Pin & Cue, Murph's closings headline year

by Curt Backa

12-29-2009

      

The year 2009 produced its share of local bowling stories.

But, it was the closing of two longtime institutions that top the list.

In August, Dennis Murphy ended months of speculation and announced the closing of the 24-lane house Pin & Cue, sending westside bowlers scurrying for league openings.

Murphy's announcement came on the heels of the closing of Murph's Party Bowl.

The eastside facility had reduced its lanes from 16 down to 10 in 2008 and Rich Murphy ceased bowling operations at the end of the 2008 season.

It was the first time since 1963 the Murphy family would not be operating a bowling facility in Great Falls.

A total of 40 lanes were lost in the closing, leaving Great Falls with just 46 lanes in operation between Little's Lanes (16), Elks (12), Black Eagle (8) and Aces High at Malmstrom (12).

Here are the next eight local bowling stories of 2009:

  • No. 2— One 300 game during the season was not enough for Ken Curry.

    The talented lefthander rolled back-to-back 300 games over two weeks last April.

    It was the ninth and 10th perfect games of Curry's career, and his achievement made both PBA.com and bowl.com.

  • No. 3— Brian Lee overshadowed Curry's first 300 in April tossing a huge 827 series in the USBC Open Tournament in Anaconda.

    Lee's big set, which included games of 279, 259 and 289, came in the A Division doubles and lifted he and partner, radio personality Scott Hirschi, to the title.

    Lee added a 714 in singles and his 2,171 won the scratch all events.

  • No. 4 — In October, Bruce Steffani overcame his well-documented chronic back problem turning in a remarkable performance in the Coors Light John Willey Memorial Tournament at Little's Lanes.

    Steffani, who was seeking his fourth Willey title, was the top qualifier for Sunday's stepladder finals, but fell 226-213 to Idaho Falls' Andy Kinney in the championship match.

    Steffani opened the final with three straight strikes but his momentum was zapped with a pocket 7-10 split in the fourth frame.

    "This was really a surprise to bowl this well," said Steffani.

  • No. 5— The Classic 50's Ladies Scratch Invitational Tournament drew a near-record 53 entries in November.

    Calgary's Felicia Wong continued a trend of first-time entries, first-time winners with a 214-198 win over Great Falls' Kristen Dehn in the championship match.

  • No. 6— Last January, the longtime doubles team of Tom Brendgord and Duane Zeier broke through for their first 40/90 Doubles title. The pair, who had made the stepladder the last four years, beat Steffani and Helena's John Brodersen, 225-173, in the championship match.

    Butte's Mark Hodges, who got beat by Jack Guay's 300 game in the 2008 Over 40 Singles title match, avenged that defeat with a 258-247 victory over Great Falls' Steve Martin to win the 2009 title.

  • No. 7— This past November, a pair of 300s and a 800 series were rolled in the same week.

    Don White recorded his first-ever 800 bowling in the MixMasters at Little's. White had games of 253, 269 and 279 for an 801 set.

    The next night, Dan Schaaf bagged his third-career 300 game in the 725 Classified and on Friday night, Adam Thoroughman rolled his first-career 300 game in the Alibi Mixed at Little's.

  • No. 8— With the closing of Pin & Cue and Murph's, Great Falls became ineligible to play host to Montana USBC Open Tournament. But in September, the Montana USBC association decided to change its hosting requirements allowing a city with 24 lanes or more to qualify. The move allowed Great Falls to remain in the tournament rotation.

    Also decided at the same meeting, the Open state tournament starting in 2011 in Helena will consist of four-member teams and be held in only one center, Sleeping Giant Lanes. The 2010 tournament, slated for Billings, will continue with five-member teams.

  • No. 9— Duane Zeier christened the current bowling season, firing a 300 game and an 804 series in September.

    It was the third time Zeier has rolled both a 300 game and 800 in the same set.

    "That is the way you want to do it," said Zeier, who recorded games of 247, 300 and 257.

    Little's Don Jordan reports there are still a few openings for Saturdays' Over 40 Singles at Little's Lanes, but there is a waiting list for Sunday's 40/90 Doubles.

    Phone Little's, 452-4116, to enter the singles portion.

    John Kurtz led the way in a holiday-abbreviated week of scores.

    Kurtz, bowling in the Wednesday Intramurals at Malmstrom's Aces High, fired games of 279, 230 and 246 for a 755 set.

    Kristen Dehn was high for the women posting a 709 series in the Wednesday MixMasters at Little's. Dehn had games of 235 and a pair of 237s.

