin lead, Williams led by only 26 pins.
"Brain (expletive)," the 49-year-old Williams said of his uncharacteristic missed spare. "That's what happens when you get old."
Barnes quickly erased his deficit in game two, starting with nine strikes himself. With back-to-back splits and open frames, Williams struggled to a 192. But Barnes returned Williams favor, leaving a 4-10 split to end his perfect-game bid. Despite that error, Barnes finished with 266 and took a 48-pin lead into the third game. "It was the same bad shot I made when I left the Big Four in the first game," Barnes said. "But in general, the move I made worked, so I waspleased."
Williams threw a couple more strikes than Barnes in game three, but it was basically a contest of staying out of trouble. Working on three strikes, Williams left a 4 pin in the seventh frame that took away the momentum he needed to overcome Barnes's lead. Williams won the third game, 234-215, but he was still 29 pins short.
"Chris bowled a lot better than I did," Williams said. "If it had been a best of three match, I win, but that's not the way it went today."
"Three games was a big deal for me. It gave me a chance to win," Barnes said."Normally, I leave the Big Four in game one and I'm out."
"The right lane was troublesome for both of us," he continued. "I was just able to put together a bigger string on that lane than Walter Ray was, but it was getting to be a problem. Fortunately, we ran out of frames before I ran out of pins."
Barnes, who won $25,000, surged into third place in the Player of the Year points race behind Wes Malott and Norm Duke, and he still has a mathematical chance to pass both and retain his Player of the Year title.
"Things seem to be going my way right now," the Double Oak, Texas, resident said. "The U.S. Open is the toughest tournament of all to win. I will need that to happen to have a chance," Barnes noted.
The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour this week is the Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic at AMF West Babylon Lanes in West Babylon, N.Y., with the ESPN TV match at 2 p.m Sunday.
This season marks the 50th Anniversary of the PBA Tour.
Complete photo coverage of this PBA tournament can be found on our Web page, http://bght.blogspot.com/

Local Scores

Callicoon Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Ladies Hortonville league included a 200, 534 by Mary Ardizzone, Lillian Zieres 517, Ingrid Ott 198 and Debra Loughrey 180.
In the Tuesday Delaware Valley Men's league Tad Doscher scored a 201, 213, 247, 661, Jeremy Gulley 222, 247, 266, 735, Roger Miller 208, Charlie Reichenback 264, 620, Mark Schriber 268, Brian Kitson 212, Jamie Grier 231, Kurt Buddenhagen 236, 618, Mark Goda 202, Mike Hubbard 264, 213, 287, 764, Damien Vanluven 221, 245, 642, Mark Herbert 257, 627, Ken Darling 208, Scott Herbert 253, 224, 209, 686, Josh Mulucky 245, 222, 649, Jon Wayne 216, Karl Adams 240, 201, 204, 645, Mark Hawley 230, 210, 231, 671, John Fink 210, Frank Leonardo 236, Tom Russell 278, 266, 704, Bob Cady 222, 210, 606, Eric Kubenik 218, Randy Berrian 228, 231, Ed Leroy 232, 212, 621, Gary Erlwein 201, 209, 602 and Steve Lagoda 236.
In the Wednesday Mixed Businessmen league Mark Rutledge scored a 204, Kory Keesler 222, Bruce Rutledge 202, Mark Hawley 243, Joseph Gager 235, Dave Maus 200, Bob Cady 202 and John Fink 215, 204.

Gravity Alley

Recent highlight scores in the Wednesday Mixed Fun league include a 190 by Darlene Burnett, Scott Ropke 217, 205, 614 and Jerry Kammeier 213, 245.

Fox Bowling Center

Recent highlight scores in the Ladies Tuesday Earl Birds league includes a 202, 193, 533 by Nikki Andriano, Anne Couse 505, Kathleen Maltese 187, 500, Cheryle Ostrander 199 and Laura Ballard 180.
In the Wednesday Men's Independent league Donald Marino scored a 268, 204, 213, 685, Josh Rice 253, 225, 667, Rod Pudney 235, 252, 664, Robert Johnson 226, 201, 235, 662, Sam Rowe 230, 242, 640, James Dibble 227, 217, 636, Scott Ostrander 214, 237, 631, Ryan Kille 265, 203, 630, Tony Wright 203, 213, 213, 629, Pat Kille 243, 624, Brian Drumm 226, 205, 620, Thomas Anderson 225, 219, 617, Robert McNaught 237, 616 and Josh Milucky 246, 609.
In the Deposit Men's National league Paul Ignatovich scored a 299, 244, 225, 768, Bill Gleim 203, 200, 257, 660, Andrew Bullis 254, 223, 659, Neil Mosher 245, 203, 628, Greg Keesler 203, 230, 624, Jeff Curtis 206, 222, 620 and Jim Valentine 226, 204, 620.
In the Friday Mixed Couples league James Dibble scored a 202, 267, 212, 681, Daniel Wormuth 258, 210, 641, Howard Couse 207, 225, 630, Robert Ellis 246, 203, 620, Paul Fritz 225, 201, 617, Mark McGraw 236, 212, 616, Bill Gleim 236, 612, Anne Couse 192, 194, 201, 587, Sandy Winans 197, 216, 572, Catherine Resti 201, 184, 529, Janet Ellis 209, 528, Tammy Stanton 196 and Tracy Resti 182.
In the Sunday Mixed Fun league Don Marino scored a 235, 603 and Jean Mills 192, 508.

Kiamesha Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Men's league include a 258, 622 by Willy Bartley, David Graham 226, 257, 688, Keith Smith 225, 607, Francisco Martinez 233, 256, 674, Steve Rivera 242, Mike Mulligan 237, Roy Sweeney 279, 632, Danny Ricco 238, 232, 676, Tom Belgiovene 227, 224, 604, John Hoffmann 251, 225, 225, 701, Rudy Belanchia 228, 606, Peter Mitro 226, 643, Jim Frost 236, Paul Durland 246, 651, Jaryl Scott 247, 657, Mark Wegener 232, 245, 700, Tom Caycho 233, Al Caycho 237, 233, 683, Jack Moylan 246, 684, James Ratner 236, 652, Kort Wheeler 236, 651, Rick Lake 238, 650 and Allan Jones 267, 672.
In the Tuesday Mixed Firefighters league Ailene Washington scored a 190, Cara Nicholson 213, 512, Joan Gregory 180, Pat Mulhern 193, 526, Mary Lee Williams 191, Joan Lake 194, Todd Telesky 228, Shane Cunningham 231, 665, Lisa Cartwright 191, 551, Debbie Durland 205, 187, 550, Donald Durland 256, 675, Kevin Stackhouse 233, 618, John Fischer 239, 658, John Hoffmann 248, 300, 765, Linda Schaefer 206, 517 and April Aldrich 193, 203, 573.
In the Wednesday Men's league Gregory Fallon scored a 266, 617, Rick Lake 298, 661, Richard Bradford 267, 678, Donald Durland 254, 231, 674, George Battle Jr. 227, Dean Shattuck 249, 639, Paul Durland 241, 604, Art Eggleton 226, John Hoffmann 236, 258, 715, Tom Belgiovene 237, 638, Vinnie Collura 268, 275, 734, Kenny Atkins 256, 658m Eddie Lake 236, 235, 688, Timmy Minton 226, David Porter Jr. 227, 634 and Frank DiCostanzo 226, 603.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the professional and amateur sport of bowling. He is also chairman of the Publicity committee of the Tri-County NY USBC and a member of its board of director. If you have a topic that would make good reading or have league scores or tournament information Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177 or by sending an email to bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a more expanded version of our bowling column visit our Web site at http://bght.blogspot.com/

Jason Belmonte Brings Two-Handed Style

To Bowl Outdoors in New York City


NEW YORK, N.Y. – From New York to Los Angeles, Jason Belmonte of Orange, Australia has been turning heads with his unique two-handed bowling style. Belmonte continues his media blitz across the U.S.A. into New York City on Saturday March 28 as the Australian bowler will bring his dynamic two-handed approach to an outdoor set and go bowling in the heart of Manhattan.

Belmonte will take on the PBA Tour’s current Player of the Year points leader Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas in a match to preview the upcoming Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open on the outdoor lane provided by Storm Bowling Products, Inc. The event is free and open to the public from 7 a.m. to noon Eastern at the Fox Plaza, 1211 Avenue of the Americas in New York City.

With his season-opening appearance on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour at the PBA World Championship in October, the two-handed Aussie sensation lapped the field in qualifying then finished in 10th place, launching a media blitz for pro bowling.

A cover story profiling Belmonte graced the front page of the Wall Street Journal on Feb. 5 and he has since been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Denver Post, Boston Globe, ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine in addition to appearances on ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today program. Belmonte will be featured in an upcoming edition of ESPN’s TV magazine E-60 and will make an appearance on Saturday from 7-10 a.m. Eastern on Fox & Friends, the top-rated cable morning show on the Fox News Network.

In a busy February tour across the United States, Belmonte added a 15th place finish at the Denny’s Dick Weber Open in Fountain Valley Calif., earned a 12th place check at the GEICO Plastic Ball Championship in Wheat Ridge, Colo. and an 11th place finish at the Etonic Marathon Open in Indianapolis.

“I am very excited about the American media being generated by my first year on the PBA Tour”, said Belmonte. “With Wes Malott stirring up conversations on ESPN’s Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption plus my involvement, professional bowling is getting more mainstream opportunities and we are creating a buzz.

“There is an Australian commercial about shampoo that reminds me of how we are trying to change the perception in bowling – it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.”

As the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour’s 2008-09 season heads down the homestretch, Belmonte heads the list of competitors bowling Wednesday in the PBA Tour Qualifying Round at the Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic. The PBA Tour comes to AMF Babylon Lanes in West Babylon, N.Y. March 25-29 and will play a pivotal role in the season points race and Player of the Year honors.

The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s regular season concludes next week at the 66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open March 29 to April 5 at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J.


About the PBA
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) features the best bowlers in the world competing in National, Regional and Senior Tour events and will award over $4.3 million in prize money during the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA National Tour. The organization has more than 4,000 members spanning 13 countries, and nearly one million viewers tune-in to watch the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour every Sunday on ESPN throughout the season. PBA sponsors include Bayer, Brunswick, CLR, Denny's, Etonic, Flomax, GEICO, Go RVing, H&R Block, Lumber Liquidators, Motel 6, Pepsi-Cola and the USBC, among others. For more information on the PBA, log on to http://www.pba.com./ This season marks the 50th Anniversary of the PBA Tour.

NEW YORKER TAKES LEAD, SHARES BIG
NEWS AT USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

LAS VEGAS - A week before traveling to Las Vegas for the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, Joseph Burgio of Buffalo, N.Y., found out that he and his wife, Laura, are going to have a baby.

Burgio didn't get to share the news with his mother before the trip, so he told his teammates he would just take the lead at the USBC Open Championships and tell her in an article on bowl.com.

