JENN BARDOL OF BROCKPORT was thrilled when she found out that the 760 series she recorded last week (Oct. 4) in the G&W Vending Triples League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen was a Genesee Region USBC association record for women. But she also was a bit confused, noting that she rolled a 762 series in the same league last season.
It seems that miscommunication and other problems during the 2015-16 bowler certification process led to Bardol's achievement falling between the cracks somewhere.
Undeterred and not making a big fuss over it, the 32-year-old right-hander put together another stellar night with games of 225-267-268 on lanes 7-8. The 760 is one pin better than the 759 set rolled by Amanda Coniglio at Mount Morris Lanes on Feb. 23, 2015.
Bardol is the sister and teammate of Chris Bardol, who on Sept. 20 notched an 846 series, missing the GRUSBC overall record by one pin. Her other teammate on "The Handicaps" team is Greg Lund, who already has a 300 in the league this season.
"I was giving my brother and Greg a hard time because they were getting all the attention," said Bardol, a 401(k) recordkeeper for Epic Advisors Inc. in Rochester.
Bardol had a chance for a perfect game in the finale, starting with eight strikes before leaving a 5-pin. A former bowler at Erie Community College, she said she bowls in just one league and, unlike her brother, doesn't take the sport too seriously.
"I stay involved with the family (her father, Ray, also bowls in the league) and to just have fun," she said, adding that she used a 10-year old Ebonite Total NV bowling ball that she "really loves."
She also works part time as a server at Chris' restaurant in Batavia -- The North Pole on Swan Street.
"I'm his No. 1 waitress, but I don't know if he'd say that or not," she said with a laugh.
TOURNAMENT CHAMPION BOB FOSS JR. PASSES AWAY
ROBERT "BOB" FOSS JR. had a lot of love and joy in his heart, especially when it came to his family and to his lifelong passion -- the sport of bowling.
Bob, one of the best bowlers the village of Medina has ever seen, passed away at the much-too-young age of 55 on Oct. 1, leaving behind a saddened bowling community and a heartbroken family. The tributes given by his son, Curtis, and daughter, Cassidy, at his funeral at the First Baptist Church in Medina last Friday beautifully displayed their devotion to their father.
"My dad was my best friend; he meant the world to me. I'm so glad he brought me into the sport he loved so passionately," said Curtis, who has made his mark as a bowler with numerous league honors and tournament victories. "He was my favorite person in the world and nothing will be the same without him."
Cassidy, after finding the strength to sing "Amazing Grace," said her dad was her hero.
Bob's brother, Dicki, eulogized that Bob fought back after suffering a stroke in recent months, had an "abundant heart" and that when he was bowling he was "in his element."
Bob's impressive bowling record includes first-place finishes in the Genesee Region USBC Masters Tournament in 2012 and the GRUSBC Memorial Scratch Eliminator Tournament in 2013, and a record-setting 1,520 scratch score that he and Curtis achieved in the GRUSBC Association Tournament Doubles event in 2013.
A former New York State youth bowling champion and "Beat the Champ" TV show participant, Bob also finished second in a Professional Bowlers Association regional tournament.
In recent years, he bowled in leagues in Albion and Oakfield. I had the pleasure of being his teammate for a season at Scopano's Lanes, and competing with and against him in tournaments.
He knew everything that was going on in the bowling world -- nationally and locally -- and would regularly share his opinions in face-to-face conversation and on social media.
Bob also leaves behind his mother, Catherine, and brothers and sisters, Jim (Jody) Foss, Kenny (Cheryl) Foss, Dicki (Pam) Foss, and Jenn (Brian Smith) Foss; nieces and nephews.
I would also like to acknowledge the passing of two people who were part of the Batavia bowling scene for many years:
Margret Myers -- Margret died on Sept. 30, two days short of her 101st birthday. She bowled in leagues right up to a few years ago, was an avid golfer (she had two holes-in-one -- the last one at age 89) and kept in great shape by walking up to five miles a day. As friendly as they come, Margret was part of a bowling family that included her late husband, Neal; son, Bruce, and daughter, Sharon (Leising).
Peter Arras -- A crafty left-hander, Pete died on Oct. 2 at the age of 77. The former principal at Jackson School, Pete bowled in several leagues in Batavia (he averaged 216 in 2003-2004 in the Polish Falcons League) and helped coordinate the annual Teachers bowling tournament in New York State. He also was very involved in civic organizations, including the Lions Club and Literacy Volunteers.
