Four Gems sparkle at county tourney
The results are in for the Butler County Bowling Association Mixed Handicap Tournament held at Mars Lanes.
Topping the team event was the Four Gems from Mars team with a 3,131 score. Team members were Amy Charlton, Jeff Culpepper, Alecia McKee and Charles Wofford.
The doubles team of Amy Charlton and Jeff Culpepper took top honors with a 1,581.
Winning the women's no-bowl singles was Carol Trainor with an 825, while Donald Durr won the men's no-bowl singles with an 847.
USBC tournament
The U.S. Bowling Congress national tournament is continuing and the scores are high. In the scratch division, a 788 series tops the field, while 1,466, 3,236, and 2,138 are the scores to beat in doubles, team and all-events respectively.
In the classified division, a 679 is the top singles score, with scores of 1,204, 2,745, and 1,834 posted in doubles, team and all-events. These scores are as of Sunday.
The USBC tournament continues in Las Vegas through July 23. Also under way is the USBC Women's National Tournament in Reno, Nev. That event runs through July 4.
For information, go to bowl.com.
Tip of the Week
While lane conditioning and the machines used for placing oil on the lanes have come a long way, it's still not a perfect science.
Although the purpose of the oil is to protect the lane surface, dressing a lane is a way to influence scoring.
In any event, don't be surprised if the pair of lanes that you are bowling on are completely different. During practice before league, play your favorite line for a few shots, but pay attention to how your ball is reacting on each lane.
If you have made a couple of good shots on both lanes, but have left a tenpin on one lane while striking on the other, chances are an adjustment must be made on the lane where you left the tenpin.
I always go into league or tournament play with the mind-set that no two lanes are exactly alike. If they are alike, it's a bonus. If not, then you are mentally prepared to make the necessary adjustments.
Trivia question
The first national bowling tournament, then known as the American Bowling Congress Championships, was held in Chicago in 1901. Which year were electronic foul lights used for the first time in the tournament? Answer at the end of the column.
Top scores
Brad Buckley just missed a perfect game recently in the Buckhorn League at Bon Aire Bowl. Buckley fired a 299 game, leaving the tenpin on the final shot. Buckley finished the night with a 749 series. Also bowling well in the league were Paul Ealy 257 (682) and Jim Ford Jr. 231 (642).
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Armco C: Matt Fry 263 (701), Gus Tonini 290 (682), Tim Malis 279 (695), Dick Dero 253 (697)•
Firearms League: Shane Ozella 258 (741), Mike Hilliard 248 (691), Josh Hinchberger 268 (683), Kristi Erkens 227 game•
Coins League: Vicki Stevick 227 game, Linda Smith 583 series•
Kelly Automotive: Dan Manning 269 (747), Kevin Kniess 278 (737), Brent Moculski 265 (667).Trivia answerIt wasn't until 1949 that electronic foul lights replaced human foul judges at the national tournament, which was held in Atlantic City, N.J.Ron Willison is the bowling columnist for the Butler Eagle.
