And as usual, bowlers wait until the last minute to enter.

As of Monday afternoon there were 51 entries and tourney organizers were bracing for the end-of-the-week deluge to start.  

The 51 entries represent about half of the bowlers who will begin tourney play Saturday morning with the first qualifying shift at 8 a.m.

"The 1 and 7 p.m. shifts will get the bulk of the entries," said Jordan. "And the last shift will see a number of reentries."

Already entered are last year's winner, T.J. Calera of Calgary, along with Salt Lake City's Chuck Groat, a two-time winner and a major factor in tourney the last four years, plus past champion Jack Guay of Calgary.

Also included is the usual strong contingent of Great Falls bowlers including 2005 champion Paul Dehn and two-time winner and former PBA tour player Steve Martin, who returns to the tourney after a layoff.

The tourney has been drawing a small contingent of women players and it is no different this year with Great Falls' Kristen Egan, a former finalist; Doris Kimmerle and Billings' Julie Redfern, who is entered this year for the first time.

The top 32 qualifiers from Saturday's three shifts return for Sunday's eight games of match play.

The top 16 after the match play will roll four more games with the top five reaching the stepladder finals.

Sunday's finals usually start between 3 and 4 p.m.

This season the Friday Straight-A-Way League at Little's is one of two leagues in Montana competing in the PBA Experience.

League bowlers are bowling on one of the oil patterns used by the PBA.

"We took a survey of our bowlers last year and 95 percent of them wanted to try this," said league secretary Pat Terry. "We are using the Scorpion pattern for the first quarter."

League officials must provide the PBA and the USBC a copy of each week's scores and a tape of the pattern, to ensure the league is abiding to the rules.

"It's been frustrating for a few bowlers," said Terry. "But others are making the trying to make necessary adjustments.

"Overall, I think it has been good."

In the second quarter, the league will switch to another pattern.

"The other league doing the PBA Experience is in Billings" said Terry. "I believe at Sunset Bowl."

Fresh off his second career 800 series, Bernie K. Dickman continues to wield the hot hand.

Dickman, bowling in the Business House "Cocktail" League at Little's reeled off games of 238, 248 and capped the night with a 280 for a huge 766 set to lead the week.

It was a strong night for the storied Wednesday league, which is enjoying an infusion of youth, as Corey Gulick turned in a 254 and 228 for a 689 series and senior Rich Charlson, making his 2007 debut, threw consistent efforts of 220, 221 and 210 for a 651 series.

Chris Dittus put it all together in the Wednesday Mixed at Pin & Cue turning in games of 223, 235 and 253 for a robust 711 set, high for the week for the women.

Out at Murph's, Dusty Curtis started his Friday Alibi League off with a big 277 game, added a 240 to finish with a 731 series. Monica Furst was high for the Murph women with a 224 game, also in the Alibi league.

Leading the men at Pin & Cue was Rock Rayl, who posted a 238 game and 642 series in the Wednesday Mixed.

Elks manager Rod Hackett said conditions should improve downtown and scores should begin to rise. Hackett said that the lanes, which were stripped and treated over the summer, were set up for a computerized oil machine.

"Only problem we don't have a computerized oiling machine," said Hackett.

Steve Vernon tackled the conditions the best last week with a 239 game and a 638 series for men's honors. Tracy Rigor's 214 game in the Monday Jack & Jill league took women's honors.

Also, Nobi Sirucek converted the Big Four split (4-6-7-10) in last Monday's 535 League at Pin & Cue.

Curt Backa, who was also stripped and treated over the summer, is a Tribune sports and news copy editor and parttime bowling advisor to the stars. Backa, when not searching for his own infusion of youth, can be reached at 791-6569, 800 438-6600 or e-mailed at cbacka@greatfallstribune.com

Here are the rest of last week's honor scores from around the area:

Snowy Lanes / Lewistown

Women's scores

Wednesday Afternoon Ladies— Jean Kaurin 202

Wednesday Pinetoppers— Mary Duncan 221, Karin Longshore 215, Leann Fisk 202

Thursday Seniors— Peg Jenni 170 (+46)

