February 23, 2007

By: Mark Martin

MDUSBC SENIOR MASTERS

Lee Snow of Wixom won his first MDUSBC Senior Masters title remaining in the winner’s bracket and beating George (Mike) Lee of Dearborn Heights 471-431 to win the top prize of $2,000 at Airway Lanes in Waterford Township . Lee settled for the second place prize of $1,500.

Snow qualified 10^th in the field of 158 with an eight-game total of 1,858. He remained undefeated with triumphs over Larry Best of Brownstown Township 494-374, Dwight Geary of New Haven 467-393, Lee the first time 458-443, Jerry Owczarski of South Lyon 515-496 and Mitchell Jabczenski Sr. of Novi 474-451 to reach the final match.

“I thought I’d never get a chance to compete at this level again due to the health issues I’ve gone through the last two years.” said Snow. “This is the most rewarding win I’ve ever had”.

Snow’s previous best finish in the Senior Masters was fourth in 2003.

Snow, a diabetic and a member of the Detroit Bowling Hall of Fame, suffers from Charot foot, which caused his left foot to collapse and lose all of its structure. He couldn’t walk unassisted for the past year until a month ago. At that time he began practicing a half game a day at Mayflower Lanes in Redford , eventually increasing it to five games a day with his goal being to compete and make the cut in the Senior Masters. He not only made the cut, but also won the tournament.

Lee qualified second with 1,906. In match play he beat Terry Hockstad of Utica 450-403, Joseph Buffa of Macomb 494-450 before falling to Snow the first time 458-443. Once in the loser’s bracket Lee defeated George Lane of Chesterfield 502-454, Leo Scantamburlo of Riverview 449-418, Michael Chapman of Ypsilanti 513-482, Sam Girgenti of St. Clair Shores 436-410 and Jabczenski 447-439 en route to the championship match. He averaged 233.5 for 26 games of competition.

Jabczenski was third for $1,000, while Girgenti was fourth for $750.

Jabczenski qualified eighth with 1,875 and averaged 238.8 for the event. He remained in the winner’s bracket by defeating John Campbell of Macomb 433-356, Steven Hubble of Westland 527-393

Girgenti qualified 11^th with 1,858. He lost his first match to Edward Dudek of Livonia 405-391. Once in the loser’s bracket he beat Ronald Forton of Macomb 457-384, Michael Lucente of Warren 462-449, Terry Hockstad of Utica 503-476, James Lauricella of Sterling Heights 429-422, Joseph Buffa of Macomb 451-426, Jerry Owczarski of South Lyon 449-418 before being knocked out of the tournament by Lee 436-410. He averaged 225.4 for the entire tournament.

John Bennett of Clarkston was the top qualifier with 1,990 and finished 25^th averaging 231.92 and earning $200 plus an additional $50.

There was one 300 game in qualifying by Lee Snow and one in match play by Steven Hubble.

Other Oakland County cashers were Jerry Owczarski of South Lyon ($500), Ed Austreng of Waterford Township ($225), Marvin Kipp of Oxford ($200), Oliver Mabry of West Bloomfield ($80), Paul Jensen of Birmingham ($70), Joseph Cichewicz of Waterford Township ($70), Steven Kazimierczuk ($70), Dave Eatmon of Ferndale ($70), Dennis Foster of Waterford Township ($70), Ken Hochstein of Commerce Township ($70), Ken Voodre of Troy ($70), Dane Bertram of Oxford ($70), Ted Starr of Waterford Township ($50), Thomas Dudka of Troy ($50), Mark Hatchigian of Novi ($50) and Jeff Suma of Auburn Hills ($50).

Fredrick Jasmer of Canton won the Plaza Lanes Super Senior competition for non-qualifiers 60 years of age and over. He defeated Ronald Byrd Sr. of Clinton Township 216-215 for the title. He won $150 for his efforts and Byrd walked away with a check for $125.

Sponsors of the MDUSBC Senior Masters are Turbo 2-N-1 Grips, Red Robin Restaurants of Michigan , Ansara's Big Boy Restaurants, Plaza Lanes and Eastown Printing.

The MDUSBC Senior Masters Tournament is an USBC 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.

------

HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

Feb. 5, Gregory Gumtow Jr., South Lyon, Cherry Hill Lanes, Monday Nite Men’s

Feb. 8, Michael Predhomme, Birmingham , Detroit Athletic Club, Friday 7:00

Feb. 8, James Withrow, Madison Hts., Hazel Park Bowl, HSC Invitational

Feb. 11, Harry Coakley, Lathrup Village , Royal Lanes, Wayne County DSS

Feb. 11, Kevin Scott, Ferndale , Royal Lanes, Wayne County DSS

Feb. 14, Don Wood, Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Pontiac Motor Inter Office

Feb. 14, Richard Kidwell, Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Pontiac Motor Inter Office

Feb. 14, Quincy Gaston, Eastpointe, Fiero Lanes, Bud’s Pro Shop Men’s Major

Feb. 15, Nicole Idziak-Owsley, Washington, Bowl One Lanes, S&B Ladies Classic

Feb. 15, Paul Ooink, North Branch, Century Bowl, Thursday Men’s House

Feb. 15, Jeremy Thomas, Detroit , Hazel Park Bowl, HSC Invitational

Feb. 15, John Sikorski, Ferndale , Universal Lanes, Thursday Community

Feb. 16, Dominic Emmi, Macomb, Luxury Lanes, Ferndale Elks #1588 Men’s Invitational

Feb. 17, Steven Hubble, Westland , Airway Lanes, MDUSBC Senior Masters

Feb. 18, Lenard Jackson, Oak Park , Bronco Lanes, Las Vegas Bound

Feb. 18, Gene Cooper, Oak Park , Royal Lanes, The Mixed Bowling League

Feb. 18, Paul Szumny, Commerce Twp., Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles Classic Tournament

Feb. 19, Craig Poremba, Westland , Country Lanes, Monday Nite Men’s

Feb. 19, Sam Caracausi, Royal Oak , Universal Lanes, Monday Night Men’s

Feb. 19, Robert Reeves, Sterling Hts., Bowl One Lanes, St. Malachy Men’s

Feb. 19, Ronald Mijal, Novi , Plaza Lanes, Plaza Men

Feb. 19, Samuel Loiacano, Commerce Twp., Plaza Lanes, Plaza Men

Feb. 29, Dustin Cress, Sterling Hts., Fairlanes, Pioneer Men’s

800 Series

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

Feb. 5, Gregory Gumtow Jr. (823), South Lyon, Cherry Hill Lanes, Monday Nite Men’s

Feb. 11, Gregory Brown (806), Southfield , Royal Lanes, Royal Lanes Classic

Feb. 15, Robert Schulz (808), Lake Orion , Harbor Lanes, Detroit Traveling All-Stars

Feb. 15, Jeremy Thomas (869), Detroit , Hazel Park Bowl, HSC Invitational

Feb. 16, Dominic Emmi (817), Macomb, Luxury Lanes, Ferndale Elks #1588 Men’s Invitational

Feb. 18, James Bandy (836), Redford , Fairlanes, BTI Sunday Mixed

Feb. 19, Craig Poremba (812), Country Lanes, Monday Nite Men’s

Feb. 19, Samuel Loiacano (838), Commerce Twp., Plaza Lanes, Plaza Men

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.