10-16-2007
You may have missed some great bowling
In case you couldn't or wouldn't break away from that exciting Bears-Vikings NFL game Sunday, Liz Johnson put on a dominating performance to capture the 2007 U.S. Women's Open at Reno's National Bowling Stadium.
After disposing of Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, 257-209, in the semifinal, Johnson used her up-and-in style to perfection to post a 248-215 victory over up-and-coming star Shannon O'Keefe in the championship match.
"I just felt like I was in a really good place, like nobody was even around me out there," said Johnson, who also won the title in 1996. "Once I stepped out on the lanes, I felt aggressive and focused. I really haven't felt that good in a very long time and I think it showed on the lanes today."
In beating Ballard, Johnson struck on six of her first seven balls and never looked back and carried her momentum right on through the final match.
Johnson, who won 11 titles in the now dissolved Professional Women's Bowling Association and was the first woman to ever make the finals in a PBA event in 2006, pocketed $25,000 for the victory.
O'Keefe, from Rochester, N.Y., defeated reigning U.S. Amateur champion Lynda Barnes, 223-187. Barnes is the wife of PBA star Chris Barnes and both claim Double Oak, Texas as their home.
O'Keefe won $15,000 for her second-place finish. Barnes and Ballard, a spokesperson for the USBC High School program, each collected $10,000 for third.
The event was televised live on ESPN.
•••
Speaking of the women, entries are now being accepted for the $2,000-added Classic 50s Ladies Scratch Tournament, which will be held at Little's Lanes Nov. 10-11.
Two six-game qualifying shifts, at 1 and 4 p.m., are set for Saturday with the top 16 advancing to Sunday's seven games of match play. The top five after match play will compete in the stepladder finals.
Back to defend her title from 2006 is Amanda Steffani Jensen. Congratulations to Amanda, who has gotten married and had a baby in the last year.
Entry fee is $80 and the first 24 paid entries will be entered into a drawing for a new reactive bowling ball.
Entry forms are available at most area lanes.
•••
Sad news to report.
Longtime bowler and honor-score regular Elwood Sayler, 75, passed away last Thursday at his home.
Sayler and his wife, Ethel, were league mainstays at both Little's and Pin & Cue, and were also regulars on the local senior circuit of leagues the last few years.
Condolences got out to his wife and family.
His scores, as usual, are listed in today's honor scores.
The bowling community will surely miss him.
•••
In a recap of last week's kegling action, a senior led the men's pack and junior bowler stole women's honors.
Bob Orham opened last Wednesday night's MixMasters at Little's with a big 287 game and then added back-to-back 246 efforts for a huge 779 set to lead the week. He also tossed a nice 289 game last Monday in Pin & Cue's 535 league.
Crystal Martinich, bowling in the newly formed Elks Juniors, fired games of 246, 204 and 212 for a sterling 662 set, high for all the women last week.
Leading the men at the Elks were Steve Vernon, who posted a 242 game and 656 set in the Early Birds, and Dennis Vandenberg, who had a 234 and 655 in the Tuesday Men.
Doris Kimmerle led the women at Little's rolling a 245 game and 657 series in the Thursday 725 Classified.
Darrin Davenport continued his hot streak at Pin & Cue. Davenport, after fashioning a 792 two weeks ago, again led the men on the westside reeling off games of 221, 229 and 236 for a 686 mark.
Linda Michel, bowling in the 535, was high for the women with a 616 series, coming on games of 205, 203 and 208.
Steve Ketterling led a high-scoring week at Murph's, putting together games of 268, 222 and 210 for a 700 in the Wednesday Men's Handicap. The Quinby clan of father Wayne and sons Steven and John were tough to beat. Steven was high for the trio with a 253 game and 666 series. John followed with a 236 and 658 and Wayne brought up the rear with a 233 game.
Lisa Jewell and Jen Cox shared women's honors after both carded 201 games.
Curt Backa, suffering carpel tunnel disease after giving his remote a workout Sunday watching both the bowling and the NFL, is a Tribune sports and news copy editor and resident bowling misinformant.
Here are the rest of last week's honor scores from around the state:
Pin & Cue / Great Falls
Women's scores
Sunday Mixed— Linda Huddleston 206, Wendi Castle 214
Monday 535— Barb Lankford 235, Linda Michel 205-203-208-616-808(4), Nobi Sirucek 202, Chris Dittus 200-203
Ladies Nite Out— Carolyn Kimmerle 212, Judy Ryan 215, Veronica Yates 209, Mercedes Brown 205, Amanda Solomon 201, Jean Fayden 205, Bunny Haferman made the 2-7-10 split
Wednesday Mixed— Trina Linabary 209, Norma Miller 202, Bunny Marten 206
Morning Glories— Emma Pengilly converted the 5-10 split; Barb Bessler made the 5-6 split
Men's scores
Sunday Mixed— Dale Specht 210 (sr.), Harvey Huddleston 218 (sr.), Jerry Ferderer 220-204-204-628 (sr.)
