BOWLING HIGHLIGHTS COLUMN

 

“NEW” BAYSIDE BOWL IN APRIL

While the PBA is moving into the “Big February” portion of its 2017 season, construction is progressing on the “new” Bayside Bowl in Portland, Maine, in anticipation of the arrival of the PBA League and the Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship in April.

Construction of “West Bayside Bowl,” the new eight-lane addition to the facility, will complement “East Bayside Bowl,” the existing 12-lane side. The new addition is expected to be completed by the end of February. Proprietor Charlie Mitchell said a special “grand opening” will take place in mid-March. East Bayside will remain as-is with its original bar-restaurant retaining the historic feel of the facility.

The Roth/Holman Doubles will use all 20 lanes in East Bayside and West Bayside for preliminary rounds, with the live ESPN finals (on Sunday, April 16 at 1 p.m. ET) and all four televised rounds of PBA League competition (airing on consecutive Sundays April 23-May 14, all at 1 p.m. ET) originating from the new West Bayside lanes.

 

Ed Outlook

PBA’s “Big February” schedule of major championships means a big month of exclusive live streaming coverage on Xtra Frame, beginning with the qualifying rounds of the Barbasol PBA Players Championship Feb. 7-10 from Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl in Columbus, Ohio.

Following the live ESPN finals of the Players Championship on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 1 p.m. ET, the PBA and Xtra Frame head to Shawnee, Okla., for live coverage of the PBA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and 2016 PBA Awards presentations on Monday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m. ET from the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort.

Xtra Frame coverage then moves to FireLake Bowling Center in Shawnee for the preliminary rounds of the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions, Feb. 14-17. That week is concluded by the live ESPN finals of the TOC from FireLake Arena on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m. ET.

Big February continues with qualifying and double-elimination match play coverage of the USBC Masters from The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Feb. 21-25. The USBC Masters finals, followed by the World Bowling Tour Men’s and Women’s Finals presented by the PBA will air live, back-to-back, on ESPN on Sunday, Feb. 26, beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

For a preview of the Big February majors, check out this video clip on PBA’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtDwgqKvgHc 

The finals for all PBA ESPN telecasts are simulcast on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN mobile app for those who would like to watch online or on mobile devices.

PBA’s all-star month is a perfect time for PBA fans to sign up for Xtra Frame’s full month subscription for only $7.99. Three-day ($3.99) and full year Xtra Frame Season Ticket (less than $1.25 a week) options also are available. Visit xtraframe.tv to enroll.

Local Scores

Beechwood Lanes

Mon. Villa Roma Ladies

  Diane Staves 152, 158, Beth Schumacher 154, Lindsey Bauer 155, Jodi Sculley 170, Danielle Meyer 152, 172, 168, Autumn Ackerman 157.

Callicoon Kristal Bowl

  Marty Bogdanowitz 150, Tolaki Deylii 150, Sue Naughton 160, 160, 157, Kelly Gombita 152, Lillian Zieres 167, 187, Chris Burr 155, Debbie Loughrey 159, 189, 160, 508, Robin Luckey 150, Sill Boldiis 169, 163, Pat Peters 180, 150, Rebecca Rhodes 164, DeeDee Schrader 156, Judy Mohn 190, 186, 520, Kristin Emmett 165, 159.

Wednesday Fun

  Brian Brustman 182, John Kline 223, Rich Thony 200, Tim Sykes 199, Mardette Wilcox 179, 163, 194, 536, Tom Gain 211, Bobby Glassel 202, 257, 631, John Diehl 194, 190, 200, Hopper Hubert 200, Jack Diehl 233, Alby Thony 196, 222, Roger Widmann 233, John Fischer 183, Troy Parucki 215, Mike Sorge 192, 188, Jim Kautz 191, Kory Keesler 188, 194.

