May 8, 2009

 

By: Mark Martin

 

MICHIGAN STATE MASTERS

 

Tom Smallwood of Saginaw won the Michigan State Masters at Airport Lanes in Jackson Sunday when he defeated Travis Raskey of South Lyon 442-349 to win the $5,000 first prize and the title. Raskey settled for the second place check of $2,500.

 

Smallwood qualified 13th with a six-game total of 1,287. In match play he remained undefeated by beating Toby Sambueno of Saginaw 417-387, Dale Hofmeister Jr. of Essexville 465-358, Terrence Syring Jr. of Bay City 527-315, Jeff Austreng of Waterford Township 438-424 and Raskey 435-382 to advance to the championship match.

 

“Anytime you can win a title in Michigan against the best bowlers around it is satisfying.” said the 31-year-old Smallwood. “You know you’ve earned it when the condition is this much of a test and the best bowlers are involved.”

 

Smallwood beat the best bowlers in the state of Michigan on a difficult lane pattern under tight Sport Bowling requirements averaging 222.8. The lane pattern was the same as the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Masters Tournament.

 

He also won a paid entry into the 2010 USBC Masters, which will be contested in Reno in February 2010.

 

Raskey qualified 18th with 1,265. He remained in the winner’s bracket with victories over Aaron Koch of Grand Rapids 381-345, Dale Strike of Saginaw 389-349, Mason Brantley of Detroit 488-440 and Bruce Falcon of Bay City 438-308 before losing to Smallwood 435-382. In the loser’s bracket he beat Austreng 421-333 for the opportunity to avenge the defeat to Smallwood. It was not to be as Smallwood won 442-349.

 

Defending champion Austreng qualified 17th but was seeded ninth by virtue of his victory in 2008 with 1,265. He remained in the winner’s bracket with triumphs over David Carroll of Wyoming 494-426, Jason Battishill of Clarkston 389-349, Brian Waliczek of Birch Run 460-447 before falling to Smallwood 438-424. In the loser’s bracket he beat Brantley 422-354 and Carleton Chambers of Taylor 443-360 before losing to Raskey 421-333. Austreng received a check for $1,500.

 

Chambers qualified fifth with 1,336. In match play he lost his first match to Terrence Syring Jr. of Bay City 453-452 to fall into the loser’s bracket. Once in the loser’s bracket he defeated Brian Regan of Swartz Creek 485-348, James Fedorka of Madison Heights 410-315, Robert Hutchings of Marshall 374-346, avenged his loss to Syring 503-475, Waliczek 452-401, Falcon 436-352 before getting knocked out by Austreng 443-360. He took home $1,000.

 

Top qualifier Waliczek led qualifying by 46 pins with 1,411. He beat Jason Overmyer of Jackson 425-326 and Craig Nidiffer of Trenton 460-445 before falling into the loser’s bracket with a loss to Austreng 460-447. In loser’s bracket he beat Dale Strike 417-412 before getting knocked out of the competition by Chambers 452-401. Waliczek cashed for $600.

 

The field of 122 bowlers averaged 191.67 during the six games of qualifying. The top game in qualifying was recorded by Brian Regan with 289. In match play Tom Smallwood of Saginaw had the top game with 279.

 

The top 32 qualifiers averaged 213.5 during qualifying and 200.1 in match play.

 

Other Oakland County keglers who cashed were Jason Battishill of Waterford Township for $400, James Fedorka of Madison Heights $250 and Jeff Grego of Waterford Township $200.

 

The Michigan State USBC Masters Tournament is a USBC certified event operated by the Michigan State USBC Association.

 

------

 

MICHIGAN MAJORS BOWLING ASSOCIATION

 

Ken Wyatt of Sterling Heights won his eighth Budweiser Michigan Majors title with a perfect 300-203 win over Terry Haines of Whitmore Lake at Plaza Lanes in Plymouth .

 

Wyatt qualified fourth with a nine-game total of 2,175 and had to beat Rick Gregor of Sterling Heights 258-228, Jeff Grego of Waterford Township 237-212 and Jeff Roche of Dearborn 238-195 to advance to the championship match. Wyatt took home the top of $1,000.

 

Haines was the top seed for the stepladder finals and settled for $600.

 

Grego cashed for $400 and Robert Schulz of Oxford for $130 to pace the Oakland County contingent.

 

The next MMBA event will be May 19 at Nortel Lanes in Monroe .

