Long Island Summer Bowling Tour!

"If he bowls 300 on this shot, I promise I will go over to his pair and kiss his feet!"

Junior Bowler SCOTT SCHULTZ, Huntington Station, speaking to Co-tournament director Ken Zagorski (PoppaZ), referring to the competitive shot at Westhampton and  discovering that RAY VAN REINE, Riverhead, had the first 9!

Miller Place holds the bragging rights this week as two residents of the town took home championships at WESTHAMPTON BOWL in the LONG ISLAND SUMMER BOWLING TOUR on June 29, 2001. In what would turn out to be a demanding and shotmaking tournament, bowlers found themself vying for position in the qualifying and final rounds. 

AMY BOHLEBER, Miller Place, came from the 3rd seed of qualifying to win the championship of the Junior Handicap Division. BOHLEBER (+126 in qualifying) defeated KEVIN BANDROWSKI (+134), Speonk, 224-207 in the semi-final match to gain a berth into the finals vs. JACKIE NORMANDIN, Riverhead. BANDROWSKI simply let BOHLEBER off the hook in the 10th frame by opening. BOHLEBER stayed clean most of the way in the early frames and sailed in the 9th and 10th. Normandin (+254), simply blew away the field in qualifying by averaging 206.50 scratch. She did however, run into some problems in the final match. BOHLEBER, using her years of experience on the junior bowling tournament circuit, exploited the struggles of NORMANDIN, and defeated her 221-200 to "go home with the gold". "Tonight was all about spares and letting your equipment help you. I decided to play it safe and let my experience work for me," said Bohleber. "I got some breaks tonight, no doubt".

Junior bowlers who turned in fine efforts include NORMANDIN-225, 643-Front 3, 611 Back 3, BANDROWSKI-232, 604 Front 3, BOHLEBER-224, SCOTT SCHULTZ, Huntington Station, 215, 619 Back 3 and AJ FRAGOLA, East Patchogue, 203. 

Great Job by the Youth Bowlers!

The adult handicap division came down to nail biting. The field size allowed the top 5 to advance to the final rounds. After the 4-game qualifier, the top 2 seeds, JIM LUKE (+154), Miller Place and BARBARA MILLER (+152), Mastic, pretty much had spots secured based on strong performances. The LAST 3 spots however, proved different. The next six bowlers, spots 3 through 8, were separated by 7 pins! Those who survived, PETE BOHLEBER (+138), Miller Place, STACEY BOKINA (+138), Peconic and CHRIS BARTON (+136), East Moriches put on quite a show in the semis and finals. Just missing the cut were NORMAN TYTE (+134), East Quogue, BENNY WONG (+132), Port Jeff Station and DON WICKMAN (+131). 

In the brackets elimination round, in game 1, two collegiate bowlers hammered it out. STACEY BOKINA (Morehead State) and PETE BOHLEBER (Penn State). The match came down to the final frame and it was BOKINA who grinded it out. The talented  lady Eagle defeated the Nittany Lion 232-217 to advance to the semi-finals. BOHLEBER however, was gracious in defeat, "The shot was very demanding and unforgiving. the lanes demanded respect. Stacey made the shots when she needed them. I didn't.". He then added, "Hey you know, there is a reason why she is a member of one of the top womens collegiate Bowling programs in the country (Morehead State). and tonight she showed why. She's good, real good, hats off to her."  In game 2 of the Brackets elimination, CHRIS BARTON defeated the upstart BARBARA MILLER 236-213 to advance to the Semi-finals as well. That set up the semi final match of longtime foes BOKINA and BARTON. The two young adults apparently grew up and competed against each other while in the junior division. Both competitors however, looked as though neither one of em was going to give the other one a break. The two battled down to the last frame with BARTON finishing first on the right lane. Needing a double to put some pressure on BOKINA, BARTON failed to do so, but he did mark out. BOKINA needed to stay clean in frame 10. On her first shot, BOKINA left a 10 pin that she needed to convert in order to advance. Cool as can be, she flushed the 10 pin off her hand and went on to the championship match with a 233-225 victory over BARTON. 

In the championship match, BOKINA and JIM LUKE butted heads. This match also came down to the wire. This time however, the role was reversed on BOKINA. LUKE, with an opportunity to close out BOKINA in the 10th, left a 3-10 baby split. The right-handed LUKE did not convert the split that left the door wide open for BOKINA to win the title. BOKINA needed to double in the 10 box for victory. However, just as BARTON failed to do, BOKINA ran into similar fate. On her first shot in the 10th, She came up high on the pocket and left a 6 pin, thus LUKE (220-212) was crowned champ.

The individual highlight of the evening belonged to RAY VAN REINE, Riverhead. VAN REINE went front 9 in a bid to become the second ever to bowl a 300 on the LISBT. He came up a little short however, but settled for the 276, 601 Back 3! 

Fine efforts in the Adult Division were turned in by BOHLEBER-213, 626 Front 3, 628 Back 3, BOKINA-227, 614 Front 3, 642 Back 3, BARTON-240, 600 Front 3, 641 Back 3,  DON WICKMAN, Seldon, 247, 633 Front 3, 688 Back 3, KEN BURNS, Laurel, 235, 662 Front 3, FRANK ECKHARDT, Riverhead, 212, GARY LINDAHL, Ridge, 205, ROBERT BREEST, Flanders, 213 and STEVEN EASTON, Westhampton, 207.  

A total of 31 entries participated in the event. Next on tap? CENTEREACH LANES, July 6, 2001 8:45 pm.

Thanx for all the support. 

Final Standings

Payout