Golfing Highlights Column 7-30-10

The 196 yard Par 3 (17th) hole at the Tennanah Lake Golf course requires good club selection and a straight tee shot.

Golf Packages At Tennanah Lake

Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club is offering golfers five weekdays of specials.
Monday special is breakfast and golf. Play 18 holes of golf with cart and have breakfast for $30...available till 11 a.m.
On Tuesday is the Twosome special where two can play 18 holes with a cart included for $40.
Wednesday is golf and lunch, play golf 18 holes of golf with cart and lunch at The Grill for only $35.
Thursday is the foursome special, your foursome can play 18 holes with cart for $25 per person.
Friday is golf and dinner, play 18 holes of golf with cart and have dinner at The Grill for $40 per person, available after 1 p.m.
The Grill is open 7 days a week for lunch with dinners served Wednesday-Sunday and is under the new management of Food & Beverage Manager Mike Stoddard.
Rob Allison is the new general manager at this sports facility.
A tour of the golf course recently found the tees, fairways and greens in excellent condition, a tribute to golf course superintendent James Bowers.
Eating breakfast, lunch or dinner at The Grill with it outside dining decks offers golfers a 60-mile panoramic view of the magnificent Catskill mountains.
Tennanah Lake is the oldest golf course operating in Sullivan County. The facilities are presently owned by Love Realty.
A practice putting green and driving range are also available as well as a the full service pro shop.
Tee times reservations and information can be obtained by calling 607-498-5000 or at their web site, http://www.tennanah.com/
Playing the blue course the back nine holes can definitely be labeled as offering golfers some long uphill fairways.
Here is how we played the back nine, holes 10-18. .
Hole No. 10 is a 373-yard par 4 with a dogleg to the right. Take your tee shot to the center of the fairway. Don't go right or the trees will block your second shot to the green. Sand traps on the left and right front of the green and in the right rear. Your second shot makes or breaks your par score.
Hole No. 11 is a 186-yard par 3 which tends to play shorter than the yardage posted. Sand traps are on the right and left. If you overshoot this green there is a downhill slope in the back of the green.
Hole No. 12 is a 491-yard par 5 with a dogleg right some 100 plus yards off the tee. Keep the driver in the bag on this tee shot. There is water left of the green and traps on the right left front and right side of this green. We classify this hole a "real good" golf hole and your par 5 can be a challenge here.
Hole No. 13 is a 329-yard par 4 with an uphill open fairway with a slight dogleg to the left. Sand traps are in front of the green on both sides.
Hole No. 14 is a 548-yard par 5 and is the longest hole at Tennahan Lake. The fairway runs downhill, there is a pond on the left, keep your ball in the center of the fairway as it narrows going into the green. Stay out of the ditch which runs across the fairway. Traps front right and left.
Hole No. 15 is a 419-yard par 4, uphill and a straight open fairway. There is a unique covered bridge here which connects the 15th and 16 fairways and this tends to be a conversation piece for all golfers. There is a sand trap on the left and right of this green.
Hole No. 16 is a 413-yard par 4 with the fairway running downhill and immediate trees on the left. Stay in the middle of the fairway to keep out of trouble. There is a sand trap on the left and right of this green.
Hole No. 17 is a 196-yard par 3 with an elevated green. Tends to play longer then it looks and it takes a good tee shot with the club of your choice to the this green and score your par. Sand traps are on the left and right front of this green.
Hole No. 18 is a 408-yard- par 4 with an open fairway running uphill. Keep is down the middle. Traps right and left sides of this green.
This back nine runs a total of 3,365 yards and records a par 36.

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

The Mental Game is important.
Make a commitment to improve, and do not make excuses.
Before you make an attempt to improve your game, be sure you are ready to commit to the time and work required. Otherwise, you may set yourself up for failure or give in to convenient excuses.
For example, make sure that you have the necessary time and resources available.....that other duties and distractions are taken care of, and that you aren't depending on anyone else (a teaching pro, mental coach, playing companion) who can't be counted on to follow through with their part in your plan for improvement.
The commitment and the planning must be such that that if you don't succeed, you have not one to blame but yourself.
Indeed, it would be better to wait until you are absolutely ready than to make a half-hearted commitment to the challenge before you.
Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached by phone at 292-0323 or via e-mail at menges@hughes.net

This column is written by Ed Townsend, who is a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf and to several golf writers associations. If you have a topic that you believe would make good reading or have league standings and tournament information, Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177, by e-mail at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-230-8674. For a much more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our Web site, http://bght.blogspot.com/ This column is also available on Facebook

Golf Events


July 30, Commissioners Cup, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
Aug. 1--N.A.M.I. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-754-8742.
Aug. 7--Art Tursi Memorial Scholarship Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.
Aug. 8--St George's Church Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-482-5625.
Aug. 8--Callicoon Kiwanis Club Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 13--United Way Pro-Am Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 15--Billy Moran Memorial Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-5097.
Aug. 15--Rock Hill Ambulance Corp. Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 21--EWGA Regional Golf Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 22--Mahwah Elks Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 27--Holiday Mt. Ski Patrol Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Aug. 28--Liberty Cup Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.
Aug. 30--Sullivan Correctional Facility Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Sept. 11--Steak Bake Outing. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584
Sept. 11--Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-439-5034.
Sept. 25--Hammer Golf Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.

Leading Amateurs Tee Up For
The 2010 Ricoh Women’s British Open

Six members of the 2010 GB & I Curtis Cup team are among the top names to tee up in the 2010 Ricoh Women’s British Open Final Qualifying being staged at Hillside Golf Club, Southport.

Hannah Barwood (Knowle GC), Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa GC), Rachel Jennings (Isaak Walton GC), Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies’) and the 15 year-old Maguire twins, Leona and Lisa (Slieve Russell GC), will be competing against a strong field that also includes 2000 British Amateur champion Rebecca Hudson, 2009 European Solheim Cup team member Tania Elosegui, and former LPGA Tour winners, Laura Diaz, Louise Friberg and Julieta Granada.
They will also be joined by America’s Jill McGill, who won last year’s Final Qualifying at Fairhaven Golf Club and also by two other promising young amateurs, Hannah Burke (Mid-Herts) and Julie Yang (Kings Acre) who carded four under par rounds of 68 to head the field of 29 qualifiers from last week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open Pre-Qualifying at The Berkshire.

The field will comprise a total of 90 golfers from 27 different countries all of whom will be bidding to earn one of the 14 available places in the 2010 Ricoh Women’s British Open to be played at Royal Birkdale Golf Club on 29th July to 1st August.
Barwood, the 2008 English Women’s champion, Clyburn, the 2008 English Girls’ champion, and Jennings, the 2006 English Girls’ champion, have been three of their country’s most successful amateur golfers in recent years. Watson, who first came to the fore as a 13 year-old when she beat Carly Booth in the final of the 2005 Scottish Girls’ Championship, is now a successful competitor on the US collegiate circuit while the Macguire sisters became the youngest GB & I representatives to play in a Curtis Cup when they teed up at Essex County Club, Massachusetts, in June. Both will now be bidding to go one better than another, 15 year-old, Lauren Taylor from Rugby, who carded a highly credible one over par 75 at last year’s Final Qualifying event but then lost out on a place in the main draw on the fifth hole of a sudden-death play-off against Swedish amateur, Caroline Hedwall.

Burke and Yang both came into the Pre-Qualifying event in fine form and so it was no surprise to see them finish one shot ahead of Victoria Italy’s Valvassori and Sarah Hassan from Wales and progress to the Final Qualifying at Hillside.

The English girl is currently on vacation from Baylor University in Texas and she has enjoyed considerable success since her return, winning the Irish Women’s Stroke Play Championship and the Astor Salver as well as helping her county, Hertfordshire, to progress to the Finals of the prestigious English County Match Week event. Meanwhile, the Korean, Yang, a product of the renowned Loretto Golf Academy in Edinburgh, won the recent Welsh Women’s Open Championship at Southerndown.

Burke and Yang were two of a total of 13 amateurs who came through Pre-Qualifying at The Berkshire. The others were England’s Heidi Baek, Charlotte Dalton, Charley Hull, Sian James, Emma Sheffield, Jess Wilcox and Lucy Williams, French women Lucie Andre and Valentine Derrey, plus Welsh duo Amy Boulden and Tara Davies, and now all of them have a chance to claim a place in the main draw if they can reproduce that sort of form alongside the professionals at Hillside.

Arguably the most recognisable names in the draw for Final Qualifying are Spain’s Tania Elosegui and England’s Rebecca Hudson both of whom enjoyed successful amateur careers before turning professional and joining the Ladies European Tour.
Elosegui, a 28 year-old from San Sebastian, Spain, won two gold medals in the European Team Championships and a bronze medal in the 2002 World Championship in Malaysia before claiming her first LET title at last year’s ABN AMRO Ladies Open at Eindhovenische Golf Club in the Netherlands. That, plus a further three runner-up finishes, earned her a place in the European Solheim Cup team and she also teamed up with compatriot, Paula Marti, to finish sixth in the Communitat Valenciana European Nations Cup.

31 year-old English woman, Hudson, can lay claim to arguably the finest amateur career of the modern era. She won the 1997 French Under-21 Championship, the 2000 British, Spanish, Scottish, and English Stroke Play Championships, the 2001 British and English Match Play Championships, the 2002 British Stroke Play Championship as well as the Smyth Trophy, awarded to the leading amateur, at the 2001 Women’s British Open at Sunningdale before turning professional late in 2002. Subsequently, she has won three times on the LET, at the 2006 OTP Bank Ladies Central European open in the Hungary, the 2008 Tenerife Ladies Open and the 2008 Ladies English Open as well as at the 2006 Acer SA Open on the South African Tour.

The qualifying will also include Moriya Jutanugarn from Thailand. At 15 years of age and no more than four feet 11 inches tall, she came out top Duke of York Young Champions Trophy last September winning a special Ricoh invite into final qualifying draw.

