Manassas Journal Messenger | Wolfe wins Massaponax Open
By TED GRUSZKOWSKI
Jim Wolfe of Fredericksburg, Va., claimed the $700 purse when he won the inaugural Massaponax Scratch Open Tournament conducted at Liberty Lanes in Fredericksburg, Va., on Aug. 3.
It took a total pinfall of 1,053 or higher, a 210.6 average, for the first 5-game qualifying round for the top half of the field to advance to round 2. Pins earned in round 1 were not carried over.
It took a total pinfall of 436 or higher, a 218 average, in the 2-game second qualifying round for the top 8 athletes to advance to the 1-game match play round. Pins earned in round 2 were carried over.
Following match play the top two finalists, Wolfe and Bill Dontigney, Fredericksburg, Va., advanced to the championship round.
Wofle was victorious over Dontigney, 233-194, in the championship round to earn his title.
Dontigney received the $400 runner-up prize.
Other cashers (with 3-game total): Jeff Leaphart, Columbia, S.C., 737, 3rd place $250; and Steve Gauger, Fredericksburg, Va., 709, 4th place $150. 5th & 6th place: Ronnie Angles, Fredericksburg, Va., 696; and Jim Lewis, Waldorf, Md., 682, $100 each. 7th & 8th place: Herb Lewis, Chester, Va., 601; and Louis Watson, Richmond, Va., withdrew-injury, $85 each.
The next tournament is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Aug. 31. For additional information, telephone Liberty Lanes at (540) 710-0234.
FAY’S 817 SERIES SETSRECORD AT AMF SEMINARY
Dawn Fay of Manassas, Va., bowling in the Top Dollar Trios League at AMF Seminary Lanes, Alexandria, Va., on July 31 rolled games of 259, 300 and 258 for an 817 series and set a new record for the highest series ever bowled by a woman in the center. Fay’s stellar performance is also the highest series in the Washington D.C. Area Women’s Bowling Association for the 2002-2003 season.
This was Fay’s first 800 series ever bowled and the perfect ”300” game in the series was the fourth of her career.
”I’m hoping this will be like the 700 series was for me,” stated Fay to Bowl Magazine Editor Bob Cosgrove. ”Once I finally had my first one, I had several of them right after that.”
Fay, a seven-time Virginia Bowling Queens champion, has appeared in the Washington D.C. Area Women’s Bowling Association Top 10 ranking each year since 1994 and was the No. 1-ranked bowler for six consecutive seasons (1995-1996 to 2000-2001).
KUZAK EARNS 7TH NABITITLE AT AMF BOWIE LANES
Rich Kuzak of Glen Burnie, Md., collected his seventh career National Amateur Bowlers (NABI) title by winning the Baltimore-Washington Region NABI Tournament hosted by AMF Bowie (Md.) Lanes, Aug. 9-10.
It took a handicap series score of 666 or higher in the semifinals for the top five contestants to advance to the finals.
In match 1 of the stepladder finals, fourth seeded Tiffany Scott, Waldorf, Md., stopped fifth seeded Irvin Betts, Georgetown, Del., from advancing to the next match, 217-211. Betts went home with the $100 5th place check. Scott toppled third seeded Dee Willis, Washington, D.C., by just three pins, 215-212, in match 2. Willis earned $125 for finishing in 4th place. Second seeded Kuzak defeated Scott, 216-193, in match 3. Scott was paid $150 for taking 3rd place.
In the championship match, Kuzak beat top seeded Derrick Rankin, Falls Church, Va., 181-175, to win the tournament. In addition to the first place check, Kuzak also collected $414.57 for winning the Progressive Side Pot.
”I was really lucky to win this event,” said Kuzak. ”I got some great breaks and converting spares was my salvation.”
Rankin netted $250 for his 2nd place finish and also made $177.68 for taking 2nd place in the Progressive Side Pot.
Other cashers: Betty Mead, Arlington, Va., 636, 6th place $95; Joe Murphy, Hollywood, Md., 632, 7th place $90; Anthony Sewell, Upper Marlboro, Md., 622, 8th place $85; Dale Hartman, Kensington, Md., 617, 9th place $80; with Eric Elliott, Glenn Dale, Md., and Ted Kolar, Baltimore, Md., tied for 10th place with a handicap series score of 613, $72 each.
BOCZAR ROLLS PERFECTGAMES WITH BOTH HANDS
Lesley Boczar of Hollywood, Fla., became the first woman to roll Women’s International Bowling Congress sanctioned 300 games both left-handed and right-handed after registering a perfect game July 22 with her left hand.