Although he was joking when he said it, the 34-year-old right-hander's plan came to fruition when he put together games of 268, 265 and 255 for a 788 series and took the Regular Singles lead at Cashman Center on Saturday. Keith Jeffery of St. Louis previously held the lead with 777.

"I didn't think it would really come true, especially with the way I bowled in doubles, but the singles pair was like a whole other bowling center," said Burgio, who made his eighth Open Championships appearance. "I honestly had no idea I took the lead. I thought the guy who shot 800 did it in singles, so I was wondering why everyone was giving me high fives. Sometimes, a little information can hurt you, so it's probably better that I didn't know. This is amazing."

Burgio and his team have bowled together at the Open Championships for the last six years, and they always do their homework before taking the lanes.

"I always compare the pattern to other years and come in with a good idea of where to play," said Burgio, who added 693 in team and 612 in doubles for a 2,093 all-events total, which is seventh overall. "There haven't been too many surprises as far as the conditions go, and this played similar to what I was expecting."

And now that the hard work is done, Burgio and his wife, who got married in December, will take a few days to celebrate and enjoy their first trip to Las Vegas.

"This event is about competing in a very respectable tournament and getting the chance to travel around the country and see some places I wouldn't usually go," Burgio said. "This trip has been incredible already. So many life-changing things have happened in the past few months, and this is another one of those things that is tough to put into words."

As he prepares for fatherhood, Burgio also will spend some time watching the tournament's online leaderboards to see how his score is holding up. And in the future, when he shares this story and other Open Championships memories with his first-born child, he'll be able to offer some sage advice.

"You've got to be ready to come out here because it isn't the house shot you're used to," Burgio said. "You also need to practice your spares, but most importantly, you need to make sure you have a good time."

Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.

For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit USBCopen.com.

2009 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Cashman Center, Las Vegas
(Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls)

REGULAR DIVISION

Team

1, Junior Team USA Support (Steve Novak, Amanda Vermilyea, Anthony LaCaze, Jeffrey Mersch, Erik Vermilyea), Orlando, Fla., 3,236. 2, Forgey Sports Medicine 1, Milwaukie, Ore., 3,200. 3, Super Bowl-Appleton, Kaukauna, Wis., 3,181. 4, Plamor Lanes, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 3,152. 5, Highland Lanes 2, Ottawa, Ohio, 3,140. 6, AF Strike Eagles, Burke, Va., 3,138. 7, On the Ball Pro Shop, Tulsa, Okla., 3,137. 8, Wichita Bowling Supply 2, Wichita, Kan., 3,134. 9, Handy Andy Rolands 5, Maricopa, Ariz., 3,124. 10, Rob Bailey's Pro Shop 1, Sun Prairie, Wis., 3,117.

Doubles

1, Ron Nelson, Bridgeview, Ill./Bryan O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 1,466. 2, Jason Guest, Urbandale, Iowa/Scott Wohlwend, Moline, Ill., 1,453. 3, Richard Renollet, Park City, Kan./James Hall, Wichita, Kan., 1,415. 4, Marty Barington, Mitchell, S.D./Brian Diede, Huron, S.D., 1,406. 5, David Scott, Springfield, Mo./DeWayne Scott, Mountain View, Mo., 1,401. 6, Kevin Kelly/Chad Fowler, Minot, N.D., 1,383. 7, Barbara Batt/Gabby DaClouche, Jacksonville, Fla., 1,376. 8, Curtis Odom, Coldwater, Mich./Mark Weller, Jonesville, Mich., 1,372. 9, Mike Kruse Jr./Mike Kruse Sr., Vermillion, S.D., 1,362. 10, Rick Ehrnschwender, Cincinnati/Chris Viale, Westfield, Mass., 1,361.

Singles

1, Joseph Burgio, Buffalo, N.Y., 788. 2, Keith Jeffery, St. Louis, 777. 3, Orin Baugher, Spokane, Wash., 773. 4, Jason Johnson, Macedonia, Ohio, 772. 5, Jeff Voght, Canajoharie, N.Y., 771. 6, Jason Zook, Tampa, Fla., 770. 7, Scott Horvath, Windsor, Colo., 748. 8 (tie), Brian Watson, Washington, W.V., and Steven Vance, Stone Mountain, Ga., 747. 10, Jim Santino, Birch Run Mich., 745.

All-Events

1, Ron Nelson Jr., Bridgeview, Ill., 2,138. 2, Chris Dicus, Chillicothe, Ohio, 2,123. 3, Jeff Voght, Canajoharie, N.Y., 2,115. 4, Anthony LaCaze, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 2,110. 5, Michael Hansell, Broken Arrow, Okla., 2,107. 6, Richard Renollet, Park City, Kan., 2,103. 7, Joseph Burgio, Buffalo, N.Y., 2,093. 8, Stace Bohlender, Lawton, Okla., 2,075. 9, Bob Handley, Winter Park, Fla., 2,073. 10, Jason Porter, Ludington, Mich., 2,070.

Team All-Events

1, Junior Team USA Support (Steve Novak, Amanda Vermilyea, Anthony LaCaze, Jeffrey Mersch, Erik Vermilyea), Orlando, Fla., 9,846. 2, Cambridge 1, Feeding Hills, Mass., 9,784. 3, Forgey Sports Medicine 1, Milwaukie, Ore., 9,582. 4, Bowler's Connection, Waukee, Iowa, 9,548. 5, St. Charles Lanes, O'Fallon, Mo., 9,541. 6, Joliet Town/Country Lanes 2, Joliet, Ill., 9,496. 7, Holiday Bowl 2, Wichita Falls, Texas, 9,477. 8, Forgey Sports Medicine 2, Portland, Ore., 9,330. 9, S and C Promo Products. Omro, Wis., 9,326. 10, AF Strikes Eagles, Burke, Va., 9,320.

CLASSIFIED DIVISION

Team

1, Malad Gun Club (Darren Tripp, William Evans, Mike Bercier, Doyle Williams, Rex Williams), Malad City, Idaho, 2,745. 2, ATW, New London, Minn., 2,698. 3, Pro Zone 3, Mission Hills, Calif., 2,696. 4, Yetties From Ypsi, Ypsilanti, N.D., 2,684. 5, Golden Gate Bowling Club 2, San Francisco, 2,683. 6, Whitlow Furnace & Duct, Scobey, Mont., 2,675. 7, Brits On Tour, Oxfordshire, England., 2,671. 8, Wild Bill's, Tremonton, Utah, 2,663. 9 (tie), Johnson Insurance, Hardin, Mont., Lake Country Rollers 1, Clarissa, Minn., and 2 Bar Lighting, Cheyenne, Wyo., 2,661.

Doubles

1, Eric Douglass, Goldfield, Iowa/Troy Schultz, Clarion, Iowa, 1,204. 2, Veronica Boone/Luis Boone, Mission Hills, Calif., 1,195. 3, George Marquez, Whittier/ Pete Dumpit, El Monte, Calif., 1,192. 4, Mamerto Jablan, Baldwin Park/Philip Lebaguin, Cerritos, Calif., 1,161. 5, Jeff Zolman, Lagrange, Ind./Dick Kelly, Orland, Ind., 1,149. 6, Steve Peterson/Rich Wahl, Hannaford, N.D., 1,147. 7, Kelly Campbell, Wenatchee, Wash./Rollin Murphy, Spokane, Wash., 1,143. 8, Joel Olson/Cory Forcht, Greenfield, Iowa, 1,137. 9, Virginia Sweatt, Lakewood, Calif./Ernie Taylor, Cypress, Calif., 1,134. 10, Mark Heilman, Kasota/Bruce Huikko, South Haven, Minn., 1,132.

Singles

1, Dennis Tomhave, Vermillion, S.D., 679. 2, Ryan Knutson, Dilworth, Minn., 664. 3, Adam Macleod, Brampton, Ontario, 662. 4, Roy Umehira, Honolulu, 657. 5, Jean Reese, Owatonna, Minn., 654. 6, Richard Pecoraro, San Bernadino, Calif., 651. 7, Glenn Matsuda, La Palma, Calif., 644. 8 (tie), Merwin Metzger, Big Lake, Minn., and Patrick Schmidt, Flower Mound, Texas, 632. 10, Alan Schroeder, Mt. Vernon, S.D., 629.

All-Events

1, Anthony Kastle, Charlotte, N.C., 1,834. 2, Dennis Tomhave, Vermillion, S.D., 1,799. 3, Pete Dumpit, El Monte, Calif., 1,798. 4, Roy Umehira, Honolulu, 1,782. 5, Allen Blommel, Clarissa, Minn., 1,757. 6, Ryan Knutson, Dilworth, Minn., 1,750. 7 (tie), John Dorseth, Scobey, Mont., and Glenn Matsuda, La Palma, Calif., 1,745. 9, Eric Halverson, Spearfish, S.D., 1,738. 10, Luis Boone, Mission Hills, Calif., 1,737.

BOWLERS SHARE SPOTLIGHT WITH PERFECT
GAMES AT USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

LAS VEGAS - During the first 21 days of the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, five bowlers added their names to the tournament record book by rolling perfect games at Cashman Center.

On Saturday, two bowlers on the same squad achieved perfection, bringing the total to seven, which is nearly twice as many as the entire 127-day run of the 1986 event (four) under the same roof.

Mike Newman of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Keith Ubert of Hays, Kan., were just a few lanes apart, so the bowling fans on the low side of the venue definitely got their money's worth during the afternoon team event.

Newman struck first, starting his 2009 tournament campaign with 12 consecutive strikes, while Ubert needed some time to warm up before flawlessly closing out his team event.

"It was kind of lucky," said Newman, who made his fifth USBC Open Championships appearance and added 206 and 135 for a 641 series and helped his team to a 2,560 total. "In practice, I could not find a way to attack the lanes, so in the first frame of the first game, I changed up everything and stuck with it."

Newman's main goal coming in was to simply fill frames and help his team. It wasn't until the eighth frame that he started thinking about the possibility of a 300.

"My knees were knocking in the 10th frame," Newman said. "I knew if I got the first strike in the 10th, the other two would be easy. It's pretty cool to shoot one here at the Open."

The 36-year-old right-hander added 543 in doubles and 464 in singles for a 1,648 all-events total.

Ubert started slowly, but it didn't take long for him to get going. After games of 182 and 209, he put the finishing touches on his own 300 game.
"The shot was really tight to start off," said Ubert, who made his eighth Open Championships appearance. "By the third game, I finally found my mark and the pins started to fall."

With the 10th frame approaching, Ubert calmed his nerves and focused on some wise advice he was given.

"Someone once told me that if you have a 300 game going into the 10th, move a board to the left every ball," Ubert said. "I kept moving to the left and kept my feet slow and soft. This is an awesome feeling, and I couldn't ask for anything more."

Ubert, an assistant manager at Centennial Lanes, finished his trip to this year's event with 663 in doubles and 637 in singles for a 1,991 all-events total.

Ubert wasn't the only bowler from Hays making headlines at Cashman Center this weekend.