This year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open has attracted its strongest ever field. With entries closed, all of the World’s Top 20 are in the field including world Number One, Cristie Kerr, defending Champion, Catriona Matthew, 2008 Champion Jiyai Shin and recent US Women’s Open Champion Paula Creamer.

For the first time this year fans will be able to watch the BBC’s extensive coverage of the Ricoh Women’s British Open in HD (high definition) underlining the significance of the Championship in the BBC’s sports portfolio.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.

Ricoh, the leading technology provider of Managed Document Services and Production Printing, has been the title sponsor of the Ricoh Women’s British Open since 2007.


About the Ladies’ Golf Union (“LGU”)
Founded in 1893, the LGU is the encompassing body for ladies’ amateur golf in Great Britain & Ireland. The LGU Executive Council includes representatives of ladies’ golf’s national governing bodies in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Operational activities are undertaken by a wholly owned subsidiary, LGU Championships Limited (“LGUCL”), which in particular owns and runs the Ricoh Women’s British Open, founded by the LGU in 1976 and one of the four Major Tournaments for Professional Women golfers. LGUCL also has responsibility for running British Amateur Championships and Home International events, and preparing the Great Britain & Ireland teams for representative matches, such as the Curtis Cup and the Vagliano Trophy.

PBA Spare Shots

PBA STARS ASSIST IN RUNNING FREE YOUTH CLINICS FRIDAY
Several Professional Bowlers Association players will be on hand to help young bowlers learn more about the sport in free youth clinics to be held Friday in conjunction with PBA regional tournaments.

Tony Reyes, Chris Warren and P.J. Haggerty will participate in the joint West/Northwest Region Don Johnson Memorial Classic at Fourth Street Bowl in San Jose, Calif., while Ryan Ciminelli, Danny Wiseman, Ryan Shafer and Ray Edwards will conduct a clinic as part of the East Region’s Mid-County Lanes Open in Middletown, Del.

The clinics are a part of the PBA’s programs to help the bowling industry prepare for National Bowling Week, an annual celebration to kick off the winter bowling league season.

PBA REGIONAL ROUNDUP powered by XTRA FRAME:
BLACK MAKES IT THREE-OUT-OF-FOUR IN JOINT WESTERN REGIONAL

In a joint PBA Northwest/West Regional event in Reno, Nev., on July 25, Steven Black of Phoenix won for his third time in the last four events in the Sands Regency Casino Summer Classic at High Sierra Lanes. Black, who won $2,000, defeated Curtis Woods Jr. of Santa Rosa, Calif., 184-179, for his fifth career PBA regional title. Bryon Smith of Roseburg, Ore., the 2002 USBC Masters champ, finished third. Exempt players Dave Arnold, Dublin, Calif., and Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., finished fourth and ninth, respectively, while former exempt player Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., finished sixth.

In the PBA East Region, Terry Miller of York, Pa., picked up his second PBA Regional victory and $2,500 on July 25 defeating Ken Yokobosky, Fredon, N.J., 227-188, to win the Cap Card Open at Cedar Lanes in Lebanon, Pa. PBA Exempt players Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., and Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

Tom Hess of Urbandale, Iowa, picked up $2,400 and his fifth career PBA regional victory in the PBA Midwest’s Olathe Lanes East Marathon Open in Olathe, Kan., on July 25. Hess averaged 213 for 20 games across four different lane conditions, similar to the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s Marathon Open, to top fellow Iowan Jason Poli by 89 pins for the win. Exempt player and 2010 PBA Harry Golden Rookie of the Year Anthony LaCaze finished fifth.

In the South Region, Chip Collins of Fayetteville, N.C. earned his third regional title and $2,500 in the Fayetteville Open at LaFayette Lanes in Fayetteville, N.C. Exempt and former exempt notables among the top 10 were: Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., second; Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., third; Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., fifth; Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., sixth, and Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., eighth.

Xtra Frame will provide final day coverage of the Joint PBA Midwest/Central Region Thunderbowl Open from Thunderbowl in Mokena, Ill., Sunday, Aug. 1. On Aug. 8, Xtra Frame will provide coverage of the PBA Central/Midwest Region Terre Haute Open at Terre Haute Bowling Center in Terre Haute, Ind.

All PBA title holders (National, Senior, Regional, Senior Regional, Women's Series champions) who are PBA members in good standing as of Sept. 1 are eligible for the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions.

BOHN, AULBY PARTICIPATE IN JEFF GORDON CHARITY EVENT
PBA Hall of Famers Parker Bohn III and Mike Aulby were participants in the annual Jeff Gordon celebrity bowling fund-raiser at Western Bowl in Indianapolis on July 22 as part of NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 week. The annual event, which raised more than $300,000, benefits the Jeff Gordon Pediatric Cancer Research Fund at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Gordon, Sam Hornish Jr. and Sarah Fisher were among the race car drivers who attended.

Zack Hattori and Morgan O’Brien
Win Teen Masters High School Division Titles
Greg Young and Ashley Dunn win 14-under crowns

Zack Hattori of Las Vegas and Morgan O’Brien of Lomira, Wis., won the high school boys and girls titles in the 14th annual Teen Masters at the National Bowling Stadium recently.

Hattori won a $4,000 scholarship as high school boys winner while McKenzie Eaton of Wyoming, Mich. earned $2,000 as runner-up. O’Brien won a $3,000 scholarship and Kaylee Magazine of Clearwater, Fla. $1,500 as high school girls champion and runner-up, respectively.

Hattori, who will be a senior at Silverado High School in Las Vegas this fall, defeated Eaton, 4-2 (167-197, 236-216, 208-204, 209-187, 229-248, 234-203) in the best-of-seven-game championship match.

“I had a good line but the first game I wasn’t executing really well,” said Hattori, in his fourth Teen Masters. “It was hard for me to double because I couldn’t get the left lane down (long pattern.) I switched balls and got in more so that’s when I started making good shots and it started to come together.

“I didn’t know much about McKenzie coming into this week but we were rooting for each other in the championship match and I just happened to come out on top.”

O’Brien, who will be a senior at St. Marys Springs high school this fall, took advantage of an open frame by Magazine in the 10th frame of game seven to win the girls championship match, 4-3 (187-211, 158-193, 169-163, 221-180, 216-186, 193-194, 181-175). O’Brien had a spare and strike in the 10th to clinch the final game.

“She had me in the first two games,” said O’Brien in her third Teen Masters. “After that, I made an adjustment and a ball change and that made a big difference. I also saw how she was playing and I decided to adjust to use her line.

“My coaches told me to not focus on beating my opponent but beating the pins so that’s what I did but
my heart was still beating out of my chest.”

In the 14-under division, 14-year-old Greg Young of Viera, Fla., captured the boys title with a 3-1 victory (202-194, 200-219, 226-203, 188-184) in the best-of-five-game championship match over Jeffrey Juarez of East Meadow, N.Y., to win a $1,200 scholarship. Juarez won $1,000.

“I did not want to go into game five,” said Young, bowling in his first Teen Masters. “ I was struggling on the long pattern and the ball was checking up. I had some nerves and was glad to win it in game four.”

In the girls 14-under title match, 13-year-old Ashley Dunn of Palmdale, Calif., defeated Chevelle Holstein of Sparks, Nev., 3-1 (191-171, 224-158, 135-199, 195-146) for a $1,000 scholarship. Holstein won $700 for second place.

“I’m very excited,” Dunn said. I got more confident as the week went on and that helped me. In the last match I had to switch my ball on the long pattern and move left on the short pattern and those moves got me to the pocket and get more carry.”

In addition to competing for scholarship prizes, Teen Masters champions O’Brien and Hattori will join Danielle McEwan, Rockland, N.Y., and Mike Fujita, El Sobrante, Calif., from the Collegiate Masters in receiving invitations to bowl alongside the best bowlers in the world in the 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling, Oct. 24-Nov. 6, at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas.

The Teen Masters was created by Gary Beck, founder of Killer B Promotions, in 1997 and has provided young bowlers with more than $1 million in scholarships over a span of 14 years.

14TH ANNUAL TEEN MASTERS
National Bowling Stadium, Reno, Nev., July 29

(All prize money listed is scholarship money)


BOYS HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
Championship (best-of-seven-game, single-elimination match play)
#3 Zack Hattori, Las Vegas ($4,000) def. #13 McKenzie Eaton, Wyoming, Mich. ($2,000), 4-2 (167-197, 236-216, 208-204, 209-187, 229-248, 234-203).

GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
Championship (best-of-seven-game, single-elimination match play)
#4 Morgan O'Brien, Lomira, Wis. ($3,000) def. #11 Kaylee Magazine, Clearwater, Fla. ($1,500), 4-3 (187-211, 158-193, 169-163, 221-180, 216-186, 193-194, 181-175).

BOYS 14-UNDER DIVISION
Championship (best-of-five-game, single-elimination match play)
Greg Young, Viera, Fla. ($1,200) def. Jeffrey Juarez, East Meadow, N.Y. ($1,000), 3-1 (202-194, 200-219, 226-203, 188-184).

GIRLS 14-UNDER DIVISION
Championship (best-of-five-game, single-elimination match play)

Ashley Dunn, Palmdale, Calif. ($1,000) def. Chevelle Holstein, Sparks, Nev., ($700) 3-1 (191-171, 224-158, 135-199, 195-146).

