Surdich on Bowling: Seniors compete in a different no-tap at McHenry

Terry Waring and Theresa Medeiros, league coordinators for McHenry Bowl, put a different twist on their regular senior no-tap last Friday in Modesto. It started with an 8-pin no-tap, then went to a regular game, and the last game was the normal 9-pin no-tap.

The high-game pot had Bob Heller and Kim Heller placing in the first-game pot for $11 each and Ed Rowen placing in the second-game pot for $11. In the total overall series, Kim Heller had an 802 for $27, and Bob Heller an 822 for $50.

The August schedule for the senior no-tappers has McHenry Bowl with a regular 9-pin no-tap on Aug. 12 at 1 p.m. Across town, Yosemite Lanes will host its 9-pin no-tap on Aug. 19 at 1 p.m.

USBC dues up to $21 – According to Dave Egleston, our association vice president, delegates at the California State USBC Convention he attended approved a $1 increase in fees. Signing up for the USBC 2016-17 membership card this year will cost $21.

Yosemite scratch 6-gamer – No matter if you’re an average bowler or one of the top bowlers in the Valley, everyone has bad days. That was the case last Sunday at Yosemite Lanes during their scratch 6-gamer mini-tourney.

Bonnie Garber said after three games, only eight 200 games were bowled.

Rich Custer, who shot an 899 series recently, averaged 191 in six games of qualifying. Nick Kelly defeated Custer 201-176 for the win and a $331 payout, and Custer took home $240.

There were 26 Valley bowlers rolling.

Up next at Yosemite is the 11th annual Willie Taylor Memorial scratch 6-gamer Aug. 21. There will be added money for this tournament. Entry fee is $70 with $10 going into the Willie Taylor Memorial Scholarship fund. The house shot will be used at 42 feet.

Veterans Nationals – Karl McCullough, a longtime bowler who rolled in the Tuesday senior league at Bellevue Bowl, recently returned home to Los Banos from Detroit, where he participated in the 30th anniversary of the National Veterans Golden Age Games.

He told me there were male and female veterans ages 55 to 100 at the games. McCullough earned gold in horseshoes and bowling and bronze in shuffleboard. He was in the 75-79 age bracket.

McCullough said there were all types of events during the six days of the games. He went with other members of the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center in Menlo, as he is near blind. His vision stretches 2 to 3 feet, and that is about it.

Some seniors might remember McCullough for the great chili he furnished at the annual senior Christmas party and end-of-the-league party.

The 10th frame – Another of our longtime bowlers has passed away. Gary Brown, 62, died in a Bay Area hospital last week. No matter which hand he used, he was a Merced County Bowling Hall of Fame member. Brown was inducted in 2001.

Most bowlers who have been around for a while will remember Brown working the control desk at Century Bowl. He rolled his only career 300 game in Fresno bowling with his left hand.

His wife, June, told me, “He did not injure his right shoulder like many bowlers do; he made the change over to the left side because he wanted to.”

Amazing.

Brown was like a cat with nine lives; he had a lifetime of surgeries.

As per his request, no services were held. Rest in peace, Gary.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 4:10 PM with the headline "Surdich on Bowling: Seniors compete in a different no-tap at McHenry."