Surdich on Bowling: Former Merced resident wins CVSBC tourney
A total of 75 Valley bowlers competed at West Valley Bowl in Tracy in the Central Valley Senior Bowling Club’s singles event with a payout of $1,650 for 19 places.
Joe Kusunoki, a former Merced resident living in the Fresno area, had the second seed in the qualifying with a handicap 948. In the stepladder finals, Kusunoki defeated Ellen McQuoid of Oakley 255-237. McQuoid had a qualifying round of 942 in third.
Kusunoki moved on to the championship match to roll against Heidi Erler of Modesto, who was the top seed with a handicap 962. Kusunoki rolled a 262 to Erler’s 219 to win the title. The win was good for $193. Erler earned $163 for second and McQuoid $146 for third.
A doubles event is next for the club on May 21 at 1 p.m. at Harvest Park Bowl in Brentwood. Entry fee is $40 for four games of qualifying, then your stepladder.
League highlights – The Commercial Classic had Bill Hickman rolling his career-best game of 279 with a 676 series. ... Also in the Classic was Larry Valenti Jr. with a 770 set. ... In the Friday Handicap league, John Flanagan rolled a 279 for a 743 and Darren Alexander had a 665. ... The Central Valley Nisei had Mike Giordano with a 278 for a 667 series.
League champions – The Atwater Merchants Mixed league Monday night crowned Nickels are Forever as champions by rolling over the Heart Throbbers. Team members with their averages were Doug Laidlaw (213), Verna Fellows (151), Joe Troncoso (182) and Keith Docherty (192). Individual awards in the high scratch game went to Hugh Gary (299) and Laura Ruell (233), and high scratch series had Laidlaw (722) and Fellows (569). It was the Nickels’ second consecutive year winning the league championship.
Change in 2015-16 book – According to Keith Hunter, our association manager, your book average this year will not be as of April 15, as in the past. The new date is May 1. All of your league averages will appear in the association book and on bowl.com.
Upcoming tourney – A new handicap tournament is on tap May 21, the first Bellevue Bowl Veterans Singles with two divisions – one for active or retired military veterans and an Open division. The tournament is open to men and women.
You will use your highest average from the last two books, 2014-15 or 2015-16. It will not be a sanctioned tournament by the USBC. Entry fee is $20, and one of five will cash. Entry forms are available at the bowl.
Seniors at Yosemite – The Senior No-Tap Tournament at Yosemite Lanes in Modesto is April 29, starting at 1 p.m. There are divisions for men and women, and the entry fee is $13. The high-game pot is paid after every game. There is no potluck lunch. See you there.
Don Surdich: 209-777-1111, desurdich@aol.com
SCORING LEADERS: Joe Powers 256, Kim Heller 214, Caren Thompson 203, Carol Brewer 200, Lesley Xiong 180, Flora Bills 164, Margaret Shaw 173, Jenny Avellar 206, Ed Huddleston 240, Dawn Fernandez 244, Julie Herr 172, Sharon Roper 169, Justin Decker 277, Dennis Gray 279, Dave Porter 257, Harold Vartikian 200, Jamie Shank 183, Jim Hamilton 230, Ron Brewer 173, Ashley Dehart 223, Darren Alexander 261, Don Sweet 187.
SERIES LEADERS: Sylvia Giordano 525, Verna Fellows 543, John Krone 558, John Nunes 580, Jim Hamilton 596, Ernie Pinheiro 611, LaDonna Stone 615, Ryan Sziraki 616, Ed Huddleston 626, Casey McFarlin 657, Gene Broussard 688, Neill Barcellos 713, Mark Thompson 716, Tommy Cardoza 717.
This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 4:18 PM with the headline "Surdich on Bowling: Former Merced resident wins CVSBC tourney."