Here & There Column 7-27-10

Post Office Facing Major Problems

The Postal Service wants to raise rates and more companies, individuals and groups are turning to the Internet and email to meet their communication and financial needs.
The Postal Service says they lost $3.8 billion during the past fiscal year and that they cut 40,000 full-time positions. There is also a proposal on the table that would eliminate Saturday mail delivery but this would require congressional approval.
Postal officials also indicate they have been overcharged billions of dollars for retirement benefits for employees who worked for the old Post Office Department before it was changed to the Postal Service in 1970.
Just recently I've been notified that one of the major bowling publications sent to all USBC registered bowlers was no longer going to be published and mailed but that the publications would be published and available on the Internet and by email.
Another Sullivan County group announced that "with the rise of postage and printing costs" that they would "now be forwarding training notifications via email."
Relatives we have living in various section of the United States no longer send us letters and photos, in fact we even received birthday, anniversary and Christmas cards via email and the family photos get to us faster, in fact practically as they are happening with the cell phone cameras.
It's easily understood why the Postal Service has what they call massive losses with folks paying their bills online and organizations cutting back on advertising as a result of the poor economy.
Talk within the Postal Service ranks are suggesting a two-cent increase in first class mail and rates for other type of mail will also go up. Postal folks are saying that the Priority Mail rate is likely to remain the same and that package rates will still be lower then other private carriers.
Complains heard from the general public on these proposed rate increases is that in many ways it's just another tax imposed at a time the economy can least afford it.
One has to look at the proposed rate increase as it is what it is and in many ways increased use of the Internet and email along with the poor economy could be the leading factors postage rates will go up.

Golfing Highlights Column 7-23-10

New management at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club joined the foursome for this photo that toured the front nine of the golf course recently, including, from the left, Monticello golfer John Hofmann, Golfing Highights Columnist Ed Townsend, General Manager Rob Allison, Liberty golfer Dean Winters, Neversink golfer Rodney "Taylor" Jester and Food & Beverage Manager Mike Stoddard.

Front Nine Greets Tennanah Golfers

Golfers making their first trip to the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club will find a new general manager (Rob Allison) , a totally renovated clubhouse, both interior and exterior, an enlarged pro show that is very well stocked, an expanded dining area and grill and the ever popular outside dining decks which offers golfers a 60-mile panoramic view of the magnificent Catskill Mountains.
The Grill restaurant is being managed by Food & Beverage Manager Mike Stoddard with the restaurant serving lunch, breakfast and dinner. Call the club for restaurant hours.
Jimmy Bowers Jr. is the golf course superintendent.
The golf facilities also offers a putting green and driving range.
The facilities also include two tennis courts, a heated pool, stay and play packages and catering facilities at Wolf's Catering.
Tennanah Lake is the oldest golf course operating in Sullivan County.
Tee times reservations and information can be obtained by calling 607-498-5000 or at their web site, http://www.tennanah.com/
This week we will outline the front nine 1-9 and offer suggestions on how these holes should be played.
Hole No. 1 is a 355-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg to the left. Take your tee shot to the left center. A trap is on the right front section of this green.
Hole No. 2 is a 547-yard par 5 featuring a narrow opening in front of the tee but the fairway then opens up some 75 to 100 yards from the tee. A straight tee shot is a must here or a lot of trouble will greet you on the left and right. A sand trap is on the left side of the green. A long-straight tee shot and a solid second shot slightly down hill makes this green reachable in two and a good par or birdie possibility.
Hole No. 3 is a 379-yard par 4 slightly uphill with a dogleg left. Best tee shot is right center on top of the hill. From here there is still a slight uphill shot. From 50 to 60 yards from the green there is a small deep ditch and it runs all the way across the fairway.
Hole No. 4 is a 192-yard par 3. Drive it left center and there is a trap on the left side of this new green. Takes a long iron or 3 to 5 wood to reach the green.
Hole No. 5 is a 358-yard par 4 with a dogleg left. Some trees will come into play if you hit left.
Hole No. 6 is a 413-yard par 4 which presents to every golfer one of the smallest openings from the tee to the fairway we have ever seen. After a real straight tee shot the fairway does open up to the left but there are trees to the right. Best tee shot is left center. Some 100 yards from the tee there is another ditch which runs across the fairway. A trap on the left and right side of the green also is a challenge.
Hole No. 7 is a 435-yard par 5 and the fairway runs straight uphill. This is where you let it all out with a long tee shot and a long iron or three wood from the fairway. A trap is on the right side of the green. Long ball hitters can go for the birdie on this hole.
Hole No. 8 is a 312-yard par 4. Sand traps are on the left and right side of the green and a large tree stands almost in front of the green which makes for an interesting approach shot to the green.
Hole No. 9 is a 190-yard par 3 and is slightly uphill and seems to play longer than 190 yards. A tough par 3 with a new green but a good tee shot to the green almost results in a par. Sand traps are at the front and back of this green.

The Golf Tip By Robert Menges

In today's ever-changing golf game, most players are under the influence that if they hit the ball longer they will play better.
Even though technology has increased how far the ball will travel, the scores are about the same. There is no doubt that if you hit the ball longer you should have less club to the green and be able to get the ball closer to the hole and make more putts.
I believe this to be true, but you better be able to hit the shots on the green close to the pin.
To do this it's important to carry three wedges in your golf bag. Most golfers have a pitching wedge with 47-49 degrees of loft.
You have a choice to make for the other two wedges. A gap wedge comes with about 50 to 53 degrees of loft and a lob wedge is about 60-64 degrees of loft. I would choose between these two clubs depending on how far you hit the ball.
A lob wedge will save you shots around the green and a gap wedge will help you with the in between yardages in the fairway.
You should always carry a sand wedge that has 54-57 degrees of loft.
The next time you play a round of golf, count how many shots you take from 100 yards to the hole. I think you will find that this will total about 60 percent of your score.
When you are trying to improve your score, it is important to lower the number of shots you take close to the green. I think having three wedges in your bag will help you accomplish a lower score.
Robert Menges is the golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, Ed can be reached at 845-292-0323 or by e-mail at menges@hughes.net

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf and to several golf writers associations. If you have a topic that you believe would make good reading or have league standings and tournament information, please call Ed at 845-439-8177, by e-mail at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-230-8674. For a more expanded version of this golf column visit our web site at http://bght.blogspot.com/ This column is also available on Facebook.

Golf Events


July 23-25-Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man, Better Ball Golf Tournament, Villa Roma Country Club. Information call 845-887-5200.
July 24--Black Bear Golf Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.
July 24--President's Club Tournament, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.
July 24--Swan Lake Fire Dept. Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-789-4456.
July 30, Commissioners Cup, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
Aug. 1--N.A.M.I. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-754-8742.
Aug. 7--Art Tursi Memorial Scholarship Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.
Aug. 8--St George's Church Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-482-5625.
Aug. 8--Callicoon Kiwanis Club Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 13--United Way Pro-Am Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 15--Billy Moran Memorial Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-5097.
Aug. 15--Rock Hill Ambulance Corp. Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 21--EWGA Regional Golf Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 22--Mahwah Elks Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 27--Holiday Mt. Ski Patrol Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Aug. 28--Liberty Cup Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.
Aug. 30--Sullivan Correctional Facility Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Sept. 11--Steak Bake Outing. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584
Sept. 11--Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-439-5034.
Sept. 25--Hammer Golf Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.

Walter Ray Williams Jr.

Earns Seventh ESPY Award



PBA Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr., who earned a record seventh PBA Player of the Year honor in the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season, matched that accomplishment by receiving a seventh ESPN “Best Bowler” ESPY award Wednesday.



The 2010 ESPY winners were announced during the 18th annual event, televised Wednesday on ESPN from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. ESPN announced ESPY winners in 38 sports categories which were determined through fan voting on espn.com.



Williams, who was unable to attend the ceremony because of prior commitments, topped 2010 U.S. Open winner Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., and 2010 Tournament of Champions winner Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., who were the other two nominees for the honor.



“The two things that make this award special are that it’s chosen by the fans and that we are recognized by the sports world in general,” Williams said. “I’m very appreciative of the fans’ support over the years because we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without it.



“I thought Kelly might win it because of the great year she had but all three of us were deserving and I’d just like to thank the fans for voting for me.”



Williams extended his record for most “Best Bowler” ESPYs leading Norm Duke in second with five.



During the 2009-10 season Williams, who became the oldest ever to win PBA Player of the Year at age 50, won the Motor City Open and his second USBC Masters title to raise his all-time Tour career title total to a record 47. He also claimed a record eighth Harry Smith Point Leader Award and was the season’s top money earner with $152,670.



Williams, who began his full-time Tour career in 1983 and has competed in 724 Tour events, earned his PBA Player of the Year crowns over a 24-year span. His previous Player of the Year honors came in the 1986, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98 and 2002-03 seasons.



Kulick, who made sports history by winning the Tournament of Champions to become the first woman to win a PBA Tour tournament, also won the 2009 PBA Women’s World Championship, 2010 USBC Queens and U.S. Women’s Open. O’Neill captured his first two career PBA Tour titles in 2009-10 by winning the U.S. Open and PBA Chameleon Championship.



HISTORY OF ESPY BEST BOWLER AWARD WINNERS



2010 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.

2009 – Norm Duke
2008 – Norm Duke
2007 – Norm Duke
2006 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2005 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2004 – Pete Weber
2003 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2002 – Pete Weber
2001 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2000 – Parker Bohn III
1999 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
1998 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
1997 – Bob Learn Jr.
1996 – Mike Aulby
1995 – Norm Duke

1994 – Norm Duke

FAMILIES THAT BOWL TOGETHER
EARN SCHOLARSHIP MONEY

Parents and Youths From Across North America Bowl For Thousands at International Family Tournament in Euless, Texas

Some 60 teams representing 25 states and Canada are
expected to descend upon North Texas July 29-31, 2010, to bowl for $70,000 in scholarship money at the 35th annual International Family Tournament (IFT) according to the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA).
The IFT is an annual parent-student scholarship tournament sponsored by Georgia Coffee and presented by QubicaAMF and is the only sporting event in the United States in which parents participate with youth and teens for an international championship and scholarship funds. To get to the finals, contestants from across North America compete in state competitions to qualify for a trip to the IFT and a shot at scholarship dollars. Overall, teams from the U.S. and Canada, converge in the Parent/Youth and Parent/Teen divisions at the IFT, held this year at AMF Euless Lanes, Euless, Texas. Each division's top 8-teams after Friday's competition advance to a match play final round on Saturday morning. At the conclusion of the 8 games of match play, the top three teams in each division then compete in the stepladder finals to decide the titles Saturday afternoon, July 31.

