BOWLING HIGHLIGHTS COLUMN

  Local Bowlers Become Pink Hero's


  Sullivan County bowlers along with keglers nationwide are participating in the October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Bowl for the Cure.
  The campaign this year has launched a new Bowl Pink theme to recognize those in the bowling community who have supported the fight against breast cancer.
  Bowl for the Cure, a year-round fundraising initiative sponsored by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) in partnership with Susan G. Komen, has made total contributions of more than $11 million to Susan G. Komen since 2000.

  The  Bowl Pink Hero campaign will focus on showcasing the work of associations, leagues, bowling centers and individuals who are doing more to support Bowl for the Cure and raise awareness about breast cancer.

  USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy pointed out that "the success of Bowl for the Cure is because of our bowlers and associations across the country. They are the ones who put together the tournaments, silent auctions and other fundraisers, and it is because of their hard work and generosity that Bowl for the Cure is able to raise awareness and contribute to the fight against breast cancer.
  For the month of October, Bowl for the Cure has asked associations to start the Bowl Pink challenge and st a goal of raising $500 in honor of Bowl for the Cure.

  Donations can be mailed to USBC or sent online at BOWL.com/BFTC.

  Please visit BOWL.com/BFTC (/bftc) for additional information on Bowl for the Cure and how you can make a difference this October.

    Ed's Outlook

  The  newest style of presenting professional bowling competition to their fans still is not as popular as what the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) did several  years ago.
  The PBA use to take its bowling show and competition on the road each week and  bowling fans in New York and the east coast could go and see their favorite professionals up close and personal at places like Latham, NY, Cheektowaga (near Buffalo), on Long Island, Norwich, Conn., at the Cavalier Lanes in North Brunswick, NJ and in Baltimore, Md.  
  The PBA claimed it was losing money this way but many of the professional bowlers disputed this and actually liked traveling different places and bowling in the pro-ams with their bowling fans.
  What the PBA has done is to take away that personal touch bowling fans  and professional bowlers enjoyed. It just isn't the same anymore.
  The last event to be held on the East Coast was the U.S. Open that took place two years ago at the Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick, NJ.

  When the tour traveled to different locations each week it included 100-500 bowlers, staff and ESPN crew spending approximately 5-9 days and using up to 3,500 room nights per week that brought increased revenue for local restaurants and retailers.
  The East coast is getting shut out by the PBA.....there are no PBA50 tour stops and their are only several regional tour stops on the schedule.
  Just a thought here and wondering if the new Montreign Casino which we understand will contain a bowling establishment could bring a nationally televised ESPN event to our county?
  Something that the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce and Montreign might think about......keeping in mind that the entitled sponsor fee for a nationally televised event is $250,000.  A national PBA Tour event would again put Sullivan County in the world spotlight.

   Bowling Tip
   By Mike Luongo

  At certain times during your bowling match slowing down the bowling ball is important.
  If you find your bowling ball skidding right past the break point, you are on a lane that has more oil than normal.
  The only way to compensate for this situation is to slow down your bowling ball. By slowing down your ball, your ball will have less momentum, therefore gripping earlier and hopefully on its normal break point.
  So how do you slow down your bowling  ball?
  Just like adding more speed to a ball, we will use our good old buddy, gravity, to help. This means holding  the ball lower during our approach. Depending on how much speed you want to take off the ball, you should lower it anywhere from two inches to a foot.
  Another good tip to follow here is bending a little at your knees as well.
  You will also want to start your approach closer to the foul line.
  These ball speed tips will really help you control your ball speed, but they will take a lot of practice to master.
  Mike Luongo is a certified IBPSIA Pro Shop Operator, Master Instructor, USBC Silver Level Coach and an Advisor-Special Events assistant with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. Have a question? call him at 435-720-7939 or email at mikel@stormbowling.com

  Local Scores

Beechwood Lanes

Monday Ladies

 Beth Schumacher 154, 150, Diane Conroy 177, Lois Erdman 164, Pam Wayne 166.

Callicoon Kristal Bowl

Hortonville Monday Ladies

  Mardette Wilcox 170, 181, 159, 510, Darlene Mantzourate 158, Charlene Meola 167, Opal Hocker 157, Sue Naughton 180, Kelly Gombita 159, Lillian Zieres 170, 160, Debbie Loughrey 152, Robin Luckey 173, Rebecca Rhodes 171.

Wednesday Fun

Brian Brustman 219, Brian Kitson 193, John Kline 181, Rich Thony 190, 215, 197, 602, Tim Sykes 185, Maribeth Olsen 159, Mardette Wilcox 165, 158,
Hopper Hubert 182, 189, Alby Thony 197, 190, Craig Stewart 200, John Fischer 188, 201.

Kiamesha Lanes

 Monday Men's

  Donny Durland 280, 279, 773, Rick Lake 279, 256, 756, Vinny Collura 230, 248, 701, Dean Shattuck 246, 225, 654, Justin Holland 245, Josh Strang 265, 619, Jim Walsh 237, Richard Bivins 614, Kyle Matthews 225, 244, 634, Paul Durland 231, Ryan Lepke 259, 657, Dave Graham 229, 648, Charley Tuttle 623, Keith  Smith 228, 255, 694, Eddie Lake 243, 245, 676, Michael Scuderi 253, Lloyd Bridges 620, Jon Wilhelm 225, 647, Robert Feeney 238, 640, Vincent DeGraw 254, 677, Larry Whipple 233, 614, Bobby Cooper 619, John Hoffmann 226, 225, 653.

Tues. Mixed Firefighters

Shane Cunningham 277, 247, 246, 770, Steve Belgiovene 225, 644, Kyle Giordano 247, 230, 665, Jon Wilhelm 226, 636, Dave Graham 237, 664, Kevin Stackhouse 234, 631, Pedro Agapito III a 229, 247, 690, Trasey Barres 192, 195, 542, Joann Ruggiero 180, 507, Eddie Walsh 248, 235, 694, Neil Bell 243, Ed Guthrie 225, 642, Laresko Niifa 225, 613, John Hoffmann 247, 665, Andrea Grossman 180, 508, Joan Lake 193, 508.

Thursday Ladies

  Tracey Barres 213, 223, 608, Tricia Tuttle 502, Liz Burgio 181, Pat
Gibson 181, Christie Graham 191, 185, 506, Monica Lane 189, Dottie Cox 180, 214, 564.

Friday Mixed

  Eddie Lake 264, 245, 259, 767, Dave Graham 230, 226, 656, Vera Bernhardt 206, 539, Joann Ruggiero 181, MaryAnn Drobysh-Berens 187, 180, 515, Kevin Stackhouse 226, 671, Joan Lake 185, 506, Linda Schaefer 204, 529,
Lauren Blume 211, 505, Trasey Barres 196, 508, Pete Nastasi 629, Angie Desmond 180, 514, Aleah Balzano 180, Matthew Jahn 234, 626, Ryan Lepke 237, 610, Loretta VanAken 507, Keith Smith 232, 225, 247, 704, James Van
Aken 629.

  Ed Townsend is a Public Relations consultant to the sport of bowling and brings over 60-years of sports journalism experience in writing and compiling the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, bowl a 300 game or 800 series or even bowl your age, let Ed known at 845-439-8177, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax at 845-205-4474. View this column and Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.comWe are also on Facebook and Twitter.