LaDonna Stone, President of the Merced/Atwater Women's 500 Club welcomed 64 women bowlers to the 40th annual Budweiser Invitational no-tap singles tournament held at Bellevue Bowl last Sunday afternoon, the largest Invitational ever.
Stone and club secretary Kristin Weimer spent weeks setting up the tournament; it was a huge success. Bowlers Sacramento, San Jose, Pollock Pines, Lancaster, Rosemead, Hanford, and Oakhurst joined local bowlers in attendance.
Driving over four hours to get to Atwater was worth the drive for Elaine Suber of Lancaster, who took the A division title and will receive a check for $154.
In the B, it was Atwater's Rikki Cascia for $168, and in the C it was a newcomer to the club who joined on Sunday -- Merced's Ellen Lyon, earning a check for $154.
Budweiser was the title sponsor with $100 for the winners in each division, plus division championships plaques and has agreed to sponsor the 41st Invitational in 2013.
Modesto Peach
Checks were received recently for local associations members from the 63rd Peach Singles Classic held at McHenry Bowl in Modesto. Taking the lead was Sylvia Giordano of Atwater, who finished with a check for $150, as she also placed in the 10-game series total for $25. Bob Weimer, another Atwater resident received $100 for coming in the top 100. Merced's Larry Valenti Sr. picked up a check for $100 for finishing in 99th.
Summer Jubilee
In the finals held at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, we had a Bellevue Bowl team tying for first place. In the unofficial result, team WYWW with team members Melissa Eldridge, Nicole Wagner, Kevin Wagner and Scott Eldridge will split the $2,000 first-place prize.
In third place was a team from Castle Lanes, with members Joe McBride, Tom McBride, Ryan Sziraki, and Jason Cassell. Coming in seventh place in the alibi doubles was the team of Joe McBride and Sziraki for $150.
Strokers
Scores have been hot and heavy at Bellevue: Richard Pazin (243-656), Courtney Dahlin (255-689), John Eversole (243-703), Roger Ross (255-712), Rae Coonce (256-688), Mark E. Thompson (285-801), Larry Valenti Jr. (237-693), Steve Mead (252-677), Kevin Heil (249-691), Dennis Gray (266-732), Adam Andrino (248-718), Jim Mullings (297-701), Barry Kutz (257-729), Mike Coe (277-736, 280-719), Matt Walker (265-675), Marty Daniel (237-686). Justin Riley rolled his first career 700 with a 257 game and a 734 set.
Up and Coming
Some great games have been coming up by bowlers with medium averages in league play: Floyd Buttke (221-128), John Mayer (219-166), Trisha Folker (167-113), Rene Danel (179-130), Brian Reed (209-114), Dave Harcksen (221-164), Lynn Banut (166-110), Curtis Hurne (212-163), and Floyd Friesen (222-140).
Modesto 500 Club
Results in from the Modesto Women's 500 Club regular bowling singles tournament held at McHenry Bowl had Carol Almeida with a fourth-place finish worth $75 in the A division, Kim Heller took seventh for $40. In the B, it as Mary Hamilton in the second for $90 and J.J. Jensen in fourth for $70. A total of 16 local 500 club members made the trip to Modesto.
Black Oak Lanes
The monthly senior no-tap singles will be held this Friday starting at 1 p.m. at Black Oak Lanes. Entry fee is $15, which includes your high-game pot for men and women. Winners are paid after every game. During the afternoon, the lanes furnish cookies, coffee, and popcorn to the seniors. It fills up fast; you need to contact Sandy Taylor at (209) 928-9437 to reserve a spot.
Unsettling News
As some of you might have heard, Leonore Rose, owner of Castle Lanes, is in a hospital in the Bay Area after suffering a stroke and undergoing surgery for an aneurysm. Castle Lanes has been closed and will remain closed until Rose recovers from her medical problems. The BVL schedule for Castle has been moved to Bellevue Bowl on Nov. 11, with the start time undetermined.
Don Surdich can be reached at (209) 777-1111 or via e-mail at desurdich@aol.com.
Scoring Leaders
Rick Zimmerman 236, Annette Macklin 222, Judy Layton 155, Julia Adame 191, Mary Hamilton 200, Jason Court 237, Mark Mittelsteadt 256, Mickey Young 190, Garland Moore 220, Jenny Avellar 219, Julie Egleston 233, Floy Yagi 164, LaDonna Stone 253, Don Layton 243, Bryan Rivas 254, Larry Valenti Sr. 247, Neill Barcellos 246.
Series Leaders
Julie Flowers 582, Julie Egleston 623, Jenny Avellar 625, LaDonna Stone 636, Larry Valenti Sr. 639, Caren Thompson 639, Jim Mullings 664, Kevin Wagner 673, Russell Thompson 688, Bryan Rivas 702.
