Bowling News

January 7, 2025

Ryan Gillis Takes BBI Title at Husted’s Hazel Dell Lanes

Vancouver, Wash. -- On Sunday, 94 bowlers gathered at Husted’s Hazel Dell Lanes for the first BBI tournament of 2025 featuring five games of qualifying. 

 

Qualifying Highlights:


Game 1: Ryan Gillis led the field after a 235 game with bonus pins and handicap, followed by Julio Rivera Torres and Marco Israel, who both scored 257. Jayne Mahealani Sonognini placed fourth with a 232.

 

Game 2: Marco Israel maintained momentum with another 257, taking the lead. Gillis fell to 10th after a 148 game, while Rivera Torres held second with 214. Griffin Kinney jumped to third with a 237. Steve Hermason and Steve McGee tied for fourth.

 

Game 3: Marco Israel’s hot streak continued with a 247, keeping him in first. Rivera Torres stayed in second with a 210. Corey Hall climbed the leaderboard with a 255, followed by Steve McGee and Jon Searcy. Gillis, the Game 1 leader, was on the cut line in 16th place, just four pins ahead of 17th.

 

Game 4: Marco held the lead with a 206, while Rivera Torres and Antonio Sparano tied for second after Sparano’s 258 game. Corey Hall and Hank Schieber were tied for fourth. The cut line was now at 946, held by Gary Abel, with several bowlers close behind.

 

Game 5: Julio Rivera Torres took the top spot with a 289 game, finishing at 1342 with bonus and handicap. Marco Israel’s 240 secured second place at 1282, followed by Corey Hall at 1256. Mark Smudde made a dramatic leap from 32nd to 16th with a 257 game, finishing just two pins ahead of the cut.

 

Finals Results:


Mechanical issues required adjustments to the finals, with some lanes hosting four bowlers instead of the standard two. Despite the challenges, Ryan Gillis dominated the finals, achieving a perfect 4-0 record to claim the tournament title.

 

Final standings:

Ryan Gillis: 1076 (4-0-0)
Julio Rivera Torres: 1068 (3-1-0)
Antonio Sparano: 1022 (3-1-0)
Michelle Lowery: 1012 (2-2-0)
Griffin Kinney: 1002 (2-2-0)
Steve Hermanson: 999 (1-3-0)
Mark Smudde: 971 (2-2-0)
Brandon Welsh: 940 (4-0-0)
John McGinnis: 920 (2-2-0)
Louis Turner: 903 (1-2-1)


Other notable performances:

 

Ernie Schlegel was the highest-scoring Super Senior out of the money.
Ellen Harada was the highest-scoring woman out of the money.
 

Tournament organizer Debbie expressed appreciation for the bowlers’ patience and adaptability, commending their cooperation in overcoming the day’s challenges.
 

 

December 31, 2024

Mountainside High School Bowling Team Strikes Success

BEAVERTON, OR – What started as a simple idea to bring friends together has turned into a winning formula for the new bowling team from Mountainside High School. This talented group of students is making waves in the local bowling scene, demonstrating that hard work, camaraderie, and athleticism can redefine perceptions of the sport.

 

Joey Hammer, a ninth-grader with an impressive 200 average after just two years of bowling, stands out as one of the team’s top players. "I love the community we’ve built here," Joey said. "There are so many developing bowlers on the team, and it’s great to be a part of that growth."

 

The team owes much of its creation to Ian Enright and James Hartshorn, two juniors who took the initiative to bring the team together. Ian, whose natural athleticism stems from years of playing baseball, explained his inspiration: “I thought it would be fun to bowl with friends. So, I got these guys into bowling, and it just kind of happened.”

 

James, who had long dreamed of forming a high school bowling team, echoed the excitement. “It’s amazing to finally have this team. Practices are fun, and it’s great to have a group of friends who share the same passion.”

 

Many members of the team bring athletic backgrounds that contribute to their bowling skills. Lucas Soles, a junior who started bowling just this summer, already boasts a 170 average. He credits his balance and precision as a baseball pitcher for helping him adapt to the sport. The team also includes Xander Johns, a junior who began bowling only two months ago, and fellow junior Jake Slaikjer. Despite their varied levels of experience, the group has come together to form a competitive and cohesive unit.

 

“People often underestimate the athleticism involved in bowling,” Ian said. “Especially with two-handed bowling—it’s much harder than it seems.”

 

The Mountainside team is actively working to change how people perceive bowling. Through an Instagram page showcasing their journey, the team has gained significant recognition at their school. With over 160 followers and growing, students regularly congratulate the team on their wins, helping to elevate bowling’s profile.

 

“It’s not just for fat guys or smokers,” one bowler joked. “Bowling is a real sport that takes skill, strategy, and teamwork.”

Despite being newly formed, Mountainside High School’s bowling squad has already secured a District 2 tournament win and earned 2nd and 3rd place finishes in District 1 tournaments. For a team with several members who are new to the sport, this is a remarkable achievement.

 

“Our goal is to keep improving and show everyone that we’re here to stay,” Ian said. “We may be a new team, but we’re building something special.”

 

With their passion, drive, and team spirit, the Mountainside High School bowling team is proving that the lanes are for everyone—and that the sky’s the limit for this talented group.

December 23, 2024

Aaron Bailey Wins His First RTB Title At The Grand Finals.

The 2024 RTB season drew to a close with the Top 16 points earners attending The Grand Finals at Walnut City Lanes for a shootout to determine the final season champion.

 

Bowlers earn points by attending events and cashing in events. 20 points are earned for every event attended and if you cash in an event, bowlers can earn up to 60 bonus points. Additional bonus points are earned in the Mega Swiss and Megabuck Mania events.

 

Throughout the season, we add $1.50 for EVERY entry in an RTB event, excluding specialty events such as the Scratch, the Queens, and the Sr Classic. This amounted to $2521 added to the prize find for this event.

The format is an 7 game Eliminator format. All bowlers bowl 5 games, moving pairs each game. After 5 games, we cut the field in half, sending 8 people home with the same payout. The rest of the field bowls an additional game, with pins carrying over. After that game, the final 8 are cut to 4, with the 5th-8th getting a pay bump. The final 4 bowl one last game with pins continuing to carry over. After that game, we cut down to 2 bowlers. 3rd and 4th are given an additional pay bump.

 

The final 2 then go back to zero and bowl a best 2 out of 3 final match to determine the champion. This allows for some drama in the event that we have a runaway in the qualifying round.

 

Before the action began on Saturday, we took the time to recognize the top 16 with commemorative medals signifying their success throughout the season. We also recognized the Player Of The Year, for the second time, Bill Machin, who had 8 cashes and 3 titles, the last defying the long odds to come back and win the POY.

 

We started with 16 and began the quest to crown a champion. Bill started our swinging with a 264 game, But he trailed Eddie Grudzinski, who shot 250 and had a few sticks to help him. Lanny Thomason was right there as was Gonzalo Antonio. Game 2 saw Bill hold the lead, but Aaron Bailey, looking for his first title, had moved into 2nd with two consistent 220+ games. Eddie maintained 3rd place and Lanny 4th, with Jerry Graham III sitting 5th.

After 3 games, Aaron had taken over the lead as the lanes really began to show some breakdown. Jerry was in second, Bill 3rd, Eddie 4th, and Chris Ertel moved to 5th. Sitting in 8th was Joe Laperriere, with a tenuous lead over Antonio. Game 4 saw Chris move up to 3rd behind Aaron and Jerry, and Brian Penn come into a tie with Bill for 4th. Lanny was in the 8 spot, 20 pins ahead of Antonio.

 

The final saw a bunch of movement. Eddie had been struggling since his early start, and his final game of 163 gave him a feel that he would be heading home. But he was able to make the final spot, 13 pins ahead of his good friend Caleb Gay. OBA Director Sean Daniels finished in 7th with Penn in 6th, Lanny 5th, Chris 4th, and Bill 3rd. Jerry blasted a monster 223 surpass Aaron for the lead and set himself up for a run at the title. The 8 bowlers who were eliminated all earned $125 for their time on a $100 entry.

 

The top 8 moving on were separated by 125 pins, not much in the grand scheme of things. And other than the top 3, it was a battle to see who would make the next step and go to the final 4. Bill would have the high game at 227, which would slot him 3rd at +96. Aaron closed the gap slightly on Jerry with a 210 game, but still trailed by 38 pins. The bottom 5 would all be very close. Sean shot the high game of those 5 with a 198, but his handicap deficiency kept him in the 8th spot at +39. Eddie Grudzinski was just a pin ahead at +40 and Lanny just ahead of him at +44. Chris and Brian were the final and Brian got just enough with his 199 game to edge of out Ertel by 4 pins. The 5th-8th place bowlers all got $200 for their finish.

 

The final 4 had one last shot to make the Championship finals. It would take a pretty big game to do that as Aaron and Jerry had a decent lead. And on the beat up lanes, that just wasn't gonna happen. Bill had the best shot but inly could muster a 154. Brian's 170 game also couldn't eat into the lead. Jerry and Aaron set up an all lefty finals, a rarity in this event. A lefty hasn't won this event since 2014. Bill and Brian each got $300 for their 3rd-4th place finish.

The championship finals took place on 9-10. By now, everything was pretty messy, so finding a good shot would be a test for both. Jerry held a 26 pin handicap advantage per game. The would go back and forth, trading shots. Aaron struggled to carry on the left lane, but the right he was perfect. Jerry got behind with an open and then in the 7th he left an awful 4-7-10 split. To the surprise of all, he was able to convert it and it gave him the spark he needed to edge out Aaron for Game 1 228-226.

 

Game 2 was a MESS. Both players lost their look on both lanes. 6 frames in, Jerry was heading into 100 territory, with 4 opens. It didn't look much better for Aaron, but at least he was able to strike a couple times. Jerry finally recovered slightly, but he was only able to muster a 128 (167 w handicap), which gave Aaron's fairly mediocre 168 (181 w handicap) was able to nod the match at 1 and take it to a decisive Game 3. Though I am pretty sure that was more of a torture than an award.

 

The final game saw Jerry start out with an early lead and Aaron continued to struggle with carry on lane 9. But at least he was staying clean. Jerry finally had a couple bad shots and that allowed Aaron to get back in the match. Going into the 8th frame, he really needed to figure out the left lane to make Jerry work to catch up. He was able to get the ball to face up clean and drove out the 7 pin with a beautiful strike. Jerry wasn't done yet, as he struck in the 8th but then left an open in the 9th. Aaron needed a strike and then good count to win. He struck in the 9th and then went back to the problematic lane 9. If he could strike on the first ball, it would be all over. He stepped up and with a clean smooth stroke, he ended the match with a strike. Another strike in the 11th and it was a lock. The final score was a 214 (227 handicap) to a 170 (209 handicap) win.

