PBA set to celebrate its 50th anniversary

By Gil Sanchez For the News & Messenger
Published: October 1, 2008

It was 1958 when a sports agent by the name of Eddie Elias founded the Professional Bowlers Association and the PBA Tour in Syracuse New York. Thirty three bowlers signed on. The first PBA Tour competition, the Empire State Open was held in 1959 and won by Lou Campi (a right handed bowler known as “wrong foot Louie” because he ended his approach on his right foot instead of his left). The other two events held that year, the Paramus Eastern Open and the Dayton Open, were won by Dick Weber who went on to win 11 of the first 23 events.
The PBA plans to celebrate its anniversary throughout the 2008/2009 Tour season which runs from September 2008 to April 2009. To highlight the celebration and recognize its all-time greats, the PBA has added one of the 50 greatest player’s names to each PBA Regional and Senior Tour event in all seven of its regions for the upcoming season. The names and selections were based on each player’s home region.
In our region, the East Region, there will be two such events, both at the Ft. Meade bowling center in Maryland. The PBA East Region Danny Wiseman/Ft. Meade open will be held on Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2008 and the Johnny Petraglia Senior/Ft. Meade Open on March 6-8, 2009.
Tournament Tidbits
Senior Adult Bowling Tournament: Bowl America Woodbridge is spon-soring an 8 pin no-tap tournament for seniors age 55 or older on Monday Oct 6 at 11:00am. There will be separate divisions for men and women and awards will be presented to the top 3 places in each division and for indi-vidual high scratch series. Each participant will bowl 3 games, the winners being determined by total pinfall including handicap of 90% of the difference between the bowler’s average and 200.
The $9.50 entry fee per bowler includes bowling, lunch, door prizes and a chance to win an award.
27th Annual Senior Tournament
Bowl America Gaithersburg is hosting the NCAUSBCA sponsored 27th Annual Senior Tournament over two weekends in October. Times are Oct. 18 1:30 & 4:30pm, Oct. 19 1:00 & 4:00pm, Oct. 25 1:00 & 400pm and Oct. 26 1:00 & 4:00pm. Entry fee is $20.00 per event and $4.00 optional all events.
Entries close Oct. 11. The events are singles, doubles and team. All entrants must be members of the NCAUSBCA and at least 55 years of age. Singles classifications for men and women are Class A 70 years or older, B 65 to 69, C 60 to 64 and D 55 to 59. Doubles are 2 women, 2 men or 1 woman/1 man. Team is all women, all men or any combination. Tournament Manager and Dale City resident, Hazel A. Wallace, can be reached at 703-606-6203 or at .
Myth Buster
Myth: At 100% handicap every team in a league has a 50-50 chance of winning.
Busted: Even at 100% handicap, as proven by a 4-year study by the United States Bowling Congress, the higher average teams or bowlers have a decided edge. Seventy out of 100 league championships still are won by the higher average team when 100% handicap is used. According to the study, an exact 50-50 distribution of league championships results only if a 116% handicap is used.
Gil Sanchez is a freelance bowling writer for the Potomac News. Reach him at 703-587-6792 or at

The scores shown are for selected leagues in Prince William County.  Each league has its own characteristics and different levels of bowling averages.  Scores reflect high series and high games.

