September 28, 2004

$2,000 up for grabs in John Willey tournament

Some of the top bowling talent in the region will be in town this weekend as the Coors Light-John Willey Memorial Open returns for its two-day run at Little’s Lanes.

Offering a first-place prize of $2,000, the tourney usually attracts Montana’s best bowlers as well as those from the neighboring states and Canada.

Last year, Salt Lake City’s Chuck Groat took home the title with a 234-177 victory over Simms’ Greg Thomas, in a tournament which saw Thomas, a former PBA Tour player, dominate.

Thomas averaged a hefty 237.5 in the 12 games of match play, but could not hold off Groat in the championship match.

Shift times for Saturday’s eight-game qualifying are 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. As usual, the spots in the 1 p.m. shift are filling up fast. The high qualifier from the 8 a.m. shift receives a $100 bonus.

Entry fee for the tourney is $125.

The top 32 from Saturday’s qualifying advance into Sunday’s eight games of match play, which will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Sunday’s TV-style stepladder finals usually begin around 2 p.m.

Phone Little’s, 452-4116, for more information.

 

This past weekend’s Bowling Jamboree in Helena, sponsored by the Montana Bowling Council, brought some good news to Great Falls.

As expected, Bozeman will play host to the 2005 Montana State Bowling Assocation Tournament, and Great Falls will entertain the tourney in 2006 — breaking an 11-year drought for the Electric City.

Country Lanes and The Bowl in Bozeman will hold the 2005 tourney, although it hasn’t been determined where the team and doubles and singles will be rolled.

The Kalispell-Whitefish area was supposed to hold the 2005 tourney, but this month’s tragic fire that destroyed Skyline Bowl necessitated a change.

Also, Great Falls was the only bidder for the 2007 State YABA Tournament, so it looks like, with the 2005 Montana State Women’s Tournament already slated for here, that the Electric City will have a plate full of state tourneys the next three years.

 

Also announced at the Jamboree were this year’s inductees into the Montana State Bowling Association Hall of Fame, which included Great Falls’ Jim Kernaghan.

Joining Kernaghan in April’s induction ceremonies will be Manhattan’s Greg Waldon and the late Harold Jones of Billings.

Congratulations go out to Jim.

 

Tidbits: Entry forms for the 19th annual Great Falls City Mixed Tournament, which will be held Oct. 16-17 and 23-24 at Black Eagle Lanes, can be downloaded off the Great Falls Bowling Association Website at http://gfba.mtsba.com or obtained at any local lanes … This year’s Montana State Senior Tournament has been moved to Town and Country Lanes in Billings. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Colstrip. Entry forms for the tourney are available at all area lanes … Speaking of seniors, Westside Bowl in Missoula will play host to a pair of events Oct. 9-10. The S.I.S.B.A. (Senior Intermountain Scratch Bowling Association) will hold the seventh annual Westside Lanes Open and also a doubles sweeper, which will have shift times of 1:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Phone Westside Lanes at 721-5263 for more information. … The Great Hurrah, an Elks-members regional tournament scheduled for the next five weeks, is set to begin this weekend at the Elks. … Finally, I need to mention Chad Waltz’s nice 601 series, which included games of 224 and 216. Waltz’s team torched yours truly two weeks ago at Little’s and his scores were not turned in, which brought immediate light-hearted cries of conspiracy. I would like to set the record straight.

 

In a roundup of last week’s top scores, Paul Dehn’s hard luck continued last Thursday night. Dehn, a lefthander who had several chances to roll perfect games last season, got the first 11 strikes again, but left a odd 10-pin for yet, another 299. Dehn, bowling in Little’s 725 Classified, finished with a 714 set. Doris Kimmerle’s 659, on games of 215, 236 and 208, was high for the women at Little’s.

Scott Rodger, bowling in the Wednesday Bull Elks fired the high set of the week with a lofty 754, on games of 268 and 264. Karin Osborn, who is slowly rounding into form, registered a 655, with games of 232 and 231, the high for the women at the Elks.

At Pin & Cue, Bob Orham and Nobi Sirucek earned honors. Both bowling in the Monday 535 League, Orham turned in a 723 set, highlighted by games of 245 and 277. In a rare off week for the women, Sirucek was high with a 530 series and 202 game.

Dennis Vandenberg set the pace for the men at Murph’s with a 258 game and 655 set. Shawna Lane’s 627 led the women, beating Amanda Steffani’s 620. Lane’s set included a 244 game.