 

Aaron earned his first ever RTB title, something Travis Gunn did at the 2022 Grand Finals. He pocketed $675 and the championship jersey, plus an invite to the 2025 TOC. He will also get a custom mini RTB belt eventually.

Jerry got a fine $450 for the runner-up spot.

 

We want send a sincere thank you to Walnut City Lanes, who hosted us for the final time with this event. They are closing business in May 2025. They have been a wonderful host for us over the year, We wish Jerry and Sherry Rettke a wonderful retirement and hopefully, someday, there will be a new Walnut City Lanes for us to host an event at. Thank you for years of memories!!

 

That concludes our 2024 season. We will rerate the bowlers back to their last 50 games of tournament play as their starting averages for the 2025 season. I will be working on these over the winter break and we will start out fresh at the new event, Willamette Valley Warfare at Woodburn Lanes and Starlite Lanes in January.

 

Everyone have a great Christmas and New Years and we will see you in mid January!!!

December 16, 2024

Tanner Acosta Wins RTB Northwest Tournament of Champions

The Annual Tournament of Champions is always my favorite event, as all entrants earned the right to be there by winning an event at least sometime in their career. Anyone who is a champion can attend, provided that you compete in at least one event per year AND have your champion shirt.

This year, we had 76 champions attend for the 5 game qualifying round, including 3 former champions (Mychael Samson from 2021, Leo Funari from 2022, and the reigning champion Nick Losli). None of them though would be in the running for another title, thought Leo gave it a run with a 287 game to start the proceedings. There were a number of huge games early on.

Keith Stoner, the reigning Grand Finals champion, started with 277-279 to give him a great head start. Zachary Osburn shot a 276 i game one, Tanner Acosta shot 290, giving himself a century award after his 190 in game 1. Sean Daniels, this year Player of the Year runner-up, also erased a bad first game with the high game of the day with a 297 in game 2. And Melissa Germann shot her personal best game, a 278, in game 2 to jump into second early behind Stoner.

After game 3, Stoner retained the lead, with Chad Gibbs of Sweet Home moving into the 2 spot, Cody Renfro from Dallas having a dream day was in 3rd, and Melissa Germann slipped to 4th, but still looking good. Rebecca Cole from Bend was sitting in the final transfer spot at +97, but it was a tenuous lead with multiple competitors still well in the running,

Game 4 saw Stoner retain the lead and Renfro move into the 2 spot as Gibbs fell back a bit. Thomas Grimraider Brannon shot a huge 258 to jump into 5th, just ahead of Daniels. James Donaldson shot his 3rd straight 200 game to get into a 3 way tie with Tanner Acosta and Nate Moore at +135. And Rebecca continued to hold the 16th spot by just 1 pin over Matt Ramshaw. It would all depend on the 5th and final game to see who made the finals.

The top 4 bowlers stayed the same, with Renfro overtaking Stoner for the overall top spot, and Brannon jumping Eric Stern for 3rd and 4th. Daniels remained top 5, just barely ahead of Jeff Blindguy and Tanner Acosta. Melissa Germann held on to lane choice by grabbing the 8 spot. David Gunn and Nate Moore tied for 9th, with David getting the 9 spot by virtue of having the higher scratch game. Chad Gibbs remained in the field in the 11 spot. Lucas Richard Cobb jumped from 18th to 13th with a 235 game. And Brendan Smith shot 238 to go from 20th to the final spot in 16th.

The biggest moves came from Amanda Whitcomb and Zachary Wenger. After 4, they were tied at +91 in 24th. They both fired huge games, Amanda with 246 and Zach followed up his 279 with a 247. This allowed Zach to jump to 14th, tying with Donaldson and getting the spot over Opie due to his scratch game. Whitcomb bounced all the way up to 12th, setting up a first round duel with her good friend and frequent ball rep Daniels.

While this locked up the top 16, there were 3 other paying spots. Brian Penn had been in the top 16 most of the day, but he slipped with a 191 in game 5 ti finish in 17th, just 4 pins out of the bracket. 15 year old Rasna Som came all the way from Pendleton and fired a scratch +70 to snag the final cashing spot, which will go to his SMART account. And finally, Brett Day jumped all the way from 33rd up to 18th with a 244 game to get a check.

17. Brian Penn +138 $160

18. Brett Day +128 $155

19. Rasna Som +125 $150 (SMART)

We also were gifted a 900 Global Sublime Focus from Play Well Pro Shop, which raised an awesome $350 for the prize fund. Cody Renfro took home the ball, extending his dream day.

The single elimination bracket awards the higher seeds with lane choice, except they cannot camp on a pair. So each higher ranked seed selected their pairs, no surprise that 1&2 were the last ones taken. Most of the matches were fairly cut and dry, with the exception of the 4/13 match between Cobb and Stern. That match went down to the very last shot, with Stern taking the nod 211-205.

There were a couple shocking upsets in round 1. Amanda Whitcomb pulled off a shocker, beating her good friend Sean Daniels 256-185. And in a real stunner, Keith Stoner was knocked out after leading most of the tournament by James Donaldson 214-174.

Round 1 Results

Cody Renfro def Brendan Smith 226-204

David Gunn def Melissa Germann 192-159

Tanner Acosta def Nate Moore 211-165

Jeff Blindguy def Chad Gibbs 198-165

Thomas Grimraider Brannon def Zachary Wenger 220-197

Stern def Cobb 211-205

Whitcomb def Daniels 256-185

Donaldson def Stoner 214-174

Round 2 Saw Renfro's dream day continue. He fired a huge 276 wigh handicap game to knock out Gunn's 216. Cody only started bowling this year and he's already rapidly improving and will be challenging for more titles next season. Whitcomb put a beating on Stern with a 272-229 win. Tanner ended the dream of Opie, but they had fun doing it. Tanner just had too much with a 247-187 win. And finally, in a very exciting match, Jeff Harkins was able to strike out in the 10th to get past Thomas Brannon 230-206.

The second round losers went home with a nice check of $350/ea.

The Semi-finals brought on the big bucks. Amanda and Cody battled through the match to see who would go to the finals. Cody had had am incredible day, only shooting two games below 200, pretty crazy for a new bowler. But this time, his luck ran out. Amanda put together a solid 199 scratch (225 handicap) game as Cody struggled to a 155 scratch (197 handicap) game. Amanda would move to the finals against either Tanner or Jeff.

Jeff Harkins had won MegaBuck Mania this year and stood a decent chance to win the two highest paying events of the year. He had to battle the young fireballer Acosta, known for his incredible skill and shotmaking and fiery energy. They would battle shot for shot with every frame being critical to the match. Tanner started with a double and then started a trend that would define the match. He threw a great shot on lane 5 and left a bouncing 10 pin. He would clean it up and then strike on lane 6. But in the 5th, again a bouncing 10 pin. You could see it was getting to him. Jeff, however, was not able to take much advantage, with a bunch of spares and only one strike. The 6th frame was another beautiful strike on Lane 6, and then AGAIN a 10 pin on Lane 5. Another spare and another beautiful strike on lane 6.

Jeff found a line and was able to strike, which set up a thrilling finish. Tanner, having gotten a pep talk from Sean Daniels, came back to lane 5 and made a minor speed and line adjustment and buried the pocket for a clutch strike. This gave him the opportunity to go to lane 6, his good lane, and shut out Jeff. He blasted the pocket on the first shot and struck. One more strike and 6 would lock up the match. But that stubborn 10 pin again reared its ugly head. This gave Jeff the chance to win. Jeff needed the first two strikes to win. He struck on the first shot but was not able to contact for the second and that ended the dream. He spared and struck for a 224 handicap game, but Tanner's 228 moved his to the finals against Amanda.

Cody and Jeff each got $575 for their semi-final finish.

The final, featuring the #7 seed Acosta, an unlikely finalist due to his late decision to enter and his scratch status, and the #12 seed Whitcomb, who is having a resurgence after a lifetime away from bowling and two hip replacement surgeries and years of rehab to walk comfortably again. The match started out good with a spare strike from Amanda and a strike spare from Tanner. But then Amanda lost her ball reaction on the right lane this would drastically alter the complexion of the match. She was able to stay clean, albeit not able to strike much, while Tanner motored along, but was not able to really extend his lead much. The 26 she was getting was keeping Amanda close. She finally struck again on the left lane, but again the right lane left her with a 6 count. She cleaned that up and moved to the 9th frame, still with a shot.

But what looked to be a good pocket shot left one of the worst breaks in bowling. The pocket 8-10, which was pretty undeserved. She plucked off the 8 pin and it tried to clip the 10 off, but missed it. This gave Tanner a near insurmountable lead and he completed the job by striking in the 9th and 10th for a solid 223 game to eclipse Amanda's 193 handicap game.

Amanda, coming off her win at NWWBT at Linn Lanes, took home a great $950 check for runner-up.

Tanner took home a cool $1500 for RTB title #2 and earned the special TOC jersey and the replica mini RTB title belt, when it gets here 

He thanks his sponsors Roto Grip and ZEALO Gear, as well as his family and friends for all the support.

Thanks to Justin Backus and the team at SuperPlay, as well as owner Terry Pierce. Aside from one minor issue, everything ran very well with minimal issues all day. And that was all while they were managing multiple birthday parties and prepping for their first live concert that night.

We conclude the season next week as we visit Walnut City Lanes for the final time. We plan to send them off with a bang as we crown the final champion of the season and the silver replica RTB belt.

Thank you to all the champions who came out to compete and we will see many of you next season. We open the Willamette Valley Warfare to start the 2025 season on December 16th!!! BE READY!!!!

December 16, 2024

Cale Brown Takes the Win at NWST Tournament in Centralia

The Northwest Senior Tour (NWST) headed to Fairway Lanes in Centralia, Washington, where 57 bowlers competed in a high-energy, high-scoring event. After six intense games of qualifying, the top 16 moved on to match play, with a total of 19 bowlers receiving payouts.

 

It didn’t take long for the action to heat up. In Game 1, Kelly Hyatt made a statement with a perfect 300 game, while other bowlers like Ricky Torchia (279), Rob Kahle and Lanny Thomason (268 each), and Jed Docker (266) weren’t far behind.

