ABC Past-President Sweeney dies

American Bowling Congress Past-President Life Member Edwin W. Sweeney of St. Louis died Feb. 21 at his home after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 83.

Sweeney, who served as ABC’s 74th president during the 1987-88 season, was the son of St. Louis bowling proprietor and Women’s International Bowling Congress founder Dennis Sweeney. Ed Sweeney got his start in bowling when he recruited competitors to form one of St. Louis’ first youth leagues. As a young adult, he became active with the St. Louis Bowling Association, taking tournament scores to the local newspaper by streetcar.

After working his way up through the ranks in the St. Louis and Missouri Bowling Associations, Sweeney was elected to the ABC Board of Directors in 1968 and became a vice president in 1977. He also served as president of the former American Junior Bowling Congress for six years.

Sweeney was an outstanding athlete. He competed in the 1941 National Rowing Regatta and played guard on both offense and defense for the University of Missouri’s 1941 Sugar Bowl football team. He left school to serve four years in the United States Army during World War II, returning to graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering. After college, he worked for 28 years in the heating and air conditioning business before retiring in 1987. He also was a long-time football referee.

Sweeney is survived by his wife Kay, brother Bob, and children Edward Jr., Kevin, Mary Connelly, Maureen Heine and Sheila Mueller along with 20 grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The family requests any memorial donations be sent to: Ed Sweeney Scholarship Fund c/o the Greater St. Louis Bowling Association, 1700 Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63117.

Colorado quintet shoots 3,157 to take Regular Team lead at ABC Championships Tournament

The latest outstanding team performance of the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament was turned in Feb. 22 at MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont. Coach’s Corner Pro Shop No. 2 of Lafayette, Colo., rolled 1,087, 1,074 and 996 games for a 3,157 team series, good enough for first place in the Regular Team division.

Jason Quimby led the scoring with 766. He was followed by Jerry Thoma with 660; George Brooks 620; Scott Roberts 580 and Terri Kellogg 531. “Jason was our horse tonight,” said Thoma, co-owner of Coach’s Corner. “He figured out the lane condition the fastest, and we rode him all the way to the lead.”

Brooks, who finished second in the 1996 U.S. Open, said his team was up for the challenging ABC Tournament lane conditions. “You don’t see lane conditions like this at home,” Brooks said. “I just hope they keep them this tough. If they do, then we have a really good shot at taking home the title in June.”

The 99th ABC Tournament is presented by Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev., and runs through June 23. For expanded results or more information on the 2002 ABC Tournament, visit ABCTournament.com.

Arizona duo bursts into doubles lead at ABC Championships Tournament

Tony Viecelli and Ken Hosp weren’t scheduled to bowl the 99th American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament at MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont. But after taking over the lead in Regular Doubles the morning of Feb. 19, they’re glad they made the trip.

The Arizona pair combined for 1,418. Hosp of Tucson, Ariz., rolled three strong scores of 234, 237 and 258 for 729. Viecelli, of Morenci, Ariz., was consistent with 220, 235, and 234 for 689.

Even though the partners were not initial members of the Tucson Cats No. 2 team, the pair made the visit to Billings, Mont., a memorable one. “My team dragged me here and now I’m glad that they did,” Viecelli said. “I thought we bowled well today and I knew we were close to the top of the leader board. “I was really happy when I found out that we had actually taken the top spot.”

“In the fifth frame, I threw one I thought was going in the gutter. I don’t know how it held on. When it came off my hand, I said, ‘Oh, God, I just threw a gutter on a 4-bagger’. So, in the 10th, I thought if I don’t throw a 300 now, I never will. Those two breaks were so tremendous.”

Hosp, who was a last-minute fill in for the team, put the moment into perspective. “Rolling a 1,400 is an achievement in its own right,” he said. “Taking over the doubles lead just makes it that much sweeter.”

Nebraska bowler takes Regular All-Events top spot at 2002 ABC Championships Tournament

Terry Fredrickson of Grand Island, Neb., posted a 2,083 nine-game total Feb. 22-23 to move into the Regular All-Events lead of the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament at MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont.

The 43-year-old rolled a 662 series in team, 761 in doubles and 660 in singles to move past Vinny D’Ambrosio of Staten Island, N.Y., who shot 2,074. Fredrickson and teammate Jamie Barrientos also moved into second place of the Regular Doubles division with 1,369. For Fredrickson, there hasn’t been a bigger moment in his bowling career. “What can you say about taking the lead in the ABC Tournament?” he asked. “It’s a big thrill to be at the top of the leader board."

Fredrickson said he knew he had a chance at the all-events lead after rolling 761 in doubles, which included a 278 high game. “My goal after the doubles was to put together a good set in singles. With the 277 game in singles, I knew all I had to do was stay clean to take the lead.”

Although the 179 in his final singles game was his lowest of the tournament, Fredrickson said the only thing that mattered was that he had the lead. “It didn’t matter that my finish wasn’t that strong,” he said of his final game. “The fact that I can leave here with the lead says a lot. I only hope that it holds up until the end of the tournament.”

