September 8, 2008 -- Bowl America Inc., today announced funeral arrangements for Irv Clark, senior vice president and general manager, who died of cancer yesterday.
The schedule is as follows:
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Medical Missionaries, 9590 Surveyor Court, Manassas VA 20110 (phone: 703/361-5116).
July 29, 2008 — Funeral arrangements have been announced for NCAUSBCA Hall of Famer Theodore "Ted" Gruszkowski Jr., of Woodbridge, Va., who died Sunday at Potomac Hospital. He was 71.
The viewing will be Tuesday, August 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Miller Funeral Home in Woodbridge (phone: 703/878-2273). Donations can be made to the NCAUSBCA Youth Scholarship Fund in care of Tom Dale, 10 Hulvey Drive, Stafford VA 22556-3816.
Gruszkowski joined the association's board of directors in 1992 and often served as chairman of the Public Relations Committee. He was always interested in elevating the awareness of bowling in the media and publicizing the accomplishments of its participants. He began contributing articles to the Potomac News in 1990 and soon became the newspaper's bowling columnist, submitting a weekly column until his recent illness.
He was a member of the Bowling Writers Association of America and the Southern Bowling Writers. In 1997, the Metropolitan Bowling Writers Association of America presented him with the prestigious Joe Richards Memorial Award for distinguished service to bowling journalism.
While a league secretary at then-Fair Lanes Dale City, his Community Charities Program each year raised funds and obtained merchandise for local charities. Without fanfare, he financially supported numerous youth bowling activities and was an annual patron to the NCAUSBCA Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 1999.
Gruszkowski, who continued to serve NCAUSBCA as a director until his death, will be buried October 16 at Arlington National Cemetery.
July 1, 2008 — Gary "Guru" Parsons of Suitland, Md., last week was named the 2008 recipient of "The John Davis Award." The surprise presentation was made in Orlando, Fla., at International Bowl Expo 2008. Parsons, 60, joins an impressive list of previous honorees that includes Joyce Deitch, John Weber, Ted Hoffman Jr., Jim Dressel, Mark Gerberich, Carmen Salvino, and Linda Davis.
Parsons, who is approaching his 50th year in bowling, has been a scratch bowler since the 1960s, winning many scratch tournaments in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s before a knee injury sidelined him. He won two national collegiate championships at Harding College in 1970 and 1971, and he was the first Nation's Capital Area bowler to roll back-to-back 300 games.
Parsons started coaching in the early 1970s, taught at the first two "Super Schools," and is consistently voted in as a "Top 100" coach in Bowlers Journal International's annual poll. He's a Level III Certified Ritger Instructor along with being a Silver Level USBC Bowling Coach. A two-time IBPSIA board member, he created an "Advanced Certification Program" for the organization. Parsons owns pro shops in Camp Springs and Hyattsville in Maryland, and he also is an accomplished bowling writer with over 100 published articles. Out of respect, he often is referred to by his friends and colleagues as "Guru."
In 1996, John Davis called together a group of professional lanemen in an attempt to research the problems that were affecting the sport of bowling. Out of that week-long meeting, a "Guild of Lanemen" was established, and Davis promised that his group would be involved in as many major events in the world as possible and to exhibit all of the research for the whole world to see on the company's Web site. The following year, The Foundation was formed, and Parsons became actively involved at its very inception by becoming a Founding Member, and he has continually supported The Foundation in many ways as well as being a continuing contributor.
Davis, the man who started The Kegel Company and "founding father" of The Foundation, has been totally involved in bowling for nearly his entire life. At an early age, John's dad taught all of his children how to bowl. That love affair with this great sport has been going on for over a half century. In his 50-plus years of involvement with bowling, some believe that no one has done more for the sport than John Davis. Even though The Kegel Company is a relatively small one, his personal investment in bowling has been unselfish and unmatched.
Davis's innovations, inventions, contributions, etc., have all been well-documented. His worldwide leadership in both technology and humanities makes him one of the most sought-out figures in the game today. His behind-the-scenes committee work is also globally welcomed.
Because of his vast accomplishments and devotion to the sport, the award — aptly called "The John Davis Award" — was established by The Foundation in his name. This prestigious honor is presented annually to a deserving Foundation Member. A beautiful, "one-of-a-kind" perpetual plaque, with the words, For Outstanding Contributions and Extraordinary Efforts on Behalf of the Advancement of the Sport of Bowling, and bearing each recipient's name, is permanently displayed at the home of The Foundation in The Kegel Training Center in Lake Wales, Fla.
April 10, 2008 — The We "R" One Bowling Club announced that it will hold its inaugural Three-Person Doubles Tournament at AMF Capital Plaza on May 3 and 4, 2008. Squad times are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The mail-in entry closing date is April 19. Walk-ins are permitted.
Click here to view the tournament entry form that includes the complete rules and an explanation of the format.
ARLINGTON, Tex. — The new Bowling Coaches Hall of Fame task force announced today that nominations are also being accepted for any bowling coaches who are considered viable candidates for induction consideration. Nominations, including contact items such as name, company, address, phone numbers, email addresses, etc., may be E-mailed here, after which a letter and Bowling Coaches Hall of Fame application will be sent to that nominee for completion. Nominees or representatives for that nominee may complete and return the Bowling Coaches Hall of Fame application to the Strike Ten Entertainment (STE) Skills Center in Arlington, Texas by the April 15 deadline.
Applications are also available here or by contacting The Skills Center directly at 800/871-7869. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the Bowling Coaches Hall of Fame task force, comprised of Jimmy Sturm, BPAA president-elect as chairman; Dave Garber, USBC co-director of coaching; Susie Minshew, IBPSIA past-president; Bob Rea, director of coaching for The Dick Ritger Academy; Kelly Bednar, director of the STE Skills Center; and bowling writers Dick Evans and Jim Goodwin.
The first official inductee will be recognized at International Bowl Expo 2008 in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday morning, June 25 during Bowl Expo’s General Session.
Nominations must be postmarked by December 31, 2007 for the association's Youth Star Award. This award is designed to recognize current youth members of the NCAUSBCA for bowling achievement and/or service to youth bowling.
Nominations may be submitted by any individual in either the Meritorious Service or Bowling Achievement categories, and they must contain the full name of the nominee, a one-page biography, reason, and category for nomination.
All nominations should be mailed to: Youth Star Award, c/o Kenny Robinson, 10440 Malone Ct., Fairfax VA 22032.
December 6, 2007 — Gary "Guru" Parsons, who operates World Class Pro Shops in Hyattsville and Camp Springs, Md., recently appeared as the guest on "Phantom Radio," the popular Internet talk show.
Click here to listen to the show.
November 24, 2007 — NCAUSBCA Hall of Famer Pallie Berry, a former association director, died November 21.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, November 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Donaldson's Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Avenue in Laurel, Md. (phone: 310/725-1690), located next to Fox Chevrolet. The funeral will be held the following day at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Silver Spring, Md.
November 11, 2007 — BOWL Magazine Online has learned that Bernice “Bea” Bennie (left), who is credited for establishing the Washington, D.C. Area and Virginia State Women’s Bowling Associations, died yesterday. She is widely recognized for her more than 60 years of service to women’s bowling at the local, state, and national levels.
In the 1940s, Bennie’s involvement in bowling helped found the Washington, D.C. Area Women's Bowling Association (WDCAWBA). She is credited with helping to bring tenpin bowling to the Nation’s Capital Area. In those days, duckpin bowling prevailed locally. In 1947, Bennie and her husband, former American Bowling Congress president and Nation's Capital Area USBC Association Hall of Famer Matthew Bennie, purchased the area’s first certified tenpin bowling center in Alexandria. Over the next few years, many of the area’s duckpin bowling center owners began to see the popularity of tenpin bowling, and the area boomed with new bowling centers and sanctioned bowlers.
Bennie served bowling at every level, including as a league secretary. In 1953, she accepted a position as secretary of WDCAWBA. During her time as secretary, membership in her association skyrocketed from 278 members to more than 15,000 members in 1963. In 1957, she helped form the Virginia State WBA. Bennie’s work in bowling directly resulted in hundreds of thousands of women in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia becoming members of the Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC).
In 1963, she accepted a position on the WIBC board of directors, which she fulfilled for more than 15 years. In 1979, Bennie was named a WIBC member emerita. At the national level, she also served as director of the American Junior Bowling Congress (later the Young American Bowling Alliance). Regionally, Bennie helped form what eventually became the Vir-Mar District YABA. Her local and state accomplishments include positions as a founder, director, and secretary/treasurer of WDCAWBA as well as a founder and vice president of the Virginia State WBA.
Until recently, Bennie, a member of the NCAUSBCA, Virginia State WBA, and USBC Halls of Fame, remained active with the local association. Her daughter, Sharon Weber, is a member of the NCAUSBCA board.
Visitation is planned for Wednesday, November 14 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 6160 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, Md. Funeral services will be at the same location Thursday at 11 a.m., with interment to follow at Cedar Hills Cemetery in Suitland, Md.
Roger Kossert, a senior PBA member from Bradenton, Fla., defeated Scott Denlinger of Lancaster, Pa., 198-190 in the title match on November 4 to win the PBA East Region Ebonite Fort Meade Regional Players Invitational Qualifier at The Lanes Fort Meade. Kossert pocketed $2,500, while Denlinger took home $1,350.
Terry Wiley of Vienna Va., placed fourth and earned $975 to lead all NCAUSBCA members. Other locals reaching match play included No. 9, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., $600; 10, David Kneas, Annapolis, $600; and 13, Matthew Gasn, a 15-year-old Youth member from Laurel, Md., who earned $600 in scholarship funds.
Other cashers included No. 19, Joseph Tremper, Laurel, $400; 20, Michael Marsico, Chesapeake Beach, Md., $400; 21, Dan Rideout, Severn, Md., $400; 32, Tony Dorsey, Columbia, Md., $250; and 35, Frank Gallo Jr. of Lanham, Md., who earned a $250 senior award.
August 22, 2007 — BOWL Magazine contributing writer Jim Goodwin, publisher of Stars & Strikes, president of the Southern Bowling Writers Association, and a director of the Bowling Writers Association of America, is the current guest on "Phantom Radio," the popular Internet broadcast.
Click here to listen to the show.
May 7, 2007 — A bug in USBC's tournament software package has delayed the posting of an unofficial prize list of the NCAUSBCA Women's Local Championship Tournament, which took place March 3-4, 10-11, and 17-18 at Bowl America Shirley.
A final prize list will appear on this site as soon as the problem is solved.
Click here for the current unofficial standings.
Bowl America Manassas will host the first of the 2007 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour events beginning Saturday, April 28 and continuing through Tuesday, May 1.
The PBA Senior Manassas Open—the first of 13 national events—will be conducted according to the following schedule:
"We are very excited to be kicking off the PBA Senior Tour here at Manassas," said Bowl America Regional Manager Don Armel. "It's an honor to have some bowling legends in our center competing with many of the top local seniors from all over the area."
Local bowlers scheduled to compete include:
March 11, 2007 — PBA Hall of Famer John Petraglia this afternoon repeated as champion of the PBA East Region Fort Meade Senior Open by defeating fellow left-hander Richard Bucey of Forest Hills, Md., 242-192 in the title match at The Lanes Fort Meade. Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J., earned $1,500 for the win, while Bucey settled for $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 Jr. (below, right) of Seabrook, Md., was the area's high casher, pocketing $800 for third place. He escaped several slow starts in his morning matches, but he was unable to overcome two missed spares in the first three frames of his Round of 4 match against Bucey, losing 265-236. Blocker previously 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, 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, Laurel, Md. (1,695 for eight games); 19, Len Chetti, Alexandria (1,689); and 23, Garry Breeden, Manassas, Va. (1,668), each of whom earned $400.
Meanwhile, Pete Gunn, Stafford, Va. (1,584) took home a $250 "Super Senior" prize.
— Bob Cosgrove
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.
February 27, 2006 — Thomas E. Dale Jr. (back row, left) was elected president of the new Nation's Capital Area USBC Association (NCAUSBCA) yesterday by local USBC members during the association's organizational meeting at the Holiday Inn Eisenhower Metro Center in Alexandria, Virginia.
NCAUSBCA, which will officially begin operations on June 1, 2006, was formed as a result of a merger between the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association, the Washington, D.C. Women's Bowling Association, and the Vir-Mar District Junior Bowling Association.
The voters, who approved a set of bylaws, also elected five vice presidents:
The voters later elected 24 individuals to serve as directors on the association's new board:
The above-named officers and directors will be joined by eight members elected earlier by the Vir-Mar District JBA, including:
(Two additional directors will be elected since Thomas Dale Jr. and Kristen Robinson were among the eight original Vir-Mar District representatives on the NCAUSBCA board.)
Local legend Bea Bennie attended the meeting.