In Game 2, Hugh Miller surged into the lead with a 289, following his 246 opener. Thomason stayed consistent with a 259 to move into second, while Hyatt slipped to third after a 210.

 

By Game 3, Thomason took over, firing his third consecutive 250+ game with a 267, bringing his series to 794. Eric Parker jumped into second with a 278 game, and Miller held third after a 237.

 

Game 4 kept Thomason on top as he rolled a 258, his fourth straight 250+ game. Meanwhile, Shawn Meads climbed into third with a 278, and Miller and Jodey Rees stayed in the top five.

 

Things shook up in Game 5 when Miller nearly hit perfection with a 290, reclaiming the lead. Thomason’s 224 dropped him to second, and Cale Brown made a big move into third with a perfect 300 game of his own.

 

The final game of qualifying was tight at the top. Brown’s 247 was just enough to edge out Miller’s 226 for the top qualifying spot by two pins. Thomason finished third, while Tim Valincia’s 275 game pushed him into fourth. Meads rounded out the top five. Steve Soto made the biggest leap, rolling a 300 to jump from 37th place to 10th, securing a spot in match play. The 16th and final spot came down to one pin, with Chad Itami holding on despite a 185 in his last game.

 

The match play bracket kicked off with upsets and high scores. In Game 1, 16th seed Chad Itami stunned top-seeded Brown, 242-228. Second seed Hugh Miller had a low-scoring win over 15th seed Erick Hohlbein, 219-202, and Kelly Hyatt, the 14th seed, edged out third-seeded Thomason in a close 214-211 match. The highlight of the round was Meads’ perfect 300 game, which vaulted him into first place.

 

In Game 2, Meads faced Miller in a 1 vs. 2 showdown, defeating him 233-183 to maintain his lead. Meanwhile, Tim Myers outlasted Brown in a nail-biter, 227-224, moving Myers to third and dropping Brown to fourth. The top four bowlers were separated by just 83 pins at this stage.

 

Game 3 saw Meads continue to dominate, defeating Valincia 236-216 to keep his top spot heading into the final game. Brown rebounded in his rematch with Myers, winning 258-215 to reclaim second place, just 61 pins behind Meads. Miller sat in third, with Valincia in fourth.

 

The final match came down to Cale Brown and Shawn Meads, two of the most consistent bowlers of the day. Brown found his line early, stringing together strikes to post a 279 game. Meads bowled well with a 235, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Brown. With the win and 30 bonus points, Brown took the top spot on the leaderboard by just 13 pins, earning the day’s top prize of $550.

 

Tournament Director Sami Morris thanked Fairway Lanes and their staff for their hospitality and expressed appreciation for all 57 bowlers who made the event a success. It was another thrilling day on the NWST, with standout performances from start to finish.

December 13, 2025

Blaine Weninger Named 2024 PBA 50 Northwest Player Of The Year

Reno, NV. -- Blaine Weninger, from Happy Valley, Oregon, was awarded the 2024 PBA50 Northwest Region Player of the Year. The award was presented on Thursday in Reno, Nevada, prior to the PBA Regional Players Invitational (RPI) tournament.

 

The PBA50 Northwest Region Player of the Year award is given based on performance and standings in PBA50 regional tournaments throughout the season.

December 11, 2024

"R Kids" Program Set To Return In 2025

 

Gresham, Ore. -- The "R Kids" youth bowling program, once a cornerstone of competitive youth bowling in the Pacific Northwest, is set to make its highly anticipated return in 2025. Under the leadership of USBC Silver Level Coach Chris Burnett, the program will relaunch at Mount Hood Lanes in Gresham, Oregon. It promises to provide young athletes with the tools and opportunities to excel while honoring the legacy of its founder, Coach Mick McMahon.

 

Originally founded by McMahon, "R Kids" became synonymous with elite youth bowling, shaping the careers of many accomplished athletes. Burnett, a former participant, expressed his gratitude for McMahon’s influence and his commitment to carrying the legacy forward.

 

“This program paved the way for a lot of bowlers you see today,” Burnett shared. “Bringing it back is my way of paying it forward and honoring Coach Mick’s profound influence.”

 

McMahon, reflecting on the program’s return, shared his thoughts: “Chris has frequently surprised me with the knowledge and coach’s eye he has developed over the years. He is the ideal man to revive the legacy. Meanwhile, I have 28 years of memories with the ‘R’s,’ and it’s wonderful to see the program come back.”

 

Burnett envisions "R Kids" as a platform to challenge young bowlers and prepare them for competitive success at all levels. The program will feature Saturday morning competitions with a four-game format designed to hone consistency and adaptability.

 

“The sport is on an uphill climb,” Burnett noted. “With the right coaching and opportunities, kids will only continue to improve. This is about giving them something to strive for—the competition, camaraderie, and legacy are all part of what makes ‘R Kids’ special.”

 

Burnett’s coaching philosophy emphasizes unlocking each athlete’s potential and maintaining a positive mindset. “Every athlete thinks they’ve plateaued at some point, but there’s always more to give,” he said. “It’s my job to help them see that and push their limits.”

 

Mount Hood Lanes General Manager Javier Ayala views Burnett’s involvement as a transformative step forward for their youth program. “Here at Mount Hood Lanes, we want to give kids the tools to be the best bowlers they desire to be,” Ayala said. “That might mean becoming a competitive league bowler, earning a college scholarship, or even going pro. To do that, we need the best coaching available, and Chris Burnett is exactly the person to help us take this program to the next level.”

 

Ayala praised Burnett’s passion for coaching and recounted how the partnership came to be. “I wasn’t even going to ask Chris to join because I assumed he would say no,” he shared. “But when I approached him on a whim, he was as excited as we were about the idea. Not only that, he suggested bringing back ‘R Kids,’ and I was blown away. Chris has a heart for coaching—it’s who he is.”

 

Mount Hood Lanes already boasts a strong foundation of youth coaches, including up-and-comers like Amber Ortner, who aspires to become a USBC Gold Level Coach, and seasoned contributors like Nathan Gublee, Wayne Noonan, and Bill Carr. Ayala expressed pride in the team and excitement for the program’s future.

 

“When youth bowlers in Oregon think of the best or must-bowl league, we want them to think of Mount Hood Lanes and ‘R Kids,’” Ayala said. “With Chris leading the charge, we are confident we can achieve that.”

 

Families interested in joining the "R Kids" program can contact Chris Burnett at 503-438-5554. The program is open to youth bowlers eager to learn, compete, and grow under the guidance of experienced coaches.

 

The relaunch of "R Kids" at Mount Hood Lanes promises to inspire a new generation of bowlers, offering a program that combines tradition, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. With Chris Burnett’s leadership and support from a dedicated coaching staff, "R Kids" is poised to reclaim its place as a premier training ground for elite youth talent in Oregon.

December 10, 2024

Eryk Jensen Captures His 5th OBA Title

 

 

Vancouver, Wash. -- The Oregon Bowlers Association (OBA) brought the 2024 calendar year to a close with a high-stakes, double-points tournament at Hazel Dell Lanes in Vancouver, Washington. The event, hosted on the challenging 2022 USBC Team Trials Day 4 pattern, drew 74 bowlers competing for an OBA title and entries into several prestigious 2025 events, including:

  • Portland Masters Entry (courtesy of Dave Husted)
  • Seattle Masters Entry (courtesy of Kevin Hong)
  • NW Masters Entry (courtesy of Andy Schmidt)
  • NW Senior Tour Masters Entry (awarded to the highest-finishing bowler over 50, courtesy of Sami Morris)
  • OSUSBC State Queens Entry (awarded to the highest-finishing woman, courtesy of Darren Stanley)

Additionally, Benny Salinas generously contributed added prize money, further boosting the tournament’s rewards. The OBA also debuted its first-ever live-streamed event, enhancing accessibility for fans and participants. Organizers plan to expand live streaming for future tournaments.

Qualifying Round Recap

The qualifying round cut to the top 20 players for match play, with payouts extending to the top 24 finishers. While the pattern proved tough for many, several bowlers delivered standout performances. Notable highlights included:

  • Mac Kaurin starting strong with a 257 in Game 1 to take the early lead.
  • Ian Willard rolling a perfect 300 in Game 2, catapulting him into first place.
  • Gary Lenox delivering a near-perfect 279 in Game 5, the second-highest game of the tournament.

After six games of qualifying, Eryk Jensen emerged as the top seed with a total of 1,367 pins, narrowly edging out Kaurin (1,356) and Willard (1,355).

Top 10 Qualifiers:

  1. Eryk Jensen: 1,367
  2. Mac Kaurin: 1,356
  3. Ian Willard: 1,355
  4. Chris Tuholski: 1,314
  5. Bill Machin: 1,301
  6. Johnny Leggett: 1,279
  7. Craig Tuholski: 1,276
  8. Mike Armstrong Jr.: 1,272
  9. Tanner Acosta: 1,261
  10. David Townsend: 1,260

Special Awards:

  • Highest Finishing Woman: Laura Cowling earned $150 and a 2025 OSUSBC State Queens entry.
  • Highest Finishing Senior Outside the Finals: Erik Hohlbein received $150.

Match Play Highlights

In match play, the race to the stepladder finals remained tight, with just 130 pins separating first and 16th place entering the semifinals. Several players delivered clutch performances:

  • Game 1: Eryk Jensen’s massive 278 game extended his lead, while Johnny Leggett’s 258 kept him in contention.
  • Game 2: Mac Kaurin’s 270 game vaulted him into second place, narrowing Jensen’s lead to 81 pins.
  • Game 3: Chris Tuholski and Leggett each bowled 257 to secure positions in the top four.

By Game 4, only 32 pins separated seventh place from fourth, creating intense competition. Ultimately, Jensen maintained his commanding lead, securing the top seed. Meanwhile, Tuholski defeated Jensen to solidify the second seed, and Kaurin edged out Leggett to clinch the third seed.

Final Match Play Standings:

  1. Eryk Jensen: 2,364
  2. Chris Tuholski: 2,286
  3. Mac Kaurin: 2,267
  4. Ian Willard: 2,252

Stepladder Finals

The stepladder finals delivered dramatic moments:

  • Match 1: Kaurin faced Willard in a back-and-forth battle. Both finished with 180, forcing a 9th-and-10th frame roll-off. Kaurin prevailed, rolling strikes in the 9th and 10th frames to win 58-38.
  • Match 2: Kaurin then met Tuholski, who opened with three consecutive open frames. Kaurin capitalized, building an early lead and sealing a 207-161 victory.
  • Championship Match: Kaurin faced top-seeded Jensen for the title. After a close start, Jensen pulled away for a decisive win, earning his fifth career OBA title and securing entries into the Portland, Seattle, and NW Masters.

