October 26, 2007

 

By: Mark Martin

 

BUDWEISER MICHIGAN MAJORS

 

Justin Crosby of Holly not only bowled in his first Budweiser Michigan Majors Bowling Association event, but took home the title in a very impressive way at Candlelite Bowl in Bridgeport .

 

Crosby defeated Ken Wyatt of Sterling Heights 300-279 in the highest scoring championship match in the 40-year history of the MMBA. Crosby took home the top prize of $1,000, while Wyatt settled for $600.

 

Crosby qualified second for the stepladder finals with a nine game total of 2,228 and proceeded to beat Chris Simonson of Howell 234-201 en route to the final match.

 

Top seeded Wyatt left only a 10-pin in the fourth frame and could never catch up.

 

Simonson opened up the stepladder finals with a narrow 247-246 victory over Jason Howard of Burton and then beat Tim Rice of Pinckney 49-39 after a 202-202 tie.

 

Rice was the high qualifier with a six-game total of 1,490. Nunzio Marino of Livonia recorded the only other 300 game in the tournament.

 

Simonson took home $500, Rice $400 and Howard $300.

 

The only other Oakland County casher was Bob Chamberlain Jr. of Holly, who took home $120.

 

The next MMBA event will be the 40th Championship tournament on Nov. 17 at Cherry Hill Lanes in Dearborn Heights . Unfortunately Crosby will be unable to participate because he hasn’t bowled in enough tournaments throughout the year to qualify.

 

For more information on the MMBA contact Ken Charrette at (586) 775-2414.

 

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MOTOR CITY CLASSIC

 

The Professional Bowler’s Association (PBA) invades the Metro Detroit market this next week with the Motor City Classic at Taylor Lanes in Taylor .

 

This is a great opportunity to see and bowl with the greatest bowlers in the world in their only visit this season to our area.

 

Competition is Thursday and Friday, Nov. 1-2 to determine the top finalists for the nationally televised finals on Sunday, Nov. 4.

 

The Motor City Classic also kicks off the Women’s Series, which is a mini series including 16 of the top women bowlers. Qualifying for the Women’s Series was held in August in conjunction with the U.S. Women’s Open in Reno to identify the exempt field. The final match will kick off the Sunday finals.

 

Pro-Ams will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m. and all day Saturday, Nov. 3. Junior pro-am packages begin at $49 and adult packages start at $79.

 

Interestingly the Brunswick Pro Bowling Challenge will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. at Taylor Lanes which will feature the recently released “Brunswick Pro Bowling” by Crave Entertainment on the Nintendo Wii Entertainment System.

 

Some of the top Brunswick professional bowling staff will test their video game skills against “gamers” during the evening of competition for prizes.

 

For more information on tickets, pro-ams or the Brunswick Pro Bowling Challenge contact Taylor Lanes at (734) 946-9092.

 

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MARINE BOWLER

 

Jeff Williams, 18, of Pontiac enlisted in the Marines this past summer. He couldn’t wait for basic training end, but for a very different reason.

 

Upon arriving home from Paris Island on leave he couldn’t wait to hit the lanes. In fact the first thing he did upon arriving home was grab his bowling ball and head to Airway Lanes in Waterford Township .

 

He arrived at Airway Lanes, in his Marines uniform, bowling equipment in hand to enjoy the sport that he had come to love over the past several years.

 

Each day he was home on leave he went back to the lanes to practice. During one of his practice sessions he shot a near perfect 299 game.

 

Now on his way to Iraq to serve his country, he will take fond memories of his bowling experiences and long to come home for more.

 

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HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

Oct. 12, Michael Busch, Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Friday Nite Guys & Dolls

Oct. 16, Thomas Cynowa III, Pontiac , Bowl One Lanes, GM Men’s #1

Oct. 17, Christopher Czanstke, St. Clair Shores , Bowl One Lanes, Ford General Classic

Oct. 18, Steve Boyce, Detroit , Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed League

Oct. 18, Michael Schaefer, Pleasant Ridge, Fairlanes, CAM Evening

Oct. 19, Raymond Halliburton, Southfield , Renaissance Family Bowling Center , Parker Mixed

Oct. 19, Kyle Fulkerson, Royal Oak , Regal Lanes, Father Kramer K of C

Oct. 19, Jonathan Kennedy, Warren , Bowl One Lanes, Bowl One Classic

Oct. 20, Michael Moore, Pontiac, Fiero Lanes, Thunder Rollers

Oct. 20, Benjamin Rohde, Wixom, Wonderland Lanes, High-Lows

Oct. 20, Jeremy Thomas, Detroit , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Quad Team Tournament

Oct. 21, Jason Neiman, Warren , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Quad Team Tournament

Oct. 23, Bernie Carroll, Southfield , Cherry Hill Lanes, Kings & Queens

Oct. 23, Dolf Brouwer, Waterford Twp., Airway Lanes, F Troop

 

 

800 Series

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

Oct. 13, Nunzio Marino (806), Livonia , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Quad Team Tournament

Oct. 21, Jason Neiman (826), Warren , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Quad Team Tournament

Oct. 23, Ted Wright (800), Rochester Hills, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Merchants

 

 

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.