Perfection leads Ohio detective to ABC Tournament Regular Singles lead

“It’s a great feeling. Regardless of what the outcome is, I can say I led this tournament and that will never be taken away,” said Brett Lee of Lima, Ohio, after taking over the No. 1 spot Feb. 19 in Regular Singles at the 2002 American Bowling Congress Tournament at MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont.

The Allen County Sheriff’s Department detective started his memorable performance with the ABC Tournament’s fourth 300 game. He followed with 216 and 248 games for 764. Mike Sampson of Billings had been leading with 741.

Lee was solid in the pocket for his first six strikes and then came in quite high in the seventh frame but tripped out the 4-pin. After another solid strike in the eighth, Lee began to get nervous. “About the ninth frame, I started to feel a little bit of nerves and pressure,” Lee said. “I tried to keep myself as focused as possible, and keep everything around me blocked out. I thought I could do it.”

Lee’s only open came in the first frame of the second game, as he left the 2-8-10 split. When Lee went to the water cooler for a drink, he stepped in a spot of water and then stuck at the line during his delivery. But Lee was undaunted as he finished with a flurry. Strikes in the 9th, 10th, and 11th frames gave Lee 248 in his final game.

In his final game, Lee was not aware that he was in sight of the Regular Singles lead, but set his goal at a 750 series. “When I looked up and saw I had a string (four straight after a first-frame spare), I said, ‘Let’s go for an 800.’ I really had no idea.”

The ABC Tournament is a special time for Lee and his wife, Misty. They were married on Feb. 25 during the 1998 tournament in Reno, Nev. The Lees are part of a contingent of about 20 bowlers from the Lima and Ottawa areas who bowl in the ABC every year.

Montana quintet overtakes lead in ABC Tournament Classified Team division

Anchor bowler Steven Fergerson shot a final 256 game to help Pepsi, of Hardin, Mont., move into the lead Feb. 23 in the Classified Team event at the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament at the MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont.

Pepsi shot 986, 899 and 921 games for 2,806 to topple T-R and The Tots of Jamestown, N.D., the previous leader with 2,802. Fergerson also rolled 236 and 215 games for 707. He started his 256 with eight straight strikes. He converted a single-pin spare in the ninth but a split stymied him in the 10th.

Leadoff Tim Wagner shot 623, Bim Marston 510, Henry Uffelman 486 and A. Leroy Melville 480.

Massachusetts group takes over ABC Tournament Team All-Events top spot

A team from Massachusetts moved into the top Team All-Events spot Feb. 24 at the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament at MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont. Vic Telemarketing of Westfield, Mass., easily overtook Storm of Utah, Ogden, Utah, with 9,754 for 45 tournament games, an overall team average of 216.76. Storm of Utah had led with 9,324.

Ron Nelson led the scoring brigade for Vic Telemarketing with 2,018. Former collegiate All-American Bryan O’Keefe was three pins off the pace with 2,015 and Tony Lambert shot 1,954. Former Collegiate Bowler of the Year Chris Viale added 1,920 and Rick Ehrnschwender chipped in 1,847. “Team All-Events was definitely a goal of ours,” said O’Keefe, who won the 1996 collegiate team title at the University of Nebraska. “We fell short last night in the team event, and we felt like we could take the lead today.”

O’Keefe and Nelson nearly took over the top spot of the Regular Doubles competition. They recorded 1,417, just one pin shy of current leaders Tony Viecelli and Kenneth Hosp of Morenci, Ariz.

Georgia’s Bill Cherry is new ABC Tournament Classified Singles leader

Bill Cherry of Calhoun, Ga., used two mini-strings of strikes and consistent shot-making Feb. 24 to shoot 664 and take over the Classified Singles lead at the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament at MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont.

Cherry shot 245, 226 and 193 games to overtake Les Reemts of Kimball, Neb., who had been leading with 631.

After a first-frame spare, Cherry strung four strikes and later three more consecutive strikes for his 245. He used the same pattern in the second game with four strikes after an opening frame pickup. Cherry’s only open was a split in the fifth frame of the third game.

Cherry also is third in Classified All-Events with 1,746. Montanans Alan Richard of Wolf Point and Tim A. Wagner of Hardin are 1-2 with 1,811 and 1,778. Cherry got better with every shift. He shot 507 for his Bring It Back team and then 575 in doubles.

Final four PBA Tour stops serving as testing ground for Sport Bowling

The final four tour stops of the 2001-02 Professional Bowlers Association season are serving as a research opportunity for the American Bowling Congress/Women's International Bowling Congress Sport Bowling program.

The tour stops are: PBA Empire State Open, Latham, N.Y. (Feb. 17); PBA Flagship Open, Erie, Pa. (Feb. 24); PBA World Championship, Toledo, Ohio (March 3); Battle at Little Creek, Virginia Beach, Va. (March 17).