League secretary Patricia Leslie-Aylor poses a question during the meeting.
Meanwhile, fellow secretary Grady Culpepper questions a procedure.
Sharon Weber and Steve Yackel (front) count the ballots, along with Kenny Robinson (second from left), Harrold Capps (rear, left) and Ron Dailey.
Scott Gielda (left) and George R. Sook chat while the the ballots were counted.
Shirley King and Fred Trace relax while awaiting the tally.
James Stewart received the most votes in the balloting for directors.
GREENDALE, Wis. (January 4, 2006) — After a thorough investigation, a 900 series bowled Nov. 5 by 17-year-old Robert Mushtare in Fort Drum, N.Y., has been administratively rejected by the United States Bowling Congress.
The series, which was submitted as having occurred during a pre-bowling session for the Pine Plains Junior/Senior League at Pine Plains Bowling Center, was denied because Mushtare did not have a valid USBC Youth membership and the league was not USBC certified on the date the score was rolled. Mushtare is appealing the decision.
The Watertown USBC Youth Bowling Association did not receive Mushtare's membership card and league certification applications until Nov. 18. USBC rules require such information be submitted within 30 days of the start of the league's schedule. Since Mushtare's league started on Sept. 17, the 30-day grace period ended Oct. 16. According to USBC rules, because the information was received after the end of the grace period, services such as award recognition began the date the information was received.
September 27, 2005 — NCABA tonight learned that Hall of Famer Malton V. "Mal" Evans died September 21 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., following a long and difficult battle with cancer. He was 76.
Evans, who served as association president for the 1979-80 season, was a noted bowler. He appeared in the NCABA Top 10 Ranking four times, with second-place finishes in 1973-74 and 1974-75.
He was elected to the NCABA Hall of Fame in 1977.
After moving to Myrtle Beach in 1988, he joined the board of the Grand Strand Bowling Association the following year and ultimately was elected to its Hall of Fame in 2000.
Additional information:
August 3, 2005 — Ray Johnson tonight defeated Guppy Troup two-games-to-one in the finals to win the PBA Senior Manassas Open at Bowl America Manassas.
After winning the first game 222-215 and dropping the second contest 235-167, Johnson, a 60-year-old pro shop owner from Battle Creek, Mich., earned his first career PBA Senior title by dropping Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., in the deciding contest 227-163. Johnson took home $8,000, while Troup pocketed $4,500.
In the best-of-three semifinals, Johnson surpassed 2003 champion Don Sylvia, Discovery Bay, Calif., and Troup put away Roger Bowker, Ocala, Fla. Sylvia and Troup each earned $3,000.
Earlier in the day, Johnson had to go to a fifth game to outlast crowd favorite Hollis McMullen, Rockville, Md., and earn the remaining spot in the four-man semifinals. In the Round 16, McMullen upset Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., while David Kneas, Annapolis, fell to 2004 runner-up Tim Kauble, Marion, Ohio. McMullen received a check for $1,700; Kneas left Manassas with $1,300.
#4 Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., #14 Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 2-1 (222-215, 167-235, 227-163).
#4 Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., def. #8 Don Sylvia, Discovery Bay, Calif., 2-1 (206-238, 207-202, 211-199).
#14 Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., def. #2 Roger Bowker, Ocala, Fla., 2-0 (245-236, 216-169).
#8 Don Sylvia, Discovery Bay, Calif., def. #32 Don Patterson, Knoxville, Tenn., 3-0 (181-179, 229-169, 262-180).
#4 Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., def. #28 Hollis McMullen, Rockville, Md., 3-2 (206-157, 237-201, 205-210, 210-225, 212-175).
#2 Roger Bowker, Ocala, Fla., def. #10 Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 3-1 (216-234, 249-157, 247-200, 215-188).
#14 Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., def. #11 Ron Winger, Westlake Village, Calif., 3-1 (247-225, 239-244, 235-214, 247-224).
#8 Don Sylvia, Discovery Bay, Calif., def. #9 Roger LeClair, Clackamas, Ore., 3-0 (214-195, 191-157, 237-195).
#10 Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, def. #7 David Kneas, Annapolis, Md., 3-2 (164-257, 231-233, 222-216, 217-213, 300-190).
#11 Ron Winger, Westlake Village, Calif., def. #6 Robert Glass, Lawrence, Kan., 3-2 (224-170, 208-211, 242-178, 195-222, 233-206).
#28 Hollis McMullen, Rockville, Md., def. #5 Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 3-1 (218-212, 256-184, 200-214, 206-183).
#4 Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., def. #13 James Brenner, LeClaire, Iowa, 3-0 (197-145, 195-182, 182-175).
#14 Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., def. #3 Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 3-1 (245-213, 216-204, 213-258, 251-216).
#2 Roger Bowker, Ocala, Fla., def. #15 Richard Nardozza, Clearfield, Pa., 3-0 (204-181, 212-169, 221-181).
#32 Don Patterson, Knoxville, Tenn., def. #1 Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y., 3-2 (192-243, 244-217, 188-204, 225-175, 275-216).
August 2, 2005 — Crowd favorite Hollis McMullen (left) of Rockville, Md., tonight defeated NCABA Hall of Famer Lee Brosius of Centreville, Va., 3-1 in a best-of-five match play contest to advance to the Round of 16 in the PBA Senior Manassas Open at Bowl America Manassas.
McMullen, who will next face Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., Wednesday at 11 a.m., joins David Kneas of Annapolis as the area's remaining survivors. Kneas, by virtue of his seventh-place finish in qualifying (219.96 average for 24 games), did not have to compete this evening.
Meanwhile, Roger Painter, Woodbridge, Va., fell 3-0 to James Brenner, LeClaire, Iowa, in the Round of 24 after winning three consecutive games against Dowell Milliken, Lake Grove, N.Y. In the Round of 32, Karl Wolf, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., topped Ronald Smith, Clinton, Md., 3-0.
Brosius and Painter each collected $1,100, while Smith took home $1,000.
The semifinals and finals on Wednesday evening will feature best-of-three match play, with the winner taking home the $8,000 top prize.
In other news, defending champion George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C., lost to Richard Nardozza, Clearfield, Pa., 3-1 in the Round of 24.
#9 Roger LeClair, Clackamas, Ore., def. #25 Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., 3-0 (265-222, 189-186, 268-220).
#10 Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, def. #23 Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., 3-1 (196-226, 255-232, 227-190, 258-217).
#11 Ron Winger, Westlake Village, Calif., def. #27 Teata Semiz, East Brunswick, N.J., 3-0 (235-204, 258-222, 212-194).
#28 Hollis McMullen, Rockville, Md., def. #12 Lee Brosius, Centerville, Va., 3-1 (219-217, 225-234, 245-179, 213-202).
#13 James Brenner, LeClaire, Iowa, def. #20 Roger Painter, Woodbridge, Va., 3-0 (244-182, 216-214, 213-198).
#14 Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., def. #30 Karl Wolf, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 3-1 (206-207, 237-207, 223-202, 209-157).
#15 Richard Nardozza, Clearfield, Pa., def. #18 George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C., 3-1 (178-215, 246-205, 205-202, 199-194).
#32 Don Patterson, Knoxville, Tenn., def. #16 Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 3-1 (203-199, 234-247, 255-164, 204-203).
#32 Don Patterson, Knoxville, Tenn., def. #17 Sam Maccarone, Glassboro, N.J., 3-2 (184-191, 191-242, 212-199, 196-181, 257-245).
#25 Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., def. #24 Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 3-1 (248-247, 205-230, 264-194, 195-183).
#28 Hollis McMullen, Rockville, Md., def. #21 Bob Chamberlain, The Villages, Fla., 3-1 (242-243, 208-207, 238-219, 190-173).
#20 Roger Painter, Woodbridge, Va., def. #29 Dowell Milliken, Lake Grove, N.Y., 3-0 (219-157, 211-132, 223-157).
#18 George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C., def. #31 Pete Couture, Titusville, Fla., 3-0 (228-214, 241-186, 228-201).
#23 Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., def. #26 Steve Etzel, Coal Valley, Ill., 3-0 (215-176, 213-155, 255-237).
#27 Teata Semiz, East Brunswick, N.J., def. #22 Roger Workman, Kenova, W. Va., 3-1 (223-177, 222-226, 217-204, 235-214).
#30 Karl Wolf, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., def. #19 Ronald Smith, Clinton, Md., 3-0 (243-154, 194-179, 227-211).
August 1, 2005 — Roger Bowker of Ocala, Fla., averaged 230.5 for eight games this afternoon to lead the PBA Senior Manassas Open at Bowl America Manassas after two rounds. His 3,688 total for 16 games puts the five-time PBA Tour titlist 77 pins ahead of NCABA member David Kneas of Annapolis.
Meanwhile, first-round leader Lee Brosius, Centreville, Va., is fifth with 3,544, while Ronald Smith, Clinton, Md., is tied for eighth with defending champion George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C., at 3,525.
After the the second round concludes this evening, the field will be cut to the top 32, who will then bowl eight more games of qualifying on Tuesday. The 32 qualifiers will advance to best-of-five games match play, with qualifiers 17-32 bowling each other Tuesday evening.
The top 37 qualifiers advance to another eight-game qualifying block Tuesday morning, after which the top 32 will advance to match play. Qualifiers 17-32 will begin match play Tuesday evening at 5 p.m.
The semifinals and finals on Wednesday will feature best-of-three match play, with the winner taking home the $8,000 top prize.
Standings after the second round:
1, Roger Bowker, Ocala, Fla., 3,688. 2, David Kneas, Annapolis, Md., 3,611. 3, Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 3,560. 4, Robert Glass, Lawrence, Kan., 3,549. 5, Lee Brosius, Centreville, Va., 3,544. 6, (TIE) Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., and Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,533. 8, (TIE) George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C., and Ronald Smith, Clinton, Md., 3,525. 10, Sam Maccarone, Glassboro, N.J., 3,503. 11, Bob Chamberlain, The Villages, Fla., 3,486. 12, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 3,484.
13, Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 3,464. 14, Richard Nardozza, Clearfield, Pa., 3,457. 15, Roger Workman, Kenova, W. Va., 3,451. 16, Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 3,442. 17, Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 3,434. 18, (TIE) Don Sylvia, Discovery Bay, Calif., and Hollis McMullen, Rockville, Md., 3,433. 20, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 3,431. 21, Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., 3,428. 22, James Brenner, LeClaire, Iowa, 3,419. 23, Roger Painter, Woodbridge, Va., 3,407. 24, Don Patterson, Knoxville, Tenn., 3,404.
25, Roger LeClair, Clackamas, Ore., 3,401. 26, Dowell Milliken, Lake Grove, N.Y., 3,399. 27, Teata Semiz, North Brunswick, N.J., 3,395. 28, Steve Etzel, Coal Valley, Ill., 3,377. 29, Karl Wolf, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 3,351. 30, (TIE) Ted Staikoff, Black Hawk, S.D., and Ron Winger, Westlake Village, Calif., 3,349. 32, Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., 3,324. 33, Pete Couture, Titusville, Fla., 3,318. 34, Lee Rautenberg, Boca Raton, Fla., 3,312. 35, Mike Kilgannon, Valley Stream, N.Y., 3,305. 36, Chuck Haus, Linden, Mich., 3,301.
37, Bob Caruso, Dayton, N.J., 3,298. 38, Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 3,292. 39, Andy Ippolito, Forest Hills, N.Y., 3,285. 40, Steve Neff, Homosassa Springs, Fla., 3,279. 41, Larry Galloway, Lakewood, Calif., 3,275, $600. 42, Todd Wilson, Summerfield, N.C., 3,255.
43, Frank Gallo Jr., Lanham, Md., 3,254. 44, (TIE) Rick Cashell, Dedham, Mass., and Larry Wallace, Manassas, Va., 3,249. 46, Larry Graybeal, Elizabethton, Tenn., 3,245, $600. 47, Doug Hosking, Elizabethtown, Pa., 3,243. 48, (TIE) Richard Holmes, Luray, Va., and L.V. "Skip" Kruse, Havelock, N.C., 3,241. 50, John Hricsina, Franklin, Pa., 3,234, $600. 51, Ross McDonald, Clarksville, Md., 3,230. 52, Bill Argenbright, Fisherville, Va., 3,226. 53, (TIE) Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., and Vince Mazzanti Jr., Levittown, Pa., 3,225.
55, Fred McClain, Lincoln Park, Mich., 3,224. 56, Chuck Fairchild Jr., Boardman, Ohio, 3,223. 57, (TIE) Greg Rottengen, Washington, N.J., and Roger Owensby, Bluefield, W. Va, 3,218. 59, Joe Thomas, Staunton, Va., 3,217. 60, Jerral Pickford, Charlotte, N.C., 3,213.
