After 10 years, Great Falls will finally play host to another state bowling tournament as the 75th annual Montana State Women’s Championship Tournament begins Saturday for an eight-weekend run.

"We are pretty excited," said Stretch Richards, president of the Great Falls Women’s Bowling Association. "It’s been 10 years and I don’t think the businesses of Great Falls know what’s in store for them.

"Last I heard we have 530 teams and that’s about 130 more than they drew last year in Anaconda."

Little’s Lanes will play host to the team event and also Saturday’s opening ceremonies, which will get under way at 10:30 a.m.

"This year’s theme of the opening ceremonies will be Lewis & Clark," said Richards. "We will be honoring the only women involved with Lewis & Clark, Sacagawea."

The doubles and singles will be bowled at Pin & Cue.

"State tournaments always bring a lot of people to town," said Richards. "They will use our hotel rooms and they will definitely do some shopping."

Shift times for the team are 11 a.m., 1:30, 4:30 and 7 p.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays, teams will bowl at 8:30 and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The doubles and singles shifts are 9 a.m., 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays, the times are 7:30 and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The first shifts on each day have been designated non-smoking, which is a new wrinkle added to the tourney.

The women’s event begins a three-year run of state tournaments for the Electric City. In 2006, the 89th Montana State Bowling Association State Tournament will be here and in 2007 the YABA State Tournament will also be held here.

With three weekends remaining, Belt teams hold the top four spots at the annual Peanuts Tournament, being held at Helena’s Capital City Bowl.

Leading the quartet is Red’s Sand and Gravel, made up of Polly and Gary Pimperton and Bob and Tina Berard. The foursome fired a 2,669 to hold a 10-pin lead over Dave Anderson’s Pizza Pro, who have a 2,659. In third is Thrown Together, with a 2,645 and Belt Valley Bank No. 2 holds down the fourth spot with a 2,627.

The Bozeman pair of Jamie Webster and Jim Orham lead the doubles with a 1,430. Tina Berard and Donnie White, a Belt-Great Falls duo, have a 1,386. Billings’ Dolly and Joe Plumage hold third with a 1,339. Belt’s Sandy Francom and Larry Howes are in fourth with a 1,338.

For shift times for the last three weekends phone Capital City Bowl, at 442-6212.

Finally, the CMR and Great Falls Leagues will close their season with its annual roll-off, which will be Thursday afternoon at Murph’s.

Rod Hackett is putting the finishing touches on a great season. With a first-ever 300 already under his belt, Hackett added a pair of nice 700s last week. First in the Elks Seniors, Hackett reeled off games of 279, 248 and 204 for a 731. Two nights later in the Friday Mixed, he posted a 268, 255 and 235 for a 759 to lead the week.

Topping the women was Karin Osborn whose 228, 214 and 257 added up to a 699. Osborn was bowling the MixMasters at Little’s.

Leading the men at Little’s was Bob Jackson, who pieced together games of 249 and 235 for a 709.

Connie Bartell’s 224 game and 608 series was high for the Elks women.

At Pin & Cue, Sarah Benner’s 231 game and 566 series led the women. Les Bruner’s 248 and 657 was high for the men.

Bruce Steffani led the men at Murph’s with a 663 series, spiced with a 265 game. Ron Simonsen was right behind with a 278 game and 661 series. Cheryl Gilbert’s 221 game in the SkyRaiders took women’s honors.

Lois Gudatis, a 135 average bowler, had the day of her life rolling a 234 game, 99 pins over her average, and a 540 series, 135 pins over her norm, to lead the women at Black Eagle. Gudatis was bowling in the Clubhouse 55 League. Cal Hering’s 627 series, highlighted by games of 245 and 203, led the men.

Also deserving mention this week was a nice 649 series tossed by Dani Jo Kline at Rudyard’s K-Lines. Kline’s set included games of 224 and a huge 258.