At Belt, Jeff Arndt rolled one of the high scores in recent memory with a 663 series and 279 game.

 

Belt’s Pro Alley Bowl, Fort Benton’s Jack’s Lanes, which is sporting automatic scorekeepers this season, and Glacier Lanes in Cut Bank return to this week’s roundup of scores. Welcome.

 

Curt Backa, whose scores certainly don’t need an automatic scorekeeper, is a Tribune news and sports copy editor. Backa, a member of the BWAA, pens a bowling column each week during the season. He 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:

 

Jack’s Lanes/Fort Benton

Thursday Men’s League — Chuck Yager 242, Cameron 237, 234

 

Pro Alley Bowl/Belt

Pro Alley Mixed — Jeff Arndt 238-279-663

 

Aces High

Thursday Night Mixed Doubles — Bryon Mullett 253, Gary Hooks 230, Rusty Mardis 202(+58), George Garber 227, Jerry Rangitsch 212(+50)

 

Glacier Lanes/Cut Bank

Sunday Night Mixed — J.W. Eaton 246

Tuesday Housewives — Dee Rooney 192(+57)

Thursday Commercial — Jim Croff 214(+52), J.W. Eaton 286, Rick Craft 207(+54)

 

Snowy Lanes/Lewistown

Women’s scores

Tuesday Trio — Karen Osborn 192(+65)

Tuesday Skyliners — Karin Longshore 202

Wednesday Afternoon Ladies — Karin Longshore 228

Wednesday Pinetoppers — Monica Clinton 201, Arvadel Bodvig 201, Jodie Licht 198(+57), Mary Duncan 198(+67)

Thursday Seniors — Cherie Errecart 221-615

Sunday Mixed — Darlene Eichorn 201, Chrisie McBurney 185(+61)

Men’s scores

Monday Commericial — Hank Laughlin 245(+92)-570(+111), Dewey Rosman 244, Jim Rolfness 229, Tyler Thomas 212(+56)

Monday Doubles — Dewey Rosman 247, Rex Coleman 668

Tuesday Trio — Bob Stone 224, Mark Kucera 223

Thursday Seniors — Babe Erlandson 191(+57)-504(+102)

Thursday Money — Jim Umber 236

Thursday Merchant — Ike Waltari 227, Dean Polly 172(+69), Doug Corry 218(+59)

Sunday Mixed — Ted Knerr 232

 

Elks

Women’s scores

Thursday Ladies — Lauretta Gifford 207, Pam Holtom 202

Friday Mixed — Karin Osborn 232-231-655, Jeri Bartels 214-200, Barb Baumgartner 213

Sunday Early Birds — Barb Baumgartner 206, Lauretta Gifford 202-200, Debbie Holman 200, Sharon Willits 193(+55)

Jack & Jill — Mary Duryee 174(+67)

Men’s scores

Tuesday Nite Men — Rex Tanberg 257, Ken Ferguson 247, Bernie K. Dickman 235-225-670, Ron Fenton 235

Bull Elks — Scott Rodger 268-264-754, Bob Somerfeld 258, Jim Pickering 256, Dave Culliton 243, Randall Reeve 241, Rod Hackett 234-666, Talbert Bryan 233-655, Randy Guill 229-648(+123), Ron Kimball 209(+53), Bob Rowe 176(+50)

Elks Seniors — Mel Wardell 225, Cal Hering 223-213-603, Roger Sherman 212, Sherman Mills 211, DAve Wise 203-201, Don Thrush 201, Lloyd Allee 203

Friday Mixed — Chuck Bartels 247-247-675, Steve Vernon 234, Shannon Ostlie 233, Rex Tanberg 231, Don White 225

Sunday Early Birds — Bernie K. Dickman 258-681, Mike Baumgartner 256-668, Chuck Martin 234, Bob Standley 225, Mel Wardell 225

Jack & Jill — Steve James 235

 

Little’s Lanes

Women’s scores

Monday Ladies Classic — Cristy Snider 214, Marsha Enochs 212

Tuesday Afternoon Trio — Elaine Surrendon made the 3-6-7-10 split

Casino League — Judy Jackson 243

Wednesday A.M. Trio — Betty Lorenz 206

A to Z — Shirley Lennon 209, Bonnie Teague 223

MixMasters — Doris Kimmerle 215-236-208-659, Barb Lankford 249-604, Judy Jackson 224, Karin Osborn 212, Kristen Egan 202-209, Roxie Foster 242, Teresa Solomon 213