Men's scores

Tuesday Trio— Shane Wells 194 (+58), Russell McMullen 200 (+65), Dave Witt 179 (+48)

Tuesday Skyliners— Jason Hernandez 172 (+54)

Thursday Money— Rex Coleman 232-660

Thursday Merchant— Rex Coleman 267-736, Jim Rasmussen 230

Sunday Mixed— Rex Coleman 247-685, Shane Murphy 188 (+60)

Pin & Cue / Great Falls

Women's scores

Monday 535— Norma Miller 208, Nobi Sirucek 205-205-604 and made the Big Four (4-6-7-10), Chris Dittus 211, Linda Michel 212, Betty Peterson 212

Ladies Nite Out— Beverly James 212, Cheryl Lau 201

Morning Glories— Lavae Nagel 231, Carol Weller made the 3-10 split; Barb Dahlman converted the 2-5 and 5-8-10 splits; Donna Bossard converted the 4-10 split, Nancy Thomas made the 2-4-6-10 split

Wednesday Mixed— Lisa Voss 219, Nobi Sirucek 201, Chris Dittus 223-235-253-711, Judy Ryan 204, Anetta Baldwin 211

Men's scores

Sunday Mixed— Ducky Faler 204 (sr.), Leonard Peterson 211 (sr.), Elwood Sayler 235-200-626 (sr.)

Monday 535— Larry Johnson Jr. 230, Chad Mans 235, Brad Harthun 233-235-658, Don White 222-207 (sr.), Tank Judd 225, Bob Orham 218 (sr.), Joe Skaggs 204-254 (sr.), Leonard Peterson 231-204-201-618 (sr.), Norm Jensen 201 (sr.), Jim Reeve 214 (sr.), Ken Haugen 201 (sr.), Reid Michel 229, Randy Guill 244, Chuck Lull 202-204 (sr.), Mike Bowles 234

Wednesday Mixed— Alex Ferguson 243, Curt Raymond 228, Rock Rayl 238, Jerry Girres 234, Larry Johnson 243, Vern Durand 232-605 (sr.)

MFCU — Boomer Bruner 214 (sr.), Ducky Faler 215 (sr.), Josh Buchanan 227, Dale Alexander 202 (sr.)

Friday Mixed— Leonard McNee 200

Little's Lanes / Great Falls

Women's scores

Little's Seniors— Helen Cascaden 171 (+60), Nancy Wiench 181 (+59)

Monday Ladies Classic— Lani Hanning made the 6-7 split; Nancy Swanson 222, Mary Reuter 201, LeAnn Budeski 203, Tiffani Palmer 191 (+64), Deb King 191 (+56), Becky Buckentin 168 (+51)

Tuesday Afternoon Trio— Donna Schroeder 214

Casino — Jodi Feller 194 (+50)-500 (first-ever 500)

Wednesday A.M. Trio— Stacy Kacer 171 (+63), Chris Skovron made the 6-7-10 split

MixMasters — Doris Kimmerle 231, Guyla Streit 212, Kristen Egan 226-214-613

Business House— Sharon Kunz 205-203

725 Classified— Doris Kimmerle 223-213-202-648, Shawna Lane 204-227

Classic Trio— Doris Kimmerle 216-224-258-698, Shirley Durran 205

Satellite Mixed— Anne Warehime 210 (first-ever 200); Bobbi Olguin 213, Janice Zigan 210

Men's scores

Little's Seniors— Al Decker 204, Pat Terry 222-612, Elwood Sayler 246, Bill Claassen 201-237, Dennis Smrdel 214, Roger Sherman 210, Bob Muretta 212, Cal Hering 256, Mearl Christianson made the 6-7-10 split; Rod Hackett 213-216, Boyd Woolverton 200

Teachers Mixed— Henry Daly 175 (+53)

