10-9-2007
Guay getting good results in Great Falls
Not even the high price of gas is hindering Calgary's Jack Guay from heading south to Montana and winning bowling tournaments.The talented Canadian notched his third Coors Light-John Willey Memorial title Sunday at Little's Lanes with a close 202-197 victory over close friend Corey Clayton.
"I like coming down to Montana to bowl," said Guay, shortly after his victory. "Especially here at Little's.
"This makes it two in a row for me. I won the 40-90 Doubles last January with Kristen Egan."
This title wasn't easy for Guay, who had to overcome Utah's Chuck Groat in the semifinals. Groat was making his fifth straight appearance in the Willey finals, having won two (2003, 2004) and finishing second twice (2005, 2006).
Guay threw a bad ball in the fifth frame of the semi, leaving the 4-6-7 split. "I just threw a bad ball," Guay said. "It had nothing to do with the lanes.
"I had a good shot going."
Guay, as all good bowlers do, responded from that split with six straight strikes to post a 254-202 win. Groat left a pair of 7-pin leaves in the eighth and ninth that hurt his hopes for a fifth straight championship match appearance. "I'm afraid I went backwards this year."
In the final, the veteran Guay was the first to find the line on what turned out to be a very tricky pair of lanes (5-6).
"I don't know what happened to the shot," Guay said. "But, I didn't have it early."
Clayton, the tourney leader, posted a mid-game turkey and stayed close to Guay, forcing Guay had to convert the tricky 2-5-8 spare to win the match.
What is the secret to Guay's success here.
It's simple.
He's consistent and always finds a way to get off to a quick start.
In Saturday's qualifying, he reeled off games of 227, 268, 235, 238 and 248, for a staggering 243 average through is first five frames. He finished out with 190, 193 and 192 games to finish 191 over.
On Sunday, Guay got out of the gate with games of 245, 207, 244, 269 and 234, winning four of his five matches for a bonus of 150 pins.
"I didn't think I was going to get to bowl Sunday," Guay said. "I have a slipped disc that was killing me Saturday, but I woke up feeling fine Sunday."
Guay missed last year's Willey with those same back problems, and right now that may be the only thing that could slow the Canadian down.
"Right now, the way he's bowling, you are just trying to earn one of the other four finals berths," said Butte's Dave Martinich. "Because you know Jack will always win the fifth one.
Great Falls' bowlers turned in a strong effort in the event.
Nine Electric City bowlers made the top 32 after Saturday's qualifying, but only three, Bernie Dickman Jr., Paul Dehn and Mike Carrette, survived the final 16 cut.
Dickman, who has turned in some impressive scores lately, won five of his first five matches during match play and very much looked like he could earn a top five finish. Unfortunately, his 181 game in Game 11 was his downfall, he finished a flimsy six pins out of the top spot.
Dehn came in eighth, and Carrette 10th.
With Butte's Nate Gelling, who won last year's prestigious Ringin' 10 in Butte, and Dickman, youth will be served very soon.
A few notes: Boomer Bruner has asked me to remind all bowlers about the upcoming City Mixed Tournament, which be held Oct. 20-21 and Sunday, Oct. 28, at Little's Lanes. A four-person team, two men and two women, and a mixed doubles event will be held. Entry fee is $72 for the team and $36 for doubles. Entry forms can found at all local lanes or go to bowlmontana.com. ... The semifinalists for the 2007 U.S. Women's Open are complete. Shannon O'Keefe strung out the first 11 strikes only to leave a weak 10-pin on the final ball to post a 299-159 victory over Stefanie Nation to capture the last spot. O'Keefe, along with Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Liz Johnson and Lynda Barnes will battle for the crown Sunday on ESPN at 11 a.m. ... Also, the Montana State Seniors, being held in Bigfork, started last weekend. The tourney runs through two more weekens at Northshore Lanes. Again, entry forms can be found at all area lanes or on bowlmontana.com
Darrin Davenport scared the 800 mark last Friday night at Pin & Cue. Davenport, bowling in the Friday Mixed, put togther consistent efforts of 267, 258 and 267 to come up just short of an 800, finishing with a 792. The series, by far, topped all other efforts last week from around the area.
Leading the women for the second straight week was Chris Dittus, who went 219, 214 and 203 for a 630 in the Monday 535.
Oldtimer Pat Terry took all the money from the Little's Seniors posting a 267, 245 and a 727.
