Rob Bailey’s Pro Shop No. 1 takes leads in team divisions, Carlson tops individual all-events
The hot hands of members of Rob Bailey’s Pro Shop No. 1 lasted two days as the Sun Prairie, Wis., quintet moved into first place in both the Regular Team and Team All-Events divisions of the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament at the MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont.
It started March 2 when Joel Carlson, Scott Lindsey, Terry Norton, Bruce Herreman and Rob Bailey took the lead in Regular Team with 3,298. The hot shooting continued March 3 as they secured the Team All-Events lead with 9,856.
“Our goal was to leave here with the tournament lead,” said team captain Bailey. “We were confident in our striking ability, and knew we had the ability to leave Billings with the lead.” The team was led by Carlson, who rolled 2,154 to take the top spot in Regular All-Events. The right-hander shot 706 in the team event, 759 in doubles and 689 in singles.
“My sights were definitely set on all-events,” said Carlson, a 40-year-old engineer. “I didn’t know what the score to beat was, but I knew after my doubles set that I had a chance for the lead." Lindsey led the Regular Team barrage with 761. After Carlson came Bailey with 625 and Norton and Herreman with 603 each. The group combined for 1,093, 1,050 and 1,155 team games to move 141 pins past previous leader Coach’s Corner No. 2 of Lafayette, Colo., with 3,157.
Lindsey also broke the 2,000 all-events barrier with 2,017. He was followed by Norton with 1,930; Herreman 1,907; and Bailey 1,848 as they a topped previous leader Vic Telemarketing of Westfield, Mass., which rolled 9,754. Bailey’s Pro Shop is no stranger to the spotlight. In the 1991 ABC Tournament in Toledo, Ohio, the team led the event up to the last week before finishing third.
“We were extremely disappointed,” said Bailey of their 1991 finish. “We remind ourselves of that before we bowl every year and it’s one of our motivating factors. Our younger bowlers are now in their 40s, so we know we’re running out of time where we know we can be competitive.” The team began bowling as a group as members of the South Dakota State University bowling team. They use the ABC Championships as a reunion of sorts.
“It gives us a chance to all come together and reminisce,” Carlson said. “But we always come ready to play.” According to Carlson, their history of bowling together gives them an advantage over most teams. “We know each other’s games, and we aren’t afraid to tell a teammate they’re doing something wrong,” he said. “We also trust each other, which is key to coming up with a championship team.”
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.
WIBC to test new division for 130 average and below in 2003-04 Championship Tournaments
In another effort to provide more opportunities for more members to compete at its Championship Tournament, the Women’s International Bowling Congress will begin in 2003 at least a two-year test of a division for bowlers with 130 and below averages.
The test was recently approved by the WIBC Board of Directors. The new Division 4 will be in effect next year at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., and in 2004 in Wichita, Kan., after which it will be evaluated.
Currently, the WIBC Tournament features four divisions. Classic is for bowlers with 190 and above averages, Division I for 170-189 averages, Division II for 150-169 averages and Division III for 149 and below. During the test, Classic, Division I and Division II will remain the same. Division III will be for 131-149 averages.
Minnesota bowler takes Regular Singles lead at 2002 ABC Championships Tournament
Just three days after one lead change in Regular Singles, Rod Neuenschwander made another at the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament at the MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont.
Neuenschwander, of Sartell, Minn., used a 766 series Feb. 25 to overtake former leader Brett Lee of Lima, Ohio, by two pins. Neuenschwander strung 14 strikes en route to 279 and 268 games, then finished with 219.
“I felt like I had something to prove today,” Neuenschwander said. “Last night was the first time I had bowled with my team, and I only bowled 547. My goal was to come out more aggressive today, and make better shots than I did last night. The score really didn’t matter.”
CBUSA announces 2002 IBC sectional assignments
College Bowling USA has announced the 64 men's and 64 women's teams competing in the 2002 Intercollegiate Bowling Championships Sectional Qualifiers. The four regional events will be held March 23-24 at the Bowling Palace in Downington, Pa.; Ten Pin Lanes in Louisville, Ky.; Heritage Lanes in Oklahoma City; and Fireside Lanes in Citrus Heights, Calif. The combined 128 squads are vying for the 32 spots (16 men's, 16 women's) in the 2002 Intercollegiate Bowling Championships, April 17-20, at Transit Lanes in suburban Buffalo, N.Y.