Kiamesha Lanes

Monday Men's 

  Michael Travis 257, 677, Jason Jones Jr, 232, 607, Kyle Matthews 225, 648, Chris Parken 226, 619, Josh Strang 233, 647, Jim Piontek 267, 267, 738, Pedro Agapito III a 645, Jaryl Scott 244, 643, Paul Durland 238, 641, Vinny Collura 289, 684, Donny Durland 236, 631, Dan Ricco 610, Mike Weiner 608, Tim Totten 268, 708, Laresko Niifa 226, 624, Kevin Stackhouse 242, 227, 662, Ronald Totten 258, 232, 704, Gary North 243, 632, Charles Tuttle 267, 264, 710, David Graham 279, 257, 228, 764, Chris Marler 236, 663, Keith Smith 237, 255, 697, Eddie Lake 611, Rick Lake 250, 245, 675, Gene Smith 225, 646, Walt Edwards 233, 640, Michael Scuderi 248, 267, 661, Frank Scuderi 242, 239, 641, Arthur Stevens 257, 637, Jon "Urathane" Wilhelm 279, 237, 727, Vincent DeGraw 615, Larry Whipple 241, 655, James VanAken 246, 674, Jody Farquhar 234, 265, 710, John Hoffmann 243, 226, 683, Robert Stewart 609. 

 Thursday Ladies

  Lisa Cartwright 205, 501, Trasey Barres 224, 540, Barb Merton 204, Connie McKenley 208, 529, Kristy Lopez 203, Joan Lake 507, Pat Stuart 197, 186, 539, Dottie Cox 183, 513, Cynthia Short 182.

  Friday Mixed

  Paul Berens 225, 671, Don Durland 225, 228, 648, Eddie Lake 246, 664, Ryan Lepke 616, Dan Ricco 225, 662, Bill Schubert 256, 620, Keith  Smith 236, 269, 729, Kevin Stackhouse 247, 674, Charles Tuttle 226, 615, James VanAken 234, 245, 644, Larry Whipple 225, Ester Barber 208, 547, Trasey Barres 202, 512, Lauren Blume 210, 503, Cathy Carpenter 185, 254, 611, MaryAnn Drobysh-Berens 202, 266, 647, Brittany Morris 259, 239, 202, 700, Linda Schaefer 192, 525, Loretta VanAken 181, 194, 513, Mary Lee Williams 180.

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, 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.

HERE & THERE COLUMN

     Getting Bagged Is Challenging

  Now don't get the wrong idea .... when I'm writing about getting bagged my main focus here is about shopping at retail stores today and how we get bagged at the check-out counter.
  Remember when everything you bought got put into a paper bag.
  Now it looks like a new trend for trekking our groceries and other retail items home is how we get bagged?
  Some states have approved legislation where plastic bags will be phased out of many stores.
  Basically stating this legislation is meant to encourage consumers to bring their own bags while reducing litter and grocers will also be able to charge customers for a paper bag.
  The argument here is that banning plastic bags is environmentally safer while others say this is a fallacy because litter from plastic bags is less than one percent of what goes into landfills.
  Then there is also the topic of paper bags which some say is more harmful to the environment because they use more energy and require cutting down trees.
  Additional studies warn that reusable grocery bags could also spread germs if they are used to handle meat and are not cleaned properly between uses.
  Many cities throughout our country  have passed ordinances restricting the use of plastic bags.
  Retail Associations have all spoken out against the plastic bag ordinance's and restrictions but supporters of the ordinances say plastic bags harm the environment and there is a need to ban he very thing that hangs on fence lines and trees and that's killing our wildlife and fish and is clogging up sewer systems.
  There are some grocery stores that don't bag what you have purchased and so do not charge for bags and  have customers being in their own bags if they want to bag their own groceries.
  Whatever happens I think my wife is far ahead of the trend as she has between five to 10 cloth bags with various logo's on them that she carts into the store (some stores give a discount for your own bags) .
  Of course we could go way back in years where consumers might consider getting their hands on some burlap bags which certainly should create interesting remarks from store clerks.

BELMONTE WINS FOR 7TH MAJOR

Belmonte Wins Barbasol PBA Players Championship

for Seventh Major Title

Australian defeats Anthony Simonsen 221-204 in championship match to end two-year winless streak

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Feb. 12, 2017) – Three-time Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year Jason Belmonte of Australia captured his seventh major title and ended a two-year streak without a Tour win by winning the Barbasol PBA Players Championship Sunday at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.

In a championship match between two players who use the unique two-handed delivery, the top seeded Belmonte defeated Anthony Simonsen of Austin, Texas, 221-204, to notch his second Players Championship win and 13th PBA Tour title overall.