61, Kelly Van Hees, Newport, R.I., 3,209. 62, Keith Reynolds, Elmira, N.Y., 3,207. 63, (TIE) Paul Busch Sr., Dover, Del., and Steve Stein, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,206. 65, William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 3,204. 66, Greg Wilhelm, Stafford, Va., 3,196.
67, Bobby Jones, Bryans Road, Md., 3,192. 68, Steve Bova, Massapequa, N.Y., 3,185. 69, Gene Stus, Taylor, Mich., 3,181, $600. 70, Walt Lattimore, Greenbelt, Md., 3,180, $600. 71, (TIE) Harley Trumbull, New Boston, Mich., and Dannie Hettinger, Circleville, Ohio, 3,179.
73, Richard Rathjen Sr., Naples, Fla., 3,175. 74, Dennis Amato, Pine Brook, N.J., 3,171. 75, James Slaughter, Las Vegas, Nev, 3,164. 76, (TIE) Charles Sitko, Jackson, Mich., and Johnie Peak Sr., Hyattsville, Md., 3,161. 78, Leonard Chetti, Alexanderia, Va., 3,156.
79, Randy Niehaus, Rockford, Ill., 3,150. 80, Patsy DellaPenna, Palm Harbor, Fla., 3,134. 81, Charlie Tomey, Spartanburg, S.C., 3,129. 82, (TIE) Joe Ballard, Pfafftown, N.C., and Pete Gunn, Stafford, Va., 3,128, $300. 84, James Asbury, Gaithersburg, Md., 3,124.
85, Richard Schukert Jr., New Castle, Pa., 3,118. 86, Fred Baldwin, Sturgis, Mich, 3,113. 87, Eddie Blocker Jr., Seabrook, Md., 3,110. 88, Gregory Smith, Baltimore, 3,106. 89, Henry Blough, Elizabethtown, Pa., 3,104. 90, Joseph Venezio, Linden, N.J., 3,089.
91, Richard Libertino, Chincoteague, Va., 3,086. 92, John Kordonis, Maplewood, N.J., 3,081. 93, Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn., 3,077. 94, Jim Weyand, Springfield, Va., 3,074. 95, Edward Buco, Berlin, Md., 3,064. 96, Garry Breeden, Manassas, Va., 3,063.
97, Victor Portalatin, Jackson, Mich., 3,058. 98, David Hull, Lexington, N.C., 3,054. 99, Dom Quinzi, East Rochester, N.Y., 3,053. 100, Jan Kravcheno Sr., Kalida, Ohio, 3,049. 101, Ken Waters, Homosassa, Fla., 3,040. 102, Gary Friedman, Farmingdale, N.Y., 3,024.
103, Fred Ferreira, Kings Park, N.Y., 3,009. 104, Sam Perrotta, Lincoln Park, N.J., 2,971. 105, Burdette Walker, Rockwood, Pa., 2,970. 106, Richard Felten, Rockville, Md., 2,911. 107, George Ennis, California, Md., 2,907. 108, Elmer Davis, New Bloomfield, Pa., 2,895.
109, James Doyle Sr., Kingwood, Texas, 2,845. 110, David Booe, Winston Salem, N.C., 2,837. 111, Dave Bernhardt, Shelby Twp., Mich., 2,784. 112, Dan Howsmon, Lutz, Fla., 2,773. 113, John Gagliardo, Austintown, Ohio, 2,704.
Standings after the first session of the second round:
1, Roger Bowker, Ocala, Fla., 3,688. 2, David Kneas, Annapolis, Md., 3,611. 3, Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 3,560. 4, Robert Glass, Lawrence, Kan., 3,549. 5, Lee Brosius, Centreville, Va., 3,544. 6, (TIE) George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C., and Ronald Smith, Clinton, Md., 3,525. 8, Sam Maccarone, Glassboro, N.J., 3,503. 9, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 3,484. 10, Richard Nardozza, Clearfield, Pa., 3,457. 11, Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 3,434. 12, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 3,431.
13, Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., 3,428. 14, James Brenner, LeClaire, Iowa, 3,419. 15, Roger Painter, Woodbridge, Va., 3,407. 16, Dowell Milliken, Lake Grove, N.Y., 3,399. 17, Steve Etzel, Coal Valley, Ill., 3,377. 18, Karl Wolf, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 3,351.
19, Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., 3,324. 20, Lee Rautenberg, Boca Raton, Fla., 3,312. 21, Mike Kilgannon, Valley Stream, N.Y., 3,305. 22, Chuck Haus, Linden, Mich., 3,301. 23, Bob Caruso, Dayton, N.J., 3,298. 24, Steve Neff, Homosassa Springs, Fla., 3,279.
25, Rick Cashell, Dedham, Mass., 3,249. 26, L.V. "Skip" Kruse, Havelock, N.C., 3,241. 27, John Hricsina, Franklin, Pa., 3,234. 28, Ross McDonald, Clarksville, Md., 3,230. 29, Chuck Fairchild Jr., Boardman, Ohio, 3,223. 30, Roger Owensby, Bluefield, W. Va, 3,218.
31, Joe Thomas, Staunton, Va., 3,217. 32, Steve Stein, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,206. 33, William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 3,204. 34, Greg Wilhelm, Stafford, Va., 3,196. 35, Dannie Hettinger, Circleville, Ohio, 3,179. 36, James Slaughter, Las Vegas, Nev, 3,164.
37, Leonard Chetti, Alexandria, Va., 3,156. 38, Patsy DellaPenna, Palm Harbor, Fla., 3,134. 39, Charlie Tomey, Spartanburg, S.C., 3,129. 40, Pete Gunn, Stafford, Va., 3,128. 41, Richard Schukert Jr., New Castle, Pa., 3,118. 42, Fred Baldwin, Sturgis, Mich, 3,113.
43, Eddie Blocker Jr., Seabrook, Md., 3,110. 44, Gregory Smith, Baltimore, 3,106. 45, Richard Libertino, Chincoteague, Va., 3,086. 46, Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn., 3,077. 47, Edward Buco, Berlin, Md., 3,064. 48, David Hull, Lexington, N.C., 3,054.
49, Jan Kravcheno Sr., Kalida, Ohio, 3,049. 50, Ken Waters, Homosassa, Fla., 3,040. 51, Fred Ferreira, Kings Park, N.Y., 3,009. 52, Burdette Walker, Rockwood, Pa., 2,970. 53, Elmer Davis, New Bloomfield, Pa., 2,895. 54, James Doyle Sr., Kingwood, Texas, 2,845.
55, David Booe, Winston Salem, N.C., 2,837. 56, Dan Howsmon, Lutz, Fla., 2,773.
July 31, 2005 — NCABA Hall of Famer Lee Brosius (left) of Centreville averaged 236.4 for eight games this evening to become the leader after the first round of qualifying at the PBA Senior Manassas Open at Bowl America Manassas.
First round standings:
1, Lee Brosius, Centreville, Va., 1,891. 2, Roger Bowker, Ocala, Fla., 1,844. 3, Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 1,842. 4, David Kneas, Annapolis, Md., 1,807. 5, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 1,802. 6, Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,792.
7, Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 1,781. 8, Ronald Smith, Clinton, Md., 1,766. 9, Hollis McMullen, Rockville, Md., 1,754. 10, Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., 1,753. 11, Bob Chamberlain, The Villages, Fla., 1,744. 12, Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 1,731.
13, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 1,715. 14, Robert Glass, Lawrence, Kan., 1,713. 15, Richard Nardozza, Clearfield, Pa., 1,709. 16, Karl Wolf, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 1,704. 17, Teata Semiz, North Brunswick, N.J., 1,703. 18, (TIE) Roger Painter, Woodbridge, Va., and
James Brenner, LeClaire, Iowa, 1,701. 20, Ron Winger, Westlake Village, Calif., 1,700. 21, Roger LeClair, Clackamas, Ore., 1,695. 22, George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C., 1,694. 23, Dowell Milliken, Lake Grove, N.Y., 1,687. 24, Ted Staikoff, Black Hawk, S.D., 1,683.
25, Roger Workman, Kenova, W. Va., 1,681. 26, Sam Maccarone, Glassboro, N.J., 1,674. 27, Steve Stein, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,673. 28, Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., 1,667. 29, Jerral Pickford, Charlotte, N.C., 1,662. 30, (TIE) Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., and L.V. "Skip" Kruse, Havelock, N.C., 1,661. 32, Roger Owensby, Bluefield, W. Va, 1,660. 33, Vince Mazzanti Jr., Levittown, Pa., 1,655. 34, Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 1,652. 35, Steve Neff, Homosassa Springs, Fla., 1,649. 36, Chuck Haus, Linden, Mich., 1,646.
37, Leonard Chetti, Alexanderia, Va., 1,645. 38, (TIE) Larry Wallace, Manassas, Va., and Bob Caruso, Dayton, N.J., 1,643. 40, Greg Wilhelm, Stafford, Va., 1,640. 41, Bobby Jones, Bryans Road, Md., 1,637. 42, Walt Lattimore, Greenbelt, Md., 1,635.
43, Ross McDonald, Clarksville, Md., 1,634. 44, (TIE) Steve Etzel, Coal Valley, Ill., and Don Sylvia, Discovery Bay, Calif., 1,633. 46, Don Patterson, Knoxville, Tenn., 1,628. 47, William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 1,627. 48, Lee Rautenberg, Boca Raton, Fla., 1,620.
49, Dannie Hettinger, Circleville, Ohio, 1,617. 50, (TIE) Frank Gallo Jr., Lanham, Md., and Rick Cashell, Dedham, Mass., 1,616. 52, Doug Hosking, Elizabethtown, Pa., 1,615. 53, (TIE) Steve Bova, Massapequa, N.Y., and Jan Kravcheno Sr., Kalida, Ohio, 1,612.
55, (TIE) Fred McClain, Lincoln Park, Mich., and Todd Wilson, Summerfield, N.C., 1,607. 57, (TIE) Joseph Venezio, Linden, N.J., and Larry Galloway, Lakewood, Calif., and Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 1,601. 60, John Hricsina, Franklin, Pa., 1,599.
61, (TIE) Andy Ippolito, Forest Hills, N.Y., and Henry Blough, Elizabethtown, Pa., 1,597. 63, (TIE) Joe Thomas, Staunton, Va., and Richard Schukert Jr., New Castle, Pa., 1,593. 65, Pete Couture, Titusville, Fla., 1,590. 66, Paul Busch Sr., Dover, Del., 1,588.
67, James Slaughter, Las Vegas, Nev, 1,587. 68, Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 1,581. 69, (TIE) Pete Gunn, Stafford, Va., and John Kordonis, Maplewood, N.J., 1,579. 71, Garry Breeden, Manassas, Va., 1,570. 72, Chuck Fairchild Jr., Boardman, Ohio, 1,567.
73, (TIE) Eddie Blocker Jr., Seabrook, Md., and Richard Libertino, Chincoteague, Va., and Mike Kilgannon, Valley Stream, N.Y., 1,562. 76, (TIE) Ken Waters, Homosassa, Fla., and Richard Rathjen Sr., Naples, Fla., 1,561. 78, Patsy DellaPenna, Palm Harbor, Fla., 1,556.
79, Greg Rottengen, Washington, N.J., 1,555. 80, Keith Reynolds, Elmira, N.Y., 1,552. 81, Gene Stus, Taylor, Mich., 1,551. 82, Charlie Tomey, Spartanburg, S.C., 1,545. 83, (TIE) Dennis Amato, Pine Brook, N.J., and Larry Graybeal, Elizabethton, Tenn., 1,544.
85, Richard Holmes, Luray, Va., 1,541. 86, Edward Buco, Berlin, Md., 1,539. 87, Dom Quinzi, East Rochester, N.Y., 1,532. 88, (TIE) James Asbury, Gaithersburg, Md., and Jim Weyand, Springfield, Va., 1,530. 90, (TIE) Fred Baldwin, Sturgis, Mich, and Gary Friedman, Farmingdale, N.Y., 1,528. 92, Sam Perrotta, Lincoln Park, N.J., 1,519. 93, Victor Portalatin, Jackson, Mich., 1,517. 94, (TIE) Johnie Peak Sr., Hyattsville, Md., and Burdette Walker, Rockwood, Pa., 1,511. 96, Randy Niehaus, Rockford, Ill., 1,509.
97, (TIE) Harley Trumbull, New Boston, Mich., and David Hull, Lexington, N.C., 1,500. 99, Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn., 1,495. 100, Charles Sitko, Jackson, Mich., 1,493. 101, Joe Ballard, Pfafftown, N.C., 1,483. 102, David Booe, Winston Salem, N.C., 1,472.
103, Fred Ferreira, Kings Park, N.Y., 1,456. 104, George Ennis, California, Md., 1,448. 105, Bill Argenbright, Fisherville, Va., 1,438. 106, Kelly Van Hees, Newport, R.I., 1,431. 107, Gregory Smith, Baltimore, 1,429. 108, Dave Bernhardt, Shelby Twp., Mich., 1,428.
