Next on tap for the Merced/Atwater Women's 500 Club after a very successful Budweiser Invitational is the Holiday Doubles tournament. The tourney will be held on Dec. 9, at Bellevue Bowl starting at 1:30 p.m. The doubles will consist of a local 500 club member and a man or woman as a guest. This gives the guys a chance to show off. Your 2012 book average will be used. Entry fee is $22 per person. This tournament will be regulation bowling and will be handicap. In conjunction with the tournament, the club is having a canned food drive, so bring a non-perishable item or canned goods. This tournament is certified by USBC.

Praise and accolades

From the desk of Rosie Parker, California USBC Bowlers to Veterans Link co-chair: "Awesome. Congrats to Karen, the board and all the bowlers at Bellevue Bowl."

From Linda Johnson-Pilos, president of the California USBC: "Totally awesome, great job!!"

The praise was well-earned.

Local BVL chair Karen Tweed, the association board and the 44 bowlers who participated in the BVL tournament raised $1,772. Personally, I think Karen does an outstanding job. She went from league to league every night, selling raffle tickets for the special BVL Eagle ball.

Twilighters

I see that the Twilighters senior league from Castle Lanes is now rolling at Bellevue Bowl on Thursday afternoon. Glad to see it. They have brought over the Castle trademark, no last names on their standing sheet. Their league secretary should have all the last names of the members from filling out their USBC application. At Bellevue Bowl, the last names are traditional on the standing sheets.

New Years Eve

Celebrate the New Year in style at McHenry Bowl in Modesto as they are hosting their annual Senior New Year's in Paris celebration. It is a no-tap tournament for seniors and the cost is only $27 per senior. The party will be held on Dec. 31 with a buffet starting at 11:30 a.m. and the tournament kicks off at 12:30 p.m. Ring in the New Year in Paris (3 p.m. our time). Price includes a light buffet, party favors, prizes, colored money pin shots, and everyone receives an engraved champagne glass for your champagne or sparkling cider. Reservations must be received and paid for by Dec. 24; no walk-ins. Join the fun and be home early. If you are interested in joining the party, contact me at (209) 777-111 or (209) 383-2441 for a flyer.

League highlights

Strikes were flying recently in the Classic league at Bellevue Bowl as Dana Lee had a spare then strung out seven in a row for a super 268 and a 654 series, her career highs. ... at the other end of the bowl on 23 and 24 had Tony Shukle with a strike, spare, then off the sheet for a 280, ending with a 679 series. ... Ronnie "Doctor No" Gonzales with a 681. ... teammate Cam Clemens a 647. ... Bill Botwright a 667 in the Guys & Dolls. ... Sean McCulloch sandwiched a 265 between two 199s for a 663 in the Merchants.

Remember when

In 1972, the Elks Lecturing Knights team won the City Championships with a 3,220. ... Bobby Hermosillo rolled a 718 series. ... Bob Carodza had a perfect game. ... Nolan Mills had a 182 average. ... Walt Seidel rolled a 732. ... and Hubert Trinidate carried a 143 average.

Don Surdich can be reached at (209) 777-1111 or via e-mail at desurdich@aol.com.

Scoring Leaders

Julia Adame 195, Clint Williams 220, Mary Walker 200, Gayle Sagin 195, Concordio Banut 181, Lew Reese 246, Jim Souza 191, Dennis Borges 189, Jess Donohue 211, Lee Almeida 194, Kris Walker 243, Jim Hamilton 252, Rick Newton 223, Phillip Hayes 222, Brian Hickman 235, Bob Nush 224, Steve Mead 221, Mark Whitcomb 236, Eric Hickman 232, Mireille Smith 161 (111 average).

Series Leaders

Joann Summerton 518, Jim Rowton 563, Phillip Hayes 577, Tom Bass 587, Ed Huddleston 596, Jim Hamilton 596, Karen Thompson 599, Courtney Dahlin 611, Bruno Holte 613, Mark Heffner 622, Jim Docherty 641, Kevin Wagner 642, Mike Robins 702.