Bruce Herreman, whose son Dallas rolled the first 300 game of the 2008 event in Albuquerque, N.M., nearly added his name to the list, too, but came up just short with a 299 game Sunday morning.

After a disappointing doubles event, Herreman made a minor strategic change and started his second game of singles with 11 consecutive strikes before a stubborn 4 pin ended his bid for perfection.

"After a poor doubles performance and struggling in the first game of singles, I was pretty much ready to go home," said Herreman, who made his 32nd tournament appearance. "Then, after watching my teammate bowl well by lofting the ball, I decided to try it, too. On that last shot, I told myself to make sure I lofted it, but I didn't, and it hooked early. I'm definitely disappointed about not shooting 300, but I'm also excited that I now have an honor score here."

The near-perfect effort helped Herreman to a 719 series, his first 700 in singles at the Open Championships. He added 599 in team and 555 in doubles for a 1,873 all-events total.

"Towards the end of that game, I thought that if my son could do it, I could do it, and it would've been nice to have another one in the family," Herreman said. "This is the biggest stage we bowl on, and it was a thrill to have gotten so close."

Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.

For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit USBCopen.com.

2009 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Cashman Center, Las Vegas
(Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls)

REGULAR DIVISION

Team

1, Junior Team USA Support (Steve Novak, Amanda Vermilyea, Anthony LaCaze, Jeffrey Mersch, Erik Vermilyea), Orlando, Fla., 3,236. 2, Forgey Sports Medicine 1, Milwaukie, Ore., 3,200. 3, Super Bowl-Appleton, Kaukauna, Wis., 3,181. 4, Highland Lanes 2, Ottawa, Ohio, 3,140. 5, AF Strike Eagles, Burke, Va., 3,138. 6, On the Ball Pro Shop, Tulsa, Okla., 3,137. 7, Wichita Bowling Supply 2, Wichita, Kan., 3,134. 8, Rob Bailey's Pro Shop 1, Sun Prairie, Wis., 3,117. 9, St. Charles Lanes, O'Fallon, Mo., 3,110. 10, Joliet Town/Country Lanes 2, Joliet, Ill., 3,104.

Doubles

1, Ron Nelson, Bridgeview, Ill./Bryan O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 1,466. 2, Jason Guest, Urbandale, Iowa/Scott Wohlwend, Moline, Ill., 1,453. 3, Richard Renollet, Park City, Kan./James Hall, Wichita, Kan., 1,415. 4, David Scott, Springfield, Mo./DeWayne Scott, Mountain View, Mo., 1,401. 5, Kevin Kelly/Chad Fowler, Minot, N.D., 1,383. 6, Curtis Odom, Coldwater, Mich./Mark Weller, Jonesville, Mich., 1,372. 7, Rick Ehrnschwender, Cincinnati/Chris Viale, Westfield, Mass., 1,361. 8, Emil Dudas, Toms River, N.J./Gary Budra, Howell, N.J., 1,360. 9 (tie), Dan Crumb, Tallahassee, Fla./Mike Herring, Altamonte Springs, Fla., and David Townsend Jr., Washougal, Wash./John Fantini, Las Vegas, 1,358.

Singles

1, Keith Jeffery, St. Louis, 777. 2, Orin Baugher, Spokane, Wash., 773. 3, Jason Johnson, Macedonia, Ohio, 772. 4, Jeff Voght, Canajoharie, N.Y., 771. 5, Jason Zook, Tampa, Fla., 770. 6, Scott Horvath, Windsor, Colo., 748. 7 (tie), Brian Watson, Washington, W.V., and Steven Vance, Stone Mountain, Ga., 747. 9, Jim Santino, Birch Run Mich., 745. 10, Troy Kendrick, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 744.

All-Events

1, Ron Nelson Jr., Bridgeview, Ill., 2,138. 2, Chris Dicus, Chillicothe, Ohio, 2,123. 3, Jeff Voght, Canajoharie, N.Y., 2,115. 4, Anthony LaCaze, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 2,110. 5, Michael Hansell, Broken Arrow, Okla., 2,107. 6, Richard Renollet, Park City, Kan., 2,103. 7, Stace Bohlender, Lawton, Okla., 2,075. 8, Scott Culp, Lima, N.Y., 2,066. 9, Thomas Hinz, Joliet, Ill., 2,062. 10 (tie), Camden Rokita, Springfield, Ill., and Mike Cole, Plainfield, Wis., 2,058.

Team All-Events

1, Junior Team USA Support (Steve Novak, Amanda Vermilyea, Anthony LaCaze, Jeffrey Mersch, Erik Vermilyea), Orlando, Fla., 9,846. 2, Cambridge 1, Feeding Hills, Mass., 9,784. 3, Forgey Sports Medicine 1, Milwaukie, Ore., 9,582. 4, Bowler's Connection, Waukee, Iowa, 9,548. 5, Joliet Town/Country Lanes 2, Joliet, Ill., 9,496. 6, Holiday Bowl 2, Wichita Falls, Texas, 9,477. 7, Forgey Sports Medicine 2, Portland, Ore., 9,330. 8, AF Strikes Eagles, Burke, Va., 9,320. 9, Rob Baileys Pro Shop 1, Sun Prairie, Wis., 9,248. 10, Nobody's Pro Shop, Yorktown, Va., 9,226.

CLASSIFIED DIVISION

Team

1, Malad Gun Club (Darren Tripp, William Evans, Mike Bercier, Doyle Williams, Rex Williams), Malad City, Idaho, 2,745. 2, ATW, New London, Minn., 2,698. 3, Pro Zone 3, Mission Hills, Calif., 2,696. 4, Yetties From Ypsi, Ypsilanti, N.D., 2,684. 5, Golden Gate Bowling Club 2, San Francisco, 2,683. 6, Whitlow Furnace & Duct, Scobey, Mont., 2,675. 7, Brits On Tour, Oxfordshire, England., 2,671. 8, Wild Bill's, Tremonton, Utah, 2,663. 9 (tie), Johnson Insurance, Hardin, Mont., and Lake Country Rollers 1, Clarissa, Minn., 2,661.

Doubles

1, Eric Douglass, Goldfield, Iowa/Troy Schultz, Clarion, Iowa, 1,204. 2, Veronica Boone/Luis Boone, Mission Hills, Calif., 1,195. 3, George Marquez, Whittier/ Pete Dumpit, El Monte, Calif., 1,192. 4, Mamerto Jablan, Baldwin Park/Philip Lebaguin, Cerritos, Calif., 1,161. 5, Jeff Zolman, Lagrange, Ind./Dick Kelly, Orland, Ind., 1,149. 6, Steve Peterson/Rich Wahl, Hannaford, N.D., 1,147. 7, Kelly Campbell, Wenatchee, Wash./Rollin Murphy, Spokane, Wash., 1,143. 8, Joel Olson/Cory Forcht, Greenfield, Iowa, 1,137. 9, Virginia Sweatt, Lakewood, Calif./Ernie Taylor, Cypress, Calif., 1,134. 10, Mark Heilman, Kasota/Bruce Huikko, South Haven, Minn., 1,132.

Singles

1, Ryan Knutson, Dilworth, Minn., 664. 2, Adam Macleod, Brampton, Ontario, 662.
3, Roy Umehira, Honolulu, 657. 4, Jean Reese, Owatonna, Minn., 654. 5, Richard Pecoraro, San Bernadino, Calif., 651. 6, Glenn Matsuda, La Palma, Calif., 644. 7 (tie), Merwin Metzger, Big Lake, Minn., and Patrick Schmidt, Flower Mound, Texas, 632. 9, Alan Schroeder, Mount Vernon, S.D., 629. 10 (tie), Mamerto Jablan, Baldwin Park, Calif., Leon Fosheim, Webster, S.D., and Tyler DeWitt, Wendell, Idaho, 628.

All-Events

1, Anthony Kastle, Charlotte, N.C., 1,834. 2, Pete Dumpit, El Monte, Calif., 1,798. 3, Roy Umehira, Honolulu, 1,782. 4, Ryan Knutson, Dilworth, Minn., 1,750. 5 (tie), John Dorseth, Scobey, Mont., and Glenn Matsuda, La Palma, Calif., 1,745. 7, Eric Halverson, Spearfish, S.D., 1,738. 8, Luis Boone, Mission Hills, Calif., 1,737. 9, Roger Stansbery, New Hampton, Iowa, 1,735. 10, Mamerto Jablan, Baldwin Park, Calif., 1,732.

Here & There Column 3-24-09

How Not To Catch A Mouse

All of us from time to time have a problem with a mouse (and I'm not talking about the one connected to my computer).
In fact the mouse or mice that I have been doing battle with apparently are drug addicts and love to steal mouse traps.
Now please don't misunderstand what I'm saying here.......we don't have mice all over the house.....only in the master bathroom in the three drawers that separate our double sinks.
There is a hole where the sink drain goes that is tucked under one of the sinks and the hole is very difficult to get at. Even though I have attempted to fill the hole up with that foam stuff and stuffed steel wool in the part of the hole I can just barely reach.....the mice somehow get up through the hole and love to eat sinus tablets, cold tablets and pills of any kind in the drawers and of course they leave their little black left behinds to let us know they have been visited us and that they are feeling much better after eating our cold and sinus tablets.
What's the best attack plan here? You can always try the standard mouse trap, or the modern style traps where you don't have to touch the dead mouse and of course there is always these modern electronic gadgets that create an invisible pest-repelling force field that chase rodents and insects away.
Been there and done that and have tried all three. Even put that electronic one right down on the floor some 10 inches away from the hole they use......I think they liked the blinking lights and all and must have through they were in a disco after having a few of my sinus pills.....that didn't work.
I've also had a mouse steal one of those regular mouse traps...you know the one you put the peanut butter on and has the strong snapper that nails those rodents when then even smell the peanut butter.....and just recently I purchased two modern mouse traps where you don't have to peel the mouse off the trap.....you guessed it......the mice took them probably back home to teach the young-ins "surviving the mouse trap" lesson one.
Keep tuned in to see who will win this battle......might try some of that "Mouse Away Spray" or maybe even sell the house and move south where I'm sure I will be able to find some other critters to do battle with.