Business House — Sharon Kunz 204

725 Classified — Guyla Streit 201-213-603

Thursday Nite Mixed — Patty Curry 202

Little’s Classic — Diane Hansen 190(+60), Marilyn Newman 177(+50)

Satellite Mixed — Georgia Moe 216

Men’s scores

Teachers Mixed — Dave Sand 224(+58)

Casino — Jeff Anderson 225

Tuesday Nite Mixed — Ed Archey 233

Little’s City — Ken Curry 248-247-694, Mike Sharp 214(+82), Ron Fleming 235

MixMasters — Don White 225, Donnie Zuhoski 243, Jim Aklestad 237, Joe Levesey Jr. 235, Jody Bastas 255, Mel Willey 244, Mike Arps 235, Pat Terry 231, Rick Cummings 239, Rich Crawford 255-652, Terry Pearsall 235-659

Business House — Al Decker 225-217(sr.), Cary Santy 225, Chad Waltz 224-216(+50)-601(+100)

725 Classified — Brian Christianson 241, Bruce Hruska 226, Duane Zeier 225, Frank Maroney 226, Hans Schell 234, Jack Lien 227, John Mission 254-225-673, Mike Carrethers 233, Paul Dehn 299-714, Paul Highlander 227, Ron Underwood 237-226, Tony Gribble 227, Wes Baker 244

Thursday Nite Mixed — Ken Curry 226-663

Utility — Adam Thoroughman 224(+81), Allen Ulstad 233-659, Bill Bury 279, John Norton 221(+78), Tom Martinez 214(+57)

Straight-A-Way — Al Pearsall 226, Bernie K. Dickman 244, Brian Christianson 239-679, Dan Jackson 230, Lynn Taskila 229, Mike Carrethers 225-239, Mike Christensen 239-247, Mike Judd 227-242, Paul Dehn 225, Rich Crawford 232-243-244-673, Ron Corkin 229, Allen Miller 225

Satellite Mixed — Mike Arps 243

 

Little’s Seniors — Della Johnson 192, Donna Wingard 155(+50), Fran Oswald made the 6-7-10 split; Rod Hackett 221-203, Roger Deitz 203, Roger Sherman 210, Steve Lyczewski 207, Wes Martin 211

 

Pin & Cue

Women’s scores

Monday 535 — Nobi Sirucek 202, Peggy Bowles made the 2-7-10 split

Ladies Nite Out — Sarah Bernier 214

Morning Glories — Jean Hanson 203

Wednesday Night Mixed — Gail Carroll 209

Men’s scores

Monday 535 — Mike Bowles 245, Steve Pettis 249-669-892(4), Arnie Judd 235-246-682-894(4), Tank Judd 287-227-698-925(4), Joe Skaggs 255-228-691-919(4), James Rothweiler 226-229, Bob Orham 245-277-723-943(4), Pat Terry 278-698-899(4)

Wednesday Nite Mixed — George Levandoski 230

Friday Men — Eric Gordon 227, Bill Sybrant 246, Frank Bresnahan 237, Al Decker 201(sr.), Russ McNee 255

 

Murph’s

Christian Intramural — Amanda Steffani 204-208-208-620, Doug Livingstone 233

Wednesday Men — Jeff Dennen 234-650, Kris Powers 254, Kelly Gilligan 233, Eugene Cuellar 231-229, Robert Rioux 232, Jack Hawley 243, Jerry Wagner 226, Stephen James 233, Don Broughton 236, Josh Moody 253, Tim Preston 247-247-697, Dick Preston 225

Thursday SkyRaiders — Shawna Lane 244-627

Friday Alibi — Terry Brus 255, Dennis Vandenberg 258-655, Millard Ketterling 210-208(sr.), Mick Brown 246

 

Black Eagle Lanes

Volunteers — John Albertini 171(+53)

Tuesday 55 Club — El Bender 228-570(+117)

Clubhouse 55 — Teri Knott 189(+54)

Howard Ghee Thursday Nite Mixed — Rick Walters 211(+60)-589(+138)

Friday Fallouts — Dan Hauer 207+72)-539(+148), Don Richards 214(sr.)-614, Matt Peck 153 (+52)

Black Eagle Seniors — Bill Todorovich 187(+53), Don Richards 212, Bob Chesko 207, Stretch Richards 204