Closing Notes

The OBA thanked Hazel Dell Lanes and its staff, along with its long-term sponsor Storm Products, for their support. Organizers expressed gratitude to all participants for making the event a success.

Upcoming Events

The 2025 season kicks off with tournaments at Firebird Lanes in Salem on January 11-12.

December 2, 2024

Keith Gatlin Wins First BBI Title at Larry Janson Memorial Tournament

Gresham, Ore. – The annual BBI Larry Janson Memorial Tournament was held Sunday at Mt. Hood Lanes, attracting 90 bowlers for the day. 


The qualifying round began with standout performances from James Gregory and Rob Grimes. Gregory opened with a near-perfect 299, leaving a 7-pin on his final shot, while Grimes recorded a 290 after sparing in the first frame and striking out. Grimes’ score, combined with his handicap, gave him the lead after game one, followed by Vince Selzler in second, James Lowery in third, and Gregory in fourth.


In game two, Earle Ramsay and Colin Yoshimoto both posted 280 games, moving them into sixth and 13th place, respectively. Grimes maintained his lead with a 243, keeping him ahead of Selzler, who held onto second place despite a 182. Keith Gatlin climbed into third, followed by Greg Herring and Floyd Kerslake.


After three games, Grimes extended his lead with a handicap total of 826. Ramsay moved into second with 798, while Kerslake, Selzler, and Brent Streater rounded out the top five. Tim Oge shot a 280 in game three, moving above the cut line into eighth place.


Game four saw Grimes extend his lead to 39 pins over Ramsay. Scores across the board dipped, with a 248 being the highest scratch score. Gatlin was third, 40 pins out of the lead, followed by Streater in fourth and Rich Stocks in fifth. James Gregory held onto the 16th and final match play transfer spot by a narrow margin, leading Paul Swearingen by six pins and Corey Hall by nine.


The final game of qualifying was marked by Greg Herring’s 257, which propelled him to the top of the leaderboard. Grimes struggled with a 167 but managed to hold onto second place. Jess Ayottee climbed to third, followed by Tito Pilado Posada in fourth and Gatlin in fifth. The top 16 qualifiers were finalized, with John Speelman earning the last match play spot.


In the end, Keith Gatlin, the number five qualifier, emerged victorious by just two pins, claiming his first BBI tournament title. Match play results were unavailable at the time of publication, and updates will follow as more details are released.
 

 

December 2, 2024

Myers Outlasts Tough Conditions And Strong Competition At
AJ's 8-Game Sweeper

Hazel Dell, Wash. -- A.J.’s 8-Game Sweeper took place on Sunday at Husted’s Hazel Dell Lanes, with 37 bowlers facing challenging lane conditions that saw only 11 participants finishing plus on the day. The winning score was +133, reflecting the difficulty of the competition.

 

The tournament began with Mac Kaurin leading the field after a 259 in game one, followed by Ricky Torchia at 222 and Darren Stanley at 216. Only eight bowlers managed to score over 200 in the first game. 

 

Kaurin maintained his lead after the second game with a 229, but Kyler Crevier made a significant leap from 11th to 2nd with a 266. Torchia stayed close in third with a 226.

 

In the third game, Torchia moved into first place with a 245, while Kaurin dropped to second after scoring 201. Tim Myers climbed to fourth after a strong 268 game. 

 

By the fourth game, Myers had taken over the top spot with a 228, as both Kaurin and Torchia struggled. Kaurin’s 181 dropped him to second, and Torchia’s 167 placed him third. David Townsend moved into fourth after delivering a tournament-high 269.

 

Myers extended his lead in the fifth game with a 247, while Johnny Leggett surged into second with a 262. Crevier and Townsend rounded out the top four. 

 

However, in the sixth game, Myers slipped to second with a 198, trailing Leggett’s 224 by just ten pins. Townsend stayed in third, while Owen Barrett climbed to fourth with a 238. Craig Tuholski entered the top five with a 214.

 

Leggett held onto a slim six-pin lead after game seven, with Tuholski moving into third after a 258, just 20 pins from the lead. Entering the final game, Leggett had a 16-pin advantage over Myers and a 20-pin lead over Tuholski, with Townsend in fourth, 53 pins back. 

 

In the decisive eighth game, Leggett recorded his lowest score of the tournament with a 187, while Myers posted a 216 to secure the victory by 13 pins. Tuholski dropped to a 188 in the final game but tied for third with Kaurin, who closed with a 247. Crevier finished in fifth, followed by Townsend, Barrett, Nathan Gubele, and Andy Solberg rounding out the cashers in ninth.

 

Tournament Director A.J. Schock expressed gratitude to all bowlers for their participation and encouraged them to stay tuned for details on the next event.

 

December 2, 2024

Westview and Forest Grove Win Back To Back Weekends

Saint Helens, Ore. -- The OSUSBC High School Bowling District One returned to competition this past weekend at Oregon Trail Lanes in St. Helens. The tournament featured 12 teams competing in a split squad format, with each team bowling 12 Baker games per squad.

 

For the second consecutive weekend, Westview High School dominated the Open Division, securing first place with a commanding lead of over 150 pins. Edison Green showed marked improvement from their fourth-place finish at the previous Kingpins Beaverton tournament, moving up to second place. Newcomer Mountainside High School had an impressive debut, finishing in third place.

 

The full Open Division standings are as follows:

  1. Westview High School
  2. Edison Green
  3. Mountainside High School
  4. Aloha Black
  5. Scappoose Orange
  6. Glencoe Maroon
  7. Liberty
  8. Century
  9. Forest Grove
  10. Aloha Fire
  11. Glencoe Grey
  12. HilHi
  13. Edison Black
  14. Scappoose Black
  15. Scappoose White

In the Girls Division, Forest Grove High School claimed their second consecutive first-place finish, posting a winning score of 1654. Glencoe High School secured second place, followed by Scappoose White in third.

 

The full Girls Division standings are as follows:

  1. Forest Grove
  2. Glencoe
  3. Scappoose White
  4. HilHi
  5. Scappoose Black
  6. Aloha
  7. Scappoose Orange
  8. Edison

District One teams will next compete at Park Lanes on December 22.

 

Sign Up Now For The Washington Youth Masters

November 25, 2024

Six Youth Bowlers Qualify for Junior Gold Tournament at Mt. Hood Lanes

Gresham, Ore. -- Five youth bowlers earned spots in the Junior Gold Tournament next July in Green Bay during the Junior Gold Challenge Tournament held at Mt. Hood Lanes on Sunday. The event featured 26 bowlers competing across multiple divisions.

 

Under 12 Division
In the combined Under 12 division, Cheyannah Ortner-Palmer narrowly secured first place, finishing just two pins ahead of Logan Davis with a five-game total of 740 to 738. The top five finishers in the division were:

  1. Cheyannah Ortner-Palmer - 740 (Junior Gold Advancer)
  2. Logan Davis - 738
  3. Coen Grupas - 703
  4. Oliver Demenezes - 644
  5. Allie Eubank - 543

 

Boys Under 15 Division


Andrew Cook and Ronan Dang earned their Junior Gold spots in the Boys Under 15 division. Cook led the pack with a five-game total of 1101, bolstered by a 279 game in the second round. Dang’s performance, highlighted by a 215 in the final game, secured second place with 1042, narrowly edging out Owen Kelly, who finished third at 1040.

The top eight bowlers in the division were:

  1. Andrew Cook - 1101 (Junior Gold Advancer)
  2. Ronan Dang - 1042 (Junior Gold Advancer)
  3. Owen Kelly - 1040
  4. Kyran Biesack - 917
  5. Rasna Som - 848
  6. Stetson Hewes - 693
  7. Maxwell Patterson - 629
  8. Szylas Totman (withdrew after two games due to injury)

Boys Under 18 Division


Four bowlers competed in the Boys Under 18 division. Matt Birkholz claimed the top spot with 1080, although he had already qualified for Junior Gold next year. Brody Ruby secured second place with a 1072, earning him advancement to Junior Gold in 2025. The results were as follows:

  1. Matt Birkholz - 1080
  2. Brody Ruby - 1072 (Junior Gold Advancer)
  3. Jordan Zitek - 1005
  4. Quentin Belville - 875

Girls Under 15 Division


In the Girls Under 15 division, Jakodi Edwards-Ford emerged victorious with a score of 679, edging out Taylor Fisher, who finished second with 665. Edwards-Ford’s 163 in the opening game made the difference and secured her advancement to Junior Gold next year.

  1. Jakodi Edwards-Ford - 679 (Junior Gold Advancer)
  2. Taylor Fisher - 665
  3. Megan Patterson - 590

Girls Under 18 Division


The Girls Under 18 division featured six bowlers, with Michele Westmorland dominating the field. She posted the highest score of the tournament across all divisions with 1134, earning her a spot in the Junior Gold Tournament in 2025. The top six finishers were:

  1. Michele Westmorland - 1134 (Junior Gold Advancer)
  2. Lily Fields - 831
  3. Izabella Hewes - 814
  4. Sylvie Biesack - 784
  5. Samantha Slater Hoadley - 696
  6. Kylia Cannon - 636

The Junior Gold Challenge Tournament showcased strong performances and offered a platform for youth bowlers to gain valuable competitive experience as they prepare for the national stage.

 

NOT PICTURED BRODY RUBY

November 25, 2024

Whitcomb Shines at Northwest Women Bowlers Tour Stop at Linn Lanes

Lebanon, Ore. -- The Northwest Women Bowlers Tour (NWWBT) went to Linn Lanes in Lebanon on Sunday as 28 women bowled for the title in a six-game qualifier and step ladder finals.

 

The day started strong with Sheryl Woodward rolling a 236 in the first game to take an early lead. Cassandra Hunter and Sarah Wilson trailed closely behind. Woodward continued to set the pace with a 220 in the second game, but Hannah Wools surged into second place with a powerful 238, while Sarah Spellman climbed into third.

 

The leaderboard continued to shuffle in game three as Wools claimed the top spot with a 219. Laura Cowling joined the top three with a 238, pushing Woodward to second place. The competition tightened in game four when Cowling vaulted into first with a 247, as Woodward slipped to second and Amanda Whitcomb rocketed into third after her 243 game.

