August 7, 2009

 

By: Mark Martin

 

GAVIE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

 

Now that the calendar has turned to August and the start of the bowling season is upon us, the 73rd Annual John P. Gavie Tournament will officially kick off the bowling season on Monday, Aug. 17 at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park .

 

This annual event has all of the hoopla to properly open the season in the bowling capital of the world. This year the honorees are Thunderbowl Lanes in the Open Division, Diane Voight in the Women’s Division and Hall of Famer Dave Soutar in the Senior Division.

 

Also known as the “Gavie Sweeps”, many local celebrities, local Hall of Famers, PBA professionals, Detroit All-Stars, industry manufacturers and bowlers get together to celebrate another successful season as has been done since 1937.

 

With the World Series of Bowling going on at the same time at Thunderbowl Lanes, the Professional Bowlers Association made sure that this long standing tradition would continue.

 

The Senior Division will bowl at 3 p.m. with the Open and Women’s Division competing at 7 p.m. Last year there were 18 teams in the Senior, 71 in the Open and 19 in the Women’s Division. There is a maximum of 90 teams available with the Open and Women’s Division.

 

There are still some openings. The entry fee is $100 per five-person team.

 

The 4th Annual Frank Gavie Youth Scholarship Tournament will be contested on Saturday, Aug. 15 with squads at 9 a.m. and 12 noon. The bowlers will be competing for over $1,500 in scholarships.

 

The 9 a.m. squad will be the handicap division followed by the scratch division at 12 noon. The cost for the handicap division is $25 with the scratch division set at $45. A $5 discount applies for entries submitted before Aug. 8.

 

As an added bonus to the youth bowlers participating will receive a free pass to the PBA World Series of Bowling, a $30 value.

 

Contact Thunderbowl Lanes at (313) 928-4688 for more information on both of the events.

 

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HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

July 24, Robert Holding, Detroit , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles

July 28, Joseph O’Connell, South Lyon, Woodland Lanes, Woodland Invitational Summer

July 29, Timothy Baker, Shelby Twp., 300 Bowl, 300 Wednesday Trio Shootout

 

 

800 Series

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

 

 

 

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.