Dunedin Lanes perfect place for the 300 game

By PHIL GULICK

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 8, 2001

An epidemic is hovering over Dunedin Lanes.

But so far, only four women have caught it -- Donna Erbe, Linda Mola, Jodi Kroeger and Kristi Ellis.

The bowlers have been infected with an amiable bug called the 300 game, and each has rolled at least one at the center.

Perhaps it is a woman's touch that gives Dunedin Lanes such an environment for these rare outbreaks.

Helen Smith has owned the center for 27 years, and Jan Tremel has been its league director/general manager since 1980. No other local center can claim four women 300-game achievers.

Linda Peak became the first Pinellas County woman to break the 300 jinx in 1968. Since then, 24 other women have reached perfection.

They are: Robin Conley, Jane Snivley, Darlene Milton (3), Tammy Gibson, Caryn Schneider, Christina Taylor (3), the late Ruth Hampshire, Judy Allen (3), Stephanie See, Mariann Russo, Dawn Ward, Christy Scanga (2), Debi Kidd, Sheila Mannarelli, Barbara German, Cathy Johnson, Renee Miller (2), Melissa Reeves, Melissa Pushinsky, Lisa Heym, Kroeger (2), Erbe (2), Mola (2) and Ellis.

Kidd's 300 highlighted an 826 series -- the state's highest. Erbe accomplished the feat first at Dunedin Lanes with her 300-703 in 1995. Mola followed four years later with her perfect game.

That's 25 women's 300s in 33 years. During the 1998-99 season alone, the St. Petersburg Association recorded 158 men's 300 games. Whatever is in the air at Dunedin Lanes, it's catching.

"It just seems like the house shot, the friendly people and my improving game are conducive to rolling those higher games," Kroeger said, "and I guess it also inspires the other gals to do well, too."

Kroeger rolled her first 300 (753) in 1999, two years after moving to the area. Last October, she fired a 290-822 -- the highest series in the Clearwater Women's Association (CWBA) and second-highest in the county behind Kidd.

Kroeger's second 300 (747) at the center came in April, 2000, less than six months after her first. Earlier this year, Kroeger won the CWBA singles and all-events city titles and finished second in doubles with Tremel.

Erbe and Mola opened the center to perfect-game possibilities, and Kroeger and Ellis have advanced the banner.

MATCH-PLAY SET: The 34th annual Florida Men's All-Star Match-Play Championship is scheduled for the weekends of July 28-Aug. 12 at Sunshine Bowl.

The 19th annual women's match-play championship runs concurrently at the center.

Qualifying opens July 28 and continues through Aug. 5. Double-elimination matches start Aug. 10 and go to the finals on Aug. 12.

The entry fees are $50 for men, $45 for women and $35 re-entry for each. The men's champion earns $1,200 based on 130 entries. The women's winner takes home $880 based on 50 entries.

The defending champions are two-time winner Bonnie Joel of Tampa and seven-time winner Bob Belmont of Dunedin.

YOUTH TOURNEY: The Greater Pinellas County Youth Leaders will offer a scholarship tournament July 29 at Ten Pin Lanes.

The entry fee is $15 for the handicap event, which will pay scholarship money based on the number of entries. Walk-ins are welcome. For information, call tourney director Patsy Wedding, 867-8450.

The center has copied a TV idea for its Weakest Link Team Competition scheduled for July 21. The entry fee is $10 per bowler. Teams may be bowler's choice or singles and will be chosen in a blind draw.

Squads will roll three games. After each game, a member will be voted off the team. The survivors from each squad then participate in a trivia contest, with the winner earning $280.

AROUND THE LANES: High school coaches, proprietors and interested parties are invited to a preseason meeting July 19 at 4 p.m. at Seminole Lanes.

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