BOWLING HIGHLIGHTS COLUMN

  Local Bowlers Can Compete Statewide


   Local Sullivan County bowlers have three major United States Bowling Congress (USBC) tournaments that they can compete in and they are all located within driving distance in New York State.

  The 93rd Annual New York State Open (Men's) but also open to women bowlers, has been scheduled for the Ideal Bowling Center in Endicott next April and May.
  The tournament dates are April 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, May 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21.
  This tournament features team event, doubles and singles and the team event consists of five bowlers.

  The Southern Tier USBC is hosting this championship event.

  Multiple participation will be allowed but at least two players in the lineup must be different in the team event.

  Entry fee is $35 per person per event. Dates, event and times are available at www.bowlny.com or by calling 585-343-3736.
  Checks or money orders payable to New York State USBC must be mailed to New York State USBC, Attn: Mike Pettinella, 55 Edgewood Drive, Batavia, NY 14020.
  The 46th Anual NYS Queens Championship will be held April 22, at the Rapids Bowling Center in Niagara Falls.
  This event is open to Open and Classified divisions with two qualifying squads bowling five games at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Competition is scratch and 1 in 4 will cash and the lane condition will not be a house shot.
  Entry fee is $80 and after the 1 p.m. squad and re-oiling, semis, 1 game matches followed by stepladder, top 4 advance in each division.

  Make checks payable to NYS Queens and mail entry and fees to New York State USBC, 55 Edgewood Drive, Batavia, NY 14020.
  Website is www.bowlny.com                                                          

  The 81stAnnual New York State Women's Championships will be held April and May at Tonawanda Bowling Center in Tonawanda, NY.

  Entry fee is $30 per bowler per event. Mail checks payable to the NYS USBC at the address noted in the above paragraphs. Multiple participation is allowed but on the four team event two players must be different from the original team.   The divisional setup is Division 1 (scratch), Division 2 and Division 3 are handicap. 
  This tournament features four member team event, doubles and singles and will be held April 8, 9, 21, 22, 23, 28-29-30, May 5,6,7, 19,20, 21. Squad times and events are listed on the website www.bowlny.com


Ed's Outlook 

 

  Every sport needs sponsors and partnerships and GEICO, one of America’s premier auto insurers, will return to its entitlement  partnership position for the GEICO Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling VIII in Reno, Nev., Nov. 27-Dec. 11, continuing its relationship with the PBA for the 14th consecutive year, including four years in a row as headline sponsor of the PBA WSOB.

  GEICO’s partnership will conclude with five national telecasts on ESPN along with hundreds of hours of digital coverage through PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame. ESPN telecasts will include the live finals of the PBA World Championship on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m. ET plus the finals of the PBA Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon and Shark Championships. All 2016-17 PBA Tour telecasts on ESPN also will feature a GEICO Championship Recap segment.

  GEICO, which serves more than 14 million private passenger customers and insures more than 24 million vehicles (auto & cycle), has been a PBA Tour partner since the 2003 GEICO Open in West Babylon, N.Y. In addition to its PBA entitlement sponsorships, it has been one of the leading advertisers in support of PBA’s telecasts.

  “We really like being a part of the PBA World Series of Bowling,” said Ted Ward, GEICO’s vice president of marketing. “It’s such a popular sporting event and it brings out such great fans. We’re happy we can support them.”

  The GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling VIII will award more than $750,000 in prize money, making it the richest event in professional bowling. A field of more than bowlers representing an estimated 20 different countries is expected. Since its inception, the WSOB has welcomed bowlers representing 36 different countries.

  “GEICO’s continuing partnership with the PBA is valuable not only to our programs at all levels, but to the bowling community around the world,” said PBA CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark. “We are extremely happy to welcome GEICO back for the 14th year in a row.”

  GEICO not only will have a significant presence on PBA’s ESPN telecasts, but also through the PBA Network which includes the online bowling channel Xtra Frame, social media, pba.com website, PBA YouTube channel and much more. The partnership package also will include visibility for GEICO on masking units and pin sweeps, and GEICO will be recognized as the “Official Auto Insurance Agency of the PBA World Series of Bowling.”

  

 Bowling Tip

By Mike Luongo

  The tip this week will be especially beneficial to youth and beginning bowlers.

  Many bowlers worry too much about their steps and footwork, giving very little thought to their upper body position.

