Here & There Column 9-29-09

Pastor Dr. Allen Wachter of the Liberty & Horton Brook Free Methodist Church.

Pastor John A. Thomason of the Liberty & Monticello United Methodist Church.

SHARED PASTORATES....A SIGN OF THE TIMES

Rural churches in many denominations are suffering financially and part-time shared pastorates are a sign of the times as is now evident in the Liberty Free Methodist Church and the Liberty United Methodist Church.
Both the Liberty churches have recently been appointed new pastors with both of them also serving nearby churches.
Pastor Dr. Allen Wachter, 55, senior pastor at the Living Waters Fellowship at the Horton Brook Free Methodist Church since October 2003 is now also the new senior pastor at the Liberty Free Methodist Church.
The Rev. John A. Thomason, 60, pastor at the Monticello United Methodist Church the past several years is now the part-time pastor at the Liberty United Methodist Church.
Pastor Thomason acknowledged that "these part-time shared pastorates are a sign of the times."
Pastor Thomason was born on September 1, 1948 at Corpus Christi, Texas, was ordained to the Baptist ministry in 1976 and was ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church in 1997.
He is a graduate of Baylor University (BA) in 1970, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1974, did graduate work in Christian Theology at Oxford University in England in 1971-72, University of Chicago Divinity School 1974-76 and Perkins School of Theology in 1995.
Pastor Thomason taught Philosophical Ethics at the Webster College extension programs in Illinois and pastored Baptist churches in Illinois from 1975-1983 and in Mississippi from 1983-1987. He pastored United Methodist churches in the Texas Conference, Eustace 1993-97, Almeda/Fresno 1997-2000, Texas City St. Johns 2000-2004 and Pasadena Golden Acres 2006-2007.
The Liberty-Monticello pastor is a member and certified Bereavement Facilitator and a member of the American Academy of Bereavement.
He has two daughters, Kate an eight grade special education teacher in Queens and Beth an administrative assistant for a Japanese investment firm in Manhattan.
Pastor Dr. Allen Wachter, is a lifelong resident of Sullivan County where he was raised in the Beach Woods and graduated from Delaware Valley Central School in Callicoon.
He received his BS degree from St. Bonaventure University, spent one year at the Pharmacy School at the University of Buffalo and is a 1981 graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine.
Following his graduation he came back to Sullivan County where he went to work for Dr. Stuart Jones at the Animal Hospital of Sullivan County. Dr. Wachter in 1983 purchased the business from Dr. Jones.
Active in lay leadership religious activities at the Ulster Heights United Methodist Church for a number of years, Dr. Wachter also became District Lay Leader .
In 2001 Dr. Wachter sold his veterinarian practice and along with his wife, Darlene, explored the possibilities of becoming missionaries in Romania. During a visit to that country they learned about becoming house parents and were also introduced to two children, Andreea and Johnny, who later were adopted by the Wachter's.
Their religious life then took the Wachter's into searching for a new church in Sullivan County where they became congregants in the Liberty Free Methodist Church. Shortly after becoming members at this church the Wachter's were appointed mission coordinators and in the fall of 2002 Dr. Wachter officially became a pastor with his appointment as Associate Pastor at the Liberty Free Methodist Church.
Pastor Dr. Wachter while serving as an associate pastor also became editor of the Free Methodist Church Windsor District Newsletter.
Throughout his work in the New Windsor District many new friends and Christian acquaintances were made and in October 2003 Pastor Dr. Wachter was appointed senior pastor of the Horton Brook Free Methodist Church, located just outside of Roscoe in Delaware County.
Under the leadership and guidance of Pastor Dr. Wachter and his leadership team the Horton Brook Free Methodist Church has steadily grown from a handful of people to between 60-65 congregants.
The steady growth at the church has also resulted in remodeling and almost tripling the size of the original building...and all accomplished debt free.
Pastor Dr. Wachter and his fellowship team at Horton Brook also became active in the Living Waters Fellowship. This Fellowship has churches that have influence and that are growing and have a worship that changes everything and everyone around them.
Pastor Dr. Wachter noted that the Fellowship has "churches who are reaching out to their neighbors and demonstrating the love of Jesus through acts of compassion, mercy and love."
In addition to Pastor Dr. Wachter being assigned the senior pastors position at Liberty the Horton Brook church has also received the appointment of Bob Landau as part time Associate Pastor.
Pastor Dr. Wachter in addition to serving as senior pastor at both churches also is a past-time Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Sciences at SUNY Delhi and is a part-time veterinarian with Dr. Larry Mauer and the Abundance of Care Pet Hospital in Monticello.
Pastor Dr. Wachter and his wife, Darlene, have four children, Greg, Michelle, Andreea and Johnny.

TVGC Annual Dinner Honors Champions

Troy Kirchner is the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club 2009 Men's 1st Place First Flight Club champion. Troy also with Dusty Sullivan also finished in third place in the Monday Men's league and received individual Monday Men's league scoring honors with 73 pars, 21 birdies and for scoring one eagle.

2009 Club Champions at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club include Barbara Trask, left, who is the Women's 1st place First Flight champion and Ed Townsend, Men 1st Place Third Flight champion. Barbara also won the Women's President Club championship. Other 1st place club champions not available for this photo are listed in the accompanying story.

Jean Knickerbocker, left, long time former club champion at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club honors Becky Ackerly, who along with Nicki Bishop (not available for this photo) won the 2009 Tuesday Ladies league championship.

Individual scoring honors in the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club Monday Men's league included, from the left, Terry Knickerbocker for scoring 73 pars (he was tied by Troy Kirchner who was not available for this photo), Chuck Husson IV for scoring an eagle, Dick Shay for scoring an eagle, Ron Schulte for scoring an eagle and Chuck Husson III for scoring the most league individual points (103).

Champions of the Monday Men's league at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club are from the left, 1st place Dennis Bennett and Ron Schulte, 2ed place Tom Ackerly and Chuck Husson III and 3ed place Dusty Sullivan and Troy Kirchner....(Troy was not avilable for this photo.)

Twin Village Golf Club Secretary Bill Knipscher scored a hole-in-one on the first night of the Monday Men's league on his first swing of the season.

TVGC Annual Dinner Names Champions

The 2009 Annual Dinner for the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club (TVGC) honored its Club and League Champions September 20 at the Rockland House.
Following the invocation and remembrance of club members who passed away last year (Charlie Coyle and Rick Gray), Club President Ron Schulte Sr. extended a special thank you to Troy Kirchner, the clubhouse manager for 2009 and to long time and dedicated grounds keeper Steve Bowers who is moving out of the area.
The 2009 Board of Governors at Twin Village consist of President Ron Schulte Sr., Vice President Ralph Kirchner, Secretary Bill Knipscher, Treasurer Chuck Husson, and Directors Mary Austin, Church Husson IV, Frank McGreevy and Sally Shea.
Named the 2008 Men's Club Champions are First Flight Troy Kirchner, Second Flight Pete DeVantier and Third Flight Ed Townsend.
Ladies Club Champions include First Flight Barbara Trask, Second Flight Amy Brzytwa and Third Flight Eileen Carlson.
Terry Knickerbocker took second place in the men's First Flight while Steve Bowers took third place. In the men's Second Flight second place went to Chuck Husson III and third place to Frank McGreevy. In the Third Flight second place went to Dick Shea and third place to Joe Schulte.
In the Ladies division second place in the First Flight went to Gwen Baldo and third place to Becky Ackerly, Second Flight second place to Nicole Bishop and third place to Dolores Zweck, and Third flight second place to Ruth Ulshafer and third place to Pat Enger.
Club champions are determined by the Twin Village Championship Tournament which has a format whereby men's and women's league players and league subs are invited and an entry fee is paid. Tournament Chairmen Ralph Kirchner and Gwen Baldo gather all the league scores during the months of June, July and August and a players total of his/her 8 lowest scores are averaged to determine the winners.
Schulte also announced the Monday Night Men's league champions which included himself and Dennis Bennett first place second place Tom Ackerly and Chuck Husson III and third place Troy Kirchner and Dustin Sullivan.
Men's league awards went to Troy Kirchner and Terry Knickerbocker for the most pars, to Troy Kirchner for the most birdies, "eagle" scores to Troy Kirchner, Chuck Husson IV, Ron Schulte and Dick Shea. Most points won in the league went to Chuck Husson III and hole-in-one honors to Bill Knipscher.
Announced as Ladies league champions were first place Nicki Bishop and Becky Ackerley, second place Dottie Quick and Barbara Trask and third place Dolores Zweck and Susie Soules.
Barbara Trask won the Women's President's Cub championship.
Ladies honored with "eagle" awards included June Powell and Gwen Baldo. "Birdie" awards went to Gwen Baldo, Sally Shea, Barbara Trask and Jean Knickerbocker.
Schulte stressed the importance of the TVGC's September 30 annual meeting, which this year is open to certificate and courtesy members, where items like declining membership and the annual budget will be discussed. He also announced that a major fund raiser now underway includes a party for two at the Rockland House on Sunday, November 29 from 1-4 p.m.
A $100 ticket entitles two people to a three-hour open bar, buffet, music and cash raffle prizes ranging from $3,000 to (10) $100 winners and only 200 tickets will be sold. You need not be present to win and ticket information can be obtained from Chuck Husson at 607-498-5557.
The golf club website is available at http://roscoegolf.com/