Belmonte’s win broke a dry spell that started after he won his record third straight USBC Masters and his second consecutive PBA Tournament of Champions back-to-back in February of 2015. Going into the Players Championship he had a string of 16 tournaments in which he made the top five but failed to win. He finished second in five of those events.

“It’s a brand new start,” Belmonte said of the new season.  “I was successful staying focused the whole tournament from start to finish. I’ve learned that if you look ahead or behind you’re not staying in the moment.”

In the title match, Belmonte held a commanding 37-pin lead in the fifth frame that was too much for Simonsen to overcome.

“It feels fantastic,” said the 33-year-old Belmonte, who won his first major in the 2011 Players Championship. “Two years is a long time to wait (for a win), especially considering all the times I had made TV.

“I’ve always believed in myself but I’ll admit there’s a lot of weight off of my shoulders now after all that time because believe me, people will remind you,” he added.

The 20-year-old Simonsen, who qualified second for the finals, was trying to become the youngest player to win two PBA Tour majors. He won the 2016 USBC Masters at 19 to become the youngest to win a PBA major.

“I didn’t make my best shots in that match,” said Simonsen. “There were probably a couple of shots where I should have reset myself. I’ll just use it as a learning experience.”

In the semifinal match, Simonsen beat Connor Pickford of Plano, Texas, 204-191, to advance to the title match. Pickford, who was trying for his first Tour singles title, teamed with Simonsen to win the 2016 Roth/Holman PBA Doubles for his first title.

In the opening stepladder match, Pickford defeated Team USA member and former Wichita State bowling star AJ Chapman, 243-154. Chapman was trying to become only the third player to win a Tour title in his first tournament as a PBA member.

In the second match, Pickford defeated Martin Larsen of Sweden 266-182 to advance to the semifinal. With four career runner-up finishes, Larsen was trying for his first Tour win.

The PBA Tour travels to Shawnee, Okla., for the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions Feb. 13-19, the second major of the season.

PBA’s Big February on ESPN continues with live finals telecasts of the Tournament of Champions on Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. ET and back-to-back telecasts of the USBC Masters finals and World Bowling Tour Men’s and Women’s Finals presented by the PBA Feb. 26 beginning at 1 p.m. 

In addition to the lineup of live telecasts, the State Farm CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational, which was taped on Jan. 17 at Lucky Strike L.A. Live in Los Angeles, will air on Friday, Feb. 17, at 9 p.m. ET as part of the NBA All-Star weekend.

BARBASOL PBA PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl, Columbus, Ohio, Sunday

Final Standings

1, Jason Belmonte, Australia, $40,000.

2, Anthony Simonsen, Austin, Texas, $20,000.

3, Connor Pickford, Plano, Texas, $12,000.

4, Martin Larsen, Sweden, $11,000.

5, AJ Chapman, Wichita, Kan., $10,000.

Stepladder Results

Match One – Pickford def. Chapman, 243-154.

Match Two – Pickford def. Larsen, 266-182.

Semifinal Match – Simonsen def. Pickford, 204-191.

Championship Match – Belmonte def. Simonsen, 221-204.

About the PBA

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is an organization of more than 3,200 of the best bowlers from 27 countries who compete in PBA Tour, PBA International Tour, QubicaAMF PBA Regional Tour, PBA Women’s Regional and PBA50 Tour events. The PBA is in its 58th consecutive year of nationally-televised competition, reaching bowling fans around the world who follow PBA activities through the PBA Network which includes Xtra Frame, the PBA’s exclusive online bowling channel, ESPN and CBS Sports Network, and the PBA on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. PBA sponsors include Barbasol, Brunswick, Ebonite International, GEICO, Grand Casino Hotel and Resort, HotelPlanner.com, MOTIV, 900 Global, PBA Bowling Challenge Mobile Game, QubicaAMF, South Point Hotel Casino and Spa, Storm Products and the United States Bowling Congress, among others. For more information, log on to www.pba.com.

PROS GET ADDED INCENTIVES

2017 XF PBA Tour Storm Cup to Provide Added Incentives for PBA Players

Season-long points competition gets underway March 17-19 in Tamarac, Florida

CHICAGO (Feb. 10, 2017) – The Professional Bowlers Association’s third full season of Xtra Frame PBA Tour competition, featuring a series of high-profile tournaments covered exclusively on PBA’s live streaming online bowling channel, Xtra Frame, will include enhanced cash incentives, including a season-long $50,000 XF PBA Tour Storm Cup competition points bonus program.