    Leading the men at Little's was Bernie K. Dickman, who registered a 709 set in the Tuesday Night Mixed. Dickman's games were 278, 243 and 188.

    At the Elks, Mike Bowles put it all together in the Tuesday Night Men's League. Bowles reeled off consistent games of 237, 237 and 235 for a nice 709 set.

    Connie Dickman was high for the women downtown with a 607 set in the Monday Jack & Jill Mixed. Dickman's series included 226 and 204.

    Curt Backa, a layaway Christmas gift someone forgot to pick up, is a Tribune sports writer, copy editor and kegling historian. Backa, when not making a futile attempt to make the cut in the Over 40 Singles, 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 area:

    Snowy Lanes / Lewistown

    Women scores

    Tuesday Skyliners— Kelly Bracha 234(+62)-655(+139)

    Wednesday Pinetoppers— Winnie Norman 481(+106)

    Sunday Mixed— Ellen Baldwin 200(+61), Brittany Stout 189(+58), Sheila Mahan 153(+51)

    Men's scores

    Monday Commercial— Bill Heath 238(+80)-650(+176), Fred Wood 227, David Wood 202(+69), Jerry Johnson 211(+67)-554(+122), Tim Anthony 212(+56)-587(+119)

    Monday Doubles— Shane Balthazor 241(+76), Rex Coleman 235-690, Phil Wichman 198(+78), David Wood 187(+54)

    Tuesday Trio: Merl Coats 237(+58)-649(+112)

    Sunday Mixed: Bill Baldwin 230(+66), Dewey Rosman 226

    Elks Lanes / Great Falls

    Monday AG League—Rick Cummings 216-214-213643; Nick Konen(sr) 212; Ray Schmidt(sr) 202.

    Monday Jack & Jill Mixed —Jake Jacobs 241(+74); Rod Hackett(sr) 234-211-628; Burt Tschetter(sr) 225(+50)-202-603; Bernie Dickman 218(+61); Dan Rayl 220(+58); Ron Miller(sr) 210-203-200-613; Robert Rioux(sr) 204; Bill Duryee(sr) 179(+53); Phil Piccono picked up 4-6-10 split. Women — Connie Dickman 226(+66)-204-607(+127); Louise Miller 163(+57); Jennifer Mavencamp 426(+102).

    Tuesday Night Men—Aaron Paul(sr) 251(+92); Bill Brown(sr) 242(+62); Mike Bowles(sr) 237-237-235709(+148); Ken Ferguson(sr) 234(+58)-216-623; Al DeBortoli(sr) 227-204-628; Rod Hackett(sr) 225-600; Jim Dixon(sr) 223-202; Gale Swanson(sr) 214; Rex Tanberg(sr) 214; Kevin Hieb 214(+56)203-600(+126); Richard Ferderer(sr) 213(+60); Mike Beggs(sr) 212; Talbert Bryan(sr) 210; Chuck Martin(sr) 205; Bob Bellaver(sr) 204; Arnold Schlagel(sr) 202(+56); Mel Wardell(sr) 201; Rich Rossberg(sr) 201-576(+102); Russ Luoma(sr) 201(+60); Jim Skovron 501(+105).

    Wednesday Bull Elks — Jock Rodger 267(+88)-647(+110); Kent Cox 245(+83)-237-672(+186); John Basta 236(+57); Dave Culliton 233(+56)649(+118); Rick Turner 226(+65); Rick Hasenkrug 223(+78)537(+102); Darwin Reeve(sr) 218-210; Josh Lyle 217(+56); Dan Rollheiser(sr) 215(+55); Randy Guill(sr) 214-213-609; Rich Charlson(sr) 213-597(+102); Mike Hagen(sr) 212(+76)-548(+140); Aaron Paul(sr) 212(+50); Ron Meyers(sr) 211; Fid Fitterer(sr) 209; Doc Basta(sr) 208; Tim Hagen 207(+60); Dale Sterrett(sr) 204; Ed Mattix(sr) 201(+58); Ed White(sr) 201; Foley Guill(sr) 491(+101).

    Sunday Early Birds— Chuck Martin(sr) 235-204; Cory Arps 227(+53)-227-631(+109); Lee LeVeque(sr) 222; Terry Tigaert(sr) 215(+69); Rod Hackett(sr) 211; Tyler Hasenkrug 211(+65)-594(+156); Gordon Weninger(sr) 209-200-603(+123); Ron DeBerry(sr) 208(+50);Rick Hasenkrug 197(+54)-555(+126). Women — Roxie Arps 216; Christie Schlagel 145(+60); Cindy Ingman 169(+56); Dorothy Vukasin(sr) 171(+41). Kay Kinzinger 4-7-10 and 3-6-7-10; Carol Tigart 6-7-10; Rick Hasenkrug 5-7.