Golfing Highlights 9-25-09

Golfers teeing off on hole No. 14 at the Cricket Hill Golf Club must avoid the trees in this narow opening and a pond on the right on this 135-yard par 3 hole.

Tim Kapschull is the Pro-Shop and bar manager at the Cricket Hill Golf Course.

Ask to see this dancing "Caddy Shack" Gopher while having lunch in the Cricket Hill Golf Course restaurant.

Cricket Hill Back Nine Is A Challenge

The contrast between the front and back nine's at the Cricket Hill Golf Course near Hawley, Pa. offers golfers an interesting challenge.
New ownership as of July 2008 at Cricket Hill includes Dr. Fred Mancuso, a Carbondale, Pa. chiropractor and his brother David Mancuso who owns and operates a beer distributorship also located in Carbondale.
Tim Kapschull is the pro-shop and bar manager and handles most of the everyday activities at this golf course which also offers a nice restaurant and lounge. When having lunch or a refreshing drink make sure you ask to see the dancing "Caddy Shack" gopher which truly is a great reminder for everyone who remembers the famed "Caddy Shack" movie.
This 18-hole public golf course is located at 176 Cricket Hill Road, Hawley and offers three sets of teeboxes for a fun, but challenging golfing experience. The golf course is easily reached and is a short distance from Narrowsburg off of Route 6 between Honesdale and Hawley.
From the blue tees the course for the front nine plays 3,152 yards and the back nine plays 2,531 yards for a total course yardage of 5,683.
The slope and rating from the blue tees is 104 and 67.3. The front nine par is 36 and the back nine par is 35 for a total par of 71.
The back nine of the course was built in 1987 but no background information was available as to who designed the layout which offers a totally different venue then the front nine.
Special at the club include the Tuesday and Thursday 18-holes of golf with cart and lunch for $30. Special senior rates are also available on Tuesday and Thursday.
Tee times are available by calling the course at 570-226-4366.
The back nine, holes 10-18 plays like this from the blue tees.
Hole No. 10 is a 477-yard par 5 with lots of water to content with. If you can fade your tee shot shoot to the left of the pond that will work but you must hit it far enough to get to where the dogleg goes sharp left and again there is water on the right. The second half of this fairway is narrow with a ditch running along the left side. Be careful with your approach shot as a slope in back of the green runs sharply downhill. Careful and accurate shots are the key for your par on this hole.
Hole No. 11 is a 187-yard par 3 with the fairway running uphill. This hole plays longer then the 187-yards and club selection off the tee is the key to a birdie or par. There are no traps on this green.
Hole No. 12 is a 452-yard par 5 with an immediate dogleg left. Not the place to use your driver and again club selection is a key on this tee shot. The second fairway shot is over a pond located on the left. There are no traps on this hole but there is water in back of this green.
Hole No. 13 is a 335-yard par 4 with a dogleg left. A driver off the tee is OK here. There are several mounds in front of this green and no traps. A good par hole.
Hole No. 14 is a 135-yard par 3 with a very narrow opening for your tee shot ...watch out for the pond on the right before the green.
Hole No. 15 is a 305-yard par 4 with a pond located right after the tee. There is a dogleg right and then 5 traps before the green. Careful with the approach shot so that it does not go over the green.
Hole No. 16 is a 185-yard par 3 with water on the left and a slightly uphill fairway. Try to keep your shots right past the tree which is located in the fairway. There are no traps on this hole.
Hole No. 17 is a 245-yard par 4 and a sign on the tee reads you need 175 yards to clear the pond. After the pond there is a dogleg left and keep you shot left as there is a deep ditch on the right side.
Hole No. 18 is a 240-yard par 4 with a sign on the tee reading that there is 133 yards to the pond on the right. The approach shot is to a slightly elevated green. A nice finishing hole for what is part of a challenging nine holes of golf.


Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

The "Draw" system.
How to find your rhythm in a hurry.
Here's a real simple exercise you do do anytime on the course to regain your rhythm. Simply turn a driver or any wood up the other way and swing.
Doing this will make the club very, very light and it will change the feelings that you've been having with the club.
Once you've had a number of swings like this, I suggest you then grip the club normally and go back to swinging it the way you normally would.
Doing this drill will help you to feel the clubhead and that's critical in the golf swing.
Swing the clubhead and not the club. Let the clubhead do the swinging and feel the power you get without forcing it. Keep turning the clubhead over so you can get the feeling of the clubhead more often.
You will soon regain your rhythm and with it will return your confidence. .
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 email at menges@hughes.net

Ed's Outlook

Wow.....what a great 2009 golf season it has been. Thanks go out to Bob Menges for his weekly golf tip and to all the professionals and assistants we had the pleasure of working with this past season. Congratulations to all the league and club champions.
We will return to local golf courses next spring to keep you up to date on what our outstanding golf facilities here have to offer along with features on local golfers and league standings and happenings.
There is still plenty of good weather left for some nice fall golfing.
Golf well and have a safe and healthy fall and winter.

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 feel would make good reading or have league scores and tournament information, Ed can be reached by phone at 439-8177 or by email at bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our Web Page at http://bght.blogspot.com

Here & There Column 9-22-09

Lisa Rose carding alpaca fleece at a recent Bethel Woods Alpaca Festival.

Turning Alpaca Fleece To Wool

Spinning and carding washed alpaca fiber (fleece) to wool and then knitting her favorite "Felted Pocketbooks" has been a special hobby of Kenoza Lake's Lisa Rose for the past year and eventually she plans on setting up her own business.
Lisa was part of the 9th annual Alpaca festival display and demonstrations at the Harvest Festival September 6 at Bethel Woods .......her love and enthusiasm for what she was doing was very evident.
She noted that the steps prior to spinning included washing the fiber, rinsing the fiber, drying the fiber, picking to remove plant matter, carding the fiber (this is simply untangling the fiber), spinning the fiber and then spinning into multiple plys, winding the yarn off the bobbin, tie off the skein, soaking in hot water, soak rinse with a little vinegar (the vinegar removes the soap residue and gives the wool a cleaner smell), snap to set yarn, hang yarn to air dry, wind the yarn into a ball and then you can knit, crochet or weave into the product of your choice.
Ms. Rose creatively hand-spins and hand-cards most of her yarn and she works with both washed and raw fiber.
She noted that most times she uses the wool to knit various items and that there is specific yarn for specific projects and this is all determined by the yarns thickness.
The Alpaca Festival also included exhibits that featured live alpacas and the history of alpaca farming. Various spinners and weavers demonstrated how the fiber is made and a boutique offered scarves, shawls, gloves, hats, jackets, dresses, skirts, sweaters and teddy bears.
All in all a very interesting and learning experience for the thousands attending this event.

Golfing Highlights Column 9-18-09

Hole No. 5 at the Cricket Hill Golf Course offers a challenge with this large pond on the left-center portion of the fairway.

Monticello golfer John Hoffmann gets ready to ring the "approach shot bell" on the 450-yard par 4 fifth hole at Cricket Hill Golf Course.

New ownership at the Cricket Hill Golf Club includes, from the left, Dr. Fred Mancuso and his brother David Mancuso.