Curt Backa, the only person never to have won a can of peanuts in the Peanuts Tourney, is a Tribune news and sports copy editor and resident bowling mook. Backa can be reached at 791-6569, (800) 438-6600 or e-mailed at cbacka@greatfal.gannett.com

Here are the rest of last week’s honor scores:

Wednesday Ladies — Mindy Sattler 217, Treasure Berkram 185(+62), Lee Egger 205, Ann Sikes 171(+51), Lanaya Vaile 182(+54_

Friday Mixed — Zola Sellars 200

Thursday Commercial — Everett Gobert 244, Rick Kraft 222(+54), Tom Lane 227, Don Sollars 214(+58), Don Weaver 222(+50), Chris Barsness 159(+62), J.W. Eaton 234

Friday Mixed — J.W. Eaton 234

Thursday Men — Darren Rowe 252

Tuesday Skyliners — Kacey Demars 168(+51)

Wednesday Ladies — Teresa Lamphier 200

Wednesday Doubles — Rose Huston 221

Wednesday Pinetoppers — Linda Petersen 203

Commercial — Dewey Rosman 247-675, Gleen Roberts 240-629(+113), Ed Vogl 233, Dean Person 234, Vern Howard 180(+54), Ted Campbell triplicate 157

Monday Doubles — Gary Mane 225

Tuesday Trio — Monte Solberg 225, Tim Anthony 203(+50)

Tuesday Skyliners — Dave Pillar 234, Chuck Dirkson 220(+58)-597(+111)

Wednesday Doubles — Les Melichar 191(+52)

Thursday Seniors — Ray Conard 152(+45)

Thursday Money — Scott Kulbeck 235-613(+151), Mike Metcalfe 222(+57), Scott Phelps 203(+51)

Thursday Merchant — John Garoutte 230(+74)-576(+108), Shane Balthazor 566 series(+101), Mike Metcalfe 216(+50)

Elks Seniors — Kay Kinzinger 223, Luella Merriman 188(+70), Connie Buley 177(+50)-172(+45)-504(+123)

Thursday Ladies — Anne Longfellow 197(+58), Anne Chaisson 165(+70), Carey Lytle 165(+52)

Friday Mixed — Karin Osborn 235, Lisa Dunn 219, Barb Baumgartner 203-201

Tuesday Men — Chuck Martin 268-673, Donnie White 268, Jim Rothweiler 268, Darrin Schreder 254, Rich Teesdale 247, Chuck Bartels 247-246-675, Rod Hackett 238-225, Roger Winterrowd 237-232-674, Mike Beggs 236, Ken Haugen 236, Bernie K. Dickman 234, Mearl Christianson 225, Gale Swanson 225, Darwin Reeve 225, Bill Gernaat 211(+65)

Bull Elks — Jim Pickering 245, Gale Swanson 244, Dan Rollheiser 244, Scott Roger 243-681, Bernie K. Dickman 242, Dean Kovar 235-225, Ed Mattix 230, Tim Levandowski 227, Rod Hackett 227, Shane Benton 226, Fid Fitterer 224(+54)

Elks Seniors — Rod Hackett 279-248-204-731, Cal Hering 267-649, Darwin Reeve 255-236-675, Shannon Ostlie 244-201-619, Doc Basta 217, Roy Curtis Sr. 216-200-606, Sherman Mills 214-211-615, Bob Bann 204, Dave Shadrick 204-201, Jim Remsh 203, Chuck Dailey 202, Chet Knab 200, Wendell Peck 198(+55)-194(+51)

Friday Mixed — Rod Hackett 268-255-235-759, Greg Gordon 256, Billy Walker 236-663, Mike Baumgartner 234-232, Larry Peterson 228, Bill Offerdahl 216(+58), Fred Green 183(+51)

Tuesday Tornadoes — Nathan Beebe 232

Wednesday Men — Ron Simonsen 278-661, Wayne Quinby 229, Jimmy Taylor 233, Ryan Moody 257, Larry Taylor 232

SkyRaiders — Sharon Gribble 215, Cheryl Gilbert 221

Friday Alibi — Robert Rioux 235-232-655, Ron Rose 225, Val Scott 245, Rich Fisher 239, Drew Wanner 236-247-659

