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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 23, 2002
The Brunswick World Team Challenge (BWTC) started in 1992 and has enjoyed a success even its ABC designers could not foresee.
"We were worried that the Baker format would attract only a certain segment of the bowling population, perhaps limiting the entries and killing the BWTC before it even got off the ground," said tournament director Tom Boedecker, who sat in on the organizing meetings at the ABC.
"However, it has become one of our most successful tournaments, and we're grateful to all the players who have participated these past 10 years," Boedecker said.
The BWTC returns to Seminole Lanes on Sept. 14-15 for its second appearance of the season.
Seminole is the only center to host a BWTC event since the beginning and the only one to book two stops in the same year. The first stop in 2002 was in January and won by Team Brunswick of Pittsburgh -- Robert Alexander, Doug Becker, Bruce Hollen, Roger Kossert and Jeff Poholsky.
Seminole Lanes owns the BWTC entry record, 112 teams in the 1996 renewal.
The BWTC makes 14 stops this year, with each regional winner qualifying for the Grand Championship, Nov. 10-14 at Gold Coast Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center in Las Vegas. Nearly $1-million was paid out last season at the regional and national levels. Each regional winner earns about $5,000, merchandise and expenses-paid trips to the nationals, which pays $10,000 to the winning squad.
The field qualifies via regulation games Saturday and Sunday morning before the cut to the final eight teams and the Baker match-play semifinals.
The finals usually are at 2 p.m. Sundays with the top three or four squads in single-elimination Baker championship.
James Campbell's Top of the Line Pool Service team from Clearwater won consecutive titles in 1998-99. The squad was comprised of regulars Tom Milton and Campbell and various other players. The entry fee is $550 per five-person team and may be made by calling Boedecker, 800-514-2695, or going online to the ABC Web site, www.bowl.com. The registration deadline is Sept. 13.
PREPS OPEN: The 30th season of the Pinellas County High School League started Thursday at Seminole Lanes with a new format that has drawn controversy.
How many schools competed will not be known until league secretary Janet Waddell compiles results from the matches.
The Baker format, in which five players each roll two frames per game, was introduced. However, since recruiting bowlers is difficult, the league voted on four-person Baker teams. Each player will have two frames per game, with the No. 1 and 2 competitors finishing the games. The league rolled two regulation games, followed by two Baker games.
Several coaches met resistance from players who dislike the format change.
The league bowls every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. on a traveling schedule at participating centers.
NABI: St. Petersburg's Clark Valette and Bob Bannon won events the past two weekends at Liberty and Sunrise lanes.
Valette defeated Dunedin's Ron Vassallo 198-179 for his first title and $360.
Ronda Masanotti was third, Amy Bowes fourth and Sandy Wakeley fifth. Fred Owens took the platinum crown and $237.
Bannon stopped Don Lebo 239-208 for his first title and $320.
Ray Harvey was third, Wakeley fourth and Carl Dean fifth. Dennis Eggleston won platinum and $183.
The NABI is at AMF Clearwater on Sunday. The entry fee is $35 or $40 at the door.
AROUND THE LANES: Steve Kenyon rolled a 300 game at Liberty Lanes. Bob Cullen, James Hurd and Kenny Mullins won the monthly $1,000 handicap trio tournament.
Doug Hunt fired a 300-693 at Countryside.
Barry Marvel recorded a 300-732 at AMF Clearwater.
Jeffery Mersch and Kelley Fecke earned Junior Gold status in the Florida Scratch Youth Bowlers Tour event in Tavares last weekend.
The 100th anniversary ABC Championships Tournament opens Feb. 8 in Knoxville, Tenn. To enter, go online to www.bowl.com.
-- Phil Gulick can be reached at xerxes8@msn.com.