By:
Mark Martin
TOURNAMENT
SEASON
Now
that the calendar has turned to a new year there are plenty of tournament
opportunities available to bowlers.
This
year will be a big one for high profile national events in the
Detroit
area.
The
United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships will begin April 10 at
Superbowl Lanes in
Canton
. There are already nearly 7,000 teams entered with more to come. The entry
deadline is Jan. 25 however there is speculation that it may be extended.
Regardless this is a great opportunity for women bowlers who have never
participated in a national event to do so. The cost is only $35 per person per
event. The tournament runs through July 6. For more information visit www.bowl.com.
As
soon as the women’s tournament ends the youth tournaments will begin.
Qualifying for the USBC Junior Gold tournament will be contested at Century Bowl
in
Waterford
Township
, Sterling Lanes in
Sterling Heights
and Sunnybrook Lanes in
Sterling Heights
. Over 1,700 youth bowlers along with their parents will visit our area while
competing in the tournament. Bowlers in this event must have qualified in a
Junior Gold qualifying event to be eligible. The youth bowlers are competing for
scholarships and the opportunity to win a spot on Junior Team
USA
and represent the
United States
in international bowling competition. This event will take place from July
5-11.
Following
the Junior Gold will be the Pepsi tournament at Sunnybrook Lanes. Bowlers
qualify through their league, advancing to the state level. Qualifiers from each
of the state level events come to the national Pepsi tournament competing for
scholarships.
In
conjunction with the Junior Gold tournament the USBC Youth / Adult tournament
will take place at Taylor Lanes in
Taylor
. This run from July 7-10 and is open to any USBC Youth bowler along with any
USBC adult member. The cost is $30 per team. Look for more details on how to
enter in the future.
Finally
the youth have their own Youth Open Championships. The second year of this event
will take place at Skore Lanes in
Taylor
. This event is open to any USBC Youth members. Events include team, doubles and
singles. The cost is $25 per bowler per event and entries can be completed
on-line at www.bowl.com.
The
Metro Detroit USBC Association will be coordinating all volunteer activities for
the youth tournaments. To volunteer contact the MDUSBC office at (248) 443-2695.
With
Detroit
being the Bowling Capital of the World this will be a great time for this
market to shine.
------
OTHER
UPCOMING EVENTS
The National Senior Bowling Association swings back
into action on Saturday at Bowl One Lanes in
Troy
. This tournament is open to men and women age 50 and older. This is a scratch
tournament with a six-game qualifier and single elimination match play. For more
information contact Phil Horowitz at (248) 489-1333.
The Budweiser Michigan Majors Bowling Association also
starts back on Saturday at Town and Country Lanes in
Westland
. This tournament is also a scratch event and features a six-game qualifying
round leading to a semi-final round. Contact Ken Charrette at (586) 775-2414 for
more information.
The annual membership meeting of the Metro Detroit
USBC Association will take place this Sunday at 6 p.m. at Sunnybrook Lanes in
Sterling Heights
. This meeting is open to all members. Elections will take place along with
various reports of progress of the association. Sunnybrook Lanes is located at
7191 E 17 Mile Rd.
------
BOWLING
ON TV THIS WEEKEND
The
Lumber Liquidators Earl Anthony Medford Classic from
Medford
,
Ore.
will be telecast on ESPN Sunday at 1 p.m.
------
HONOR
SCORES
300
Games
Date,
Name, Hometown, Center, League
Dec.
27, John Lee,
Southfield
, Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed League
Jan.
2, James Baker,
Royal Oak
, Fairlanes, Wednesday Night Strikers
Jan.
2, Philip King, Wixom, Novi Bowl, Men’s Lutheran
Jan.
3, Darren McInnes, Commerce Twp., Wonderland Lanes,
St.
Williams 07/08
Jan.
3, Michael Pollak,
Macomb
, Classic Lanes, Thursday Night Men
Jan.
4, Ronald Johnson,
Detroit
,
Hazel Park
Bowl, Pepsi Classic
Jan.
4, Brian Waltz, Orion, Collier Lanes,
North Oakland
Mixed Doubles
Jan.
7, Joseph Grzankowski, Warren, Fairlanes, Our Lady of Fatima Men’s
Jan.
8, Jeffrey Austreng,
Waterford
Twp., 300 Bowl, Tuesday Shootout
800
Series
Date, Name
(Score), Hometown, Center, League
Jan.
2, Michael Hambrick (835),
Plymouth
, Country Lanes, Keglers
Jan.
4, David Ewald (824),
Macomb
,
Hazel Park
Bowl, Pepsi Classic
Jan.
4, Brian Waltz (810), Orion, Collier Lanes,
North Oakland
Mixed Doubles
Jan.
7, Jason Townsend (813),
Waterford
Twp., Airway Lanes, Pop’s Comets
Jan.
8, Floyd Speer (811),
Waterford
Twp., 300 Bowl, Tuesday Shootout
Mark
Martin writes a weekly bowling column for The Daily Oakland Press and is the
association manager of the Metro Detroit USBC Association. He can be reached at
(248) 443-2695, faxed at (248) 443-2690 or e-mailed at mark.martin@mdusbc.com.