109, Richard Felten, Rockville, Md., 1,386. 110, Elmer Davis, New Bloomfield, Pa., 1,377. 111, James Doyle Sr., Kingwood, Texas, 1,369. 112, Dan Howsmon, Lutz, Fla., 1,363. 113, John Gagliardo, Austintown, Ohio, 1,322.
June 30, 2005 — The National Tenpin Coaches Association released its first All-American team, and Erin Gore of Woodbridge, a senior at Sacred Heart University, joins a Fairleigh Dickinson junior and three University of Nebraska - Lincoln bowlers on the five-player First Team.
Click here to view the complete list of honorees and award winners.
GREENDALE, Wis. — The United States Bowling Congress has announced a sponsorship agreement with Magnolia Films of New York to promote the release of the Professional Bowlers Association Tour documentary, "A League of Ordinary Gentlemen."
As part of the agreement, USBC will promote the film's openings through its bowl.com Web site and other communication outlets which reach a network of 6,000 local bowling associations, 60,000 volunteers and more than three million members. The independent film opens May 27 in New York City and June 10 in Los Angeles and St. Louis. A nationwide release is schedule for late June and early July.
The film chronicles life on the tour through the experiences of four of its stars -- Walter Ray Williams Jr., Pete Weber, Chris Barnes, and Wayne Webb -- who are at very different places in their careers. It also provides an overview of the tour's resurgence since its purchase by three Microsoft executives in 2000.
"Our partnership with USBC will provide a great boost in making everyone who has an interest in the sport aware of this unique film," said Chris Browne, the film's director. "We hope that the struggles of these men will strike a chord with anyone who remembers watching the intense stares and tortured silences of a Saturday afternoon bowling broadcast."
USBC also will work with Magnolia Films to promote future screenings in New York, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Denver, Cleveland, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Houston, and Buffalo, N.Y., among other cities. A trailer and additional information about the movie may be found by visiting www.bowlingmovie.com.
"We are looking forward to partnering with Magnolia Pictures to promote this award-winning film," said USBC Manager of Sponsorship Acquisitions Mike Jakubowski. "This is a great opportunity to see professional bowling athletes honestly and realistically portrayed on the big screen."
The movie won the Audience Choice Award at the 2004 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas.
Magnolia Pictures is the distribution arm of 2929 Entertainment, specializing in independent and foreign films. Formed in 2001 by Bill Banowsky and Eamonn Bowles, Magnolia currently has in release the breakout documentary, "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room." Past Magnolia releases have included the Academy Award nominated documentary "Capturing the Friedmans," the record-breaking documentary "Control Room," the critically acclaimed French film "Read My Lips," and the surprising box-office smash "Woman Thou Art Loosed."
May 27, 2005 — Following the receipt of an $1,198 donation by the First Niters league at Bowl America Falls Church (WDCAWBA Hall of Famers Patty Guyer, president, and Sue Allen, secretary/treasurer), NCABA Treasurer Ralph Hayward today announced that total donations this season by area bowlers to the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) currently stand at $26,309.52.
The Bowlers to Veterans Link is a national nonprofit charitable organization that raises about $1 million annually to fund a variety of recreational equipment and therapeutic supplies for America’s veterans.
"We are most grateful to the men and women bowlers who have been so generous," said Hayward, who noted that there still is time for those who haven't contributed to do so. "The veterans really appreciate what BVL does for them."
Bowl America Falls Church leads all centers in donations thus far with $2,747.65, followed by AMF Waldorf with $1,450. The Friday Nite Mixers at Fort Belvoir (Dan Moore, secretary) tops all leagues with $1,314.
Meanwhile, Ray Webb ($1,080) and Hazel Wallace ($1,061) have generated the highest individual donations for men and women, respectively.
BATON ROUGE, La. (March 16, 2005) — Don Wright (left), whose "The Wright Way" column frequently appears in BOWL Magazine and on this site, earned first place in the Editorial division of the 53rd annual American Bowler Writing Competition. Results of the competition were announced tonight during the United States Bowling Congress Business After Hours party at the Cook Alumni Center on the campus of Louisiana State University.
Wright's winning entry, "Bowling's Arnold Palmer," unappreciated -- and needed," which appeared in the April/May 2004 issue, has a special ring to it. The article was penned and judging was completed long before Dick Weber's untimely passing and compared Weber to golf great Arnold Palmer. Part of the article read: "When Dick Weber came to my community to open and dedicate our new bowling center, the place was packed. Grandfathers brought their grandchildren, and they treated Weber with fondness and respect. One man told me it was the first time he met Mr. Weber, and he felt like had had known him for years."
Wright, a resident of Killeen, Tex., earned $300 for his winning entry.
January 26, 2005 — Washington, D.C. Area Women's Bowling Association tournament director Tena Boone today announced that the deadline for the 60th annual WDCAWBA City Tournament has been extended from February 8 to February 18.
This year's event will take place at AMF Alexandria on March 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20.
For additional information, please contact Ms. Boone at 301/336-8400.
Click here to obtain a copy of the five-page tournament entry form.
January 13, 2005 — Once again, a BOWL Magazine contributor is the guest on a popular bowling Webcast.
Jim Goodwin (left), the award-winning publisher of the Rockwall, Texas-based Stars & Strikes newspaper whose column with that same title often appears in BOWL Magazine and on this site, is the current guest on "Phantom Radio." He previously appeared on the program last June. On this program, he provides insight on several major bowling issues, including the formation of the United States Bowling Congress and the status of women's professional bowling.
NCABA Hall of Famer Walt Steinsiek, the legendary cartoonist whose work is a staple of BOWL Magazine and this site, also appeared on "Phantom Radio" last year.
Click here to reach "Phantom Radio."
SINGAPORE (December 12, 2004) — Kai Virtanen of Finland and Shannon Pluhowsky of the United States are the 2004 AMF Bowling World Cup champions.
Virtanen went into the quarterfinals at Superbowl SAFRA Mount Faber as the No. 8 seed, but he deposed top-seeded Jason Belmonte of Australia and No. 5 seed Yahav Rabin of Israel to move into the title match. The 35-year-old computer engineer and World Cup rookie brought the title back to Finland after a one-year absence by overcoming No. 2 seed Petter Hansen of Norway, 2 games to 1 (258-208, 216-233, 258-242).
It was a successful comeback for Virtanen, who quit international bowling for five years but started training and competing again this past spring. “I bowled with Team Finland in Singapore in the 1991 World Championships and won a bronze medal, so I have good feelings about being here,” Virtanen said.
Hansen had a chance to win by getting either a strike or spare in the 10th frame of the final game, but he left a disastrous 2-8-10 split instead and failed to convert it. Virtanen admitted he was taken aback to win that way.
“I had hoped he’d leave something on his first ball, to force him to shoot for a spare and make things a little harder for him. But I never hope for that kind of bad luck for anyone.”
Hansen ousted hometown favorite and No. 6 seed Remy Ong of Singapore in the first semifinal match, 2 games to 1 (259-279, 248-214, 257-210), to advance to the title bout. His wish to bowl Virtanen for the title came true when the Finn defeated Rabin in the other semifinal match, 2 games to 1 (200-215, 214-194, 238-220).
“The Finns are so good that if I beat one of them, then I will know I bowled very well indeed,” Hansen had said. “Kai and I had promised each other we’d be in the title match together, and here we were.”
In the women’s division, No. 2 seed Pluhowsky became the third woman ever to win the title twice by dethroning defending champion Kerrie Ryan-Ciach of Canada, 2 games to 0 (236-200, 234-185).
Pluhowsky advanced to the championship round by dismissing No. 3 seed Liza Del Rosario of the Philippines in the first semifinal match of the day, also by a 2-0 score (259-226, 269-169). Ryan-Ciach, the No. 8 seed, earned her berth by outlasting No. 5 seed Yoselin Leon of Puerto Rico, 2 games to 1 (279-190, 193-257, 208-193).
Pluhowsky’s win avenged her loss to Ryan-Ciach in last year’s World Cup finals in Honduras. The 22-year-old U.S. national amateur champion admitted earlier in the week that the loss motivated her in Singapore. “I learned a lot from my performance last year. In fact, I think I could have bowled better the entire season. My loss last year was a driving force for this season.”
Ryan-Ciach, the 33-year-old Canadian national champion, could have become the second person in World Cup history to win back-to-back titles. “I thought I had an edge going into the finals right after the semifinals, because I was loose and warmed up,” she said. “For whatever reason, I didn’t have the same ball reaction today. I lost my pin carry in the second match with Shannon. I made good shots, but kept leaving 4-pins and 10-pins, and it ’s difficult to adjust for that kind of carry.”
Ryan-Ciach achieved some satisfaction, however, as she and Jack Guay won the Bent Petersen Trophy for best combined country performance. Guay finished tied for fifth in the men’s division.
A record 95 nations competed in this year’s AMF World Cup (93 men, 73 women). The AMF World Cup is the world’s largest annual international sports championship in terms of number of participating countries.
AMF Bowling Worldwide Inc., the founder and principal sponsor of the AMF Bowling World Cup, is the world’s largest owner and operating of bowling centers. It is also a leader in the manufacturing and marketing of bowling and billiards products. More information about AMF is available on the Internet at www.amf.com. Tournament results are available at www.amfbowlingworldcup.com.
SEMIFINAL RESULTS, WOMEN:
No. 2 Shannon Pluhowsky, USA, def. No. 3 Liza Del Rosario, Philippines, 2 games to 0 (259-226, 269-169).
No. 8 Kerrie Ryan-Ciach, Canada, def. No. 5 Yoselin Leon, Puerto Rico, 2 games to 1 (279-190, 193-257, 208-193).
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND RESULTS AND WORLD CUP TITLE, WOMEN:
No. 2 Shannon Pluhowsky, USA, def. No. 8 Kerrie Ryan-Ciach, Canada, 2 games to 0 (236-200, 234-185).
Shannon Pluhowsky, USA is the 2004 AMF Bowling World Cup women’s champion.
SEMIFINAL RESULTS, MEN:
No. 2 Petter Hansen, Norway, def. No. 6 Remy Ong, Singapore, 2 games to 1 (259-279, 248-214, 257-210).
No. 8 Kai Virtanen, Finland, def. No. 5 Yahav Rabin, Israel, 2 games to 1(200-215, 214-194, 238-220).
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND RESULTS, MEN:
No. 8 Kai Virtanen, Finland, def. No. 2 Petter Hansen, Norway, 2 games to 1 (258-208, 216-233, 258-242).
Kai Virtanen, Finland is the 2004 AMF Bowling World Cup men’s champion.
SINGAPORE (December 11, 2004) — Shannon Pluhowsky of the United States, the 2002 AMF Bowling World Cup women’s champion, became just the third woman ever to win the title twice with a 2 games to 0 victory over defending champion Kerrie Ryan-Ciach of Canada (236-200, 234-185).
No. 2 seed Pluhowsky advanced to the championship round at SuperBowl SAFRA Mount Faber by dismissing No. 3 seed Liza Del Rosario of the Philippines in the first semifinal match of the day, also by a 2-0 score (259-226, 269-169). Ryan-Ciach, the No. 8 seed, earned her berth by outlasting the No. 5 seed, Yoselin Leon of Puerto Rico, 2 games to 1 (279-190, 193-257, 208-193).
Pluhowsky’s victory avenged her loss to Ryan-Ciach in last year’s World Cup finals in Honduras. The 22-year-old U.S. national amateur champion admitted earlier in the week that the loss motivated her performance this year.
“I learned a lot from my performance last year," said Pluhowsky. "In fact, I think I could have bowled better the entire season. My loss last year was a driving force for this season.
“It also helped that today, unlike last year, we bowled our finals right after the semifinals. We didn’t have to wait for the men’s semis to be finished, and it helped me not to have five hours of down time. I could keep practicing from my first match on, which allowed me to be loose and ready for the match.”
Ryan-Ciach, the 33-year-old Canadian national champion, could have become only the second person in World Cup history to win back-to-back titles.
“I thought I had an edge going into the finals right after the semifinals, because I was loose and warmed up,” she said. “For whatever reason, I didn’t have the same ball reaction today. I lost my pin carry in the second match with Shannon. I made good shots, but kept leaving 4-pins and 10-pins and it’s difficult to adjust for that kind of carry.
Pluhowsky averaged 249.5 for the day while giving the United States its 13th World Cup title (7 men, 6 women).
The men’s semifinal and championship rounds also conclude Sunday. Singapore’s Remy Ong, the No. 6 seed, takes on No. 2 seed Petter Hansen of Norway in the opening semifinal pairing, while No. 5 seed Yahav Rabin of Israel and No. 8 seed Kai Virtanen of Finland face off in the second match. The semifinal winners meet for the title at 4:30 p.m. Singapore time.
