The Classic 50s-Little's Lanes Ladies Scratch Bowling Tournament seems to be drawing a little more interest this year.

The tourney, which is set for Nov. 14-15, has already drawn 33 entries, two more than last year.

With a little less than two weeks to go, the tourney has a good chance of topping the 40-entry mark, which would certainly please tourney organizers.

Boasting an added-money purse of $2,000, a drawing for a new reactive ball plus a Saturday night Calcutta and free appetizer feed, the tourney has established itself as one of the best women's tourneys in the Northwest.

According to Little's Don Jordan, all 33 entries have signed up for the 1 p.m. shift on Saturday, Nov. 14, leaving the 4 p.m. shift completely open.

Bowlers will roll a six-game qualifying shift with the top 16 advancing into Sunday's match-play portion, which begins at 8:30 a.m.

Last year it took a 186 average to make it into the top 16.

For more information or to sign-up for the tourney, phone Little's, 452-4116.

MY TWO-CENTS WORTH.

It's very seldom I enter into controversy, and I usually let others do the talking for me.

I understand both arguments in the oil situation at the Elks.

And I've always felt, it's up to the bowlers to adapt to the conditions given to them.

I really don't think Elks manager Rod Hackett expected scores from the downtown facility to be affected all that much when he decided to put down the current oil pattern.

With the lanes adding leagues from the Murph's-Pin & Cue closures, he was just trying to make sure the pattern wasn't going to break down too easily with the extra bowlers.

To be honest, the conditions border on being brutal, but I'm not complaining. I plan on changing to a plastic ball this week and throwing it straight.

One aspect that's being sadly overlooked is how the conditions are causing women's and youth scores to plunge — and also the problems being encountered by new bowlers.

I believe there is room for compromise.

WITH THE LAST WEEKEND COMING up, the No Names out of Bigfork currently lead the 2009 MUSBC Mixed Tournament standings.

The No Names have a four-person total of 2,529 to lead the team event, while Libby's Zella Boggs and Douglas Bees top the doubles with a 1,320 total.

The event is being held at Bigfork's North Shore Lanes.

Phone the lanes at 837-5381 for more information and shift times for the final weekend.

Dan Schaaf led the scores last week.

Bowling in the Thursday 725 Classified League at Little's, Schaaf recorded games of 238, 275 and 246 for a sparkling 759 series.

For the women, Connie Dickman started out the third game in the Sunday Satellite Mixed with the first 10 strikes, but left a stubborn 10-pin in the 11th frame to finish with a 289 game and 698 series.

Other good scores included Trevor Cummings' 757 three-game set and 1,157 five-game set in Little's Friday night Straightaway PBA Experience League.

Cummings, bowling on the Cheetah pattern, opened with games of 244, 268 and 245.

Eric Crawford turned in a nice set at Aces High. Crawford, in the Christian Intramurals, reeled off consistent games of 243, 243 and 248 for a 734 series.

At the Elks, Randy Guill figured it out in the Wednesday Bull Elks with a 268 game and 660 series.

Curt Backa, whose opinion is usually worth less than 2-cents, is a Tribune sports writer, copy editor and kegling malcontent. Backa, when not suffering from the chemotherapy blues, 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 region:

Snowy Lanes / Lewistown

Women's scores

Monday Doubles: Donna Shafer 172(+50)

Tuesday Trio— Dawn Johnson 216(+84), Arvadel Bodvig 200, Kacey Demars 156(+50)

Wednesday Pinetoppers —Karin Longshore 220, Leann Fisk 204(+59), Raelynn Butler 153(+51)

Thursday Seniors —Pay Kasala 157(+50), Carol Royce 178(+48), Phyllis Conard 146(+45)

Thursday Money— Fran Coats 216, Lynn Vogl 193(+64)

Sunday Mixed— Kelly Bracha 203, Candy Beardo 144(+54)

Men's scores

Monday Commercial— Fred Wood 226, Hank Laughlin 214(+81)-558(+159), Tim Anthony 200(+54)

Monday Doubles— Rex Coleman 238-676, Max Keiser 205(+56)

Tuesday Trio— Merl Coats 259(+81)-668(+134), Shawn Casebolt 240(+81)

Tuesday Skyliners— Dave Pillar 237, Rod Wesselmann 215(+55)

Wednesday Doubles— Bill Hodges 187(+50)

Thursday Seniors— Roger Thomas 213, Bob Conard 201, Tom Surber 201

Thursday Money— Jim Rasmussen 226, Joe Goodwin 225, Bill Munich 201(+59)

Thursday Merchant— Shane Balthazor 247(+78)-681(+174)

Sunday Mixed— Rex Coleman 237, Jim Duncan 233, Dewey Rosman 227, Bill Baldwin 222(+59)

Elks Lanes / Great Falls

Monday AG League— Roger Beck(sr) 204; Lee LeVeque(sr) 203.