Cricket Hill Offers Great Golf

An interesting and enjoyable contrast between the front and back nine's at the Cricket Hill Golf Course near Hawley, Pa. offers golfers an interesting challenge.
As of July 2008 the new ownership at Cricket Hill includes Dr. Fred Mancuso, a Carbondale, Pa. chiropractor and his brother David Mancuso who owns and operates a beer distributorship also located in Carbondale.
This 18-hole public golf course is located at 176 Cricket Hill Road, Hawley and offers three sets of teeboxes for a fun, but challenging golfing experience. The golf course is easily reached and is a short distance from Narrowsburg off of Route 6 between Honesdale and Hawley.
From the blue tees the course for the front nine plays 3,152 yards and the back nine plays 2,531 yards for a total course yardage of 5,683.
The slope and rating from the blue tees is 104 and 67.3. The front nine par is 36 and the back nine par is 35 for a total par of 71.
Tim Kapschull is the pro-shop and bar manager.
This golf facility was originally a farm and a farmer with the last name of Becker is said to have designed and built the first nine holes sometime in the 50's and later added a hotel, swimming pool and campground.
The back nine of the course was built in 1987 but no background information was available as to who designed the layout which offers a totally different venue then the front nine.
Holes 1-9 gives golfers a more open course and hole 10-18 is tighter and requires more accuracy.
Special at the club include the Tuesday and Thursday 18-holes of golf with cart and lunch for $30. Special senior rates are also available on Tuesday and Thursday.
Golf leagues who compete at Cricket Hill include the Thursday AM women's, the Friday AM senior men's, two Monday leagues, a men's afternoon league on Wednesday at 4 and a Friday Mixed league.
The course is also the home of the Lake Wallenpaupack High School golf team.
Memberships and tee times are available by calling the course at 570-226-4366.
This week we will outline the front nine, holes 1-9 and follow up next week with the back nine, holes 10-18.
Hole No. 1 is a 330-yard par 4 with a very slight dogleg to the left off the tee...best to aim for the pole marker in the center of the fairway. Try to keep your approach shot away from the big tree on the right side of the fairway. Accurate shot making will give you your par here. No traps on this hole.
Hole No. 2 is a 300-yard par 4. Take your tee shot between the fairway trees and use the red pole marker in the middle of the fairway....this hole can be a little confusing the first time you play it. There are no traps on this hole.
Hole No. 3 is a 390-yard par 4, the second longest par 4 on the front nine. Open fairway with a slight dogleg left.....there are trees left side of the fairway.....take the tee shot right center. No traps on this green.
Hole No. 4 is a 495-yard par 5. The present tee is being reconstructed at this time. Off the tee you will find a straight open fairway....trees do dot the left and right sides of this fairway so keep your shots down the middle. Avoid the trap near the middle of the fairway and there are two traps, left and right, on this green.
Hole No. 5 is a 450-yard par 4 and one of the most interesting golf holes on the front nine. Best to take your tee shot down the right side of the fairway as there is a pond near the left center portion of this fairway. Keeping the ball right helps to keep you from having to shoot over this pond down a hill and onto the green. As golfers shoot their approach shot to the green they will notice a pole with a rope and bell on it. This is used to alert golfers on the fifth tee that they have taken their approach shot and will be out of the way of any tee shots as golfers on the tee cannot see that portion of the fairway. We rang the bell not knowing what it was for and sort of (jokingly) hoped that by ringing the bell the clubhouse would have brought us out sandwiches and liquid refreshments.
Club selection is important on this approach shot to the green which is downhill from where the bell is located. Take the approach shot to the left center portion of the green for best scoring. There are no traps on this green.
Hole No. 6 is a 155-yard par 3 and the tee shot is all down hill. There is a big trap both in the front and back of this green so your tee shot club selection is important for that birdie or par.
Hole No. 7 is a 370-yard par 4 with the fairway running mostly uphill. Halfway up the hill the fairway is a dogleg right. Try to take your drive right center and avoid the big rock on the left side of the fairway.
Hole No. 8 is a 205-yard par 3. Hazards here include four traps on the left side of the green and a pond somewhat right center of the fairway. Tee shot club selection will help in scoring on this hole.
Hole No. 9 is a 457-yard par 5 with a pond off the tee on the left and a fairway that runs uphill. Take your tee shot left of the trees. The second half of the fairway is a dogleg right with a pond on the right side. Keep left of the bushes on the right side of the fairway. There are traps front and back on this green.
Some reconstruction of tees are presently taking place but overall upkeep and maintenance are good.
Next week we will outline the very interesting back nine (holes 10-18).

Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

How To Hit Out Of A Divot.
Sometimes you hit a great drive right down the middle of the fairway and think you have an easy shot to the green, only when you get to your ball you find it sitting in the middle of a divot that someone didn't replace.
Unfortunately, due to a rule called rub of the green, you must play the ball where it lies and hit the ball out of the divot.
Instead of being upset about your predicament, if you just make a few adjustments this shot is quite easy.
First, you should always use one more club than you would normally use from that yardage. After you have selected your club, you should grip down, or choke down on the club.
When you aim, try to aim more left than usual (this is for right-handed golfers), as the ball will have a tendency to curve to the right after impact.
Try to play the ball more towards the back of the stance, this should make the ball fly lower than normal and put more spin on it.
When you make your swing be sure to hit down on the ball and drive through it with some acceleration. A full follow through is not necessary, keep your arms and hands low through impact and hit more of a punch shot.
The key to this shot is to make contact with the ball first and then drive the club through the shot keeping your head still.
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 email at menges@hughes.net

Ed's Outlook

Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus together again?
Yes it will happen as Jack has decided to join Arnold as an honorary starter at the Masters, a role he once said he had no interest in.
We are hoping they will take it a step further then the ceremonial tee shot. It would be great to see them snatch the tee out of the ground and follow after the ball down the first fairway or even a lot more if they so desire.......make it a nine-hole outing.....and here's betting that Arnie tries to coax Jack into going the entire 18.



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 feel would make good reading or have league scores and tournament information, Ed can be reached by phone at 439-8177 or by email at bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a more expanded version of this golf column, please visit our Web Page at http://bght.blogspot.com

U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN RETURN
CONTINUES SUNDAY ON ESPN

Tammy Boomershine of North Ogden, Utah, hasn't bowled much since leaving the Professional Women's Bowling Association in 2002, but any insecurities she might have had about the current status of her game were put to rest when she earned a spot in the televised portion of the 2009 U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event.

Boomershine, the 1994 PWBA Rookie of the Year, bowled well throughout qualifying at Strike Zone Bowling Center inside the Sunset Station Hotel and Casino in Henderson, Nev., and qualified fourth overall after 40 games on five challenging PBA Experience lane conditions.

The 39-year-old right-hander made nearly 30 television appearances during her PWBA career and is excited to be back in the spotlight. She will make her return to the airwaves Sunday when the first of five U.S. Women's Open shows airs on ESPN at 2 p.m. EDT. The series will be shown on Sunday afternoons throughout September (13 and 20) and October (4, 11 and 18) with the champion being crowned on the finale.

"Part of this feels natural, but I'm also a little nervous and anxious because I haven't done it in a while," said Boomershine (previously Turner), who owns four PWBA titles. "To be able to bowl as well as I did and make the TV show makes me very proud. I'm nervous about being back on TV, but there's a different kind of nerves now than there used to be. I'm hoping that since I've done it in the past, it will all fall into place this time around."

With 12 bowlers advancing to television this year, compared to 16 in recent years, the top four seeds earned byes. Boomershine, the No. 4 seed, will wait patiently on the sidelines while Malaysian star Shalin Zulkifli takes on Team USA member Diandra Asbaty of Chicago in the show's opening match. The winner then will face Boomershine for a spot on the final show.

"I don't know how I'm going to feel when the lights come on, but I'm excited to be back out there," said Boomershine, who rolled one of three perfect games during qualifying at the 2009 U.S. Women's Open. "I just plan to focus on shot making and block everything else out."

Boomershine enjoyed quick success during her time on the PWBA Tour, but her career was cut short after back surgery in 1997.

Although she returned to the lanes after surgery and rehab, she was unable to add to her four victories. She left the Tour shortly before the PWBA closed its doors in 2003.

While most of her competition in recent years has been in league or local events, she has been working on her game and has regained her desire to compete at the highest level.

