In the Pocket: N.E.S.T. begins season Saturday

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bob Weiner

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A revamped NorthEast Senior Tournaments tour kicks off Saturday at noon at Sunset Recreation.

The N.E.S.T. is planning 10 to 12 events per year with a reduced entry fee of $50. Qualifying will be four games before moving into single-elimination match play in your own age division. Divisions will be divided into 50-59, 60-66 and 67-and-over. One in four advance to the finals. The top bowler age 72 or older receives a free half-entry into the next tournament. A $5 tournament dues fees will be collected for the first five tournaments.

Lane conditions will be a house shot, unless otherwise stipulated.

In a special preseason opener at Uncle Sam Lanes in Troy last month, Tom Newman won his second N.E.S.T. title by defeating Dale Christiansen, 205-193. Ron Gardner and Joe Paolucci finished third and fourth, respectively.

The rest of the fall schedule includes a tournament Oct. 9 at Boulevard Bowl at 10:30 a.m., another at Spare Time-Latham Nov. 5 at noon and Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. at Hometown Lanes.

“During the summer, we had a couple of tournaments, and about 16 or 18 guys showed up,” said N.E.S.T. co-director Jim Burton. “But we’ve got a number of guys who didn’t bowl in the summer who have indicated they will be bowling once the fall season begins. We’ll see.

“I would love it if we could have at least 32 bowlers, because that would give us eight qualifiers. Then we could get a couple of rounds of roll-offs in. That’s a number I would be happy with.”

So far, N.E.S.T. has one sponsor, the National Planning Group Inc. at Sunset Recreation. Other sponsorships are being pursued.

No matter how well his own N.E.S.T. events go, Burton is enthusiastic about the state of senior bowling in the Capital Region.

“One thing I’m happy about is that there are more opportunities for seniors to bowl,” he said. “Huck Finn has added a senior doubles and some senior qualifying squads. I’m real happy about that. At least there are more senior events for guys like me to enter. There are a lot of us older guys who still love to compete.”

PBA CORNER

u PBA Hall of Famer George Pappas of Charlotte, N.C., joined the elite group of members to win PBA titles in five different decades when he defeated Richard Bucey of Forest Hill, Md., 224-220, to win the PBA East Region Howell Lanes Senior Open at Howell Lanes in Howell, N.J., Sept. 11.

Pappas, 64, picked up his 13th senior regional title (23rd overall) and his first since 2009 on his way to the $1,500 top prize. He defeated fellow PBA Hall of Famer and “Five Decade Club” member Johnny Petraglia of Jackson, N.J., 223-193, to advance to the title match. Bucey defeated Mike Tryniski of Fulton, 213-179, in the semifinal round.

This weekend, the PBA East Region will visit Parkway Lanes in Elmwood Park, N.J..

* Fans of the PBA Tour should mark their calendars. There are less than two months remaining until the third annual PBA World Series of Bowling convenes at South Point Casino, Hotel and Bowling Center in Las Vegas. During the Nov. 4-20 competition, a capacity field of 240 players from around the world will battle for eight titles and a projected $1 million in prize money. All nine winners, including the doubles champions, will earn automatic berths in the 32-player round-robin match play finals of the PBA Tournament of Champions next April at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas.

The base WSOB entry fee of $800 covers all PBA Tour events, excluding special competitions. For complete details and entry information, visit pba.com and click on the World Series of Bowling logo in the display panel. Special low-cost lodging rates at South Point Hotel are available to all World Series participants.

* If you enjoy watching old-school bowling, including some of the legends of the game, then the PBA’s Xtra Frame might be for you.

Xtra Frame, pba.com’s exclusive online video streaming service, includes an extensive library of player interviews including current stars and hall of famers, coverage of PBA Tour, Senior and Regional events, expert advice on equipment and bowling techniques from some of the world’s most respected teachers. Xtra Frame is available by subscription only. Visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo for information on how to sign up. Monthly and annual rates are available.

* Three women members of the PBA helped Team USA capture its first five-woman team gold medal in the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women’s Championships in 24 years on Sept. 10 in Hong Kong.

PBA Tour exempt player Kelly Kulick, two-time PBA regional titlist Liz Johnson and two-time PBA Women’s Series winner Carolyn Dorin-Ballard helped the United States to a 1,210-1,140 victory over Singapore in the gold-medal match. Former PBA member and three-time Women’s Series winner Shannon Pluhowsky also was a member of the team, and became the first woman in WTBA World Women’s Championships history to win four gold medals in the event (doubles, trios, team and Masters).

STRIKES AND SPARES

* The Cutting Edge Doubles League at Redwood Lanes needs one more team. The league bowls Mondays at 6:15 p.m. Prize fund is $20,000 and team cap is 454. Call Redwood at 496-7812 for more information.

* Redwood has also announced that Dan Ahl is now running the pro shop there. It’s called Bowlers Advantage. Again, call Redwood for more information.

* There are four openings in the Menagerie league, which bowls 6:15 p.m. Fridays at Boulevard Bowl. Dues are $15 per week.

* The Capital District Youth Scholarship Tour begins its second season Oct. 1 at Spare Time-Latham at 12:30 p.m. More than $6,000 in scholarships was awarded last season. Entry fee will be $30 if paid in advance and $32 if paid on site. There also will be a $15 CDYST membership fee. Qualifying will be four games, switching pairs every game. When Junior Gold qualifiers are used, the qualifying will be six games. One in five entrants earn a scholarship prize. The rest of the first-half schedule includes Oct. 22at 1 p.m. at Uncle Sam Lanes, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. at Catskill Lanes, Nov. 19 at 1:30 p.m. at Sportsman’s Bowl (Junior Gold Qualifier) and Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. at Del Lanes. Call 393-8296 for more information.

* Donna Rivers picked up the 6-7 split in the Ups & Downs Women’s league recently and then picked up the 4-10 split the very next frame.

* Qualifying for the first Huck Finn/Northeast Bowling Proprietors of New York scratch singles tournament of the season will be Saturday, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. at Spare Time-East Greenbush and then 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16 at Spare Time-Clifton Park.

* The Schenectady/Scotia Women’s Bowling Association will conduct its the 25th Senior Singles tournament on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Burnt Hills Lanes at 2 p.m.. Entry forms are available from your league secretary or by contacting Sandy Knabner at 399-3759. Entries close Oct. 8.

* The Schenectady-Scotia 500 Club will conduct its Trick or Treat No-Tap Singles Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. at Towne Bowling Academy. Current members received their entry form. If you need an entry form, contact Marie Moorhead at 399-3063.