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By PHIL GULICK
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 20, 2000
Somehow, the timing wasn't right for this century's first St. Petersburg Association Men's City Tournament that ended last Sunday at AMF Kenneth City Lanes.
Before last year's 63rd renewal, association president John Hahmann and the Suncoast Saturn dealership wheeled a new car onto the Seminole Lanes concourse, destined for the first player to roll a 300 game. St. Petersburg's Rich Correa Jr. came close with a 299.
This year, there was no car -- but six 300 games.
Firing perfect games during the two-weekend event were Joe Minarik, Ian Foltz, Russ Calabrese, Cary Cook, Steven Lecroy and Dave Ulm. Drew Beierlein rolled an 816 series, Mike Lamont shot a 276-805 and Michael Earl, Richard Correa III, Charles Floyd and Beierlein recorded 299 games in one of the highest-scoring city tournaments on record.
The timing was just right, however, for St. Petersburg's Darryl Dempsey, winner of three of the four titles -- singles, doubles and all-events.
"I don't know what it is, but the past year I've really been on my game," Dempsey said after his victories. "I'm looking to join the tour if I can find a sponsor, especially if the rumors are true that there will be larger payoffs for the winners."
The Professional Bowlers' Association is reportedly up for sale to an independent party.
Dempsey bowled every shift, entering the four events four times each. Only the team title eluded him, and that by only 10 pins. His Team 48, renamed Marti's Bail Bonds, led the field after the first weekend with a 3,387 pinfall, but was outshot Sunday by Premier Bowling, which toppled 3,397 pins for the title. Callahan Bail Bonds finished third, followed by two H&S Swanson's Tools teams.
Premier Bowling's team included Jason Gasper, Lamonte Monnell, and Matthew, Dick and Richard Correa Jr. Dempsey was anchor on the Marti's team that included Chris Williamson, Kenneth Kokemohr, Joe Bereczki and Foltz.
Dempsey, a 1999 inductee into the association's hall of fame for on-lane achievements the past 15 years, won the singles championship with a 278-790 series, withstanding a 767 charge by Frank Czarnecki Jr. Czarnecki outshot third-place Rick Pittman's 267-757 and fifth-place Calabrese's 300-747. Last year, Dempsey's 794 was second to Rich Correa Jr.'s 800 winning series.
On the first weekend of the tournament, Bill Zuben teamed with Dempsey for a 1,436 pinfall and the doubles lead, but Dempsey re-entered with a new partner, Thomas Pankratz, and won the doubles crown with a 1,477 pinfall. James and Ronald Hennings were second at 1,475, with Harry and Drew Beierlein third at 1,470. The Zuben-Dempsey score was good for fourth.
Dempsey's total of 2,278 pins in all-events was enough for his third championship. Czarnecki was second at 2,176 and Lamont third at 2,152. Last year, Dempsey also won the all-events with a 2,140. He won the 1998 doubles title with Bill Hicks and the association's 1997 Earl Gresh Award for his season-long 235 average.
Dempsey owns 27 perfect games and 18 800 series and has recorded high averages at most of the down-county centers the past seven years. In league play last month at AMF, Dempsey rolled 300-258-300-858.
"This was the best-run tournament I've ever seen as far as the house was concerned," said association secretary Dave O'Brien. "There was hardly a breakdown, the staff was just great and our bowlers really appreciate that. Our compliments to manager Bobby Atha and his staff." Atha finished fifth in the all-events competition.
The event drew 76 teams, a good turnout according to O'Brien. Last year, the new car drew 141 teams. Results can be viewed on the association's Web site at http://www.spbafl.com.
FSU ROCKIN' NEXT: The co-ed Florida State University team challenges Michigan State University Tuesday in the penultimate preliminary match on TNN's Rockin' Bowl at 8 p.m. Amy Harris coaches the Seminoles.
Erie Community College against West Texas A&M wraps up the preliminaries on Feb. 29, then the winners go into rolloffs.
"The Tuesday night shows are bumping against that millionaire show, so the ratings aren't that good," said public relations director Charlie Munch. "But we're repeating the shows on Friday nights and the ratings are better there."
The shows are taped in Las Vegas and bring together 16 co-ed college teams, including seven former or defending national champions, in a fun-for-all format. Teams are competing for more than $20,000 in scholarship money, with the winner earning $10,000.
AROUND THE LANES: Errol Weaver nailed a 300 game and Mark Munson rolled a 299-735 at Dunedin Lanes. ... J.C. Smith nailed an 815 series and Jerry Robinson fired a 300 game at Sunshine Bowl. ... Pete Sahner rolled a 300-707 at Ten Pin Lanes. ... Gene Gauthier recorded a 300-812 and Garry Reed shot a 300 game at Rainbow Lanes. ... Entries for the St. Petersburg Women's Association City Tournament close Feb. 28. The tournament is slated March 11-12 and 18-19 at Sunshine Bowl. ... Largo Lanes offers the Gary Hampshire scratch event Feb. 26 and the Poor Boy tournament on Feb. 27. ... Emily Snyder, 16, of Perkiomenville, Pa., rolled games of 266, 278 and 299 for an 843 series, a record for a junior female.
-- Phil Gulick can be reached at Xerxes6@aol.com or Xerxes6@earthlink.net