 

Cowling solidified her position in game five with a 239, keeping her at the top. Whitcomb moved up to second after scoring 214, while Woodward rounded out the top three. The final game of qualifying saw Wools battling to stay on the cut line with a 179. Ultimately, the top eight bowlers advanced to match play, with Cowling leading the pack with a total score of 1416.

 

The semi-finals featured four games of match play, where Cowling proved her dominance, winning all four matches with games of 225, 256, 237, and 265. Her high scores earned her the top seed in the step ladder finals. Whitcomb claimed the second seed with games of 212, 192, 200, and 247, while Woodward, with two match play victories, earned the third seed.

 

In the finals, Amanda Whitcomb faced Woodward in the first match, Whitcomb rolled a 212 scratch game to defeat Woodward’s 163, advancing to the championship match. Against the top-seeded Cowling, Whitcomb delivered a 235 scratch game, outpacing Cowling’s 212 to claim the title.

 

While the tournament was a handicap event, Whitcomb’s scratch scores at the end demonstrated she didn’t need the advantage.

 

November 25, 2024

OSUSBC High School District One Gets Their Season Underway At Kingpins Beaverton

Beaverton, Ore. -- The Oregon High School Bowling District 1 season opener took place at KingPins Beaverton. The event marked the beginning of the 2024-2025 bowling season, with five teams competing in the Girls division and thirteen teams in the Open division.

 

The Girls division saw a fierce battle between Forest Grove and Glencoe over the first 10 games, with both teams trading places at the top of the leaderboard. However, starting in Game 11, Forest Grove pulled away and maintained their lead to secure the first-place finish with a total pinfall of 2,862. Glencoe followed in second place with 2,634 pins, while HilHi (2,124), Scappoose (1,987), and Edison (1,470) rounded out the standings.

 

The Open division was dominated by the Westview Wildcats, who finished with a commanding 4,221 total pinfall, averaging an impressive 211 across 20 games. 

 

The day began with strong individual performances, including Edison Green’s 243 in Game 1 and Westview’s 232. However, the entire field faced challenges in Game 2, with the highest score being 148. Westview shifted gears in Game 3, delivering their first of two 268 games, and never relinquished their lead for the remainder of the tournament.

 

The standings for the Open division were as follows:

  1. Westview Wildcats: 4,221
  2. Aloha Black: 3,370
  3. Scappoose Orange: 3,195
  4. Edison Green: 3,171
  5. Glencoe Crimson: 2,895
  6. Century: 2,885
  7. HilHi: 2,688
  8. Forest Grove: 2,614
  9. Liberty: 2,561
  10. Edison Black: 2,422
  11. Scappoose Black: 2,217
  12. Aloha Fire: 2,056
  13. Glencoe Maroon: 1,899

 

District 1 teams will return to action on Sunday, December 1, at Oregon Trail Lanes for the next round of competition.

November 25, 2024

RTB Northwest Concludes Regular Season at Woodburn Lanes with MegaBuck Singles Tournament

Woodburn, Ore. -- The final event of the RTB Northwest regular season took place at Woodburn Lanes, featuring the MegaBuck Singles tournament. The event, which serves as a last chance for bowlers to secure a spot in the Tournament of Champions (TOC) and earn points toward Player of the Year, drew a strong turnout.


The competition began with two squads. The first squad saw 29 bowlers vying for seven semi-final spots. Early standouts included Joe LaPerriere, who shot a 267, and Keith Stoner, who fired a 268 in the opening game. After five games, Mike Grenya led the squad with a +236 score. The top seven qualifiers were:

 

Mike Grenya: +236
Don Talbott: +196
Jake Rost: +190
Brian Penn: +185
Joe LaPerriere: +178
Paul Dorchak: +156
Bill Machin: +144


The second squad, labeled the “Burn Squad” due to more challenging lane conditions, saw 45 bowlers compete. Amanda Gay led this squad with a +203 score, followed by Daniel Barrera (+183) and Terry Bigsby (+164). The top 11 from this squad included ties for seventh place between Chelsea Sporkia and Travis Gunn (+126).


In the semi-finals, Bill Machin dominated early, rolling a perfect 300 game on the newly installed lanes. Despite this, Travis Gunn made an impressive comeback after a rough start, climbing to third place with a 697 series. The top three bowlers advanced to the finals:

 

Bill Machin: +67
Travis Gunn: +51
Terry Bigsby: +22

The finals were a tightly contested three-game series. Machin started strong with a 238 game, securing a narrow lead over Gunn and Bigsby. Gunn closed the gap in the second game, but Machin’s consistent performance and clutch strikes in the tenth frame of the final game earned him the victory. The final scores were:

 

Bill Machin: 667 (+67, $1,000)
Travis Gunn: 651 (+51, $625)
Terry Bigsby: 622 (+22, $450)


This marked Machin’s 13th career RTB title, leaving him just one title shy of the all-time record held by Jason Brutosky.


The RTB Northwest regular season ended with a record 1,976 unique entries. The TOC, set for December 14 at SuperPlay, has already garnered 94 entries, with hopes for a sellout. Next season promises to expand further with the addition of RTB Columbia Gorge and potential new sponsorships.

Acknowledgments


RTB Northwest Tournament Director Andy Schmidt thanked Brunswick Bowling Products for their three years of sponsorship and announced Storm Bowling Products as their new sponsor under the 900 Global brand. Special thanks were given to Caillean Massey and Chris Neff for their efforts during the event.

 

 

November 17, 2024

A Queen, Senior Queen and Princess Are Crowned In Salem

The 2024 Oregon State USBC (OSUSBC) Queens, Senior Queens, and Princess Championships concluded this weekend at Northgate Bowl in Salem, Oregon. Tournament Director Darren Stanley expressed gratitude to the participants, hosts, and sponsors who made the event a success.

 

Participation and Venue


A total of 43 bowlers competed across three divisions: 19 in the Queens Division, 13 in the Senior Queens Division, and 11 in the Princess Division. Northgate Bowl, under the leadership of Greg, Connie, and Tiffani, provided excellent hospitality throughout the event.

 

Tournament Highlights

  • The finals in all three divisions featured dramatic matchups, with competitors from the elimination brackets forcing decisive second matches against the winners' bracket leaders.
  • Courtney Nikolas bowled a perfect 300 game during match play.
  • Larry and Marilu of Larry’s Pro Shop donated a bowling ball for a raffle benefiting state youth scholarships. Dorothy Breazile was the raffle winner.

Division Champions

  • Queens Division: Makayla Jensen, winning $500 and an entry into the 2025 USBC Queens.
  • Senior Queens Division: Penny Fentiman, winning $400 and an entry into the 2025 USBC Senior Queens.
  • Princess Division: Addysen Case, receiving a $300 SMART Scholarship.

Payouts by Division


Queens Division:

  • 2nd: Candice Ailport - $400
  • 3rd: Courtney Nikolas - $300
  • 4th: Laura Cowling - $250
  • 5th: Chelsea Sporkia - $200
  • 6th: Marissa Turner - $200
  • 7th: Catherine Rawsthorne - $180
  • 8th: Sarah Spellman - $180

Senior Queens Division:

  • 2nd: Cindy Mattingly - $300
  • 3rd: Kathy Ledford - $220
  • 4th: Carol Williams - $160
  • 5th: Deb Lee - $120

Princess Division:

  • 2nd: MacKenzi Clark - $200 SMART Scholarship
  • 3rd: Laelah Tiquia - $180 SMART Scholarship
  • 4th: Alena McDugle - $160 SMART Scholarship
  • 5th: Madilynn Pollock - $120 SMART Scholarship

Looking Ahead


The OSUSBC Queens, Senior Queens, and Princess Championships will return next year on November 15–16, with the location to be announced in the coming months. Full standings are available at TournamentBowl.

Darren Stanley, OSUSBC Board Member and Tournament Director, thanked everyone who participated and encouraged even more bowlers to join in 2025.

 

November 17, 2024

Tim Myers Is Dominant At Tigard Bowl For NWST Win

The Northwest Senior Tour rolled into Tigard Bowl this weekend for the highly anticipated Highway 99 Open. A total of 53 bowlers hit the lanes Sunday morning, competing in six grueling games of qualifying before moving to the match play round.

In game 1 Cale Brown and Rick Dolan both fired 268 games to tie for the early lead, with Steve Menning right on their heels at 267. Kelly Hyatt put up a strong 265, while Michael Kennedy and Curtis Henderson stayed in the mix with scores of 259 and 256, respectively.

 

Game 2 brought the first fireworks of the day—Shawn Copeland rolled the day’s first perfect 300 game, rocketing himself into second place, just two pins behind Michael Kennedy. Kennedy’s 278 game moved him to the top of the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Brown kept pace with a 253, holding steady in third place. Daryle Huff and Kelly Hyatt rounded out the top five after two games.

 

By Game 3, the leaderboard started to shift. Cale Brown remained consistent with a 237 game to keep himself in contention, while Ron Martinson climbed to fourth after firing a 268. Blaine Weninger’s 259 game moved him into fifth place, setting up an intense race for the top spots.

 

Game 4 saw Rich Corwin deliver the second 300 game of the day, an impressive turnaround after struggling in the first two games. Corwin’s perfect game shot him up the leaderboard from 33rd to 16th. At the top, Blaine Weninger took the lead with a solid 258 game, followed closely by Kelly Hyatt and Cale Brown.

 

And then, in Game 5, Rich Corwin did it again—another perfect 300 game, back-to-back! That feat catapulted him into second place. Weninger, meanwhile, held steady at the top, and Tim Myers emerged in third with a 257 game. Kelly Hyatt and Cale Brown began to slip slightly, but both remained in the top five heading into the final game.

 

The sixth and final qualifying game tightened the leaderboard even more. Blaine Weninger managed to hold onto his lead with a 212 game, finishing 268 over for the round. Tim Myers, however, was right on his heels, closing the gap to just eight pins with a huge 269 game. Curtis Henderson surged into third place with a 278, while Rich Corwin and Shawn Copeland rounded out the top five. Fourteen bowlers advanced to match play, while others, like Steve Manning and Trent Zabelle, earned cash prizes as top Super Senior and Super Senior Plus competitors, respectively.

 

The top 14 bowlers advanced to match play and in the first round, there were upsets right out of the gate. Top-seeded Blaine Weninger faced off against 14th-seed Daryle Huff in a nail-biter. Weninger was on a 290 pace but missed a crucial spare in the 9th frame, opening the door for Huff. Huff capitalized, winning 267 to 247. Meanwhile, 2nd-seed Tim Myers faced Eric Parker. Parker narrowly edged out Myers by one pin, 247 to 246, after a tense 10th frame.

