Another bowling season is upon us – and it didn’t take long for Chris Bardol to find his way onto the Pin Points column once again.
The Rochester resident and owner of North Pole Restaurant in Batavia started the G&W Vending League season at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen on a high note Tuesday night by posting a 300 game and 760 series.
Over the past few seasons, Bardol, a 29-year-old right-hander, has registered numerous 300 games and 800 series in Genesee Region USBC league play.
Bardol also made a big splash four months ago at the 2017 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in Reno, Nev.
On the afternoon of May 20, Bardol rolled a 300 game on the extremely difficult USBC Open oil pattern en route to a 721 series in the Doubles event.
His big series propelled him and Doubles partner Tim Pfeifer of Oakdale, Pa., to a 1,417 total, which was good for seventh place (and a prize of $1,150).
Bardol bowled on the Rose Bowl Lanes team captained by USBC Hall of Famer Doug Kent. The team finished in 18th place in the tournament that attracted around 10,000 teams in three divisions. Bardol also placed 20th in All-Events with a 2,065 score (229 average).
By the way, Kent and his son, Jacob, placed fifth in Doubles with 1,425.
Mike Rose Jr. of Rochester claimed two more “Eagles” as part of Team NABR, which posted 3,266 for the $4,000 top prize in Regular Team and 9,957 for first place in Regular Team All-Events (Team, Doubles and Singles combined).
Brad Angelo of Lockport captured the Regular All-Events crown with 2,176.
HODGSON, COMSTOCK POST 300 GAMES
Right-handers Bob Hodgson of Medina and Mark Comstock of Warsaw showed no signs of rust as they posted 300 games on Sept. 6, the opening night of the Wednesday Community League at Medina Lanes and the Wednesday Night 7 P.M. League at Livingston Lanes in Geneseo.
Hodgson, 69, picked up where he left off last season when he recorded a pair of 800 series and won one of Tommy Kress’ 60-and-Over tournaments.
Comstock, 57, rolled his first perfect game since a 300—805 effort at Livingston Lanes in November 2012.
N.J. COUPLE INTERESTED IN SCOPANO’S LANES
While nothing has been finalized, John “Jonesey” Scopano is hoping that a New Jersey couple will purchase his family’s bowling center (Paradise Lanes) and adjoining Oakfield Hotel in the near future.
“A husband and wife are interested – they’ve looked at it a couple times,” Scopano said earlier this week. “They plan on coming back here later this month to check out the area.”
Previously, the family hired Russ Bly of Warsaw as the facilities manager, with duties including pinsetter and lane maintenance.
SYRACUSE IS IN THE STATE, NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
The Syracuse area will be a popular bowling destination during the 2017-18 season as it hosts a New York State USBC tournament and two USBC national tournaments.
Flamingo Bowl in the Syracuse suburb of Liverpool is the site of the NYS Open Senior Championships on Oct. 14-15, 21-22, and the U.S. Open from Oct. 25 through Nov. 1.
And next spring, the 2018 USBC Open Championships will take place at the Oncenter Convention Center in downtown Syracuse.
-- The NYS Open Senior Championships feature competition in Doubles and Singles for NYS USBC members (men and women) 50 years of age and up.
Squad times are 12:30 and 3 p.m. each day and entry forms can be found at www.bowlny.com.
-- The U.S. Open is a scratch singles event that welcomes the best bowlers in the U.S. and overseas.
Several changes are being made this year, most notably limiting the field to 144 bowlers who have been invited based on their performance in 2016.
Competitors again will bowl 24 qualifying games over three days, using only 24 of the center’s 40 lanes. This ensures that all bowlers will compete on the same lanes and see them the same amount of times during qualifying, with each experiencing the three phases of the oil pattern -- fresh, burn and double-burn.
If spots are open after all invitees have confirmed participation, other bowlers may be able to qualify for the U.S. Open through a special tournament to be held on Oct. 25 at Flamingo Bowl. More information about the U.S. Open can be found at www.bowl.com.
-- The 2018 USBC Open Championships will be contested on specially-built lanes at the Oncenter from March 24 through July 7. The last time the tournament was in Syracuse was 1999.
There are three divisions based on skill level: The Regular Division, for those who average 210 and above; the Standard Division, for those with averages from 181-209, and the Classified Division, for bowlers who average 180 or below.
Again, for more info go to www.bowl.com.
SPARE SHOTS: LETCHWORTH SEEKS YOUTH BOWLERS
-- Kevin Sass, proprietor of Letchworth Pines in Portageville, reports that he is hoping to build a youth program on Saturday mornings.
Boys and girls from the ages of 4-18 are invited to sign up from 10 a.m. to noon on Sept. 23 and enjoy free bowling during that time. Sass said he is planning a 16-week season for 2017-18.
-- Genesee Region USBC directors will meet at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at T.F. Brown’s in Batavia. Among the agenda items are finalizing the association’s tournament schedule.
-- Perry Bowling Center is looking for a couple teams to fill its Tuesday Doubles League, which is open to men and women. Call 237-6358 for more information.
IN MEMORIAM
Condolences to the families of these Batavia-area bowlers who passed away recently:
-- Roger Wood, Aug. 8
-- Carl Aquino, Aug. 28
-- Steve Rynkowski, Sept. 2
-- Patricia (Pat) Sewert, Sept. 13
