June 5, 2009

 

By: Mark Martin

 

PBA TOUR TRIALS

 

Joe Ciccone of Buffalo followed up his win in the PBA Regional Players Championship with securing the top spot in the PBA Tour Trials at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park .

 

Ciccone averaged 214 over 45 games in the intense competition for eight exempt spots for the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour for the 2009-2010 season.

 

Players were tested with nine games on each of the five standard PBA lane patterns.

 

Others earning exemptions were George Lambert IV of Hamilton , Ontario ; Tom Smallwood of Flushing; Cassidy Schaub of Ashland , Ohio ; Mitch Beasley of Puyallup , Wash. ; Stuart Williams of England ; Stevie Weber of Chalmette , La. ; and Tim Mack of Indianapolis . Bo Goergen of Midland narrowly missed the eight spot by 43 pins.

 

“I definitely had put the mind time into what directions things could go in my life,” Ciccone said, “but I hadn’t made any decisions. I just figured I’d let things go as they may, and here we are.”

 

Ciccone lost his exemption for the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour two months ago.

 

Smallwood, 31, is a victim of General Motors’ massive layoffs. He has periodically bowled on tour, but had no aspiration of bowling full-time because of the time he would need to be away from his home and family.

 

“With the (PBA World Series of Bowling) being held the first six weeks of the season here in Detroit , that’s a bonus.” Smallwood said. “After that I’ll be in the woods hunting. Then I’ll come home, practice and get ready to bowl full-time in January.”

 

------

 

BCAM MILLER LITE / COORS DOUBLES

 

Raul Avalos and Jeff Hill of Pigeon prevailed in the Bowling Centers Association of Michigan (BCAM) Miller Lite / Coors Doubles at Cherry Hill Lanes in Dearborn Heights last Sunday.

 

The 140 average Raul Avalos bowled games of 198, 207 and 258 coupled with the 137 average Hill’s score of 203, 166 and 162 for a handicap total of 1,554 to capture to top prize of $7,000.

 

Second place went to Scott Smith of Pigeon and Joe Avalos of Pigeon with a handicap score of 1,531 for $5,000.

 

Third place and the top actual score went to Gregory Arnold of Westland and David Shonibin of Trenton with 1,460.

 

Local bowlers Raymon McGee of Southfield and Christine Imhoff of Royal Oak representing Bowlero Lanes in Royal Oak placed seventh with 1,342 for $700.

 

Jerrid Heidel of Swartz Creek and Justin Crosby of Holly finished in 11th place for $300.

 

The first year event was deemed a success by BCAM President Roger Philipi as 125 teams advanced to the state finals.

 

Qualifying was done in participating centers from around Michigan from October 2008 through May 15, 2009.

 

------

 

HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

May 27, James Ellison, Pontiac , 300 Bowl, 300 Wednesday Trio Shootout

May 27, Sherman Cole, Westland , Plum Hollow Lanes, Wednesday Nite Mixed

May 27, Phillip Hanna, Detroit , Plum Hollow Lanes, Wednesday Nite Mixed

May 28, Daniel Featherstone, White Lake , Wonderland Lanes, 7:30 Thursday Trio

May 29, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles Classic

May 29, Douglas Mazurco, Brownstown, Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles Classic

May 29, Justin Jeffery, Lincoln Park , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles Classic

 

 

 

800 Series

Date, Name (Score), Hometown, Center, League

May 27, Edward Grace III (802), Howell, 300 Bowl, 300 Wednesday Trio Shootout

May 27, John Robertson (815), Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, 300 Wednesday Trio Shootout

May 29, Jeffrey Grego (806), Waterford Twp., Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles Classic

 

 

 

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.