 

But the day wasn’t over for Weninger and Myers. Tim Myers stormed back in Game 2 with a blazing 279 game, defeating Shawn Copeland and moving into second place overall. Weninger held onto his lead with a 216-215 win over Cale Brown in another tight match. By Game 3, Myers had found his stride, defeating Weninger 268-223 to take a commanding 70-pin lead. John West surged into second place with a 299 game, missing perfection by just one pin.

 

The final match play round saw Tim Myers solidify his dominance, defeating John West 248-217 to clinch the victory with a total score of 2591. Curtis Henderson’s 268 game moved him into second place, while West finished third. Blaine Weninger and Shawn Copeland rounded out the top five.

 

Final Standings and Prizes Here are your final results:

  • 1st place: Tim Myers, 2591 total pins, $550 prize.
  • 2nd place: Curtis Henderson, 2479, $450.
  • 3rd place: John West, 2460, $400.
  • 4th place: Blaine Weninger, 2451, $375.
  • 5th place: Shawn Copeland, 2434, $350. Rounding out the top 14 were Michael Kennedy, Daryle Huff, Eric Parker, Dwayne Fagan, Kelly Hyatt, Cale Brown, Jim DiSanto, and Andrew Messenger Sr.

Tournament Director Sami Morris thanked sponsors John Huggett of Lovely Tire and Wheel and Brian Garland of Brands of Brunswick for their support. Special thanks also went to Mark Pearl and the staff at Tigard Bowl for ensuring a smooth event.

Next Stop The Northwest Senior Tour heads to Centralia, Washington, on December 15th for the Fairway Singles at Fairway Lanes. Bowlers can contact Sami Morris to register.

 

November 11, 2024

Collegiate Bowling Makes a Comeback in the Northwest with New Teams at OSU and UW

Collegiate bowling is making a comeback in the Pacific Northwest as new teams from Oregon State University (OSU) and the University of Washington (UW) launch programs with an ambitious start to their seasons. Both schools’ newly formed bowling clubs aim to bring competitive bowling back to the region and build a strong community of student bowlers. Each club is led by enthusiastic student leaders, experienced coaches, and community support through fundraising campaigns.

 

At Oregon State University, students Jacob Berger and Colby Spear are spearheading efforts to build a competitive bowling team from the ground up. Berger, also the head mechanic at MU Lanes and Games on the OSU campus, shared his excitement for the new program and encouraged the community to help support the team’s growth.

 

"I'm excited to officially announce Oregon State University's Bowling Team," Berger said. "A lot has been happening over the past few weeks: I've had to learn how to use Facebook again, our GoFundMe has been growing, our member base has kept expanding, and we are prepping for some tournaments in mid-late January in California. We also officially have a coach, Chris Burnett! Colby Spear and I have thus far been leading the team, and we are thrilled to have an awesome coach like Chris continue to help grow the program with his technical and strategic knowledge."

 

The new team practices regularly at MU Lanes and Games, with a goal to make a name for themselves on the collegiate bowling scene. To support their efforts, OSU’s bowling club has set up a GoFundMe page with a target of $5,000. These funds will be essential to cover travel, tournament fees, equipment, and team uniforms. Berger encouraged anyone interested to check out the team’s GoFundMe page, as well as to contact him directly at bergejac@oregonstate.edu for more information on how to join or support the team.

 

Meanwhile, the University of Washington’s Husky Bowling Club has already kicked off its season, led by head coach Joseph Kraszewski. The Huskies recently competed in their first collegiate tournaments at the SLOtown Showdown I and II, hosted by Cal Poly at Rancho Bowl in Santa Maria, CA. The team drove 18 hours to the event and finished 8th place in both tournaments, showcasing a promising start for a brand-new program.

 

During the first day of competition, the Huskies faced challenges with nerves, travel fatigue, and stiff competition, placing 10th in the first game among varsity programs. They fought their way up to 7th before the final round, where they ultimately placed 8th. On the second day, the Huskies reached as high as 6th place but ended the day once again in 8th. Notable individual performances included Senior Vinson Liu, who finished 20th and 21st on the individual leaderboard across both days, and Junior Skyler Broussard, who came close to All-Tournament honors with 15th and 16th place finishes.

 

"This trip was a great success," said Coach Kraszewski. "Coming to Santa Maria and competing in this competition is the culmination of the work, time, and effort that this team has spent to get to this moment. For a brand new collegiate program populated with new bowlers and a new coach, this performance was a great success. I couldn’t be prouder of this group of kids."

Looking ahead, the Huskies will compete in two back-to-back Tier 1 events in Las Vegas from December 18-21, marking the next milestone in their season.

 

Both OSU and UW have launched GoFundMe campaigns with a $5,000 goal to support travel, equipment, and other team expenses. UW’s Husky Bowling Club emphasized the importance of fostering an inclusive bowling community, inviting bowlers of all skill levels to join and help build the club’s legacy.

 

As Northwest collegiate bowling takes off, OSU and UW’s clubs are driven by student passion and community support, with hopes to establish a lasting impact on the sport in the region. For those interested in supporting these teams, donations can be made through their GoFundMe pages, helping them achieve their goals and compete at a national level.

GO BEAVERS

GO HUSKIES

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November 10, 2024

Bill Machin Captures 5th OBA Title

 

 

Lebanon, Ore. -- The Oregon Bowlers Association (OBA) Tournament at Linn Lanes saw Bill Machin emerged as the champion on the low-scoring 2024 PBA Cheetah Pattern. 

 

Qualifying rounds set the tone for the day, with low scores dominating the leaderboard. In the opening game, Machin posted an impressive 259, placing him in the lead, followed closely by Ryan Nikolas with 248 and Michael Kennedy with 245. Only seven bowlers achieved scores above 200 after the first game. 

 

By game two, Kennedy surged to the top with a 258, while Gary Lenox posted a tournament-high 288, placing him in second. Nikolas, Eryk Jensen, and Kian Pryor rounded out the leaders.

 

In game three, Kennedy struggled with a 172 but maintained his lead, while Pryor moved into second with a 221, trailing Kennedy by just 20 pins. 

 

By game four, Pryor shot a 265, overtaking Kennedy, who dropped to second with a 203. The top five after five games included Pryor, Kennedy, Jensen, Nikolas, and Lenox. Only six bowlers were above par after five rounds, with the cut line at -88 going into the final qualifying game.

 

Pryor secured the top seed after game six, ending with +156, a 72-pin lead over Jensen, who moved into second. Kennedy finished third, followed by Nikolas, Lenox, and Machin, whose final 209 game earned him a place in the bracket as the sixth bowler to score plus on the day. Notable moves included youth bowlers DoHoon Kwon and Brody Ruby, who climbed to 11th and 15th, respectively, just ahead of Chris Tuholski, who rounded out the top 16 at -100, edging out Will Wilson by a single pin.

 

The tournament moved into a single-elimination bracket, where upsets dominated the early rounds. Each match consisted of two games, with higher seeds choosing their opponents. 

 

Top-seed Kian Pryor selected 16-seed Chris Tuholski, but was eliminated as Tuholski won 416-392. Second-seed Jensen faced 14-seed Ewan Oester, but also fell in an upset, with Oester winning 358-352. Third-seed Michael Kennedy defeated 15-seed youth bowler Brody Ruby 452-387, while fourth-seed Nikolas and fifth-seed Lenox also suffered defeats to lower-seeded opponents. Other first-round winners included Josh Wills, Machin, and Kwon.

 

In round two, Michael Kennedy, the highest remaining seed, chose 9-seed Kyler Crevier, winning 431-362. Machin, seeded sixth, defeated Oester 358-305, and 13-seed Benton continued his upset streak with a 399-371 victory over 7-seed Wills. In the final match of the round, 11-seed Kwon knocked out Tuholski 382-352.

 

The semi-finals saw Kennedy face Machin in a 3-seed vs. 6-seed showdown, with Machin advancing 385-352. In the other semi-final, Kwon defeated Benton 372-307, setting up the final between Machin and Kwon.

 

In the championship match, Machin dominated with a two-game total of 469, besting Kwon’s 377 and clinching his fifth OBA title.

November 10, 2024

Victory For The Salesmen At Firs Bowl

Eugene, Ore. -- The RTB Northwest Tour made a stop at Firs Bowl in Eugene for the Emerald Valley Quad Swiss event, hosted by Tim and Shelly Lein. The competition drew 24 teams, each aiming to gain points toward the Grand Finals and the Player of the Year awards. After seven rounds of close matches, The Dictionary Salesmen emerged as the champions.

 

Tournament Recap

The event began with a strong start from team LL3D, who swept Game 1 to lead the field. However, by Game 2, Oh Split and The Dictionary Salesmen moved up with sweeps of their own, positioning themselves as top contenders. By Game 3, Daddy's Home, led by Tony J. Godinho's impressive 299 game and 785 series, took the lead based on pinfall, closely followed by Leins With Gunns and Oh Split.

 

Game 4 saw a shift as The Dictionary Salesmen took five points from Daddy’s Home, moving into first place. Leins With Gunns trailed by one point, while Chris and the NEW Triangle, Daddy’s Home, Fourplay, and Respect Your Elders filled out the top six.

In Game 5, Leins With Gunns overtook The Dictionary Salesmen with a commanding lead of 28 points, a four-point advantage over the Triangle and Salesmen. However, Game 6 saw a decisive 7-0 sweep by The NEW Triangle over Leins With Gunns, giving them the top spot heading into the final game.

 

The title match pitted The NEW Triangle against The Dictionary Salesmen, who held a 55-pin handicap advantage. Despite strong individual performances from the Triangle, The Dictionary Salesmen prevailed with a 6-1 victory to claim first place with 36 points. Oh Split secured second place with 33 points, while The NEW Triangle rounded out the top three with 32 points.

 

Final Standings and Payouts

  1. The Dictionary Salesmen - 36 points, 6,365 pins ($1,400)
  2. Oh Split!!! - 33 points, 6,163 pins ($1,100)
  3. Chris and the NEW Triangle - 32 points, 6,432 pins ($800)
  4. Bowling For Soup - 32 points, 6,233 pins ($640)
  5. Daddy's Home - 30 points, 6,350 pins ($560)
  6. Leins With Gunns - 30 points, 6,108 pins ($480)

This marks the first RTB Tour title for the Gibbs brothers, putting them in the Tournament of Champions next month at SuperPlay. This is the second title for teammates Donald Cephus and Aaron Heintzman, with Cephus having won RTB vs. Boneyard in October and finishing runner-up at the recent Baker Doubles.

