GENESEE REGION USBC President Tom Fluker says he can't understand why more league bowlers aren't taking advantage of the local association's generous score-based awards program.
"We should have received more award applications than we have at this point of the season," Fluker said. "For years, we've heard from bowlers that they don't get anything for their sanction fee ($18 per year). Now we're offering some nice prizes and we still can't get all of our secretaries to tap into them."
The GRUSBC's awards program starts with plaques, medallions or entries into the association's year-end grand prize drawing for those who bowl 299 and 300 games or 800 series (700 series for women), but goes well beyond that, Fluker said.
"We're offering prizes for triplicates (three games of the same score), picking the 7-10 split and Big Four (4-6-7-10 split), 35 to 59 pins over average for a game, 60 pins over average for a game, 100 pins over average for a series, 11 in a row, men's 700 series, women's games above 225, and all-spare games," Fluker said.
"And all of the awards, except pens, key chains and towels, are personalized with the bowler's name, bowling center, lane numbers, score and date of achievement."
Those rolling a triplicate, for example, will receive an engraved beer stein or wine glass, and five entries into the grand prize drawing. Other "trinket" awards, as Fluker calls them, include koozies, coasters, coffee mugs and lanyards.
Fluker said John Wood of Warsaw, a GRUSBC board member, has been assigned the task of compiling the award applications and making sure that the awards are distributed.
But the process starts with the league secretary filling out the online application -- found in the Downloads section of www.bowlgr.com -- or the paper form that also has been posted on the association's website. Secretaries are asked to complete the applications within three weeks of the achievement -- not wait until the end of the season.
Wood's email address is jgwood@rochester.rr.com, or he can be reached at 585-786-0214 for those who need assistance.
Furthermore, all members of the GRUSBC -- those who have paid their USBC membership fee -- will be entered into the association's grand prize drawing, which will take place at the season-ending banquet on May 13 at Batavia Downs Gaming. Additional entries are earned through the awards program (for example, a 300 game by a woman comes with 12 entries into the grand prize drawing).
The winner of the grand prize drawing (just one winner) will have a choice of one of 10 prizes, each worth $1,500. The prizes are a Tops/Wegmans gift card, Best Buy gift card, Amazon gift card, Batavia Downs Gaming weekend, dinner and a movie for a year at Tinseltown, $1,500 lottery basket, Home Depot or Lowe's gift card, bowling package (equipment and tournament entries), home cookout or golf package (set of new clubs, golf course gift card).
Youth bowlers have their own scholarship points program, with achievements given a dollar value, based not only on scores but also on years of participation. Those who stay with junior bowling for an extended period of time and achieve a certain level of success could find themselves with several hundred dollars in scholarship money when they enter college.
The GRUSBC's youth scholarships point system also can be found in the Downloads section at www.bowlgr.com.
TWO 300 GAMES AND A 299 AT OAK ORCHARD BOWL
OAK ORCHARD BOWL in Albion yielded three honor scores in league action over the past two weeks.
On Oct. 3, Kenny Mosele started with a 299 game en route to a sparkling 793 series in the Sneezy's Monday Night Men's League. His other games were 228 and 266.
On Oct. 10 in the same league, lefty Dan Conrad registered his first 300 game in a 189-300-211--700 effort.
And on Oct. 13, Reid Cole notched his fifth 300 game, and first at Oak Orchard, in the Thursday Men's Triples League. The perfect game was sandwiched between 211 and 269 for a 780 series.
All three bowlers are Albion residents.
At Medina Lanes, Frank Vekich of Middleport shot 299--766 in the Thursday Firefighters League on Oct. 13.
At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Rob Sease of Brockport filled in last week (Oct. 18) and rolled a 290 game in the G&W Vending Triples League.
EAST ROCHESTER WOMAN TRIUMPHS IN MEDINA
SHANNA CHEPELSKY, of East Rochester, one of the area's rising young stars, captured the Fall Classic scratch singles tournament title at Medina Lanes on Oct. 16.
The 24-year-old right-hander defeated Medina's Rich Culver, 201-175, in the championship match. In the semifinals, Chepelsky turned back Carl Kinyon, of Lockport, while Culver downed Sam Capizzi, of Rochester.
Two tournaments are scheduled for this Saturday (Oct. 29) -- the Start of the Season three-person no-tap event at Mancuso Bowling Center and the GRUSBC Adult-Junior Team event at Legion Lanes in Le Roy.
The no-tap tournament is offering a $750 first prize, based on 48 entries, with an entry fee of $75 per team. Squad times are noon, 2 and 4 p.m. To enter, call 585-343-1319.
The adult-junior team tournament consists of teams of two adults and two youth bowlers, and one in four will cash (scholarships to the kids). Squad times are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The entry fee is $80 per team. Call 585-284-2637 to enter.
Mount Morris Lanes will be hosting the Gladys Ford Memorial Senior Women's handicap singles tournament on Nov. 5-6. Participants (age 50 and over) will roll three games, with the top bowlers receiving prize money in six different age classifications. The entry fee is $26. To enter, call 585-335-3309.
TRIPLE O MECHANICAL TOURNEY HITS ITS NINTH YEAR
THE TRIPLE O MECHANICAL Singles Handicap Tournament is set for Sunday, Nov. 13 at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.
In its ninth year, the tourney has proven to be a popular choice for bowlers of all skill levels throughout Western New York, thanks in part to the incentives it offers for women, seniors (55-and-over) and super seniors (65-and-over).
Qualifying squads (three games) are scheduled for 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., with the eliminator finals (where half of the bowlers from each pair of lanes advance) to follow.
The top three scores from the 10 a.m. squad and the top two scores from the 12:30 p.m. squad are guaranteed into the finals.
Also, the top woman, senior and super senior not making the cut will advance to the finals, as long as there are at least five entries in each of those categories and as long as a woman, senior or super senior does not make the cut by virtue of his or her score. The guaranteed spots do not affect the senior, super senior or woman incentives.
First place, based on 48 entries, is $500, and the entry fee is only $30.
To enter, call 585-861-0404 or 585-494-9900.
Triple O Mechanical champions:
2008 -- Laurie Morgante, Bergen
2009 -- Dan Robinson, Chili
2010 -- Debbie Falbo, Bergen
2011 -- Melanie Balduf, Bergen
2012 -- Kevin Gray Jr., Warsaw
2013 -- Brian Decker, Rochester
2014 -- Al D'Ambrosia, Rochester
2015 -- Rob Husted, Spencerport
BBQ TO BENEFIT OAKFIELD YOUTH BOWLING PROGRAM
SCOPANO'S LANES IN OAKFIELD, in conjunction with The Caryville Inn, is sponsoring a pulled pork BBQ on Saturday, Nov. 5, to raise funds for the Oakfield youth bowling program.
Tickets are being sold for $10 each, and proceeds will go to help purchase trophies and other prizes for bowlers in the Saturday morning league.
To purchase a ticket, call 585-948-9993 or 585-948-9780. Pickup times will be between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at The Caryville Inn, 25 Main St., Oakfield.
The kids are selling tickets, as well, and will receive a free game of bowling at Scopano's for every ticket they sell.
(Mike Pettinella’s Pin Points column appears every other Thursday on The Batavian, the region’s No. 1 source for online news. To advertise on this page, contact Mike at mikepett2002@yahoo.com).