Both first-place teams each win $5,000 scholarships to go towards their college education. Overall, scholarships totaling $70,000 will be distributed. Additional scholarships of $500 each for boys and girls in each division are awarded to Youth and Teen Division bowlers for bowling the highest six-game scratch total during the qualifying round.

The IFT is but one of many scholarship opportunities for youth bowlers. As an industry, bowling offers over $6 million in scholarship money each year through proprietors, bowling associations, councils and certified tournaments around the United States.

The Sheraton Arlington is the host hotel for the finalists. There will be a welcome reception with entertainment and a buffet dinner Thursday evening and after Friday's competition, the teams will be treated to an evening at Six Flags Over Texas. During the break Saturday there will be trick shot demonstration by several members of the Professional Bowlers Association and the weekend will conclude with an awards banquet Saturday evening at the hotel.

For more information go to www.bpaa.com and click the tournaments link then scroll to the bottom of the page.

HEADING INTO FINALS AT
JUNIOR GOLD INDIANAPOLIS

Jacob Kent of Newark, N.Y., and Brittni Hamilton of Webster, N.Y., lead the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Junior Gold Championships presented by Brunswick heading into Friday's final round. Kent, who has led since the opening round Monday, paced the boys with a 30-game total of 6,412, an average of 213.7, while Hamilton took the top spot on the girls side with 6,240, an average of 208, at Woodland Bowl.The week started with 982 boys and 521 girls competing for $125,000 in scholarships. The top 79 girls and 150 boys competed in Thursday's semifinals and just 16 boys and 16 girls remain headed into Friday's match-play finals, which will be broadcast live on BOWL.com beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern."This has been incredible," said Kent, the son of former professional bowler Doug Kent. "There were certain times today I struggled hoping to shoot 180 games at the most. When the lanes started to open up and I got some room, I got more comfortable. I lost a few pins early, but it was easy to get them back. It's been pretty cool to see my name at the top of the board the whole week."Although Kent leads, the margin got closer the last game as Marshall Kent of Yakima, Wash., (no relation to Jacob Kent) fired 268 to close the semifinals with 6,377, just 35 pins off the lead. Chris Via of Springfield, Ohio, is third at 6,255, Kyle King of Glendale, Ariz., is fourth with 6,253 and Aaron Groendyk of Grandville, Mich., rounds out the top five with 6,242."It's a whole different tournament tomorrow," Jacob Kent said. "Up until this point, you're bowling with friends. When you get to match play, it's cut throat. You don't give anything and you take as much as you can. It will be very interesting to see who rises to the top tomorrow."For the girls, Hamilton holds a slim lead on Addileen Pointer of Highland, Mich. Pointer sits just 16 pins back, but there's a bigger gap between second and third. Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, N.Y., is third, 110 pins behind second. Amanda Greene of Romney, W.Va., is fourth at 6,105, and Kristie Petravich of West Palm Beach, Fla., is fifth at 6,069."I threw the ball really well this morning and this afternoon the lanes were a lot tougher," Hamilton said. "I just wanted to keep myself in good position for tomorrow and get as many pins as I could. My goal coming into today was to set myself up for the grand finale."Competing in her final Junior Gold, Hamilton said the goal is clear at this point in the tournament."When I started the tournament, my goal was to make one cut at a time, and now I've done that," Hamilton said. "This is my last Junior Gold, and now the main goal is for me to go out there and win it."At the end of 46 total games this week, spots will be awarded on Junior Team USA 2011. The top four male and top four female finishers after match-play competition will automatically qualify for Junior Team USA 2011, and the National Selection Committee will award four at-large spots - two male, two female - from the pool of athletes that make match-play finals.Indianapolis is also hosting two other major youth bowling tournaments this month. The USBC Youth Open Championships at Expo Bowl continues through July 20 and picks up again July 22-24. The Youth Open will award $100,000 in scholarships to participants.In addition, the North Pointe $100,000 High School Singles Tournament will be held at Hindel Bowl from July 17-19 and also will have $100,000 in scholarships up for grabs.For more information on the Junior Gold Championships or Youth Open Championships, visit BOWL.com. For information on the North Pointe Tournament, visit BPAA.com.United States Bowling CongressThe United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than two million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.The interactive home of USBC is BOWL.com. Go to twitter.com/USBC for the fastest USBC headlines.Bowl with US2010 USBC JUNIOR GOLD CHAMPIONSHIPSAt Woodland Bowl, IndianapolisThursday's ResultsBOYS SEMIFINALS(30 games; top 16 advance)1, Jacob Kent, Newark, N.Y., 6,412.2, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 6,377.3, Chris Via, Springfield, Ohio, 6,255.4, Kyle King, Glendale, Ariz., 6,253.5, Aaron Groendyk, Grandville, Mich., 6,242.6, Tyler Vostry, Plainfield, Ill., 6,229.7, Matthew Gasn, Laurel, Md., 6,223.8, Andrew Koff, Miami, Fla., 6,207.9, Kenny Benoit, Topeka, Kan., 6,187.10, Cameron Weier, Federal Way, Wash., 6,150.11, Kamron Doyle, Brentwood, Tenn., 6,146.12, Dale Coleman, High Springs, Fla., 6,141.13, Michael Preston, Oswego, Ill., 6,138.14, EJ Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 6,114.15, Nathan Ricks, Plantation, Fla., 6,112.16, Zack Hattori, Las Vegas, Nev., 6,090.17, Mathew Dodson, Orlando, Fla., 6,086.18, Jeremy Glover, Compton, Calif., 6,080.19, Sam Burns, Federal Way, Wash., 6,069.20, Drew Balta, Walford, Iowa, 6,067.21, Jacob Boresch, Kenosha, Wis., 6,064.22, Kyle Rodgers, Louisville, Ky., 6,058.23, Peter Diemer, Staten Island, N.Y., 6,053.24, Kyle Anderson, Lockport, Ill., 6,051.25, Joe May, Palm Harbor, Fla., 6,038.26, Ryan McCoy, Griffith, Ind., 6,029.27, Nick Cooper, Davisburg, Mich., 6,021.28, Cristian Azcona, San Juan, PR, 6,018.29, Scott Boyle, Salida, Calif., 6,015.30, Jon Trzcinski, Bay Shore, N.Y., 6,013.31, Greg Geering, Phoenix, Ariz., 6,006.32, Darren Tang, San Francisco, Calif., 5,994.33, Blake Demore, Springfield, Mo., 5,991.34, Justin O'Hara, Westland, Mich., 5,988.35, Jon Lippert, Sioux Falls, S.D., 5,981.36, Brett Baker, Powder Springs, Ga., 5,975.37, Joshua Scanlan, Grayslake, Ill., 5,959.38, Michael Fujita Jr., El Sobrante, Calif., 5,954.39, Jimmy Ewell, Austin, Texas, 5,953.40, Kyle Calcote, Friendswood, Texas, 5,950.41, Sean Lavery-Spahr, Denton, Texas, 5,949.41, Michael Erlingis, Westland, Mich., 5,949.43, Charles Easton, Sylvania, Ohio, 5,948.44, Tyler Young, Sullivan, Ill., 5,944.45, Aaron Lorincz, Belleville, Mich., 5,934.46, Anthony Solano, Brighton, Colo., 5,932.47, Zachary Wilkins, Barrie, ON, 5,923.48, Steven Haneveld, Flanders, N.J., 5,922.49, Vernon Griffin, Virginia Beach, Va., 5,921.50, Ryan Ventillo, New City, N.Y., 5,920.51, Michael Coffey, Melbourne, Fla., 5,916.51, Bryan Eaton, Wyoming, Mich., 5,916.53, Kyle Spadine, Nicholson, Pa., 5,913.53, Erik Stanley, Warren, Mich., 5,913.55, Drew Bauer, Bay City, Mich., 5,912.56, Tyler Vocks, Taylorville, Ill., 5,907.56, Jamie Robinson, Westerville, Ohio, 5,907.58, Gregory Young, Viera, Fla., 5,904.59, AJ Nowak, Norfolk, Neb., 5,899.60, Tony Harger, Flint, Mich., 5,897.61, Ryan Clark, Canton, Mich., 5,895.62, Kevin Beers, Reinholds, Pa., 5,892.63, Matthew Dobbins, Yaphank, N.Y., 5,891.64, Daylen Bills, Salt Lake City, Utah, 5,886.64, Mason Petrin, West Bend, Wis., 5,886.64, Diante Fields, Middletown, Del., 5,886.67, Gary Faulkner, Memphis, Tenn., 5,885.68, Shane Dagdag, Mililani, Hawaii, 5,884.69, Nicholas Christy, Newport, N.C., 5,883.70, Tyler Westling, Palm City, Fla., 5,882.71, Daniel Lemiesz, Machesney Park, Ill., 5,881.72, Bobby Phillips, Roscoe, Ill., 5,876.73, Jerome Penxa II, Romeo, Mich., 5,871.73, Timothy Starkes, Lake Grove, N.Y., 5,871.75, Josh Burnham, Allen, Texas, 5,869.76, Nicolas Sutherland, Grand Blanc, Mich., 5,865.77, Hector Soto, San Juan, PR, 5,864.77, Jeff Wallace, Rochester, N.Y., 5,864.79, Paul Kelly, Homestead, Pa., 5,861.79, Ryan Novak, Burnsville, Minn., 5,861.81, Andrew Klingler, Holly, Mich., 5,860.82, A.J. Chapman, Manchester, Iowa, 5,857.83, Garrett Johnson, Marietta, Pa., 5,856.84, Isaac Kim, Lebanon, Pa., 5,854.84, Roger Petrin, Indian Trail, N.C., 5,854.86, Tyler Young, Herculaneum, Mo., 5,853.86, Kevin Jones, Covina, Calif., 5,853.88, Ethan Frank, Wahpeton, N.D., 5,851.89, Chris Spoo, Boynton Beach, Fla., 5,846.90, Austin Smith, Cayahoga Falls, Ohio, 5,845.91, Austin Landry, Charlotte, Mich., 5,842.92, Kristopher Prather, Milton, Fla., 5,835.93, Dustin Grant, Sparks, Nev., 5,829.94, Ryan Peden, Sanger, Calif., 5,826.95, Dominic Partipilo, Aurora, Ill., 5,825.96, Matt Dewey, Rochester, N.Y., 5,823.96, Jalen White, Lansing, Mich., 5,823.96, Trevour Riske, Anchorage, Alaska, 5,823.99, Steve Ammirati, W. Holbrook, N.Y., 5,820.100, Justin Mandell, Orlando, Fla., 5,818.100, John Jordan, Bellingham, Wash., 5,818.102, Wesley Edwards, Blue Springs, Mo., 5,806.103, McKenzie Eaton, Wyoming, Mich., 5,803.104, Mitchell Katic, Orlando, Fla., 5,802.105, Kevin Alajko, Depew, N.Y., 5,794.106, Lucas Hohnstein, Boise, Idaho, 5,791.107, Josh Lee Encarnacion, Carolina, PR, 5,788.108, Darren Alexander, Essex, ON, 5,786.108, Steven Bumstead, Powder Springs, Ga., 5,786.110, Chris Kurys, Chateauguay, QC, 5,785.111, Jonathan Heimann, St. Peters, Mo., 5,784.112, Chad Skinner, Linwood, Mich., 5,778.112, Caleb Nakata, Loomis, Calif., 5,778.114, Matt Gauroniak, Palm City, Fla., 5,773.115, Derek Kindig, Oquawka, Ill., 5,766.116, Quentin Mamer, Pleasant Hill, Mo., 5,762.117, Trent Mitchell, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 5,761.118, Javier Velez, Guaynabo, PR, 5,758.119, Ronald Fujita, El Sobrante, Calif., 5,756.120, Matthew Priore, N. Arlington, N.J., 5,750.121, Richard Farrington, Rochester, N.Y., 5,749.122, Bobby Moro, Syracuse, N.Y., 5,746.123, Thomas Baral, Palm City, Fla., 5,742.123, Michael Fonseca, Guaynabo, PR, 5,742.125, Nick Powers, Sun Prairie, Wis., 5,737.126, Mitchell Shumway, Winter Springs, Fla., 5,736.127, Kyle Berry, Chesapeake Beach, Md., 5,735.128, Kevin Donovan, Painted Post, N.Y., 5,730.129, Jacob Ettinger, Lafayette, Colo., 5,717.130, Kodie Stout, Vickery, Ohio, 5,713.131, Riley Smith, Kenosha, Wis., 5,704.131, Matthew Bellus, Eden Prairie, Minn., 5,704.133, Sean Riley, Weston, Fla., 5,703.134, Max Fishman, Greensboro, N.C., 5,699.135, Ryan Lakota, Shorewood, Ill., 5,679.136, Randy Hagen, Aberdeen, S.D., 5,673.137, Garrett Gauthier, Lapeer, Mich., 5,670.138, Greg Pizl, Antigo, Wis., 5,669.139, Ryan Powers, Portage, Mich., 5,659.140, Cory Barber, Rochester, N.Y., 5,656.140, Joel Klaas, North Street, Mich., 5,656.142, Perry Crowell IV, Hoquiam, Wash., 5,650.143, Jared Joseph, Waverly, N.Y., 5,648.144, Cory Misura, Largo, Fla., 5,647.145, Troy Busch, Sioux Falls, S.D., 5,616.146, Tommy Magers, Watchung, N.J., 5,612.147, John Hobscheid, Roselle, Ill., 5,537.148, Zach Rhoades, Lafayette, Ind., 5,511.149, Joey Robillard, Savage, Minn., 5,473.GIRLS SEMIFINALS(30 games; top 16 advance)1, Brittni Hamilton, Webster, N.Y., 6,240.2, Addileen Pointer, Highland, Mich., 6,224.3, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 6,114.4, Amanda Greene, Romney, W.Va., 6,105.5, Kristie Petravich, West Palm Beach, Fla., 6,069.6, Erin McCarthy, Omaha, Neb., 6,021.7, Kaitlin Quinn, Livonia, N.Y., 5,986.8, Liz Seibel, Hellertown, Pa., 5,983.9, Thea Aspiras, Chesapeake, Va., 5,979.10, Brandi Branka, Momence, Ill., 5,947.11, Victoria Ferris, Kalamazoo, Mich., 5,938.12, Kim Yioulos, Rochester, N.Y., 5,930.13, Jessica Earnest, Vandalia, Ill., 5,922.14, Dayna Galganski, North Palm Beach, Fla., 5,914.15, Samantha Hesley, Wellington, Fla., 5,913.16, Melanie DeCarlo, Peru, Ill., 5,909.17, Amanda Fry, Antelope, Calif., 5,908.18, Mary Wells, Westerville, Ohio, 5,906.19, Jennifer Boisselle, Valrico, Fla., 5,870.20, Samantha Santoro, Reinholds, Pa., 5,855.21, Tricia Kent, Williamsville, N.Y., 5,845.22, Aleksandra Hudak, Taylor, Mich., 5,824.22, Kim Carper, Ft Ripley, Minn., 5,824.24, Michelle Secours, Brockport, N.Y., 5,821.25, Jodi Gawlik, Schaumburg, Ill., 5,814.26, Carrie Hopkinson, Drumbo, ON, 5,794.27, Emily Eckhoff, Denver, Colo., 5,784.28, Samantha Kelly, Hoffman Estates, Ill., 5,770.29, Kaitlin Mayall, Chula Vista, Calif., 5,745.30, Rachel Vaughn, Port St. Lucie, Fla., 5,719.31, Haley Richard, Tecumseh, Mich., 5,716.32, Morgan O'Brien, Lomira, Wis., 5,714.33, Megan Buja, Rockford, Ill., 5,691.34, Brianna Larson, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 5,687.35, Rachel Schalow, Marshfield, Wis., 5,682.36, Natalie Jimenez, Rowland Heights, Calif., 5,680.36, T'nia Falbo, Greensburg, Pa., 5,680.38, Kelsey Muther, Topeka, Kan., 5,673.39, Brittney Morton, St. Cloud, Wis., 5,671.40, Katie Thornton, Chesapeake, Fla., 5,658.41, Christine Gill, Lakewood, Colo., 5,654.41, Chelsea Schneider, Walnutport, Pa., 5,654.43, Brianne Schmansky, Westland, Mich., 5,653.44, Sarah O'Brien, Oswego, Ill., 5,638.45, Samantha Johnson, Wyoming, Mich., 5,635.46, Nicole Trudell, Coventry, R.I., 5,631.47, Sarah Lokker, New Baltimore, Mich., 5,623.48, Dara Ajimine, Honolulu, Hawaii, 5,600.49, Makayla Douglas, Vancouver, Wash., 5,597.50, Chelsea Oshita, Plainfield, Ill., 5,595.51, Kara Richard, Tecumseh, Mich., 5,586.52, Emily Strombeck, Durham, N.C., 5,582.53, Elise Bolton, Merritt Island, Fla., 5,580.54, Rebecca Glazier, Newport News, Va., 5,579.55, Tamara Thompson, China Grove, N.C., 5,567.55, Catherine Rawsthorne, Federal Way, Wash., 5,567.57, Suzana Signaigo, Wichita, Kan., 5,559.58, Samantha Lawton, Sacramento, Calif., 5,544.59, Tawni Vollmer, Tecumseh, Mich., 5,540.60, Brandie Reamy, Livonia, Mich., 5,529.61, Amanda Warwick, Channahon, Ill., 5,527.62, Bobbi Unterseher, Fargo, N.D., 5,526.63, Michelle Hunzaker, Cary, N.C., 5,525.64, Melanie Hannon, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 5,524.65, Anna Groce, Kernersville, N.C., 5,516.66, Krystyna Johnson, Montgomery, Ill., 5,484.67, Tasha Waterbury, Soldotna, Alaska, 5,467.67, Kimi Davidson, Azle, Texas, 5,467.69, Danielle Dolegala, Lancaster, N.Y., 5,464.70, Molly Novak, Burnsville, Minn., 5,463.71, Nicole Mosesso, Centerville, Ohio, 5,462.72, Katie Maher, Ottumwa, Iowa, 5,454.73, Brittany Poff, Windsor, Pa., 5,450.74, Danielle Walker, Keller, Texas, 5,433.75, Katherine Jones, Miami, Fla., 5,392.76, Erin Michelfelder, Oak Creek, Wis., 5,378.77, Lauren Eggleton, Anchorage, Alaska, 5,365.78, Katherine Eckelberger, Rochester, N.Y., 5,348.79, Joyce Kenon, Huntsville, Ala., 5,323.