Sectional assignments were made based on the Team Ranking System points earned in CBUSA-sanctioned competition. Each of the sectional qualifiers contains no more than two of the top eight ranked teams based on the final TRS standings. CBUSA considers field strength, geographic distance and economics when assigning schools to sectional qualifiers.
Highlighting the Pennsylvania Sectional is second-ranked Saginaw Valley State and sixth-ranked St. John's on the men's side. In the women's division, sixth-ranked Shippensburg University, eighth-ranked Pikeville College and ninth-ranked Sacred Heart University highlight the field.
At the Oklahoma Sectional, the men's division features top-ranked Wichita State and third-ranked Western Illinois. The women's division features top-ranked Nebraska, fourth-ranked Wichita State and 10th-ranked Florida State.
The Kentucky Sectional features fourth-ranked Purdue, seventh-ranked Morehead State, ninth-ranked Erie Community College and 10th-ranked Michigan State. The women's division features second-ranked Morehead State and third-ranked Indiana State.
The men's division of the California Sectional features fifth-ranked Arizona State and eighth-ranked San Jose State. Fifth-ranked Central Missouri State and seventh-ranked Arizona State highlight the women's division.
The sectionals will consist of 32 Baker games each day, for a total of 64 Baker games. The top four teams based on total pinfall in each division following the completion of competition at each sectional will advance to the 2002 IBC Championships.
For a complete listing of the 2002 IBC Sectional assignments and the final TRS rankings, visit bowl.com.
Inside line works best for new ABC Tournament Classified singles leader
Bob Winston of Lexington, N.C., raised the bar in the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament’s Classified Singles division by 29 pins as he shot a 695 series Feb. 26 at the MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Mont.
Winston, who shot just 496 in his doubles, rolled a 214 game and then strung 11 strikes after a first-frame spare for 290. The retired Lexington Police Department sergeant finished with a 191 game for 695. He started with two strikes to extend his string to 13 over two games. Bill Cherry of Calhoun, Ga., is now in second place with 664.
Winston said he was standing straight when shooting doubles to compensate for a knee that he tweaked. “I needed to bend more. When I started bending over and putting the ball out on the lanes, I started striking,” he said. “The lanes were perfect, the best I’ve shot in a long time. The lanes were all right in the doubles, it was just me.”
The 69-year old Winston bowls league at the Lexington YMCA Lanes, which still has the ball returns above the channel. “It’s the best thrill I’ve had in bowling,” said Winston, who has entered three other ABC Championships. His one career 700 came last year in the North Carolina state tournament when he took third in the singles with 718.
Kopec carries 12 consecutive strikes at 2002 ABC Championships Tournament
It’s safe to say that Jerry Kopec has had a great beginning to the Year 2002. The 41-year-old from Sterling Heights, Mich., accomplished two of his major sports goals in the span of a month. He had his first golf hole-in-one last month, and rolled his first career 300 game March 3 at the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament in Billings, Mont.
Kopec recorded the sixth perfect game of the 99th ABC Tournament in his first doubles game at the MetraPark Expo Center. He followed up with 224 and 190 for 714.
“To say that I was overdue is an understatement,” said Kopec, who had gone 24 years without a perfect game. “I’ve had 299s before, and have strung 17 and 18 strikes in a row over two games without a 300. So I’m glad the monkey’s finally off my back.”
Kopec kept a thought in his mind that Johnny Petraglia had made during the Professional Bowlers Association telecast earlier in the day. “He said he was always nervous bowling the big frames,” Kopek said. “But he always told himself, ‘Hey, you’re good enough to get here, so just do it.’ I kept thinking that as I kept striking and it worked like a charm.”
According to Kopec, there’s nothing that compares to a 300 game in the ABC Championships. “It’s like a dream come true. I waited so long to have a 300 game, and to be a part of ABC Tournament history makes it that much more memorable.”
Storm named presenting sponsor of 2002 YABA Youth Bowling Championships
As part of a major two-year agreement, Storm Products, Inc., will be the presenting sponsor of the Youth Bowling Championships, the annual international tournament for Young American Bowling Alliance members. This year's event is sponsored by Coca-Cola and will be presented by Storm Bowling Products.
"Storm has been a strong supporter of the tournament for several years," YABA Executive Director Jim Zebehazy said. "This agreement re-emphasizes their strong commitment to YABA and its members."