A record 95 nations competed in this year’s AMF World Cup (93 men, 73 women). The AMF World Cup is the world’s largest annual international sports championship in terms of number of participating countries.
AMF Bowling Worldwide Inc., the founder and principal sponsor of the AMF Bowling World Cup, is the world’s largest owner and operating of bowling centers. It is also a leader in the manufacturing and marketing of bowling and billiards products. More information about AMF is available on the Internet at www.amf.com. Tournament results are available at www.amfbowlingworldcup.com.
SEMIFINAL RESULTS, WOMEN:
No. 2 Shannon Pluhowsky, USA, def. No. 3 Liza Del Rosario, Philippines, 2 games to 0 (259-226, 269-169).
No. 8 Kerrie Ryan-Ciach, Canada, def. No. 5 Yoselin Leon, Puerto Rico, 2 games to 1 (279-190, 193-257, 208-193).
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND RESULTS AND WORLD CUP TITLE, WOMEN:
No. 2 Shannon Pluhowsky, USA, def. No. 8 Kerrie Ryan-Ciach, Canada, 2 games to 0 (236-200, 234-185).
Shannon Pluhowsky, USA, is the 2004 AMF Bowling World Cup women’s champion.
SINGAPORE (December 11, 2004) — Kai Virtanen of Finland, the men’s No. 8 seed, stunned frontrunner Jason Belmonte of Australia with a perfect game and advance out of the quarterfinals of the AMF Bowling World Cup.
Virtanen, a 35-year-old engineer, recorded the eighth perfect game of this year’s tournament when a 10-pin toppled lazily just before being swept off the pindeck. “This is my 17th perfect game but the first one I didn’t see happen, because I had turned away figuring the 10-pin was going to remain standing,” he said. “Then I got back to my seat and my coach Sami [Luoto] was high-fiving me and everyone started yelling. I had to see it on the replay to believe it.”
The 300-247 victory over Belmonte in the first game was the forerunner of a 2 games to 0 victory over the tournament’s top seed (300-247, 228-219). Insult added to injury for the Australian when he left the 4-6-7-10 split in the 10th frame of the second game while needing a spare or strike to win and force the match to a third game.
“I thought I threw it well, but it just kind of ran up on the pocket a little,” Belmonte said. “I didn’t expect that split from that ball.”
Virtanen’s perfect game was the 27th 300 game in World Cup history but the first ever recorded in either the stepladder format or the current knockout format.
Virtanen squares off against No. 5 seed Yahav Rabin of Israel in the semifinals. Rabin defeated No. 4 seed Chester King of the Philippines 2 games to 1 (179-257, 237-236, 257-235). The other semifinal match pairs hometown favorite and No. 6 seed Remy Ong with No. 2 seed Petter Hansen of Norway. Hansen made short work of Belgium’s Yves Van Eyken, 2 games to 0, with a near-perfect effort (279-203, 257-240).
Ong thwarted Canada’s Jack Guay, 2 games to 1 (206-193, 204-279, 223-218) to keep alive Singapore’s hopes for its first World Cup title. Ong had to regroup from an open frame in his final game and then double in the 10th to defeat Guay.
“At this level, concentration is so important,” said Ong. “I think I will learn from my mistakes today. He (Jack) struck out to force me to strike. I would like to be in that position any day, finishing first and forcing the other person to strike.
“This is a matter of self-achievement for me. I was so close in 2002. My dream has always been to win a world title. Hopefully, it will not be long until that happens.”
In the women’s division, Puerto Rico’s Yoselin Leon, Liza Del Rosario of the Philippines, Shannon Pluhowsky of the U.S. and defending champion Kerrie Ryan-Ciach of Canada advanced to the semifinal round.
Ryan-Ciach, who grabbed the final seed from Singapore’s Valerie Teo by just three pins Friday, devastated No. 1 seed Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia, 2 games to 0 (201-197, 235-225). Zulkifli has never won a head-to-head match in seven World Cup tries.
“The match was as tough as I thought it would be,” Ryan-Ciach said. “Shalin never gave up and gave it everything she had; she just didn’t get the pin carry.”
A spectator tried to console Zulkifli after the match, telling her she did her best, to which Zulkifli responded, “My best just isn’t good enough.”
Ryan-Ciach will take on No. 5 seed Leon in Sunday’s semifinal round at SuperBowl SAFRA Mount Faber. Leon dispatched Australia’s Ann-Maree Putney, the No. 4 seed, 2 games to 1 (189-279, 238-160, 205-200) on Saturday. The other pairing pits No. 3 seed Del Rosario against No. 2 seed Pluhowsky, the 2002 World Cup champion.
Del Rosario defeated No. 6 seed Helen Johnsson of Sweden, 2 games to 0 (278-203, 232-189), while Pluhowsky had little trouble with No. 7 seed Laura Rhoney of Scotland (223-204 and 231-163).
The semifinal round begins with Pluhowsky and Del Rosario locking horns in the opener at 9 a.m. Sunday. The men’s first match, featuring Ong and Hansen, is set for 2 p.m. The 2004 AMF World Cup champions will be crowned Sunday afternoon at the center. The women’s championship match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., followed by the men.
A record 95 nations competed in this year’s AMF World Cup (93 men, 73 women). The AMF World Cup is the world’s largest annual international sports championship in terms of number of participating countries.
AMF Bowling Worldwide Inc., the founder and principal sponsor of the AMF Bowling World Cup, is the world’s largest owner and operating of bowling centers. It is also a leader in the manufacturing and marketing of bowling and billiards products. More information about AMF is available on the Internet at www.amf.com. Tournament results are available at www.amfbowlingworldcup.com.
QUARTERFINAL RESULTS, WOMEN
No. 5 Yoselin Leon, Puerto Rico, def. No. 4 Ann-Maree Putney, Australia, 2 games to 1 (189-279, 238-160, 205-200)
No. 3 Liza Del Rosario, Philippines, def. No. 6 Helen Johnsson, Sweden, 2 games to 0 (278-203, 232-189)
No. 2 Shannon Pluhowsky, USA, def. No. 7 Laura Rhoney, Scotland, 2 games to 0 (223-204, 231-163)
No. 8 Kerrie Ryan-Ciach, Canada, def. No. 1 Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia, 2 games to 0 (201-197, 235-225)
QUARTERFINAL RESULTS, MEN
No. 5 Yahav Rabin, Israel, def. No. 4 Chester King, Philippines, 2 games to 1 (179-257, 237-236, 257-235)
No. 6 Remy Ong, Singapore, def. No. 3 Jack Guay, Canada, 2 games to 1 (206-193, 204-279, 223-218)
No. 2 Petter Hansen, Norway, def. No. 7 Yves Van Eyken, Belgium, 2 games to 0 (279-203, 257-240)
No. 8 Kai Virtanen, Finland, def. No. 1 Jason Belmonte, Australia, 2 games to 0 (300-247, 228-219)
SINGAPORE (December 10, 2004) — Three-time defending women's U.S. Amateur champion Shannon Pluhowsky continued her run toward a second title while defending men's U.S. Amateur champion Richard Fairley Jr. was unable to advance to the quarterfinals Friday in the 40th AMF World Cup at the SuperBowl SAFRA Mount Faber Bowling Center.
Pluhowsky, a University of Nebraska senior from Phoenix and the 2002 World Cup champion, finished the Round of 24 in second place with a 7,158 total (223.69 average). She rolled 1,802 in eight games Friday (224.2 average) to advance to a best-of-three match Saturday against No. 7 Laura Rhoney of Scotland.
Fairley, a Virginia Tech student from Lynchburg, Va., improved to a tie for 12th place at 7,171 (224.09 average) but fell 75 pins short of the top eight. He rolled 1,819 (227.3 average) in eight games Friday.
Malaysia's Shalin Zulkifli continued to dominate the women's action with 7,492 (234.13 average) thanks to a 290 final game. Zulkifli takes on defending champion Kerrie Ryan-Ciach of Canada in the quarterfinal round. Ryan-Ciach also relied on a 290 game to snatch the eighth and final quarterfinal spot away from Singapore's Valerie Teo by three pins. Preceding match-ups pit No. 4 qualifier Ann-Maree Putney of Australia against No. 5 seed Yoselin Leon of Puerto Rico; and No. 3 qualifier Liza Del Rosario of the Philippines versus No. 6 Helen Johnsson of Sweden.
Australia's Jason Belmonte experienced a slight letdown in Friday's action, with his overall tournament average dropping six pins to 238.72. His 7,639 total still was good enough, however, to slide past Norway's Petter Hansen by 60 pins. Belmonte will face another World Cup rookie, Kai Virtanen of Finland, in the men's quarterfinals.
Singapore's Remy Ong held on to sixth place and will meet Canada's Jack Guay in Saturday's quarterfinals. Others advancing include No. 7 qualifier Yves Van Eyken, who takes on No. 2 Hansen, and No. 4 Chester King of the Philippines, who meets No. 5 Yahav Rabin of Israel. Rabin joined the "World Cup 300 Club" Friday as did Switzerland's Mathieu Berges, raising the number of perfect games recorded at this year's World Cup to seven. Berges, however, missed the cut by 28 pins despite the perfect score.
Quarterfinal winners advance to Sunday's semifinal round. The semifinal winners will meet for the titles later Sunday.
A record 95 nations are competing in this year's AMF World Cup. The previous record was set in 2000 in Lisbon, Portugal, when 88 countries sent athletes. The AMF World Cup is the world's largest annual international sports championship in terms of number of participating countries.
40th AMF World Cup
SuperBowl SAFRA Mount Faber, Singapore
Friday results after 32 games
Top Eight in each division advance
MEN
1, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 7,639 pins, 238.72 average. 2, Petter
Hansen, Norway, 7,579, 236.84. 3, Jack Guay, Canada, 7,417, 231.78. 4,
Chester King, Philippines, 7,379, 230.59. 5, Yahav Rabin, Israel, 7,304,
228.25. 6, Remy Ong, Singapore, 7,264, 227.00. 7, Yves Van Eyken,
Belgium, 7,249, 226.53. 8, Kai Virtanen, Finland, 7,246, 226.44.
Did not advance — 9, Mohammed Khalifa Al Qubaisi, United Arab Emirates, 7,222, 225.69. 10, Mathieu Berges, Switzerland, 7,218, 225.56. 11, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 7,202, 225.06. 12, (tie) Richard Fairley Jr., United States and Shoji Kawada, Japan, 7,171, 224.09. 14, Guy Caminsky, South Africa, 7,157, 223.66. 15, Alan Gibbons, Ireland, 7,142, 223.19. 16, Ahmed Shaheen, Qatar, 7,112, 222.25. 17, Marcel van den Bosch, Netherlands, 7,095, 221.72. 18, Kayrat Baybolatov, Kazakhstan, 7,088, 221.50. 18, Alejandro Reyna, Costa Rica, 7,088, 221.50. 20, Siriphon Mayura, Thailand, 7,083, 221.34. 21, Arturo Hernandez, Venezuela, 7,066, 220.81. 22, Domenico Righi, San Marino, 6,944, 217.00. 23, Maurizio Celli, Italy, 6,942, 216.94. 24, Daniel Lim, Malaysia, 6,925, 216.41.
WOMEN
1, Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia, 7,492 pins, 234.13 average. 2, Shannon
Pluhowsky, United States, 7,158, 223.69. 3, Liza Del Rosario,
Philippines, 7,078, 221.19. 4, Ann-Maree Putney, Australia, 7,047, 220.22. 5,
Yoselin Leon, Puerto Rico, 6,971, 217.84. 6, Helen Johnsson, Sweden, 6,936,
216.75. 7, Laura Rhoney, Scotland, 6,861, 214.41. 8, Kerrie Ryan-Ciach,
Canada, 6,802, 212.56.
Did not advance — 9, Valerie Teo, Singapore, 6,799, 212.47. 10, Marie Ramirez Solera, Costa Rica, 6,785, 212.03. 11, Fiona de Koning, Netherlands, 6,780, 211.88. 12, Beatrix Pesek, Hungary, 6,767, 211.47. 13, Iliana Lomelí, Mexico, 6,731, 210.34. 14, Laurence Fievet, France, 6,705, 209.53. 15, Hiroko Shimizu, Japan, 6,690, 209.06. 16, Mariela Alarza, Venezuela, 6,637, 207.41. 17, Bigi Manico, Switzerland, 6,591, 205.97. 18, Martina Beckel, Germany, 6,586, 205.81. 19, Valerie Soto Andrino, Guatemala, 6,466, 202.06. 20, Annette Biltoft, Denmark, 6,449, 201.53. 21, Angelina Karto, Indonesia, 6,445, 201.41. 22, Donna Adams, England, 6,442, 201.31. 23, Ivonne (Altmuller) Gross, Austria, 6,396, 199.88. 24, Kathleen Lyons, Ireland, 6,331, 197.84.