 

For more information on the MMBA contact Ken Charrette at (586) 775-2414.

 

------

 

NATIONAL SENIOR BOWLING ASSOCIATION

 

Dan Mytty of Livonia won his first National Senior Bowling Association title with 224-213 win over Rick Vittone of Canada at Century Bowl in Waterford Township .

 

Mytty collected the top prize of $1,000 after qualifying fifth and beating Charles Reynolds of Rossford , Ohio 221-171, Gary Zarick of Macomb Township 263-226 and John Ciantar of Monroe 268-179 and advancing to the championship match.

 

Vittone qualified 11th, collected the second place prize of $500 and beat Jack Logan of Plainwell 245-201, Tony Stipcak of Redford 215-192, Robert Michaux Jr. of Detroit 257-185 and Perk Fairris of Flint 236-195 en route to the title match.

 

Local bowlers who cashed were Ed Austreng of Waterford Township for $150, Dave Eatmon of Ferndale $110, Joe Fitzsimmons of Waterford Township $110, Dan Mayer of Waterford Township $95, Lyle Schaefer of Southfield $95, Rod Bryant of Oak Park $95 and Bill Haynes of Rochester Hills $90.

 

The next NSBA tournament will be May 9 at Skore Lanes in Taylor . For more information contact Phil Horowitz at (248) 489-1333, e-mail prh300@aol.com or visit www.nationalseniorbowling.com.

 

------

 

BOWLING ON TV

 

The PBA King of Bowling series will continue next Wednesday, May 13 at 9 p.m. with week three of the action on ESPN2. In the last action Wes Mallott retained his “King” title by defeating Walter Ray Williams Jr. 300-238. The “King” will face the winner of the match between Waterford ’s John Nolen and Rhino Page in next week’s telecast.

 

------

 

HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

April 16, John Kazimierczuk, Clarkston, Century Bowl, Thursday Men’s House

April 21, Timothy Hooks, Pontiac , 300 Bowl, Tuesday Shootout

April 21, Brandon Holcomb, Rochester Hills, Sunnybrook Lanes, Corpus Christi

April 22, Jeffrey Johnson, Washington, Bowl One Lanes, Ford General Classic

April 23, Jeffrey Kendall, Clawson , Troy Lanes, Thursday Men’s

April 23, Richard Rathburn Jr., Roseville , Airway Lanes, Original Detroit All Star Classic

April 23, Tony Seltz, Waterford Twp., Airway Lanes, Airway Thursday Men

April 24, Horace Swift Jr., Detroit , Plum Hollow Lanes, Friday Morning Mixed Trio

April 25, Patrick Brady, Auburn Hills, Westgate Bowl, American Legion State Tournament

April 25, Mark Brown, Warren , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles

April 26, Michael Davis, Clarkston, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Mixed – 4 – Fun

April 28, Chuck Haus, Linden , 300 Bowl, Tuesday Shootout

April 28, Ed Austreng, Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Tuesday Shootout

April 29, John Anderson, Detroit , Hazel Park Bowl, Satellite Mixed

April 29, James Venus, Hazel Park , Fairlanes, Wednesday Night Strikers

April 30, Larry Martinez, Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Elks 810 Thursday Night Men

April 30, Marcus Giles III, Madison Hts., Plaza Lanes, Original Detroit All Star Classic

April 30, William Sarver, Milford , Airway Lanes, Airway Thursday Men

May 1, Thomas Murphy, Pleasant Ridge, Luxury Lanes, Ferndale Elks #1588 Men’s Invitational

May 2, Daniel Thornton, Troy , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles

May 3, Allen Bordui Jr., Hazel Park Bowl, Royal Lanes, Jack Fulco’s Sunday Early Risers

 

 

 

 

800 Series

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

April 16, John Kazimierczuk (813), Clarkston, Century Bowl, Thursday Men’s House

April 21, Andrew Featherstone (801), White Lake , 300 Bowl, Tuesday Shootout

April 24, Allen Bordui Jr. (802), Hazel Park , Shore Lanes, Friday Nite Men

April 24, Corey Olsen (825), Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Friday 300 Mixed

April 28, Troy Franz (818), Commerce Twp., 300 Bowl, Tuesday Shootout

April 28, Corey Miller (801), Grand Blanc, 300 Bowl, Tuesday Shootout

May 2, Daniel Thornton (804), Troy , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles

 

 

 

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.