A new single game team score record has been bowled, giving bowlers a new target to aim for in the USBC record books.

A five-man team from Lindenwood University near St. Louis rolled a 1,434 scratch team game, breaking the old record of 1,414, which was set back in 2001.

The team’s individual scores were Connor Drum with 278, Eddie Cetwinski 279, E.J. Parks 300, Brad Miller 279 and Ryan Council with 298. To put it in perspective, the team struck on all but five shots in the game.

The 1,434 was sandwiched between average team games of 995 and 1,058. Ironically, the Lindenwood team is coached by former PBA player Randy Lightfoot, who was part of the team that held the old record. So, there you go! You and your teammates have a new record to aim for this week!

Trivia

A bowler needs the five-pin re-spotted to go along with the two- and four-pin. The mechanic re-spots the head pin instead of the five-pin. The bowler shoots at and converts the spare. The captain from the other team says that is not correct, that the bowler should have shot at the 2-4-5, not the 1-2-4, and wants the spare to be spotted correctly and shot at again.

What is the proper ruling in this situation? Answer at the end of the column.

Hortert will be missed

I was saddened to hear of the passing of longtime BCBA member and fellow bowler Rollie Hortert.

Hortert was a part of some great teams of the past. Hortert was a skillful player, but the one thing about Rollie that always impressed me was how quiet he was, along with what seemed to me to be a calm demeanor.

But, make no mistake, Hortert was a fierce competitor, but always was respectful and polite. I consider it a privilege to have bowled against and alongside Rollie Hortert. Rest in peace.

Tip of the Week

Targeting on a lane is a matter of preference for each bowler. Most learn to bowl by looking at the arrows on the lane. Some just line up and roll the ball at an area.

Whatever your preference, being able to adjust is important to improving your game. But the thinking can be the same. If you are getting an early hook, most bowlers will move in to a part of the lane where there is more lane oil.

But one strategy you may try is to look farther down the lane, which will make you lift the ball farther out onto the lane, delaying the hook.

Here’s where the targeting reference comes in. Whether you look at the arrows, dots, or an area, in this instance you need to look past those areas in order to lift the ball out farther. Pick a spot that is maybe a foot beyond what you are targeting and roll your ball toward that spot.

Unusual spare

I can honestly say that in my 40-plus years of bowling, I have never seen the 7-8-9 combination left. Will Emmel of the Armco C League not only left the spare, but also converted it!

“Don’t leave anything you can’t make” comes to mind in this instance!

Top scorers

Mike Strutt led the way with a 258 game and 730 series in Fox’s Pizza Den action recently.

Brad Rackarich, sporting a 162 average, rolled games of 238 and 245. Jim Hepler (259-685) and Brent Moculski (246-670) also bowled well. ... Dick Daller, 211 game; Nick Jankovich 200 game and Betsy Cupp, 189 game, bowled well in Casino League play. ... Mary Schulteis had the high game of 206, and Judy Kennedy rolled a 532 series to lead the Coins League. ... Phil Loverick, Jr. tossed a 279 game in the Armco C league. Tim Malis, (257-678) and Chuck Dight (235-680) also had good nights.

Trivia answer

The spare stands. According to USBC rule 7a, it is a player’s responsibility to determine that the set up is correct. If it is not and the bowler delivers the ball, the result of the shot and the pin fall counts.

Ron Willison is a bowling columnist for the Butler Eagle.