Boczar previously rolled a perfect game right-handed on May 5, 1997, in the Plycon Classic League at Strikers Family Sport Center in Sunrise, Fla. Forced to switch hands due to an injury, she rolled her second career 300 – this time with her left hand – July 22 in the South Florida Masters Trios League at Sawgrass Lanes in Sunrise.
”I was just thinking, ‘Make a good shot. Take a deep breath. This is what you’ve been practicing for,”’ Boczar said about her last roll in the 10th frame.
Boczar credits her success to her husband, Vincent, who was there to witness the event, and Phil Atkinson, her coach of 2 and 1/2 years. With their help, she has augmented her physical game to complement an already strong mental game, she said.
After the last pin fell on July 22, her husband and several other league memebers jumped up to congratulate her.
”It was really special,” Boczar said.
Boczar’s highest season averages are 218 right-handed and 201 left-handed. She had also rolled a 298 and 299 right-handed.
HOFFMAN, POHL GARNERMEN’S DOUBLES GOLD MEDAL
Two-time U.S. Amateur Champion Bill Hoffman and Scott Pohl compiled a 12-game pinfall of 5,020 to secure the gold in the men’s doubles competiton of the 14th Pan American Games held at the Sebelen Bowling Center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Aug. 3.
Hoffman finished with the highest individual average of 220.67 and Pohl, his partner, had a 197.67 overall average.
The silver medal was won by Canada’s George Lambert IV and Danyck Briere with a total pinfall of 4891; with Columbia’s Jamie Gomez and Jorge Romero winning the bronze on their combined pinfall of 4877.
Other finalists in the competiton: Mario Valverde and Alejandro Reyna, Costa Rica, 4871, 4th place; with Arturo Hernandez and Pedro Elias, Venezuela, 4845, 5th place.
FALCONI, BAEZA ANDHOFFMAN WIN MEDALS
Mexico’s Daniel Falconi recorded a 2,607 total pinfall, a 217.25 average, in the 12-game singles competition of the 14th Pan American Games held at the Sebelen Bowling Center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Aug. 5 to win the gold medal.
The silver medal was won by Mexico’s Marcos Baeza with a 2,555 total pinfall, a 212.75 average, while Team USA’s Bill Hoffman collected the bronze medal with a 2,552 pinfall, a 212.66 average.
”I don’t see much difference between bronze and silver. You are always going for the gold and once I knew I couldn’t get it I was happy to get a medal,” said Hoffman, who won the 1999 and 2003 U.S. Amateur Championships. ”Both Daniel and Marcos are friends of mine and both deserved to win their medals.”
Other finalists in the competition: Danyck, Briere, Canada, and Jamie Gomez, Columbia, tied for 4th place with a total pinfall of 2516.
MEXICO CAPTURES GOLD INWOMEN’S DOUBLES TOURNEY
Mexico’s Adriana Perez Navarro and Illiana Lomeli Lemus finished with a 12-game pinfall of 4,807 to garner the gold medal in the women’s double competiton of the 14th Pan American Games held at the Sebelen Bowling Center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Aug. 3.
Shannon Pluhowsky and Stacy Werth of the United States earned the silver with their combined pinfall of 4715; with Columbia’s Sara Vargas and Clara Guerrero (former Wichita State University bowling team stars) receiving the bronze for their total pinfall of 4702.
Other finalists in the competition: Miriam Ayala and Yoselin Leon Yoselin, Puerto Rico, 4583, 4th place; with Jennifer Willis and Robin Crawford, Canada, 4504, 5th place.
PLUHOWSKY EARNS WOMEN’S SINGLES GOLD MEDAL
Team USA’s Shannon Pluhowsky once again proved that she’s among the best female bowlers in the world when she compiled a 12-game total pinfall of 2,459, a 204.92 average, in the women’s singles event of the 14th Pan American Games at the Sebelen Bowling Center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Aug. 5 to capture the gold medal.
For all her presious successes, the 20-year-old ranked this victory as her biggest.
”It means a lot because this is as close as we’ll ever get to the Olympics,” Pluhowsky said. ”This is the top.”
Guatemala’s Sofia Rodriguez finished with a 2,424 total pinfall, a 202 average, to earn the silver medal, while Columbia’s Clara Guerrero received the bronze medal with her 2,408 pinfall, a 200.66 average.
Other finalists in the competiton: Margalit Mizrachi, Venezuela, 2394, 4th place; and Adriana Perez Navarro, Mexico, 2352, 5th place.