When the calendar turns a page and December rolls around, bowling tourneys are sure to follow.
The month features a pair of popular local no-tap events.
One of the up-and-coming tourneys of the season begins this weekend at the Elks.
The Snowball No-Tap, 9 pins for men and 8 for women, will run every weekend in December.
Shift times each weekend are noon, 2 and 4 p.m., and bowlers can call Rod at the Elks at 899-1658 to schedule a time.
At Little's, the Holiday No-Tap Mixed Doubles tourney returns after a short absence.
Shift times are on Sundays at 10 a.m. noon and 2 p.m. and it is a 9-pin, no-tap format.
Call Little's at 452-4116 for more information.
Both no-tap tourneys are handicapped.
On a more serious note, Lucky Strike Lanes in Ronan will play host to the first Great and Greatest Tournament Dec. 13-14.
The tournament format is men's doubles. One bowler must be 50 year of age and older, the other must be under 50.
The top two placers in the event receive their prize money plus a paid entry into the 32nd annual Great and Greatest, to be held at Five Valley Bowl in Missoula in February.
For more information or to signup, please call 676-8051.
Even more serious, entries are being taken for the Over 40 Singles and 40-90 Doubles, set for Little's Lanes, Jan. 3-4.
And finally, entry forms will be out soon for the 2009 edition of Lewistown's Budweiser Handicap Tournament, at Snowy Lanes.
The tourney, which is exploding in popularity, will have five big weekends of action starting Jan. 24-25.
Tourney director Rex Coleman reports teams have already begun to reserve weekends.
Phone Coleman at 535-3473 for more information or to reserve a spot. Entry fees are $75 for the five-person team event and $25 for the six-game singles.
A pair of senior bowlers tied for high honors last week.
Rod Hackett got untracked to register a 732 series, on games of 259, 247 and 226, in the Tuesday Men at the Elks.
Across town in the Friday Mixed at Pin & Cue, Gene Gladue reeled off games of 252, 247 and 233 for a 732 to tie Hackett.
For the women, Kristen Dehn continued her hot hand with games of 257 and 270 en route to a 719 set in the MixMasters at Little's.
Bob Orham was just four pins off the top spot with games of 226, 244 and 258 for a 728 series in the MixMasters, high for the men at Little's.
Amy Clure led the women at Pin & Cue with a 631 series in the Ladies Nite Out league. Her set was sparked by games of 204 and 214.
Dawn Vernon and Dorothy Vukasin shared women's honors at the Elks. Vernon turned in games of 220 and 210 in the Monday Jack and Jill League.
Vukasin rolled a 219 game, 73 pins over her average, a 200 and finished with a 566 series, 117 total pins over her norm.
Finally, up at K-Lines in Rudyard, Shawn Rettig topped the 700 mark with games of 233, 235 and 235 for a big 703 set.
Little's Lanes / Great Falls
Women's scores
Senior Citizens— Barb Bessler 188 + 50.
Teacher's Mixed— Marsha Enochs 212.
Monday Ladies Classic— Tracy Eisenbarth 202, 221, Peggy Johnson 179, +58, Nancy Swanson 200, Connie Pruys 160 +63, Colleen Peters 190 +60, Cristy Snider 201.
Casino League— Terry Tobiness 206, 229 - 602.
Tuesday Night Mixed— Roxie Arps 209, Lisa Voss 211.
Wednesday A.M. Trio— Carol Gamell 192 +60.
A to Z— Fran Hardesty 6-7 split conversion, Bertha Ferguson 4-7-10 split conversion, Kay Kinzinger 205, Lois Smith 172 + 70.
Mix Masters— Doris Kimmerle 266 - 650, Kristen Dehn 257, 270 - 719, Guyla Streit 230 - 605.
Straight-A-Way (PBA Experience)— Kristen Dehn 203, Doris Kimmerle 207.
Satellite Mixed— Karen Arps 235, Sabrina Olson 190 +50, Jeannette Laird 226.
Men's scores
Senior Citizens— Steve Lyczewski 227, 232 - 606, Pat Terry 202, Roger Deitz 201, Dick Newman 206, Les Murphy 205, Bill Claassen 203, 200, Dennis Smrdel 226, Bob Chesko 224.
Teacher's Mixed— Charlie Compton 258.
