Elks bowlers requesting return to old conditions

by Curt Backa

10-27-2009

The furor continues at the Elks.

Elks' manager Rod Hackett is reconsidering changing his oil back to last year's conditions.

Hackett, after last week's story on the troubles Elks' bowlers are experiencing, had several bowlers request the conditions remain the same.

"You don't tell Al Ritter very easily that you are changing the conditions," Hackett said.

Hackett is laying down a PBA Cheetah — not the Scorpion — pattern on the lanes, which consists of heavy oil on the outside with drier conditions the last 12 feet.

"The pattern is about six feet short," said Hackett.

That "six feet" is what is troubling some bowlers.

"It's such exact pattern," said longtime Elks bowler Jock Rodger. "If you miss your mark by even one board right or left, you either go heavy into the head pin or you ball just doesn't come up in the oil.'

Rodger, a 200-plus bowler a year ago, is in the 170s so far this year.

"I would like to see the Cheetah pattern put down the lanes the whole way," said Rodger. "I think that could make a difference."

Hackett said last week that he was going to change the pattern back to the 2008-2009 conditions, which produced a bevy of big scores at the downtown facility.

Hackett changed the pattern this season because many bowlers requested a little more oil.

Hackett said that many Elks bowlers struggled in the state tournament in Anaconda last season and felt a change was needed to prepare those bowlers for a variety of conditions.

"Our bowlers did not fare well last year at state," said Hackett. "They weren't able to adapt very well."

Still there are bowlers that are still unhappy.

"To be honest, the conditions suck," said Aaron Paul. "He needs to change it back."

Bill Sybrant, bowling in the Saturday's Van's IGA, broke through this week for the highest score turned in the season. Sybrant reeled off games of 254, 222 and 208 for a 684 set.

"The scores are improving," said Hackett. "Bowlers are starting to find the way."

  • Brian Christianson turned in the high series last week with a nice 759 series in the MixMasters at Little's. Christianson had games of 244, 278 and 237.

  • Kristen Dehn led the women with a 734 set, also in the MixMasters. Dehn's games were 221, 245 and 268.

    Bruce Steffani registered a nice score out at the base with a 235 and 227 game on his way to a 671 set in the Monday Christian Intramurals.

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

    Snowy Lanes / Lewistown

    Women scores

    Monday Doubles: Lyndsi Huck 169(+68)-409(+106), Donna Shafer 167(+51)

    Tuesday Trio:Annette McNary 200

    Wednesday Afternoon Ladies: Bobetta Newton 222, Joann Macomber 182(+50)

    Wednesday Doubles:Cindy Durbin 189(+70)

    Wednesday Pinetoppers: Arvadel Bodvig 214

    Thursday Seniors: Polly Siebenaler 441(+102)

    Thursday Money: Cindy Bassett 214(+59)

    Sunday Mixed: Cindy Knutsen 194(+64), Linda Bersuch 179(+61)

    Men's scores

    Monday Commercial:Jim Rasmussen 237-653, Mike Dinsmore 242, Fred Wood 235

    Monday Doubles: John Stokken 236-663, Shane Balthazor 224(+62)

    Tuesday Trio: Larry Maier 222(+52)

    Tuesday Skyliners: Tim Anthony 216(+66)-588(+138)

    Wednesday Doubles: Ernie Coppedge 222(+95)

    Thursday Seniors: Chuck Sifert 246(+99), Bill Baldwin 224(+61)-599(+110)

    Thursday Money: Dewey Rosman 244, Joe Goodwin 232(+52)-649(+109)

    Thursday Merchant: Jim Rasmussen 244-688, Rusty Hall 236(+74), Rex Coleman 232, Dean Person 228

    Sunday Mixed: Dewey Rosman 236-652, Tim Anthony 209(+59)

    Elks Lanes / Great Falls

    Monday AG League— Rick Cummings 266; Lee LeVeque(sr) 224.

    Monday Jack & Jill Mixed— Bernie Dickman 191(+51). Louise Miller 143(+64)/397(+160).

    Tuesday Nite Mens— Mike Bowles 253(+83); Millard Ketterling(sr) 226(+70); Lee LeVeque(sr) 221; Wayne Maurer(sr) 206/585(+108); Talbert Bryan(sr) 201; Aaron Paul(sr) 201(+55).