Boomershine recently helped her team, Together Once Again (Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Lynda Barnes and Andrea Fleming), to its second Classic Team title in three years at the USBC Women's Championships, and now, she's found success again individually.

"There ended up being less opportunities after the close of the PWBA, so I decided not to make bowling a priority anymore," said Boomershine, who was the runner-up to USBC Hall of Famer Wendy Macpherson in the 1996 PWBA Player of the Year race. "Slowly over the years, I got the desire and the motivation back, and now, I am excited to get out there whenever I can."

Boomershine finished second to Aleta Sill at the 1998 U.S. Women's Open, but that is not the first thing on her mind. Neither is the fact that her last title came in 1996. For now, it's all about the comeback and being competitive again.

"I never really wanted to give it up, but physically, I just couldn't do it anymore," Boomershine said. "I really missed bowling against the better bowlers, and at this point, this experience has been amazing, so no matter what happens, I won't be disappointed."

Next week's show will feature Team USA teammates Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix and Kim Terrell-Kearney of Grand Prairie, Texas, battling for the chance to face 2003 U.S. Women's Open winner Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J. The winner will advance to the series finale. Terrell-Kearney is the defending champion at the U.S. Women's Open.

Any competitor who rolls a 300 game on one of the first four TV shows will receive a $25,000 bonus. A perfect game in the semifinals or championship match (the fifth show) will earn the player $100,000.

Qualifying at the U.S. Women's Open was at held Strike Zone Bowling Center from Aug. 4-7, and the five TV shows were taped Aug. 8-9.

For more information on the U.S. Women's Open, visit BOWL.com.

United States Bowling Congress
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.

Bowl with US

2009 U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN, A USBC EVENT

TV PAIRINGS

Show 2 (Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)
No. 6 Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix vs. No. 11 Kim Terrell-Kearney, Grand Prairie, Texas
No. 3 Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., vs. Pluhowsky/Terrell-Kearney winner

Show 3 (Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)
No. 7 Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, vs. No. 10 Clara Guerrero, Pflugerville, Texas
No. 2 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, vs. Barnes/Guerrero winner

Show 4 (Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)
No. 8 Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., vs. No. 9 Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif.
No. 1 Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, vs. Johnson/Bellinder winner

Show 5 (Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)
Semifinals: Show 1 winner vs. Show 4 winner, and Show 2 winner vs. Show 3 winner
Championship: Semifinal winners

Here & There Column 9-15-09

King of the Blues, B.B. King at Bethel Woods on August 27.

King & Guy Define The Blues

Blues music is often defined as an enduring gift to the world and both B.B. King and Buddy Guy defined the blues for the Bethel Woods audience on Thursday, August 27.
Guy's rendition of "Skin Deep" showed deep concern and emotion and this made the Blues come alive by telling a story filled with heart, soul and the truth.
We didn't catch the name of Guy's keyboard player but he immediately became a fan favorite with several outstanding Blues rendition's.
The power of the Blues became quite evident with the introduction of B.B. King who at the age of 83 noted to the crowd that he had a bad back, bad knees and diabetes but this didn't stop the king of the blues from giving the Bethel Woods fans almost two hours of
meaningful Blues entertainment.........even though King had to sit in a chair while singing and playing his black Gibson guitar.
King's eight-piece band provided just the right setting for King and his guitar and it just wouldn't be the Blues without the great storytelling that was so evident this evening.
King took a slap at today's rappers and with an age related quip noted that "seems everybody wants to leave me....why am I here?" "I'd like to stay here a little longer," he added.
Pointing out that "I'm a Blues man...brother," King proved his versatility with great guitar renditions and singing fan favorite songs like "The Thrill Is Gone" and "Everyday I Have The Blues."
His age was often a part of the storytelling but reality became quite evident with a line in one of King's old blues tune saying "one kind favor I'll ask of you...see that my grave is kept clean."
"I like to have fun and when you laugh I have fun," King said and one of the big laughs of the evening came when he noted, "ladies can out drink us and out think us."
This evening gave us the feeling that we were in the presence of living history as these two legends of Blues music entertained us with part of their enduring gift.

Golfing Highlights Column 9-11-09

Pictured above are the members of the first place team from the recent Sheriff Mike Schiff Golf Tournament. Left to right are, Henry Montanez, Aaron Trembley, Candido Perez and Colvin Grant.

The Sheriff climbs into the helicopter in preparation for the ball drop.

Winner of the ball drop at Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff's August 23 Golf Tournament was Lauren Edwards shown here with Mike Schiff.

Hole No. 18 at the French Woods Golf Course is 180-yard par 3 and takes your tee shot over water. Club selection here is important to score that birdie or par.

French Woods Has Grown Into A Beautiful Golf Course

Ten years of a maturing golf course along with excellent upkeep and maintenance by Superintendent Dan Wormuth has made the French Woods Golf Course a must play for all golfers.
In addition to a well kept and challenging golf course there are also discount golf packages including a private 1,500 square foot rustic charm lodge along with the ever-popular breakfast or lunch golfing specials have made the French Woods Golf & Country Club near Hancock a popular golfing location.
Brochures and guest information available at the French Woods golf facility suggest to golfers that "after a hard days work on the course you deserve more than a cramped hotel room."
Making accommodations available to their golfers is nothing new in the vacation-golfing industry and Russ and Lynn Bass have added an extra touch for their guests with the construction of 7 private lodges situated throughout the golf course.
And these are not your regular Abe Lincoln log cabins but offer golfers and guests some 1,500 square feed of living space that included all the amenities of a fine home and comfortably sleeps four people in two separate bedrooms. A common area upstairs in these lodges has two twin beds so additional vacationers can also be housed in these cabins that offer a full kitchen, a large dining area, one and one-half baths and a back porch complete withe barbecue grill.
Discount golf packages offer a private lodge overlooking the fairway or the Delaware River for up to four people, a free breakfast in the Clubhouse each day, unlimited free golf (carts not included) for four people and different rates apply to the length of stay and additional fees apply for more than four people.
An attractive clubhouse is also available serving guests breakfast and lunch.
The club special of $30 Monday through Thursday included golf and cart for 18-holes and breakfast or lunch.
The Bass family and their staff are always available to customize golf packages to suit every golfers special needs.
Russ and Lynn know the importance of comfortable vacation living and they go out of their way to offer every modern convenience.
Linda Ferris is the general manager at this golf facility.
The first nine holes of this course opened in 1999 and in 2001 the back nine opened.
The course plays from the blue tees 6,018 yards and is a par 72. The front nine and back nine play to par 36.
Last week we detailed the club history and the front nine.
This week we will describe the back nine which has a total yardage of 3,059 yards from the blue tees.
For tee reservations call 607-637-1800. Their web site is http://www.golfandxski.com/
Hole No. 10 is a 533-yard par 5. There is water to the right, stay center of the fairway and try to keep your putt below the hole on this slanting green. There are no traps on this green.
Hole No. 11 is a 166-yard par 3 with an elevated green and uphill fairway. This hole plays longer than it looks. The flat green and a well placed tee shot can get you your birdie or par.
Hole No. 12 is a 315-yard par 4 is an uphill dogleg to the left. Try to stay in the center of this fairway for best scoring results. Trap is on the right side of the green.
Hole No. 13 is a 500-yard par 5 with the fairway slanting to the right. Keeps your shots to the left.
Hole No. 14 is a 370-yard par 4 with a dogleg left. Try to stay in the middle of the fairway. There are no traps on this green.
Hole No. 15 is a 335-yard par 4 with a pond left. Take your tee shot to the right of the pond.
Hole No. 16 is a 300-yard par 4 with water to the left. Challenge the tee shot and slam a good drive over the water for a good birdie chance, Playing right center is suggested. There are no traps on this green. There is a new pond behind this green.
Hole No. 17 is a 360-yard par 4 with a dogleg right. His center left here and choose a three wood on your tee shot. No traps on this green.
Hole No. 18 is a 180-yard par 3 with the tee shot having to carry over a pond. Proper club selection and a good tee shot gets you another birdie. A real attractive finishing hole on a back nine that still needs time to mature.