Bowl America Bull Run
Bull Run Mixed (9/22/08): Men - Robert Shelton 264-716 John Holland 666 Ron Weber 235-644 Harold Compton 288-630 Dick Perron 614 Tom Holstein 240 Tom Faskey 237 Women - Carrie Wilson 532 Patty Hoover 190-529 Jane Steury 508 Judy Combs 507 Jackie Beach 503 Meg Bencivenga 203 Char Leidwinger 196 Lil Landsdowne 193 June Wing 192
Monday Night Classic (9/22/08): Men - Tom Middleton 277-815 Bill Bean 761 Josh Hurdle 279-757 Anthony Tedesco 277 James Seffensen 277-737 Don Armel Jr. 298 Jake Ganey 288 Larry Wallace 279 Women - Tiffany Bell 256-717 Terry Franklin-Cap 624 Michael Paige 245-616 Fe Fonda 228-598 Michelle Evans 219-588 Lois Cozzi 232
Bowl America Manassas
Tuesday Early Mixed (9/23/08): Men - Harry Acheson 613 Bryan Waldeck 246 Mark Hedberg 233 Butch Sullivan 215 Pete Shell 211 Matt Toms & Ted Wynes 203 Women - Juanita Hinkle 456 Bobbie Shinaburger 454 Pat Craddock 157 Becky Hornbrook 153
Clubhouse (9/22/08): Men - Spencer Hedden 609 Dave Kane 238 Dave Markell 234 Stax Carrington 210 Boo Claypoole 203 Jason Waters 200 Women - Erica Dellinger 183 Linda Gray 162 Lori Pettry 155
Wednesday Night Mixed (9/24/08): Men - Nathan Sekula 255-235-708 Albert Utterback 266-686 D.J. Davis 270-674 Les Patterson 232-605 Ronnie Nethercutt 201 Scott Finney 200 Women -  Barbara Finney 500 Linda Amonett 492 Patricia Utterback 486 Marry Burressw 488 Colleen Ganoe 479 Mary Spruvse 169 Lassie Dean 158 Paula Walsh 157 Heather Dawson 152 Paula Wirth 150
AMF Dale City
Ladies Strikes, Spares & Mrs (9/25/08): Series - Doris Lenyon 205-512 Sylvia Mobley 194-194-512 Donna Koczot-Grant 191-542 Game - Jackie Carroll 204 Hazel Wallace 196 Michelle McCastle 158 Jeannie Cistaro 170 Joyce Castro 191 Glenda Jones 157 Mille Neff 172 Carolyn Rachelle 188 Cheryl Stonebreaker 160 Teresa Giltner 178 Eva Hatch 160 Pat Andrew 155 Cathy Manning 164
Kings & Queens (9/22/08): Men - Wally Phillips 212-578 Dwayne Locke 210-565 Mycal Ross 545 Larry Ross, Jr. 215-540 Women - Linda Wise 193-518 Marilyn Mallery 184-487 Valerie Muck 164 Susan Hemphill 160 Patti Byrd & Gretchen Oakes & Marie Snyder 155
Bowl America Woodbridge
Thursday Nite Early (9/25/08): Men - Ken Catterton 673 Joe Hansen 656 Randy Greer 655 Larry Smith 650 Dick West 634 Glenn Keffer 243 Gary Griffin 240 Randy McNeil 233 Ralph Brown 232 James King 228 Women - Vicky Richard 558 Shelly Hansen 537 Val Greer 530 Debbie Reynolds 511 Collet Caleb 505 Elaine Dowty 198 Adele Boese 188 Karen Robinson 184 Debbie Gring & Christy Catterton 180 Karen Smith 172
Monday Early Mixed (9/22/08): Men - Don Gray 663 Cliff Fisher 657 Timothy Gunn 648 Pat Mock 267 Kenny Butler 241 Victor Guerrero 233 Women - Val Greer 537 Debbie Smith 532 Annetta Sharp 512 Jennifer Anders 197 Dale Bowling 195 Dru Gray 193
Utopia Ladies: Joellen Patterson 583 Doris Lenyon 544 Marsha Vaughan 528 Jessica Spalding 193 Delaine Taylor & Judy Chronister 190
Ladies Nite Out (9/25/08): Series Nisha Harbison 212-255-189-656 Candy Selvage 216-201-236-653 Barbara Gutridge 208-211-210-629 Docie Whitlock 214-196-189-599 Missi Strickland 190-217-182-589 Game Brittany Petty 233 Debbie Batchelor 223 Teresa Medina 213 Ellen Taylor 210 Sherry McKinney 207
