Surdich on Bowling: Garber wins Taylor Memorial Tournament

A total of 35 bowlers rolled in the 10th annual Willie Taylor Memorial Scholarship Tournament at Yosemite Lanes in Modesto last weekend. Taylor is a member of the Modesto Hall of Fame and was employed at Yosemite Lanes.

Opening the tournament with the first ball was another premier bowler in Rick Francis, who continues to rehab from shattering his leg last December. Francis was aiding a stranded motorist and was hit by another car.

Freddy Irvin of Freddy’s Tree Service and Jim Gordin, owner of Yosemite Lanes, combined to add $750 to the prize fund.

Wayne Garber and Brandon Bates of Modesto each bowled a perfect game to start the tourney. Garber never let up and defeated Mike Keough of Manteca 279-182 in the finals to take first-place money of $500. Keough received $275. The next six-gamer is Sept. 20 at noon.

Peach Classic ends – The 66th annual Peach Classic at McHenry Bowl in Modesto ended Aug. 2 with more than $32,925 in total prize money. Local bowlers who are on the main prize list are Mary Ickes in 24th with a total of 1,184, and Michael Stewart in 107th with 1,105. They normally pay $100 down to 100th place.

In first place is Fresno’s Michael Pixley, who came in with a 240 average and shot a scratch 1,297 for a 259.4 average. Payoff is expected the first week of September. There were four 300 games rolled in the tournament.

Hurd is back rolling – PBA member and former Merced resident Jason Hurd finished 31st in the Spring Hill South Open last weekend in Spring Hill, Fla. He averaged 202 for eight games. Hurd was injured a few years back and had to give up the sport until he fully recovered.

Black Oak, McHenry senior no-tap – A group of locals rolled in the senior no-tap at Black Oak Lanes in Tuolumne, and Gustine’s Kim Heller came in eighth in the women’s high series with a 760 total for $25. Her husband, Bob, placed second in the third high-game pot with a 288 for $10. Atwater’s T.J. Jensen scored high with a sixth-place finish in women’s high series for $35 and in high game for $10.

Bob Heller had a day he won’t soon forget. On Friday, he rolled the only 300 game at McHenry’s senior 9-pin, no-tap. He smoked the men by taking high series with a 941 for $50 and another $25 for his 300 game.

Kim Heller had a second-place finish in series and won two high-game pots. Others placing in high game and series were Jensen taking two high games, and Karen Hunter placing in a high game and series, along with her husband, Keith, who placed in high game and series.

Up next for the seniors will be the no-tap at Yosemite Lanes on Friday at 1 p.m. High game and series are given out during the day for men and women. There is no pot-luck lunch. Entry fee is $13. You can call Kathy at 209-524-9161 for a spot.

Remember when – In the 1980s at Century Bowl, there was a Town & Country league with two divisions, National and American. Here are a few scores and averages I found from that league. Among the high games were John Sundgren with a 244, Ken Schone a 253, Danny Vierra a 246 and Eric Hickman a 236. High series were rolled by Sundgren (660), Schone (648) and Hickman (636). Averages were Frank Gasper, 191; Larry Valenti, 191; Schone, 187; Gary Brown, 184; Sundgren, 183; Hickman, 182; Nelson Holly, 182; Jack Bryant, 172; Warren Mitchell, 171; and Tom Ragsdale, 171.

This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 6:17 PM with the headline "Surdich on Bowling: Garber wins Taylor Memorial Tournament."