Ag League— Larry Cummings 235, Roger Beck 206 (sr.)
Monday 535— Josh Buchanan 226, Arnie Judd 246-242-650-892(4), Tank Judd 255-651-862(4), Bob Orham 289-682-882(4), Don White 246, Randy Guill 246, Mike Bowles 209-220 (sr.), Larry Johnson Jr. 248, Joe Skaggs 232-624(sr.), Norm Jensen 211 (sr.), Ken Haugen 215-204 (sr.)
Wednesday Mixed— Alan Christensen 203 (sr.), Rock Rayl 223-653, Kelsey Klundt 226-671, Al Vukasin 204 (sr.)
M.F.C.U.— Carey Lytle 234, Josh Buchanan 234, Dale Alexander 203 (sr.), Arnie Depping 234
Friday Mixed— Darrin Davenport 229-236-686, Ole Greenwood 200-201 (sr.), Dave Pfeifle 203 (sr.), Mike Bowles 211-207-617 (sr.), Leonard McNee 208 (sr.), Bruce Skaggs 205 (sr.), Ducky Faler 215 (sr.)
Murph's / Great Falls
Monday Intramural— Bruce Steffani 266-657
Wednesday Men's Handicap— Steve Quinby 253-666, John Quinby 236-658, Jack Hawley 235, Wayne Quinby 233, Ron Rose 225, Larry Taylor 226-241, Jeff Dennen 246, Charlie Pepos 245, Russ Simonsen 243, Steve Ketterling 268-700
SkyRaiders— Lisa Jewell 201
Friday Alibi— Jen Cox 201, Randy Golightly 227
K-Lines / Rudyard
Women's scores— Helen Inabnit 210
Men's scores— Chris Pappas 233, Chris Kline 227, Dan Hubner made the 5-7 split; Sid Haugen converted the 3-9-10 and 6-8 splits
Glacier Lanes / Cut Bank
Women's scores
Monday Night Ladies— Kandie Lemieux 200
Wednesday Ladies— Laurie Wynn 200, Tammy Scribben 172 (+57), Beth Fugle 184 (+58)
Friday Mixed— Tammy Carlson 155 (+50)
Men's scores
Sunday Mixed— Leonard Fugle 210 (+78), Brian Grainger 189 (+62)-205 (+75), Doug Vermulm 177 (+61)-463 (+115)
Thursday Commercial— Darren Arensmeyer 218 (+53), Paul Augare 209 (+55), Tom Lane 226, Ron Luedtke 203 (+62) -529 (+106), Cliff Omsberg 245, Justin Robbins 191 (+62)
Friday Night Mixed— Jim Vaile 204 (+54)
Little's Lanes / Great Falls
Women's scores
Little's Seniors— Kay Aune 161 (+51), Sharon Reeve 204
Monday Ladies Classic— Cindy Sikes 196 (+50), Cristy Snider 216
Wednesday A.M. Trio— Gwen Larson 205, Melissa Denning 214 (first-ever 200), Deb Erwin 234
A to Z— Marge Meier 174 (+58)
MixMasters —Judy Jackson 210-218-604, Barb Lankford 219-224-613, Kristen Egan 223, Dawn Rambo-Orr 212
725 Classified— Shawna Lane 205, Doris Kimmerle 213-245-657
Short Season Trio— Marion Olson 247
Classic Trio— Becky Agamenoni 193 (+52), Marilyn Gersack 180 (+74), Doris Kimmerle 200-208
Straight-A-Way— Kristen Egan 203-207
Men's scores
Little's Seniors— Rod Hackett 202, Dan Ruff 199 (+51), Mike Bowles 206-215, Elwood Sayler 219-206, Dennis Smrdel 213, Darwin Reeve 216-200, Ed Dobeas 200
Teachers Mixed— Ron Meyers 256, Charlie Compton 221 (+55)-225 (+59)
Casino— Bruce Hruska 256-661, Monte Holtz 226, Ken Price 217 (+58), Jim Dixon 241
Tuesday Night Mixed— Shane Brown 219 (+52), Matt Reis 235 (+116)-524 (+167)
Little's City— Keith Hayes 231, Cory Gullick 278-655, Chuck Winn 235
MixMasters— Bruce Hruska 226, Bob Jackson 247, Pat Terry 233-225-681, Bob Orham 287-246-246-779, Darren Rowe 266-673, Steve Martin 245-244-712, Ross Rambo 257-268-699, Mike Arps 238, Paul Dehn 225-235-226-686, Mike Christensen 240, Jim Svir 226, Jody Bastas 243, Don White 245, John Balzarini 246, Don Jordan 226, Mike Bowles 233
