Surdich on Bowling: Merced Hall of Fame announces scholarship winners

The Merced County Bowling Hall of Fame has announced its annual scholarship winners, according to chairperson Sharon Roper.

The students will receive their awards at the annual Hall of Fame and scholarship dinner on April 11 at the Atwater Community Center.

The following students will be receiving $500 per semester for a total of $1,000:

▪ Buhach Colony senior Rose Beltran, who plans to major in psychology at Cal State Monterey Bay.

▪ Buhach Colony senior Jordan Campbell, who plans to study chemistry at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

▪ Fresno State junior Justin Fernandez, who majors in accounting.

The Merced/Atwater Women’s 500 Club has donated $1,000 to award a scholarship to Merced High School senior Lauren Coonce in the name of Hall of Famer and late association president Karen Tweed. Coonce attends Sierra College in Rocklin.

Dos Palos senior Casey Hamilton, who plans to major in biology at UCLA, will receive the Joyce Bigham Memorial Scholarship of $1,000.

Hall of Fame dinner

Prizes for the raffle and auction at the Hall of Fame dinner include:

▪ “Code of Honor” ball courtesy of Bob Gotchall, marketing coordinator for Ebonite International.

▪ Storm “Crux” ball from Chip Aki, USBC tournament director for the women’s championships in Reno.

▪ A ball of your choice from Leanne Barrett Hulsenberg, marketing coordinator for Storm Products, Inc.

▪ An autographed PBA bowling pin compliments of Janay Haggerty, PBA director of events and community relations.

▪ A couple of two-ball rollers, bowling pin lamps and many other prizes donated by local merchants.

Get your partner ready

Tournament director Julie Wescott said partners are preparing for the Merced/Atwater Women’s 500 Club Annual Friendship Doubles Tournament to be held April 12 at 1 p.m.

Teams require one 500 club member and a guest. Bowlers will use their 2013-2014 book average, or alternatively a current 21-game sheet or more from a league secretary. Entry is $22 per person and registration forms are at Bellevue Bowl.

Salazar scores at Black Oak

Atwater’s Manuel Salazar recently took first place in the 10th annual Black Oak Lanes Senior No-Tap tournament with a score of 870, good for $90. Lennie Anderson of Tuolumne finished second with an 860 for $80, and third went to Bill Bowcutt of Sonora with an 842 for $70.

On the women’s side, Sharon Evans of Pine Grove won with an 899 for $80, Evellyn Lohr of Sonora was second with an 859 for $70, and Fran Lockwood of Oakdale took third with an 830 for $60.

This tournament gets bigger every year.

League highlights

In the Commercial Classic, Bill Hickman shot his career-best series of 693 with a 267 game. Dave Garcez rolled his best-ever game of 295 with a 697 series. Sean McCulloch picked up the 3-6-4-7 split with a revved up back-up ball. Kenna Campbell rolled her highest game ever with a 172; she averages 107. Mike Robins is still on a roll with a 750 series in the Guys & Dolls. In the Tuesday senior league, Judy Layton had a big 544 series. It must be the water?

California Princess tournament

Cindy Lomeli, a member for our local women’s 500 club won Division C and then placed second in a roll-off for the Princess title in Fresno recently.

In the final match, Lomeli rolled a 199 and got edged by the Classic Division winner with a 200.

All five division winners rolled in the finals. Lomeli rolled a qualifying round of 692.

This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 6:16 PM with the headline "Surdich on Bowling: Merced Hall of Fame announces scholarship winners."