The ABC/WIBC Specifications and Research team will allow lane oil patterns to exceed the Sport Bowling requirement of a 2:1 ratio and use the information to study and evaluate the current state of Sport Bowling. The Sport Bowling program continually will be evaluated over the season to provide ABC and WIBC members with a fair, challenging and consistent shot.

"Sport Bowling is an evolving program," ABC Executive Director Roger Dalkin said. "Sport Bowling is continually being tested and evaluated to assure a challenging environment that is fair to all bowlers."

The PBA Tour has been using approved Sport Bowling lane conditions on many national events this season and the Professional Women's Bowling Association has used the program all season. Sport Bowling awards will not be issued if an honor score is bowled on a condition that does not comply with current Sport Bowling standards, but regular awards will apply.

"The cooperation of the PBA is an essential part of the program," Sport Bowling Program Manager Jeff Henry said. "The skills of the PBA players and the high revolution rates they generate have made them the best in the world. Their help will be essential in shaping the future of Sport Bowling for the benefit of all members."

ABC/WIBC Sport Bowling consists of leagues and tournaments on challenging lane conditions emphasizing accuracy and proper technique. The idea behind Sport Bowling is to return credibility to the sport. Sport Bowling is fully endorsed and supported by the PWBA and the PBA.

Montana, Washington bowlers roll their first perfect games at ABC Tournament

For David Watters and Kenny Burnside, their trips to the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament in Billings, Mont., couldn’t have been more perfect.

Watters of Billings and Burnside of Lynnwood, Wash., found the event the MetraPark Expo Center to be the site of their first career 300 games. In addition, Watters made ABC Tournament history by rolling 300 in the first game of his first tournament appearance Feb. 19.

The previous record for an ABC Tournament debut was held by Willie Clark of San Antonio and Dave Bond of Brandon, Fla., who rolled 299 in their first tournament appearances. “It was such a big thrill to shoot 300 here,” Watters said. “I don’t think I could have written a better script.”

Actually, Watters could have written a better script. His hot streak went ice cold for the rest of his series, as he followed up his 300 with 156 and 112 for 568. Watters struck on every ball in the first game, yet failed to strike in the last game. “I just couldn’t get it back,” said Watters. “After the 300, I didn’t have anything left. I guess I used up all my strikes early.”

Although Watters’ 144-pin swing was unfortunate, it was not an ABC Tournament record. Milwaukee’s Al LaBelle and Rusty Sutphin of Radford, Va., share the record for decrease from game-to-game with a 167-pin decline.

Watters dedicated his pefect game to the memory of Gary Harris. The former proprietor of Heights Lanes in Billings passed away in late July. “He was so excited to have the tournament come to Billings,” Watters said. “I’ll always remember him, and I’m sure his memory will live on with the bowlers of Billings.”

A quick trip to the ABC Tournament will be a lasting memory for Burnside as the 21-year-old right-hander shot his first ABC-approved 300 game Feb. 22. After struggling with 199 and 159 games while playing the extreme outside line, he made an adjustment after a string of four open frames in the middle of his second game of singles. Burnside struck in the ninth and twice in the 10th to lift his confidence. “That’s when I realized what I was doing,” Burnside said. “I put more speed on the ball and moved to the outside. I saw a difference right away.”

Burnside was flush in the pocket on each of his deliveries. He said his hand started to shake and his heart dropped during the 11th shot. “I thought it better come in,” he said about his final ball. “It looked like it might be a little wide, but it wasn’t.”

Burnside and his father, Jim, loaded up their Isuzu Trooper and left the Seattle area Feb. 19 for the drive to Billings and Kenny’s first ABC Tournament.

Ohioan nearly perfect at 2002 ABC Championships Tournament

Dale Drazil of Northfield, Ohio, was two pins away from a perfect game Feb. 23 at the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament at MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont.

Drazil, a last-minute substitute, shot a 298 game Saturday during the Regular Singles competition. The 215-average bowler shot a 619 series in doubles on 204, 204, and 211 games, then found the conditions for his singles to be similar. He started the first game with three strikes and finished with 222. His 298 honor count came in the second game.

“I had a nice shot as long as I kept it in, and just as long as I pushed it through the middle of the lane, said the 37-year old Drazil, who has four career perfect games.

He said he was fine if he stayed relaxed and didn’t tug the ball on his delivery. “You tell that to yourself at the line, ‘Whatever you do, don’t tug it’, and then you go up there and do it anyway,” Drazil said about his final delivery in the second game. His final ball went high on the head pin, leaving the 6-10. “I was hoping to get right, but I just left it a little short.”

Drazil shot 194 his final game for 714. Even though he was nearly perfect in Game 2, Drazil said the left lane gave him trouble in all three games.

“The shot went away a little on the left lane and I couldn’t quite grasp it quick enough,” Drazil said. “I could pretty much play the same line from Game 1 to Game 3. But the left lane was kind of tricky.”