November 6, 2004 — The bowling center at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., will host the next 600-700 Scratch Doubles Tournament on Saturday, February 26, 2005. NCABA Vice President Michael Coleman, who serves as the event's director, made the announcement at today's asssociation board meeting at Fort Belvoir.
Additional information will appear on this site and in the December/January issue of BOWL Magazine.
Ebonite Pro Staffer Kim Terrell is scheduled to appear at an "Ebonite Demo Day" presented by World Class Pro Shops at AMF Capital Plaza on Saturday, November 6.
The former U.S. Open champion and PWBA star will work with individuals who will get 90 minutes on the lanes to test the entire line of Ebonite balls in any of the four remaining squads at 1:00, 4:00, 5:30, and 7:00 p.m. Spots are limited to 10 bowlers per squad.
The $20 prepaid sign-up fee will be deducted from the price of any Ebonite ball purchased.
For additional information, contact World Class Pro Shops at 301/322-9530.
Chris Merrill of Dale City, Va., bowled a three-game series of 668 to win the VIR-MAR-DISTRICT 600 Club Fall Singles Tournament held at Bowl America Dranesville on October 10. Howard Ball Jr. of Largo, Md., finished second with a 651. Merrill also earned the high game award with a 245 game.
Jon Merrill of Dale City and Elizabeth Wrye of Ashburn, Va., tied for third with 611.
The top four series qualified for the Tournament of Champions, which will be held in March.
The next 600 Club tournament will be a doubles event on November 14, 2004 at 2 p.m. It will be held at AMF Bowie, 15514 Annapolis Road (Route 450) in Bowie, Md.
Any youth bowler who has bowled a sanctioned 600 series in the VIR-MAR-DISTRICT YABA is eligible for membership in the 600 Club. Any questions should be directed to Tom Dale, YABA 600 Club, 10 Hulvey Drive, Stafford, VA 22556-3816 (phone: 540/659-1263).
High games:
LONDON, ENGLAND (September 17, 2004) — Afghanistan will send a bowler to the 2004 AMF Bowling World Cup in Singapore.
Tournament manager Anne-Marie Board confirms that Afghani bowler Atiq Sikander is entered in the men’s division of the 40th AMF World Cup. Afghanistan is the third “newcomer” nation requesting entry thus far; the other two are Nigeria and Slovakia.
Afghanistan brings to 98 the number of countries planning to enter this year. Thirty-four countries have already chosen their national representatives; each nation is entitled to send one male and one female bowler. The women’s division will include defending champion Kerrie Ryan-Ciach of Canada, 2002 champion Shannon Pluhowsky of the USA, 1992 winner Martina Beckel of Germany, last year’s third-place finisher Marie Ramirez of Costa Rica, and Asian Federation star Ann-Maree Putney of Australia.
Jack Guay of Canada, the first bowler ever to post a perfect score in the World Cup (1993), headlines the men’s division. Other challengers include 2004 South Pacific Classic champion Jason Belmonte of Australia, Israeli star Yahav Rabin, English rankings leader Paul Moor, new European Individual Cup champion Domenico Righi of San Marino, and last year’s World Cup runner-up, Marcel van den Bosch of the Netherlands.
Defending champion C.J. Suarez of the Philippines must win his national World Cup qualifier to advance to the Singapore pinfest.
SuperBowl Management Pte Ltd, which is building host center SuperBowl SAFRA Mount Faber, reports that construction on the 34-lane center is progressing. The facility is expected to open in early November, a month before the December 5-12 AMF World Cup comes to town.
The 40th annual AMF Bowling World Cup is the world’s largest annual international sports championship in terms of number of participating nations. Bowlers from 77 countries competed in the 2003 AMF Bowling World Cup in Honduras. The record of 88 nations was set in 2000 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Additional information on the AMF Bowling World Cup, including archives and bulletins for this year’s tournament, is available on the Internet at www.amfbowlingworldcup.com.
GREENDALE, Wis. (May 10, 2004) — One of bowling's most respected industry leaders, American Bowling Congress and Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Jack Reichert died May 9 in Lake Forest, Ill., after battling a long illness. He was 73.
After becoming Brunswick's chief executive officer in 1982 and chairman in 1983, Reichert guided Brunswick's growth as a leader in the bowling and recreation industry. He served in those posts until his retirement in 1995.
Even as Brunswick grew into a diversified Fortune 500 corporation, bowling remained close to Reichert's heart. He helped launch the Brunswick Memorial Open PBA Tour stop (later the Brunswick World Tournament of Champions) and was tireless in his commitment to promote bowling as a medal sport in the Olympics.
While bowling has yet to achieve medal status, his devotion was instrumental in bowling becoming an exhibition sport in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to bowling's appearance as an exhibition sport, he was the driving force behind the International Amateur Bowling Tournament held in Las Vegas in 1984 which was televised by CBS.
Reichert continued devoting many hours as well as Brunswick financial resources to the Olympic medal effort. In the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, Brunswick constructed and supplied a 16-lane center for the Olympic Village. Brunswick's support also made it possible for an international bowling tournament to be conducted in the Olympic Village two days prior to the Summer Games in Atlanta in 1996.
A staunch backer of team bowling, his company also added its support to ABC's World Team Challenge for several years beginning with the 1993-94 season.
Reichert's love of bowling dated back to his teen years when he set pins for fellow ABC Hall of Famer Ned Day in Milwaukee. It was Day who suggested Reichert join Brunswick-Balke-Collender after he completed college because the company was poised for rapid growth with the advent of the automatic pinsetter. He joined Brunswick in 1957 in a sales position in Milwaukee and rose through the ranks eventually becoming CEO and chairman.
Reichert is survived by his wife, Corrine, and their children Susan Milanek of Lake Forest and John Reichert of Avon, Colo. He also had four grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest at 700 N. Sheridan Rd.
April 26, 2004 — Larry Glaspie Sr. (left) of New Carrollton, Md., and Raynard Nowden of Bowie, Md., used nearly a decade of ABC Tournament experience together to move into seventh place in Classified Doubles with 1,169 Saturday.
Glaspie shot 598, and Nowden had 571. Larry Harrington of Whitehall, Mont., and Kent Smallcomb of Kearney, Neb., lead Classified Doubles with 1,245.
Nowden said the quicker pace in doubles from team event a day earlier made a big difference for them.
"When you shoot at a faster pace, you're able to keep a good rhythm going," Nowden said. "It makes it much easier to relax and concentrate."
Glaspie shot 511 in team and 452 in singles for 1,561 all-events. Nowden had 502 in team and a 477 in singles for 1,550 all-events.
The Classified Division is designed for ABC members who average 180 or less. Classified Division results are unofficial pending verification of averages.
March 24, 2004 — NCABA Hall of Famer Walt Steinsiek's latest cartoon book, The Funniest Approach!, is now available, and the author currently is accepting orders for autographed copies exclusively through this site.
Individuals may obtain copies for $8.95 each (postage paid), and discounts will be available for organizations and for leagues that purchase 12 or more copies.
Interested parties may E-mail Walt Steinsiek or send a check to 5337 Bison St., Micco FL 32976-7790.
RENO, Nev. (October 6, 2003) — The American Bowling Congress today signed a letter of intent extension with the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority for the National Bowling Stadium to remain the home of the ABC Championships Tournaments in 2010, 2013, and 2016.
As was the case in the original contract, ABC delegates must approve the letter of intent. That action will take place March 19 in Reno during the ABC Annual Convention.
NCABA Hall of Famer Walt Steinsiek (left), whose cartoons and illustrations are a staple of this site and who for the past nine years has written a bowling column for the Vero Beach Press Journal in his home state of Florida, last week agreed to write additional weekly bowling columns for the Fort Pierce Tribune and the Stuart News. Total circulation for the three papers is approximately 100,000.
Steinsiek, 76, a 30-year resident of Laurel, Md., who has lived in Micco, Fla., since 1992, recently disclosed that his fourth cartoon book, The Funniest Approach, is currently being prepared, and it is expected to be released at the 2004 Bowling Writers Association of America Convention in Reno, Nev.
GREENDALE, Wis. (August 29, 2003) — Sport Bowling league secretaries now can save time and handle their duties more efficiently with the Perfect Secretary 2004 program from Treasure Software, being offered to sanctioned Sport Bowling leagues for free by simply contacting Bowling Headquarters.The software allows league secretaries to input bowler information (name, address, weekly scores, etc.) into the program and upload that to the National Sport Bowling Database through the bowl.com Web site. This allows a league's scores to be tracked electronically at Bowling Headquarters so that bowlers can compare their scores to others in Sport Bowling leagues across the country on SportBowling.com.
This method saves time and effort for league secretaries and eliminates the need to fax, E-mail, or mail league scores to Bowling Headquarters for submission into the National Sport Bowling Database.
The software is compatible for any Sport Bowling league (American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance, and mixed) and also can be used for non-Sport Bowling leagues.
To obtain the Perfect Secretary 2004 edition for free, leagues and bowling centers must be sanctioned for Sport Bowling competition. To receive the software, contact ABC/WIBC Research Engineer Nichole DePaul at 1-800/514-BOWL Ext. 3295, or via E-mail.
Developed and officially rolled out by ABC and WIBC in August 2001, Sport Bowling is an optional level of membership consisting of league and tournament competition on challenging lane conditions. Sport Bowling emphasizes technique and spare shooting, and places a greater emphasis on players' skills rather than typical house conditions.
For more information about Sport Bowling, visit SportBowling.com on the Web or call 1-800/514-BOWL Ext. 3400.
August 1, 2003 — "She's the best woman bowler in the area. Period. She demonstrates it year after year after year, and she bowls everywhere."
So stated former NCABA Top 10 bowler Glenn Callaway last night, just a few feet away from where Dawn Fay (left) was being hugged and otherwise congratulated by several members of the Top Dollar Trios league at AMF Seminary moments after she tallied her 12th strike in her second game to record her fourth career perfecto. However, this was but the first congratulatory gathering for Fay, who began the evening with a 259 game.
"Hang around," she told one observer, "I might just get that 800."
Indeed, after a 258 finale, that elusive 800 series finally could be added to her stellar area résumé—an 817 series, in fact, that included 31 strikes in 36 attempts on lanes 17 and 18. Her 33-game league average increased to 225.39.
"I got to play down-and-in, and I don't get to do that very often," said Fay, explaining a key factor about how she was able to remove that proverbial monkey—"a big monkey," she noted—off of her back, despite an understandable lack of confidence following her stunning start. She has never forgotten her series rolled several years ago opening with games of 298 and 299 that ultimately did not add up to 800. Plus, she's well aware that her friend and fellow Top 10-ranked bowler Carla Sessions has multiple 800s.
"I'm hoping this will be like the 700 series was for me," Fay said. "Once I finally had my first one, I had several of them right after that."
Fay, a seven-time Virginia Bowling Queens champion who has appeared in the Washington, D.C. Area Women's Bowling Association Top 10 ranking each year since 1994 and was the No. 1-ranked bowler for six consecutive seasons (1995-1996 to 2000-2001), will be inducted into the WDCAWBA Hall of Fame along with Sharon Weber in ceremonies October 18 at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Md.
— Bob Cosgrove
GREENDALE, Wis. (July 11, 2003) — The bowling industry task force created to modify the single membership organization proposal finished discussion on its agenda July 7-8 in Milwaukee with an agreement to take the proposed decisions back to the respective merging organizations.
The meeting consisted of representatives from the American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance, USA Bowling, and the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America was a follow-up to the first meeting held June 10, also in Milwaukee.
No decisions were made public but the task force continued work to resolve issues that caused the original plan of merger's rejection by ABC Convention and WIBC Annual Meeting delegations. All the organizations remain committed to a unified single membership organization for bowling.
After discussion with the organizations, the task force will reconvene via conference call Aug. 11. It is hoped a new plan will be available for discussion at the Nov. 1-2 joint meeting of the ABC, WIBC, YABA, and USA Bowling boards.
The goal is to then have a new proposal available for 2004 ABC and WIBC delegations for action.
The merger would combine ABC, WIBC, YABA, and USA Bowling into one organization. If approved, it would be one of the largest nonprofit mergers in United States history. Currently ABC has nearly 1.7 million members, WIBC nearly 1.3 million, and YABA nearly 400,000 members. Joining them with USA Bowling would create one organization with nearly 3.4 million members. It would seek recognition from the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for bowling in the United States.
RENO, Nev. — The "Don't Sleep On Us" team from Dunkirk, Md., moved into first place in the Division 1 Team event at the Women's International Bowling Congress Championship Tournament June 26 at the National Bowling Stadium.