 

In addition to tournament play, a raffle awarded a Brunswick ball to Caleb Gay. The RTB Tour thanked all participants, proprietors, and supporters and looks forward to the season’s final event, the MegaBuck Singles at Woodburn Lanes, where bowlers will vie for the last title of the regular season.

 

 

November 9, 2024

The Eagles Land At Milwaukie Bowl

Milwaukie, Ore. -- Mike Humphreys and Jason Hollingsworth were honored in a special ceremony at Milwaukie Bowl on Sunday for their achievements at the 2024 USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas. USBC Hall of Famer and Milwaukie Bowl owner David Husted presented the prestigious USBC Eagles to both bowlers in recognition of their outstanding performances. Husted became choked up with he told they family, friends, and local bowling community members who gathered to celebrate the achievements, how proud he was to "one, have these gentlemen represent us and two, win the whole damn thing in their divisions."

 

The 2024 USBC Open Championships, the tournament’s 120th edition, drew more than 55,000 bowlers across three divisions—Regular, Standard, and Classified—at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This year’s tournament ran from February through July, with an impressive field of 11,005 teams.

 

Mike Humphreys competed on May 28th, scoring a series of 745 with games of 244, 250, and 246, securing first place in his division out of 20,038 participants. Humphreys then waited two months, until the tournament’s end in late July, to confirm his victory. Jason Hollingsworth competed on July 28th, the tournament’s final day, delivering an 825 series with games of 289, 257, and 279. His score outperformed 20,807 competitors.

 

In their remarks, Humphreys and Hollingsworth thanked their families and the Husted family for their support and for organizing the celebration. Humphreys acknowledged his father, Tom, a Hall of Fame bowler, for inspiring his love for the sport. Hollingsworth expressed gratitude to his mother and family for their ongoing support.

 

The ceremony concluded with refreshments and congratulations from the community, marking a proud moment for Milwaukie Bowl, the Greater Portland, and Oregon Bowling Community.

November 3, 2024

Stacy Gomen Captures First BBI Title At Park Lanes

Hillsboro, Ore. -- November’s BBI Tournament featured 84 bowlers at Park Lanes in Hillsboro. The excitement began in game one when Dustian Canary set the pace, rolling an impressive 272 to take the early lead. But as the competition intensified, game two saw a new frontrunner emerge: Mike Stefanchin. His consistent performance propelled him to the top of the standings, with Canary trailing behind, and Jim Ferretti making a significant move into contention with a 289 game.

 

By game three, Stefanchin remained firmly in the lead, however, Canary struggled to keep up, recording back-to-back games in the 180s, which dropped him to fifth place. Seizing the opportunity, Sean McKinley surged into second place, Sandy Abel climbed to third, and Wes Farron delivered a clutch 247 in his third game to secure the fourth spot.

 

Game four was a turning point as Stefanchin hit a roadblock, scoring a 177, but he managed to cling to his narrow lead. Thomas Ketchum capitalized on Stefanchin’s struggles, throwing a strong 243 to close the gap to just three pins. Meanwhile, Stacy Gomen’s 257 propelled her into a tie for fifth, setting up a tightly packed field, with 20 bowlers within 40 pins of the crucial cut line.

 

The drama heightened in game five as Dustian Canary roared back with a 226, reclaiming the top qualifier spot and earning a $50 bonus from Lovely Tire and Wheel. Mark Smudde came in hot with a 256 to finish second in qualifying, just three pins shy of Canary. The rest of the top sixteen qualifiers included standout performances from Sandy Able, Mike Stefanchin, Thomas Ketchum, Wes Farron, Stacy Gomen, Sean McKinley, and more, with the cut score landing at 1122.

 

The match play rounds kept the intensity alive, and when the dust settled, it was Stacy Gomen who emerged victorious. 

 

FInal Standings 
1 Stacey Gomen 1093 4-0-0
2 Lonnie Wills 1057 4-0-0
3 Thomas Ketchum 1027 3-1-0
4 Todd Hinchliffe 1015 2-2-0
5 Lynn Spellman 1015 2-1-1
6 Chuck Bush 968 2-2-0
7 Kristi Thompson 958 2-2-0
8 Wes Farron 965 1-3-0
9 Rick Kennedy 929 2-1-0
10 Sandy Abel 925 2-1-0
11 Mark Smudde 924 2-2-0
12 Mike Stefanchin 890 1-0-0
13 Josh Lott 863 1-2-1
14 Dustian Canary 845 1-0-0
15 Quenton Knight 831 1-0-0
16 Sean McKinley 798 1-0-0


Dustian Canary Top Qualifier Sponsored by Lovely Tire & Wheel


James Donaldson High Super SR - Out of cash Sponsored by Lovely Tire & Wheel


Sue Herring High Woman - Out of cash Sponsored by Lovely Tire & Wheel

November 3, 2024

Cale Brown Is A First Time NWST Winner In Lakewood

Lakewood, Wash. -- The Northwest Senior Tour’s Puget Sound Singles tournament at Bowlero Lakewood featured 64 bowlers and high scores from the opening game. Jeff Knapp and Mike Devlin both bowled perfect 300 games in game one, with Cale Brown narrowly missing with a 299, John West posting 297, and Jon Gustafson and Bobby McKenzie rolling 289s. By game two, Craig Tuholski moved into first place with a 259, followed by Scott Halvarson in second with 245. The top five also included McKenzie, Brown, and Fred Van Camp IV.

 

In game three, Blaine Weninger shot a 299 to take the lead, with Halvarson, West, McKenzie, and Springfels rounding out the top five. Weninger’s momentum continued in game four with a 266, keeping him in first, while McKenzie, Halvarson, West, and Erik Hohlbein trailed. Weninger maintained his lead in game five, bowling a 259. Hohlbein moved into second with a strong 279 game, while McKenzie, Halvarson, and West followed.

 

After qualifying, the top 20 bowlers advanced to match play. Weninger defeated Ted Loftman 268-190 to maintain his lead. Second-seeded Hohlbein struggled, losing 204-225 to Mark Blair but stayed in second overall. McKenzie won his match against Mike Polinsky 216-205, while Cale Brown, seeded seventh, defeated Ed Dolfay 258-206, jumping to third.

 

The second round saw Hohlbein beat Weninger 243-236, but Weninger’s pin count kept him in first. Despite the victory, Hohlbein dropped to third place. Brown’s 269-227 win over McKenzie propelled him to second, setting up a critical match against Weninger. 

 

Brown narrowly beat Weninger 259-256 and clinched the tournament title with a final 258-193 victory. 

 

Tournament Manager Sami Morris acknowledged Brown’s first NWST title and expressed appreciation to sponsors Brands of Brunswick and Lovely Tire and Wheel. The tour’s next event will be at Tigard Bowl.

 

November 3, 2024

Oregon High School Bowling Underway In District 2

Cottage Grove, Ore. -- District 2 kicked off the new high school bowling season with a strong showing, featuring a full field of 12 teams and additional teams on a waitlist. The event, held at Cottage Bowl, marked significant growth for District 2, including renewed interest in areas that have not had a high school bowling program since the mid-2010s.

 

On the girls' side, Sheldon and Albany Open took 3rd place, with Dallas Girls and Sheldon Open finishing in 2nd. The 1st place honors went to Albany Girls and South Salem Open.

 

Junior Gold Qualifier At Mt. Hood Lanes 

October 27, 2024

"The Pro Shoppe" Wins Mt Hood Lanes Ladies Swiss

GRESHAM, OR – The defending champions make it back to back wins at this years Ladies Swiss at Mt. Hood Lanes.  Led by Jennifer Bergheim's 11 points and 208 average, Jeri Ault, Courtney Kall, Jamiee Lorey, and Reagan Lorey finished 6 1/2 points ahead of second place team MBC.

 

 

 

October 27, 2024

Halloween Adult/Youth Baker Doubles Results

Hillsboro, Ore. -- 40 teams of adults and youth bowlers spent their Sunday morning at Park Lanes.  Some of the teams traveling from as far away as Seattle and Yakima, Washington.  The unique format saw the adults and youth bowlers pairing up to bowl games together with the adults throwing the odd frames and the youth bowlers the even frames.

 

Divided into two divisions, 301 combined average and above and 300 combined average and below, there were 20 teams in each division.  

 

Final Results: Lower Division

Final Results: Upper Division

October 26, 2024

Hard Fought Battle For RTB Northwest Baker Doubles Title

Cottage Grove, Ore. -- Congrats to Jonathan Curiel and Lucas Richard Cobb on winning the RTB Baker Doubles at Cottage Bowl!!

Each earned $560 for the win and champions jerseys. The beat out Donald Cephus and Cesar Jose 465-419 in the finals!!

 

 

October 22, 2024

Laura Cowling Wins October NWWBT At Woodburn Lanes


WOODBURN, OR. -- The Northwest Women’s Bowling Tour (NWWBT) held its second event of the season at Woodburn Lanes this past Sunday. Sixteen participants competed in a six-game qualifying round, followed by match play for the top four bowlers.

 

Marissa Cuno Turner kicked off the qualifying round with a 278 in game 1, while Courtney Nikolas followed with a 277 in game 2. At the end of qualifying, the top four bowlers advancing to match play were:

 

Courtney Nikolas: 1299
Hannah Wools: 1261
Melissa Gray: 1239
Laura Cowling: 1218


Fifth-place finisher Marissa Cuno Turner earned the last cashing spot with 1213.


In match play, Hannah Wools emerged as the top seed for the step ladder finals after winning three matches. Courtney Nikolas qualified second, and Laura Cowling secured the final spot.

 

In the step ladder finals, Cowling defeated Nikolas, advancing to the title match against Wools. Cowling maintained her strong performance, defeating Wools to claim the championship.

 

The NWWBT’s next event will be held at Linn Lanes in Lebanon on November 24, 2024. Sign-ups are open for registration.

October 22, 2024

Professional Bowlers EJ Tackett and Ronnie Russell
Host Clinics at Tigard Bowl


TIGARD, OR – Professional bowlers EJ Tackett and Ronnie Russell spent three days at Tigard Bowl, offering bowling lessons and sharing stories with local adults and youth bowlers. The duo conducted clinics from Oct 18 - 20, where they provided hands-on instruction and recounted their journeys to becoming professional bowlers. Both Tackett and Russell are well-known figures in the bowling world, with multiple titles under their belts.