The eight-tournament series, which will include stops in Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, Delaware and Ohio, will offer PBA Tour titles and enhanced prize funds. It gets underway March 17-19 with the PBA Xtra Frame Reality Check Classic at Sawgrass Lanes in Tamarac, Fla., a tournament that was postponed from 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew.

“The Xtra Frame Tour was created for the PBA’s fans,” said PBA CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark. “The Xtra Frame Tour gets the PBA into more markets all around the country, offering more fans a chance to watch the PBA in person and bowl in pro-ams. The XF Tour also means more live coverage, start-to-finish including stepladder finals, of all the events on XtraFrame.TV, for all our subscribers.

“Also, the Xtra Frame Tour is for the best players in the PBA and for regional players to test themselves against the best with PBA national titles on the line. More great bowling centers and hosts, different conditions.

"We thank Storm for recognizing the value of the Xtra Frame Tour and for initiating and funding the Storm Cup, which will make for an exciting points race throughout the series. It will mean a competition within a competition throughout the series, and ensure the best possible fields as top players chase for the rewards of the Cup.”

The new XF PBA Tour Storm Cup series will offer a $20,000 first prize to the competition points leader for the 2017 tournament series, plus additional cash prizes of $10,000 for second place, $8,000 for third, $7,000 for fourth and $5,000 for fifth place.

Points will be awarded to the top 20 players in each Xtra Frame event, with the winner earning 25 points, second place 19, third place 18, etc., with points declining by one through 20th place. The points system will insure intense competition throughout the season. In 2016, the points race wasn’t decided until the final event when Tommy Jones won by five points over EJ Tackett and six points over Ryan Ciminelli.

In addition to the new Storm Cup, Storm’s support will enhance the prize funds of every XF Tour event and the live coverage quality on Xtra Frame.

“Storm is proud to present the best players in the world the opportunity to compete for more prize money and the prestigious Storm Cup perpetual trophy in 2017,” said Storm Vice President of Business Development Gary Hulsenberg. “We are excited to see how the new Storm Cup points race will shape up in its inaugural year and encourage all bowling fans to subscribe to PBA Xtra Frame so they can take in all the action from any device. Enjoy the show!”

All XF PBA Tour Storm Cup events will offer a minimum $10,000 first prize, with first prizes ranging to $20,000. In 2016, players bowled for more than $392,000 in prize money paid out for seven Xtra Frame PBA Tour points events. Including the DHC PBA Japan Invitational and the PBA-PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles – tournaments that return to the live Xtra Frame schedule in 2017, but are not part of the points competition – PBA events covered exclusively by Xtra Frame allowed players in 2016 to compete for nearly $650,000 in prize money in addition to PBA’s nationally-televised events.

2017 XF PBA TOUR STORM CUP SCHEDULE

March 17-19 – PBA XF Reality Check Classic, Sawgrass Lanes, Tamarac, Fla.

May 26-29 – PBA XF Wilmington Open, Ten Pin Alley, Wilmington, N.C.

June 2-4 – PBA XF Jonesboro Open, Jonesboro Bowling Center, Jonesboro, Ark.

June 9-11 – PBA XF Lubbock Sports Open, South Plains Lanes, Lubbock, Texas.

June 23-25 – PBA XF Billy Hardwick Memorial Open, Billy Hardwick’s All Star Lanes, Memphis, Tenn.

Aug. 11-13 - PBA XF Chesapeake Open, AMF Western Branch, Chesapeake, Va.

Aug. 18-10 – PBA XF Gene Carter’s Pro Shop Classic, Mid-County Bowling & Entertainment, Middletown, Del.

Aug. 25-27 – PBA XF Lefeld Implement Central Classic, Pla-Mor Lanes, Coldwater, Ohio.

About Storm

Storm is a leading bowling ball and equipment manufacturer, inspired to create innovative products for bowlers worldwide. Learn, train, and shop at stormbowling.com.

