Bowlers Journal International - March 2008 - (Page 54)

REGIONAL ROUNDUP CENTRAL HOW CAN A PLAYER WITH THE most career titles in the PBA’s Central Region reside in a state outside that region? Don't be alarmed; no rules have been broken, or loyalties shattered. It’s just that Bob Learn Jr., a native of Erie, Pa., can read a map. Tournaments in the Central Region, especially in Ohio, are a lot closer to the western edge of Pennsylvania than those on the Atlantic seaboard. State lines don’t always dictate geographic convenience. There once was some pretense of regional sovereignty. A player such as Learn had to assert allegiance to a neighboring region and go through a permission process in order to bowl outside his declared region. None of that exists anymore; players may shoot any regional tournament anywhere, but can’t transfer the performance points they receive. Located in the heart of the bowling-rich Great Lakes area, the Central Region has always enjoyed a wealth of talent from which to draw within a fairly condensed area. You don’t see small turnouts at Central events. Of Learn’s 25 PBA regional wins, 19 were earned in the Central — and who knows how many of his 100-plus certified 300 games were tossed en route to those titles. However, his perch at the top of the Central Region’s title list may be precarious. Now working as a proprietor liaison for USBC, Learn has retired from PBA competition. Just two titles back with 17 Central Region victories, Ted Hannahs bowls on. 1. Bob Learn Jr. 2. Ted Hannahs 3. Sam Flanagan 4. Roy Buckley (2) Dave D’Entremont Dale Strike 7. Jeff Lizzi Harry Sullins Jeff Zaffino 10. John Gant Don Genalo Riga Kalfas 19 17 11 10 10 10 9 9 9 8 8 8 SOUTH THE SOUTH REGION PRODUCED THE PBA’s first regional superstar. They called him "Jumpin’ Jim Maxey" because not only did he pull up out of his shot in the midst of his full-roller release, he’d jump higher if he knew the ball was tracking toward the pocket. He hit the pocket and carried so often that he also was called "the Earl Anthony of the Regionals" before bone cancer led to the amputation of the lower part of his left leg, ending his bowling career in 1982. An Atlanta resident, Maxey joined the PBA just as the regional program was beginning to develop in the South, and basically didn’t miss a game. He qualified for match play in the first 27 tournaments he entered, and in 48 of the first 50. The fields were occasionally a little thin, but when you throw a strike in the 10th frame to beat Dave Davis — not once, but in back-to-back regional tournaments in 1977 — that’s top-notch bowling. Maxey’s 21-title total has been eclipsed, due in part to the Herculean efforts of Harry O’Neale. After taking over as the region's Director in 1980, the South became the region of greatest opportunity. Typically, more than 30 tournaments per year are conducted, far more than in any other region. The player to take greatest advantage of that opportunity has been Sam Zurich. A New York and national Tour transplant, Zurich has terrorized the South over the last two decades, winning 33 titles. 1. Sam Zurich 2. Guppy Troup (7) 3. Roger Bowker (1) 4. Jason Couch 5. Jim Maxey John May Joe Viscomi 8. Stony Baker 9. George Pappas Walter Ray Williams Jr. Steve Wilson 33 32 24 23 21 21 21 17 16 16 16 MIDWEST WHAT WAS PETE WEBER DOING last summer in places such as Willowbrook, Ill.; Peru, Ill., and Pacifica, Mo.? Same thing he has always done during down time from the national Tour: winning PBA regional tournaments. First place paid only $2,200, but bragging rights were significant when Weber took on Steve Jaros in the title game at Pacifica Lanes in September, as each had 39 regional titles going in. When Weber notched No. 40 (36 of them in the Midwest), it tied him with Guppy Troup for the most regional titles all-time. However, Troup’s total comes with an asterisk because 13 of his 40 victories have been earned in senior competition. Some of Troup’s senior regional titles have come in the Midwest because Pete's father, Dick Weber, was the forerunner in lining up those events for his senior brethren. The Weber clan was synonymous with the region even before Dick took over the directorship in 1984. Some might wonder why players with major titles to their credit — like Pete Weber and Jaros — bother to shoe it up so frequently in regional play for comparatively low payoffs. Well, shooting for some money during the off-season is better than nothing, and regional formats help sharpen anyone’s game. Beyond that, athletes like a competitive test and also to keep company with others who share their interests. The Midwest Region has many bowlers of various accomplishments who have been regulars for decades. They bowl because they enjoy it. 1. Pete Weber 2. Steve Jaros 3. Dale Traber 4. Jeff Richgels 5. Brad Snell David Traber 7. Leroy Bornhop 8. Lennie Boresch Bob Glass (9) 10. Norm Meyers 36 33 30 27 20 20 17 14 14 13 54 bowlers journal international MARCH 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Bowlers Journal International - March 2008

Bowlers Journal International - March 2008 Contents Leading Off Letters Bowlitically Incorrect Par Bowling The Coach Calendar Inside Line Tournaments The Truth Be Bowled Pro Bowling Back On Track Weber Tales Spares Do Matter Cover Story Up Close USBC Women's Time Capsule Flashback Strategy Session Guest Column Regional Roundup Team USA Trials Military Salute Global Guide No Holes Barred Marketplace Bowling Summit Museum Update Hall Marks Advertisers' Index Rememberance Classified Advertising Intelligencer Business Calendar Business People Strikes Me

Bowlers Journal International - March 2008

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