THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603220193
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Around the Alleyways
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
The most prestigious of the awards given out by the American Bowling Congress to local associations is the Presidential Service Award.
There are 2,700 member associations across the country and only a handful are honored each year.
The local Norfolk Bowling Association was among 20 receiving the coveted award at the annual ABC Convention in Salt Lake City.
The NBA was recognized for at least 10 years of dedicated service to its membership and the sport.
There were nearly 1,400 delegates there for the presentation. In addition to the award, the NBA also will get a future visit by an ABC Ambassador.
Margaret Jones is the scratch all-events champion in the Portsmouth Women's Association Tenpin Championship.
Jones had a nine-game pinfall of 1,805 to lead the two-weekend tournament at Franklin Bowling Center.
The unofficial handicap all-events winner is Belinda Rupp with 1,680-408-2,088.
Rupp also won the handicap singles crown with 633-136-769.
Jeannie Whitley and Kimberly Emery captured the handicap doubles title with 1,147-212-1,359.
The team championship went to Prozone, a team composed of Levon Gyoker, Glenda Rupp, Wanda Parham and Chris Cutchins. Prozone had 2,421-235-2,656.
Bowler of the Week honors are shared by a pair of bowlers in the Tuesday Men's Commercial Tenpin League at Pinboy's of Western Branch.
Mark Tarkington joined the exclusive 800 Series Club, backing up games of 264, 288 and 254 for 806.
George Murphy rolled a 300 game in the same circuit en route to his 652 series.
Tenpin topics: Three more bowlers joined the 300 Game Club during the week. Chris Jennison closed with a 12-striker after games of 195 and 211 in a 706 series in the Masters League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven. At the same center in the Friday Misfits League, Scott Walter had 273, 267 and 300 for 740. Steve Zetter, competing in the Cosmopolitan League at Pinboy's of Norfolk, registered 300, 195 and 205 for an even 700. . . . Bud Jacobson and Robert Huryn paired for a 1,456 pinfall in the Military Doubles League at Pinboy's of Military. Jacobson shot 737 and Huryn hit 719. That's an average of 242.7 each game. . . . Linda Bradshaw zipped 94 pins over average as the 125-average bowler socked a 219 game in the Saturday Classic Mixed League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . . . Denise White's 636 series in the Sunday Nite Live League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven featured a 258 scorcher. . . . Lawrence Irvin Jr. smacked a 288 game in his 688 series in the Tuesday's Men's Commercial League at Pinboy's of Western Branch. . . . Evan Hughes flipped a 289 single in the Twilighters League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . . . Gina Forehand popped a 257 game in her 689 series in the Screwballs League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . topped by Philip Penny's 754. . . . Robin Markland racked up a 268 en route to a 662 series in the Friday Misfits League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven. . . . Junior bowler Rhiannon Allan had a 258 game and 674 series in the Big/Little League at Indian River. . . . If you think it's the mental aspect of the game that you need to conquer to become a good bowler, maybe you will be interested in a new book written by three-time PBA tour champion Eric Lasser. Lasser, a sports psychologist who helps coach TEAM USA, covers the mental game as it relates to bowling in his book ``Let It Go..'' Lasser can be reached at (414) 423-3329 where he is conducting a seminar.
Duckpin data: The Virginia State Tournament concludes today at Victory Lanes and unofficial winners will be announced next week. The leaders through three weekends of competition: Teams - Alley Cats, 1,735; Men's singles - Sonny Williams, 501; Women's singles - Miriam Pugh, 538; Men's doubles - Irv Naftaly and Tim Kirkpatrick, 946; Women's doubles - Judy Wright and Bev Coles, 1,021; Mixed doubles - Don Ferguson and Martha Rush, 1,013; Men's all-events - Lee Coup, 1,406; Women's all-events - Linda Harrison, 1,438. . . . Paul Sandefur might have been going for a world record when he nearly left three 7-10 splits in a row in the Elimination Doubles League. After a pair of 7-10 leaves, he left the 6-7-10. He plucked out the six pin on his second delivery to leave another 7-10. . . . Deepest sympathy to Billie Dew on the death of his sister. . . . Mike Clapper went up the ladder with 81, 82 and 83 in the Sunday Fun League. He averages 79. . . . Here's wishing a speedy return to the lanes for Bill Ellsworth, out of action the past week and briefly hospitalized. . . . Lang's Fangs won the second round in the Industrial League. . . . Wanda Strawderman and David Leffler were the second-round winners in the Elimination Doubles League. . . . Danielle Dancker tossed a 364 series in the Bowlarama Youth League. . . . In the Victory Youth League Blake Ellsworth, who averages 80, posted a 124 game and Tommy Ragland, with an 88 average, tossed a 134. . . . Ronnie Ketchum slammed a 186 game in his 425 series in the Industrial League. . . . Joe Rabel's 455 set in the Tidewater Pro League included a 182 game. by CNB