Bowling Highlights Column 3-20-09

Hoffmann Rolls 23ed Career 300

The "Little Lefty" was beginning to wonder when and if he would bowl another 300 game.
Did the 68-year-old (will reach that age on April 23) still have what it takes to bowl another perfect 300 game?
That question was answered on March 10 in the Tuesday Mixed Firemen't league at Kiamesha Lanes when John Hoffmann recorded his 23ed career 300.
His last 300 game came on March 16, 2008 in the doubles event of the Tri-County NY United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Association tournament at Pin Street Lanes in Warwick.
The March 10 perfect game at Kiamesha Lanes was scored on lanes 5 and 6 using a Roto Grip Quest bowling ball. The total for the night was 217, 300, 248, 765 with all 12 strikes in the 1-2 pocket. He bowls in this league with the IAPOTH team and team members Kevin Stackhouse, Roberta Yakin, John Fischer and Robert Yakin Sr.
Hoffmann recorded his first 300 game on July 23, 1991 in the Essex County New Jersey Association in the 420 DBLS. SMT league at Eagle Rock Lanes.
Hoffmann is a well-known technical bowler and when Mike Luongo, now the Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Storm and Roto Grip, drilled out the Roto Grip Quest ball for Hoffmann, Luongo noted to this columnist that "John has a real nice game."
John won the high average bowler honors with a 229 in the Tri-County NY USBC Association for the 2006-2007 season. He bowled professionally from 1990 to 1993 in the Northeast Regional Bowlers Professional Bowlers Association where he got his "Little Lefty" nickname from PBA Tour Bowler Tommy Delutz Jr.
Hoffmann was also the 2007 Tri-County NY USBC Senior's Champion and a New Jersey State Senior champion.
USBC and former ABC records have Hoffmann with eight 11-strikes in a row games, one 298 game, two 299 games and nine 800 plus series.
He presently maintains a 221 average in the Monday Men's league, a 222 in the Tuesday Mixed Fireman's league and a 219 in the Wednesday Men's league, all at Kiamesha Lanes. He also bowls in the Sunday Thunder 102 Mixed Fun league.
Three years ago he became a certified USBC coach and is considered an excellent teacher of the game.
Hoffmann has been bowling for some 52 years, is single and retired and lives in the South Woods Road area of the Town of Thompson.

Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo

Bowlers: This week the tip is for all bowlers to truly assist you on how to best use the dots and arrows on the approach as target aids.
When preparing to execute a bowling shot, whether it is a strike or spare, you must be prepared to understand the path down the lane you intend your bowling ball to take. With this in mind, when stepping on the approach you should have a focal point, simply the point from which the ball will roll off your hand in the direction you intend it to go, picked out.
If you throw a hook ball, you will be rolling the ball toward the intended break point--the spot on the lane you expect your ball to change direction. If you are rolling the ball straight, the pocket or the pin/pins will be your intended target.
The tip: Look at your intended target and bring your eyes back to the spot on the lane that you are most comfortable looking at , whether it be the dots or an arrow.
To play the modern game, the sooner the ball comes off your hand the better. If you are looking at an arrow and tend to throw or hit up on the ball instead of rolling it off your hand, bring your eyes more toward the dots.
If you are a bowler that tends to play more across the boards with a lot of rotation, your focal point should be as far right ( or left) as in between the lanes to get the ball to the correct break point. If you play a straighter game with a small hook, your correct focal point may be toward the 3-pin.
Remember, there is no substitute for making a good shot. If you combine good shots with good thinking, your scores will increase.
Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Master Instructor. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is the Northeast Regional Sales Manager with the Storm and Roto Grip bowling Bowling Ball Company. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-341-1694 or via email at mikespro@warwick.net

1st Annual Tom
Skiff Jr, Memorial
Tourney In May

The 1st Annual Tom Skiff Memorial "Bowl For A Cure" doubles tournament will be held at 1 p.m. May 9 at Kiamesha Lanes.
The two-person doubles team (any combination) tournament will celebrate the life ot Tom Skiff Jr. by bowling for a cure for cancer.
As all bowlers who knew Tom we know that he left us early in life and we are now helping fund cancer research in his memory.
The fee per bowler will be $25 each with $10 going to Kiamesha Lanes, $10 to cancer research and $5 to the prize fund.
There will be a 50/50 during each game and the proceeds goes totally to cancer research.
You can register by May 2 at Kiamesha Lanes 794-5561 or contact Gillian Champagne-Kuchar at 845-674-8107 or email gckuchar@gmail.com and put in the subject line "Bowling For A Cure."

PBA

This week the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is at the Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center in Norwich, Conn., for the GoRVing Match Play Championship.
The fifth and final stop on the tour's "Extreme Swing" will televise the finals this Sunday March 22 at 1 p.m. on ESPN.

Local Scores

Callicoon Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Hortonville Ladies league include a 185 by Jane Benson, Joyce Brooks 191, Lillian Lahm 191, Joan Gabriel 187, 509 and Desiree Rossomoto 184, 515.
In the Tuesday Delaware Valley Men's league Kory Keesler scored a 203, Gary Elwein 202, Karl Adams 224, Mark Hawley 213, Bob Cady 205, Jeremy Gulley 246, 602, Dennis Brockner 200, Damien Vanluven 242, 625 and Scott Herbert 212.
In the Wednesday Mixed Businessmen league Tom Russell scored a 204, Dave Maus 205, Shirley Townsend 203, 200, 580, Kory Keesler 210, Frank Emmens 203, Laresko Niifa 204, 206, Joseph Gager 213 and a real nice night of bowling by Mark Hawley with a 279, 266, 713.

Gravity Alley

Recent highlight scores in the Wednesday Mixed Fun league include a 205 by Todd Sherman, Lyle Hocker 215, Dave Predmore 216, 215, 618, Jerry Kammeler 237 and Jennifer Seltz 180.

Fox Bowling Center

Recent highlight scores in the Tuesday Ladies Early Birds league include a 213, 549 by Kathleen Maltese, Nikki Andriano 180, 532, Angie Ferris 201, 518, Anne Couse 203, 512, Sally Ballard 189, 508 and Linda Ferris 181.
In the Wednesday Men's Independent league Donald Marino scored a 278, 268, 727, Ryan Kille 220, 251, 201, 672, Tony Wright 216, 212, 235, 663, Shawn Tracy 248, 231, 657, Arthur Gately 254, 201, 637, Daniel Wormuth 257, 637, Allen Bullis Sr. 235, 625, Andrew Bullis 228, 614, Rochard Price 227, 223, 611, Hank Whitmore 243, 605, Mitch Persbacker 207, 211, 601, Frank Couse 222, Frank Couse Sr. 222, Craig Gehrig 225 and Brian Tiffany 232.
In the Thursday Men's Deposit National league Bill Gleim scored a 255, 236, 238, 729, Al Bullis Jr. 236, 213, 232, 681, Andrew Bullis 236, 203, 234, 673, Jeff Curtis 212, 258, 664, Carl Davis 214, 237, 637, Jim Valentine 235, 201, 635, Neil Mosher 224, 237, 612, Ray Cornwell 224, 215, 608, Paul Ignatovich 231, 602, Harry Triebe Sr. 225 and Matt Johnson 225.
In the Friday Mixed Couples league Paul Fritz scored 238, 223, 656, Howard Couse 236, 225, 655, Bill Gleim 222, 605, Mark McGraw 221, Daniel Wormuth 215, Sandy Winans 181, 215, 574, James Dibble 214, Robert Ellis 200, Carl Davis 212, Anne Couse 514, Nick Hazen 203 and Michelle Wormuth 183.
In the Sunday Afternoon Mixed Fun league Dave Mills scored a 233, 234, 223, 690, Fred Shakelton 224, Ray Cornwell 230, 200 and Jean Mills 191.

Kiamesha Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Men's league include a 236, 211, 623 for David Graham, Willy Bartley 203, Nate Sanders 236, Chuck McAllister 229, Keith Smith 219, John Fischer 206, 222, 258, 686, Art Stevens 204, Steve Rivera 204, 214, 203, 621, Jason Jones Jr. 206, Mike Weiner 216, 227, Jim VanAken 226, 245, 615, Jason Jones 205, 226, 615, Tom Belgiovene 202, John Hoffmann 225, 608, Rudy Belanchia 213, 202, 266, 681, Peter Mitro 224, 201, 212, 637, Jo Jo VanKeuren 208, Jim Frost 200, 244, 612, Frank Amore 209, 206, 612, Tim Bilyeu 211, 255, 256, 722, Joey Smith 211, Donald Durland 203, 226, 279, 708, Paul Durland 224, 203, 623, Jaryl Scott 212, Mark Wegener 245, 220, 278, 743, Tim McIntyre 247, 638, Tom Caycho 204, Bobby Cooper 214, Al Caycho 206, 231, 235, 672, Jack Moylan 279, 223, 213, 715, Rob Sze 259, James Ratner 203, 202, Kort Wheeler 203, Frank Scuderi 200, Eddie Lake 240, 206, 268, 714, Rick Lake 235, 266, 680, Billy Curry Jr. 220, 214, 600 and Paul Curry 222.
In the Tuesday Mixed Firemen's league Debra Blackford scored a 192, Carol MacAdam 198, 196, 221, 615, Vinnie Collura 237, 244, 671, Rob Keesler 209, Ed Guthrie 256, 227, 225, 708, John Cascone 201, Laresko Niifa 223, Mary Lee Williams 211, 534, Joan Lake 206, 180, 193, 579, Dan Allen 204, Ryan Lepke 245, Peter Scannell 220, Jack Rustic 201, 223, 280, 704, Mike Friedman 203, Stan Gilmore 226, Lisa Cartwright 203, Andrea Grossman 194, 502, Larry Berens 219, 610, Tom Cooney 209, 214, 616, Debbie Durland 190, 194, 201, 585, Kevin Stackhouse 200, John Fischer 227, 601, John Hoffmann 236, 213, 218, 667, Kris Gwiozdcwski 214, Donna DuBois 187, 532 and April Aldrich 184.
In the Wednesday Men's league Donald Durland scored a 235, 212, 215, 662, Matthew Fallon 203, 202, Richard Bradford 247, 227, 647, Jon Wilhelm 212, 243, 649, Gregory Fallon 233, 606, Jason Jones Jr. 214, Jason Jones 203, 203, Angel Rodriguez 204, 200, Kevin Stackhouse 229, Rick Lara 217, , 212, 602, Tim McIntyre 267, 650, Abhishek Patel 200, Charles McAllister 202, 230, 218, 650, George Battle Jr. 226, Frank Muller Jr. 201, Allan Jones 231, 202, 619, Larry Berens 247, Dean Shattuck 277, 216, 666, Paul Durland 204, Art Eggleton 201, John Hoffmann 258, 246, 689, Tom Belgiovene 210, Vinnie Collura 248, 224, 279, 751, Al Caycho 223, 213, 626, Mike Weiner 216, Anthony Atkins 205, Chris Magie 221, William Danchak 202, 213 and Frank DiCostanzo 203, 233, 605.
In the Saturday Morning Youth leagues, in Pee Wees division Katelyn Babcock scored 94 and George VanAken 84. In the Bantams division Shivam Patel 129, 122 Nathaniel Edwards 101, 100. In the Preps division Rup Patel scored 119, 138, 115, Nathaniel Goldsmith 107, 114, Mikayla DeGraw 117, 102, 110, Michael Hope 99, Nicole Scudari 86, 89, 70 and Sarah Rustic 123, 102. In the Jr./Mjr league Meghan McCormack scored 111, Michael Brown 100, 110, Isiah Rosado 116, Megan Gerow 150, 150, Michael Scuderi 171, 204, 176, Corey Cilberto 112, Amber Bock 122, Shavani Patel 161, 146, Jared Friedman 141, Tyler Foxwell 134, Kristy Gessman 121, Michael Edwards 148, Jason Moss 159, 160, Shawn Sinistorie 198 and Eddie Walsh 188, 228.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of bowling. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Tri-County NY USBC where he serves as chairman of the Publicity committee. If you have a topic that you believe would make good reading or have league scores or tournament information, Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177 or by sending an email to bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a much more expanded version of our bowling column visit our Web site at http://bght.blogspot.com/


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BOWLERS SHARE SPOTLIGHT WITH PERFECT
GAMES AT USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

LAS VEGAS - During the first 21 days of the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, five bowlers added their names to the tournament record book by rolling perfect games at Cashman Center.

