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Scholarship barely eludes Gulfport youth

By ERIC MUSKATEVC
Published July 23, 2006

Four players from across the country earned titles Wednesday as the Pepsi U.S. Bowling Congress Youth Championships wrapped up at Don Carter University Lanes in Fort Lauderdale. Dino Della Noce was not one of them, but the youth bowler from Gulfport came oh-so close.

Della Noce, the first Pepsi Championships qualifier from Ten Pin Lanes in South Pasadena, survived qualifying and made the tournament's top 16, moving on to match play. All athletes rolled eight qualifying games Tuesday, where Della Noce knocked down 1,693-pins, good enough for 13th overall in the second division.

Aaron Wheeler of Naples led the Division 1 boys field at the same point with 1,773-pins. Della Noce won his first two 1-on-1 match-play games with scores of 254 and 232 with his handicap, but fell in his next two matches, coming up just three games short of a scholarship.

This year's event consisted of almost 200 athletes from all states competing for a total of $20,000 in scholarships. The top four in each division earned scholarships.

ABT: Andrew Browning won his first Amateur Bowler's Tour tournament and $1,200 last weekend at his home center, Orange Bowl in Lakeland. Bruno Vitasovic of St. Petersburg was the runnerup, taking home $400 and a new bowling ball, which was given to the top 2-5 finishers. Tampa' s Tony Rick, came in third - and also scored the high pre-paid series with a 721 - and Pat Scanlon of Palm Harbor fought off a snake in his house before arriving to the tournament and finishing fourth. Vinnie Crawford scored another top-5 showing this week and had the high pre-paid game of 254.

Jeff Pennell of Venice missed the stepladder finals by one pin and finished sixth. Jeff Haven (Clearwater), David Acree (Gibsonton), Carlos Cortes (Orlando), Todd Langford (Dalton), Daniel Vitasovic (St. Petersburg), Omar Pitts (Lakeland), Ken Matthews (Bartow), Pete Gregorich (Lakeland), John Habiuk (Casselberry) and James Franklin (Lakeland) rounded out the cash list. The tour heads to Royal Lanes in Lutz this weekend and will be at Countryside Lanes next weekend. For more ABT information, check out tsp.abt.bowling.com.

USBC: Hall of Famer Frank Esposito died July 12 of a stroke in Deerfield Beach. He was 86. Inducted into the former American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 1997, Esposito was the longtime owner of the famed Paramus Bowl in New Jersey. He was one of the PBA's founding members and many of the bowling TV show formats were Esposito's brainchilds.

PBA: Chris Barnes became only the second bowler to earn a $1-million endorsement deal when he recently signed an eight-year sponsorship contract with Columbia 300. Hall of Famer Don Carter was the first when he signed with Ebonite in 1964. Barnes owns seven Denny's PBA Tour titles over an eight-season career and was the fastest to reach $1-million in career earnings, reaching the milestone in 220 career events. The previous mark of 253 events was held by Pete Weber and Jason Couch.

