May 29, 2009

 

By: Mark Martin

 

PBA REGIONAL PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Joe Ciccone of Buffalo won the Professional Bowlers Association Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park with a 184-161 win over Jim Tomek Jr. of Camp Hill , Penn.

 

Ciccone claimed the first prize of $9,000 after qualifying 46th and defeating five opponents en route to the championship match. Tomek settled for the $5,000 runner up check.

 

Eleven Michigan bowlers placed in the top 64. They were Tom Smallwood of Saginaw and Bo Goergen of Midland for $1,100 each. Taking home $800 were Harry Sullins of Chesterfield Township and Lindsay Baker of Waterford Township . Larry Verble of Mason, Brian Thompson of Flat Rock, Kurt Pilon of Warren , Chris Kliczinski of Pinckney, Mason Brantley of Detroit , Christopher Sand of St. Clair Shores and Jeff Roche of Dearborn earned $650 each.

 

The most interesting story was Lindsay Baker, who qualified 64th for match play and proceeded to defeat top-qualifier Chris Collins of Savannah , Ga. three games to one in the single elimination format before losing in her next match.

 

The Regional Players Championship marks the first event at Thunderbowl Lanes followed up this week with the PBA Tour Trials, where the top eight players will receive exempt status for the 2009-2010 PBA Tour after 45 games of bowling on the five PBA lane patterns.

 

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HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

May 13, Willie Price Jr., Pontiac , 300 Bowl, 300 Wednesday Trio Shootout

May 18, David Derkacz, Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, 300 Summer Doubles

 

 

800 Series

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

May 13, John Robertson (812), Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, 300 Wednesday Trio Shootout

May 14, Ronald Combs (805), West Bloomfield, Wonderland Lanes, Thursday 7:30 Trio

 

 

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.