January 15, 2010

 

By: Mark Martin

 

YEAR IN REVIEW

 

July – Dave Tulak of Taylor won his first National Senior Bowling Association title at Superbowl Lanes in Canton .

 

August – The bowling world had its eyes set on Detroit as the PBA World Series of Bowling captured the imagination of local bowling fans at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park . The 73rd Annual John P. Gavie Tournament, celebrating the opening of the bowling season in Detroit , was held at Thunderbowl Lanes. Larry Walker of Garden City won the National Senior Bowling Association event at Colonial Lanes in Ann Arbor . Pete Brown of Holt won the Budweiser Michigan Majors at Galaxy Lanes in Grand Blanc.

 

September – Janet “Sam” Greaves of Waterford Township lost her battle with abdominal cancer. A well known local bowler who coached the Waterford Mott bowling team will be missed by all who knew her. The PBA World Series of Bowling concluded with seven taped finals to be aired in October and November on ESPN. The Detroit Bowling Hall of Fame elected seven new members. They were Betty Trimper of Redford, Jerome Penxa Jr. of Romeo, David Tulak of Taylor, Edwin Austreng of Waterford Township, Harley Trumbull Jr. of New Boston, Joe Guotana of New Boston and Janet Willson of Clarkston. Craig Nidiffer of Trenton won his first Budweiser Michigan Majors title at Royal Scot Lanes in Lansing . Dave Tulak continued his tear in the National Senior Bowling Association with another victory at Oak Lanes in Westland .

 

October – John Nolen of Waterford Township notched another impressive victory when he won the 35th Annual Hong Kong International Open Masters title in Hong Kong , China . Joe Krajenke of Clinton Township won his first National Senior Bowling Association crown at Sterling Lanes in Sterling Heights . Terry Haines of Dearborn Heights won his first Budweiser Michigan Majors title at Bay Lanes in Bay City . Trevor Smith of Howell and Brianne Schmansky of Westland won their respective divisions of the MDUSBC Junior Masters at Country Lanes in Farmington Hills .

 

November – Leonard Cianciolo of Warren won the MDUSBC Super Senior Masters title at Universal Lanes in Warren with a final match victory over Edward Flowers of West Bloomfield. John Bennett of Clarkston finished third. Ray Eddy of Saginaw won the Budweiser Michigan Majors Championship at Cherry Hill Lanes in Dearborn Heights . Joe Buffa of Macomb Township prevailed in the National Senior Bowling Association event at Taylor Lanes in Taylor . Bruce Worden of White shot his second career 300 game less than three weeks after suffering a heart attack.

 

December – Michelle Ewald of Clinton Township won her second MDUSBC Queens title at Sunnybrook Lanes in Sterling Heights . Troy Stus of South Lyon won a record third Budweiser Michigan Majors Tournament of Championship title at Taylor Lanes in Taylor . Stus, who last bowled in MMBA competition in 2000, beat four opponents en route to the victory. Steve Sears of Michigan City won the National Senior Bowling Association Holiday Tournament at Plaza Lanes in Plymouth . Tom Smallwood of Saginaw , a laid off General Motors employee, won the PBA World Championship.

 

Emmanuel Madden of Pontiac recorded nine 300 games in the calendar year of 2008 to pace Oakland County bowlers. Second high number of 300 games by county residents was eight by Michael Atkins of Pontiac . Christopher Nielson of Livonia and Jeremy Thomas of Detroit were the top area bowlers with 10 each.

 

Allen Bordui Jr. of Hazel Park shot the most 800 series with seven to lead Oakland County keglers, tied for the area lead with Duane Henderson of Detroit and Jeremy Thomas of Detroit. Second most among county residents with four were Jeffrey Austreng of Waterford Township and Andrew Bennett of Royal Oak .

 

Michael McCarrick of Hazel Park recorded the top series in Oakland County in 2009 with 876 in the Wednesday Night Strikers at Fairlanes Bowl in Madison Heights .

 

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So what were the top bowling stories of the previous decade from 2000 through 2009? Send me an e-mail to mark.martin@mdusbc.com with your choices.

 

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HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

Jan. 6, Matthew Coleman, Auburn Hills, 300 Bowl, Pontiac Motor Inter Office

Jan. 6, Joseph Ahlgrim, Warren, Bowl One Lanes, Ford General Classic

Jan. 6, Nicole Aleo, Sterling Hts., Bowl One Lanes, Ford General Classic

Jan. 6, Jeffrey Gerlando, Chesterfield , Bowl One Lanes, Ford General Classic

Jan. 6, LeAndre Thomas, Southfield , Royal Lanes, Post Office Nite

Jan. 6, Brian McMillion, Rochester Hills, Shelby Lanes, 2604 League

Jan. 7, Matthew Coleman, Auburn Hills, Century Bowl, Thursday Men’s House

Jan. 7, John King, Detroit , Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed League

Jan. 7, John Sawyers, Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Thursday 3 Man Major

Jan. 7, Glenn Pilon, Farmington Hills , Fraser Star Lanes, Detroit Traveling All Stars

Jan. 8, Timothy Carmichael, Detroit , Plum Hollow Lanes, Friday Nite Out

Jan. 11, Gerald Chase, Shelby Twp., Luxury Lanes, Detroit Rotary Bowling

Jan. 11, Charles Turner Jr., Farmington Hills , Cloverlanes, TCAC

Jan. 11, Jeffrey Moore, Waterford Twp., Cherry Hill Lanes North, Dixie All Stars

 

 

800 Series

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

Jan. 5, Joshua Jablonski (807), Sterling Hts., Hazel Park Bowl, Tuesday Classic Trio

Jan. 5, Bobby Fowlkes (800), Flint , 300 Bowl, Tuesday Invitational Shootout

Jan. 6, LeAndre Thomas (800), Southfield , Royal Lanes, Post Office Nite

Jan. 11, David Karaska (824), Detroit , Bowl One Lanes, Gus Ponder’s Senior Classic

Jan. 11, Lawrence Cooper (814), Clarkston, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Dixie All Stars

Jan. 12, Rick Wood (805), Clarkston, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Merchants

 

 

Mark Martin writes a weekly bowling column for The 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.