2010 PBA World Series of Bowling Q & A

The 2010 Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling provides a unique opportunity for PBA members to compete at the highest level. With a new format this season, PBA is providing answers to some commonly asked player entry questions. Check back with pba.com for additional developments and information about WSOB in the days and weeks to come.

Q. What are the dates for the WSOB events and where are they conducted?

A. The 2010 WSOB will be conducted Oct. 24-Nov. 6 at the South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas.

Q. What is the breakdown of events during the run of the WSOB and how do they relate to the PBA World Championship?

A. Beginning Monday, Oct. 25, and over a span of five consecutive days, WSOB players will bowl 12 games on the Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark patterns, respectively, with the top 16 from each daily event advancing to match play during the second week. The finals for each animal pattern event will be taped by ESPN over two days (Nov. 5-6) for airing beginning Nov. 28.

The combined pinfall for 60 games across all animal pattern events will determine the standings for the PBA World Championship. The PBA World Championship will also incorporate a unique television format where the top eight qualifiers will advance to a live three-day television finale to be aired Jan. 14, 15 and 16 from South Point.

As a special WSOB feature, the top six U.S. and top six international finishers after the 60 games will square off in a U.S. vs. The World made-for-TV match.


Q. What is the WSOB and World Championship prize fund?

A. In all, the WSOB will award six PBA Tour titles and pay $635,000 in prize money. The top 16 players in each animal pattern event will earn prize money with the winner of each earning $15,000, a PBA Tour title and a berth in the Tournament of Champions.