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

The Importance of Wedges:

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. In order to hit the ball close, I feel it is important to carry three wedges in your golf bag. Most people have a pitching wedge that comes with their set. This club has 47 to 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 to 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 to 57 degrees of loft.
Some touring Professionals will carry 4 wedges in their bag.
The next time you play a round of golf, count how many shots you take from 100 yards in 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 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 at 292-0323 or via e-mail at menges@hughes.net ;

Schiff Tournament
Went To Higher Level

Wow....Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff literally took his August 23 Golf Tournament at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club to another level.
Instead of just having a plain old raffle organizers of the event sold golf balls and participants put their name on the golf balls then Mike jumped into a helicopter and dropped the balls out of the ski and the ball that make its way into the hole was the winner.
A great idea that added something different for what sometimes become routine golf tournaments.
In the first picture above Sheriff Mike Schiff is shown with the winner of the sky ball dropping event, Lauren Edwards. In the second photo the first place team includes, from the left, Henry Montanez, Aaron Trembley, Candido Perez and Colvin Grant.
Second place winners included Rich Mulvany, Larry Eisenburg, Jen Eisenburg and Tom Mungeer. Third place was won by Jim Peebody, Jeff Lounsbury, Bill Dougherty and Rich Memmelaar.
Long drive winner on hole No. 8 was Rich Morgan and closest to the pin on hole No. 9 was Matt Egan.
Tournament organizers poined out that the most honest score of 89 went to Team Skiff consisting of Lila Schiff, Austin Zweck, Cindy Conklin and Kevin Mitchell.



This column is written by Ed Townsend, who is a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf. If you have a topic that you believe would make good reading or have league standings and tournament information, Ed can be reached at 439-8177 or via e-mail at bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com. For a much more expanded version of this golf column visit our Web page at http://bght.blogspot.com



-

BOOMERSHINE AND U.S. WOMEN'S
OPEN RETURN TO ESPN THIS SUNDAY

Tammy Boomershine of North Ogden, Utah, hasn't bowled much since leaving the Professional Women's Bowling Association in 2002, but any insecurities she might have had about the current status of her game were put to rest when she earned a spot in the televised portion of the 2009 U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event.

Boomershine, the 1994 PWBA Rookie of the Year, bowled well throughout qualifying at Strike Zone Bowling Center inside the Sunset Station Hotel and Casino in Henderson, Nev., and qualified fourth overall after 40 games on five challenging PBA Experience lane conditions.

The 39-year-old right-hander made nearly 30 television appearances during her PWBA career and is excited to be back in the spotlight. She will make her return to the airwaves Sunday when the first of five U.S. Women's Open shows airs on ESPN at 2 p.m. EDT. The series will be shown on Sunday afternoons throughout September (13 and 20) and October (4, 11 and 18) with the champion being crowned on the finale.

"Part of this feels natural, but I'm also a little nervous and anxious because I haven't done it in a while," said Boomershine (previously Turner), who owns four PWBA titles. "To be able to bowl as well as I did and make the TV show makes me very proud. I'm nervous about being back on TV, but there's a different kind of nerves now than there used to be. I'm hoping that since I've done it in the past, it will all fall into place this time around."

With 12 bowlers advancing to television this year, compared to 16 in recent years, the top four seeds earned byes. Boomershine, the No. 4 seed, will wait patiently on the sidelines while Malaysian star Shalin Zulkifli takes on Team USA member Diandra Asbaty of Chicago in the show's opening match. The winner then will face Boomershine for a spot on the final show.

"I don't know how I'm going to feel when the lights come on, but I'm excited to be back out there," said Boomershine, who rolled one of three perfect games during qualifying at the 2009 U.S. Women's Open. "I just plan to focus on shot making and block everything else out."

Boomershine enjoyed quick success during her time on the PWBA Tour, but her career was cut short after back surgery in 1997.

Although she returned to the lanes after surgery and rehab, she was unable to add to her four victories. She left the Tour shortly before the PWBA closed its doors in 2003.

While most of her competition in recent years has been in league or local events, she has been working on her game and has regained her desire to compete at the highest level.

Boomershine recently helped her team, Together Once Again (Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Lynda Barnes and Andrea Fleming), to its second Classic Team title in three years at the USBC Women's Championships, and now, she's found success again individually.

"There ended up being less opportunities after the close of the PWBA, so I decided not to make bowling a priority anymore," said Boomershine, who was the runner-up to USBC Hall of Famer Wendy Macpherson in the 1996 PWBA Player of the Year race. "Slowly over the years, I got the desire and the motivation back, and now, I am excited to get out there whenever I can."

Boomershine finished second to Aleta Sill at the 1998 U.S. Women's Open, but that is not the first thing on her mind. Neither is the fact that her last title came in 1996. For now, it's all about the comeback and being competitive again.

"I never really wanted to give it up, but physically, I just couldn't do it anymore," Boomershine said. "I really missed bowling against the better bowlers, and at this point, this experience has been amazing, so no matter what happens, I won't be disappointed."

Next week's show will feature Team USA teammates Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix and Kim Terrell-Kearney of Grand Prairie, Texas, battling for the chance to face 2003 U.S. Women's Open winner Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J. The winner will advance to the series finale. Terrell-Kearney is the defending champion at the U.S. Women's Open.

Any competitor who rolls a 300 game on one of the first four TV shows will receive a $25,000 bonus. A perfect game in the semifinals or championship match (the fifth show) will earn the player $100,000.

Qualifying at the U.S. Women's Open was at held Strike Zone Bowling Center from Aug. 4-7, and the five TV shows were taped Aug. 8-9.

For more information on the U.S. Women's Open, visit BOWL.com.

United States Bowling Congress
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.

Bowl with US

2009 U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN, A USBC EVENT

TV PAIRINGS

Show 1 (Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)
No. 5 Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia vs. No. 12 Diandra Asbaty, Chicago
No. 4 Tammy Boomershine, North Ogden, Utah, vs. Zulkifli/Asbaty winner

Show 2 (Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)
No. 6 Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix vs. No. 11 Kim Terrell-Kearney, Grand Prairie, Texas
No. 3 Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., vs. Pluhowsky/Terrell-Kearney winner

Show 3 (Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)
No. 7 Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, vs. No. 10 Clara Guerrero, Pflugerville, Texas
No. 2 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, vs. Barnes/Guerrero winner

Show 4 (Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)
No. 8 Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., vs. No. 9 Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif.
No. 1 Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, vs. Johnson/Bellinder winner

Show 5 (Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)
Semifinals: Show 1 winner vs. Show 4 winner, and Show 2 winner vs. Show 3 winner
Championship: Semifinal winner

PBA, OnTheBallBowling.com Team Up
for Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship

It was a matter of days after the Professional Bowlers Association decided to re-name its most unique tournament the Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship – in honor of the Hall of Famer who revolutionized the sport with plastic bowling balls – that a sad twist of fate gave the event special meaning.

Roth, at age 58, suffered a stroke that paralyzed his left side and ended a bowling career that saw him win 34 PBA Tour titles – tied for third best in PBA history – including a single-season record eight titles in 1978. Roth introduced a high-revolution power game in a plastic-ball era that led to an evolution in bowling technique and completely transformed bowling ball technology.

As a tribute to Roth, the PBA has joined hands with OnTheBallBowling.com, an Illinois company that has developed a technique to create custom designs on bowling ball surfaces. OnTheBallBowling.com has created a unique Mark Roth plastic bowling ball that will be used exclusively by all 64 competitors in the 2010 PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, an event that will require all players to use the same “old school” bowling ball technology. It will focus attention on player skill, both physical and mental. It’s the tournament concept Roth himself would have designed.

Beyond the tournament, however, the unique OnTheBallBowling.com Mark Roth ball has taken on a new life as a fund-raising tool to help the Roth family deal with their enormous medical bills. All of the Mark Roth balls used in the tournament will be autographed by Roth and sold to help raise money for the Roth family’s medical expenses.

In addition to the ball used in the Plastic Ball Championship, a limited number of Mark Roth custom balls are being offered to the public by OnTheBallBowling.com for $100 plus shipping and handling. A number of these balls already have been used in bowling center raffles to generate even more money for the Roth support fund.

To order a Mark Roth ball, visit pba.com or OnTheBallBowling.com. In addition to helping the Roth family, contributors will have their names placed on the “Help Mark Roth Wall of Fame” which will be posted on several industry websites in the coming weeks.

