If you are a serious bowler who wants to excel at the top levels of the game, competing in a PBA Experience league on challenging conditions should help you improve.
Two of the local bowling centers offering such leagues are Sportsman’s Bowl and Towne Bowling Academy.
Sportsman’s PBA Experience League starts May 12 at 7 p.m. and runs Thursday nights for 12 weeks. Bowlers will roll four games per night at a cost of $10 per week. The league, USBC certified for sport conditions, is open to all adult and youth bowlers.
This season’s oil patterns will include the Badger, Wolf, Chameleon, Viper, Cheetah and the new WTBA Rome. Teams can sign up intact, or individuals will be placed on a team.
Remember, the conditions you will be competing on will be much tougher than the usual house shot.
Meanwhile, at Towne Bowling Academy, the PBA Summer Trio league begins April 27 at 6:30 and continues for 10 Wednesday nights. The league will use one oil pattern for two consecutive weeks and then switch. Cost is $20 per person. Call Towne at 355-3939 to register.
I recommend these leagues for not only the top-tier bowlers to keep their game in shape for next fall, but also for the competitors who hope to take the next step and maybe try a PBA Regional or major scratch tournament for the first time.
STRIKES & SPARES
Qualifying for the Annual Joe and Tom Donato Scratch Singles tournament continues tonight at 9 at Boulevard Bowl, Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at Gold Crown Lanes in St. Johnsbury, Vt. and also Sunday at 3 p.m. at Patel’s Kingston Lanes (formerly Hoe Bowl) in Kingston. A special seniors-only squad has been added to the qualifying schedule April 5 at 7 p.m. at Sportsman’s Bowl. Qualifiers continue until the semifinals and finals on April 10 at Towne Bowling Academy. Top prize will be $3,200.
Brian Boghosian and Tony Reynaud won the New Era Senior Tournament’s Century Doubles event last weekend. Left-handers Tony Palumbo and Rich Strath finished second.
Qualifying for the next scratch singles event for the Northeast Bowling Proprietors of New York Huck Finn Capital Region Bowling Show will be Saturday at 3 p.m. and then Sunday at both 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. at Hi-Way Recreation in Wynantskill. The Saturday squad will have a special entry fee of only $35, plus Huck Finn membership. The Sunday squads will have a $45 entry fee. First place will be $600, based on 75 entries. This event will be sponsored by MJ Flooring. There will be a same-day taping for the TV finals at 4:15 p.m. That show will air April 10 on MY4 TV.
The 21st Annual Blizzard Bowl continues Sunday at 11:45 a.m. at Boulevard Bowl. Entry fee is $80 per four-person team. Doubles and singles brackets are available. Top prize for the handicap team event will be $2,000, based on 160 teams. The winning scratch team gets $500. A Continental breakfast is included a half hour before bowling begins. The remaining squads will be April 10 and April 17.
Another reminder that the Fred “Snake” Blake Team Tournament will be held April 29 at 8:30 p.m. and April 30 at 2 p.m. at Towne Bowling Academy. Proceeds will help two families whose children have severe medical problems.
There are only a few more squads left for the 83rd Annual Schenectady USBC Bowling Association City Tournament at Rolling Greens. There is a special morning squad Wednesday at 10 a.m., followed by squads on April 8 (6:30 p.m.), April 9 (2 p.m.) and April 10 (5 p.m.). Entry fee is $20 for each event (team, doubles and singles). First place for the handicap team event will be $1,200, based on 120 teams. The best scratch team will win $600. Handicap is 90 percent of the difference between your average and 240. Call Chet Ciembroniewicz (577-8562) or Keith Lawyer (300-0209) to reserve your spot.
The next Capital District Youth Scholarship Tour tournament is April 9 at East Greenbush Bowling Center. It will include an optional Junior Gold Qualifier, but only CDYST members who have competed in at least three events are eligible for that optional qualifier. Bowling begins at 1 p.m. Call 765-0267 for more information.
Sportsman’s Bowl is offering a Tuesday Nite Semi-Classic Spring League, beginning May 10 at 7 p.m. Top prize will be $2,100, based on 12 three-person teams. There will be a unique 24-point system per night that includes three points for each team game, three points for team series, one point for each individual match game and one point for each individual match series (all with handicap). The handicap will be 80 percent to 240. Dues will be $20 per week. Call Sportsman’s at 355-4330 to reserve your spot.
AMF Strikes & Spares lanes in Syracuse is hosting the 18th Annual New York State USBC Adult/Junior Doubles State Championships April 29-30.
Bill Lautenschlager of Stockton, California, was recently confirmed as the oldest bowler ever to roll a USBC-certified 800 triple. Lautenschlager, 85, who has three career 800s, shot games of 226, 279 and 300 for an 805 in the Thursday Senior A league at West Lane Bowl. He still bowls in three leagues and is president of the league in which he registered his record performance. I guess there is still hope for many of us older keglers.
Reach Bob Weiner at [email protected] or BobWeiner58 on Twitter.
Categories: -Sports-