The PBA World Championship will pay one in four based on 216 entries with a $2,000 low-to-cash. (Prize ratio is 1 in 3 up to 160 entries; 53 places will be paid for a field of 161-215). First prize in the World Championship will be $50,000.


Q. Do I have to be a PBA member to enter the WSOB?



A. You must be a “Full PBA Member” to enter the WSOB and “Standard Members” will have to upgrade to full status. However, the WSOB is also open to all Japan Professional Bowlers Association (JPBA), Korean Professional Bowlers Association (KPBA) and international World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA), non-U.S. members. If a prospective entrant does not fall into any of the above categories, he/she must become a PBA member at any time prior to entering the WSOB.



Q. How do I become a PBA member?



A. To obtain PBA membership information contact PBA at (206) 332-9688 or visit http://www.pba.com/Join/



Q. What is the entry fee for the WSOB?



A. For a $750 entry fee, bowlers are entered in six events including the PBA World Championship. In previous seasons, the entry fee alone for the PBA World Championship had been $500 for PBA members and $600 for non-members.



Q. I’m a Full PBA Member and I’m ready to enter. What is the entry process?



A. Members can enter on-line by clicking on the members’ login link on the pba.com and then Tournaments/Enter New Tournament and select World Series as the region. An entry form may be downloaded by logging onto the membership site where the entry form is the very first link on the opening page. Entrants also can request an entry form by calling (206) 332-9688. Entries may be scanned and e-mailed back to PBA, faxed to (206) 332-9722, or mailed to the PBA office.



Q. Is there a qualifying process for WSOB events?



A. No. There are no TQRs, just one even playing field with wall-to-wall competitive bowling at the highest level. If you aren’t a member but believe in your game, the WSOB is your reason to join the PBA.



Q. What is the philosophy behind this year’s WSOB concept and schedule?



A. The WSOB was designed to be the ultimate destination event for all PBA members. Multiple titles are up for grabs, a huge overall prize fund, nine nationally-televised shows. Also an affordable entry fee and accommodations all in one city for a short amount of time make it an affordable experience for entrants.



Q. Are there any special hotel rates for WSOB players?



A. Yes. WSOB host hotel South Point is offering a special $49 plus tax ($78 plus tax weekend) member room rate for the World Series. For room reservations and more information about the South Point Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center, visit www.southpointcasino.com or call 1-866-796-7111. The promotional code is ‘World Series of Bowling.’



Q. When will the tapings of the finals take place and when will they air?



A. Bowling fans will be able to attend the tapings of the finals for all the animal pattern events and the U.S. vs. The World match Nov. 5-6. The final rounds of the PBA World Championship will be televised live by ESPN Jan. 14, 15 & 16 from South Point Bowling Center marking the first time that a Tour event has been televised over multiple days similar to PGA and USTA events.



The taped shows will air on ESPN as follows: Cheetah Championship, Nov. 28; Viper Championship, Dec. 5; Chameleon Championship, Dec. 12; Scorpion Championship, Dec. 19; Shark Championship, Dec. 26; U.S. vs. The World match, Jan. 9.



The telecasts of the PBA World Championship final rounds will be the first live shows of the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season.



Q. What equipment will I be allowed to use?



A. For a complete list of eligible equipment visit http://www.pba.com/resources/equipmentSponsors.asp?Type=1



Q. What’s the best way to follow WSOB action?



A. PBA.com and PBA.com’s Xtra Frame video service will provide comprehensive coverage of WSOB throughout its 14-day run. Xtra Frame schedule and subscription information may be found by visiting http://xtraframe.pba.com/.

TEAM USA EXPERIENCE LEAGUES
TO PROVIDE A NEW CHALLENGE
FOR SPORT BOWLERS

The United States Bowling Congress will bring an international touch to the sport this fall with the launch of Team USA Experience leagues, a new Sport Bowling option that will allow bowlers to test their skills on the lanes.Team USA Experience leagues were developed to give bowlers the opportunity to compete on the same challenging lane conditions that members of Team USA face when competing against the top players in the world at international competitions. These patterns are used by the World Tenpin Bowling Association in major contests such as the World Championships, Pan American Games and QubicaAMF World Cup.

Taking on these types of conditions can really help a bowler learn more about their game, said Team USA head coach Rod Ross. "Our teams have put in a lot of work to learn the nuances of the patterns and that has helped us achieve the success we have had at the international level."

Team USA Experience leagues will be Sport Bowling leagues. Advancements in technology and the prevalence of forgiving lane conditions tend to conceal weaknesses in the games of even the top bowlers, which led to the development of Sport Bowling.Sport Bowling provides lane oil patterns that are more challenging than typical league conditions. Bowlers who compete in Sport leagues are eligible for exclusive awards, special discounts on equipment through USBC partnerships with pro shops, a monthly e-newsletter that highlights honor scores and access to a members-only page on BOWL.com.

The new Team USA Experience leagues will offer a great variety of challenges since there are 12 patterns available, four short, four medium and four long patterns. Each pattern is named after an Olympic host city.The short patterns start with Sydney at 33 feet, followed by Stockholm (34 feet), Beijing (35 feet) and Los Angeles (36 feet). Atlanta, at 38 feet, is the first of the medium patterns along with Seoul (39 feet), Athens (40 feet) and Montreal (41 feet). The long patterns include Tokyo (43 feet), London (44 feet), Mexico City (45 feet), and Paris (47 feet).You can learn more about the Team USA Experience leagues, including a look at the lane patterns, on the Sport Bowling page of BOWL.com. You also can go to BOWL.com to learn about the Team USA program.

For Sport Bowlers who wish to compete in PBA Experience leagues, in which bowlers take on the same lane conditions used in PBA competitions, those leagues also will be available this fall.

The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than two million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.The interactive home of USBC is BOWL.com. Go to twitter.com/USBC for the fastest USBC headlines.Bowl with US

PBA Spare Shots

PBA REGIONAL ROUNDUP powered by XTRA FRAME:
BARNES WINS JOINT “SUPER REGIONAL,” CICCONE PICKS UP 12TH REGIONAL TITLE
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour exempt players Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas; Joe Ciccone of Buffalo, N.Y., and Parker Bohn III of Jackson, N.J., were July 18 winners in PBA Regional competitions.

Barnes picked up his 20th career PBA Regional title, winning the PBA Southwest/Midwest Region Jonesboro Super Regional at Jonesboro Bowling Center in Jonesboro, Ark. Barnes ($5,000) beat Steve Jaros of Yorkville, Ill. ($2,500), 268-213, for his milestone victory.

In the PBA Central Region: Ciccone won his 12th PBA Regional title in the PBA Central Region Dan Kondas Memorial Open at Legend Lanes in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Ciccone, who also won at Legend Lanes in 2003, donated $250 of his $2,700 first prize to the Dan Kondas Memorial Fund. He defeated J.R. Raymond of Belleville, Ill., by 189 pins in the total pinfall competition. Other top 10 finishers included 2010 PBA Regional Players Championship winner Riga Kalfas of Florence, Ky.; Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., and 2010-11 exempt players Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., and Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich.

Bohn traveled cross-country to win the Northwest/West Region’s Secoma Lanes Open at Secoma Lanes in Federal Way, Wash. Bohn earned $4,000 for his 18th career PBA Regional victory, topping J.T. Jackson of Valley Village, Calif., by 100 pins in the total pinfall standings. Bohn collected $4,000.

Also at Secoma Lanes, Hugh Miller of Mercer Island, Wash. – a 31-time PBA Regional winner – won his first PBA Senior Regional title victory in the Secoma Lanes Senior Open presented by Korum Ford by 92 pins over Matt Surina of Everett, Wash. Miller pocketed $2,000 for the win.

In the East Region, Gary Shultis of Levittown, N.Y., notched his ninth career PBA Regional title with a 219-172 victory over Mark Glover of Woodbridge, Va., in the Mil-Ray Foods Senior Open at Brunswick Zone Turnersville in Turnersville, N.J. Shultis earned $1,500.

Xtra Frame will provide final day coverage of the joint PBA Midwest/Central Region Thunderbowl Open from Thunderbowl in Mokena, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 1, and the PBA Central/Midwest Terre Haute Open at Terre Haute Bowling Center in Terre Haute, Ind., on Sunday, Aug. 8.

All PBA title holders (National, Senior, Regional, Senior Regional, Women's Series champions) who are PBA members in good standing as of September 1 are eligible for the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions.

WATCH XTRA FRAME FOR TEEN MASTERS COVERAGE
PBA.com’s Xtra Frame, a subscription-based on-line video streaming service, will provide live coverage of the final three days of match play eliminations in the Teen Masters, Tuesday, July 27, through Thursday, July 30. To enroll as an Xtra Frame subscriber, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

The Teen Masters will include more than 200 boys and girls bowling in pursuit of scholarships plus the first-ever opportunity for two top players from the Collegiate and two from the Teen Masters to bowl alongside the best bowlers in the world in the 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling, Oct. 24-Nov. 6, at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas.

KOIVUNIEMI HELPS EUROPEANS WIN FEDERATION CUP
Mika Koivuniemi, a native of Finland, helped Europe win the second Federation Cup July 13 in Barcelona, Spain, bowling with the winning European Tenpin Bowling Federation team and joining former countryman Osku Palermaa in winning men’s doubles. Koivuniemi also finished third in men’s singles and second in men’s all-events in the special competition between four-man and four-woman teams representing the World Tenpin Bowling Association’s European, Asian and American Zones.

PBA STARS CONTEND IN BARCELONA OPEN
The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour had a strong presence on the leader board during the 32nd Ciutat de Barcelona Open at 14-lane Bowling Pedralbes in Barcelona, Spain, July 13-18. Belgium star Gery Verbruggen won the $12,000 Euro top prize, defeating England’s Dominic Barrett, 224-196, in the title match. Right behind were Brian Voss in third place, Pete Weber fourth, England’s Stuart Williams fifth and Chris Loschetter seventh.

