Surdich on Bowling: 500 Club’s Behind the Curtain tourney this Sunday

The Merced/Atwater Women’s 500 Club is hosting its annual Behind the Curtain Tournament this Sunday at 1 p.m.

The tourney is a 9-pin no-tap with three games, has separate divisions and is open to all USBC men and women.

There will be a curtain hanging from the ceiling, blocking the bowlers’ view of the pins, and it should be exciting. You will use your 2014-15 book averages. One in five will cash. The tournament is limited to the first 80 paid entries. Entry fee is $22, and entries close Friday at 6 p.m.

Modesto Queens – A few columns ago, I wrote about the first Modesto Queens tournament at Yosemite Lanes in Modesto – a very successful one, too.

I received some interesting information about one competitor from a longtime bowler who rolled in the 20th Century Construction league, Friday Nite Men’s handicap at the old Century Bowl in Merced and the Wednesday Night Flyers in Atwater. You might remember this old-timer, Marvin Odegaard of Merced, who told a story about Brittany Hillman of Fremont.

Hillman led Queens qualifying with a super six-game average of 252.8, and she finished in fourth place for $275. Odegaard said Hillman and her brother, Chris Hillman, each bowled a 300 game on the same night in the high-end scratch Majors league two seasons ago at Cloverleaf Bowl in Fremont. Unreal. Thanks, Marv.

San Joaquin Bowling Club – The San Joaquin Bowling Club is coming to Yosemite Lanes with a singles tournament Aug. 22. Your check-in time is 10 a.m. and your tournament rolls at 11. The cost is $60, and you bowl five games of qualifying with a stepladder finals following. One in four will cash. The club offers high-game pots, scratch series and brackets. Membership in the club is $20. Guest fee is $10. Call Jason Tehee at 559-383-8837 for information.

Leagues starting up – All leagues will meet the week of Aug. 24 at Bellevue Bowl in Atwater, with league play starting the following week. Call the desk at 209-358-6466 to add your name to the bowling list or for more information.

McHenry Bowl senior no-tap – This Friday is McHenry Bowl’s regular senior no-tap 9-pin mini tournament with a 1 p.m. start. The seniors hold a pot-luck lunch at noon, and sign-ups start at 12:30 p.m. The house pays out for men and women high-game pots and series. Entry fee is $15. Call 209-571-2695 to reserve a spot and ask for Terry.

DOD tournament – I see Clarence Allen has taken over the Department of Defense tournament this year in the absence of Johnel Maryland, who is home undergoing physical therapy. The DOD tournament is held annually during the Columbus holiday weekend (Oct. 10-11) at Rancho Bowl in Santa Maria.

This tournament has been running for years under the direction of Maryland and other locals. It brings members from the Bay Area, Southern California and the Valley to the coastal city.

The DOD also has a fun tournament in Las Vegas. I have rolled in it for a few years. You’re paired with everyone bowling, and the payout is great. Your entry includes two super dinners, Santa Maria style, at the bowl. Allen should be coming around soon with information on the DOD.

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Surdich on Bowling: 500 Club’s Behind the Curtain tourney this Sunday."