All proceeds from the sale of Mark Roth balls will be donated to the Mark Roth Fund in care of The Bowling Foundation, which is coordinating fund-raising efforts of behalf of the bowling industry. Contributions also can be made directly to the Mark Roth Fund in care of: The Bowling Foundation, 621 Six Flags Dr., Arlington, TX 76011.

“The naming of this event in Mark Roth’s honor, partnership with OnTheBallBowling.com to create balls with Roth’s image on them, and working with The Bowling Foundation to manage proceeds from the sales of these balls elevates the most talked-about event of the 2008-09 PBA Lumber Liquidators Tour season – the Plastic Ball Championship – to another level,” said PBA Deputy Commissioner Tom Clark.

Last year’s inaugural Plastic Ball Championship, won by Jeff Carter of Springfield, Ill., created a great deal of discussion, including a debate between ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” co-hosts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser about contemporary athletes being required to compete using 1970s technology.

The PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship is scheduled for March 23-28 at AMF Babylon Lanes in West Babylon, N.Y. It will be the 20th event on the 2009-10 PBA Lumber Liquidators Tour schedule.

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


About OnTheBallBowling.com

OnTheBallBowling.com LLC is the only company in the bowling industry that provides consumers with the unique ability to create and design their own “one-of-a-kind” bowling ball or bowling pin using an easy-to-use “Design Wizard” to upload a full-color photograph for placement on a bowling ball or pin. The company also has hundreds of pre-designed themed and licensed ball and pin designs. OnTheBallBowling.com LLC is a privately-held company headquartered in Broadview, Ill.

Malott to Bowl for First Major

Title in PBA World Championship

Reigning Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, will get his chance to win the PBA World Championship and his first Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour major title on Dec. 13 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.

Malott, who entered the best-of-seven-game, single-elimination match play portion of the tournament as the No. 1 qualifier, survived an upset-filled day recently at Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., defeating Sweden’s Martin Larsen, 4-3, and Jeff Carter of Springfield, Ill., 4-1, to advance to the championship round.

Thomas Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich.; Rhino Page, Wesley Chapel, Fla., and Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., also advanced to the finals with victories Friday night.

Earning berths in the Women’s World Championships title match were Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix and Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J. Harry Sullins of Chesterfield Township, Mich., and Hugh Miller of Mercer Island, Wash., are the Senior World Championships finalists.

It was a day filled with upsets, however, as 11 of the 16 men, women and seniors who earned byes for two rounds were eliminated during Friday’s early rounds.

“That’s something that always happens in this event,” Malott, the only top 8 survivor in the men’s field, said. “The guys ahead of you get two matches to see how the lanes are going to set up, but I’ll take my chances with two byes any day. At least it guarantees you’ll be in the top 16.

“I made a risky move against Martin (Larsen), and it worked, and I was able to shot 279 at him in the last game to win the match,” Malott continued. “I kind of wish we could keep the tour going because every week of the World Series, I’ve been getting better. Hopefully I can end it with a title on Sunday (in the PBA Shark Championship), and then go for my first major title in December.”

“It wasn’t just a tough day; it’s been a tough month,” Page said, “but what a way to finish it. You’d ideally like to carry the momentum of the tournament into the TV show, but that won’t happen in this case. I’m just excited I have to wait until December.”

Smallwood, who is bowling on the PBA Tour only because he was laid off from General Motors earlier in the year, will bowl O’Neill in the first World Championship semifinal match in December. Each is looking for his first PBA Tour title.

“I won't say this has been a dream month for me, but it has exceeded expectations,” Smallwood said. “I was hoping to come out of here maybe in the top 15 in points or make a couple top eight finishes, so I'm pretty happy. This has validated what I can do out here.”

“I’m thrilled,” O’Neill said of making his third TV final of the World Series. “It’s been tough to put your opponent away here, even when you’re up 3-0. But now I’ve got to take it to the next level.”

Sullins, the only top four Senior qualifier to advance, slipped past Kerry Painter of Henderson, Nev., 4-3, and Brian Brazeau of Ocala, Fla., 4-3. Sullins, who made the championship round for the fourth time in six PBA Senior Tour events, hasn’t won a PBA title since winning in Windsor Locks, Conn., 15 years ago.

“It was fun, exhilarating, pressure-packed,” Sullins said. “It was like, ‘Holy cow, throw the ball, Batman!’ but in a good way.”

Miller knocked out No. 4 Dave Patchen of Oregon, Ohio, 4-1, and won a tense 4-3 contest over four-time PBA Senior Tour Player of the Year Tom Baker of King, N.C., in his semifinal match.

“I’ve bowled Baker many times on the regular Tour and the Senior Tour and he was always especially tough to bowl against,” Miller said. “On the Senior Tour it seems like he's gotten the best of me, so it was nice to turn the tables this time.”

The top two Women’s qualifiers will meet in their TV final. Pluhowsky defeated Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, 4-1, and Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., 4-3, to earn her third television finals berth of the World Series. No. 2 Kulick defeated Diandra Asbaty of Chicago, 4-3, and Missy Bellinder of Fullerton, Calif., 4-2.

“My brain hurts,” Kulick said. “Those were some good matches. I think my advantage was moving in to where my opponents were playing so I could take advantage of what they were doing.”

Pluhowsky, the 2006 USBC Queens champion and a three-time U.S. Amateur champion, will be trying for her second major title and her second PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM title. “This is my third TV show of the World Series, so I’m happy,” she said. “Anything can happen in one game on TV, but getting there is the biggest part.”

The Women’s and Senior World Championship title matches will be contested Saturday at noon for delayed telecast to open the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season on ESPN on Sunday, Oct. 25. The men’s finals will be contested live on ESPN on Dec. 13 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.

PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., Sept. 4

Round of 8 (best of 7 games, losers eliminated and earned $6,300; winners advanced to live ESPN finals on Sunday, Dec. 13, at Northrock Lanes, Wichita, Kan.)
Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, def. Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 4-1
Rhino Page, Wesley Chapel, Fla., def. Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 4-1
Thomas Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., def. Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 4-2
Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., def. Steve Rogers, Bourbonnais, Ill., 4-2

PBA SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., Sept. 4

Semifinal Round (best of 7 games, losers eliminated and earned $3,800; winners advanced to title match Saturday)
Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 4-3
Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., def. Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., 4-3

PBA WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., Sept. 4

Semifinal Round (best of 7 games, losers eliminated and earned $4,000; winners advanced to title match Saturday)
Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix, def. Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 4-3
Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., def. Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif., 4-2

Barnes Wins PBA World Series

of Bowling Lumber Leaders Title

Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, captured the Professional Bowlers Association’s World Series of Bowling Lumber Leaders special event recently at Thunderbowl Lanes, averaging 221.93 over 103 qualifying games in seven World Series events to claim the winner-take-all $10,000 prize.

“I had a kind of disappointing finish,” the 12-time Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titlist said. “I was 180 over (pins above a 200 average) after four games. I was thinking about finishing in the top eight to get a bye for the match play rounds, and I shoot 170.

“I just don’t allow myself to be happy.”

A 229 final game was enough to allow Barnes to finish with 22,859 pins and coast to the title over challengers Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, who finished second with a 22,692 total, 167 behind Barnes. Sean Rash of Wichita, Kan., was third with 22,602 pins.

“The Lumber Leaders bonus, and being in the top eight to get byes in each event, has been my focus since early in the World Series,” Barnes said. “Winning the Lumber Leader event is a big deal. It’s like making it to another TV show.”