Guyla Streit mastered the Scorpion pattern in the Friday Straightaway with a 216 game and 621 to lead Little's women. Carolyn Kimmerle deserves a mention after throwing an all-spare 186 game, also in the Little's Seniors.
Robert Olson posted a good score from Fort Benton's Jack's Lanes with a 242 and 688 series.
Dave Harris garnered men's honors at Black Eagle with a 223 game and a 618 series. Mary Reuter's 222 game and 529 series was high for the women.
Rich "I got a check" Crawford, bowling in the Christian Intramural League at Murph's, turned in games of 226, 245 and 213 for a nice 684, high for the week on the eastside. Tristen Harrison's 212 game took women's honors.
Curt Backa, currently hampered by a swollen thumb and too small thumb hole, is a Tribune sports and news copy editor and sometimes bowling reporter. Backa, when not searching for other excuses to explain his poor bowling game, 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 state:
Pin & Cue / Great Falls
Women's scores
Sunday Mixed — Kelly Okes 231, Wendi Castle 227, Nobi Sirucek 201-216
Monday 535 — Betty Peterson 207-202, Chris Dittus 219-214-203-630, Terri Nall 200
Ladies Nite — Sara Hathaway 222, Mary Rueter 203, Judy Ryan made the 2-7-10 split
M.F.C.U. — Cheryl Lau 236
Friday Mixed — Shawna Davenport converted the 6-7 split
Men's scores
Sunday Mixed — Ducky Faler 212 (sr.), Leonard Peterson 253, Jerry Ferderer 227
Monday 535 — Randy Guill 203-222 (sr.), Leonard Peterson 209-201 (sr.), Larry Johnson Jr. 234, Arnie Judd 215 (sr.), Bob Orham 223-224 (sr.), Mike Bowles 204 (sr.), John Kramarich 230, Don White 225-257, Dan Woodcock 238-245, Joe Skaggs 203 (sr.)
Wednesday Mixed — Charles Keltz 233, Steven Bankhead 201
MFCU — Ducky Faler 208, Arnie Deppin 266-660
Friday Mixed — Mike Crocker 280-700, Rich Marten 235, Darrin Davenport 267-258-269-792, Dave Pfeifle 206 (sr.), Leonard McNee 214 (sr.), Terry Hartung 204
Snowy Lanes / Lewistown
Women's scores
Tuesday Trio — Monika Kolstad 224, Chris Angel 202
Wednesday Pinetoppers — Glenda Kolar 212, Arvadel Bodvig 204, Karin Longshore 204
Thursday Money — Myrna Mintyala 211
Men's scores
Monday Commercial — Dewey Rosman 227
Monday Doubles — Gary Mane 249-675
Tuesday Trio — Dave Witt 207 (+69)
Sunday Mixed — Rex Coleman 226, Tom Bersuch 174 (+53)-464 (+101)
Park Lanes / Browning
Monday Trio — Sheila Grant 212
Tuesday Women — Justine Croff 220
Singles League — Kevin Vaile 223 (+84)
Thursday 3 Man — Casper Rutherford 249, Marc White 231
Glacier Lanes / Cut Bank
Women's scores
Monday Night Ladies — Kandie Lemieux 202, Jamie Freed 175 (+54)-493 (+130)
Wednesday Night Ladies — Beth Fugle 170 (+54), Mindy Sattler 193 (+64)
Friday Night Mixed — Lee Egger 181 (+60)
Men's scores
Sunday Mixed — Brian Grainger 170 (+52)-468 (+114)
Happy Bowlers (Seniors) — Vern Watson 218
Thursday Commercial — Darren Arensmeyer 213 (+53), Randy Flammond 218 (+83), Allen LaPlante 188 (+55)-187(+54)
Friday Mixed — Darren Arensmeyer 242, Austin Carlson 218 (+63)
Little's Lanes / Great Falls
Women's scores
Little's Seniors — Carolyn Kimmerle all-spare 186 game; Kay Aune 168 (+62)
Monday Ladies Classic — Carol Kangas 209, Pam Bigelow 204, Sharon Gribble 205, Le Ann Budeski 213
Tuesday Afternoon Trio — Alta Buford 175 (+50)
MixMasters — Guyla Streit 213, Dawn Rambo-Orr 232-213-604, Doris Kimmerle 249
725 Classified — Shawna Lane 225
Classic Trio — Kay Kinzinger 208
Straight-A-Way — Guyla Streit 216-208-621, Kristen Egan 201
Satellite Mixed — Bobbi Olguin 237, Anne Warehime 212
Men's scores
Little's Seniors — Mel Kerbs 212, Rod Hackett 210-201, Pat Terry 267-215-245-727, Elwood Sayler 206, Dennis Smrdel 232, Bob Muretta 232, Marv Aune 202, Roger Sherman 206
Teachers Mixed — Ken Fechter 192 (+54)
Casino — Bruce Hruska 226, Bob Muretta 202 (sr.)