On Saturday, two bowlers on the same squad achieved perfection, bringing the total to seven, which is nearly twice as many as the entire 127-day run of the 1986 event (four) under the same roof.

Mike Newman of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Keith Ubert of Hays, Kan., were just a few lanes apart, so the bowling fans on the low side of the venue definitely got their money's worth during the afternoon team event.

Newman struck first, starting his 2009 tournament campaign with 12 consecutive strikes, while Ubert needed some time to warm up before flawlessly closing out his team event.

"It was kind of lucky," said Newman, who made his fifth USBC Open Championships appearance and added 206 and 135 for a 641 series and helped his team to a 2,560 total. "In practice, I could not find a way to attack the lanes, so in the first frame of the first game, I changed up everything and stuck with it."

Newman's main goal coming in was to simply fill frames and help his team. It wasn't until the eighth frame that he started thinking about the possibility of a 300.

"My knees were knocking in the 10th frame," Newman said. "I knew if I got the first strike in the 10th, the other two would be easy. It's pretty cool to shoot one here at the Open."

The 36-year-old right-hander added 543 in doubles and 464 in singles for a 1,648 all-events total.

Ubert started slowly, but it didn't take long for him to get going. After games of 182 and 209, he put the finishing touches on his own 300 game.
"The shot was really tight to start off," said Ubert, who made his eighth Open Championships appearance. "By the third game, I finally found my mark and the pins started to fall."

With the 10th frame approaching, Ubert calmed his nerves and focused on some wise advice he was given.

"Someone once told me that if you have a 300 game going into the 10th, move a board to the left every ball," Ubert said. "I kept moving to the left and kept my feet slow and soft. This is an awesome feeling, and I couldn't ask for anything more."

Ubert, an assistant manager at Centennial Lanes, finished his trip to this year's event with 663 in doubles and 637 in singles for a 1,991 all-events total.

Ubert wasn't the only bowler from Hays making headlines at Cashman Center this weekend.

Bruce Herreman, whose son Dallas rolled the first 300 game of the 2008 event in Albuquerque, N.M., nearly added his name to the list, too, but came up just short with a 299 game Sunday morning.

After a disappointing doubles event, Herreman made a minor strategic change and started his second game of singles with 11 consecutive strikes before a stubborn 4 pin ended his bid for perfection.

"After a poor doubles performance and struggling in the first game of singles, I was pretty much ready to go home," said Herreman, who made his 32nd tournament appearance. "Then, after watching my teammate bowl well by lofting the ball, I decided to try it, too. On that last shot, I told myself to make sure I lofted it, but I didn't, and it hooked early. I'm definitely disappointed about not shooting 300, but I'm also excited that I now have an honor score here."

The near-perfect effort helped Herreman to a 719 series, his first 700 in singles at the Open Championships. He added 599 in team and 555 in doubles for a 1,873 all-events total.

"Towards the end of that game, I thought that if my son could do it, I could do it, and it would've been nice to have another one in the family," Herreman said. "This is the biggest stage we bowl on, and it was a thrill to have gotten so close."

Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.

For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit USBCopen.com.

2009 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Cashman Center, Las Vegas
(Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls)

REGULAR DIVISION

Team

1, Junior Team USA Support (Steve Novak, Amanda Vermilyea, Anthony LaCaze, Jeffrey Mersch, Erik Vermilyea), Orlando, Fla., 3,236. 2, Forgey Sports Medicine 1, Milwaukie, Ore., 3,200. 3, Super Bowl-Appleton, Kaukauna, Wis., 3,181. 4, Highland Lanes 2, Ottawa, Ohio, 3,140. 5, AF Strike Eagles, Burke, Va., 3,138. 6, On the Ball Pro Shop, Tulsa, Okla., 3,137. 7, Wichita Bowling Supply 2, Wichita, Kan., 3,134. 8, Rob Bailey's Pro Shop 1, Sun Prairie, Wis., 3,117. 9, St. Charles Lanes, O'Fallon, Mo., 3,110. 10, Joliet Town/Country Lanes 2, Joliet, Ill., 3,104.

Doubles

1, Ron Nelson, Bridgeview, Ill./Bryan O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 1,466. 2, Jason Guest, Urbandale, Iowa/Scott Wohlwend, Moline, Ill., 1,453. 3, Richard Renollet, Park City, Kan./James Hall, Wichita, Kan., 1,415. 4, David Scott, Springfield, Mo./DeWayne Scott, Mountain View, Mo., 1,401. 5, Kevin Kelly/Chad Fowler, Minot, N.D., 1,383. 6, Curtis Odom, Coldwater, Mich./Mark Weller, Jonesville, Mich., 1,372. 7, Rick Ehrnschwender, Cincinnati/Chris Viale, Westfield, Mass., 1,361. 8, Emil Dudas, Toms River, N.J./Gary Budra, Howell, N.J., 1,360. 9 (tie), Dan Crumb, Tallahassee, Fla./Mike Herring, Altamonte Springs, Fla., and David Townsend Jr., Washougal, Wash./John Fantini, Las Vegas, 1,358.

Singles

1, Keith Jeffery, St. Louis, 777. 2, Orin Baugher, Spokane, Wash., 773. 3, Jason Johnson, Macedonia, Ohio, 772. 4, Jeff Voght, Canajoharie, N.Y., 771. 5, Jason Zook, Tampa, Fla., 770. 6, Scott Horvath, Windsor, Colo., 748. 7 (tie), Brian Watson, Washington, W.V., and Steven Vance, Stone Mountain, Ga., 747. 9, Jim Santino, Birch Run Mich., 745. 10, Troy Kendrick, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 744.

All-Events

1, Ron Nelson Jr., Bridgeview, Ill., 2,138. 2, Chris Dicus, Chillicothe, Ohio, 2,123. 3, Jeff Voght, Canajoharie, N.Y., 2,115. 4, Anthony LaCaze, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 2,110. 5, Michael Hansell, Broken Arrow, Okla., 2,107. 6, Richard Renollet, Park City, Kan., 2,103. 7, Stace Bohlender, Lawton, Okla., 2,075. 8, Scott Culp, Lima, N.Y., 2,066. 9, Thomas Hinz, Joliet, Ill., 2,062. 10 (tie), Camden Rokita, Springfield, Ill., and Mike Cole, Plainfield, Wis., 2,058.

Team All-Events

1, Junior Team USA Support (Steve Novak, Amanda Vermilyea, Anthony LaCaze, Jeffrey Mersch, Erik Vermilyea), Orlando, Fla., 9,846. 2, Cambridge 1, Feeding Hills, Mass., 9,784. 3, Forgey Sports Medicine 1, Milwaukie, Ore., 9,582. 4, Bowler's Connection, Waukee, Iowa, 9,548. 5, Joliet Town/Country Lanes 2, Joliet, Ill., 9,496. 6, Holiday Bowl 2, Wichita Falls, Texas, 9,477. 7, Forgey Sports Medicine 2, Portland, Ore., 9,330. 8, AF Strikes Eagles, Burke, Va., 9,320. 9, Rob Baileys Pro Shop 1, Sun Prairie, Wis., 9,248. 10, Nobody's Pro Shop, Yorktown, Va., 9,226.

CLASSIFIED DIVISION

Team

1, Malad Gun Club (Darren Tripp, William Evans, Mike Bercier, Doyle Williams, Rex Williams), Malad City, Idaho, 2,745. 2, ATW, New London, Minn., 2,698. 3, Pro Zone 3, Mission Hills, Calif., 2,696. 4, Yetties From Ypsi, Ypsilanti, N.D., 2,684. 5, Golden Gate Bowling Club 2, San Francisco, 2,683. 6, Whitlow Furnace & Duct, Scobey, Mont., 2,675. 7, Brits On Tour, Oxfordshire, England., 2,671. 8, Wild Bill's, Tremonton, Utah, 2,663. 9 (tie), Johnson Insurance, Hardin, Mont., and Lake Country Rollers 1, Clarissa, Minn., 2,661.

Doubles

1, Eric Douglass, Goldfield, Iowa/Troy Schultz, Clarion, Iowa, 1,204. 2, Veronica Boone/Luis Boone, Mission Hills, Calif., 1,195. 3, George Marquez, Whittier/ Pete Dumpit, El Monte, Calif., 1,192. 4, Mamerto Jablan, Baldwin Park/Philip Lebaguin, Cerritos, Calif., 1,161. 5, Jeff Zolman, Lagrange, Ind./Dick Kelly, Orland, Ind., 1,149. 6, Steve Peterson/Rich Wahl, Hannaford, N.D., 1,147. 7, Kelly Campbell, Wenatchee, Wash./Rollin Murphy, Spokane, Wash., 1,143. 8, Joel Olson/Cory Forcht, Greenfield, Iowa, 1,137. 9, Virginia Sweatt, Lakewood, Calif./Ernie Taylor, Cypress, Calif., 1,134. 10, Mark Heilman, Kasota/Bruce Huikko, South Haven, Minn., 1,132.

Singles

1, Ryan Knutson, Dilworth, Minn., 664. 2, Adam Macleod, Brampton, Ontario, 662.
3, Roy Umehira, Honolulu, 657. 4, Jean Reese, Owatonna, Minn., 654. 5, Richard Pecoraro, San Bernadino, Calif., 651. 6, Glenn Matsuda, La Palma, Calif., 644. 7 (tie), Merwin Metzger, Big Lake, Minn., and Patrick Schmidt, Flower Mound, Texas, 632. 9, Alan Schroeder, Mount Vernon, S.D., 629. 10 (tie), Mamerto Jablan, Baldwin Park, Calif., Leon Fosheim, Webster, S.D., and Tyler DeWitt, Wendell, Idaho, 628.

All-Events

1, Anthony Kastle, Charlotte, N.C., 1,834. 2, Pete Dumpit, El Monte, Calif., 1,798. 3, Roy Umehira, Honolulu, 1,782. 4, Ryan Knutson, Dilworth, Minn., 1,750. 5 (tie), John Dorseth, Scobey, Mont., and Glenn Matsuda, La Palma, Calif., 1,745. 7, Eric Halverson, Spearfish, S.D., 1,738. 8, Luis Boone, Mission Hills, Calif., 1,737. 9, Roger Stansbery, New Hampton, Iowa, 1,735. 10, Mamerto Jablan, Baldwin Park, Calif., 1,732.