PBA WORLD SERIES OF BOWLING LUMBER LEADER STANDINGS (after 103 games)
1, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 22,859 (221.93 average), $10,000
2, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 22,692 (220.31)
3, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 22,602 (219.44)
4, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 22,541 (218.84)
5, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 22,363 (217.12)
6, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 22,328 (216.78)
7, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 22,268 (216.19)
8, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 22,222 (215.75)
9, Thomas Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 22,168 (215.22)
10, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 22,121 (214.77)

Here & There Column 9-8-09

Arlo Guthrie appearing with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra Aug. 22 at Bethel Woods

"Look At All Those Hippies Down There"

The Saturday August 22 appearance of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and storyteller and accomplished musician Arlo Guthrie at Bethel Woods will long be remembered as one of those special musicial treats.
As he was sitting down and strapping up his guitar following his introduction by Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, Guthrie remarked to the audience, "good to be back...looks like I got the biggest band now."
His remarks were in reference to his appearance at the original 1969 Woodstock Festival with a handful of musicians as his backup band.
A very accomplished musician his talents were quite evident as he played the guitar, harmonica and keyboard (piano), all with the accompanying talented Boston Pops musicians.
As part of his storytelling talents Arlo told the tale about his arrival at the 69 Woodstock Festival after the vehicle he was riding in got tied up in the heavy traffic.
He noted that they sent a helicopter and as they were flying over the huge throngs of people on the ground Arlo commented. "there's a lot of hippies down there doing a lot of illegal stuff."
Guthrie also indicated that two state troopers in the helicopter didn't indicate their desire to go down there and do police work.
This concert also brought some rain, thunder and lighting, a stark reminder of the rain that soaked the original Woodstock crowd.
Arlo's rendition of "City of New Orleans" proved to be a crowd favorite this night.
As always the Boston Pops makes for a pleasant evening and their rendition of Gershwin's "An American In Paris" was a crowd favorite.
Accomplished musician Arlo Guthrie and the famous Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra indeed made this August evening very enjoyable.

Golfing Highlights 9-4-09

Linda Ferris, general manager at the French Woods Golf Course.

Four ponds are now located behind the 135-yard par 3 second hole at the French Woods Golf Club located on Route 97 near Hancock.

French Woods Celebrating 10th Anniversary

The French Woods Golf & Country Club this year is celebrating their 10th anniversary.
New additions to the course are four added ponds in back of the par 3 number two green and an added pond behind the 16th green.
Linda Ferris is the general manager at this popular golf facility which is carved out of the Catskill Mountains and provides unparalleled vistas and priceless views on it's 18 hole 6,018 yard public course.
The course is also unique in that it offers 7 private lodges situated throughout the golf course with each lodge featuring 2 bedrooms, dining and living room and full kitchen.
Russ and Lynn Bass have worked hard to bring a scenic challenging and enjoyable golf course to all levels of players
The clubhouse overlooks the course and entire valley providing panoramic views that reach out to as far away as 25 miles.
The land upon which the golf course is built is now once again back in the Bass and Bouchoux family whose descendants were some of the first settlers and land owners in the French Woods area....dating back to the mid 1800's.
In 1997, Russell and Lynn Bass (whose maiden name was Bouchoux) were looking to attract interest to the French Woods area. Their decision was to construct a golf course, restaurant and log cabins for rental.
Construction of the front nine of the golf course was started in the spring of 1997. This was not a simple easy project as the entire area was all woods.
Russell designed the course and since he was in the logging business, logging crews came in, cut down trees and cleared the land.
On June 29, 1999 the first nine holes were open. Work continued on the back nine and on June 29, 2001 the back nine opened.
The course is presently home to a Monday ladies league and Tuesday and Thursday ladies leagues. The Hancock Central School and Family School use French Woods as their home golf course for league competition.
The course plays from the blue tees 6,018 yards and is a par 72. The front and back nine play to par 36. The front nine plays a total of 2,959 yards from the blue tees
French Woods Golf & Country Club also offers breakfast and lunch golf specials in their very well designed modern clubhouse.
Cabin and golf packages are also available.
Golf course superintendent is Dan Wormuth who has done an excellent job this summer with all the rain we have had.
A small bar greets you as you enter the clubhouse. A putting green awaits you just outside the clubhouse entrance.
Club memberships are available at $575 for single and $750 for couples. Family memberships are $790, student membership $250, senior single $525 and senior couple $700.
The club special of $30 Monday through Thursday includes golf and cart for 18 holes and free breakfast or lunch. The same package is available on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays for $37.
For tee reservations call 607-637-1800. Their web site is http://www.golfandxski.com/
We found the course very interesting to play from the blue tees.
We will describe to you this week how the first nine holes should be played. Next week we will detail the back nine.
Hole No. 1 is a 351-yard par 4, keep you tee shot down the middle and avoid the trees on both sides of the fairway. No traps on this green.
Hole No. 2 is a 135-yard par 3. Short narrow downhill fairway but club selection is important here and remember the 4 added ponds behind the green.
Hole No. 3 is a 423-yard par 5 and best to keep your tee shot in the center of the fairway. This hole plays uphill with a large pond on the left which is visible from the tee. There is a trap on the right front section of this green. Good club selection here can get you a birdie.
Hole No. 4 is a 373-yard par 4 with a sharp dogleg to the left on your tee shot. Stay center right. There is water crossing the fairway about 100 plus yards from the tee. There are no traps on this green. Club selection on the tee is important here.
Hole No. 5 is a 500-yard par 5 with a dogleg left. Hit your tee shot over the fairway flag. There is a trap left front of this green. Good club selection here helps getting a birdie or par.
Hole No. 6 is a 177-yard par 3. Requires a tee shot straight down the middle for a birdie or par.
Hole No. 7 is a 317-yard par 4 and presents a view worth the trip to this golf facility. There is a highly elevated tee which makes this hole just outstanding and our favorite on this whole course.With the green sitting to the left it is best to play to the right side of the fairway. There is a big gully before this green. A nice par hole.
Hole No. 8 is a 360-yard par 4 with a dogleg right. Stay right on your tee shot and do not use the driver. There is some water left.
Hole No. 9 is a 370-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg right. Another nice view from the blue tee. There is a small pond right so play the center of the fairway. Trap is located on the right side of the green.

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 if you don't succeed, you have no 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 on Mt. Hope Road at 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

Ed's Outlook

There will no longer be a Buick Open golf tournament. .
Tiger Woods is not fond of tournaments that require you to go way under par, but, he'd have a hard time convincing you that he doesn't like Warwick Hills in Michigan. Woods has now won the Buick Open twice after shooting even-par 72 in his first appearance at the tournament in 1997, Woods has shot 34 straight under par rounds and combined to go 157 under par in nine appearances. Woods won the Joly 30-Aug. 2 Buick Open with a final round 68 and a 72-hole total of 20 under. He bested a trio of second place finishers by 3 strokes.
But, unfortunately for Tiger, the Buick Open is no longer. Soon after the tournament ended, Buick announced that it would no longer be sponsoring the event due to a court-ordered bankruptcy.
The PGA Tour immediately replaced it with an event at the Greenbrier in West Virginia.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of golf and to several golf writer associations. If you have a topic that would make good reading or have league scores or tournament information, Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177 or via e=mail at bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a more expanded version of our golf column visit our Web Page at http://bght.blogspot.com

Mega TV Weekend Caps Inaugural
PBA World Series of Bowling

ALLEN PARK, Mich. A roster of more than 30 of the world’s top bowling stars, including the finalists in the Professional Bowlers Association Women’s and Senior World Championships who are yet to be decided, is set for a grand finale television weekend Saturday and Sunday September 5-6, at historic Thunderbowl Lanes to conclude the five-week PBA World Series of Bowling.

“It’s going to be a dream weekend for bowling fans,” said PBA Deputy Commissioner Tom Clark.

Thunderbowl’s Arena Bay, originally built nearly 50 years ago to showcase the ill-fated National Bowling League, will come full circle as the site for six ESPN television events at noon, 3:30 and 7 p.m. each day. The PBA Women’s and Senior World Championships title matches will lead off the weekend at noon Saturday, followed by the finals of the Motor City Open at 3:30 p.m. and the men’s and women’s Viper Championships at 7 p.m. Sunday’s lineup includes the men’s and women’s Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark Championships, respectively.

The PBA Cheetah Championships, conducted from start to finish in a unique documentary format, will also be part of the PBA’s Detroit lineup on ESPN this fall.

“The PBA brought its first World Series of Bowling to Detroit because this is the capital of the bowling world,” Clark said. “We are concluding our five-week, 13-tournament program with a series of television events that will showcase Detroit for seven consecutive weeks on ESPN beginning Oct. 25.”

Among the PBA stars who have qualified for one or more of the weekend telecasts are Hall of Famers Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Amleto Monacelli; reigning PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott and previous-season Player of the Year Chris Barnes, and top women’s stars Liz Johnson, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and Kelly Kulick. Australian two-handed sensation Jason Belmonte is among the TV finalists as are Thomas Smallwood of Saginaw, Mich., and Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., who was a star collegiate bowler at Saginaw Valley State.

