Dickman's hot streak continues

by Lee Vernoy

1-24-2012

Nobody exactly knowsthe last time a 300 game was bowled during the City Open tournament, but Bernie K. Dickman has helped refreshed everyone's memories for next year and years to come.

For the second time this season, Dickman reached perfection, in the process overtaking Week 1 leader Al Ridder for an 822 handicap series to win the Division One singles competition Saturday night during the Great Falls USBC Open tournament competition at Elks Lanes.

Lanes manager Rod Hackett says Dickman's trifecta, his second in 17 days this year, is the first rolled this season at his house. He also rolled a 300 on Jan. 4 at Little's.

Saturday's was the middle game of the 783 scratch set, which included a 257 in the opener, and Dickman said the White No. 1 pattern used at City Open was a tough one.

"I was rather nervous, but my family and friends were there for support, so I just sucked it up," Dickman said.

"I did tug the 12th ball a little bit, but it hit the pocket hard," he added.

Every house in town now has a 300 game this season as Dickman's is the 18th rolled in Great Falls this season. Counting Robert Olson's big game last month in Fort Benton, 19 perfect games have been rolled in the region this season.

Unofficially, Dickman's 822 is tops for Division 1 singles. Nathan Beebe, who rolled a 762 scratch and finished with an 807, took second, with last weekend's leader, Al Ridder, in third with his 785 (704 scratch). In fourth, just for an honorable mention, is Jack Hawley's 703 scratch/784 handicap.

Division 2 had Chuck Lull as the winner with a 785. Russ Simonsen was runnerup with a 725, and Rev Soria third with a 714. In Division 3, James Kothrad's 759 took high honors, just seven sticks ahead of Tony Milovich and 11 better than Paul Seiditz.

James Livingston and Matt Fryett took Division 1 Doubles with a 1,440, six sticks better than Chuck Lull and Bob Orham. Dusty Curtis and Nathan Beebe were third with a 1,421. James Kothrad and Don Broughton took Division 2 going away with a 1,493, followed by Karen and Jim Kernaghan's 1,426 and the 1,421 amassed by Bob Berard and John Wood. In Division 3, it was Jake Larson and Charlie Lindeman with a 1,423 winning it over Mateo jara and Jason Poirier (1,358) and Brian Neill and Gary Pimperton with a 1,339.

In the Division 1 team event, Simonsen Flooring took top prize with a 2.602, just 92 pins above the GFUSBC Association Team, and 94 better than Ronie's Revenge. Frogies Bar took Division 2 with a 2,758, while the Left Over's (2,683) and Power Tech (2,673) rounded out the top three. Finally, in Division 3, it was Pierce C.M.O. No. 2 at 2,615 winning, The Talkers second 13 sticks back, and G-Force in third by another pin.

THE LINEUP FORnext month's first annual Curt Backa Memorial Open tournament is starting to take shape.

Elks Lanes manager Rod Hackett says nine bowlers from Belt — another of the late scribe's favorite haunts (along with Stockett and Sand Coulee) — have signed up to bowl in the five-game scratch/handicap tournament which will benefit scholarships for area youth bowlers.

The tournament will be the weekends of Feb. 11-12 and 18-19 at the Elks Club, and entry fee is $50. Current USBC members are elgible.

Call Rod Hackett at the Elks Club, 454-1305 or 899-1658, for more information.

ALSO COMING UP NEXT month as far as tournaments go is the Great Falls USBC Women's Tournament at the Black Eagle Community Center on those same two weekends, Feb. 11-12 and 18-19. Entry forms are available at all Great Falls bowling houses, and you can call Pam Bigelow at 455-1497.

Missoula will host the Great and Greatest tournament for men, along with the Young and Youngest for women Feb.11-12, and the Western Regional Finals of the International Family Double Tournament Feb. 18-19.

The U.S. Open Qualifier will be held in Missoula February 25-26. I'll have more details on that tourney when we draw closer.

And as long as you have your calendars out, the Montana USBC State Open Tournament will be here in the Electric City March 24-May 20. This year, the team event is at Elks' Lanes while the doubles and single will be at Little's. Entry forms are available at your favorite alley, or by logging on to: bowlmontana.com.

AS WE PREPARE FORour tour of the houses from last week, we find the Bernie Dickman shot the high game and series of anyone this week. We also find that no member of the fairer sex turned in a 600 series. In fact, the closest was a "nobody shoots a 599," rolled by Lori Jennings (which included a 216 and 213) in the Wednesday Night Ladies' circuit at Glacier Lanes in Cut Bank. Lisa Urick had a 236 in the Little's MixMasters for high womens' game.

Steve Martin had a 268 en route to a 738 during the MixMasters as well. And representing our youth, Ali Coster had a 192 single last week, but rolled a 533 two weeks ago, including a nice 208 scratch in the Elks' CMR League. Charles "Dylan" Garton had a 193 two weeks ago, and Brien Martinich had a 197 at Little's during Little Sky 2 action.

At the Elks Club, Hillary Vukasin's 233 was high mark for the women during the Jack and Jill Mixed. Bill Brown was 77 sticks over with a 252 in the Senior Mixed, while Ron Miller and Mike Jones will split the Men's high series honors with identical 636s.

Nathan Beebe shot a 703 series and Drew Wanner had a 253 single during the BECC Bums league at Black Eagle Community Center. Trina Linabary's 207 was high game for the women in the Howard Ghee Thursday league.

In Fort Benton, Dale Stone had a 246 during the Monday Nite Mixed at Jack's Bar and Lanes, while Buck Richards took high series with his Thursday Night Mens' output of 657. Guyla Streit shot a 218 in the Tuesday Night Mixed to lead the women.

Out in Lewistown at Snowy Lanes, Daryl Koncilya nailed a nice 257 game and 603 series in the Thursday Money league, but high series went to Rex Coleman with a 651 in the Merchant's group. Terri Waltari rolled a 202 to pace the women, also in the Thursday Money league.

Back up in Cut Bank, Ryan Hoyt had a 235 game and Kevin Eaton a 629 set, both during the Thursday Commercial League.

And in Rudyard at K-Lines, Todd Langel topped the men with a 221 game, but Dan Redding had high series of 620. Marjie Spinler's 186 single and 506 set was womens' best, while Quinn Spnler shot a 203—514 for Major Boys, Tylynn Rettig had a 200 game and 481 set for the Junior Girls. Peyton Peterson shot a 170—462 for Junior Boys, and Whitney Wendland's 176—435 topped the Major Girls.

Tribune Sports Writer LEE VERNOY, who is set to roll in the Curt Backa Memorial Open, compiles Ten Pin Talk every Tuesday. Contact him with anything bowling-related at (406) 791-6569 or email him at lvernoy@greatfallstribune.com.