The husband-wife team of Gilbert and Edna Berry may have made local history Sunday by winning the doubles in the 67th annual St. Petersburg Association City Tournament at Sunshine Bowl. April Lewis of St. Petersburg perhaps added more history by capturing the singles crown.
No one at the association can recall a woman winning any event in its city tourneys. The ABC long ago dropped its gender rule, allowing women with sanction to compete. Gilbert fired a 677 series and Edna posted 573 for a 1,250 scratch. They added enough handicap pins for a 1,582, 46 better than first-week leaders Chris Maddox and Jason Manny. Shawn Heffner and Danny Koerner finished third (1,506).
"Not only did we win $300 in doubles, but I got even richer," Edna said.
She placed 22nd in singles for $35 and 12th in all-events play for $30. She also bowled on the Brooklyn Hookers II team, which finished out of the money in 10th. Gilbert entered with a 178 average, Edna 173.
"We were excited to bowl in our first city tournament, but we had not bowled at Sunshine for some time so we had to get the line early," said Edna, a St. Petersburg Women's Association Hall of Fame member.
The Berrys are right-handers and live in St. Petersburg.
Lewis, 20, a St. Petersburg College freshman, had 213, 192 and 169 games for a 574 scratch series. Her 156 average gave her 222 handicap pins and a winning 796 series. She received $150.
First-week leader Ado Torrisi dropped to second (784 series), and Lance Moyer took third (782).
"This was my first city tournament, and I didn't think I had a chance to win," Lewis said.
She finished fifth with team DVDA and 17th in doubles with Bobby Browning.
Smolka Bowl won the team event (3,645 pinfall), dropping Manny Inc. to second (3,636). Smolka included Phil Wallbaum III (673), Bob Lent (650), Frank Czarnecki Jr. (657), Sean Harris (664) and Bob Smolka (683).
The winners produced 1,100, 1,075 and 1,152 games with 318 handicap pins. They collected $1,000.
Shawn Heffner received $100 for winning the all-events (2,321 pinfall). Jason Manny was second (2,243) and Lewis third (2,225).
ABC UPDATE: Winter Haven's John Janawicz rolled an 858, the highest series in 101 years of the ABC Championships Tournament, at National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., last week.
Janawicz logged 300, 279 and 279 games to take the Regular singles lead and top the previous record by one pin.
S&B Pro Shop No. 1, Clinton Township, Mich., owned the team lead (3,268). Mike Vasey and Joseph Crocco Jr., Racine, Wis., were the doubles frontrunners (1,477).
The Classified leader remained Connections No. 3, Vallejo, Calif., 2,775.
Larry Harrington, Whitehall, Mont., and Kent Smallcomb, Kearney, Neb., were atop the doubles (1,245). Alan Christiansen, Soda Springs, Idaho, maintained his singles lead with a 658 series.
The Women's International Bowling Congress Championship Tournament opened Thursday in Wichita, Kan.
DICKINSON WINS: Gary Dickinson defeated Roy Buckley in Las Vegas last week to capture his second ABC Senior Masters title. Dickinson of Edmond, Okla., beat Buckley, Westerville, Ohio, in a three-game final to win his 11th senior championship and $20,000. Buckley received $10,000.
The seniors move to Tennessee for the Clarksville Open, April 24-27. The tour will visit Seminole Lanes for the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open, Aug. 8-11.
SEMINAR SCHEDULED: Bill Zuben, St. Petersburg Association executive director, will conduct two-hour sports-bowling seminars at noon and 3 p.m. April 24 at Seminole Lanes. The shot, more difficult than regular-league conditions, will be explored with a video camera recording the proceedings. The fee is $10 per session.
For information, call (727) 392-2271. MADNESS: Countryside Lanes offers "Thursday $1 Madness" on April 22. One game, shoe rental, a hot dog, french fries, pizza slice or a soft drink cost $1 each 9-10:30 a.m. AROUND THE LANES: Dave Taylor rolled a pair of 300 games around a 208 for an 808 series at Countryside. ... Tim Smith recorded games of 256, 298 and 286 for an 840 series and Bill Wilders Sr. shot 300-719 at Liberty. ... Other high scorers - Ron Jelinski, 300-709, and Ray Baumbach, 300-785, at Seminole; Jay Taylor, 300-806, Twedt's; and Mike Webb, 300-732, and Jamey Hulsey, 290-672, Dunedin. ... Entries are open for the Florida Senior All-Star Match-Play Championships, which start Saturday at Sunshine and continue through May 2. ... Liberty offers an eight-game scratch singles tournament Sunday. The registration fee is $75, and $500 will go to the winner based on 20 entries. ... The University of Central Florida men's and women's squads will compete in the 32-team IBC championship through Sunday in Tulsa, Okla.