MixMasters — Barb Lankford 232, Doris Kimmerle 205-277-660, Guyla Streit 226, Karin Osborn 228-214-257-699, Kristen Egan 233, Roxie Foster 201, Teresa Solomon 205-213-608

725 Classified — Guyla Streit 245-220-656, Doris Kimmerle 231-604

Thursday Mixed — Pam Bigelow 205

Satellite Mixed — Crissy DeBolt made the 3-7-10 split, Karen Arps 215, Karen Cox 164(+51), Paula Guisti 213, Georgia Moe 201, Shawna Lane 202-206

Casino — Dean Wigger 233, Bill Dixon 242, John Dixon 234

Tuesday Nite Mixed — Andy Atkinson 231-266-698, Bob Ramsted 207(sr.), Ed Archey 236, Gary Hendrix 223(+59), Kyle Grossman 233, Norm Miller 225, Rick Beyer 227, Tim Drazich 277-692

Little’s City — David Cashman 223(sr.)

MixMasters — Bob Jackson 249-235-709, Bob Orham 265-668, Chuck Lull 228, Don White 226, Glenn Jeffrey III 235, Ken Curry 234-225-671, Mike Carrethers 238, Mike Carrette 225, Steve Lyczewski 239-234-678

Business House — Al Decker 231-615(sr.), Clint Forney 226, Gary Paladichuck 256, Harry Schultz 203(sr.), Norm Miller 234-665

725 Classified — Bill Christianson 225, Bruce Hruska 266-678, Dwight Pearch Jr. 233, Fred Sadler 226, Glenn Jeffrey III 268, Jody Bastas 249-246-685, Mike Carrette 238, Mike Christensen 225, Mel Willey 236, Ron Underwood 235, Scott Craig 226, Tony Gribble 234, Wes Baker 242-232-685

Thursday Mixed — Jim Rothweiler 224-657, Ryan Whittaker 198(+67)-188(+57)-560(+167)

Short Short Season — Brian Christianson 226-657, Mike Christensen 242

Utility — Allen Ulstad 226, Bill Bury 225-236-656, Norm Miller 241-659

Straight-A-Way — Bob Orham 226, Brian Christianson 267, Jim Dixon 252, John Balzarini 246-667, Lynn Taskila 232, Pat Terry 231-233-655, Ron Corkin 234, Willie McGee 226-235

Satellite Mixed — Mel Willey 227, Norm Miller 244

Little’s Seniors — Al Decker 233-204-641, Cal Hering 226-203-607, Della Johnson 224, Dick Gipe 204-226-613, Ed Dobeas 204, Elwood Sayler 207, Gloria Pueschel 236, Mel Kerbs 201, Steve Lyczewski 216-209-210-635, Wes Martin 213

Pro Alley Bowl/Belt

Monday Ladies — Vicky Hicks 197(+62)

Monday 535 — Teresa Solomon 204

Ladies Nite Out — Lauretta Gifford 208, Sarah Bernier 231

Wednesday Mixed — Trina Konoche-Linabary 213

Sunday Mixed — Leonard Peterson 245

Monday 535 — Ken Haugen 244, Chuck Lull 267, Mike Bowles 230, Randy Guill 233, Len Bruner 248-657, Joe Skaggs 226

Wednesday Mixed — Rock Rayl 265, Mark Pepin 233, Rod Vold 234

MFCU — Bryan Riphenburg 254

Friday Mixed — Hans Schell 227-232-664, Ducky Faler 209(sr.)

Howard Ghee Thursday Mixed — Bruce Enott 201(+56)

Friday Fallouts — Dean Hauer 220(+61), Ed Pengilly 220(+96)-180(+56)-525(+153), Ruff Kidrick 179(+51), Bob Chesko 227

Black Eagle Seniors — Stretch Richards 252, Frank Thompson 245, Cal Hering 245-203-627, Don Richards 241, Bob Chesko 208, Cle Mann 203, Dick Gipe 202, Elwood Sayler 200

Clubhouse 55 — Lois Guditas 234-540(+135)