SCORES

AMF Clearwater - Scratch Trio, Last week: Gerg Vanderloop 690, Willie Vargas 675, Nick Francis 675, Jessee Francis 658, Marcus Brewington 639, and Mike Bixler 636. This week: Bob Dufour 719, Greg Vanderloop 690, Nick Francis 685, WIllie Vargas 678, Tom Wheeler 667, Jesse Francis 653, Ed Butler 627, Mike Bixler 625, Lenny Varga 622, Lou Crispiano 604.Seminole Lanes - Women: Marilyn Sullivan 235/642. Youth: Dexter Martins 615, David Broughton 277/782, Kenny Gernhardt 612. Men: Joe Krug 716, Sean Crosby 721, Steve Felsman 701, Mike Pittman 712, Erik Hahmann 290/731, Anthony Marciniak 300. Seminole Sport: Tom Johnson 707, Don Goldade 635.Ten Pin Lanes - Men: Rich Sheppard 279/800, Nick Springfield 279/716, Ken Stanton 266/658, Jimmy Oswain 265/614, Charlie Ludwig 257/676, Joe Dalton 673, Don Vachon 676, Jason Pettry 673, Paul Doyon 660, Bob Ashmun 654. Women: Robin Hintz 234/607, Kari Militello 224/603. Sr. Men: Jack McMeekin 236/617, Dave O'Brien 222/582, Tom McKenzie 215/558, Jim Callus 510, Tom Nomura 507, Rich Erpenbeck 507. USBC Youth: David Segler 279/657, Anthony Yingling 255/618, Randall Klafter 245/609, Chris Ellis 222/613, Will Bartle 211/609, James Moore 211/601.Dunedin Lanes - Lenney Dawkins 289/733, Christine Srock 682, Lisa Beck 641, Sandy Grumblatt 615, Krista Gust 601. 4 games: Warren Diaz 1010, Wayne Elliott 956, Craig Gordon 926, Vince Dalia 925, Pat Klotchko 921, Chris Holly 921, Lou Alessi 915, LeRoy Jensen 914, Paul Victory 912. Seniors: Don Lindsay 653, Don Wells 603.Countryside Lanes - Darin Baginski 300-222-279/801, Craig Gurney 743-711, John Heeman 710, Mike Wetherell 706, George Allen 746, Bob Montone 730, Dave Mostoller 721, Lou Alessi 730, Craig Gurney 763, Louis Kusner 758, Scott Starkey 706, Scott Howard 725, George Allen 794, Sean Morrison 707, Mike Wetherell 709.Sunshine Lanes - Inter-City Civic: Elaine Rice 210-203/578, Chris Ritter 654, Derek Perez 257/694. Mon. Matchplay: LaQuisha Roundtree 287/658, Judy Allen 238/666, Clay Hatfield 267/752. Commercial: Gary Brunner 266/681, Derek Dzierba 258/726, Scott Price 270/684, Drew Beierlein 698, Gerald Crawford 258/687, Odeen Walker 253/661, Matt Blankenship 256/690, Jeff Campbell 257/657, Brian Hargrave 279/668, Ben Johnston 270/713, Greg Ickes 687, Rick Ickes 656, Mike Bongiorno 673, Tom Olden 710, Mike Cornelison 264/722. Thurs. Scratch Doubles: Keith Glasgow 256-268/966, Chuck Brush 300/930, Bev Ullrich 856, Jason Scanga 278/910. Sunsetters: Bill Edwards 268, Marissa Henrikson 206/557, Ric Artille 251, Derek Perez 257/669, Frank England 258. TGIF: Renee Dittmer 206, Bill Coupe 650. Sat. Night Doubles: Justin Ottaway 785, Jeannine Hanley 205/744, Allie Smith 226/735, David Russell 767. Strike N Spare: Justin Veitch 288/736, Bill Edwards 288. Sun. Follies: Russell O'Neal 251/657, Robert Hamilton 258/665, Rob Boerker 278, Jeremy Morales 253. Youth/Adult: Scott Rosenberger 268/706.Sunshine Lanes, continued (from last week): Inter-City Civic: Rusty Genevie 290, Lee Smith 703, Robbin Higgins 244/586, Carrie Henry 229/557, Tim Ritter 728, Carrie Henry 214/552, Justin Veitch 279/754, Tim Ritter 719. Commercial: Derek Dzierba 280/781, Drew Beierlein 720, Rick Ickes 705, Tom Olden 716, Tommy Turner 279, Greg Ickes 288/710, Mike Bongiorno 704, Mike O'Neil 277, Andy Gauthier 280. Strike N spare: Robbin Higgins 231-214/626, Justin Veitch 283-280/787. Commercial: Mike Cornelison 278/725, Gary Brunner 707, Rich Sipple 737, Justin Veitch 731. Thurs. Scratch Doubles: Teresa Genevie 852, Keith Glasgow 264-258/948, Tom Palmer 955, Jason Scanga 952, Paul Doyon 882, Kari Militello 841, Paul Doyon 859, Chuck Brush 815, Jason Scanga 840, Teresa Genevie 778, Keith Glasgow 885, Kristin McKee 257-256/933. Sunestters: Lee Smith 278. TGIF: Gary Hampshire 257-279/751, Renee Dittmer 244. Sat. Night Doubles: Allie Smith 215/691, David Russell 827. Fri. Night Doubles: Jeffery Taylor 773.

[Last modified July 22, 2006, 20:17:56]