February 2, 2007

 

By: Mark Martin

 

MDUSBC MASTERS

 

Jeff Austreng of Clarkston won the Metro Detroit USBC Association Masters Tournament at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park Sunday when he defeated Charles Morris of Redford 592-534 and 672-596 to win the $3,000 first prize and the title. Morris settled for the second place check of $1,500.

 

Austreng, a 36-year-old bowling center manager at 300 Bowl in Waterford Township , was the 15th qualifier with an eight-game total of 1,623. He had the top average of the event with 216.2 for the entire tournament and 219.8 in match play. He remained in the winner’s bracket by defeating Jerome Jaracz of Clinton Township 607-553 and Edward Grace of Howell 718-577 before falling to Paul Szumny of Commerce Township 607-554. Once he fell into the lower bracket he caught fire with wins over Richard Wayne of Westland 671-547, Keith Kingston of Farmington Hills 621-559, Ken Wyatt of Sterling Heights 722-666 which included a perfect 300 game, John Nolen of Waterford Township 632-559 and Paul Hutchinson of Dearborn 803-597 to advance to the final match where he had to defeat Morris twice to win the title.

 

Austreng’s series against Hutchinson included games of 246, 278 and 279. He won the event in 2005 and was runner-up in 2000 to Chris Sand.

 

“I’m ecstatic about the win,” said Austreng. “It’s pretty cool to shoot 300 and 803 in this type of environment which places a premium on good shot making. This now puts the pressure on my dad to win the Senior Masters.”

 

When Austreng won in 2005 his father Ed Austreng had already won the Senior Masters a few weeks before.

 

Morris averaged 207.9. He qualified eighth with 1,653 and averaged 208.4 in match play. He remained in the winner’s bracket with triumphs over Jason Battishill of Clarkston 666-589, defending champion David Ewald of Macomb 707-565, Gary Wodowski of Harrison Township 597-557, Ken Wyatt 629-550 and Hutchinson 647-614. This was  Morris’ highest finish in the Masters.

 

Paul Hutchinson of Dearborn qualified 30th with 1,579, averaged 205.2 and took home $1,000 for his third place finish. He remained in the winner’s bracket with victories over Mike Lee of Dearborn Heights 652-539, Fred Bauss of Eastpointe 652-649, Keith Kingston 583-577, Paul Szumny 659-542 before suffering his first loss to Morris 647-614 and falling to the lower bracket and losing to Austreng 803-597.

 

Nolen placed fourth averaging 204.5 and winning $650. After qualifying 22nd with 1,601 he beat Eric Tulley of Southfield 687-644 before losing to Keith Kingston 593-489. In the lower bracket he beat Jason Battishill 656-619, Edward Grace 718-577, Gary Wodowski 638-520, Ryan Wilson of Garden City 617-571 and Paul Szumny 659-636 before being knocked out of the tournament by Austreng 632-559.

 

Wyatt and Szumny each earned $450 for their efforts. Wilson and Kingston took home $350 each for seventh and eighth respectively.

 

The other Oakland County cashers were Travis Raskey of South Lyon ($250), Jason Battishill of Clarkston ($225), Eric Tulley of Southfield ($225), Jerry Owczarski of South Lyon ($200), Dan Kelsey of Novi ($100) and Dave Eatmon of Ferndale ($75).

 

Defending champion David Ewald of Macomb finished 10th for $275 and former champion Dave Tulak of Taylor (1988) finished 27th for $200.

 

Sponsors of the MDUSBC Masters were Turbo 2-N-1 Grips, Red Robin Restaurants of Michigan and Ansara's Big Boy Restaurants.

 

The MDUSBC Masters Tournament was contested on the PBA Viper pattern and is an USBC Sport Bowling certified event operated by the Metro Detroit USBC Association, the largest local association of the United States Bowling Congress with more than 80,000 members.

 

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BATTLING BACK

 

In August 2002, Dan Eldon of Rochester Hills sustained major injuries in a motorcycle accident including a closed head injury.

 

Bowling had always been a big part of his life and proved to be part of his recovery also. After missing the 2002-2003 season he came back in the 2003-2004 season.

 

A longtime 200 average bowler it has been a struggle to regain that level. However on Jan. 24 in the Bud’s Pro Shop Men’s Major League at Fiero Lanes in Auburn Hills Dan shot a fine 279 game and a 646 series. Only a pesky 4-pin in the fourth frame stopped him from perfection.

 

Congratulations Dan on a fine bowling performance, but even more so on your recovery.

 

Thanks to Kevin Fish, league secretary and Les Haacke for the report.

 

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HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

Jan. 18, Patrick Cleary, Royal Oak, Detroit Athletic Club, Thursday 5:30

Jan. 23, Mark Strzalkowski, Dearborn Hts., Country Lanes, Metro Highway

Jan. 24, Alfred Stroud, Southfield , Thunderbowl Lanes, Semi-Seniors

Jan. 24, Amos Bowker III, Clawson , Shelby Lanes, 2604 League

Jan. 25, John Moore, Orchard Lake , 300 Bowl, Thursday 3 Man Major

Jan. 25, Jason Battishill, Clarkston, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Men’s

Jan. 25, Sony Morton, Detroit , Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed League

Jan. 25, Scott Whitehead, Detroit , Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed League

Jan. 26, John Kurtz, Sterling Hts., Bowl One Lanes, Bowl One Classic

Jan. 26, Kenneth White, Roseville , Bowl One Lanes, Bowl One Classic

Jan. 27, Jeremy Thomas, Detroit , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles Classic Tournament

Jan. 27, Benjamin Shapiro, Farmington Hills , Hazel Park Bowl, Hazel Tuckey EOS

Jan. 28, Jeffrey Austreng, Clarkston, Thunderbowl Lanes, MDUSBC Masters

Jan. 29, Kurtis Krautner, Sterling Hts., Troy Lanes, Troy Monday Men’s

Jan. 29, Jeffrey Smith, Pontiac , 300 Bowl, Pontiac Community Mixed

 

 

 

800 Series

Date, Name (Score), Hometown, Center, League

Jan. 25, John Moore (823), Orchard Lake , 300 Bowl, Thursday 3 Man Major

Jan. 27, Carleton Chambers (814), Detroit , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles Classic Tournament

Jan. 28, Jeffrey Austreng (803), Clarkston, Thunderbowl Lanes, MDUSBC Masters

Jan. 29, Robert Chamberlain Jr. (804), Holly, Century Bowl, Monday Classic

 

 

 

Mark Martin writes a weekly bowling column on Fridays for The Daily Oakland Press and is the association manager of the Metro Detroit USBC Association. He can be reached at (248) 443-2695, faxed at (248) 443-2690 or e-mailed at mark.martin@mdusbc.com.