PBA’s Version of March Madness Ready to Roll in Norwich
Malott, O’Neill, Barnes and Duke Head Brackets in Go RVing Match Play Championship

The seeding position for the top 36 points leaders on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour have been set for the Go RVing Match Play Championship. The top seeds are No. 1 Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas; No. 2 Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa.; No. 3 Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, and No. 4 Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla.

The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s version of March Madness got underway Wednesday at Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center in Norwich, Conn., when the rest of the field of 64 competitors for the Go RVing Match Play Championship will be determined. Like the NCAA basketball playoffs, the Go RVing Match Play Championship will pit 64 of the world’s top bowlers in a win-or-go-home bracket elimination competition.

Already seeded into the field for the “best of seven games” eliminations are the 36 players who have earned their rankings based upon the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour points standings. Seven additional players will be determined on Wednesday during the PBA Tour Qualifying Round. The top amateur player among that group will be seeded 64th and face the No. 1 seed, Wes Malott.

The remaining 27 competitors, including the six top TQR finishers, will be seeded based upon their ranking on the season points standings list.

The Malott bracket includes Patrick Allen, Brad Angelo and defending Norwich champion Rhino Page. O’Neill’s road to the “Final Four” will include obstacles such as Mike Scroggins, Michael Fagan and Mika Koivuniemi. Barnes’ bracket includes Pete Weber and Ryan Shafer. Duke’s 16-player bracket includes Walter Ray Williams Jr., Tommy Jones and Parker Bohn III.

The final leg of the PBA Tour’s five-event “Extreme Swing” also will involve the pressure of earning points to qualify for the GEICO PBA Team Shootout hosted by Six Flags, scheduled for June in Jackson, N.J. The top eight in Extreme Swing points will earn spots in that special event.

The Go RVing Match Play Championship is part of the PBA’s 50th Anniversary season “Extreme Swing,” which also includes the Ultimate Scoring Championship, GEICO Plastic Ball Championship, Etonic Marathon Open, and the Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator. The creative format events are meant to test the greatest bowlers in the world in different areas of the game, provide television audiences with a fresh look while providing education on pertinent aspects of the game.

The semifinals of the Go RVing Match Play Championship will take place on Saturday March 21 beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern with coverage on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online video service. The live ESPN-final match for the Go RVing Match Play Championship will be conducted Sunday March 22 at 1 p.m. Eastern. Both the semifinals and the live ESPN finals will feature three-game total pins matches.

GO RVING MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center, Norwich, Conn.
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour 2008-09 Season Points List

1, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 199,856.5
2, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 198,345
3, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 192, 240
4, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 166,751
5, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 164,324
6, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 160,920.5
7, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 156,043.5
8, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 155,440
9, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 152,705
10, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 152,239
11, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 148,565.5
12, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 142,539.5
13, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 141,231
14, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 138,196
15, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 135,350
16, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 128,969.5
17, Mike DeVaney, San Diego, 125,797
18, Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 123,613
19, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 117,552
20, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 107,094.5
21, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 105,438.5
22, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 103,711.5
23, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 101,488
24, Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan., 99,648.25
25, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 98,166
26, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 95,372
27, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 93,110.5
28, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 91,729
29, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 90,294
30, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 89,954
31, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 88,050
32, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 84,838.5
33, Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, 84,457.5
34, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 84,371
35, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 80,733.5
36, Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 80,666.5

Bowling Highlights Column 3-20-09

Hoffmann Rolls 23ed Career 300

The "Little Lefty" was beginning to wonder when and if he would bowl another 300 game.
Did the 68-year-old (will reach that age on April 23) still have what it takes to bowl another perfect 300 game?
That question was answered on March 10 in the Tuesday Mixed Firemen't league at Kiamesha Lanes when John Hoffmann recorded his 23ed career 300.
His last 300 game came on March 16, 2008 in the doubles event of the Tri-County NY United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Association tournament at Pin Street Lanes in Warwick.
The March 10 perfect game at Kiamesha Lanes was scored on lanes 5 and 6 using a Roto Grip Quest bowling ball. The total for the night was 217, 300, 248, 765 with all 12 strikes in the 1-2 pocket. He bowls in this league with the IAPOTH team and team members Kevin Stackhouse, Roberta Yakin, John Fischer and Robert Yakin Sr.
Hoffmann recorded his first 300 game on July 23, 1991 in the Essex County New Jersey Association in the 420 DBLS. SMT league at Eagle Rock Lanes.
Hoffmann is a well-known technical bowler and when Mike Luongo, now the Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Storm and Roto Grip, drilled out the Roto Grip Quest ball for Hoffmann, Luongo noted to this columnist that "John has a real nice game."
John won the high average bowler honors with a 229 in the Tri-County NY USBC Association for the 2006-2007 season. He bowled professionally from 1990 to 1993 in the Northeast Regional Bowlers Professional Bowlers Association where he got his "Little Lefty" nickname from PBA Tour Bowler Tommy Delutz Jr.
Hoffmann was also the 2007 Tri-County NY USBC Senior's Champion and a New Jersey State Senior champion.
USBC and former ABC records have Hoffmann with eight 11-strikes in a row games, one 298 game, two 299 games and nine 800 plus series.
He presently maintains a 221 average in the Monday Men's league, a 222 in the Tuesday Mixed Fireman's league and a 219 in the Wednesday Men's league, all at Kiamesha Lanes. He also bowls in the Sunday Thunder 102 Mixed Fun league.
Three years ago he became a certified USBC coach and is considered an excellent teacher of the game.
Hoffmann has been bowling for some 52 years, is single and retired and lives in the South Woods Road area of the Town of Thompson.

Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo

Bowlers: This week the tip is for all bowlers to truly assist you on how to best use the dots and arrows on the approach as target aids.
When preparing to execute a bowling shot, whether it is a strike or spare, you must be prepared to understand the path down the lane you intend your bowling ball to take. With this in mind, when stepping on the approach you should have a focal point, simply the point from which the ball will roll off your hand in the direction you intend it to go, picked out.
If you throw a hook ball, you will be rolling the ball toward the intended break point--the spot on the lane you expect your ball to change direction. If you are rolling the ball straight, the pocket or the pin/pins will be your intended target.
The tip: Look at your intended target and bring your eyes back to the spot on the lane that you are most comfortable looking at , whether it be the dots or an arrow.
To play the modern game, the sooner the ball comes off your hand the better. If you are looking at an arrow and tend to throw or hit up on the ball instead of rolling it off your hand, bring your eyes more toward the dots.
If you are a bowler that tends to play more across the boards with a lot of rotation, your focal point should be as far right ( or left) as in between the lanes to get the ball to the correct break point. If you play a straighter game with a small hook, your correct focal point may be toward the 3-pin.
Remember, there is no substitute for making a good shot. If you combine good shots with good thinking, your scores will increase.
Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Master Instructor. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is the Northeast Regional Sales Manager with the Storm and Roto Grip bowling Bowling Ball Company. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-341-1694 or via email at mikespro@warwick.net

1st Annual Tom
Skiff Jr, Memorial
Tourney In May

The 1st Annual Tom Skiff Memorial "Bowl For A Cure" doubles tournament will be held at 1 p.m. May 9 at Kiamesha Lanes.
The two-person doubles team (any combination) tournament will celebrate the life ot Tom Skiff Jr. by bowling for a cure for cancer.
As all bowlers who knew Tom we know that he left us early in life and we are now helping fund cancer research in his memory.
The fee per bowler will be $25 each with $10 going to Kiamesha Lanes, $10 to cancer research and $5 to the prize fund.
There will be a 50/50 during each game and the proceeds goes totally to cancer research.
You can register by May 2 at Kiamesha Lanes 794-5561 or contact Gillian Champagne-Kuchar at 845-674-8107 or email gckuchar@gmail.com and put in the subject line "Bowling For A Cure."

PBA

This week the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is at the Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center in Norwich, Conn., for the GoRVing Match Play Championship.
The fifth and final stop on the tour's "Extreme Swing" will televise the finals this Sunday March 22 at 1 p.m. on ESPN.

Local Scores

Callicoon Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Hortonville Ladies league include a 185 by Jane Benson, Joyce Brooks 191, Lillian Lahm 191, Joan Gabriel 187, 509 and Desiree Rossomoto 184, 515.
In the Tuesday Delaware Valley Men's league Kory Keesler scored a 203, Gary Elwein 202, Karl Adams 224, Mark Hawley 213, Bob Cady 205, Jeremy Gulley 246, 602, Dennis Brockner 200, Damien Vanluven 242, 625 and Scott Herbert 212.
In the Wednesday Mixed Businessmen league Tom Russell scored a 204, Dave Maus 205, Shirley Townsend 203, 200, 580, Kory Keesler 210, Frank Emmens 203, Laresko Niifa 204, 206, Joseph Gager 213 and a real nice night of bowling by Mark Hawley with a 279, 266, 713.

Gravity Alley

Recent highlight scores in the Wednesday Mixed Fun league include a 205 by Todd Sherman, Lyle Hocker 215, Dave Predmore 216, 215, 618, Jerry Kammeler 237 and Jennifer Seltz 180.

Fox Bowling Center

Recent highlight scores in the Tuesday Ladies Early Birds league include a 213, 549 by Kathleen Maltese, Nikki Andriano 180, 532, Angie Ferris 201, 518, Anne Couse 203, 512, Sally Ballard 189, 508 and Linda Ferris 181.
In the Wednesday Men's Independent league Donald Marino scored a 278, 268, 727, Ryan Kille 220, 251, 201, 672, Tony Wright 216, 212, 235, 663, Shawn Tracy 248, 231, 657, Arthur Gately 254, 201, 637, Daniel Wormuth 257, 637, Allen Bullis Sr. 235, 625, Andrew Bullis 228, 614, Rochard Price 227, 223, 611, Hank Whitmore 243, 605, Mitch Persbacker 207, 211, 601, Frank Couse 222, Frank Couse Sr. 222, Craig Gehrig 225 and Brian Tiffany 232.
In the Thursday Men's Deposit National league Bill Gleim scored a 255, 236, 238, 729, Al Bullis Jr. 236, 213, 232, 681, Andrew Bullis 236, 203, 234, 673, Jeff Curtis 212, 258, 664, Carl Davis 214, 237, 637, Jim Valentine 235, 201, 635, Neil Mosher 224, 237, 612, Ray Cornwell 224, 215, 608, Paul Ignatovich 231, 602, Harry Triebe Sr. 225 and Matt Johnson 225.
In the Friday Mixed Couples league Paul Fritz scored 238, 223, 656, Howard Couse 236, 225, 655, Bill Gleim 222, 605, Mark McGraw 221, Daniel Wormuth 215, Sandy Winans 181, 215, 574, James Dibble 214, Robert Ellis 200, Carl Davis 212, Anne Couse 514, Nick Hazen 203 and Michelle Wormuth 183.
In the Sunday Afternoon Mixed Fun league Dave Mills scored a 233, 234, 223, 690, Fred Shakelton 224, Ray Cornwell 230, 200 and Jean Mills 191.

