Spring Hill Lanes champ avoids drama this time

Kevin Williams finally has his ESP Signs Spring Hill Lanes Invitational trophy - one year later than he thought.

By Derek LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Published June 17, 2007

Kevin Williams finally has his ESP Signs Spring Hill Lanes Invitational trophy - one year later than he thought.

During last season's installment of the prestigious tournament, Williams reached the finals and tied eventual champion Shawn McVey in the one-game match. In the one-ball bowl-off, Williams came up just shy and walked away unsatisfied. This season, there was no such disappointment in the third annual event.

In a 24-bowler field, Williams cruised to the eight-man playoff bracket after getting seeded fourth during the five-game qualifying round. From there, Williams, owner of Kevin's Pro Shop, decimated his competition.

In the first round of the playoffs, he beat fifth seed Scott Hagland 224-180. Then he took out second seed Jay Tinkham 246-217. In the finals, the score was no less one-sided as Williams defeated Jim Jobin 234-198. He won every single-game match by more than 25 pins.

Participants were invited by Spring Hill Lanes to compete because of their performances in the center's recently-concluded fall leagues. Each bowler qualified for entry by averaging a 200 or better in those leagues.

READ IMPRESSES: Bobby Read, a 19-year-old Spring Hill Lanes regular, averaged a 208 in the Monday Night Men's League at the center. Because of that sanctioned average, he was eligible to compete in Sunday's ESP Signs tournament.

Though he barely missed the playoff cut by four pins, Read shot the highest game of the qualifying round. In the third game, Read shot his first organized perfect game. Because the tournament was not U.S. Bowling Congress sanctioned, Read will not get his first official 300, but the flame was fanned.

"After doing that, I feel like there is not as much pressure on me to do it in the league, " Read said. "I am still young, and I've already shown I can do it."

In June 2006, Read tossed a 295 game in the Summer Youth/Adult League at Spring Hill Lanes for his first USBC accomplishment.

GARNER'S BUSY WEEKEND: Rich Garner, one of the top amateurs in the area, has been competing in top-line tournaments for years. He consistently has reached the finals and finished in the top 10 in PBA regional events and big-money sanctioned tournaments.

Last weekend, he was busier than usual on the lanes. Garner is a regular at Spring Hill Lanes but lives in New Port Richey. He entered the Cream of the Crop Tournament at Lane Glo Lanes in New Port Richey on Saturday. The event also featured some of the top PBA bowlers, likely attracted by the major payoff of $6, 000 for first place.

Though Andres Gomez won the title, Garner was part of the 16-man finals. He finished ninth and won $500. In the standings, he surpassed seasoned PBA veterans like Jason Couch and Tommy Jones.

As if reaching the finals there was not enough, Garner then entered the ESP Signs Spring Hill Lanes Invitational to take his shot at that title. Again, he reached the bracketed playoff as a seventh seed. He tossed a 731 series to qualify for the hunt.

His run at that crown ended with a first-round loss to Jay Tinkham, who tossed a 255 game to dispose of the talented Garner 209.

Scores

High Scratch Series (Male)

Jim Babson, 774, ESP Signs Invitational, Spring Hill Lanes

David Lee Jr., 773, ESP Signs Invitational, Spring Hill Lanes

Jay Tinkham, 757, ESP Signs Invitational, Spring Hill Lanes

High Scratch Game (Male)

Bobby Read, 300, ESP Signs Invitational, Spring Hill Lanes

David Lee Jr., 279, ESP Signs Invitational, Spring Hill Lanes

Jay Tinkham, 279, ESP Signs Invitational, Spring Hill Lanes

[Last modified June 15, 2007, 21:15:08]