January 4, 2008

 

By: Mark Martin

 

YEAR IN REVIEW

 

The second half of 2007 had many highlights also.

 

July – The Professional Bowlers Association announced that they would once again visit Taylor Lanes in Taylor as part of their 2007-08 schedule beginning on Oct. 31 with the ESPN telecast on Nov. 4. A new Pins Over Average (POA) Challenge was announced to begin in fall 2007 at participating bowling centers in USBC certified leagues.

 

August – National Bowling Week returned on the heels of news that over 66 million people bowled at least once in 2006. Many local and national festivities took place. The Gavie Memorial Tournament had a record 112 teams participate at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park as the annual kickoff to bowling in Detroit . The Earl Roberts Associates team consisting of Bill Haynes of Rochester Hills, Phil Horowitz of West Bloomfield, Enrico Odorico of Macomb , Joe Fitzsimmons of Waterford Township and Ed Austreng of Waterford Township captured the Senior division. In a companion youth scholarship tournament Brianna Stieler of Waterford Township won the girl’s division with a handicap three-game total of 819.

 

September – The Detroit Bowling Hall of Fame announced the 2007 class which included local bowlers Carol Davis of Lake Orion and Alvin Harrison of Southfield . Women’s bowling returned to national television with the U.S. Women’s Open leading up to a women’s mini tour in conjunction with four PBA stops. Patrick Renner, a 12-year-old from Novi , won the youth age 12 & under division of the 2007 National Bowling Essay Contest held in conjunction with National Bowling Week. The United States Bowling Congress held a summit of local and state leaders in Milwaukee to discuss items of common interest.

 

October – Brian Voss and Norm Duke, famed PBA players, put on two clinics. Chicks for Charities held a successful fundraiser at Novi Bowl in Novi, raising $10,000 for St. Joseph Breast Cancer Center in Ann Arbor . Justin Crosby of Holly captured his first Budweiser Michigan Majors title in grand style when he shot a perfect 300 game in the championship match. Jim Burton of Novi won the National Senior Bowling Association tournament at Sterling Lanes in Sterling Heights .

 

November – John Ross Jr. of Vassar, who bowls at 300 Bowl in Waterford Township , won the inaugural MDUSBC Super Senior Masters at Beech Lanes in Redford . Several local keglers fared well including John Bennett of Clarkston, Tom Spada of Troy, Ed Austreng of Waterford Township, Philip Horowitz of West Bloomfield, Archie Denard of Southfield, Larry Martinez of Waterford Township, Joe Fitzsimmons of Waterford Township and Bob Garrett of Waterford Township.

 

December – Stacey Sykes of Southfield was runner-up in the MDUSBC Queens at Beech Lanes in Redford . Others who did well were Kate Featherstone of White Lake , LaVern George of Waterford Township and Kim Cox of Southfield . Lori Cichewicz of Commerce Township won the 500 Club tournament at Bowl One Lanes in Troy . Trey Edwards of Oak Park was on the second place team in the MDUSBC Cruchon Memorial Tournament at Sterling Lanes in Sterling Heights . The event raised over $9,200 for charity. Jim Burton of Novi finished second in the National Senior Bowling Association event at Astro Lanes in Madison Heights .

 

 

Jeremy Thomas of Detroit recorded fourteen 300 games in the calendar year of 2007. Nine of them were bowled at Hazel Park Bowl in Hazel Park . The top Oakland County 300 shooter was Jeff Grego of Waterford Township with eight.

 

Thomas also shot the most 800 series with eight during 2007 including the top two series of 868 and 865. Allen Bordui Jr. of Hazel Park had the top series among county residents with 856.

 

Grego and Jeff Austreng of Waterford Township each had five 800 series to lead county keglers. Grego’s high was 825 and Austreng 845.

 

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BOWLING ON TV THIS WEEKEND

 

The ConstructionJobs.com Championship from Reno , Nev. will be telecast on ESPN Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

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HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

Dec. 20, Sarah Jablonski, Sterling Hts., Bowl One Lanes, S & B Ladies Classic

Dec. 21, Keith Wright, Pontiac, Fiero Lanes, Friday Nite High Liters

Dec. 21, Steven Tank, Roseville , Fairlanes, St. Cletus Men’s

Dec. 22, Will Ledbetter, Oxford , Lakewood Lanes, Saturday Night Mixed

Dec. 27, Steven Kazimierczuk, Waterford Twp., Classic Lanes, Thursday Night Men

Dec. 27, Lloyd Lewis, Waterford Twp., Airway Lanes, Thursday Men

Dec. 27, Greg Gumtow, Clarkston, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Men’s

Dec. 27, Derek Robinson, Holly, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Men’s

Dec. 28, John English, Royal Oak , Bowl One Lanes, Dunord Mixed

Dec. 28, Jeremy Thomas, Detroit , Hazel Park Bowl, Pepsi Classic

Dec. 29, Robert Rush, Clarkston, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Howe’s Hillbillies

Dec. 30, Michael Moran, Royal Oak , Drakeshire Lanes, Spare Time

Dec. 30, Timothy Pribble, Linden , Drakeshire Lanes, Spare Time

 

 

800 Series

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

Nov. 15, Leonard Kersten (817), Clarkston, Century Bowl, Thursday Men’s House

Dec. 20, Edward Holsey (828), Ferndale , Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed League

Dec. 21, Ryan Briguglio (803), Clinton Twp., Bowl One Lanes, Bowl One Classic

Dec. 28, Jeremy Thomas (865), Hazel Park Bowl, Pepsi Classic

Dec. 29, Matthew Hartl (814), Waterford Twp., Airway Lanes, Friends of Marty

 

 

 

Mark Martin writes a weekly bowling column 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.