Kiamesha Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Men's league include a 236, 211, 623 for David Graham, Willy Bartley 203, Nate Sanders 236, Chuck McAllister 229, Keith Smith 219, John Fischer 206, 222, 258, 686, Art Stevens 204, Steve Rivera 204, 214, 203, 621, Jason Jones Jr. 206, Mike Weiner 216, 227, Jim VanAken 226, 245, 615, Jason Jones 205, 226, 615, Tom Belgiovene 202, John Hoffmann 225, 608, Rudy Belanchia 213, 202, 266, 681, Peter Mitro 224, 201, 212, 637, Jo Jo VanKeuren 208, Jim Frost 200, 244, 612, Frank Amore 209, 206, 612, Tim Bilyeu 211, 255, 256, 722, Joey Smith 211, Donald Durland 203, 226, 279, 708, Paul Durland 224, 203, 623, Jaryl Scott 212, Mark Wegener 245, 220, 278, 743, Tim McIntyre 247, 638, Tom Caycho 204, Bobby Cooper 214, Al Caycho 206, 231, 235, 672, Jack Moylan 279, 223, 213, 715, Rob Sze 259, James Ratner 203, 202, Kort Wheeler 203, Frank Scuderi 200, Eddie Lake 240, 206, 268, 714, Rick Lake 235, 266, 680, Billy Curry Jr. 220, 214, 600 and Paul Curry 222.
In the Tuesday Mixed Firemen's league Debra Blackford scored a 192, Carol MacAdam 198, 196, 221, 615, Vinnie Collura 237, 244, 671, Rob Keesler 209, Ed Guthrie 256, 227, 225, 708, John Cascone 201, Laresko Niifa 223, Mary Lee Williams 211, 534, Joan Lake 206, 180, 193, 579, Dan Allen 204, Ryan Lepke 245, Peter Scannell 220, Jack Rustic 201, 223, 280, 704, Mike Friedman 203, Stan Gilmore 226, Lisa Cartwright 203, Andrea Grossman 194, 502, Larry Berens 219, 610, Tom Cooney 209, 214, 616, Debbie Durland 190, 194, 201, 585, Kevin Stackhouse 200, John Fischer 227, 601, John Hoffmann 236, 213, 218, 667, Kris Gwiozdcwski 214, Donna DuBois 187, 532 and April Aldrich 184.
In the Wednesday Men's league Donald Durland scored a 235, 212, 215, 662, Matthew Fallon 203, 202, Richard Bradford 247, 227, 647, Jon Wilhelm 212, 243, 649, Gregory Fallon 233, 606, Jason Jones Jr. 214, Jason Jones 203, 203, Angel Rodriguez 204, 200, Kevin Stackhouse 229, Rick Lara 217, , 212, 602, Tim McIntyre 267, 650, Abhishek Patel 200, Charles McAllister 202, 230, 218, 650, George Battle Jr. 226, Frank Muller Jr. 201, Allan Jones 231, 202, 619, Larry Berens 247, Dean Shattuck 277, 216, 666, Paul Durland 204, Art Eggleton 201, John Hoffmann 258, 246, 689, Tom Belgiovene 210, Vinnie Collura 248, 224, 279, 751, Al Caycho 223, 213, 626, Mike Weiner 216, Anthony Atkins 205, Chris Magie 221, William Danchak 202, 213 and Frank DiCostanzo 203, 233, 605.
In the Saturday Morning Youth leagues, in Pee Wees division Katelyn Babcock scored 94 and George VanAken 84. In the Bantams division Shivam Patel 129, 122 Nathaniel Edwards 101, 100. In the Preps division Rup Patel scored 119, 138, 115, Nathaniel Goldsmith 107, 114, Mikayla DeGraw 117, 102, 110, Michael Hope 99, Nicole Scudari 86, 89, 70 and Sarah Rustic 123, 102. In the Jr./Mjr league Meghan McCormack scored 111, Michael Brown 100, 110, Isiah Rosado 116, Megan Gerow 150, 150, Michael Scuderi 171, 204, 176, Corey Cilberto 112, Amber Bock 122, Shavani Patel 161, 146, Jared Friedman 141, Tyler Foxwell 134, Kristy Gessman 121, Michael Edwards 148, Jason Moss 159, 160, Shawn Sinistorie 198 and Eddie Walsh 188, 228.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of bowling. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Tri-County NY USBC where he serves as chairman of the Publicity committee. If you have a topic that you believe would make good reading or have league scores or tournament information, Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177 or by sending an email to bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a much more expanded version of our bowling column visit our Web site at http://bght.blogspot.com/

FRANK BUFFA EARNS USBC GOLD CERTIFICATION

The United States Bowling Congress Coaching department recently elevated internationally-respected coach Frank Buffa to USBC Gold status, making him the 34th coach to earn the distinction.

Buffa lives and works in Montreal, where he operates Buffa's Bowling
Supply Inc. pro shops, the buffabowling.com online store and the Studio
Buffa Training Center.

Fluent in several languages and familiar with many cultures, Buffa has
been a fixture on the international coaching scene for years. He is the
current head coach of Qatar's national team, a position he has held
since 2005. Previously, Buffa has served as head coach of United Arab
Emirates (2002-2005) and Italy (2000-2002).

Buffa lists his elevation to USBC Gold status as being the highlight of
his career.

" The USBC Coaching program is the best in the world, and the
International Training and Research Center will help keep it that
way," Buffa said. "It's a great honor to receive USBC Gold
certification. This is my greatest honor as a coach right now."

According to Bill Hoffman, USBC Director of International Relations, it
is an honor that Buffa deserves.

Frank Buffa's worldwide coaching success and teaching skills make
him one of the great communicators in our sport," Hoffman said. "His
generosity and interest in helping athletes reach their full potential
is truly deserving of recognition as a USBC Gold coach."

Buffa will be given the opportunity to put those talents to use as he
continues a working relationship with USBC. In his new role, Buffa will
travel internationally to work with athletes and coaches who wish to
advance their training through the USBC Coaching program.

This will be a great new challenge for me, and I'm ready to take
it on," Buffa said. "Hopefully, my work with USBC will help bring
about better bowling coaches throughout the world."

David Garber, High Performance Director of USBC Team USA, Coaching &
International Training Center, expects Buffaв's teaching background to
help that cause.

"Being a former college professor, Frank Buffa will be a tremendous
asset to the USBC Coaching program in his approach to development of
athletes," Garber said. "I look forward to working closely with him
for the betterment of the sport of Bowling."

Here & There Column 3-17-09

Soft Drinks, Concerts, Golf & Bowling Will Not Be Taxed

Legislative leaders in Albany have gotten a very clear message from state voters and the pressure has resulted in the withdrawal of proposed new taxes on sugared soft drinks, an Internet download tax, movie theaters, concerts, live theater, skiing, bowling and golf.
Our own Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther said it best with the statement that , "these new and increased taxes were not appropriate and would have just added to the financial stress most New Yorkers are already experiencing."
The announcement that the state leaders have decided to drop this 1.3 billion in taxes and fees is that the federal stimulus cash has saved the day but others are saying that a lot of pressure was put on state legislators and the governor's approval ratings in a number of recent polls have plunged.
No one doubts the fact that these are indeed very tough economic times but a state government that originally decided to just start taxing families and adding this fee and and that fee was not looking out for the residents of the Empire state.
Difficult decisions are facing the state and all municipalities.
State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in addressing the New York State Conservative Party annual Political Action Committee conference recently said that municipalities can save taxpayers' money by consolidating local governments.
The State of New York must think consolidation also.
Suggestions to think about would be a reduction in the members of the state senate and assembly....cut the number in half and double the amount of time they actually work and they would get just as much done as they do now.
The state should also consider the elimination or reduction of per diem travel expenses the legislators receive......we taxpayers don't get paid to drive to work.
There should be downsizing, consolidation and a complete re-vamping of the entire property tax exemption regulations.
The time for responsible government is now......but don't hold your breath on that one.

Bowling Highlights Column 3-13-09

Todd Houghtaling


Todd Houghtaling Bowls First Career 300

Thirty-five year-old Woodbourne bowler Todd Houghtaling recorded his first career 300 game on January 29 in the Thursday Two-Man Doubles league at Liberty Lanes.
His total for the night included a 234, 300, 214 for a 748 series.
Todd bowls in the league with his father, Carl Houghtaling.
Houghtaling presently maintains a 193 average in this the only league he bowls in. He noted that the bowling ball he uses is a Full Tilt by Circle.
Todd's previous high single game was a 279 and his previous high series was a 746.
He has been bowling for some 15 years.
Todd is married and his family consists of his wife and two children, Samantha and Thomas.
He is employed as the IT Manager at the Frost Valley YMCA.

Local Scores

Callicoon Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Hortonville Ladies league include a 190, 517 by Sue Naughton, Lillian Zieres 192, 189, 183, 564, Desiree Rossomoto 193, 194, 539, Rebecca Rhodes 187, Maureen Schlott 199, 514 and Becky Williams 185.
In the Tuesday Delaware Valley Men's league Kory Keesler scored a 203, Gary Erlwein 202, Karl Adams 224, Mark Hawley 213, Bob Cady 205, Jeremy Gulley 246, 602, Dennis Brockner 200, Damien Vanluven 242, 625 and Scott Herbert 212.
In the Wednesday Mixed Businessmen league Mark Hawley scored a 211, 204, Kory Keesler 219, Bob Cady 212, Tom Russell 213, Ed Townsend 203, Frank Emmens 206, Damon Knack 232, Dave Maus 201, Shaun Vandevelden 200, Phil Jacoby 203 and Roger Widmann 209.

Gravity Alley

Recent highlight scores in the Wednesday Mixed Fun league include a 187 by Alma Brill, Diane Somma 180, Lyle Hocker 203, Bill Rutledge 202 and Scott Ropke 214.

