Fifty-seven bowlers showed up at All Star Lanes for the fifteenth annual eliminator on January 7th. This year the open division was again sponsored by TONY’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT and the 205 and under was our GEORGE SHAFER MEMORIAL sponsored by ALL STAR LANES AND CASINO.
This tournament offers a little different format from our other singles events as the field is cut in half after the five games of qualifying. Two more games are then bowled and the field is again cut in half and two more games are bowled. This is done until we have the top six for the TV finals. The other thing that this tournament had that was different was that the house chose to put the national lane condition which was different than their normal house shot.
After the qualifying round Shawn Beck was the leader in the open division. He had games of 215-279-196-194-186 for 1070. The top fifteen advanced to the next round. Low to make that cut was 922. After the next two games Mike VanWinkle was the leader. He shot games of 234-235 for 469. Low to make the top eight was 394. Then two more games were bowled with the top six advancing to the TV finals.
Mike VanWinkle remained the leader after the two games. He shot games of 223-248 for 471. Behind him were Mike Hansen 448, Tim Clemens 436, Henry Dawson 424, Nate Hipp 405, and James Fortier 361
The first match of the TV finals was a three-person shootout with the highest score advancing to the next game. The first match was very exciting as James shot a 190 and Henry shot a 259 but Nate Hipp did something only seven other bowlers in the history of the KSBO have ever done. He shot a 300. We have had 120 of them bowled over the years but Nate becomes the eighth bowlers to shoot one in our TV finals. He joins Lonnie Sharkey, Brian VanWert, Frank Showalter, Vern Elkhart, Gabby Galbraith, Gary Riggins and Gary Heilman as they all shot 300’s in the TV finals. Congratulations Nate.
The next match Tim ended up beating Nate 193-163. Mike H. then took care of Tim 236-212 and Mike V. 259-228 to earn his fifteenth KSBO title. This makes him fourth all time for title behind Lonnie Sharkey, Steve Force, and Gary Heilman. Congratulations Mike.
In the under eliminator Danny Heath was the leader after the qualifying round. He shot games of 225-191-210-200-196 for 1022. Low to make the top thirteen was 874. Kurt Strep was the leader after the two games. He shot games of 201-201 for 402. Behind him were Leo Funari 399, Carol Andrews 385 (she won the 9-10 frame rolloff for position), Paul Rand 385, Casey Jamrog 384, and James Paulsen 350.
In the opening TV match Paul shot 162 and defeated both Casey 156 and James 136. Carol then beat Paul 190-161. She went on to defeat Leo 175-164 and throwing clutch strikes in the tenth she beat Kurt 219-204 to earn her first under title. Great bowling Carol.
The high game out of the money is actually a high series out of the money and goes to the bowler that has the highest series that makes the first cut and does not cash. Shawn Beck shot 1070 in the open division and Danny Heath shot 1022 in the under division. They each receive a free entry into their next singles tournament.
The KSBO would like to thank Mike Malane from Tony’s Italian Restaurant for sponsoring our tournament for the fourteenth year. The KSBO would also like to thank All Star Lanes and Casino for once again honoring George Shafer with this tournament. It hardly seems possible that it has been nine years since his passing. We look forward to having both tournaments again next year.
The next tournament is the DESIGNS UNLIMITED OPEN at Hi-Joy Bowl on January 28th. The 205 and under is sponsored by MILLER CHIROPRACTIC. It is a regular singles tournament so the price for the open members is $70 and $55 for under members. Check in will begin at 10:30 with qualifying at Noon.
Now that we are in the second half of the season remember to check your number of tournaments to make sure that you have enough to bowl the finals on April 14. Open bowlers need to have six paid tournaments and under bowlers must have five paid tournaments. Four of these tournaments must be singles. Also don’t forget to turn in your SWISS Trios entries as soon as you have your teams.
Also, it is that time of year again and FYI the following bowlers will be receiving a 1099 from me shortly: Tracey Almond, Lisa Barfield, Matt Berry, Preston Carson, Tim Clemens, Larry Eoff, Mike Hansen, Michael Hartter, Gary Heilman, Nate Hipp, DJ Hoem, Curtis Messer, Jim Monahan, Ron Nichols, Anthony Sanders, Jeremy Sears, Lonnie Sharkey, Larry Strege, Brian VanWert, Mike VanWinkle, Kenny Waltman, Don York, Bob Zurbrugg
SEE YOU AT HI-JOY ON JANUARY 28TH!!
ALISON
RECAP OF THE TONY’S RESTAURANT ELIMINATOR
AFTER 5 GAMES QUALIFYING:
1. Shawn Beck 1070, 2. Ron Astrino 1062, 3. Nate Hipp 1042, 4. Mike Hansen 1030, 5. Henry Dawson 1027,
6. Don York 1000, 7. Mike VanWinkle 977, 8. Tim Clemens 968, 9. Mitch Guckert 961, 10. Nick Bachteler 960,
11. Ed Garity 958, 12. Jeremy Ellis 942, 13. James Fortier 938, 14. Rafe Barone 931, 15. Korey Coleman 922
AFTER 2 GAMES (TOP 8 ADVANCING)
1. Mike VanWinkle 469, 2. Ed Garity 455, 3. Nate Hipp 438, 4. Nick Bachteler 429, 5. James Fortier 409,
6. Tim Clemens 403, 7. Henry Dawson 399, 8. Mike Hansen 394, 9/10. Don York/Rafe Barone 390,
11. Mitch Guckert 381, 12. Korey Coleman 370, 13. Jeremy Ellis 342, 14. Ron Astrino 329, 15. Shawn Beck 318,
AFTER 2 GAMES (TOP 6 ADVANCING TO TV FINALS):
1. Mike VanWinkle 471, 2. Mike Hansen 448, 3. Tim Clemens 436, 4. Henry Dawson 424,
5. Nate Hipp 405, 6. James Fortier 361, 7. Nick Bachteler 352, 8. Ed Garity 293
TV FINALS:
Match 1 – Nate def. Henry and James 300-259-190
Match 2 – Tim def. Nate 193-163
Match 3 – Mike H. def. Tim 236-212
Match 4 – Mike H. def. Mike V. 259-228
FINAL STANDINGS AND PRIZE LIST:
1. Mike Hansen $400, 2. Mike VanWinkle $300, 3. Tim Clemens $235, 4. Nate Hipp $190, 5. Henry Dawson $145,
6. James Fortier $115, 7. Nick Bachteler $110, 8. Ed Garity $105, 9/10 Don York/Rafe Barone $97.50 each
RECAP OF THE GEORGE SHAFER MEMORIAL 205 AND UNDER ELIMINATOR
AFTER 5 GAMES QUALIFYING:
1. Danny Heath 1022, 2. Leo Funari 973, 3. Paul Rand 967, 4. Milt Meeds 965, 5. Kurt Strep 957,
6. Todd Gaboriault 934, 7. Jeremy Pyles 925, 8. Courtney Ness 921, 9. Carol Andrews 908, 10. Chuck Ludwig 889,