"Don't Sleep On Us" posted a 2,853 team total, eclipsing the previous leader, "Left Out 2," Wauconda, Ill., by 32 pins. Felicia Terry, Manassas, Va., led the way with a 612 series (220-178-214), while team captain Angela Powell, Fort Washington, Md., followed with a 574 (178-209-187). Leadoff bowler La Joye Lofland, Washington, D.C., registered a 560 (153-191-216), Annie Hunt, Washington, D.C., added a 556 (176-150-230), and Sonja Debrew, Waldorf, Md., rounded out the scoring with a 551 (171-180-200).
The Reno event marks the first time Powell, Lofland, and Hunt participated in the WIBC Championship Tournament. Powell is an assistant coach for the Bowie State University bowling team.
The WIBC Championship Tournament attracts bowlers from every U.S. state and Canada, as well as international participants from Australia, Bermuda, England, Japan, and elsewhere. It is the largest participatory sporting event in the world for women.
This year's tournament has attracted 66,080 WIBC members, with 33,480 sets of doubles, 66,960 singles entries, and 62,547 all-events entries. Participants are competing for a $2.7 million prize fund.
Upcoming WIBC Championship Tournament locations include Wichita, Kan., in 2004; Tulsa, Okla., in 2005; and then a return to Reno in 2006. For more information on the tournament and the latest scores, visit WIBCtournament.com.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A stubborn 4-pin kept a Virginia man from perfection at the ABC Tournament.
Anthony Harris, a 49-year-old UPS load supervisor from Alexandria, Va., rolled the 11th 299 game at the Knoxville Convention Center on Thursday evening (May 1).
“It’s funny. In the doubles I didn’t even shoot 500,” he said. “Then I come back and shoot the first 11 and shoot 700. It’s just funny how that happens.”
Harris rolled games of 163, 154, and 158 for 475 in doubles. He made an adjustment at the tail end of that series and it paid big dividends, netting him a 710 series with games of 299, 232, and 179.
“I made a move on my last spare shot in doubles,” Harris said. “I watched the ball reaction when I threw it and I said ‘OK, that’s where I want to throw the ball.’ Once I found a comfortable shot, I knew my spares would take care of themselves.”
Harris knew coming into the Tournament that it wouldn’t be easy to put up a big score.
"You come here from your bowling center and the shot is set up a certain way,” Harris said. “You can master it in a couple of shots. Here, you can try different balls, and it still won’t work. It’s just a tough shot.”
RENO, Nev. (April 30, 2003) — The delegation at the 2003 Women’s International Bowling Congress Annual Meeting narrowly defeated a second vote Wednesday on the Plan of Merger to create the United States Bowling Congress at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
After failing to reach the required two-thirds majority needed to approve the proposal Tuesday, it was brought up for reconsideration from the floor on Wednesday. The motion to reconsider was approved by a 1,366-984 margin.
After the motion to reconsider was approved, the WIBC delegation began discussion on the Plan of Merger. A total of 1,459 delegates favored the Plan of Merger in the second vote, with 855 opposed and one illegal ballot, meaning it fell 84 votes short of approval. Overall, the debate took about one hour.
“The women missed an opportunity that may never come again,” said WIBC Executive Director Roseann Kuhn. “There will be more competition than ever before for the female bowler. Associations will have to work harder than ever before to meet the challenge.”
The United States Bowling Congress was a movement to merge bowling’s membership organizations into one single membership group. The WIBC, American Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance, and USA Bowling boards of directors approved the Plan of Merger last November.
Delegates to the 2003 ABC Convention rejected the Plan of Merger in March.
Tuesday, there were 1,486 votes for the proposal and 1,153 against. This came after the delegation soundly approved rescinding the 2002 motion to delay the USBC vote until 2004. That vote was 2,172 in favor and 439 against. By so doing, the delegation opened the floor to discussion on the Plan of Merger to create the USBC, discussion that last more than two hours.
“Our main challenge will be to grow our membership,” Kuhn told the delegation. “Competition for the membership dollar remains stiff. We not only compete with the American Bowling Congress, but with every other recreational sport and activity that exists.
“The WIBC board now asks for the cooperation of all associations and members to overcome these challenges,” Kuhn said. “A 25-member board cannot do it alone as you have indicated in your discussion on the Plan of Merger. A unified network of dedicated WIBC volunteers will be needed to support the board and deliver national programs and services to all members.
“This is a call to action. The passion you have shown to keep WIBC separate and distinct must now be transferred to a different type of passion—a passion to resuscitate and revive. Saving WIBC from becoming insignificant or extinct can only be done with hard work. The business of bowling has changed; now it’s time for us to change our position in the industry.”
April 25, 2003 — The Bowling Writers Association of America has named Saginaw Valley State University senior Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., and California State University-Fullerton junior Melissa Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif., as its Columbia 300/BWAA Collegiate Bowlers of the Year for the 2002-03 season.
It is the second time being named Collegiate Bowler of the Year by the BWAA for O'Neill, who previously won the award in 2001 and was a runner-up in 2002. O'Neill and Bellinder, who each receive a $1,000 scholarship for winning the BWAA honor, also were named Most Valuable Players by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association.
The runners-up, who each earn a $500 scholarship, for the men were: Western Illinois University's Derek Sapp, who was the 2002 Columbia 300/BWAA Collegiate Bowler of the Year; Wichita State University's Sean Rash, a 2002 finalist; University of Utah's Scott Norton; and Southwest Texas State University's Brian Goode.
Taking home $500 scholarships after being selected runners-up for the women were: Arizona State University's Brandi Wolfe, a 2002 runner-up, and Kimberly Hunn; West Texas A&M University's Tina Stickney; and Pikeville College's April Ellis.
Receiving honorable mention for the men were: Morehead State University's Chris Hester, a 2002 finalist; Shippensburg University's Jerred Poff; and Vincennes University's Ronnie Russell.
Earning honorable mention for the women were: Wichita State University's Maggie Smith; University of Nebraska's Paola Gomez; and Fresno State University's Heather Jordan.
The awards were handed out April 23 at the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships Opening Banquet in Tulsa, Okla.
April 23, 2003 — If you read Don Wright's latest column on the future of organized bowling, you may recall that he refers to the Dead Women Voting? article by Bowlers Journal International editor Jim Dressel (left), who recently was a guest on "Phantom Radio."
On the program, the noted bowling writer offers further insight as to why he believes the vote is so crucial to the survival of the two membership groups, which have gone from 10 million members just a few years ago to 2.5 million today. The vote could change the landscape of sanctioned bowling forever and even doom one of the groups to a premature death, depending on which way the women vote.
Click here to gain access to the program.
April 23, 2003 — The Professional Women's Bowling Association today announced that ESPN2 will air the 2003 WIBC Queens Tournament in a 90-minute format Thursday night, April 24 at 10 p.m. Eastern. The first airing was not completely shown because an NBA game went into overtime, causing the network to air part of a hockey game in the Queens time slot.
The office of the Washington, D.C Area Women's Bowling Association in Camp Springs, Md., will be closed from April 21 to Monday, May 5 while officers and directors of the organization attend the Women's International Bowling Congress Annual Meeting in Reno, Nev.
March 24, 2003 — NCABA Vice President Scott Gielda yesterday announced that league secretaries may resume their online submission of awards on this site. The announcement was made at the monthly board meeting at the association office in Camp Springs, Md., and this follows recent major updates to the computer system.
In other news from the meeting:
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — Led by two former U.S. Amateur Champions, Buddiesproshop.com of Fairfield, Conn., won the American Bowling Congress/b.line World Team Challenge qualifier at Bradley Bowl in Windsor Locks, Conn., March 23.
Buddiesproshop.com, with former U.S. Amateur Champions Michael Mullin (1998) and Anthony Chapman (1992) of Largo, Md., along with Chris Johnson of Woodbridge, Va., William Ripley, and Chris Forry, defeated John Paris Construction of Belford, N.J., 379-369, in the two-game Baker Scoring System final match to earn an expenses-paid trip to the 2003 Grand Championship. The team also won $5,400 ($1,100 for qualifying fifth, plus $2,300 for winning and a $2,000 bonus) plus Keepsake championship rings.
John Paris Construction (John Paris, Ray Smarsh, Barry Marcus, Jeff Smith, and Frank Dickinson) took a 194-186 lead after the first game, but Buddiesproshop.com came back to win the second game, 193-175, to win the match.
"Consistency and filling frames were the key here," said Mullin, who was a four-time TEAM USA member. "The final match was pretty representative of the way we bowled the whole tournament—nothing too big and no disasters."
Mullin qualified for his fifth Grand Championship. His best finish was second in 1996. Johnson, a last minute substitute for the team, qualified for his second consecutive Grand Championship having finished ninth last year in Las Vegas. Chapman, Ripley, and Forry will be making their first Grand Championship appearances.
In the semifinal match, John Paris Construction, which won $2,400 for second ($600 for qualifying 10th plus $1,800), defeated Winchester Systems II of Burlington, Mass. (Bruce Hall, Jason Novaco, Jonathan Norton, Stephen Dale and Jeff Morin), 394-372, to advance to the final match. Winchester Systems II earned $3,200 for third ($1,800 for qualifying third plus $1,400).
The field of 84 teams from 11 states led to 17 teams advancing to a Baker semifinal round where the top four teams then joined the top four qualifiers in the Baker match play finals. John Paris Construction was one of the 17 teams.
"We took advantage of the opportunities we had," said Paris, "We just ran up against a really tough team in the finals."
The Windsor Locks stop was the fourth of 16 qualifiers on the 2003 schedule. The site and dates for the 2003 Grand Championship have not been announced.
The next Team Challenge qualifier will be hosted by Leisureland Lanes in Hamburg, N.Y., April 12-13. For entry information, call 800/514-2695, ext. 3415 or visit bowl.com.
Other finalists: 4, Ferraro's Mid-City Lanes, Kingston, N.Y., $3,500 ($2,300 as top qualifier plus $1,200 for finishing fourth); 5, Stoke On Ramp, Broad Brook, Conn., $2,300 (4th-$1,200 + $1,100); 6, Roto Grip, Colonie, N.Y., $1,700 (9th-$700+$1,000); 7, Hammer, Cedarhurst, N.Y., $2,300 (3rd-$1,400+$900). 8, Magnotta's Pro Shop, $1,145 (20th-$345 + $800).
Other cashers: 9, Montgomery Industries, Braintree, Mass, $1,250 (11th-$550 + 700); 10, Pleasant Hill Pro Shop, Wilmington, Del., $1,025 (14th-$425 + $600); 11, Vic Telemarketing, Westfield, Conn., $1,550 (6th-$1,000 + $550); 12, Jonahs Inc./CCBA, Bolton, Conn., $950 (13th-$450 + $500); 13, High Roller Inc., Beverly, N.J., $800 (19th-$350 + $450); 14, AGC Inc., Meriden, Conn., $770 (21st-$345 + $425). 15, Strike Zone Pro Shop, Staten Island, N.Y., $900 (12th-$500 + $400); 16, Tile-All Inc., Bristol, Pa., $755 (17th-$370 + $385); 17, Del Conte Electric, Broad Brook, Conn., $1,170 (8th-$800 + $370); 18, West Reading Chiropractic, Reading, Pa., $745 (16th-$385 + $360); 19, R.J. Valente Gravel, Waynantskill, N.Y., $1,250 (7th-$900 + $350); 20, Remodeling Durham Style, Wallingford, Conn., $775 (15th-$400 + $345); 21, Carmine's Deli, Elmsford, N.Y., $705 (18th-$360 + $345).
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (March 14, 2003) — American Bowling Congress delegates today at the organization's 112th convention rejected an emotion-filled plea by Executive Director Roger Dalkin and soundly defeated a plan to merge ABC, the Women's International Bowling Congress, the Young American Bowling Alliance, and USA Bowling into a new organization entitled the United States Bowling Congress. The vote was 628 for the proposal and 630 against—less than a majority. A positive vote from two-thirds plus one of the 1,279 registered delegates was needed for passage.
Today's result opens an opportunity for WIBC to take a potential industry-leading position by joining with YABA and USA Bowling to form USBC, with ABC on the outside and with no guarantee of joining the USBC since today's rejected merger proposal cannot be changed.
In a press conference immediately following the convention, WIBC Executive Director Roseanne Kuhn and President Sylvia Broyles both promised to do everything they can to persuade their delegates to vote for passage of USBC April 29 at the WIBC Annual Meeting in Reno, Nev.
February 3, 2003 — Funeral services will be held today for NCABA member Maurice "Moe" Brown Jr. of the District, who was shot and killed Jan. 28 during an apparent attempted robbery in Southeast Washington.
The viewing will occur from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Free Gospel Deliverence Temple, 4703 Marlboro Park in Coral Hills, Md. (phone: 301/420-9300), and the funeral will immediately follow.