725 Classified— Paul Dehn 234, Tom Brendgord 227, Mark Hewitt 235, Bruce Hruska 256, Wes Baker 235, Pat Terry 243, Glenn Jeffrey III 257-225-676, Mike Carrethers 238-652, Dan Schaaf 264-234-693
Thursday Night Mixed— Joe Paranteau 244, Dan Wilkerson 212-211 (sr.), Ron Nelson 210 (sr.), Jon Tovson 225-232-655
Short Season Trio— Jamey Galbraith 235
Utility — John Peters 288-711, Bill Bury 236, Doug Cox 247-265-659, Kent Cox 232-266-711, Mike Sharp 221 (+50)
Straight-A-Way— Ross Rambo 230, Bruce Hruska 254, Cory Gullick 217 (+53)
Satellite Mixed— Kyle Grossman 232, Kelly Helms 210 (+70), Greg Romanchuk 243, Duane Zeier 230, Mike Carrethers 247-663, Roger Deitz 289-670
Elks / Great Falls
Women's scores
Jack & Jill— Tracy Rigor 229, Lauretta Gifford 207
Thursday Seniors— Della Johnson 203, Betty Patton 180 (+67), Betty Noble 167 (+59), Shirley Adams 163 (+50)
Thursday Ladies— Renee LeVeque 183 (+63)-463 (+103), Katie Holm 159 (+62), Lisa Dunn 182 (+56)-498 (+120), Barb Nelson 175 (+51)
Friday Mixed— Jeri Bartels 211, Barb Baumgartner 208
Men's scores
Jack & Jill— Bernie Dickman 244
Tuesday Men— Dennis Vandenberg 234-655, Millard Ketterling 228, Rod Hackett 222-200-608 (sr.), Darwin Reeve 220 (sr.), Dave Woolsey 215-210-599 (+107) (sr.), Ken Ferguson 212 (sr.), Lee LeVeque 212 (sr.), Zane Paulson 203 (sr.), Bob Standley 201 (sr.), Jim Miller 578 (+116)
Bull Elks— Randall Reeve 236, Randy Guill 224-214-200-638 (sr.), Dave Culliton 224 (+67), Aaron Liscum 224 (+69), Dave Keil 222 (+68)-587 (+125), Rod Hackett 218 (sr.), Ed Mattix 200-541 (+145) (sr.)
Thursday Seniors— Rod Hackett 257, Roger Sherman 246, John Ferda 243-227-660, Mel Wardell 232-201-594 (+126), Don Thrush 223-587 (+107), Emil Nygard 214 (+55), Darwin Reeve 213, Jim Remsh 211-207-611, Sherman Mills 210-203-542 (+131), Dave Shadrick 210 (+58), Tony Degele 206-206, Richard Ferderer 190 (+56)-514 (+112), Dick Newman 489 (+111)
Friday Mixed— Al Vukasin 274. Chuck Bartels 248-236-671, Stephen Bush 242, Joe Summers 220 (sr.), Dale Sirucek 200 (sr.)
Early Birds— Steve Vernon 242-656, Lee LeVeque 236-213-600 (sr.), Chuck Martin 216, Rod Hackett 209 (sr.)
Jack's Lanes / Fort Benton
Monday Mixed— Carol Bahnmiller 205
Tuesday Mixed— Guyla Streit 206-243, Wini Apple 200, Robert Olson 226-246-665
Thursday Men— Jack Willson 225-257-683, Robert Olson 226-663
Black Eagle Lanes / Great Falls
Golden Seniors— Henry Baker 152 (+53), Lois Gudatis 180 (+51)
Wicked Wednesday— Deb English 138 (+57)
BECC Seniors— Teri Knott 175 (+67), Dan Ruff 210, Carl Kangas 206, Frank Thompson 200
Monday Volunteers— Debbie Thomas 195 (+50)
Snowy Lanes / Lewistown
Women's scores
Tuesday Trio— Monika Kolstad 226
Tuesday Skyliners— Laura Hammond 191 (+80)-452 (+119); Dora Corry 199 (+59)
Sunday Mixed— Kenda Horacek 203, Brittany Stout 178 (+56)
Men's scores
Commercial— Bob Hanson 233
Monday Doubles— Dewey Rosman 264-746, Rex Coleman 248-661
Tuesday Trio— Dave Ward 214 (+53), Craig Gossack 188 (+51)
Thursday Money— Rex Coleman 245-707
Thursday Merchant— Ike Waltari 226, Dean Person 225