Casino— Bruce Hruska 279-709, Tom Brendgord 225-650

Little's City— Cory Gulick 225, Mike Sharp 235, Joe Paranteau 225

Mix Masters— Mike Bowles 279-668, Hank Rimkus 242, Darren Rowe 269-226-669, Brian Brown 242, Dwight Pearch 254, Don White 232-257-675, John Balzarini 246-666, Ross Rambo 227-658, Dan Jackson 239, Steve Volk 236-267-226-729, Scott Hirschi 225, Mel Willey 241-243-698, Terry Pearsall 657 series; Bruce Hruska 225, Pat Terry 242-246-679, Mike Christensen 238, Jim Dixon 266-662, Joe Levesey Jr. 235-675, Paul Dehn 234-661

Business House— Harry Schultz 248, Rich Charlson 221-220-200-651 (sr.), Corey Gulick 254-228-689, Bernie K. Dickman 238-248-280-766, Dick Cunningham 227, Stephen James 234-244

725 Classified— Bruce Hruska 268, Paul Dehn 247, Glenn Jeffrey III 235, John Balzarini 226-232, Dan Schaaf 246, Mac McNeese 213 (sr.), Dick Hixson 213 (sr.), Mike Carrethers 225, Frank Thompson 200 (sr.), Mark Hewitt 276-677, Al Pearsall 258-663, Willie McGee 244-671

Thursday Mixed— Ken Curry 226, Joe Paranteau 256, Jon Tovson 205-206 (sr.)

Straight-A-Way— Bruce Hruska 253, Willie McGee 254, Mike Christensen 237, Dan Jackson 225, Jerry Wagner 227

Utility — Doug Hardenbrook 200 (+57), Joza Kralich 216 (+59), Jack Hawley 226

Satellite Mixed— Hank Rimkus 235, Nick Kynett 224 (+71), Steve Volk 226-652, Duane Zeier 247-663, Andy Schindele 225

Elks / Great Falls

Women's scores

Jack & Jill— Tracy Rigor 214

Thursday Ladies— Angela Guttormsen 180 (+65), Priscilla Morton 137 (+59)

Friday Night Mixed— Jeri Bartels 202, Heather Vukasin 203, Nobi Sirucek 198 (sr.)

Men's scores

Jack & Jill — Dave Gifford 213 (sr.)

Bull Elks— Bill Poser 208 (sr.), Dale Sterrett 200 (sr.), Nathan Gregier 183 (+63), Clyde Byerly 190 (+62), Josh Lyle 209 (+56), Byron Moser 177 (+54), Joe Metcalf 175 (+51)

Thursday Seniors— Tony Degele 237, Don Smith 225, Jim Remsh 217-212

Friday Mixed— Mike Baumgartner 232

Early Birds— Steve Vernon 239-638, Lee Leveque 201 (sr.), Rod Hackett 200 (sr.)

Aces High / Malmstrom

Thursday Mixed— Tim Warden 265-657

Wednesday Intramural— Douglas Hirschfield 230, Len Carrol 227

Murph's / Great Falls

Christian Intramural— Jim Haagenson 225

Wednesday Men— Jeff Dennen 230-253-675, Ron Simonsen 258-672, Terry Brus 265-246-719, John Quimby 238-232-659, William Fry 246-228-672, Jerry Wagner 236

Friday Alibi— Monica Furst 224, Rich Fisher 258-649, Val Scott 244, George Sayers 256, Dusty Curtis 277-240-731

Park Lanes / Browning

Monday Trio— Blake Boushie 246, Carl Arnoux 257, Kelly Boushie 205-203

Thursday 3-Man— Gary Nevins 235, Casper Rutherford 229

Glacier Lanes / Cut Bank

Wednesday Ladies— Charlotte Barry 198 (+53)

Sunday Mixed— J.W. Eaton 245, Chris Barsness 183 (+51), Kevin Bundy 410 series (+113), Tim Freed 167 (+50)-511 (+160), Leonard Fugle 172 (+64)-458 (+104); Brian Grainger 158 (+50), Daryl Sletten 199 (+60)

Happy Bowlers— Oren Mitchell 408 series (+162)

Thursday Commercial— Darren Arensmeyer 203 (+64)-545 (+128), J.W. Eaton 231, Bryce Flammond 164 (+53)-168 (+55)-466 (+133), Neal Roush 183 (+52)-188 (+57)-551 (+158)