Casino League— Roger Deitz (sr) 202, Vance Weckworth (sr) 215.
Tuesday Night Mixed— Bernie K Dickman 241, 229 - 680, Jon Tierney 208 +53, Dave Schwartfeger 215 + 64, Bernie E Dickman (sr) 214.
Little's City— Ross Bartell 244, Steve Krattiger 225, 246 - 669, Ron Fleming (sr) 230, Mitch Bressler 227, Trevor Cummings 258 - 660, Derek Eldridge 177 +68, Aaron Deshner 222 + 52, Reid Michel 235, Max VanHeel 206 +76, Frank Blaney 247, Galen Flanagan 235, 224 + 53.
Mix Masters— Charlie Pepos 242, Roger Deitz (sr) 212, 235, Brian Lee 234, Jim Esther 234, Marlin Cross 247, 244 - 697, Brian Christianson 233, Steve Volk 235, 233, 225- 693, Scott Hischi 267, Mike Judd 231, Mike Christensen 249, 269 - 694, Jim Svir 229 - 656, Ross Rambo 242, Steve Howse 245, 244 - 659, Bob Orham 226, 244, 258 - 728, Paul Dehn 246, 258 - 688, Pat Terry (sr) 244 - 647, Mike Carrethers 235 - 663, Don Jordan 226, Mike Bowles 249, Terry Pearsall 233.
Straight-A-Way (PBA Experience)— Bob Orham (sr) 245, 245 - 662, Willie McGee (sr) 247, Steve Martin 226, 230 - 1027 (5), Pat Terry (sr) 211, Mike Carethers (sr) 214, Bruce Hruska 234, 234 - 1053 (5), Bruce Steffani 231, Wayne Quinby 232.
Satellite Mixed— Kyle Grossman 233, Norm Miller (sr) 200, 217 - 604, Hank Rimkus (sr) 201, Mike Arps 225, 266 - 688, Michael Croscutt 235, Ron Blaquiere (sr) 200.
Elks / Great Falls
Women's scores
Ag League— Patty Williams picked up 5-7 split.
Jack & Jill Mixed— Dawn Vernon 220/210; Tracy Rigor 213; Valerie Hunter 207(+61).
Friday Mixed— Lisa Dunn 230(+63); Dawn Vernon 218; Nobi Sirucek(sr) 215; Barb Baumgartner 200; Heather Vukasin 211/201; Linda Summers(sr) 199.
Early Birds Mixed— Dorothy Vukasin(sr) 219(+73)//200/566(+117); Ardi Holefelder(sr) 191(+50); Julie Durand(sr) 177(+51)/481(103); Tammy Zuidema 144(+50) Janine Chesko 4/7/9; Roxie Arps 4/7
Men's scores
Monday Ag League— Rick Cummings 205; Larry Cummings 213/202; Roger Beck 200/200; Larry Howes picked up 2-6-10 split.
Jack & Jill Mixed Monday Night— Steve Vernon 265/223/687; Rod Hackett(sr) 242/224/664; Dave Gifford(sr) 225/222/631; Shane Brown 225; Barry Fields(sr) 201.
Tuesday Nite Men— Rod Hackett(sr) 259/247/226/732; Gale Swanson 258/247/201/706; Josh Lyle 256(+61); Ken Ferguson(sr) 247/211/642; Wayne Maurer(sr) 247/200/641; Jim Dixon 247; Jack Anderson(sr) 245/220/215/680; Dan Jackson 245(+64); Darwin Reeve(sr) 242/207/203/652; Jim Rothweiler 237(+59)/213/640(+106; Lee LeVeque(sr) 231; Brian Brown 230; Mel Wardell(sr) 220; Mike Beggs(sr) 212/201; Chuck Martin(sr) 208; Bob Standley(sr) 204; Aaron Paul(sr) 202.
Weds. Bull Elks— Darwin Reeve(sr) 258/204/632; Dave Culliton 245(+52); Rich Reeve 242; Scott Rodger 237; Dave Keil 236/227; Don White 235; Rod Hackett(sr) 235/217/626; John Basta 233(+50); Dave Gifford(sr) 231/208/621; Josh Lyle 229; Don Thrush(sr) 223(+55); Norm Miller(sr) 211; John Brockes(sr) 208(+73); Tim Hagen 216(+55); Ron Kimball(sr) 206; Talbert Bryan(sr) 203; Harry Schultz(sr) 203; Doc Basta(sr) 201.
