Perry team, Vlietstra, Palmer duo top list after week one of Genesee Region USBC Tournament

Update, March 31 -- The Sunday Team squads at the Genesee Region USBC Tournament have been cancelled due to a lack of entries. Team openings exist at 7 tonight or at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday (April 1).

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard so-called “handicap” bowlers say they can’t compete against “those scratch bowlers” when it comes to participating in the annual local association tournament.

Unfortunately, that perception exists despite the fact that the local association tournament – in our case the Genesee Region USBC – is set up with a handicap format to give bowlers of all skill levels a fair chance at succeeding.

Results from the first of two weekends of the 2017 tournament at Letchworth Pines in Portageville (Team event) and Perry Bowling Center (Doubles & Singles events) are, once again, proof that this perception is not reality.

-- In the Open Team division, McClurg Five out of Perry Bowling Center featuring bowlers with averages ranging from 119 to 194 posted 2,573 scratch – nearly 300 pins better than its team average – en route to a 3,755 score with handicap to move into first place.

Team members are Tracy and Steve Werner, Dave and Bethann Kaczmarek, and Wes McClurg.

-- In the Open Doubles division, Casey Palmer Jr. and Casey Palmer Sr., league bowlers in Batavia and Albion, combined for 1,623 with handicap to take the lead. Palmer Jr., a 178 average bowler, posted 706 scratch, and his dad (182 average) added 593 scratch.

Palmer Jr. rolled 608 in Singles and is in position to surpass All-Events leader Steve Maher of Castile, who rolled 603 in Team, 643 in Doubles and 572 in Singles – all above his 176 average.

Maher’s 2,334 score with handicap is in first place, but Palmer Jr. is scheduled to compete in Team event this weekend and needs 687 with handicap to move past the Castile resident.

-- In Open Singles, 68-year-old Al Vlietstra of Geneseo (200 average) is in first place after rolling 258-225-269—752 for an 860 with handicap score.

Four others broke the 800 mark with handicap – Steve Krna of Batavia, 834 (718 scratch); Gary Roberts of Medina, 821 (635 scratch); Dan Dixon of Attica, 803, (685 scratch), and Dean Cadieux Sr. of Byron, 802 (662 scratch).

-- In Women’s Singles, Deborah Say of Attica rolled 461 scratch – slightly higher than her 139 average – to take the lead with a handicap score of 652.

Other leaders after the opening weekend are as follows:

-- Women’s Team – Huber Farms, Bennington Lanes, 2,572.
-- Women’s Doubles – Deborah Say and Rachel Tibold of Marilla, 1,231.
-- Women’s All-Events – Cathi Fournier of Dansville, 1,863.

Complete standings can be found on the GRUSBC website – www.bowlgr.com.

The tournament resumes Friday night with Team and D/S squads at 7 p.m.  On Saturday, Team squads are at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and D/S squads are at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. On Sunday, both Team and D/S squads are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Open division teams consist of five bowlers (all men, all women or any combination) while Women’s division bowlers consist of four women.

Openings exist on all squads.  Entry forms can be downloaded from the GRUSBC website.

SPIOTTA REACHES MILESTONE AT USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Longtime Batavia bowler Paul Spiotta hit a milestone worthy of celebration last week when he competed in the USBC Open Championships at South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas, Nev.

The 59-year-old right-hander took part in his 25^th national tournament and received a plaque for his accomplishment.  And he bowled fairly well with a 1,684 All-Events score (187 average) on the extremely challenging Open Championships oil pattern.

He was part of the Joe’s Awards & Trophies team, which also included Todd Mortellaro, Joe Trigilio, Joe Mortellaro and Gregg Wolff.

They flew to Vegas with a companion team, Striking Effects Pro Shop, which consisted of Jim Pursel, Brian Green, Matt Balduf, Mark Brown and Geoff Harloff.

Green posted 645 in Doubles, combining with Brown for an 1,168 total, while Pursel had 641 in Team and 625 in Singles en route to a 1,766 All-Events score.

Trigilio and Joe Mortellaro are closing in on milestones, as well. By competing at next year’s tournament in Syracuse, Trigilio will have 25 years and Joe Mort will move within a single year of 50 years at the national event.

SPARE SHOTS: BIALUSKI, TRIGILIO CLAIM TOURNEY TITLES

Norm Bialuski of Rochester rolled a 239 game in the final round to capture the $1,100 first prize at the T.F. Brown’s Scratch Eliminator Tournament on March 18 at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

The 47-year-old right-hander, a frequent competitor in Genesee County events, defeated Mike Rose of Rochester (236), Dana Voytovich of Cheektowaga (181) and Kristina Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda (176) in title match.

Rose earned $550, Voytovich $400 and Szczerbinski $300.

Joe Trigilio of Attica was the lone local qualifier and he finished in ninth place for $160.

This past weekend, Trigilio notched his second 60-and-Over Bowlers Club tourney title this season by topping 40 other bowlers at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

Trigilio posted 244 to defeat Steve Nowicki of Rochester (205) and Bob Oster of Hilton (203) in the three-person finals. 

In the three-game qualifying round, Trigilio placed fifth with 704 and Bob Hodgson of Medina also advanced with 655. Trigilio then rolled 213 and 206 in the next two rounds to reach the finals

In youth league action on March 11^th at Medina Lanes, 14-year-old Morgan Allis rolled a 277 game, registering nine consecutive strikes after an opening spare.  She is the daughter of Scott and Peggy Allis.