Surdich on Bowling: More than $600 paid out in Merced/Atwater Scotch Doubles

A total of 28 teams rolled in the Merced/Atwater Women’s 500 Club annual Holiday Scotch Doubles tournament at Bellevue Bowl last Sunday.

Coming in first place was the team of Marnie and Todd Hamilton with a score of 985 for $161. In second were Katie Diedrich and Cody Hamilton with a 966 for $134, followed by Julie Egleston and Harold Vartikian with a 903 for $114 in third and Kim and Neill Barcellos with an 894 for $100 in fourth. The teams of Mary and Jim Hamilton and Cynthia Bennett and Ed Huddleston tied for fifth with an 882 for $80 each team.

The total payout was $672. High games included a 298 by the team of Peggy Docherty and Bruce Wescott, a 297 by Mary Ickes and Jim Mullings and a 288 by Kim and Neill Barcellos.

Livermore Valley Tournament – Annette Macklin of Gustine is looking for a few bowlers to fill team spots in the LVT. The team event is Jan. 30 at 5 p.m. with doubles and singles Jan. 31 at noon. Call Macklin at 209-854-6037 for information.

New Year in Paris – The cutoff to enter the New Year in Paris party at McHenry Bowl in Modesto is Dec. 23. The New Year is celebrated at 3 p.m. local time (midnight in Paris), so you can get home early.

Entry fee is $33, which includes all the goodies with a high-game pot, party favors, prizes, sparking cider or champagne and an engraved champagne glass that is yours to keep. There are money prizes for colored head pins during the afternoon. Give me a call at 209-383-2441 or 209-777-1111 to sign up, or email at desurdich@aol.com.

Central Valley Bowling Club – The rush is on to join the newest senior bowling club in the Valley. More than 70 bowlers have joined in the last few weeks.

The club is open to senior men 55 and older and women 50 and older. Applications are available at Bellevue. The membership fee is $20 per year. Your anniversary date begins the month you purchase your membership and is good for 12 months.

The club has commitments from the following centers with the month of their tournament: McHenry (February), Tracy Bowl (April), Brentwood Bowl (May), Bellevue (June) and Manteca Strike Zone (July and November). Yosemite Lanes in Modesto and Stockton centers should be getting on line in a few weeks. The Tournament of Champions will be held at McHenry in December.

League highlights – The Central Valley Nisei league had Jim Mullings with a 279 game and 703 set. The Classic had Ryan Sziraki with a 290, the Monday Night Merchant Mixed had Hugh Gary with a 299, and the Tuesday Bellevue Seniors had Dan Erreca with a 640.

500 Club elections – LaDonna Stone will be stepping down as president of the Merced/Atwater Women’s 500 Club. Elections for officers will be held during the club’s annual meeting Jan. 10 at 11 a.m. at Bellevue. One member who has shown interest in becoming the new president is Debbie Taliaferro of Turlock. Presently, she is a director for the Modesto USBC.

Remember when – In July 1964, Merced’s Betty Brown was competing in the Golden Gate Classic Tournament in El Cerrito. A Professional Women’s Bowling Association tournament which had 88 of the top players from the West Coast competing, Brown finished 14th to earn $100 out of 25 places that were paid. LaVerne Carter of St. Louis, Mo., took first place for $1,100. She was married to bowling legend and PBA Hall of Fame member Don Carter. A total of $6,432 was paid out.

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 5:45 PM with the headline "Surdich on Bowling: More than $600 paid out in Merced/Atwater Scotch Doubles."