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Bowling

Prestige and big money at stake in Open

By ERIC MUSKATEVC
Published February 17, 2006

Before 1971, there was the BPAA All-Star. The winner became known as the National Match-Game Champion.

Walking into this week's 63 U.S. Open, as it's now known, Chris Barnes is simply known as the champion.

Barnes is among 461 bowlers at the Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J., all wanting to be called the nation's champ.

Patrick Allen is there too. Last year he was the first left-hander to advance to the televised finals since the 1995 - only four left-handers have won the U.S. Open, with the last lefty coming in 1989.

Allen fell to Barnes in the title match 213-212, but went on to win the World Championships shortly after. The last six bowlers to win a major have all been first-time major title winners, including Barnes in last year's Open, who will continue his comeback from back surgery defending his title.

The title is nice, but so is the money. In 1987, the U.S. Open paid the first six-figure paycheck in PBA history. Del Ballard Jr. won the title over Pete Weber to collect the $100,000 payday.

Since then, the Open has paid more $100,000 first-place checks than any other tournament (nine, including this week).

Qualifying began Tuesday and today begins with the top quarter of the field bowling nine additional games while the top 24 will begin round robin match play this evening. Saturday features two additional eight-game round robin match play sessions after which the top four will move to the finals.

Majors have higher point allotments than standard events, so strong performances this week can help clinch a position in the World Point Rankings. Lefty Mike Scroggins (Amarillo, Texas) leads thanks to consecutive TV appearances over the past two weeks.

Wes Malott (Austin, Texas) and Tommy Jones (Simpsonville, S.C.) sit second and third, respectively, on the points list. Norm Duke (Clermont) holds a slim lead over Allen (Tarrytown, N.Y.) for fourth.

The live ESPN finals will be televised Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The finals will implement a stepladder format and the winner will take home the $100,000 top prize and a three-season exemption.

On that ladder, the No. 1 seed has won the past seven U.S. Open events, dating to 1998. It has suffered losing streaks in the past though. They lost three straight finals from 1991-93, lost four straight from 1986-89 and lost five straight from 1978-82.

The last bowler to win the Open as anything other than the top seed was Dave Husted, who won his second straight Open event as the No. 3 seed in 1996.

USBC: In Corpus Christi, Texas, the "other" U.S. Open returns to the American Bank Center Exhibit Hall on Saturday with the opening of the U.S. Bowling Congress Open Championships.

Hall of Famers, dignitaries, the Corpus Christi Folklorico Dancers, 475 bowlers and nearly 1,000 spectators turned out for the opening day events Sunday, which included the traditional mass-ball shot and the crowning of USBC's "Joe Bowler", Russell Osborne II of Pineville, La.

During the next 143 days, more than 63,000 bowlers will compete for a share of the $4.6-million in prize money. The tournament's 1992 visit to Corpus Christi attracted 8,557 teams - this year there are 12,606 teams. Updates on local entrants will be posted here as they are available.

PBA: Last week Sean Rash, a 23-year-old from Wichita, Kan., became the newest "Young Gun" to win a Denny's PBA event.

This season has seen eight of the first 15 events won by bowlers under the age of 30. He also made history by becoming the first non-exempt member to win since the PBA moved to the exempt format in the 2004.

Rash, a former Team USA bowler, defeated Mike DeVaney (Temecula, Calif.) in the title match of the 2006 West Virginia Championship, 194-178.

The victory had plenty of drama, as Rash converted three difficult spares.

He converted the 2-4-10 split to start the title match then picked up the 1-2-4-6-10 washout in the sixth. His biggest shot came in the eighth frame, when he picked up the 2-10 split to stay in the match.

NABI: Rick Gauzza, Laszlo Gyori, Mary Kelly and Marvin Strong, all of Sarasota, went 2-3-4 and 5 at Club 577's outing last week at Venice AMF.

Gauzza lost 179-196 in the finals to Jeff Pennell of Venice, and carried a 168 average earning $85.

On Sunday, you can go east or south. Club 577 ($240 jack, $381 strike) will be at Sarasota Lanes, 2250 Fruitville Rd. in Sarasota.

Club 580 ($145 jack, $239 strike) will be at Semoran AMF, 5710 La Costa Drive in Orlando. Squad times for both meets are 11 a.m. For more information, and NABI Week in Las Vegas, call (863) 667-4779 or see centralflorida.bowlnabi.com.

COMING UP: Liberty Lanes' Monthly Almost Midnight Team Tournament will be Feb. 25 at 9:30 p.m. with $1,000 first-place prize on the table for 20 or more teams. It's $120 per team to enter by phone at (727) 397-3947or by the web at libertylanebowling.com. Walk-ins will be limited.

