For the ninth year in a row, the Pennsylvania State Bowling Association is offering college scholarship money for young bowlers who participate in a USBC youth league this season.

The PSBA will give away five scholarships worth $1,250 each for the 2007-08 academic year. Along with being a member of the USBC, other requirements include: A graduate or a graduating senior from a recognized secondary school with a minimum 2.0 QPA for grades nine through 12 with the intent to enter a post-high school institution of higher learning.

Bowlers also must write a brief autobiography and state their personal qualifications. An official high school transcript for the first semester must accompany a completed application by March 1.

For an application, bowlers can seek one from their youth coach, visit www.psbabowl.org, or request one from Corey A. Wert, Secretary, PSBA Scholarship Committee, 242 South Thomas Street, Beavertown, Pa., 17183.

Here are the top scores from the Butler County USBC Youth Tournament held at Meridian Lanes recently.The handicap division winner is listed first, followed by the scratch division winner. Bantam boys: Dalton Hoffman and Shawn Marcellus; girls: Kaylee Noah and Alexis Gagliardi; Prep boys: Cody Stroup and Sam Weston; girls: Sara Ahlgren and Autumn Hepler; Junior boys: Mike Schnitski and Ben Hoffman; girls: Heather Paul and Hope Griffith; Senior boys: Richard Lorenz and Brandon Green; girls: Samantha Green and Amanda Fisher.

If you left the "bedposts", after rolling your first ball, what split combination did you leave? Answer at the end of the column.

To help you practice lifting the ball out onto the lane, try placing your bowling towel lengthwise along the foul line and roll your regular shot.If the towel moves, you put the ball down too early. Lifting the ball out on to the lane will help you get your ball into the skid-roll-hook pattern it needs to be an effective shot.Do not confuse lifting the ball with lofting the ball. Lofting the ball is when you release the ball very late and high, causing it to go high in the air and crash down onto the lane.This practice is frowned upon and serves no purpose in making a good shot.

Tommy Jones captured his ninth career Professional Bowlers Tour title, winning in Wickliffe, Ohio, Sunday.Jones, who earned $25,000, defeated last week's winner, Wes Malott, 222-221 in the final match. Malott earned $13,000. Walter Ray Williams Jr. finished third, good for $6,500 and Ryan Shafer took home $5,500 for his fourth-place finish.The PBA heads to Baltimore next Sunday. ESPN will televise the finals at 1 p.m. Sunday.

• <B>Buckhorn League:</B> Mike Hilliard, 290-712, Jeff Suchonic, 259-684• <B>Fox's Pizza Den:</B> Dan Ihlenfeld, 269-660, Don Anderson, 236-640• <B>Automotive League:</B> Pete Saul, 256-677, Dean McIndoe, 258 game.

The 7-10 split is commonly referred to as the "bedposts." The 4-6 split also could qualify for the nickname.