Woodbridge Rollers (9/24/08): Men - Michael Anderson 244-268-707 Derrick Rollins 226-234629 Christopher Murphy 233-216-618 David Lohman 225-613 David Holloway 612 Gregory Johnson 239 Thomas Hunter 235 Alby Bensusan & Michael Vance 224 Carlos Cole 221 Women -  Anita Hawkins 237-646 Cassie Robinette 194-554 Lorna Flemming 189 Sarah Ayres 187 Martha Keplinger 186 Shirley Conway 180
Automotive Men (9/25/08): Series - Mark Glover 259-713 John Zentner 255-700 Johnny Gutridge 248-694 Danny Thiebolt 278-691 Robert Foor 275-691 Game - John Mason 276 Tobias Trader 266 Gregory Melancdon 257 Gil Sanchez 247 Gerald Angyal & Vinnie Murabito 246
Dale City Men’s Commercial (9/22/08): Series - Brandon Tinsley 777 Milton Arnett 776 C.T. Campbell 739 Michael Skufca 725 Dan Lorenz 715 Game - Jim Einhorn 268 Mark Glover 267 John Sims Jr. 265 Andrew Campbell 259 Rob Easterday 257 Dan Gilmore 257
Senior Prime Timers (9/25/08): Men - Wally Phillips 623 Gregg Luhmann 618 Shy Soto 613 Cecil Fyffe 603 John Handley 595 Otha Vines 237 John Lyon 223 Tom Owens & Don Hapner 219 Buddy Rose 214 Women -  Cathy Herald 540 Marian Young 507 Wenona Marques 503 Carolyn Frye & Elizabeth Clemens 495 Virginia Davis 190 Carol Know 185 Mary Toman 182 Aileen Wilson 177 Bobbie Martin & Lois Grimmett 169
Merchants Mixed (9/23/08): Men - Gerry Flemming 268-258-752 Bob Mosser 257-253-736 Doug Knoth 300-732 Bruce McClung 243-716 Harry Basnight 256-713 Speedy Huizar 290 Johnny Gutridge 278 Pop Sneed 276 Howard Hiob 270 Tony Abel 267 Women - Dawn Fay 243-232-683 Tiffany Bell 258-229-670 Terri Franklin 231-244-659 Nisha Harbison 233-235-650 Lynn Frechette 224-211-637 Stacey Gonzales 256 Joyce Peck 234 Marcia Smith 230 Michele Ayers 225 Louise Jefferson 223
Four Seasons Fun Bunch (Senior League): Men - John Lyon 209-609 Roland Arrington 206-580 Bill Jarosz 201-551 Brian Richard 178-546 Norm Prince 190 Herb Abraham 183 Jim West 176 Ivan Gluckman 171 Fred Grabner 168 Women - Carolyn Frye 157-164-160-481 Sharon Dibbley 178 Carolyn Keller 157 Nancy Adelholt 155 Myra Gluckman 155 Georgia Abraham 152
Saturday Nite Mixed (9/27/08): Men - Delmonte Spence 693 Duane Hapner 660 A.J. McDaniel 651 Matt Howery 650 Mike Youmans 624 Justin Switherbank 244 Al Massey 237 Kyle Rose 236 Buddy Lindemuth 229 Bill Blatt & Michael Vance 227 Women - Missi Strickland 647 Michelle Mullally 630 Sherry McKinney 578 Terri Kelly 575 Remy Sheppard 552 Debbie Reynolds 216 Shante Parker 215 Nikki Bolwman 214 Nettie Burke 210 Linda Sheffield 205
Nightengale Mixed (9/26/08): Men - Bob Foor 708 Chris Stamler 669 Joseph Hansen 668 Dan Azzato 662 Doug Gathof 642 Tia Fuga 278 Mitch Sulkess 247 Frank Johnson 235 Brandon Hall 226 Gary Brauzer 217 Women - Shelly Hansen 547 Slex Gathof 520 Judy Brewer 510 Mona Harston 477 Susan Kolodziej 471 Cheryl Lucas 177 Santa Quiniones 170 Mindy Hood 160
Woodbridge Handicap Trios (9/23/08): Men - Dave Meaker 758 David Martin 719 Mark Glover 706 Martin Wagner 693 Brian Blatt 688 A.J. McDaniel 277 Brandon Hall 276 Guy Swithenbank & Tim Gentry & Art Washington 258 Women - Anita Hawkins 561 Letisha Giggetts 557 Cindy Swords 548 Mindy Hood 491 Judith Hankins 491 Gales Schreiber 156