Tuesday Mixed — Tony Degele 215 (sr.)
Little's City — Mike Picking 248, Galen Flanagan 236, Elwood Sayler 255
MixMasters — Paul Dehn 232, Mike Arps 656, Mike Christensen 243-234-684, Jim Svir 2336-256-650, Jody Bastas 267-256-650, Jody Bastas 267-257-694, Steve Volk 232, Mike Carrethers 244, Brian Lee 269-257-730, Steve Martin 246-651, Gary Bestwina 244, Brian Christianson 266-684, Jim Esther 232, Jim Dixon 239, Terry Pearsall 236-246-696, Sean Howard 258-245-657, Chuck Lull 226, Mike Bowles 247-672
Business House — Ervin Crumley 210 (sr.), Al Decker 205-222 (sr.), Chad Cunningham 252, Harry Schultz 230, Don Broughton 242, Garn Wanner 234, Bernie K. Dickman 242-659
725 Classified — Doug Yates 245, Jack Lien 233-243, Mel Willey 249-232-675, Dick Hixson 213 (sr.), Pat Terry 235, Scott Craig 226, John Balzarini 254-234-708
Thursday Night Mixed — Steve Krattiger 225, Fred Berry 201 (sr.), Ken Curry 230, Dan Wilkerson 215-200 (sr.)
Short Season Trio — Jamey Galbraith 245-238-664
Straight-A-Way — Brad Harthun 236, Willie McGee 227-257, Mike Carrethers 245
Utility — Jeff Dennen 225-655, Ron Brown 229, Mike Walker 232, Doug Hardenbrook 204 (+59), Bill Bury 225
Satellite Mixed — Nick Kynett 240, Marty Graham 198 (+53), Kyle Grossman 256, Steve Volk 226, Abe Zigan 228, Greg Romanchuk 253
Elks / Great Falls
Women's scores
Thursday Ladies — Barb Nelson 170 (+52)
Early Birds — Dorothy Vukasin 209 (+86)
Men's scores
Jack & Jill — Dave Gifford 224 (sr.), Dave Culliton 205 (sr.)
Tuesday Men — Bob Standley 213-578 (+107) (sr.), Lee LeVeque 211 (sr.), Bill Brown 206 (+62), Jack Howard 196 (+53), Arnold Schlagel 189 (+52), Roy Curtis 190 (+51)
Bull Elks — Sigurd Hovland 232-610 (first-ever 600), Jim Pickering 204 (sr.)
Friday Mixed — Dale Sirucek 213 (sr.), Roger Winterrowd 203 (sr.)
Early Birds — Rod Hackett 219 (sr.), Jack Mallory 209 (+68), Gary Willits 203 (sr.), Gerald Leigh 144 (+54)
Jack's Lanes / Fort Benton
Monday Nite Mixed — Tom Willson 242, Trampus Corder 232
Tuesday Mixed — Monty Meeks 235, Jack Willson 227
Thursday Men — Robert Olson 242-688, Stan Klimas 232
Aces High / Malmstrom
Thursday Mixed Doubles — Sandy Finan 213, Mandy Haumschild 196 (+90)
Black Eagle Lanes / Great Falls
Friday Falldowns — Stretch Richards 210
Tuesday Club 55 — Mary Ann Komar 195 (+78)
BECC Seniors — Jon Tovson 226-213, Ed Vanvleet 223, Dave Harris 222-201-619, Ed Dobeas 213, Dick Gipe 210, Bob Chesko 210, Mary Reuter 223, Vivian Harrinton 178 (+51), Ethel Sayler 168 (+54), Teri Knott 174 (+52)
Golden Seniors — Henry Baker 158 (+64)
Murph's
Christian Intramural — Del Erickson 200-217-602 (sr.), Rich Crawford 226-245-684, Crystal Martinich 208
Wednesday Men's Handicap — Rich Fisher 278-663, Mark Pepin 235, Larry Taylor 245-646 (sr.), John Quinby 245, Jack Hawley 256-652
Friday Alibi — Dusty Curtis 235, Tristen Harrison 212