THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 8, 1996 TAG: 9609060210
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: AROUND THE ALLEYWAYS
SOURCE: BILL LEFFLER
LENGTH: 79 lines
Across South Hampton Roads there are 546 lanes in 19 bowling centers.
Quite likely, on any Monday through Friday evening, every one of these lanes will be occupied by bowlers. Most have double shifts.
Step into Pinboy's of Norfolk on a Saturday night and you'll see all 60 lanes going with a single league. There are 300 bowlers in the Charles Peete League.
September marks the opening of the winter season, usually running until May. And on any given night there are nearly 5,000 league bowlers in action.
Some say the bowling boom has passed, pointing out a decline in membership in ABC, WIBC, YABA and the National Duckpin Congress.
An American Sports Data survey was conducted in May, showing more folks are deciding not to commit themselves to weekly league play but bowling itself is on an upswing.
Centers are getting more customers than ever.
The survey revealed that 53.1 million Americans (age 6 and over) bowled once or more during 1995. This makes bowling America's largest recreational sport.
This was an 11 per cent increase over a similar survey in 1987, considered by many as bowling's peak year.
There was an increase of 12.2 per cent in the number of bowlers from 1994 to 1995.
Tenpin topics: Traditionally, the Mayors Tournament opens the bowling season. The 14th annual competition was held at Pinboy's of Norfolk and Virginia Beach claimed the championship. Three-bowler teams represented Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth with one city official on each squad. The winning Beach team was composed of Vice Mayor Will Sessoms, David Deary and Phil Aspiras. Aspiras, a youth bowler and one of the most promising lane prospects in the area, rolled a 279 game. It was the highest ever shot in this tourney. He had a third-frame 9 hit, which he converted for a spare, along with his 11 strikes. Virginia Beach had a team total of 527, followed by Norfolk with 494, Chesapeake with 484 and Portsmouth with 402. But nobody had more fun than a lefthander who managed only a single strike, Portsmouth Mayor Jim Holley. The tournament was taped by Cox Channel 11 and is being shown several times. . . . The season's first 300 games go to Brian Elswick and Mike Olenik. Elswick fired his 300 in the Tuesday Men's Commercial League at Pinboy's of Western Branch. He also had games of 214 and 161 for a 675 series. Olenik had his perfecto the same night in the Divisional League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. Olenik opened with 237 and closed with 204 for a 741 series. . . . The new tournament started by WIBC secretary Reba Callis, Season Kickoff Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Chesapeake Classic Tournament, got off to a roaring start and will become an annual event. The unwieldy named tourney will be known by its nickname, the Seagull. This first event drew 264 bowlers. The winners in scratch all-events were Mike Krell (1893) and Karen Shuler (1841). The handicap all-events champs were Manny Lozada (2275) and Darlene Johnson (1956). The handicap team champions were the Jolly Boys (2748) and Fink's Follies (2541). Men's singles winners were Jeff Keller (706 scratch) and Orlando Samonte (789 handicap) and women's singles titlists were Fran Sansone (654 scratch) and Yolanda Rochna (728 handicap).
Duckpin data: The first area bowler to roll a 500 series back in 1989 has accomplished that same feat in 1996. Walter Laughon, who had a 513 series to open the '89 season, started the '96-'97 season with a blistering 522. He made a threat at the center's record of 542, held by Donnie Long. Laughon also had the first 200 game of the year, posting 204. He had the big single between games of 154 and 164 in the Industrial League at Victory Lanes. In the same league moments later Bobby Wetherbee finished with 503. It was the first time in the history of this league, which is the oldest in the state of Virginia, that two bowlers rolled 500 series on the same night. . . . The National Duckpin Tournament will be coming to Virginia in 1997. Plaza Bowl in Richmond has been awarded the tourney. . . . Proprietors are considering a new format for the State Tournament. If it is approved, every center will have its own tournament with the winners qualifying for the state finals. MEMO: Editor's note: The top 10 rankings of the weekly high games and
series will start in The Virginian-Pilot on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Secretaries should leave results and highlights at control desks of area
centers, fax information to 446-2607 or call the bowling info-line at
640-5555, BOWL. Also submit a nomination for Bowler of the Week, which
will commence next week in your community news sections. by CNB