Tarver captures state senior title

St. Petersburg's Alex Tarver took the Division I special singles crown in the 33rd annual Florida State Senior Championships recently at Seminole Lanes.

Tarver's 1,419 pinfall total topped the 1,372 by Sarasota's Herb Gunther. The tournament drew 126 squads in only the second year of team competition. Bowlers competed in four age groups, from 55 and up, and came mostly from Central Florida and south.

Anderson Lawn Care of Sarasota won the team title with a 2,649 pinfall. Russ Hitz No. 2, Ocala, was second at 2,572, and The Good Guys, Leesburg, placed third at 2,569. The Suncoast Association squad of Applefield No. 2 finished 13th.

Division singles championships went to Richard Lindstadt, Orlando, 703; Tom Struwing, Naples 709; Don Stewart, Tampa, 720; and Tony Desantis, Sarasota, 717. Keith VanWinkle and David Kail, Leesburg, captured the doubles crown with a 1,385 pinfall, only 14 ahead of Alan Mertz and Jerry McDonald of Martin County. James Peterson and Ron Smith, Martin County, took third. St. Petersburg's John Martino and Charles Welch were 17th.

TOURNEYS: The 42nd annual Upper Pinellas Junior Bowling Association City Tournament is scheduled for Feb. 9-10 and Feb. 16-17 at AMF Clearwater Lanes.

The YABA event is open to all sanctioned youngsters for an entry fee of $10 per event. Competition is in divisions based on averages.

For the first time, bowlers will compete for $2,000 in college scholarship money, with the all-events winners in the boys and girls divisions each earning $200.

State qualifying for the Coca Cola National Junior Tournament is Feb. 2-8 at participating centers. The event will be in Davie later this year.

AMF Clearwater Lanes is offering $1,000 to the winner (based on 30 squads) of the Saturday Team Challenge on Feb. 2. The entry fee is $30 per person, $120 per squad.

Entry forms are available for the 65th annual St. Petersburg Association City Tournament, Feb. 16-17 and Feb. 23-24 at Seminole Lanes. The team winner earns $1,000.

Registration ends Tuesday for the Florida Women's Association state event, which opens April 6 in Jacksonville.

Entry forms are available for the ABCBrunswick World Team Challenge, Feb. 9-10 at Seminole Lanes. The team fee is $550. AROUND THE LANES: Phil Peters shot a 300-715 at Countryside Lanes, and Bob Halle managed a 290-761. ... Mark Tabor rolled an 816 series at Seminole Lanes. ... Paul Victory recorded a 299-811 at Liberty Lanes, Todd Browne fired an 817, and Chad Johnson had an 825 series. ... Shannon Monahan, Scott Baird and Browne won the Saturday Nite Trio event at Liberty. ... Jim Hamilton nailed a 300-762 at AMF Kenneth City Lanes. ... David Mullen logged an 816 series at Tarpon Lanes. ... An eight-pin doubles tournament goes on the board 1 p.m. today at Southland Lanes.

- Phil Gulick can be reached at xerxes8@msn.com.

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