    Little's Lanes / Great Falls

    Women's scores

    Senior Citizens— Carol Martin 193 +68, Donna Wingard picked up the 5-6, 5-7, and 4-7-10 splits.

    Monday Ladies Classic— Barb Stevens 196 +52, Tammy Cady 210, Laurie Ueland 204, Mercedes Brown 171 + 50.

    Casino League — Vicky Deitz picked up the 6-7-10 split.

    Tuesday Night Mixed— Judy Vogel 189 +50, Laurie Ueland 202, Kim Aasand 181 +55.

    Mix Masters— Doris Kimmerle 258 - 632, Kristen Dehn 235, 237, 237 - 709, Barb Lankford 236, 200 - 628.

    Satellite Mixed— Jeannette Laird 244, Connie Dickman 225, 227, 211 - 663, Jodi Feller 179 +50, Debbie Skinner 206, 216, Michele Woods 211, Jackie Graham 201, 202, Jayme Wonsick 157 +54.

    Men's scores

    Senior Citizens— Bob Muretta 212, John Ferda 201, Dave Shadrick 219, Wes Martin 200, Pat Terry 205, 233, 204 - 642.

    Teacher's Mixed— Ron Meyers (sr) 224, Jordan Sundquist 225, 255.

    Casino League— Monte Holtz 201 +50, Larry Debolt 225, Nick Kynett 223 +64, Bill Dixon 197 +63, Vance Weckworth (sr) 203.

    Tuesday Night Mixed— Dennis Vogel (sr) 203 +60, Bernie E. Dickman 227, 231 - 651, Bernie K. Dickman 278, 243 - 709.

    Little's City— Curby Dennis (sr) 211, Andy Anderson 238, Ron Fleming (sr) 202, 220, Brian Lee 225, Rich Janzor 235.

    Mix Masters— Chuck Lull (sr) 200, 215, 213 - 628, Mike Bowles (sr) 202, Don White (sr) 220, 219 - 629, Mike Christensen 233 - 668, Pat Terry (sr) 214, Rich Crawford 244 - 671, Terry Pearsall 238, Bruce Hruska 258, Brian Brown 226, Ken Curry 252, 236 - 683, Darren Rowe 245, Steve Martin 246, 238 - 708, Tony Gribble 240, Lucas Cyr 258 - 662, Bob Orham (sr) 212, 209, Jim Dixon 257 - 655, Joe Levesey Jr. 236, Marlin Cross (sr) 216, 233 - 616, Brian Christianson 237 - 682.

    M.F.C.U.— Mick Brown (sr) 218, Dan McIlvaney (sr) 213, Brian Christianson 242, Neil Boots 191 +57.

    Satellite Mixed— Ron Blaquiere (sr) 209, Jeff Laird 235, Abe Zigan 259 - 653, Leonard Peterson (sr) 200, 209, Don White (sr) 227 - 615, Kenny Volk 240, Marty Graham 244, Hank Rimkus (sr) 254, 219 - 664, Jo Ovalle 246 - 652, TJ Tri 194 +52, Joe Paranteau 225, Andy Schindele 236.

    Aces High / Malmstrom AFB

    Wednesday Intramural— John Kurtz 279-230-246-755, Brandon Allen 227, Dave Torkelson 200-211 (sr.), Gavin Brost 182 (+60)

    K-Lines / Rudyard

    Women's scores— Shirley Kline 5-8-10, 3-10 and 5-7-10 splits; Margie Spoinler 9-10; Linda Foster 4-5, 3-10 splits; Barb Snyder 4-5-7 and 5-10 splits; Gaynelle Gatzemier 5-6-10 split

    Men's scores — Shawn Rettig 226, Dan Redding 237; 227; Roger Shepherd 236, Greg Spinler 252, Gordon Standiford 225

    Jack's Lanes / Fort Benton

    Monday Nite Mixed— Trampus Corder 246-674; Tom Willson 264

    Black Eagle Lanes / Great Falls

    Wicked Wednesday— Tamara Galbraith 179 (+50), Charlene Marshall 137 (+51)

    Black Eagle Bums— Nathan Beebe 258-664, Steve Vukasin 256, Tony Forster 243, Lary DeBolt 236-231-620 (+116), Dave Huffman 226-225, John Quinby 225, Jason Poirier 221 (+67), John Kramarich 220 (+55), Cory Dailey 211 (+70)-570 (+147)

    Tuesday Club 55— Ray Voeller 210 (+59)

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