BELMONTE WINS IN JAKARTA, INDONESIA
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour champion Jason Belmonte of Australia and Vanessa Fung of Hong Kong captured the men’s and women's titles in the seventh event of the Asian Bowling Federation Tour season at Jaya Ancol Bowling Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 18. In the men's finale, the two-handed Belmonte doubled in the 10th frame to beat local favorite Oscar (he goes by one name), 244-237.

Here & There Column 7-20-10

Nurse Ratched (DeLois "Cookie" House ) 'comforts' Billy Bibbit (Aron Butler) as Aides (Matt Bonell and Matthew Boswell) look on.

Outstanding Acting In One Flew
Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Sullivan County and our surrounding area is so blessed to have such talented acting as was displayed July 2-11 in the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.
This drama in two acts based on the Novel by Ken Kesey produced a plot in which Chief Bromden (played by Anthony Chanov) , the half-Indian narrator of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, has been a patient in a psychiatric hospital for many years where he suffers from hallucinations and delusions.
The chief pretends to be deaf and dumb and tries to go unnoticed, even through he is a rather tall man.
The mental patients portrayed in this play are all male and are divided into group meetings which are ruled by Nurse Ratched who rules with mechanical precision until McMurphy arrives and swaggers into the ward and introduces himself as a gambling man with a zest for women and cards.
McMurphy and Nurse Ratched have many verbal confrontations throughout this drama and the mental patients all get involved in one way or another.
What separates this play from many others we have seen was the outstanding acting ability of all those who played the role of mental patients....one could have easily thought they were real ...and of course great acting by DeLois "Cookie" House as Nurse Ratched and Wayne Kreuscher as McMurphy.
Definitely an added plus to this great show was the part Ed Berens played as Cheswick.
Show after show the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop brings great theatre to Sullivan County...bravo to all in this great show directed by Sally Gladden.
Next on their community theatre calendar is Little Show of Horrors August 6-15, Cover Stories September 3-12 and Bathroom Humor October 1-10.
Take time out to see the great local talent and what outstanding shows this workshop brings to Sullivan County.
Their website is http://www.scdw.net/

Golfing Highlights Column 7-16-10

Rob Allison of Margaretville is the new General Manager at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club.

Jimmy Bowers Jr. is the Golf Course Superintendent at the Tennanah Lake Golf Course where the tees, greens and fairways are in excellent condition.

Mike Stoddard of Liberty is the new Food & Beverage Manager at the Tennanah Lake Golf and Tennis Club The Grill restaurant and Wolf's Catering.

New General Manager & Development At Tennanah Lake

The Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club has a new general manager.
Fifty-three year old Rob Allison of Margaretville was recently appointed to this position and within the next couple of months 18 lots on Lake Florence and adjacent to the golf course will be put on the market for the construction and sale of homes valued in the million dollar range and higher.
Allison described the proposed new development as being part of an "upscale community."
Golf course improvements in the works include rebuilding the first tee and that there is now greatly improved fairway drainage on holes 14, 16 and 18. New stone work throughout the golf course facility is part of course improvement plans.
On display just off the 10th hole fairway is a spec house which shows the type of homes that will be build on the 18 lots on Lake Florence.
A licensed surveyor, Allison recently was employed as the regional vice president of Rettew Engineering and intends to use his surveying and engineering background as part of his work at Tennanah Lake.
The new general manager is married, has three children, four grand children and served as deputy mayor in Margaretville for 10 years along with beng a member of various community organizations.
Allison noted that he plays a moderate amount of golf and that this job is his first in golf course management.
Another addition to the staff at this Tennanah Lake resort is Mike Stoddard of Liberty as food and beverage manager who also heads up the cooking staff at The Grill located in the clubhouse and also the completely remodeled Wolf's Catering building which hosts parties, weddings and special events.
During a recent visit to the pro-shop and golf course we found that it is one of the most well-kept, well stocked and professionally managed pro shops in this area.
A tour of the golf course found the tees, fairways and greens in excellent condition, certainly a tribute to golf course superintendent James Bowers.
Thirty year-old James Bowers has been around the game of golf for many years, introduced to the game at an early age by his father.
James served as assistant greens superintendent at Tennanah Lake for several years and and in August of 2006 was appointed to his present status.
A graduate of Roscoe Central High School in 1999, James has received golf course maintenance (greens superintendent) training at Cobleskill College and Cornell University. He has completing his studies with Penn State through Internet studies and has become a member of the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America.
James was individual champion of the former Western Sullivan League in 1996 and 1998 and was Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1999.
During the spring of 2007 Bowers and his grounds keeping staff built new greens on the fourth and ninth holes and also built new cart paths on the front nine. Several of the tee boxes were also re-sodded and improvements to the bunkers were in the past several years.
Several years ago Tennanah Lake totally renovated the clubhouse which included an enlarged pro shop, an expanded dining area and grill and the addition of new outside dining decks which offers golfers a 60-mile panoramic view of the magnificent Catskill mountains are all part of a new look Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. The restaurant and bar serves lunch, breakfast and dinner. For Grill hours please call the golf course.
The land for this facility was purchased in 1910 by the Wolf Brothers and opened in 1928.
Alfred Tull did the redesign of the golf course in the 1950's and one of the highlights at the course was the exhibition play of San Snead in 1952 and Sam called the layout one of the longest and most challenging courses he has even played.
When the course was expanded to 18-holes, six of the original nine were utilized in the design.
Tennanah Lake is the oldest golf course operating in Sullivan County. The facilities are presently owned by Love Realty of New York and Florida and its CEO Burton Handelsman. Love Reality is involved in various real estate developments from here in Sullivan County all the way down to Key West, Florida.
A practice putting green and driving range are also available as well as a the full service pro shop.
The facilities also include two tennis courts, a heated pool, stay and play packages and catering facilities at Wolf's Catering.
Tee times reservations, the Grill hours and information can be obtained by calling 607-498-5000 or at their web site, http://www.tennanah.com/
Playing the blue course holes can definitely be labeled as offering golfers some long fairways.
We'll give a hole by hole layout of the front nine next week and how these holes should be played.


The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

Simple Drill To Improve Your Swing Tempo:
Here's a simple drill to improve your swing tempo.
Go to the driving range and alternate between hitting shots with your short irons and then your long irons.
For example, hit one shot with your wedge and the next with your 3 wood. Hit the next shot with your 8 iron then the next shot with your 3 iron.
Then the next shot with your 9 iron and then hit your driver.
And when your doing this try to make the swing with the longer club the same as your swing with the shorter clubs.
The late, great Payne Stewart used to do this all the time and if you remember his swing, it was as smooth as silk.
So do this exercise and do it often so you too can have a smooth, rhythmical swing from one club to the next.
Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached by phone at 292-0323 or via e-mail at menges@hughes.net ....

This column is written by Ed Townsend, who is a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf and to several golf writers associations. If you have a topic that you believe would make good reading or have league standings and tournament information, please call Ed at 845-439-8177, by e-mail at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-230-8674. For a more expanded version of this golf column, please our Web site, http://bght.blogspot.com/ This column is also available on Facebook.





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Golf Events

July 16--Scotch Twosome Tournament. Twin Village Golf Course. Information 607-498-5829.
July 17--Liberty Elks Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.
July 18--Liberty Booster Club Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-807-1996.
July 18--Catskill Cup. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
July 23-25-Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man, Better Ball Golf Tournament, Villa Roma Country Club. Information call 845-887-5200.
July 24--Black Bear Golf Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.
July 24--President's Club Tournament, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.
July 24--Swan Lake Fire Dept. Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-789-4456.
July 30, Commissioners Cup, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-0323.
Aug. 1--N.A.M.I. Golf Outing, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-754-8742.
Aug. 7--Art Tursi Memorial Scholarship Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.
Aug. 8--St George's Church Tournament. Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-482-5625.
Aug. 8--Callicoon Kiwanis Club Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 13--United Way Pro-Am Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 15--Billy Moran Memorial Tournament. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-5097.
Aug. 15--Rock Hill Ambulance Corp. Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 21--EWGA Regional Golf Championship. Villa Roma Country Club. Information 845-887-4880.
Aug. 22--Mahwah Elks Tournament. Tarry Brae Golf Course. Information 845-434-2620.
Aug. 27--Holiday Mt. Ski Patrol Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Aug. 28--Liberty Cup Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.
Aug. 30--Sullivan Correctional Facility Tournament. Lochmor Golf Course. Information 845-434-1257.
Sept. 11--Steak Bake Outing. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584
Sept. 11--Trevor Simpson Memorial Tournament, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club. Information 845-439-5034.
Sept. 25--Hammer Golf Tournament. Sullivan County Golf & Country Club. Information 845-292-9584.

Storm Products Wins Manufacturers
Cup in GEICO PBA Team Shootout


Storm Products climbed the ladder from bottom rung to top, capturing the inaugural Manufacturers’ Cup in the Professional Bowlers Association’s GEICO Team Shootout hosted by Six Flags with a dramatic 167-159 Baker team upset of Brunswick in the title match.

The final two round-robin team matches and the Manufacturers’ Cup stepladder finals aired last Sunday, July 11 on ESPN.

The fourth annual summer special event featured Baker format team bowling where each member of a five-player team bowls two frames to complete a full game. In the GEICO Team Shootout, an “endless 10th frame” bonus feature allowed a team to extend its 10th frame as long as it could continue to throw strikes. The entire series was conducted outdoors on specially-constructed lanes on the grounds of Six Flags Great Adventure.

Coming into the final qualifying round of the event, Brunswick had already locked up the top position for the four-team stepladder final and lost its final round-robin match to 900 Global, 200-194, on the PBA’s Chameleon lane conditioning pattern. Ebonite International sent Storm Products to the lowest rung for the stepladder finals, winning a 205-204 nail-biter on the Cheetah pattern, to give Storm a 2-4 won-lost record. Brunswick finished the round-robin portion of the event with a 4-2 record. Ebonite and 900 Global each had 3-3 records, but Ebonite International earned the No. 2 qualifying position based upon higher actual pinfall during the qualifying rounds.