PWBA TOUR IS RETURNING TO ROCHESTER IN 2017
FOR THE SECOND straight year, the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour includes a stop at AMF Gates Lanes in Rochester.
Supported by large, enthusiastic crowds last year, the PWBA Rochester Open will take place from July 13-15, 2017, toward the end of the Tour's 14-event schedule. The PWBA Tour kicks off April 27-29 iln Rohnert Park, Calif., and concludes with the 16-player, invitation-only PWBA Tour Championship from Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at a sit to be determined.
As was the case last season, the Tour's four major events are the United States Bowling Congress Queens, PWBA Players Championship, U.S. Women's Open and the PWBA Tour Championship. Thirteen of the 14 events will be televised on CBS Sports Network, including live telecasts of all four majors.
The 2017 PWBA Tour schedule:
April 27-29: Rohnert Park, Calif., Double Decker Lanes
May 4-6: Sacramento, Calif., Steve Cook's Fireside Lanes
May 11-13: Fountain Valley, Calif., Fountain Bowl
May 17-23: Baton Rouge, La., Baton Rouge River Center (*USBC Queens)
June 1-3: Wichita, Kan., Northrock Lanes
June 8-10: Lincoln, Neb., Sun Valley Lanes
June 15-17: Canton, Mich., Super Bowl
June 22-25: Green Bay, Wis., The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley (*PWBA Players Championship)
June 29-July 1: Orlando, Fla., Boardwalk Bowl
July 6-8: St. Petersburg, Fla., Seminole Lanes
July 13-15: Rochester, N.Y., AMF Gates Lanes
July 27-30: Houston, Bowl On Bellaire (Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles)
July 31-Aug. 6: Plano, Texas, Plano Super Bowl (*U.S. Women's Open)
Aug. 31-Sept. 3: TBD (*PWBA Tour Championship)
OCTOBER FEATURES LOCAL, NATIONAL EVENTS
SEVERAL TOURNAMENTS are on the calendar for this month:
Oct. 16 -- 8th annual Fall Classic, Medina Lanes.
The scratch singles tournament is open to men and women, and offers a first-prize of $600. Squad times are 12:30 and 3 p.m. and finals will follow a Desperado (one-game, last-chance) round. The entry fee is $50. Call 318-4474 to enter.
Oct. 16 -- Genesee Region Youth Travel League, Mancuso Bowling Center, Batavia.
The league is comprised of boys and girls who are members of Genesee Region USBC association youth bowling programs. According to GRUSBC President Tom Fluker, the league has 13 teams this season, including four from Batavia. Oakfield, Albion and Bergen each have two teams while Le Roy, Perry and Mount Morris have one team apiece. The league bowls on Sunday afternoons (1 p.m. starting time).
Oct. 19 -- PBA King of Swing telecast, CBS Sports Network, 9 p.m.
Oct. 29-30 -- GRUSBC Adult-Junior Team, Legion Lanes, Le Roy.
Teams will consist of two adults and two youth bowlers, and the format calls for three games with the highest combined score with handicap placing first. One out of every four teams entered will cash. Squad times are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Oct. 29 and noon and 3 p.m. on Oct. 30. Entry fee is $80 per team. Youth bowlers will win scholarships, while adult bowlers will be awarded with cash. To enter, call Fluker at 585-284-2637. Entry forms are available at www.bowlgr.com.
Oct. 29 -- Start of the Season No-Tap, Mancuso Bowling Center.
First place for this three-person, handicap no-tap event is $750, based on 48 entries. Entry fee is $75 per team. Squad times are noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Call 585-343-1319 to sign up.
A 'SHOUT-OUT' TO JOE MORT, BRIAN WEBER
JOE MORTELLARO, the "grand-daddy" of bowling in the Batavia area, turned 80 recently and continues to bowl regularly as a member of the County Line Stone League on Wednesday nights at Scopano's Lanes in Oakfield. And he can still knock 'em over as he posted a 239 game last night while I was there for a visit.
BRIAN WEBER, arguably Perry's best tournament bowler, has been on the sidelines thus far this season after having a cancerous kidney removed in August. He said he is progressing nicely, however, and has been taking a few practice rolls in preparation for a return to bowling next month. Weber notched a big tournament victory over the summer when he placed first in the Lilac City Bonus Singles, winning $5,800.
(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 atmikepett2002@yahoo.com).