 

In addition to the lessons, Tackett and Russell spoke about their experiences on the lanes, some of their most memorable moments in the sport, and the pivotal role Motiv Bowling Company has played in their careers.

 

Tigard Bowl owner Mark Pearl expressed his satisfaction with the event's success. "Well, what a great success this weekend was. I brought in EJ Tackett and Ronnie Russell for three days of clinics. Everyone I spoke to thoroughly enjoyed their time and lessons. They had fun too! Glad to call them my friends. They will be back next year again," Pearl said. He also praised Motiv Bowling, calling it "the greatest bowling ball company on the planet."

 

Both Tackett and Russell are expected to return for another round of clinics next year, continuing to share their expertise with the local bowling community.

October 22, 2024

The Old Timers Put On A Show At Hazel Dell


The 53rd Old Timers Tournament concluded on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Hazel Dell Lanes, marking another successful year for the event, which began in 1969. A total of 120 participants, along with their families and spectators, gathered for the tournament, described by Tournament Director Debbie Deane as an annual "reunion."

 

The "Stoney's Pro Shop" team, captained by Robert Sturdevant, secured first place with a total score of 3436. Sturdevant led the team with a scratch total of 710, including individual games of 247, 204, and 259. His teammates contributed as follows: Dave Patterson - 500, Tom Nelson - 659, David Riggs - 640, and Ron Martinson - 667.

 

In second place was the "All About The Balls" team, captained by Mary Stratton Dahlke of Redmond, OR, with a score of 3370. Two teams tied for third and fourth place with scores of 3355: "Geezer Power," captained by Mike Martin, and "Fun Timers," led by Jim Hair.

 

This year's tournament also raised awareness for breast cancer and all other forms of cancer. Stoney Brown, whose mother, Roberta Green, is battling cancer, donated a new bowling ball to support research efforts. "Thank you, Stoney," said Deane.

October 22, 2024

West Wins In Astoria

 

 

Astoria, OR – The Northwest Senior Tour (NWST) held a successful event at Lower Columbia Bowl in Astoria, with 59 bowlers filling the lanes. 

 

After a competitive day, John West claimed the  victory.

 

The event was supported by sponsors John Huggett with Lovley Tire and Wheel, Brian Garland with Brands of Brunswick, and Budweiser. 

2024 Old Timers Tournament

The 53rd annual Old Timers Bowling Tournament is a time-honored event for bowlers aged 50 and up. Originally founded by Howard and Ethel Setter, it has become a multi-generational tradition led by their daughter, Debbie Deane. Held at Hazel Dell Lanes, the tournament maintains long-standing customs, including a chicken dinner and champagne served during the final game. Deane shared in an interview that many players are family members of past participants, keeping the tournament’s legacy alive. The event honors the dedication of loyal bowlers, including some in their 90s, and has built a strong community over the years.

October 13, 2024

Ramshaw Delivers In Eugene

 

 

Eugene, Ore. -- Matt Ramshaw drove 160 miles to capture the October OBA title at Firs Bowl in Eugene.  

 

Ramshaw was 5th following after 6 games of qualifying. In match play, he won 3 of his 4 matches to earn the #1 seed in the step ladder finals.

 

Last months winner, Ryan Nikolas was the number 4 seed and defeated Kian Pryor and Chelsea Sporkia before facing Ramshaw in the championship match.

 

Ramshaw was not slowed down by his waiting for his opponent blasting a 276 to Nikolas' 212 to walk away with the title. 

 

Tournament Director Sean Daniels is working on a more detailed tournament recap.

 

Congratulations Matt on your big win! 

October 13, 2024

$2,500 In Scholarships Paid At Superplay On Sunday

 

 

Beaverton, Ore. -- Congratulations to several youth bowlers for their finishes at the October SuperPlay Scholarship Series.

 

October 12, 2024

It's A Win For Bretthauer In Salem

Salem, Ore. -- For the first time, RTB Bowling hosted an event specifically for senior bowlers, bringing 44 men (aged 50+) and women (aged 40+) to AMF Firebird Lanes on Saturday to compete for an RTB title and a $675 first-place prize. The tournament saw a range of new and returning participants, with many expressing interest in future events.

 

Early Highlights and Qualifying Rounds

The tournament kicked off with impressive scores. John Docker of Milwaukie bowled a perfect 300 in his opening game, while Bob Davenport from Salem nearly matched him with a 298. Steve Bretthauer of Hillsboro followed closely with a 289. These top performances set the tone for the day and kept the competition intense.

 

Throughout the qualifying rounds, these bowlers stayed in the top rankings. Bob Davenport moved into the lead in Game 5 with a 254, ultimately securing the top spot by the end of qualifying with a total of +310. Steve Bretthauer and Docker rounded out the top three. The cut for the money bracket ended with 11 bowlers, with Terry Andersen of Sherwood securing the last spot.

 

Final Qualifying Standings:

  1. Bob Davenport - Salem, OR (+310)
  2. Steve Bretthauer - Hillsboro, OR (+228)
  3. John Docker - Portland, OR (+195)
  4. Shawn Meads - Ridgefield, WA (+194)
  5. Griffin Kinney - Oregon City, OR (+189)
  6. Bill Eddleman - St Helens, OR (+185)
  7. Gerald Stacey - St Helens, OR (+184)
  8. James Pedersen - Salem, OR (+177)
  9. Chuck Orton - Springfield, OR (+169) - $165 prize
  10. Lanny Thomason - Eugene, OR (+154) - $140 prize
  11. John Wells - Eugene, OR (+152) - $125 prize

Match Play Bracket

In the match play bracket, bowlers faced off in two-game total pin matches. The top seed, Davenport, narrowly defeated Pedersen 440-437 to advance. Bretthauer, Kinney, and Eddleman also advanced to the next round.

 

The final four included Bretthauer, Kinney, Davenport, and Eddleman. Bretthauer defeated Eddleman with a score of 449-398, while Davenport won against Kinney 434-413, setting up a final match between Davenport and Bretthauer.

 

The Championship Match

In the finals, Davenport and Bretthauer faced off, each vying for the RTB title. Bretthauer took an early lead with a 212 game, while Davenport, struggling with ball issues, managed a 166. Despite a strong comeback in the second game, Davenport could not overcome the gap. Bretthauer secured his third RTB title, winning the match 418-394 and claiming the $675 prize. Davenport took home $425 as the runner-up.

 

Additional Highlights and Announcements

A raffle, sponsored by Brunswick Brands, awarded John Barth a prize, and event organizers thanked Firebird Lanes staff for a well-run tournament. The success of this senior-exclusive event has led to plans for a return in May at Mt. Hood Lanes.

The next RTB event will be the highly anticipated Baker Doubles at Cottage Bowl, expected to draw nearly 120 bowlers across two squads. This event marks the return of the Baker format, which hasn’t been featured since 2016.

 

 

October 10, 2024

Team USA Bowlers Win Eight Medals on Final Day of 2024 Champion of Champions

Lima, Peru. -- Team USA closed out the 2024 PANAM Bowling Champion of Champions by winning eight medals on the final day, bringing their total to 10 medals out of a possible 12. The competition was held at the VIDENA Bowling Center, where the team competed in singles, doubles, and all-events categories.

 

On the last day, each of the four Team USA bowlers earned two medals. Bryanna Coté of Tucson, Arizona, took home the gold in women's all-events and a silver in women’s singles. Crystal Elliott from Palm Bay, Florida, won gold in women’s singles and a bronze in all-events. In the men’s categories, Matt Russo of Ballwin, Missouri, secured gold in all-events and bronze in singles, while Chris Via of Springfield, Ohio, earned gold in men’s singles and bronze in all-events.

 

Earlier in the tournament, Russo and Via had also captured silver in men’s doubles.

 

In the women’s singles competition, Elliott led the way with an eight-game score of 1,602, finishing with a 16-game total of 3,202, while Coté finished 21 pins behind with a total of 3,181. Colombia’s Juliana Franco won the women’s singles bronze with 3,112.

Coté’s performance in all-events over three days resulted in a 24-game total of 4,758, giving her the all-events gold. Aruba’s Kamilah Dammers earned silver with a score of 4,735, and Elliott took bronze with 4,721.

 

For the men’s singles, Via scored 1,666 in his final eight games, achieving a two-day total of 3,393. Francois Lavoie from Canada won silver with a score of 3,372, while Russo earned bronze with a total of 3,312. In men’s all-events, Russo topped the field with a 24-game total of 4,935, followed by Canada’s Mitch Hupe with 4,911 for silver and Via with 4,902 for bronze.

PHOTO: Bowl.com

October 8, 2024

Team USA Bowlers Head into Final Day of 2024 PANAM Champion of Champions in Medal Hunt

LIMA, Peru – Team USA bowlers are well-positioned for medals as they enter the final day of the 2024 PANAM Bowling Champion of Champions. Chris Via leads the men’s singles field with a score of 1,727 across eight games, while Matt Russo holds fifth place at 1,677. Canada’s Francois Lavoie, Bermuda’s David Maycock, and Colombia’s Jaime Gonzalez follow closely behind, promising an exciting finish on the tournament’s challenging 39-foot oil pattern. Russo and Via are also second and third in all-events, following Canadian leader Mitch Hupe with 3,322.

 

In the women’s field, Bryanna Coté and Crystal Elliott placed second and third in singles on Tuesday. Coté rolled a total of 1,613, and Elliott 1,600, both trailing Aruba’s Kamilah Dammers, who led with 1,625. All three women also occupy the top spots in the all-events standings, with Coté and Elliott at 3,190 and 3,119, respectively.

 

Singles resumes Wednesday at 10 a.m. Eastern with women’s competition, followed by the men’s block at 4 p.m. The medal race remains competitive, and Team USA looks to reach the podium in singles and all-events

October 8, 2024

Team USA Wins Silver in Men’s Doubles at Pan-Am Bowling Champion of Champions in Peru

LIMA, Peru – Team USA’s Matt Russo and Chris Via achieved silver medals in men’s doubles on Monday, October 1, during the 2024 PANAM Bowling Champion of Champions. Competing at the VIDENA Bowling Center, the pair outscored Peru’s team by just 17 pins with a total of 3,132. Russo and Via, who scored 1,623 and 1,509 respectively, were edged out for gold by Canada’s Mitch Hupe and Francois Lavoie, who posted a combined 3,302 – the only score averaging above 200 per game on the tournament’s challenging 39-foot oil pattern.

 

Despite f