Bowlers Journal International - April 2008 - (Page 36)

REGIONALROUNDUP BY LYLE ZIKES BY J.R. SCHMIDT JIM LEVENDOSKY LOSES ELIGIBILITY BY WINNING THE CENTRAL REGION PRO NO LONGER WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER NON-CHAMPIONS EVENTS; MEANWHILE, A SOUTH CAROLINA SENIOR REGIONAL IS WON WITH A 197 AVERAGE. MOST PBA REGIONAL EVENTS IN JANUARY and February were targeted to bowlers in one of two categories: seniors or non-champions. The new year began with a Central Region non-winners event that Jim Levendosky will not be eligible to enter in 2009. Levendosky, of Jenison, Mich., was dominant on the Cheetah pattern at Cedar Lanes in Sandusky, Ohio, averaging 229 for 15 games and going 7-0 in match play, capped by a 213-202 title game victory over Brandon Harris of Akron, Ohio. Levendosky collected $2,000, while Harris earned half that amount. Turning to the seniors, there were 81 in the ﬁeld at Lee’s All-Star Lanes in Florence, S.C., where PBA Hall of Famer George Pappas and southpaw George Lord proved senior competition isn’t just for the 50-somethings. In the title contest between super seniors (60 and older), Pappas won the battle of the Georges, 237-209, for the $1,600 top prize. That same weekend, Mitch Jabczenski won an identical top prize by routing super senior Tim Kauble, 213-168, in the T-Byrd Lanes Senior Open in Rochelle, Ill. The Del-Mar Lanes Challenge (non-champions event) in Houston saw Edward VanDaniker of Essex, Md., take advantage of a break in the Denny’s PBA Tour schedule over Super Bowl weekend to invade the Southwest Region. The 22-year-old was on his way to participate in the Tour Qualifying Round of the Bayer Classic in El Paso a few days later, and picked up a $1,500 check en route, scoring a 224-221 ﬁnal game win against John Chovanec. In contrast to the highly traveled ﬁrst-time winner, who’s on track for a 2008-09 exemption based on his success in those TQRs, Chovanec is a PBA non-member who was bowling in his hometown. It’s not always the case that the highest scoring tournaments pay the most money (witness the U.S. Open), but it turned out that way in this cycle of regional events. Mason Sherman blistered the Cheetah pattern at Del Rosa Lanes in San Bernardino, Calif., to the tune of a 239 average, and came away $3,000 richer. Compared to the rest of the event, the title game 36 bowlers journal international APRIL 2008 AROUND THE REGIONS APRIL 4-6 — PBA East Region Mount Greylock Bowl Open, North Adams, Mass.; PBA Southwest Region Texas Panhandle Open, Wildcatters Bowling & Entertainment, Borger, Texas; PBA Central Region Hillsboro (Ohio) Open, Highland Lanes. 11-12 — PBA Northwest Region Doubles Open, Go Bowl, Pasco, Wash. 11-13 — PBA Southwest Region Bowlers Against Diabetes Houston Open, Copperfield Bowl, Houston, Texas; PBA Central Region North Lanes Open, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; PBA East Region King Pin Lanes Open, Rome, N.Y. 18-20 — PBA Central Region Adrian (Mich.) Open, Lenawee Recreation; PBA East Region Roto Grip Open, Hoe Bowl, Catskill, N.Y.; PBA Midwest Region Mike Crawford Raytown Dodge/Jeep/ Eagle/Holiday Motors Open, Laurel Lanes, Raytown, Mo.; PBA Southwest Region Denver Open, Bowl-ero Lanes, Lakewood, Colo.; PBA South Region Ft. Bragg Open, Dragon Lanes, Fayetteville, N.C. 20-22 — PBA West/Northwest Regions Rice Shopping Center Open, Lihue (Hawaii) Bowling Center. 