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By PHIL GULICK
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 27, 2001
SEMINOLE -- The sale of Largo Lanes this week forced the Florida Wheelchair Bowling Association to move its annual state tournament to Seminole Lanes.
The dates remain the same, May 4-6.
"We had to hustle to find a center, but thankfully Kevin Krauss at Seminole Lanes agreed to take us," said tournament director Wayne Webber.
More than 30 players are expected, including entries from Florida, Texas, Georgia, Virginia and Leo Nieves from Puerto Rico. Among the area competitors will be Gus Farnum, Earl Annis, Melbourne's Loren Vandermark and Miami's Tom Collect. Competition in A and B handicap and scratch divisions begins May 4 at noon with the doubles. Duos will roll three qualifying games with a cut to the top 16, then single-elimination match-play to determine the final two pairs.
Singles competition starts at noon May 5 and 6 in all divisions. Players will roll two, three-game sets, then rolloffs to determine the top five finalist in each division. Winners earn cash and trophies.
Dave Roberts of Clover, Va., is the defending scratch champion; Jerry Jones, Chula Vista, Calif., the defending A Division champ and Don Porpora, Sebring, is the B Division defender.
Admission is free.
NABI WINNERS: Fred Heiferman, Jim Bauer, Michael Roberts and Vince Davis won titles over the past four weekends at Liberty, Sunshine, Seminole and Largo lanes, respectively.
Heiferman, Tarpon Springs, captured his first championship, defeating Larry Townsend of St. Petersburg 234-225 for a $375 payoff. Frank Ballou of Clearwater took the Platinum Division and $275.
Bauer, Oldsmar, earned his second crown by stopping St. Petersburg's Bill Heym 244-170 for a $400 payoff. Townsend won the Platinum and $270.
Roberts, St. Petersburg, captured his first title and $275 by beating St. Petersburg's Sandy Day 197-163. St. Petersburg's Gary Halstrom took the Platinum crown and $225.
Davis, of St. Petersburg, recorded his 12th championship and collected $350 after defeating Clearwater's Frank Ballou 235-198. Dennis Eggleston, Clearwater, won the Platinum Division and $180.
There is no event until May 5-6 at AMF Kenneth City Lanes.
JUST RUMORS: Shoshana Gross, co-owner of Skyway Lanes, said rumors "that we went bankrupt and are closed are terrible."
They were spread, she suspects, by someone who has it in for the center.
Several bowlers visited the center in south St. Petersburg last week and found the doors closed. However, talk about Skyway's demise reaches back before that and Gross wants to end it before it causes more harm.
"We are not closed," Gross said. "However, we are looking for someone to lease with an option to buy or sell to the highest bidder. We are closed on Monday and Thursday mornings until 1 p.m., and the lounge opens at noon. All other days, we open at 9 a.m."
COUNTRYSIDE WRAP-UP: Cliff Barnes defeated Kelli McManus for bowler of the year honors as the Countryside Lanes YABA Olympian program ended its 31-week season last weekend.
Team winners were the Fireballs, Cubs, Team No. 2, Team No. 1 and Ocho Estados. Barnes captured the boys scratch singles title, and McManus won the girls crown.
Summer league sign-ups for various youth and youth/adult leagues are May 9, 12 and 17.
SPBA BANQUET: The St. Petersburg Association stages its annual delegates and winners banquet Saturday at the Piccadilly Cafeteria in Seminole Mall.
The doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the banquet begins at 6:30. League delegates are invited, and winners of the association's city tournament will be honored.
AROUND THE LANES: Honor scores last week -- John Lumpkin 805 at Tarpon Lanes, Randy Schibler 300-689 and Bob Williard 300-782 at AMF Kenneth City Lanes, Willie Holmes Jr. 300-703 at Dunedin Lanes, Pat Kloschko 300-738 and John Drigan 299-716 at Rainbow Lanes, Scott Howard 299-761 and Lou Alessi 299-780 at Countryside Lanes, Bo O'Keefe 300-705 at Ten Pin Lanes, Bud Powles 300-698 at Sunshine Bowl, Keith Glasgow 300-734 and Bob Hubbard Jr. 300-805 at Seminole Lanes and Paul Victory 300 game at Liberty Lanes. ... Phil Peters rolled a 300-802 series, his 35th 300 and seventh 800 series, at Countryside.
- Phil Gulick can be reached at xerxes6@aol.com or xerxes6@juno.com.