There will be quite a few changes in this fall’s league lineup, the biggest of which was a reduction of lanes at Murph’s Party Bowl.

Reportedly, the eastside facility will go from 16 lanes down to 10, which directly affected the Wednesday Men’s Handicap League.

The league, which for years fielded a full shift of 16 teams, was one of the most popular men’s leagues in the city — and in turned recorded some of the top scores each week including a number of 300 games.

Because of the reduction, eight of the teams will realign at Black Eagle Lanes on Tuesday nights, under the direction of Ron Simonsen.

“We really didn’t know what Murph’s was going to do,” said Simonsen. “We heard the lanes weren’t going to be sanctioned and we decided to find a new place to bowl.”

Last year, the league went down to 10 teams, according to Simonsen. “Mainly, because of the rumors we heard Murph’s was closing.”

“I’m kind of excited about moving.”

No other leagues will be affected at Murph’s.

In other news, Elks’ manager Rod Hackett reports all things are a go downtown after rumors surfaced all summer that the popular 12-lane facility was closing.

“I went to the board and let them know a large percentage of Elks membership were bowlers and if they closed down the lanes, they would turning away business from members,” said Hackett. “There was also a good chance we would lose a lot of members.”

For years, the downstairs lanes have been the chief revenue source for the Elks. Leagues bowl at the Elks every night but Saturday.

The most popular leagues are the Tuesday Men and Bull Elks on Wednesday and the senior league on Thursday.

Hackett said he has had inquiries from teams wanting to join both the Tuesday and Wednesday men’s leagues.

One of the most popular as well as historic leagues at Little’s may go by the wayside this year.

The Business House League, which bowls at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, is down to just four teams, according to Don Jordan.

The five-member team league was for years one of the mainstays at Little’s.

“People just don’t want to bowl that second shift anymore,” said Jordan.

The league, which had eight teams a year ago, was hoping to move up to 10 teams this year.

If not enough teams are found for the league, those remaining may be folded into Little’s other leagues if possible.

In national news, Team USA's Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., added another gold medal to his burgeoning collection last weekend, winning the Masters event to close the 2008 World Tenpin Bowling Association Men's World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

Williams, who won the singles gold medal Friday, defeated Denmark's Jesper Agerbo, 3-0, in the finals of best-of-five, single-elimination Masters, which featured the top 16 individuals from all-events.

"Until three days ago, I wasn't really happy with my performance here," said Williams, a 28-year professional who earned three gold medals and a bronze in his Team USA debut this week. "The last match was one of the best matches I've ever bowled. It was definitely a lot more fun for me."

The 2008 Men's World Championships marked the much anticipated first appearance of professionals in major WTBA competition thanks to a change in legislation last August.

Overall, Team USA too home four gold medals and seven overall to lead all countries.

Many leagues begin their season tonight and this is a good time to list the scores that are needed to make the newspaper.

First for the men, all 225 games and over and 650 series and over will be listed, along with individual games 50 pins or better over average and series that are at least 100 total pins over average.

For the women, 200 games and 600 series quailify, along with individual games 50 pins or better over average and series that are 100 total pins over average.

It takes any game 200 or better and 600 series for the senior men to make it. Games of 190 or better and series of 590 or more are needed for the senior women. The senior age is 55 and over.

Games rolled by a senior 45 pins over average will also make the paper.

Split conversions, Dutch 200s and any bowling oddity will also be published.

Good luck and great bowling.

Curt Backa, whose senior moments include not knowing the difference between Saturdays and Sundays, is a Tribune sports and news copy editor and resident bowling bad boy. Backa, a bowling oddity, can be reached at 791-6569, 800 438-6600 or e-mailed at cbacka@greatfallstribune.com