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Nation's amateurs travel no easy path

By ERIC MUSKATEVC
Published January 5, 2007

It will all be in the details. As the conditions of this week's Team USA Trials were revealed, the nation's top amateurs will face a grueling new format and tough lane conditions that will put their skills to the test in the quest to become the next U.S. amateur champion.

The USBC Team USA Trials will feature 40 games over four days to determine the men's and women's U.S. amateur champions and the players who will represent Team USA in 2007. Beginning Monday at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, all competitors will bowl 10 games each day until Thursday. The men's side features a sold-out field of 156 competitors while more than 75 women will take part.

Josh Guinand, Ashly Galante and Chris Grube (all from Palm Harbor), Chrystal Stutler (Clearwater), Shawn Ryan (New Port Richey), Jason Mersch (Tampa), Jodi Moores and Shannon Profit (Dunedin) and Terrance Reeves (Valrico) all will participate. Visit bowl.com for complete coverage of the trials, including results, stories, photos and player blogs through the upcoming week.

PBA: If the second half of the 2006-07 PBA Tour season is anything like the first, fans are in for a wild ride. The first nine events saw records broken and history made, with Walter Ray Williams Jr. starting the season off with a bang, breaking Earl Anthony's all-time Tour titles record in the Dydo Japan Cup 2006.

A month later, Doug Kent kicked off the U.S. portion of the tour by winning the first major of the season, the USBC Masters in Milwaukee and the following week, Tony Reyes fired just the 17th nationally televised 300 game in Tour history en route to capturing his first career title.

Norm Duke captured the final event of the first half to become the first bowler this season with multiple titles. Both of Duke's wins came in style. He set a tour record by going 14-0 en route to the Lake County Indiana Classic title and won four matches as the No. 4 seed in winning the stepladder finals of the Columbia 300 Classic.

The tour returns after a two-week hiatus with the H&R Block Classic in Reno this weekend at the National Bowling Stadium. The event will mark the Tour's return to Reno after a three-year absence. The final four will bowl live on ESPN Sunday at 1 p.m. The winner will take home the $25,000 top prize and an exemption for the 2007-08 season.

AMBASSADORS: They're ready to talk. Norm Duke, Parker Bohn III, Tommy Jones, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Tony Reyes, Chris Barnes, former tour veteran and champion Bob Learn Jr., Kelly Kulick, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Kim Terrell, Diandra Asbaty and Stefanie Nation have joined the new USBC Ambassador program. It's a speakers bureau that can provide a star bowler as the headliner for hall of fame banquets, awards dinners, youth programs, bowling center grand openings or any other function where a guest speaker would enhance the event.

The USBC will contribute $500 per appearance to help offset expenses. Call toll free (800) 514-2695, ext. 3236. Operators and bowlers are standing by.

NABI: Club 577 will be at AMF Lakeland this Sunday. Squad times are at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m, semis and finals to follow. On the line is a $500 guaranteed first-place prize with 60 bowlers. Jackpot is at $150.

Mark Michel of Lutz holds the high game (230) for the Challenge RollOff. The next rolloff opportunity is at Countryside in two weeks on Jan. 21. Call (863) 667-4779 for more information or visit centralflorida.bowlnabi.com.

UPCOMING: Dunedin will have its Dunedin Doubles tournament Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. It is open to all bowlers with a verifiable average. For more details visit dunedinlanes.com.

Scores

Sunrise - Village Green: Eddie O'Hara 234/659, Rich Desgrosiellier 210, Dave Letarte 264/622, Steve Cook 228. Winston/Pinellas: Frank Theep 219, Don Ferrier 200. Wednesday Matchplay: Danny Webster 267/696, Judy Allen 241, Karen Paramore 223, Marrissa Henrikson 235, Tom Benyo 213. Commercial: Joe Dluzak 258, Eric Setterlind 654, Tim Dunbar 279/726, Clay Hatfeild 258/691, Andy Mclaughlin 258, Derek Dzierba 279/714, Rick Ickes 267/756, Chris Steele 260/700, Greg Ickes 268/750, Mike Bongiomo 265/696, Keith Glassgow 700, John Ingalls 273, Odeen Walker 257/658, George Bickford 700, Robert Dantschis 266/764, Bill Hicks 257/700, Darryl Dempsey 300/774, Justin Veitch 300/740, Tony Froelich 650, Mike O'Neill 663. Springwood: Jim Goodwin 210. Funtime Mixed: Clay Hatfeild 656, Gary Hampshire 661, Elaine Rice 210. T.G.I.F: Bob Veitch 656, Jim Bennet 671.

Liberty - Marty Murphy 753, Ryan Brembs 290/730, Tim Dunbar 280, Charlie Finch Jr. 278/743, Gary Brunner 762, Eddie Ohara 739, Keith Glasgow 731, Pat Lauro 713, A.J. Riske 710, Bobby Redmond 705, Tom Milton 704, Derek Dzerba 701, Dave OBrien 700, Mariann Russo 268/749, Teresa Genevie 236/464, Nadine Sizemore 235, John LaFond 279/733, J.R. Tapper 279, Jack Scandaglia 771, Sharon Martin 205, Bob Porsi 745, Vicki Scandaglia 222, Valerie Janus 226, Rhonda Roquetta 223, Jamie Prawl 277/749, Beth Rochelle 231/618, Billie Coleman 279/686, Ray Baumbach 277, Ben Dowler 707, Tom Weigand Jr. 766, Jennifer Podlas 244, Tammy Tucker 258/630, Cary Cook 279/705, Greg Mong 278, Ron Sullivan 278/714, Don Hodgdon 270/783, Brandon McCombs 705, Joe Carrillo 288/704, Debi Kidd 216, Diana Perret 211, Cindy Micheal 202, Bob Smolka 300, Greg Mong 300.

Seminole - Steve Weyand 300/724, Mike Pittman 299/818, Jim Higdon 712, Norb Treutel 266/716, Steve Taton 241/719, Gary Koonz 266/719, Bob Greene 255, Chuck Pariseau 266/715, Ray Hickox 266/725, Doug Bell 279/754, Drew Santo 699, Marilyn Sullivan 618, Tony Milons 712, Mike Williams 278/713, Steve Felsman 287/694, Darrin Campbell 738, Jerry Hood 735, Erik Hahmann 749, Jay Taylor 761, C.T. Maxey 700, David Gabory 711, Bill Ellis 726, John Drigan 700, David Jones Jr. 711, Robert Hamilton 725, Steve Ellerman 280/726, Pablo Lakilak 278/718, David Doing 704. Seniors: Lee Johnson 257, Doug Bell 279/754, Mike Vitel Sr. 280/720, Stan Dzierba 259/739, Frank Durilla 248/719.

Dunedin - Jay Clark 731, Bob Eggert 728, Paul Pippenger 706, Jamie Llyod 290/776, Sandy Grumblatt 722, Bev Ullrich 719, Anne Dixey 616, Kathy Weaver 612.

[Last modified January 5, 2007, 07:21:48]