Eric Muskatevc can be e-mailed at Emuskatevc@aol.com

TARPON LANES - Tahitian Gardens: Ken Rivard (229-203/583). Highland Lakes: Gary Rock (210/537), Don Shattock (215/535), Gert Osborne (182/536). Monday Mixers: Ray Peloquin (234-215/649), Terry Nappi (233-222/644), Tina Domino (212-206/609). Lake Tarpon: Ed Grabau (229/594), John Ledner (219/590). Senior Men: Wes Jones (247-222/618), Don Kovalcik (213-205/607). Sun Valley: Bill Stoffel (206/566), Bob Bellomo (209/559). Breakfast Beat: Luann Johanning (198/559). Key West: Rick Butcher (245-223/662), Ray Peloquin (221-213/627), Rod Talbot (223-220/627). Stonehedge: Gary Campbell (208/534), Paul Dornboss (184/506). Senior Birds: Roy Mistretta (210/504), Midge Maggs (190/520). Highland Lakes Sr.: Gary Rock (190/548), Paul Merrill (182/500). Industrial: Mike Theodore (259/658), Tim Clark (233-212/633). Tarpon Shores: Joe Pochron (187/531).

DUNEDIN LANES - Mealanie O'Grady of Dunedin shot a spectacular 280-280-242 for an 802 series to lead the house. For your info and humbling, O'Grady is 17-years old. Gerald Hubbard had a 300, Ron Mauder and Randall Thompson both had 299s, and Erroll Weaver and Dave Cabey both had 298s. Ron Mauder (768), Mike Webb (733), Garry Gordon (720), Bob Riccio (715), Dave Aldrich (710), Alex Theofilos (704), Ken Wiseman (701), Jeremy Hill (735), Mike Daly (278/719), and Josh Hill (701) led men's scores while Kathy Weaver (727), Kitty Komin (660), and Tracy Ivory (640) led the ladies. Seniors Dan Lentricchia (640), Dick Schuyler (603), and Joan Snellgrove (510) were also honorable.

TWEDT'S - Tod Janssen had the only 7, a 720 to lead all bowlers. Robin Hood (674), Guy Blazier (665), Jim Kramer (652), Gysin Bardo (649), Bill Farren (648), Bill Reeves (642), Paul Witt (637), Dorian Sobat (625), Al Bolander (610), and John Oliver made honors for the men. For the women it was Michelle Huff (617), Mary McAtter (605), Debbie Borgh (570), Lynn Weaver (544), Marilyn Anderson (544), Idelle Steman (527), and Andrea Sanchez (511).

SEMINOLE LANES - Kevin Krauss led the men with a 279/781, followed by Odeen Walker (297/774), Greg Ickes (290/769), Robert Hamilton (759), Dave Henson (757), Keith Hedlund (742), Drew Beierlein (736), Mike Bongiorno (732), Dave Thompson (720), Ron Rohr Jr. (720), Don Hodgon (719), Ed Grossman (719), Dale Mosher (289/715), and Jon Baker (701). Cindy Hall rolled a solid 279/715 for the ladies along with Jodi Gillispie (239/628), and Cathy Johnson (266/633). Match Game 500s came from Pat Milnes (532), Kati Hendricks (527), and Cindy Gieschen (551). In Cokette's league: Kandy Falvey (246/594), Cindy Gieschen (237/566), Libby Vallario (525), Ave Hickmann (511), Sue Crook (509), Pat Milnes (505), Marian Love (504).

LIBERTY LANES - Keith Glasgow hit a 300 en route to his all-house high score 823. Drew Beierlein was right behind with a 299/800 and Dick Correa also had a 300 for a 708. More 7s and honors came from Matt Galhouse (278/777), Dave Taylor (277/774), Ryan Bremms (277/769), Mike Bixler (279/768), Rick Ickes (269/761), Brett Fresse (758), Glasgow (278/755), Darryl Dempsey (276/755), Greg Ickes (751), John Hendry (279/751), John Smith (279/748), Adam Frame (745), Joe Bereczki (289/741), Phil Knapp (277/740), Bob Givens (286/737), Mike Vital Jr. (277/735), Larry Walters (290/729), Bill Wilder Jr. (727), Tim Smith (278/725), Bill Wilder Jr. (289/719), Brandon Murphy (290/707), Dave Kampman (277/703), Darrin Campbell (279/694), Marty Murphy (290/690), Norm Brimm (279/682), Hal Gray (299/679), Jack Scandaglia (287), and Mike LaBracnch (289). For the ladies, Bev Ulrich led with a 703 with Mariann Russo (254/696), Teresa Genevie (648), Sandy Grumblatt (617), Debi Kidd (224/609) making honors too.

TEN PIN LANES - Men: Jeff Wilcox (700), Paul Doyon (681), Sean Herrod (671), Bill Henry (665), John Burling (659), Mike Feeley (647), Don Avery (639), Jim Ina (634), Bo O'Keefe (632), Lou Misfeldt (629). Women: Cathy Johnson (623), Robin Hintz (622), Jen Layton (561), Carey Blackwelder (546), Ann Seday (542), Rosalie McGinnis (539), Deb Bailey (539), Ivy Kemp (527). Sr. Men: Dave DeLorenzo (614), Dave O'Brien (595), Bob Fogel (560), Mike Barile (550), Dan Nardozzi (538), Carl Hakansson (536), Tom McKenzie (525), Bill Decker (501). Sr. Women: Mary Girourd (495), Joan Hendrickson (492), Rosie Thompson (453), Liz Zanata (4370, Flo Pappas (435), Caroline Cole (432), Nora Savage (431), Marian Love (428).

[Last modified February 17, 2006, 02:15:35]