Friday Night Mixed— Rex Tanberg(sr) 265/235/204704(+113); Chuck Bartels 243; Mike Baumgartner 236; Russ Louma(sr) 24(+66); Doug Casity(sr) 209/200; Dale Sirucek(sr) 207/201; Joe Korte 576(+117).
Early Birds Mixed— Gary Willits(sr) 244(+50)/224/663; Mike Baumgartner 227; Rod Hackett(sr) 225; Ken Beck(sr) 223/218/624; Lee LeVeque(sr) 207; Fred Preble(sr) 207;(+57); Fid Fitterer(sr) 201; Bill Keatts 146(+53)/405(+126); Bob Chesko 6/7/10.
Murph's / Great Falls
Christian Intramural— Lewis Zanto 234, Gene Goulet 209
Friday Alibi— Roger May 200, Terry Brus 215 (sr.), Josh Calvert 202-205
K-Lines / Rudyard
Women's scores— Lila Redding 202, Mary Spinler 3-10 and 6-7-10 split
Men's scores— Barry Crowder 234, Shawn Rettig 233-235-235-703, Todd Langel 235, Ben Spinler 5-7 split; Dave Jones 3-10 split
Black Eagle Lanes / Great Falls
Tuesday 55 Club— Kathy Flanagan 186 (+71)-496 (+151)
Black Eagle Bums— Larry Taylor 241, Gene Cuellar 225, Josh Calvert 214 (+57), Jeff Walsh 210 (+56)-589 (+127), Joe David 204 (+50), Chris Greenfield 198 (+56), Irah Shaulis 197 (+51)
BECC Seniors— Bill Yetter 200
Golden Seniors— Louise Saltz 176
Snowy Lanes / Lewistown
Women's scores
Tue. Trio:Tena Kozub 184(+67), Chris Angel 202-542(+113)
Wed. Doubles: Kay Kaufman 180(+53)
Men's scores
Mon. Commercial: Dewey Rosman 245-652, Marcus Matovich 216(+66)-584(+134), Tim Thomas 222(+52)
Mon. Doubles: Dewey Rosman 233, Rex Coleman 229
Tue. Trio: Dave Witt 191(+50)
Tue. Skyliners: Tom Koski 222(+53)
Sunday Mixed: Dean Person 225, Lyle Mackey 210(+95)-476(+131)
Pin & Cue / Great Falls
Women's scores
Sunday Mixed— Debbie Skinner 204
Monday 535— Chris Dittus 202
Ladies Nite— Chris Tinker 206, Amy Clure 204-214-631
Wednesday Mixed— Chris Dittus 248-609, Holly Vukasin 217, Shirley Durran 246
Morning Glories— Helen Herodes 7-9-10 split
Friday Mixed— Chris Dittus 213, Deb Thoroughman 201
Men's scores
Sunday Mixed— Ron Harris 203 (sr.), Leonard Peterson 204 (sr.), Dale Specht 215 (sr.), Ducky Faler 215 (sr.), Ken Poser 212 (sr.)
Monday 535— Curby Dennis 223-201 (sr.), Mike Bowles 207-207 (sr.), Wayne Quinby 203-206 (sr.), Randy Guill 236-244-256-650-906 (4), Bob Orham 200 (sr.), Norm Jensen 201 (sr.), John Kramarich 230, Don White 228
Wednesday Mixed— Mick Brown 205-269-657, J.D. Dennen 254
Friday Mixed— Gene Gladue 252-247-233-732, Darrin Davenport 278-677, Mick Brown 213 (sr.), Rich Fisher 235, Charlie Pepos 214 (sr.), Ducky Faler 254, Chuck Winn 256-226-700, Dave Pfeifle 200 (sr.), Mike Bowles 227-238-677, Bill Sybrant 225-214-621 (sr.), John Peters 234
Jack's Lanes / Fort Benton
Men's scores— Jack Willson 234, 236-674.
Curt Backa, who suffered a humiliating week by losing to his visiting brother Richard, is a Tribune sports and news copy editor and kegling wannabe. Backa, whose brother hadn't bowled in four years, can be reached at 791-6569, 800 438-6600 or e-mailed at cbacka@greatfallstribune.com