January 26, 2007

 

By: Mark Martin

 

MDUSBC MASTERS

 

The Metro Detroit USBC Association Masters tournament qualifying wrapped up at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park with Jay Lang of Sterling Heights leading the eight game qualifying round with 1,789.

 

Lang averaged 223.62 for the two days of qualifying rounds on the very demanding lane conditions. Four-game rounds of 947 and 842 propelled him to the lead. Lang had games of 256-213-233-245-212-223-193-214. His total produced an 87-pin lead over Edward Grace of Howell. Lang earns $125 for being high qualifier. Lang will face Terrance Cantrell of Sterling Heights in first round match play Saturday.

 

Grace had a Saturday block of 769 to go with 933 on Sunday to be seeded second. He faces Jerry Owczarski of South Lyon .

 

Defending champion David Ewald of Macomb will attempt to become only the fourth bowler to win back-to-back Masters titles. Mark Moore of Macomb won in 2003 & 2004, Dick Beattie of Dearborn won in 1980 & 1981 and Pat Iannucci of Warren won in 1975 & 1976. Ewald is seeded ninth by rule and will face Paul Szumny of Commerce Township in first round action.

 

Brian Thompson of Flat Rock made the most miraculous move in the final day of qualifying. After the first four-game block he stood in 100th place of the 160 players. Sunday games of 202-257-278-205 propelled him up the leader board.

 

The entire 160 player field averaged 181.2, with the top 32 finalists averaging 203.2 on lane conditions, which produced a high game of 289 by Gary Wodowski of Harrison Township and a top four-game block of 947 by Jay Lang. The event was run under the tight Sport Bowling specifications from the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).

 

Match play begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday at Thunderbowl Lanes in the double elimination three-game match play format. The final match is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

Oakland County bowlers appearing in the finals are Travis Raskey (qualified fifth) of South Lyon facing Nicky Hammons of Riverview; Eric Tulley (11th) of Southfield versus John Nolen (22nd) of Waterford Township; Jeffrey Austreng (15th)of Clarkston against Jerome Jaracz of Clinton Township; Paul Szumny (23rd) of Commerce Township versus Brian Thompson of Flat Rock; Jason Battishill (25th) of Clarkston against Charles Morris of Redford; and Jerry Owczarski (31st) of South Lyon facing Edward Grace of Howell.

 

Thunderbowl Lanes is located at 4200 Allen Rd. in Allen Park , telephone (313) 928-4688.

 

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

 

The MDUSBC 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.

 

 

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HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

Jan. 8. Mark Cleary, Bloomfield Hills, Detroit Athletic Club, Monday 6 p.m.

Jan. 10, Scott Weber, Novi , Plaza Lanes, Plaza Lanes Invitational

Jan. 11, Andrew Featherstone, White Lake , 300 Bowl, Thursday 3 Man Major

Jan. 14, Bill Decker, Warren , Century Bowl, Mid States Masters

Jan. 17, Joshua O’Berry, Ferndale , Collier Lanes, Oxford Wildcats

Jan. 17, John Fulco, Clarkston, 300 Bowl, Pontiac Motor Inter Office

Jan. 18, Keith Holmyard, White Lake , Century Bowl, Thursday Men’s House

Jan. 18, Jason Cory, Warren, Astro Lanes, Thursday Night Men’s

Jan. 18, Ron Thompson Jr., Waterford Twp., Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Men’s

Jan. 18, Patrick Clancy, Troy , Detroit Athletic Club, Thursday 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 19, Gary Skarritt, Lake Orion , Collier Lanes, North Oakland Mixed Doubles

Jan. 20, Richard Gregory, Detroit , Plum Hollow Lanes, Saturday Nite Elite Mixed

Jan. 20, Kevin Stewart, Detroit , Plum Hollow Lanes, Saturday Nite Elite Mixed

Jan. 20, Doug Ellison, Wayne , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles Classic

Jan. 21, John Peters, Roseville , Hazel Park Bowl, Sunday Scratch Sweeper

Jan. 22, John Nolen, Waterford Twp., Century Bowl, Monday Classic

Jan. 23, David Ewald, Macomb , Hazel Park Bowl, Tuesday Mixed Trio

Jan. 23, David Ewald, Macomb , Hazel Park Bowl, Tuesday Mixed Trio

 

 

 

800 Series

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

Jan. 8, Mark Cleary (833), Bloomfield Hills, Detroit Athletic Club, Monday 6 p.m.

Jan. 18, Keith Holmyard (823), White Lake , Century Bowl, Thursday Men’s House

Jan. 20, Doug Ellison (848), Wayne , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles 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.