Tickets for the weekend events are available at Thunderbowl Lanes in prices ranging from $5 to $25. Tickets will be available at the door or can be ordered in advance by calling 313-928-4688.

PBA WORLD SERIES OF BOWLING WEEKEND ESPN FINALS SUMMARY

PBA SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, Sept. 5, Noon (airs on ESPN Sunday, Oct. 25, 1 p.m. ET)
Championship: players to be determined on Friday, Sept. 4

PBA WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, Sept. 5, Noon (airs on ESPN Sunday, Oct. 25, 1 p.m. ET)
Championship: players to be determined on Friday, Sept. 4

MOTOR CITY OPEN
Saturday, Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m. (Stepladder Final; airs on ESPN Sunday, Nov. 1, 1 p.m.)
Match One: #4 Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., vs. #5 Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa.
Match Two: Winner Match One vs. #3 Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo.
Semifinal Match: Winner Match Two vs. #2 Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas
Championship: Winner Semifinal Match vs. #1 Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla.

PBA VIPER CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, Sept. 5, 7 p.m. (airs on ESPN Sunday, Nov. 15, 1 p.m. ET)
Women’s Championship: Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, vs. Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y.
Semifinal Match One: Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., vs. Rhino Page, Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Semifinal Match Two: Ryan Ciminelli, Rochester, N.Y., vs. Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz.
Championship: Winners of Match One and Match Two

PBA CHAMELEON CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, Sept. 6, Noon (airs on ESPN Sunday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m. ET)
Women’s Championship: Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix, vs. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas
Semifinal Match One: Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., vs. Ronnie Russell, Camby, Ind.
Semifinal Match Two: Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., vs. Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela
Championship: Winners of Match One and Match Two

PBA SCORPION CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, Sept. 6, 3:30 p.m. (airs on ESPN Sunday, Nov. 29, 1 p.m. ET)
Women’s Championship: Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., vs. Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix
Semifinal Match One: Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., vs. Mike DeVaney, San Diego
Semifinal Match Two: Thomas Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., vs. Jason Belmonte, Australia
Championship: Winners of Match One and Match Two

PBA SHARK CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m. (airs on ESPN Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 p.m. ET)
Women’s Championship: Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., vs. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas
Semifinal Match One: Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., vs. Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas
Semifinal Match Two: Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., vs. Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y
Championship: Winners of Match One and Match Two

PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. (live, airs from Northrock Lanes, Wichita, Kan.)
Semifinal Match One: players to be determined on Friday, Sept. 4
Semifinal Match Two: players to be determined on Friday, Sept. 4
Championship: Winners of Match One and Match Two

Malott, Mohr, Pluhowsky Pace PBA
World Championships Qualifiers

ALLEN PARK, Mich. Reigning Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, led the field of 40 PBA World Championship finalists who moved into match play at Thunderbowl Lanes Sept. 3 by sitting on the sidelines, resting until Friday.

Malott, Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, and Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix were the top qualifiers in the PBA, PBA Women’s and PBA Senior World Championships, respectively, which earned each of them – and a handful of others – byes for the first two rounds of best-of-seven-game, single-elimination match play.

Also earning byes in the PBA World Championship field were Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas; Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan.; Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich.; Mike DeVaney, San Diego; Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas; Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., and Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C.

Senior World Championship players earning two bye rounds along with Mohr were Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla.; Harry Sullins, Chester Township, Mich., and Dave Patchen, Oregon, Ohio. Joining Pluhowsky in the women’s bye pool were Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J.; Michelle Feldman, Auburn, N.Y., and Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y.

During Thursday’s afternoon opening PBA World Championship Round of 32, Michigan residents Thomas Smallwood, Saginaw; Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, and Dan MacLelland, Saginaw, advanced to Friday’s Round of 16 while PBA Hall of Famers Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., and Brian Voss of Alpharetta, Ga., along with Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte were among the 16 players eliminated.

In the opening Senior match play round, PBA Hall of Famers Tom Baker, King, N.C.; Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, and Wayne Webb, Sacramento, Calif., were among the eight Round of 16 survivors. In the women’s Round of 16, hall of famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, advanced while a pair of fellow hall of famers – Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., and Cheryl Daniels of West Bloomfield, Mich., were eliminated.

The final three rounds of matches for all players on Friday will reduce the fields to four men, two seniors and two women for the ESPN finals.

“My concern was staying in the top four,” Malott said. “Scroggins has a great look on fresh lane conditions. He has been bowling some big games, so I figured if I could stay in the top four, the first time I’ll have to bowl against him would be on TV. That was on my mind. Now I can get some rest, which is always a good thing.

“But I will be in the center watching to see how the guys break down the lane condition on the pairs I’ll be on tomorrow.”

“I’m tired,” Mohr admitted. “When you’re trying to bowl at this level, every shot is important. It’s draining. It’ll be nice to have a couple of rounds to rest.

“The lanes today played the hardest they have all week,” the three-time 2009 PBA Senior Tour titlist said. “There was no mistake room. When that happens, you become afraid of making a shot too fast or too slow. You just can’t relax.”

Pluhowsky overtook Kulick for the first time, but being the top women’s qualifier didn’t excite her.

“All pins are dropped now and we’re moving into a different section of the bowling center for match play, so there’s no advantage to being No. 1 other than having fewer matches to bowl and the guarantee of a bigger check,” Pluhowsky said. “So far I’m very pleased with the way I have been bowling. Everything’s good. It’s going to be a busy weekend (she has already qualified for two television finals over the weekend), but that’s much better than watching.”

The Women’s and Senior World Championship title matches will be contested Saturday at noon for delayed telecast on ESPN. The men’s finals will be contested live on ESPN on Dec. 13 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.

PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., Sept. 3

Round of 40 (best of 7 games, losers eliminated and earned $2,000)
Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, def. Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 4-2
Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., def. PJ Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 4-1
Thomas Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., def. Andres Gomez, Colombia, 4-1
Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., def. Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 4-1
Rhino Page, Wesley Chapel, Fla., def. Jeffrey Roche, Dearborn, Mich., 4-1
Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, def. Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 4-2
Jay Futrell, Derby, Kan., def. Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 4-0
Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, Mich., def. Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 4-1
Martin Larsen, Sweden, def. Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 4-1
Steve Rogers, Bourbonnais, Ill., def. Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 4-0
Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., def. Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 4-0
Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, def. Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 4-0
Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., def. Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., 4-2
Dan MacLelland, Saginaw, Mich., def. Robert Lawrence, Austin, Texas, 4-2
Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., def. Jason Belmonte, Australia, 4-1
Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., def. Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 4-1

PBA SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., Sept. 3

Round of 16 (best of 7 games, losers eliminated and earned $1,800)
Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., def. John Bennett, Clarkston, Mich., 4-1
Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., def. Ted Hannahs, Zanesville, Ohio, 4-1
Wayne Webb, Sacramento, Calif., def. Steve Neff, Homosassa Springs, Fla., 4-2
Tom Baker, King, N.C., def. Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 4-1
Carl Kinyon, Lockport, N.Y., def. Roy Buckley, Westerville, Ohio, 4-3
Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., def. Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 4-0
Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, def. Dale Csuhta, Wadsworth, Ohio, 4-3
Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., def. Robert Harvey, Boise, Idaho, 4-1

PBA WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., Sept. 2

Round of 16 (best of 7 games, losers eliminated and earned $1,500)
Tammy Boomershine, North Ogden, Utah, def. Paola Gomez, Colombia, 4-1
Lindsay Baker, Waterford, Mich., def. Cheryl Daniels, West Bloomfield, Mich., 4-1
Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, def. Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia, 3-3
Amanda Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., def. Robin Orlikowski, Grand Rapids, Mich., 4-2
Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, def. Adrienne Miller, Albuquerque, N.M., 4-0
Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio, def. Elysia Current, Ephrata, Pa., 4-1
Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif., def. Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., 4-1
Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, def. Joy Esterson, Annapolis, Md., 4-3

About the PBA
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) features the best bowlers in the world competing in National, Regional and Senior Tour events and awarded over $4.3 million in prize money during the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA National Tour. The organization has more than 4,000 members spanning 13 countries, and nearly one million viewers tune-in to watch the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour every Sunday on ESPN throughout the season. PBA sponsors include Bayer, Brunswick, CLR, Denny's, Etonic, Flomax, GEICO, Go RVing, H&R Block, Lumber Liquidators, Pepsi-Cola and the USBC, among others.