The sponsorship solidifies Storm's involvement at all competition levels of the Coca-Cola Youth Bowling Championships, including the league and state/provincial/zone competitions. Storm Products, Inc., also will conduct a seminar and sponsor the welcome dinner at the international finals of the championships. Storm bowling ball products are included in the sponsorship deal, with 120 bowling balls being granted to YABA for distribution at its various events.
Approximately 413,000 youth bowlers will be exposed to Storm Bowling Products through this agreement. "Storm is delighted to be strengthening our commitment to YABA, youth bowling and the Coca-Cola Youth Bowling Championships," Storm Vice President of Marketing Dave Symes said.
Billings businessmen rescue lost bowler at the 2002 ABC Championships Tournament
Butte, Billings, Bozeman, Belgrade. Only one of those Montana cities has the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament, and for awhile Ken Kubicki had the wrong one.
Butte stuck in Kubicki’s memory and the Richmond Hill, Ga., bowler wound up 220 miles from where he needed to be. However, he did learn the meaning of Montana friendly. Kubicki, who registered to bowl with friends from Naperville, Ill., made his own arrangements to get to the late February team, singles and double shifts.
His travelogue is best told in his own words.
“I talked to my friends and the place never came up in our conversations. I got my ticket and transferred at Salt Lake City. When I got on the plane there, I thought it was strange the plane was only half full. I really didn’t see anyone who looked like bowlers.
“When I landed in Butte (Thursday afternoon), there were no signs (for the ABC Tournament) and it was a small airport. And, I wondered, ‘ABC is holding their tournament here?’ It didn’t look right so I called the motel with my cell phone and I told my guys that I was just about there.”
Kubicki had no way of knowing that the motel he was calling was the Holiday Inn in Billings and not Butte. In the Butte airport, he used the courtesy telephone to call the Holiday Inn for transportation.
“A girl came and picked me up and when we were driving back, I saw a big dome in the distance. I asked if that was the Civic Center and she said no, that it was a radio station. ‘We don’t have a civic center. I asked her where they were holding the ABC bowling tournament. And, she said it would have to be at one of two places, there were only two bowling houses in town.”
Kubicki began then to realize he might be in trouble. He asked her what the number of the Holiday Inn was. Her answer did not match the one he had written down.
“I asked if the motel was named the Holiday Inn Grand Montana. She said that no it was just the Holiday Inn Express. Now, I was really worried. I gave her the telephone number I had and she said that sounded like a Billings number.”
When he got to the Holiday Inn Expess, Kubicki checked on flights to Billings and found none. He finally found a reasonable rate for a rental car so he could drive to Billings and then back to catch his return flight. Butte is one of the America’s great Irish cities and Kubicki lucked out while talking to the motel desk clerk.
“There were these two guys checking in. They overheard the whole thing. One of them said, ‘We’re going to Billings tomorrow (Friday), you can ride along with us. I was thinking that these two guys were setting me up. I would come down tomorrow and they’d be gone. But, it wasn’t like that. They were two real nice guys. We got to talking on the way to Billings and it turned out they were from High Country Subaru Hyundai.”
The two good Samaritans were Stuart Simonsen, owner of High Country Subaru Hyundai, and Scott Reid, the general manager.
Kubicki got to the MetraPark Expo Center in time to bowl a 458 series for his Custom Crepe team. After a night at the correct Holiday Inn, the 51-year old machinist bowled 536 in doubles and then finished 558 in singles.
ABC Tournament in Billings truly a family affair for twins
The Miller and Riesberg twins used the 2002 American Bowling Congress Championships in Billings, Mont., as a family reunion of sorts March 1.
Rich Riesberg of Grundy Center, Iowa, his twin Roger of Grand Island, Neb., Robert Miller of Rapid City, S.D., and his twin Rich of Lincoln, Neb., had not gotten together in 16 years. The last time was when Rich Riesberg married Eunice, the Miller’s younger sister.
“We’re not only twins, we’re brothers-in-law,” said Rich Riesberg. He then went on to explain why they have a lot of fun with being twins. “Our mom is an identical twin and she has identical twin brothers. Her identical twin sister has identical twin daughters and she has another sister who had three sets of twins, one of them identical twins.”
“We’ve had a blast,” Robert Miller added. “We don’t see each other enough, though. We all enjoy bowling, so this was a great way to get together.”
Roger Riesberg shot 1,478 and Richard had 1,376 in Classified All-Events. Richard Miller shot 1,413. Robert Miller did not bowl the team event; however, he enjoyed a 545 in doubles and 588 in singles.