Monday Jack & Jill Mixed — Rod Hackett(sr) 222; Eric Kanning 210(+50); Dave Gifford(sr) 206. Connie Croskey 201(+67); Valerie Hunter 191(+66)/507(+132); Dorothy Vukasin 485(+101); Gwen Tigart picked up 4/5 split.

Tuesday Nite Men — Bob Standley(sr) 245(+85); Rod Hackett(sr) 220/210/606; Gale Swanson(sr) 216; Mike Bowles 210/202; George Odore(sr) 203; Larry Beatch(sr) 200; Ron Miller(sr) 200.

Wednesday Bull Elks — Randy Guill(sr) 268(+94)/660(+138); Jim Pickering(sr) 228 (+59)/606; Dave Keil 220(+59); Ed Mattix(sr) 213(+77); Darwin Reeve(sr) 205; Ron Meyers(sr) 204; Dwight Engel(sr) 199(+57)/565(+139); Byron Morse(sr) 527(+128).

Elk Seniors —Dave Shadrick 209(+52); Bill Classen 202(+50); Millard Ketterling 202; Ron Sado 199(+81). Ethel Ramsted 178(+55)/476(+107).

Thursday Ladies— Lauretta Gifford 210; Donna Shandley 172(+55); Joanne Mitchell 157(+53).

Friday Mixed — Chuck Bartels 225 Jeri Bartels 207(+52); Sharon Yaeger 186(+54).

Saturday Van's IGA Mixed— Dave Pfeifle 209(+57); Terry Hartwig 208(+70)/204(+66)/566(+152).Sandy Jackson picked up 6/7/10 split..

Sunday Early Birds — Gary Willits (sr) 243(+77)/610(+112); Jack Mallory(sr) 240(+101)/517(+100); Bob Chesko(sr) 201; Josh Lyle 550(+100). Deb Hasenkrug 207(+54).

Little's Lanes / Great Falls

Women scores

Senior Citizens— Betty Quickenden 149 + 50.

Teacher's Mixed— Deanna Hastings 203, Gloria Johnson 156 + 51.

Monday Ladies Classic— Sherri Donnelly 192 + 62, Jen Bonderenko 191 + 54, Pat Hilgendorf 210, Tammy Cady 213.

A to Z— Cheri Alexamder 171 + 50.

Mix Masters— Kristen Dehn 226, Barb Lankford 211, Doris Kimmerle 2227, 245 - 662, Karin Osborn 204, 214, 236 - 654.

M.F.C.U.— Lindy Crocker 231, Collette Caffyn 200.

725 Classified— Kristen Dehn 211, 207, Tracy Arndt 232, 202 - 610, Tracey Halman 211, Doris Kimmerle 231, Coleen Balzarini 202.

Thursday Night Mixed— Patti Curry 221.

Classic Trio — Nona Larkin 202, Renee Leveque picked up 5-7 split.

Alibi Mixed —Chris Pepos 222.

Satellite Mixed— Connie Dickman 219, 289 - 698, Debbie Skinner 201.

Men scores

Senior Citizens— Dave Shadrick 221, Chuck Dailey 213, Darwin Reeve 209, 207, Bill Claassen 213, Dennis Smrdel 204, Jim Pickering 254, 226 - 670, Bill Yetter 216.

Teacher's Mixed— Ron Meyers (sr) 219, Jordan Sundquist 265.

Casino League— Vance Weckworth (sr) 222, Larry Debolt 221 + 53, Rod Schwantes 222 + 53.

Tuesday Night Mixed— Sean Engum 256, 236 - 690.

Little's City— Curby Dennis (sr) 220, Ron Fleming (sr) 217, 202, Ron Nelson (sr) 211, 214 - 605, James Livingston 225, Mike Picking (sr) 202, 224, Reid Michel 241, Donnie Zuhoski 257, 268 - 698, Scott Shanahan 243.

Mix Masters— Jim Dixon 255, Donnie Zuhoski 247, 280 - 720, Jesse West 245, 268 - 737, Mike Christensen 258, Jim Svir 259 - 653, Jody Bastas 228 - 672, Mike Arps 234 - 672, Steve Volk 225, Pat Terry (sr) 204, Brian Lee 233, Darren Rowe 234, Steve Martin 237, 248 - 693, Bob Orham (sr) 211, Ryan Moody 240, 265 - 696, Brian Cook 254, Don White (sr) 225, 235 - 635, Jim Aklestad (sr) 230, 216 - 643, Marlin Cross (sr) 205, Brian Christianson 237, Chuck Lull (sr) 210, 218 - 616, Brian Brown 251, Terry Pearsall 225, Roger Deitz (sr) 213.

M.F.C.U.— Ken Huston 253.