About the PBA

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is an organization of more than 3,200 of the best bowlers from 27 countries who compete in PBA Tour, PBA International Tour, QubicaAMF PBA Regional Tour, PBA Women’s Regional and PBA50 Tour events. The PBA is in its 58th consecutive year of nationally-televised competition, reaching bowling fans around the world who follow PBA activities through the PBA Network which includes Xtra Frame, the PBA’s exclusive online bowling channel, ESPN and CBS Sports Network, and the PBA on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. PBA sponsors include Barbasol, Brunswick, Ebonite International, GEICO, Grand Casino Hotel and Resort, HotelPlanner.com, MOTIV, 900 Global, PBA Bowling Challenge Mobile Game, QubicaAMF, South Point Hotel Casino and Spa, Storm Products and the United States Bowling Congress, among others. For more information, log on to www.pba.com.

PBA SPARE SHOTS

PBA Spare Shots

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF JACK BIONDOLILLO’S HISTORIC 300 GAME APPROACHES

On April 1, 1967, the PBA’s post-tournament news release reported, “Jack Biondolillo socked the biggest 300 in the history of the game. His came before the American Broadcasting Company's national colored television cameras for which he collected a cool ten thou ($10,000)…”

The first nationally-televised 300 game in PBA history – witnessed by a television audience of 25 million viewers according to PBA’s release – occurred during the Firestone PBA Tournament of Champions at Riviera Lanes in Akron, Ohio, during a first-game 300-216 win over Les Schissler. Biondolillo then defeated Mike Durbin, 188-181, before losing in the semifinal match to Don Johnson, 228-172. Jim Stefanich then won the TOC, defeating Johnson, 43-36, in a two-frame roll-off after they tied at 227.

As the 50th anniversary of his historic feat closes in, Biondolillo, a Houston native, attended the Main Event Terrell Owens PBA Super Clash on Super Bowl Sunday in Katy, Texas, where he posed with four other PBA members who also bowled nationally-televised 300 games. Pete McCordic bowled televised 300 no. 4 in Torrance, Calif., on Jan. 31, 1987. Parker Bohn III bowled no. 13 in the USBC Masters in Reno, Nev., on May 9, 1998. Norm Duke bowled no. 16 in Tacoma, Wash., on Jan. 5, 2003. Jason Belmonte recorded no. 21 in Las Vegas on Nov. 19, 2011.

Including Biondolillo’s historic 300, there have been a total of 26 nationally-televised perfect games in PBA competition.

WORLD BOWLING ANNOUNCES 2017 PBA INTERNATIONAL-WBT SCHEDULE

World Bowling, the international governing body for tenpin bowling, and the PBA have announced a schedule of PBA International-World Bowling Tour tournaments that will award PBA Tour titles to winners (if they are PBA members) and points to players toward the 2018 WBT Finals presented by the PBA. Points also will be awarded to women bowlers. Women are eligible for PBA Tour titles if they bowl against the men and don’t accept handicap pins.

Tournaments included on the 2017 PBA International-WBT schedule include:

● Brunswick Euro Challenge, Munich, German, March 18-26;

● Oklahoma Open, Shawnee, Okla., June 26-July 2;

● Sweden WBT, Malmo, Sweden, Aug. 14–28;

● WBT Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 30-Oct. 6;

● PBA World Championship, tba;

● Kingdom of Saudi Open, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 16-22;

● Kingdom of Bahrain Open, Manama, Bahrain, Nov 23-28;

● Kuwait Open, Kuwait City, Kuwait, Nov. 29-Dec. 3.

The World Bowling World Championships, set for Dec. 4-18 in Kuwait City, also is a WBT points event, but will not award a PBA title. For more information about World Bowling, visit Worldbowling.org.

The 2017 WBT Men’s and Women’s Finals presented by the PBA will be televised live on ESPN on Sunday, Feb. 26 following the finals of the USBC Masters. The men’s finalists, based on 2016 WBT points, will include top qualifier Martin Larsen of Sweden, Anthony Simonsen of Austin, Texas, and Marshall Kent of Yakima, Wash. The women’s finalists will be Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, N.Y.; Colombia’s Anggie Ramirez, and Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y.

TOC, HOF NEXT AS XTRA FRAME CONTINUES “BIG FEBRUARY” COVERAGE

Following the live ESPN finals of the Players Championship on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 1 p.m. ET, the PBA and Xtra Frame head to Shawnee, Okla., for live coverage of the PBA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and 2016 PBA Awards presentations on Monday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m. ET from the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort.