Kiamesha Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Men's league include a 211, 246, 257, 714 by Nate Sanders, Willy Bartley 203, Lloyd Bridges 213, 200, Chuck McAllister 277, 616, Keith Smith 216, 267, 254, 737, Francisco Martinez 205, John Fischer 211, 217, 228, 656, Bill Helms 202, Art Stevens 211, Jason Jones Jr. 214, Brian Marino 216, Wayne Piernos 204, Mike Mulligan 211, 216, Roy Sweeney 223, 258, 651, Dan Ricco 232, 222, 213, 667, Mike Weiner 205, Jim VanAken 216, 242, 612, Jason Jones 222, Tom Belgiovene 205, 204, John Hoffmann 209, 229, 232, 670, Rudy Belanchia 236, 217, 209, 662, Serifin Rodriguez 215, 201, Jo Jo VanKeuren 213, 232, 628, Mike Cardo 204, Tim Bilyeu 235, 246, 658, Robert Hamilton 237, 600, Donald Durland 223, 604, Paul Durland 215, 228, 633, Jaryl Scott 216, Mark Wegener 268, 235, 662, Tim McIntyre 269, 612, Al Caycho 233, 200, 205, 638, Jack Moylan 225, 612, Rob Sze 202, James Ratner 222, Kort Wheeler 201, 244, 212, 657, Angel Rodriguez 232, 267, 682, Frank Scuderi 203, Eddie Lake 258, 229, 676, Rick Lake 222, 601, Paul Curry 204, 201, 600 and Allan Jones 203.
In the Tuesday Mixed Firefighters league Carol MacAdam scored a 181, 207, 550, Pat Mulhern 237, 216, 623, Vinnie Collura 256, 213, 638, Rob Keesler 204, Matt Cooper 215, John Cascone 235, 217, 203, 655, Cecil Walters 219, 225, 635, Laresko Niifa 206, 222, Joan Lake 192, 509, Dan Allen 232, Dorian Jennings 517, Peter Scannell 208, Jack Rustic 223, 247, 222, 692, George Kelley 211, 203, 606, Todd Telesky 202, Lisa Cartwright 216, 187, 561, Andrea Grossman 197, 541, Larry Berens 213, 244, 656, Tom Cooney 200, 206, Debbie Durland 247, 190, 583, John Fischer 211, 213, 601, John Hoffmann 205, 225, 227, 657, Robert Yakin Sr. 209, Chet Smith 223 and Cliff Starr 218.
In the Wednesday Men's league Jon Wilhelm scored a 245, 621, Matthew Fallon 203, 201, 213, 617, Richrd Bradford 205, 235, 224, 664, Donald Durland 249, 225, 244, 718, Gregory Fallon 279, 642, Jason Jones Jr. 225, 210, 608, Steven Rivera 203, Alpesh Patel 224, Jody Farquhar 211, 220, 622, Rick Lara 217, Vincent Scuderi 203, Charles McAllister 256, George Battle Jr. 222, 602, Frank Muller Jr. 237, Allan Jones 277, 205, 681, Larry Berens 222, 212, 618, Dean Shattuck 237, 235, 663, Paul Durland 220, Art Eggleton 213, 205, John Hoffmann 289, 244, 714, Tom Belgiovene 214, 200, 237, 651, Vinnie Collura 207, 200, Al Caycho 206, Kenny Atkins 208, 245, 611, Eddie Lake 217, 256, 656, Shaun Lyons 220, Wayne Atkins 208, Chris Magie 228, 235, 615, William Danchak 207 and Frank DiCostanzo 232.
In the Thursday Ladies league Pat Gibson scored a 182, 503, Barbara Durbak 202, 548, Connie McKenley 208, 531, Sue Vazquez 182, 204, 535, Valerie Fersch 191, 506, Pat Shuart 186, Debbie Heins 182, Joan lake 182, 521, Cathy Carpenter 200, 188, 549, Susan Gabriel 189 and Martha Bogdanowitz 193.


Fox Bowling Center

Recent highlight scores in the Tuesday Ladies Early Birds league included a 205 and 544 by Nikki Andriano, Louise Botsford 181, 522, Linda Ferris 205, 512, Sally Ballard 185, 510 and Tammy Kane 190.
In the Wednesday Men's Independent league Glenn Bowker scored a 267, 244, 212, 723, Tony Wright 256, 207, 226, 689, Thomas Anderson 214, 217, 257, 688, James Dibble 236, 221, 225, 682, Robert Johnson 245, 237, 674, Brandon Drumm 247, 224, 200, 671, Allen Bullis Sr. 217, 245, 207, Mitch Persbacker 236, 263, 668, Donald Marino 247, 211, 200, 658, Daniel Wormuth 233, 228, 653, Jeremy Gulley 246, 211, 641, Richard Layton 242, 223, 640, Richard Price 226, 217, 635, Lee Stanton 201, 214, 218, 633, Arthur Gately 211, 247, 628, Sam Rowe 225, 237, 618, Robert McNaught 203, 214, 610, Brian Drumm 205, 220, 606, Francis Wormuth 204, 222, 602, Bill Gleim 222, 601, Stevan Jacobi 236, Pat Kille 225, Frank Couse Sr. 225, Jonathon Wayne 223, Neil Mosher 222, Craig Gehrig 233, David Thomason 244 and Cecil Spencer 246.
In the Thursday Men's Deposit National league Paul Ignatovich scored a 248, 258, 242, 748, Jeff Curtis 247, 245, 669, Howard Couse Sr. 214, 212, 223, 649, Harry Triebe Sr. 215, 267, 649, Andrew Bullis 256, 213, 643, Robert Johnson 227, 211, 633, Greg Keesler 246, 223, 615, Neil Mosher 207, 232, 604, Carl Davis 225, 602, Bill Gleim 222 and John Lanner 224.
In the Sunday Afternoon Mixed Fun league Don Marino scored a 234, 258, 234, 726, Marty Haeussler 223, 233, Ray Cornwell 200, Dave Mills 226, 216, Fred Shakelton 207 and Erwin Haeussler 201.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the professional sport of bowling. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Tri-County NY USBC where he serves as Chairman of the Publicity committee. If you have a topic that would make good reading or have league scores or tournament information, Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177 or by email at bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a much more expanded version of our bowling column visit our Web site at http://bght.blogspot.com/

Barnes Ends TV Slump with Victory in PBA’s Buckeye State Eliminator
Defending Champ Cruises to 11th Career Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour Title

Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, ended his five-game television losing streak in style last Sunday, racing away to a 258-172 victory over Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, Mich., in the title match of the Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator at Sequoia Pro Bowl at Columbus, Ohio.

Barnes, who successfully defended his 2008 Buckeye State title, earned $25,000 and his first title of the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season. Four straight strikes in the middle of the game in response to four consecutive nine-pin spares by Koivuniemi put Barnes into a commanding lead and he never looked back.

“The hardest thing to do is to repeat with all the expectations that come from winning,” Barnes said, “but the short format today worked in my favor and I survived. I have been there enough to put up with the heat. I like the competition and love bowling on Sunday.”

Barnes also noted he has been working with retired PBA Tour star Mark Baker on improving his game.
“The stuff I worked on with Mark kept me in check”, said Barnes.

In the opening match of the unique eliminator tournament final, Rhino Page of Topeka, Kan., was low-man-out, failing to convert a pair of splits in posting a 202 game. Barnes led the four-player group with a 238, Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, was second with a 216 and Koivuniemi had a 212 game.

In the semifinal contest, Scroggins left single pins in five frames en route to elimination with a 218. Koivuniemi rolled a 266 and Barnes a 235 game to set up the title match between long-time friends and tour roommates.

The tournament also raised more than $37,000 in the name of the tournament’s namesake, the late PBA Hall of Famer Don Johnson, for Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus to help buy insulin pumps and medicine for families in need.

The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour now moves to Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center in Norwich, Conn., for the GoRVing Match Play Championship. The fifth and final stop on the PBA Tour’s “Extreme Swing” gets underway on Tuesday. ESPN will televise the finals next Sunday March 22 at 1 p.m. Eastern.


LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator
Sequoia Pro Bowl – Columbus, Ohio

Final Standings
1, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3 games, 731 pins, $25,000
2, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 3 games, 650 pins, $13,000
3, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2 games, 434 pins, $6,500
4, Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan., 1 game, 202 pins, $5,500

Eliminator Results
Match One: Barnes 238, Scroggins 216, Koivuniemi 212, Page 202 (Page eliminated)
Semifinal Match: Koivuniemi 266, Barnes 235, Scroggins 218 (Scroggins eliminated)
Championship: Barnes def. Koivuniemi, 258-172

USBC PARTNERS WITH PBA TO CONTINUE WOMEN'S SERIES

The Professional Bowlers Association Women's Series presented by the United States Bowling Congress will return for the third consecutive season in 2009-10 with more competitors and eight events showcasing women's bowling on ESPN.

The PBA Women's Series will feature five standard events, the open-field PBA Women's World Championship, the Don and Paula Carter Mixed Doubles Championship and the season-ending PBA Women's Series Showdown. Each standard event will have a 20-player field, up from the 16-player field used this season.

In all, women will be competing for nearly $500,000 in prize money.

"USBC is committed to continuing to support opportunities for elite women bowlers and this is another step in that direction," USBC Vice President of Media Pete Tredwell said. "Partnering with the PBA offers us a great opportunity to promote the best women bowlers in the world."

Four of the five standard Women's Series events along with the newly created open-field PBA Women's World Championship will be contested and taped for broadcast in suburban Detroit during the PBA World Series of Bowling starting Aug. 13 and concluding Sept. 7. The fifth standard event will follow the Don and Paula Carter Mixed Doubles Championships in the spring.

Players will have the opportunity to qualify for PBA Women's Series exemptions at the U.S. Women's Open in Las Vegas from Aug. 3-9. Players who opt to pay a separate entry fee will be eligible to use their qualifying scores toward the PBA Women's Tour Trials to earn exemptions for the PBA Women's Series.

"It is a positive sign for everyone that each year there has been an expansion of the PBA Women's Series, whether it be increasing the number of events and now the number of exempt players," PBA Chief Operating Officer Tom Clark said. "The creation of the third women's major, the PBA Women's World Championship, and having the women prominent during the new PBA World Series of Bowling will also add more excitement to the Women's Series."

Here are some highlights of the 2009-10 PBA Women's Series:

* A total of 18 players will be exempt for the five standard events. The top 12 at the PBA Women's Tour Trials will earn spots while the six champions during the 2008-09 season will be granted exemptions (Stefanie Nation, Michelle Feldman, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Jodi Woessner, Liz Johnson and Wendy Macpherson). The prize money available at each standard event is just over $50,000.

* For each of the standard events, two spots will be up for grabs during the PBA Tour Qualifying Round, allowing those who do not earn exemptions another opportunity to bowl their way into each event. If any of the exempt players elect not to compete in an event, the number of players advancing through the Tour Qualifying Round would increase.

* The PBA Women's World Championship will be open to any female bowler and will be conducted Aug. 31-Sept. 5. It marks the first time an open-field women's event has been conducted in the three-year history of the PBA Women's Series and creates a third major women's event alongside the U.S. Women's Open and USBC Queens. The PBA Women's World Championships will feature an estimated prize fund of $85,000.

* The Don and Paula Carter Mixed Doubles Championship will return during the second half of the PBA Tour season at a location and date to be determined. The 18 regular exempt players will be joined by the next 14 players from the PBA Women's Tour Trials to create a field of 32 women battling for more than $100,000 in prize money.

* The PBA Women's Series Showdown, which debuts this April, will return in April 2010 and feature the winners of each Women's Series event during the 2009-10 season with $50,000 in prizes up for grabs. The event will take place at the new USBC International Training and Research Center in Arlington, Texas.

The PBA Women's Series debuted in 2007 and has been conducted alongside the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour as a way to showcase women's bowling. It marks the only professional women's bowling tour in the United States after the Professional Women's Bowling Association ceased operations in 2003.