725 Classified— Fred Sadler (sr) 246, 225, 201 - 672, Glenn Jeffrey III 267 - 667, Mel Willey (sr) 201, Bruce Hruska 237, Dan Schaaf 238, 275, 246 - 759, Mike Carrethers (sr) 212, 222, Willie McGee (sr) 207, Pat Terry (sr) 217, Tyler Rames 231, Duane Zeier 258 - 651, Mike Christensen 256 - 663.

Thursday Night Mixed— Fred Berry (sr) 202, Ron Nelson (sr) 213, 266 - 652.

Short Season Trio — Billy Schlosser 226, Brian Waranakas 226, Chris Pettibone 190 + 52, Jamey Galbraith 225.

Straight-A-Way (PBA Experience) — Trevor Cummings 244, 268, 245 - 757 - 1176 (5), Nathan Beebe 227, Eric Crawford 265 - 1066 (5), Bruce Steffani 233, 274 - 1091 (5), Don White (sr) 222, Willie McGee (sr) 215, Wayne Quinby (sr) 203, Mike Christensen 227.

Alibi Mixed— Terry Brus 235, Randy Golightly 188 + 58, Del Erickson (sr) 200, Jim A. Miller (sr) 207.

Satellite Mixed— Andy Schindele 236, Donnie Zuhoski 248, Matt Harthun 232, Mike Byrn 210 + 53, Bernie K. Dickman 267, 245 - 723, Jo Ovalle 233, Norm Miller 257, Joe Borne 266, Rich Ferderer (sr) 202.

Pro Alley Bowl / Belt

Belt Valley Mixed— LeeAnn Ferdinand 201, Shannon Osterman 201, Patti Sweeney 201, Lisa Urick 200; Gary Pimperton 213 (+50), Jeff Blomgren 188 (+50), Erich Maki 176 (+45, sr); Bob Bell 201 (sr.)

Highwood Mixed— Phillip Ferda converted the Big Four (4-6-7-10) split

Aces High / Malmstrom

Christian Intramural— Rich Crawford 211 (sr.), Bruce Steffani 225, Eric Crawford 243-243-248-734, Del Erickson 256-222-206-684 (sr.), Fred Sadler 201 (sr.), Ken Moss 181 (+51)

Wednesday Intramurals— John Kurtz 247-235-692

Thursday Mixed— Mark Boser 243, Nate Beebe 226, Ryan Moody 228, Rock Rayl 201 (sr.), George Garber 202 (sr.), Erin Moran 220, Gail Carroll 211

K-Lines / Rudyard

Women's scores— Marjie Spinler 3-9-10 and 3-10 splits

Men's scores— Martin Alley 230, Greg Spinler 244-620, Monty Groth 225, Justin Blunt 5-10 split; Ben Spinler 5-7 split

Jack's Lanes / Fort Benton

Tues Nite Mixed— Susan Lundy 207; Guyla Streit 200

Thurs. Nite Men's— Tom Willson 279-671; Bruce Walker 260.

Glacier Lanes / Cut Bank

Thursday Commercial— Kevin Dassinger 175 (+60), Clinton Dusty Bull 184 (+53), John Kapp 200 (+53), Rick Kraft 193 (+52)

Wednesday Ladies— Diana Gobert 166 (+52), Frances Jacoby 154 (+51), Mandi Kennerly 159 (+50)

Sunday Night Mixed— Mark Barrett 170 (+52), Teresa Coen 210, J.W. Eaton 220-603 (sr.)

Friday Night Mixed— Darren Arensmeyer 202 (+50), Kevin Eaton 221 (+70), Alyssa Texidor 170 (+80)-374 (+105)

Tuesday Housewives— Amy Rooney 155 (+57)

Black Eagle Lanes / Great Falls

Wicked Wednesday— Sara Cuellar 169 (+59), Jamie Gumenberg 165 (+82)-361 (+112), Awnie Fought 146 (+68), 129 (+51)-374 (+140), Diana Maus 243-548 (+110), Glorida Mitchell 197 (+74), Pam Mallory 162 (+54)

BECC Friday Mixed— L. Wethem 145 (+58)-353 (+92), Kenneth Ellis 177 (+57)

BECC Seniors— Dale Padgett 194 (+53), Ann Updike 144 (+40), Bob Chesko 201-209

Black Eagle Bums— Nathan Beebe 259-645, Jeremy Whitfield 201 (+60), Larry Taylor 246-234-660, Tony Milovich 223 (+75)-592 (+148), Steve Edwards 218 (+51), Steve Vukasin 217 (+53), John Kramarich 209 (+50), Mike DeBolt 192 (+50)

Monday Volunteers— Wyane Olsen 524 (+104)

Tuesday 55 Club — Ben Flanagan 201 (+57)