THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604260166
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 35 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Around the Alleyways
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
How would you like to bowl for $1 million?
Not against the pros. Not even against the higher average amateurs. Just plain Joe and Jane Blow bowlers.
The Lilac City Tenpin Tournament in Rochester, N.Y., offers such an opportunity and got under way this month. It will run through June 23.
It's handicap competition and annually - this is its 28th year - draws participants from as many as 30 states and Canada. Numerous Virginians compete.
The tournament has 18 events. It has men and women's singles and doubles, mixed doubles, several team categories and divisions for seniors. It also has the sanction of ABC and WIBC.
The Lilac tourney is billed as the second-largest commercial tournament in the nation. Last year, more than 20,000 competed.
The tournament is held in two centers, the 56-lane Terrace Garden Lanes and the 80-lane Olympic Bowl, in Rochester.
The prizes are based on entries, but 9,500 bowlers took home money last year. The individual leader pocketed $24,000. The winning team prize was $40,000.
John Winter was the $24,000 winner in men's singles. He had a handicap series of 827.
Interested in competing? Call 1-716-464-8288 or 1-800-365-4522.
Marcel Fournier, who helped organize the Lilac at its outset, says doubles and team entries will be accepted until May 8 and singles and mixed events will be open throughout the tournament.
Adds Fournier: ``And we also are starting to take reservations for the 1997 Lilac.''
Bowler of the Week honors go to youth bowler Kyle Cheatwood.
Competing in the NFL Jacket Tenpin League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven, Cheatwood barely missed the 300 Club. He pitched a 299 game en route to a 692 series. The righthander left the No. 10 pin.
The rapidly improving Cheatwood carried a 165 average in youth league play last season. He currently is sporting a 195 mark.
Tenpin topics: Fred Olive tossed a 296 single in the Thursday Men's League at Pinboy's of Western Branch. . . . Stephen Moffitt joined the Century Club with a 279 game in the Commercial/Divisional League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. He averages 172. . . . In the Friday Mixers League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake, Lee Davidson had his first 700 (709). At the same center in the Monday Scratch Doubles League, Bryan Marks went over the 700 barrier for the first time with 701. . . . Andrea Thorpe's 654 in the Tuesday Night Mixed League at Pinboy's of Western Branch featured games of 214, 183 and 257. . . . Fran Sansone barely missed another trip into the 700 Club, rolling 693 in the PA Keglers League at Pinboy's of Military. She slammed a 256 single. . . . Todd Allred backed up 700 series in Monday night action at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven, tossing 724 in the Early Birds loop and following with 725 in the Monday Trio League. Suburban Men's League at Pinboy's at the Beach. . . . Earl Stutz and William Dalrymple both pitched 289 games in the Industrial League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . . Sheri Alford, who averages 147, had her first 200 in the Junior/Major/Senior League at Pinboy's of Western Branch. . . . Kathy Sartain notched a sparkling 268 single in a 640 series in the Tuesday Nite Mixed League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . . Michelle Lynch's 636 series in the Pioneer Mixed League at Pinboy's at the Beach featured a 257 scorcher. . . . The Portsmouth Area Golden Olympics will include bowling at Pinboy's of Western Branch. Competition will be Wednesday, May 8, at 1 p.m. . . . USA Bowling has a coaching conference scheduled in Newport News May 4-5. For information, contact Bob Maki at 414/423-3329. . . . Just another reason why area hotels and motels should get behind an effort to bring the WIBC Tournament to South Hampton Roads: The annual WIBC meeting in Buffalo, N.Y., last week drew 3,500 delegates for two days. . . . The second Striker's Scratch Tour will be May 4 at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven. Entry fee is $50. For information, call Gary or Edra Riggins at 631-1584. . . . Mark your calendar: the Tidewater Mixed Championship Tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 8-9 and June 15-16.
Duckpin data: Bill Hinson joined the exclusive 200 Club with an even 200 in the Tuesday Major Trio League. He had a 446 series. . . . Surgery has sidelined Sunday School League bowler Bill Schepp. . . . Joyce Johnson chalked up a nifty flat 96 in the Thursday Nite Ladies League. . . . David Leffler had an eight-mark 182 in the Elimination Doubles League. In the same league, Ben Hayth pulled in the tough 1-5-7-8-9-10 for a spare. . . . Ever wonder what happens to old bowling balls? When Fair Lanes Military had duckpin bowling and disposed of old balls, they were carried to the Norfolk zoo for the animals to play with. . . . Henry Neal walloped games of 165, 160 and 131 en route to a 456 series in the Sunday School League. Tom Gregory shot a 174 game in the same loop. . . . Senior bowler O. D. Mootes continues his high scoring. He racked up a 193 single in the Golden Days League. . . . Ralph McElfrish, Bobby Green and Dennis Rohlf won the rolloff for the championship in the Naval Shipyard League. Where did Kenny Bass's team finish? . . . Leeanne Harris walloped a 426 series in the Tuesday Trio League. . . . A no-smoking-in-the-center bowling league will be held on Thursday night at Victory Lanes this summer and is signing up bowlers now. by CNB