  In the past, most new bowlers were told that you must use a four-step approach and push the ball away on the first step.

  This advise was generally imparted by someone wit the word "Coach" lettered on their shirt.

  Unfortunately, this advise is pure rubbish.

  First of all, all bowlers have different body types, different flexibility and different lengths to their arms and legs, so how is it possible that everyone can effectively use the exact same four-step approach? They can't.

  If you look back at the legends of the game, did any two bowlers have exactly the same style? No.

  The most important thing is to get the bowler's body in the correct position.....head over the ball with the bowling shoulder tilted to the ball side.

  In this way the feet will go where they must so that you do not fall down.

  The bottom line is if you are someone that works with new or youth bowlers, you must understand that everyone has different physiology so you need to help them get their body into the correct position and not focus on  how many steps they taker (or how these steps are taken) to get to the foul line.

  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

  Callicoon Kristal Bowl

  Monday Ladies

  Rebecca Rhodes 186, 187, 521, Joyce Brooks 165, Kelly Gombita 155, Lillian Zieres 170, 172, Debbie Loughrey 163,  156, Pat Peters 156, Judy Mohn 154, Dawn Roemer 152, Kim Doty 173, Mardette Wilcox 172, 170, Kristen Emmett 150, 168.

 Wednesday Fun

   Jim Kautz 198, 241, 614, Brian Brustman 207, John Kline 182, Rich Thony 209, Tim Sykes 180, Bob Fix 185, Tom Gain 248, Bobby Glassel 230, John Diehl 200, Jack Diehl 181, Craig Stewart 207, 194, Roger Widmann 188, 203, John Fischer 195, 194, Mark Schriber 191.

Beechwood Lanes

Monday Ladies

  Beth Schumacher 166, 162, Tracy Puerschner 170, Autumn Ackerman 163, Diane Staves 151, Lois Erdmann 196.

Kiamesha Lanes

Monday Men's

Josh Strang 609, Pedro Agapito III a 605, Dean Shaddock 225, Paul Berens 244, Kyle Matthews 246, 623, Vinny Collura 259, 704, Donny Durland 235, 268, 279, 782, Mike Weiner 243, Ronald Totten 279, 628, Charley Tuttle 255, 612, Eddie Lake 229, 630, Rick Lake 233, 644, Juan Lopez 226, Gene Smith 233, 634, Lloyd Bridges 269, 693, Jon Wilhelm 234, 670, Robert Feeney 225, Vincent DeGraw 607, James VanAken 267, 694, Al Caycho 602, Bobby Cooper 225, Jody Farquhar 226.

Tues. Mixed Firefighters

  Pedro Agapito III a 258, 246, 685, Shane Cunningham 632, Kyle Vanwolde 237, 649, Trasey Barres 194, 177, 537, Carena Collura 211, 545, Charlie Tuttle 256, 670, Patti Meade 182, Karen Martin 199, 511, Kat Cronk 199, 194, 558, Tom Belgiovene 233, Kyle Giordano 260, 228, 231, 719, Jon Wilhelm 225, 627, Ed Guthrie 226, 606, John Hoffmann 232, 644, Leanne Mangabang 192, Mary Lee Williams 195, 190, 207, 592, Andrea Washington 182, 196, 550, Joan Lake 196, 511, Linda Schaefer 226, 534, Liz Stubits 183, 190, 541, Keith Smith 236, 225, 655, David Graham 236, 647.

Thursday Ladies

Sherri Laird 186, 184, 545, Lisa Cartwright 181, Tricia Tuttle 206, 529, Trasey Barres 502, Barb Merton 197, Danielle Johnson 190, Theresa Balzano 198, Liz Stubits 188, 526, Mary Jane Conklin 190, Joan Lake 188, 527, Audrey Woolard 221, 506.

Friday Mixed

  Donald Durland 258, 254, 733, Sarah Durland 217, 544, Cathy Carpenter 507, Anne Kaplan 188, MaryAnn Drobysh-Berens 189, 238, 577, Paul Durland 230, 614, Larry Whipple 234, 641, Eddie Lake 268, 688, Lauren Blume 180, Jessica Behnke 210, Trasey Barres 225, 578, Angie Desmond 188, 520, Keith Smith 257, 671, James VanAken 228, 614.

 

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 you age, let Ed know 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.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.