Fresh off its one-pin loss to Ebonite, Storm took out its frustration on 900 Global in the opening stepladder match, 242-200. As the higher qualifier, 900 Global selected the Cheetah pattern – which it had used successfully earlier in the event – but that decision ultimately played right into Storm’s hands as Rhino Page, anchor Norm Duke, Wes Malott, Jason Belmonte and Pete Weber ran off a string of nine consecutive strikes starting in the fourth frame to post the tournament’s highest score.

“It was a weird event,” Duke said. “In all of our earlier matches, it seemed like we were bowling well enough, but we couldn’t win. We lost three times by one pin. There are so many ways you could find that one pin, and it kinda starts working on your confidence. But Global picked the Cheetah and we got it going.”

In the semifinal round, Storm avenged its earlier loss to Ebonite International, 228-215, again on the Cheetah pattern. Despite a pair of open frames and a scare at the end, Storm put together a pair of four-baggers to charge into the lead. Ebonite had a chance to win after a Chris Barnes strike in the ninth and three more by Tommy Jones in the 10th created an “endless 10th frame” opportunity. Mike Fagan struck on the first “endless” attempt, but Bill O’Neill left a 10 pin on the second shot which ended Ebonite’s comeback bid.

“Ebonite picked the pattern we had just bowled on and shot the biggest game of the event,” Duke said. “We didn’t understand why, but it was good for us. God forbid they had picked the Viper…”

For the championship, Brunswick selected the Chameleon pattern to slow down Storm’s dominance on the Cheetah, but the defensive strategy resulted in an ugly finale. Strikes by Brad Angelo and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard in the first two frames gave Brunswick an early lead, but four open frames in the next seven erased the team’s advantage. In the meantime, Storm also was struggling, posting only two strikes the entire game, but it also had only one open frame heading into the 10th.


“We did well on the Chameleon earlier and when we did that, we figured we’d pick Chameleon for the title match because we wanted tough pattern and we’d be the only ones who had bowled on it,” Brunswick’s Johnny Petraglia said. “We just didn’t get the job done.”

“Outside in that environment, the Chameleon condition changed the most dramatically,” Storm anchor Norm Duke said. “It’s the thinnest application of oil. It was ugly. Everyone was afraid to make a shot because you had no idea how much conditions had changed. You couldn’t guesstimate what to do.”

In the 10th frame, Storm’s Norm Duke left the 2-4-5-8 “bucket” and failed to convert.

“The guys had me anchor because I can throw the ball straighter than anyone else,” Duke said. “I just wanted to get the ball to the pocket, but I over adjusted. I wanted a strike so bad, but I also figured I could make any spare on the left side if I missed. Then I leave the bucket and miss it. I honestly thought they were going to strike out to win, and they almost did.”

Brunswick anchor Sean Rash spared and struck, giving his team an “endless 10th frame” chance to rally. Angelo struck on the next shot, but Dorin-Ballard left the 3 pin on the next shot, ending Brunswick’s hopes.

“We got an early lead, but I left a washout and missed,” Petraglia said. “And it still came down to needing one final strike to win the whole thing. The pressure of Carolyn being only woman, of feeling like you were bowling on a razor blade…there were so many different kinds of pressure on her. But we told her, it was win as a team, lose as a team.

“All of us were throwing that last ball with her,” Petraglia continued. “If we’d gotten one other good shot, we wouldn’t have needed it. Duke let us back into the match when he left the bucket and missed, which shows how tough that condition was. And we still came within one shot of winning it.”

“I’d have been happy having Carolyn make that shot,” Duke said. “She made a great shot. She just didn’t move far enough.”

The competition between rival manufacturers conducted outdoors at one of the Atlantic Coast region’s most popular family theme parks drew raves from the players, regardless of who won.

“It was fantastic, a really great event,” Petraglia beamed. “There was just enough in-your-face competition between teams, but nobody got mad at anyone. It was a terrific atmosphere, and it was great fun to bowl in a team concept again.”

Storm Products players shared an $80,000 first prize and a crystal Manufacturers’ Cup for their sponsoring company.

GEICO TEAM SHOOTOUT
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, N.J., July 11
(Baker scoring system team competition; five bowlers bowl two frames each to complete one full game)

Match 11 – Ebonite International def. Storm Products, 205-204.
Match 12 – 900 Global def. Brunswick, 200-194.

QUALIFYING STANDINGS
Brunswick, 4-2
Ebonite International, 3-3
900 Global, 3-3
Storm Products, 2-4

MANUFACTURERS’ CUP STEPLADDER FINALS
Match One – Storm Products def. 900 Global ($35,000), 242-200.
Semifinal Match – Storm Products def. Ebonite International ($40,000), 228-215.
Championship – Storm Products ($80,000) def. Brunswick ($45,000), 167-159.

Twin Village Memorial Tournament Champions

Men's division champions in the July 11 TVGC Memorial Tournament are, from the left, senior champions John Hoffmann and Ed Townsend and regular division champions Justin Bowers and Dusty Sullivan.

Women's division champions in the July 11 TVGC Memorial Tournament are, from the left, regular division champions Shannon Feeney and Cheryl Bowers and senior champions Sally Shea and Mary Day.

Mixed Couples champions at the July 11 TVGC Memorial Tournament, are, from the left, senior champions Tom and Barbara Trask and regular division champions Marcia and John Fink.

Special awards at the 2010 TVGC Memorial Tournament included, from the left, Kim Delbecq closest to the pin for women, Anna May Husson longest drive for women, Jim Bowers Sr. closest to the pin for men and Ryan Bowers longest drive for men.

TVGC MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
CROWNS NEW CHAMPIONS FOR 2110

ROSCOE --The annual Twin Village Golf Club (TVGC) Memorial Tournament drew 60 golfers July 11 to benefit the TVGC scholarship fund.
The tournament is past years has assisted flood victims, sick children, the Roscoe Ambulance Corps and the Roscoe Fire Department.
Tournament golfers were reminded in remarks by Tournament Chairman Chuck Husson III that a special poem had been send by Ellsworth"Bucky" Buck of Liberty to all tournament golfers and since "Bucky" was unable to compete in this year's event they signed a card that was to be mailed to Mr. Buck.
The money raised this year goes directly into the Twin Village Golf Club Youth Golfer Scholarship fund.
Husson also thanked sponsors who donated prizes, Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club, Grossingers Country Club, French Woods Golf Course, Terry Brae Golf Course, Loch Mor Golf Course, Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club, The Little Store, Country Store & Youth Foundation, The Rockland House, Raimondos Restaurant, Buffalo Zacks, Live Bait Bar & Grill, Spiros Country Side Restaurant and Tom & Barbara Trask.
The tournament featured an 8:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. shotgun start and used the Captain and Mate format.
A one-hour bar and dinner was enjoyed by all at The Rockland House.
Champions of this years tournament included in the Regular Division, Justin Bowers and Dusty Sullivan in the Men's division, Sally Shea and Mary Day Women's division and John and Marcia Fink in the Mixed Couples division.
Champions in the Seniors Division included Ed Townsend and John Hoffmann in the Men's division, Mary Day and Sally Shea in the Ladies division and Tom and Barbara Trask in the Mixed Couples division.
Special awards for closest to the pin went to Kim Delbecq for women and James Bowers Sr. for men. Ryan Bowers had the longest drive for men and Anna May Husson for the women.

Eagle Scout Erik Burton's Prayer Garden

Participating in the dedication ceremonies for Eagle Scout Erik Burton's prayer garden project at the Horton Brook Free Methodist Church were, from the left, Church Trustee Jimmy Cheek, Eagle Scout Erik Burton, Erik's sister Kim Burton, parents Lynn and Gregg Burton and Church Senior Pastor Allen Wachter.

Eagle Scout Erik Burton, center, shares some time with his parents, Lynn and Gregg Burton on the prayer bench in the just dedicated prayer garden at the Horton Brook Free Methodist Church.

Eagle Scout Erik Burton (right) reads from the Bible as Pastor Allen Wachter looks on.

Eagle Scout Erik Burton's prayer garden project at the Horton Brook Free Methodist Church.

Prayer Garden Is Eagle Scout Project

CALLICOON CENTER--Construction of a prayer garden at the Horton Brook Free Methodist Church was a very special Eagle Scout project for 18-year-old Sullivan West graduate Erik Burton of Callicoon Center.
His decision to build a prayer garden was made because "I wanted there to be a peaceful place at the church for members to pray and have time to reflect on life, hardships, world cultures, etc, etc."
Dedication and presentation of the prayer garden took place Sunday June 27 with a special service conducted by Pastor Allen Wachter, board trustee Jimmy Cheek and Deacon of Joy Don Engle.
The Eagle Scout award is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America and Erik now joins the rank earned by more than 2 million young men.
Erik's award comes as a result of his meeting strict Boy Scout requirements including earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating scout spirit through the Boy Scout oath and law, service and leadership which includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads and manages.
The new Callicoon Center Eagle Scout started his Boy Scout activities in first grade as a cub scout in Greenwich, Connecticut Troop 37 (Black Wolf District) and achieved his Order Of The Arrow award during Cub Scouts.
His entire scouting career has been in the Greenwich, Conn. Troop 37 and he recently was awarded his Eagle Scout award June 23 from Scout Master Bob Neilsen with Horton Brook Free Methodist Church Pastor Allen Wachter taking part in the ceremony.
The building of the prayer garden took 123 hours to complete with all materials being purchased at Agway.
Erik graduated this June from Sullivan West and achieved his advanced regents diploma while graduating as well as the History 11 best average. He was on the honor roll almost every listing and graduated cum laude. At Sullivan West Erik was a National Honor Society (NHS) member and played varsity basketball. One of his favorite out of school activities is bowling.
The son of Gregg and Lynn Burton, Erik will be majoring in communications this fall at SUNY Buffalo University.
His father and mother are both involved in this field and it is Erik's great interest and favorite hobby in which he noted "I make movies all the time."