Xtra Frame coverage then moves to FireLake Bowling Center in Shawnee for the preliminary rounds of the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions, Feb. 14-17. That week is concluded by the live ESPN finals of the TOC from FireLake Arena on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m. ET.

Xtra Frame’s Big February coverage continues with qualifying and double-elimination match play coverage of the USBC Masters from The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Feb. 21-25. The USBC Masters finals, followed by the World Bowling Tour Men’s and Women’s Finals presented by the PBA will air live, back-to-back, on ESPN on Sunday, Feb. 26, beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

PBA fans also are reminded that Xtra Frame coverage features two channels which means viewers can watch more players in action. The primary XF channel includes commentary; the secondary channel includes video coverage only. And PBA’s ESPN coverage also will include the Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational, benefitting the Chris Paul Family Foundation, on Friday, Sept. 17, at 9 p.m.

PBA’s all-star month is a perfect time for PBA fans to sign up for Xtra Frame’s full month subscription for only $7.99. Three-day ($3.99) and full year Xtra Frame Season Ticket (less than $1.25 a week) options also are available. Visit xtraframe.tv to enroll.

     
QUBICA AMF PBA REGIONAL UPDATE: CLIFFORD, BYERS WIN SOUTH CHALLENGE EVENTS

Amateur Charles Clifford Jr. of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., defeated Carlos Tobon of Hollywood, Fla., 230-225, to win the PBA BreakPoint Alley Challenge presented by DV8 Sunday and, in the PBA50 portion of the QubicaAMF PBA South Region doubleheader weekend, Mike Byers of Charleston, S.C., defeated Ralph Brunt of Jensen Beach, Fla., 236-190 for his first PBA title.

Clifford Jr. earned $2,300 for his win, but he doesn’t earn credit for a PBA title because he isn’t a PBA member. Byers pocketed $1,600 and became eligible to compete for a berth in the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions Feb. 10-11 if he decides to do so.

Both Challenge events were open to players who have not won PBA titles.

● Leading into the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions, FireLake Bowling Center in Shawnee, Okla., will host the PBA Grand Casino Hotel & Resort Southwest Winter Open Feb. 10-12. The tournament, in addition to serving as a standard PBA Regional event, is also a qualifying event for the TOC, with at least 24 eligible PBA title-holders advancing to the TOC.

● The PBA South Region will host the PBA50 Dave Edwards Toyota Spartanburg Open, presented by 900 Global, over the Feb. 17-19 weekend at Paradise Lanes in Spartanburg, S.C.

● For complete QubicaAMF PBA Regional schedules, rules and entry information heading into the new year, visit pba.com, open the “schedules” tab and click on QubicaAMF Regional Tours to find the event(s) in your area. For more information about QubicaAMF, visit www.qubicaamf.com or, for social media posts, visit http://bit.ly/QAMFSponsorship1.

QUICK NOTES

● Just in time for the Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship in Portland, Maine, the PBA Store (pba.com/store) is offering a new line of Mark Roth signature t-shirts and polos. The Roth/Holman doubles event will include a pro-am and qualifying rounds April 9-12, concluding with live ESPN stepladder finals on Sunday, April 16, at 1 p.m. ET.

LADY BEARS WIN OVER CHESTER

LOCH SHELDRAKE--The Tri-Valley Lady Bears shook off first quarter jitters to defeat Chester in a non-league  59-30  win Saturday night in the final game of the 9th Annual Sullivan County BCANY Vs Cancer Classic tournament at Sullivan County Community College.

  Poor defense coupled with minimal offense allowed the Chester Hambletonians to jump out to a 13-8 first quarter lead. Nine of Chester's 13 points were off three treys by Bridget Burke, Julianna Garvey and Janeen Gomez. 
  The Bears immediate response resulted in good defense and an offense that outscored Chester 17-7 allowing Tri-Valley to take a 25-20 halftime lead.
  Leading the second quarter offense was guard Morgan Shamro who poured in nine points off of four two-pointers and a foul shot and two-pointers from Nicole Beach, Jill Mungeer, Samantha Raymond and Angie DiToro.
  Tri-Valley tied the game at 18-18 at 2:22 of the second quarter.
  The Bears kept the pedal to the metal outscoring the Hambletonians 16-6 in the third quarter and 18-4 in the final eight minutes of play.