Brown, 24, who worked with computers at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was one of the area's budding talents on the lanes, having been a graduate of the VIR-MAR-DISTRICT YABA program and a multi-finalist in its prestigious Invitational Scratch Singles Tournament. In American Bowling Congress league action, his top average last season was 216 in the Strikin' Ten Mixed Doubles at Potomac Lanes. He also carried 213 in the (Bowl America) Duke Mixed Classic, and 209 in the HUD Tenpin Mixed and 199 in the Monday 5 Mixed at Parkland.
He already had tossed two perfect games this season, noted Lost Weekenders President Herman Lee Jr., who on Jan. 31 led his fellow league members in a moment of silence in Brown's memory prior to competition at Bowl America Shirley. A total of $300 was collected by the league for the Brown family.
NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (Dec. 11, 2002) — Bowling Writers Association of America Executive Director Dan Glus, known throughout the bowling world as Pittsburgh bowling radio show host "Big D," died yesterday at his home here 10 of an apparent massive heart attack. He was 64.
Glus, who hosted "Talks and Tips with Big D" on radio station WEDO in Pittsburgh, also wrote bowling columns for the Pittsburgh Tribune. He was elected to BWAA's top administrative position during the organization's 2002 convention in Billings, Mont., where he also received the BWAA Mort Luby Sr. Meritorious Service Award for his 41 years of service to bowling journalism. The BWAA past president also was a former member of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame board. He was the perennial winner of the Professional Bowlers Association award for "best radio coverage" of PBA competition and has been inducted into four bowling Halls of Fame.
An accomplished competitor on the lanes, Glus was a member of the G&C McDermitt team from Pittsburgh that won the 1965 ABC Championships Tournament team title. That title led to a spot on TEAM USA 1966 where he helped the United States win a gold medal in eight-man team, silver in five-man team and bronze in men's doubles in the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs American Zone Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Glus is survived by his wife Fritzie, sons Dan Jr. and Dean, daughter Dionne, and two grandchildren. Additional information, including funeral arrangements, will follow as it becomes available.
William McNeil of the District, a 15-year-old sophomore at Surrattsville High, bowled a three-game series of 609 to win the VIR-MAR-DISTRICT 600 Club Fall Singles Tournament Nov. 17 at Bowl America Gaithersburg. Dan Massie of Annandale finished second with a 582 series, while Chris Merrill of Dale City placed third with a 578, ahead of Mike Marsico of Owings, Md. (569) and Dan Sforza of Chantilly (565).
By scoring among the top five series, each of these individuals qualified for the Tournament of Champions, which will be held Sunday, March 23, 2003.
Marsico earned the high game award with a 224 game, and McNeil had the second high game with a 220.
Any youth bowler who has bowled a sanctioned 600 series in the VIR-MAR-DISTRICT YABA is eligible for membership in the 600 Club. Any questions should be directed to Tom Dale, YABA 600 Club, 10 Hulvey Drive, Stafford VA 22556-3816 (phone: 540/659-1263).
October 20, 2002 — BOWL Magazine Online has learned that the $17,600 raised by members of the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association and the Washington, D.C. Area Women's Bowling Association last season fell nearly $700 short of the associations' goal to lead the nation in BVL collections for the eighth consecutive year.
For the one-year period ending July 31, 2002, Dallas, Texas topped all areas in BVL collections with $18,260.
The NCABA/WDCAWBA Kickoff for the 2002-2003 season will take place November 2 at Fort Belvoir.
September 15,2002 — NCABA President Steve Graves today appointed three new directors to the board at the association's monthly meeting in Camp Springs:
Each of these individuals were associate directors at the time of their appointment.
May 22, 2002 – Here are the official final standings of the 57th annual NCABA Championship Tournament, which took place at Bowl America Burke (team event) and Bowl America Falls Church (doubles and singles):
BILLINGS, Mont. (March 26, 2002) — The pins were flying early this morning in the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament, as the 7 a.m. shift produced a pair of 300 games, including one by Bill Cronk (left) of Waldorf, Md.
Cronk started the action with a perfect game in his third game of Regular Doubles at the MetraPark Expo Center. Less than a half-hour later, Brett Bohnert of Lebanon, Pa., turned in a 300 in his second game of Regular Singles.
Cronk and Bohnert pushed the total of 300 games to 18 in the first 44 days of the tournament, which runs every day through June 23. The ABC Tournament record for 300 games is 51, set in 1993 in Tulsa, Okla.
The 31-year-old Cronk returned to bowling last summer after an 11-year layoff and was bowling in his first ABC Tournament. He gave up bowling because of tendinitis in his elbow. The tendinitis is gone, but the elbow is still not 100 percent—he is to have surgery April 5 to remove bone spurs from the elbow.
"And today my knee was really giving me trouble. Physically, I'm a mess," laughed Cronk, who finished his third game of Singles with nine strikes in a row for a 265. He finished with a 671 series.
The 300 game was Cronk's fourth. He bowled perfect games at age 14 and 16 and recorded his third last summer shortly after ending his 11-year hiatus.
For Cronk, the toughest frame in a 300 game is the ninth.
"I always tell myself that if I get the first nine, I'll close the deal," said Cronk. "I've always been able to do that. I've got the first nine four times, and I got the 300 all four times."
Cronk's Doubles series included games of 183, 158, and 300 for a 641. His partner, Herman Beasley Jr. of Fredericksburg, Va., bowled a 501 series for an 1,142 Doubles total.
Cronk bowled series of 671 in Singles and 482 in Team for a 1,794 All-Events total.
March 5, 2002 — NCABA Championship Tournament Director Ray Brothers today announced that the entry deadline for this year's 57th annual event at Bowl America Burke (team event) and Bowl America Falls Church (doubles & singles events) has been extended two weeks to March 25.
In other tournament news, Brothers revealed that a high-performance Storm bowling ball will be raffled off at each of the tournament's 32 squads.
February 24, 2002 — As a result of last week's vote, NCABA member Richard Wolfe of Falls Church currently is among three finalists on this week's GEICO Direct Battle Ballot, which will decide who will be the 32nd contestant in this year's PBA Battle At Little Creek event, March 10-17.
Other individuals appearing on this week's ballot include earlier weekly winners George Branham III and Del Ballard Jr.
Click here to learn more about the contest and to make your selection.
February 8, 2002 — NCABA regrets to report that former director Jack Baziluik died February 6. He served on the association's board from 1983 to 1986.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to either the Immanuel Lutheran School (Belair Road, Alexandria) or the Johns Hopkins Cancer Research Center in the name of the deceased.
January 29, 2002 — NCABA is pleased to report that Executive Director Ray Brothers is resting at his home in Alexandria after undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery last week.
"I still have some pain, but I'm doing fine," said Brothers, who will receive occasional nurse visitations at home until a February 12 doctor's appointment. He hopes to return to the NCABA office shortly thereafter.
Brothers expressed his appreciation to the many well-wishers who recently have contacted the office and/or his home. Additional messages may be E-mailed to Brothers.
Tony Campagna of Bethesda defeated Centreville's Lee Brosius 222-204 to capture the $800 top prize at the 16th annual Holiday Classic held December 1 at Bowl America Manassas.
In the opening stepladder contest, Bruce Hollen of Baltimore topped Barry Wallace of Woodbridge 254-246. Campagna then conquered Hollen 227-202 and Mike Caruso of Woodbridge 243-164 to earn the right to face the top-seeded Brosius in the title match.
Brosius earned $400 for second place, while Caruso collected $260, Hollen pocketed $180, and Wallace took home $150.
Other cashers:
October 4, 2001 — BOWL Magazine Online has learned that the 2000-2001 NCABA/WDCAWBA BVL donation of over $27,000 led the nation in contributions for the seventh consecutive year. Representatives from both associations will be invited to participate in Veterans Day ceremonies November 11 at Arlington National Cemetery.
In other area news:
September 18, 2001 — NCABA Past President Henry Ford is in Inova Mount Vernon Hospital after suffering a "massive stroke" yesterday at his home in Alexandria.
Ford, who served as association president during the 1968-69 season, is an NCABA Hall of Famer and life member. He is also a member of the Southeastern Bowling Association Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, BOWL Magazine Online is pleased to report that Larry "Bud" Smith (right), who recently retired from the position of NCABA assistant executive director, is resting comfortably at his home in Dunkirk, Md., after being hospitalized in Virginia Beach this past weekend while attending the annual meeting of the Virginia State Bowling Association.
September 16, 2001 — NCABA Executive Director Ray Brothers (left) last night was inducted into the Virginia State Bowling Association (VSBA) Hall of Fame in ceremonies in Virginia Beach. He became only the fifth individual from NCABA to be so honored, joining Matthew R. Bennie (inducted in 1983), Joseph V. Miseli (1989), Robert G. Hennessy (1992), and Billy R. Zeh (1996).
In left photo, Ray Brothers (right) is welcomed into the Virginia State Bowling Association Hall of Fame by American Bowling Congress Vice President and fellow VSBA Hall of Famer Alton Forbes. ... At right is NCABA Past President Tom Dale Jr., who presented Ray Brothers at the induction ceremonies. Dale, a year 2000 inductee of the NCABA Hall of Fame, recently was named northern director for VSBA. (Photos by Tom Allen)
August 31, 2001 — NCABA Executive Director Ray Brothers today announced new hours effective immediately for the association office located at 4710 Auth Place, Suite 465, in Camp Springs, Maryland:
August 26, 2001 — The American Bowling Congress amnesty resolution provides that bowlers who were suspended for failure to pay league or tournament fees, derogatory conduct, or a general rule violation are automatically reinstated after they have been out of the game for five years.
Those bowlers suspended for misappropriation of funds where the money has been repaid also are reinstated under the amnesty resolution after five years with the provision that they may not hold an office in an ABC-sanctioned league or tournament or chartered association in the future.
Below is a list of area bowlers who were suspended through NCABA and recently were reinstated under the amnesty resolution:
EDITOR'S NOTE: In the unedited letters below, Jack Kelly, CEO of the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America, comments on the current controversy regarding the 2001 Women's U.S. Open, scheduled to take place this December.
DATE: 8/6/01
As you may know or have heard, there has been what we believe is some misunderstanding on the part of the PWBA Players Association regarding equal treatment for men and women for the 2001 U.S. Open. As a result, the PWBA Players Association sent me a memo asking us to provide equal treatment or they would consider not participating.
We believe a full understanding of the facts and our position should show that we have acted equitably (even at some cost to us) and that any concerns regarding unequal treatment are unfounded.
To achieve this, I have prepared the attached memo in response to them. To help you understand our position and the issue, we have provided you with a copy of our response.
I'd be glad to answer any questions.
* * * *
July 31, 2001
To: PWBA Players Association
From: Jack Kelly, CEO, Bowling Proprietors' Association of America
We have received from John Sommer your brief faxed memo (copy attached) to me regarding your expressed "final position" requirements for participation in the 2001 U.S. Open (i.e. equal prize money and equal television coverage). We respect your concern about issues of gender equality and fairness and that, individually and collectively, you may need to make important personal and organizational decisions that respond to your understandings and perceptions about the circumstances that exist with respect to BPAA's commitments for the 2001 Bowling's U.S. Open.
I want to be very clear that, while we very much respect the decisions you may need to make, we also believe at BPAA that the facts and issues may have not been fully explained and discussed in an appropriate forum. To respond to this circumstance, I want to provide the following to you for your consideration.
Regardless of what may be understood, or may have been presented to you, I want to be very clear and emphatic that the options presented to women (in effect, the PWBA), for Bowling's 2001 U.S. Open are exactly the same choices as have been presented relative to the men's portion of the event. There are no differences, in either verbiage or value, in what has been presented to both men and women.
Leading up to and following the early 2001 AMF decision not to renew their sponsorship of the U.S. Open, the BPAA, at every opportunity when we were asked about our intentions for 2001, responded that "we would again guarantee prize money of $187,500 for both men and women". Contrary to what has been presented in some forums, this was not a guarantee of "equal" prize money under any and all circumstances but was a commitment that we would guarantee the same amount of $187,500 in prize money to both women and men, regardless of whether we found a sponsor equivalent to AMF's 1999-2000 contributions of around $400,000 each year in cash.
As you know, television for the U.S. Open has been secured from different sources over the years — in many years through the PWBA and its relationships. For 2001, the PBA offered to include the Open as part of its fall television package on December 9, 2001. Shortly after, the PBA announced that it was increasing prize money for all events, but wanted to do so particularly for the 4 "majors," among which they wanted to include the U.S. Open. They proposed prize money for men at the Open of $350,000 and postulated a significantly increased television production cost of up to $90,000 for each broadcast.
During our subsequent conversations with them, we indicated that BPAA was still only in a position to put $187,500 into the men's event (with the PBA's provision of the t