25-27 — PBA West/Northwest Regions Hickam Air Force Base Open, Hickham Bowling Center, Hawaii; PBA Midwest Region Bowl-A-Vard Lanes Open, Madison, Wis.; PBA East Region Rockaway (N.J.) Lanes Open; PBA South Region Lakeland (Fla.) Open, Orange Bowl; PBA Central Region Baldo Campana/Ohio Lottery/Nordson Foundation Open, Benefiting Lorain County Kids Fund, Rebman Recreation, Lorain, Ohio. was a grindout as Sherman, of Moorpark, Calif., downed Chris Williams of Reseda, Calif., 223-190, for the victory. Just a few weeks after Pappas bested the seniors at Lee’s All-Star Lanes in Florence, S.C., that site played host to a ﬁeld of 145 players, all seeking their ﬁrst PBA title. Josh Chambliss of Summerville, S.C., earned the $2,500 top prize by edging Terrance Reeves of Valrico, Fla., 206-205. While only Chambliss gets a banner, a score of minus 65 (a 189 average) was good enough for a $400 low-in-the money check. Last year in Taylorville, Ill., a Senior Regional tournament was literally washed out after water began pouring from the ceiling before the ﬁrst of three squads could complete qualifying at Short Stop Lanes. The 12-lane center kept the melting snow out of the building this season, much to the elation of Robert Flaws, who outpointed Harry Sullins for the $1,800 title. For Flaws, 54, who never competed in PBA events until becoming Senior-eligible, it was the second time he has won in Taylorville. The Midwest/Central seniors were at it again the following weekend at another 12-lane center in the central Illinois town of Virden. Senior sophomore Tom Carter scored a 206-190 win over Senior rookie Randy Lightfoot for his second Senior Regional title and $1,800. A concurrent Senior Regional at Little River (S.C.) Lanes proved to be the ultimate in grindout scoring. Bobby Thompson of Virginia Beach, Va., ever the opportunist, escaped with the $1,600 top prize, despite averaging 197 for the weekend. Guppy Troup, coming back from shoulder surgery, earned the $400 last cash prize, ﬁnishing 24th with a 189 average. In the Jackson Rancheria Classic at Gold Country Lanes in Sutter Creek, Calif., San Franciscan Jeff Frankos qualiﬁed for match play for the 10th time in 13 West Region tournaments this season. This time, his strike ball was just as effective in match play, enabling Frankos to break through for his ﬁrst title of the season. He downed Leo DiBenedetto of Rancho Cordova, Calif., 246-178, for the $2,500 top prize. MAY 2-4 — PBA South Region Rocky Mt., N.C. Open, The Bowling Center; PBA Northwest/West Regions Westy's Garden Lanes Open, Garden City, Idaho; PBA East Region Byllye Lanes Open, Bradford, Pa. 2-5 — PBA Southwest/Midwest Regions Junction City (Kan.) Open, Junction City Bowl. 9-11 — PBA West Region AMF Visalia (Calif.) Open, AMF Visalia Lanes; PBA Southwest Region Bossier City (La.) Open, Holiday Lanes; PBA South Region Brunswick (Ga.) Open, The Strike Zone. 16-18 — PBA Southwest Region Marion (N.C.) Open, Lightening Strike Lanes; PBA East Region Howell (N.J.) Lanes Open; PBA Midwest Region Willowbrook (Ill.) Lanes Open. 23-26 — PBA Lake County Indiana Regional Players Championship, Stardust II Bowl, Merrillville. Ind. Visit pba.com for updates. http://pba.com

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

Bowlers Journal International - April 2008 Contents Leading Off Letters Bowlitically Incorrect Calendar Par Bowling The Coach Frame of Mind Inside Line The Truth Be Bowled Tournaments Pro Bowling PBA Bayer Classic PBA Pepsi Championship PBA Don Johnson Classic Regional Roundup Cover Story Up Close Senior Tour The USBC Move USBC Convention Pattern Play Anniversary Flashback Time Capsule Media Beat No Holes Barred Shop Talk Spotlight Marketplace Hall Marks Profit Prophet Advertisers' Index Classified Advertising Intelligencer Business Calendar Business People Strikes Me

Bowlers Journal International - April 2008

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