  Shamro led the Bears third and fourth quarter scoring with nine points off three two-pointers and three foul shots.

  Tri-Valley's second, third and fourth quarter defense led to 30 turnovers by Chester. The Bears committed 13 turnovers.

  Shamro led TriValley's scoring with 19 points followed by Angie DiToro with 13 points off five two-pointers and three foul shots. Jaclyn Musa added eight points off three two-pointers and two foul shots.

  Abigail Dembek led Chester with seven points followed by Emee Go with six.
  Tri-Valley with the win upped their record to 9-6 and 1-0 in OCIAA Class C league play. Chester falls to 2-12 and 1-2 in OCIAA Class B league play.
  Tri-Valley coach John Tenbus in post-game remarks commented on the first quarter saying "it was sloppy and we turned the ball over too much and didn't play good defense."
  "We came out a little nervous playing on the big court and big atmosphere but we battled back real well and focused better from the second quarter on and were able to open it up from there," Tenbus added.

  Chester coach Peter Rickard admitted," I have a very young team and I'm pleased with our first half but Tri-Valley played very well and has a very good team."
  Rickard noted that Chester would be returning to Class C play in two years.                                                                


                                                      

Tri-Valley's Samantha Raymond (44) prepares to shoot a layup in the Bears 59-30 win over Chester Saturday at the 9th Annual Sullivan County BCANY vs Cancer Classic at SCCC. Trailing the play are Chester's Abigail Dembek (22) and Janeen Gomez (33).

                                                             -
                                                           

                 


Tri-Valley's Jillian Mungeer (32) shoots over Chester's Bridget Burke (5) in the Bears 59-30 win Saturday at the 9th Annual Sullivan County BCANY vs Cancer Classic at SCCC.



                                                         

GOLF SHOW AT SOMERSET NJ

                                        The Long Putt Challenge At Golf Show
                                                                

      Headlining the interactive displays this year at the February 10-12 North Coast Golf and Travel Show will be the Long Putt  Challenge which features features the 70-foot sidewinder putting course and requires the perfect line, speed and luck to tame. The putting hole has got plenty of undulation and break and is one of the golf shows most exciting competitions. A golf tournament-like roar can be heart throughout the show when a putt is holed. Contestants win prizes on the number of putts holed. The more you make the more you win.  
    Also making a return appearance is  Brian Pavlet,  known as one of the greatest showmen in sports history and one of the most recognizable faces in professional golf and area golfers will have the opportunity to meet him at the 21st Annual New Jersey Golf Show held in the Garden State Exhibit Center, 50 Atrium Drive, Somerset, NJ.
  The show, which runs from Friday February 10 through Sunday February 12 is staged by the North Coast Golf Shows and has become a great mid-winter break for many New York and Tri-County area golfers and in years past is a showcase for several area golf facilities.    Brian brings to  the show a highly respected career that includes launching a 435 yard blast in Salt Lake City, Utah in a regional competition and then went to the National Long Drive Championship and won it all.
   In 1993, the golf world familiarized itself with a new prodigy in Brian Pavlet and since winning he has never looked back.
  He has made a record eight "Final 8" appearances in the Re/Max World Long Drive Championships and has been the LDA's most consistent performer the past decade.
  Brian held the # 1 ranked position for more than 20 months and was featured in Golf Digest for having one of the best power swings in golf.
  Other special guest at this weekend's show includes Peter Johncke, The Trickshot Master.
  This show is tabbed as a consumer golf exposition, in a three-day "Golf Theme Park"  that features a wide array of displays, demonstrations and interactive activities designed to educate and entertain the golf enthusiast. 
    Upwards of 200 booths with exhibitors from across the country are expected to attend  and will offer for sale the latest in golf equipment  and accessories as well as golf apparel, artwork, real estate, destination packages and much, much more.
    Numerous participatory activities will also be available for golfers of all skill levels. There will be a long-drive championship, the manufacturers demo range, and free lessons from local PGA Professionals. The demo range is where you can swing, hit and compare the latest clubs.
    The hours for the show are Friday 1-7 p.m., Saturday 10-6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12 adults (which includes a 1-year subscription to Golf Magazine and free to children under 12.
    The show is staged and managed by North Coast Golf Show President Joe Stegh.  Driving directions are available at  www.northcoastgolfshows.com   Tickets can also be purchased online at the web site.