January 5, 2007

 

By: Mark Martin

 

HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING

 

While the high school bowling season began in earnest in early December, the Waterford Mott high school team competed in the Bay Regional Medical Center Holiday Invitational recently with very good results.

 

The varsity girls team qualified second in the field. Leading the way was freshman Kayla Land with a three-game series of 719 on games of 193-279-247. Bowling in her first varsity competition she was the top varsity girl in the competition and was named to the all-tournament team. Also being named to the all-tournament team was junior Kristy Kaer, who shot 640.

 

Once in match play the team lost their first two-of-three match knocking them out of the competition.

 

The boys team qualified 10th and won one match before being eliminated.

 

The boys team was led by Kyle Nall with 644, which included a 257 game. He placed 13th in the individual competition.

 

------

 

HE WILL BE MISSED

 

The local bowling community lost a very good friend this past week when George (Ed) Atkinson of Waterford Township passed away.

 

Atkinson was a huge supporter of bowling, becoming more involved after his retirement from General Motors in the early 1970’s, by opening CB Pro Shop. Initially he drilled bowling balls in the basement of his home, later moving his operations to more traditional places. The CB stood for Carol and Brenda, two of his daughters, but also stood for Classic Bowling.

 

He could be seen at bowling centers around the area watching his son-in-law Ed Reed bowl and his grandson Chris Reed and many other favorites that he adopted.

 

His retirement years were totally dedicated to bowling, not from a money-making sense, but from a pure enjoyment of the game as a competitor, coach and spectator.

 

Ed drilled many bowling balls that I competed with over the years including the Columbia Yellow Dot that I shot my one and only 300 with in 1981.

 

God rest his gentle soul.

 

------

 

SECOND HALF 2006 REVIEW

 

July – Many local bowlers placed well in the USBC Open and USBC Women’s Championships. Included were Frederick Green of Waterford Township, Darren Dupuy of Clarkston, Jerry Owczarski of South Lyon, Jeff Shears of Clarkston, Mike Busch of Waterford Township, Harold Hughes of Clarkston, Alan Pittman of Clarkston, Linda Prill of Troy, Celeste Forsythe of Royal Oak, Kathy McDonald of Commerce Township, Monica Oliver of Farmington Hills, Judith McGee of Highland, Barbara Whiting of Southfield, Terry Church of Rochester Hills, Patty Kaczkowski of Rochester Hills, Barb Buchanan of Troy, Kimberly DeYounker of Rochester Hills, Juanita Dantzler of Troy and Leslie Dolinski of Rochester Hills. Jerry Owczarski of South Lyon finished fifth in the USBC Senior Masters in Reno .

 

August – The season began with the annual John P. Gavie Memorial Tournament at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park . The traditional kick off to the season in the Bowling Capital of the World.

 

September –  Dave Eatmon of Ferndale won the National Senior Bowling Association tournament at Pampa Lanes in Warren . The United States Bowling Congress released the membership numbers from the 2005-06 season with the Metro Detroit USBC Association and the state of Michigan leading the nation with 90,784 and 245,210 members respectively. As a comparison Chicagoland USBC is a distant second with 38,599 members.

 

October – Doug Spicer of Novi was elected into the Budweiser Michigan Majors Hall of Fame to be inducted in November.

 

November – Jmay Jacobs of Ortonville won the Pontiac 600 Club tournament at Fiero Lanes in Auburn Hills. Annita Abner of Waterford Township recorded the top actual game with 247. Ameen Solomon of Bloomfield Hills placed third in his age group in the Old Timers tournament. The I 2 Live Bowl team including Nick Dallas of Keego Harbor, Pat Brown of Canton, James Campau of Orion and Laura Campau of Orion were presented their second place in the nation in the three-man, one-women team series category. The Bowlers Choice / Buds Pro Shop team finished second in the nation for the highest four-person team game, while setting a new local and state records with 1,112. Members were Waterford Township residents Travis Franz, Matthew Owen, Richard Dolph and John Nolen. Dallas was also presented his award for the top individual series in the association with 877.

 

December - Michelle Ewald of Clinton Township won the MDUSBC Queens at Luxury Lanes in Ferndale defeating Carol Davis of Lake Orion . Zenola Seay of Pontiac won the Pontiac 500 Club tournament at Century Bowl in Waterford Township .

 

 

------

 

HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

Dec. 18, Herbert Schott, Grosse Pointe, Bowl One Lanes, Gus Ponder’s Senior Classic

Dec. 21, Jeffrey Kendall, Clawson , Clawson Troy Elks, Thursday Night Men’s

Dec. 28, Michael Bannasch, Shelby Twp., Classic Lanes, Classic Thursday Night Men

Dec. 28, John Lentz, Auburn Hills, 300 Bowl, Elks 810 Thursday Night Men’s

Dec. 29, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Wayne , Hazel Park Bowl, Friday HPC Pepsi Classic

Dec. 29, Richard Ballard Jr., Warren, Luxury Lanes, Ferndale Elks 1588 Men’s Invitational

Dec. 30, Chris Sand, Chesterfield , Hazel Park Bowl, Sunday Scratch Sweeper

Dec. 30, Justin Parker, Ferndale , Hartfield Lanes, Saturday Nite Mixed

Dec. 30, Jason Kudla, Warren , Bowl One Lanes, Bags ‘N Balls

 

 

800 Series

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

Dec. 28, Scott Rose (802), Waterford Twp., Troy Lanes, Metro North Highway

Dec. 28, John Lentz (806), Auburn Hills, 300 Bowl, Elks 810 Thursday Night Men’s

Dec. 29, Richard Ballard Jr. (837), Warren, Luxury Lanes, Ferndale Elks 1588 Men’s Invitational

Dec. 30, Chris Sand (876), Chesterfield , Hazel Park Bowl, Sunday Scratch Sweeper

 

 

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.