March 11, 2007 — PBA Hall of Famer John Petraglia repeated as champion of the PBA East Region Fort Meade Senior Open by defeating Richard Bucey of Forest Hills, Md., 242-192 in the title match this afternoon at The Lanes Fort Meade. Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J., earned $1,500 for the win, while Bucey took home $1,000.
After Richard Bucey missed a 7-pin in the eighth frame, John Petraglia (left) seals the match and the title with a ninth-frame strike. After obtaining his victory, Petraglia acknowledges the crowd's applause.
Eddie Blocker (right) of Seabrook, Md., was the area's high casher, pocketing $800 for third place. His slow starts finally caught up with him in his Round of 4 match against Bucey, when he was unable to overcome two missed spares in the first three frames and lost 265-236. Blocker advanced by first defeating Chris Fedden, Albany, N.Y., 3-1, and then Thomas Brodowski, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 2-1.
While disappointed, Blocker was pleased with his performance, having undergone knee replacement surgery last year. He was unsure if he could last Saturday's eight games of qualifying, much less today's intense match play competition.
"[The surgery] slowed me down," he said. "It slowed me down real good, and I could watch the pattern on the shot, just laying the ball down instead of hitting up on it. The conditions were tight—very different—and you had to be there. They showed you your mistake as soon as you made one."
Other match play finalists included No. 8, Mike Smith of Alexandria, Va., $650; 9, Frank Gallo Jr., Lanham, Md., $500; 10, Richard Holmes, Luray, Va., $500; 11, Greg Goetz, Crofton, Md., $500; and 16, Tony Dorsey, Columbia, Md., $500.
Local cashers from Saturday included No. 18, Gil Wheeler of Laurel, Md. (1,695); 19, Len Chetti of Alexandria (1,689); and 23, Garry Breeden of Manassas, Va.(1,668), each of whom earned $400. Meanwhile, Pete Gunn of Stafford, Va. (1,584), took home a $250 "Super Senior" prize.
February 26, 2007 — Fredericksburg's Tiffany Bell (731 series) teamed with Chris Johnson of Woodbridge (698) to total 1,429 and capture the $1,250 top prize at the latest NCAUSBCA 600-700 Scratch Mixed Doubles Tournament Feb. 24-25 at Bowl America Shirley. The pair won the previous 600-700 event last August at Bowl America Woodbridge.
Nicole Coates (664) and Derek Payne (759) of Capitol Heights scored 1,423 to place second and share $650. Other cashers included No. 3, Stacey Gonzales, Alexandria (612) and Mike Andrejack, Woodbridge (805), 1,417, $400; 4, Dawn Fay, Manassas (753) and Mike Andrejack (662), 1,415, $300; 5, Tiffany Bell (667) and Andrew Campbell, Woodbridge (736), 1,403, $250; 6, Tiffany Bell (624) and Mike Herman, Woodbridge (758), 1,382, $200; and 7, Kisha Hightower (661) and Steve Burrell, Laurel (716), 1,377, $150.
In the Optional Women's Singles:
In the Optional Men's Singles:
Notes — Tiffany Bell bowled the only 300 game of the tournament—the first ever by a female in the history of this event—and won a $500 U.S. Savings Bond. ... A total of 64 teams competed.