    Wednesday Bull Elks— Jock Rodger 219(+58)619(+136); Lynn Taskila(sr) 206; Randy Guill(sr) 201; Josh Wuertz 177(+64)/449(+110).

    Elk Seniors— Dave Woolsey 224(+63); Rod Hackett 216/201; Doc Basta 203; Dave Shadrick 202; Ron Sado 173(+59)/451(+109); Jim Remsh picked up 4-7-10 split. Barb Bessler picked up 3-7-10 split.

    Thursday Ladies— Marie Walsh picked up 6-8-10 split. Dorothy Vukasin (sr) 223(+95)/505(+121).

    Friday Mixed— Chad Konesky 226(+67); Rex Tanberg(sr) 225(+60); Dale Sirucek(sr) 202; Josh Wuertz 201(+65).Brenda Carpenter 203(+77); Daneil Belcher 185(+54); Christina Seltman 168(+50).

    Saturday Van's IGA Mixed— Bill Sybrant 254/222/208/684; Boomer Bruner 194 triplicate.

    Sunday Early Birds— Jonathan Harpole 243(+50); Rod Hackett(sr) 238; Lee LeVeque(sr). 209.Cary Willits picked up 4/9; Rick Hasenkrug picked up 5/10.

    Little's Lanes / Great Falls

    Women's scores

    Monday Ladies Classic— Deb Geiger 213, Tammy Cady 214, picked up 6-7-10 split.

    Tuesday Night Mixed— Kim Aasand 178 + 54, Laurie Ueland 210.

    Wednesday A.M. Trio— Nadine Symons picked up 4-10 split.

    A to Z— Connie Thompson 183 + 51, Mary Thronson 165 + 54, Bertha Ferguson picked up 2-4-7-10 split.

    Mix Masters— Karin Osborn 236 - 625, Barb Lankford 211 - 600, Kristen Dehn 221, 245, 268 - 734, Guyla Streit 217, 217 - 610.

    M.F.C.U.— Brenda Maheaux 206.

    725 Classified— Kristen Dehn 200, 205, Tracy Halman 204, 211, 211 - 626, Tracy Arndt 205.

    Thursday Night Mixed— Patti Curry 205.

    Classic Trio— Shawna Miller picked up 4-7-10 split.

    Satellite Mixed— Jackie Graham 210, Connie Dickman 258, 204 - 656.

    Men's scores

    Senior Citizens— Roger Deitz 203, Vance Weckworth 233, Wendell Peck picked up 3-7-10 split, Pete Pueschel 182 + 55, John Ferda 205, Dennis Smrdel 222.

    Teacher's Mixed— Mike Sharp 246, Ron Meyers (sr) 200.

    Casino League— Larry Debolt 221 + 56, Vance Weckworth (sr) 200.

    Tuesday Night Mixed— Grant Aasand 193 + 58, Sean Engum 253 + 651.

    Little's City— Mike Picking (sr) 202, Keith Hayes 225, Steve Krattiger 236, Duane Sanborn 218 + 52, Curby Dennis (sr) 200.

    Mix Masters— Mike Brown 230, Mike Christensen 258, Jim Svir 243, Jody Bastas 257 - 684, Mark Hewitt 242, Mike Bowles (sr) 214, 277 - 685, Don Jordan 219 + 68, Bob Orham (sr) 234, 227, 222 - 683, Don White (sr) 213, Jim Aklestad (sr) 212, 241 - 642, Jim Dixon 236, 246 - 695, Dan Jackson 227 - 653, Brian Lee 239, 227 - 662, Steve Martin 257, 230, Paul Dehn 247, Mike Carrethers 246, 268 - 717, Roger Deitz (sr) 243, 203 - 603, Ken Curry 226, 235, 244 - 705, Scott Hirschi 234, Steve Volk 242 - 655, Bruce Hruska 247 - 680, Brian Christianson 244, 278, 237 - 759.

