Scratch Champion, Amanda Beck
October 30, 2010
Patchogue, NY: The LIGBT visited Bowl Long Island on Saturday night of Halloween weekend and 95 bowlers packed the center. For the second time in the last 3 events both the scratch and handicap tournaments crowned first time champions. Winning her first LIGBT scratch title was Amanda Beck of Patchogue, NY who earned $1,000. Winning his first LIGBT handicap title was Jim Walsh of Glencove, NY who earned $500.
The scratch event was a six game marathon that was bowled on the PBA Cheetah Pattern. Scoring was moderate as it took a 217 average in the 49 & under division to make the finals and only a 176 average to advance in the senior division. Three bowlers were seeded into the shootout after qualifying, the top two 49 & unders; Dave Sulzer, Holbrook, NY (1426) and Ray Edwards, Middle Island, NY (1375) and top senior; Don Hick, W. Babylon (1187).
To determine the fourth bowler in the shootout the remaining 1 in 4 finalists rolled one game with the top score advancing and the others earning $200. Amanda Beck rolled a great 267 game to advance. Once in the final shootout Amanda continued her great bowling and won the title with a 235. Finishing second was Ray Edwards ($500) who rolled a 197. Third place went to Dave Sulzer who shot a 182 and earned $300 while fourth went to Don Hicks ($250) with a 154.
The handicap event used a two squad format. Leo Lombardi, W. Babylon was the 6pm squad leader (688) and was seeded directly into the shootout. The 8pm squad leader, John Palemire of Farmingdale, NY, was the 8pm squad leader with a 700 and earned 1 bye in the finals. To make the handicap finals you had to shoot a 632 with handicap and bonus pins in both the 6pm and 8pm squads.
Jim Walsh has bowled in 35 LIGBT tournaments and never finished higher than second until the Bowl Long Island event. Jim, who is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, advanced to the finals in the 8pm squad with a 691 series. In the finals, Jim advanced two rounds to get into the shootout against three other great bowlers; Leo Lombardi, Samuel Cooke of Patchogue, and Mike Ruggiero of Smithtown.
The handicap shootout was exciting and went down to the tenth frame. Jim doubled in the tenth to force Sam to do the same. But a stubborn 10 pin on Sam’s first ball gave Jim his first title and the $500 top prize. The final shootout scores (with handicap) were; Jim ($500) 276, Sam ($300) 264, Mike ($250) 230 and Leo ($200) 214.
The LIGBT’s next event is a handicap only tournament at South Levittown Lanes on Sunday, November 7
th with squads at 1pm and 3pm. The next scratch and handicap event will be at East Islip Lanes on Sunday, November 21
st. For more information on these events and complete results of the Bowl Long Island tournament please visit
www.ligbtour.com or call the tournament office at 1.877.900.6464.