    725 Classified— Glenn Jeffrey III 233, Dan Schaaf 257 - 696, Mike Carrethers 226, Mel Willey 228, Jim Kernaghan (sr) 214, 215 - 611, Bruce Hruska 230, Jerry Wagner 246, 254 - 687, Jack Lien (sr) 201, Duane Zeier 236 - 662, Mike Christensen 243, 279 - 706, Mark Hewitt 243, Ross Rambo 243, Fred Sadler (sr) 212, 223 - 619, Ron Corkin 234, 256 - 690, Wes Baker (sr) 231 - 612, Al Pearsall (sr) 237, 209 - 617.

    Thursday Night Mixed— Joe Paranteau 248 - 668, Dan Wilkerson (sr) 216, 202, 214 - 632, Ron Nelson (sr) 203, 201, 205 - 608.

    Short Season Trio— Jamey Galbraith 227, 237.

    Alibi Mixed— Del Erickson (sr) 208, Greg Johnson 203 + 71, K.C. Watson 258 - 666, Adam Thoroghman 230, John Winckler picked up 6-7-10 split.

    Straight-A-Way (PBA Experience)— Bruce Hruska 234, Eric Crawford 226, Jim Pickering 254, Jack hawley (sr) 218, Wayne Quinby 238, 278, Lucas Cyr 227, Bob Orham 243, Don White (sr) 211, Willie McGee (sr) 214, 203, 224 - 616 - 1018 (5).

    Satellite Mixed— Ron Harris 227, Marty Graham picked up 6-7-10 split, Darrell Sunwall 196 + 54, Andy Schindele 257 - 666, Mike Sharp 252, Jeff Laird 233, 226, Bob Ramsted (sr) 212.

    Jack's Lanes / Fort Benton

    Dustbowlers— Randy Kerbs 228

    Tues Nite Mixed— Earl Taylor 244

    Thurs. Nite Men's— Tom Willson 238,233-684; Cameron Tuss 264; Robert Olson 225; Dick Fisher 225.

    K-Lines / Rudyard

    Women's scores— Linda Foster 3-10 split; Betty Marsh 4-5, 3-10, 4-10 splits; Pat Seidlitz 2-9 split; Stefi Carlson 2-7 split

    Men's scores— Pat Newton 246, Bill Langel 226, Greg Spinler 225

    Aces High / Malmstrom AFB

    Christian Intramurals— Rich Crawford 209-204 (sr.); Bruce Steffani 235-227-671, Dave Cashman 197 (+59), Lee Vernoy 197 (+76), Del Erickson 224 (sr.), Jim Wickens 214 (+75)

    Thursday Mixed— Allen Antonson 204 (sr.), Rock Rayl 225, Dave Torkelson 200 (sr.), Patrick Maldonado 198 (+52), Robby Robinson 204 (sr.), Jerry Rangitsch 203-212 (sr.); Jeannette Laird 212, Victoria Holt 217, Shelly Rayl 203, Megan Cotter 208

    Pro Alley Bowl / Belt

    Belt Valley Mixed— Mark Lanier 234, Bob Williams 210 (sr.), Charlie Lindeman 215 (+50), Keith Olson 190 (+50), Linda Lewis 214 and made the 5-10 split, Celeste Hoyer 169 (+50), Polly Pimperton 6-7-9-10 split

    Glacier Lanes / Cut Bank

    Thursday Commercial— Mike Boyd 201 (+69), Jack Connolly 183 (+63), Doug Crail 178 (+53), J.W. Eaton 243, Randy Flammond 181 (+49, sr.), Tim Luedtke 189 (+68), Gary Nevins 209 (+52), Cliff Omsberg 218 (+65), Neal Roush 192 (+50)

    Sunday Night Mixed— Chris Allred 155 (+53), Kevin Bundy 164 (+54)

    Friday Night Mixed— Alyssa Texidor 145 (+61)

    Tuesday Housewives— Gladys Billman 168 (+56)

    Monday Night Ladies— Jackie Loring 224-553 (+148), Sandi Manley 155 (+55)

    Curt Backa, still slacking on vacation, is a Tribune sports writer, copy editor and kegling statistician. Backa, when not engulfed in watching football, can be reached at 791-6569, 800 438-6600 or e-mailed at cbacka@greatfallstribune.com

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