Babylon, NY: Peter Libranti, a 46 year old right-hander from Wantagh, NY won the $5,000 top prize at AMF Babylon where LIGBT’s Super Tournament #5 was held. Peter, who shot a 667 in the Saturday 8pm squad, defeated Rob Longiaru, Seaford, NY 208-203 to win his first LIGBT title. Rob, who was the 2pm squad leader, earned $2,500 for his runner-up position. Finishing in third was Luis Gomez, E. Elmhurst, NY with a 181 worth $1,250. Luis advanced to the finals via the desperado! Fourth place went to William Cron, Matamoras, PA with a 161 worth $1,000. William advanced to the finals as the Sunday wildcard winner!
The Super Tournament final shootout was a pressure packed match with close to $10,000 up for grabs. Rob started out strong and was clean through 5 frames with a triple in frames 3 through 5. Peter had 2 opens in the first 6 frames and trailed Rob by 22 pins. But Peter stayed clean the rest of the game while Rob opened in 3 out of his last 5 frames, including a devastating missed 1 pin spare in the 10th, to finish second. Luis stayed close the entire match but finished with 3 opens to finish third. William never could find the line and was trailing the entire match.
Peter joins a prestigious list of $5,000 LIGBT Super Tournament champions; Tommy Grunwald, Astoria, NY was the first Super champion at Farmingdale Lanes (February, 2016), Cynthia Cooke, Patchogue, NY won the second Super Tournament at AMF Plainview (May 2017) and Pak Wong, New York, NY won the 3rd Super Tournament also at AMF Plainview (August, 2017.) Hector Diaz Jr., Bronx, NY was the 4th Super Tournament winner at Levittown Lanes (June, 2018.) The 6th Super Champion will be crowned labor day weekend at AMF Garden City.
The Super Tournament drew an amazing crowd of 400 entries plus 68 desperado entries. There were 61 finalists plus another 39 cashers (100 total-almost a 1 in 2 ratio) all sharing in a $24,350 prize fund. Cut scores were low on the custom pattern ranging from 621-660. High series was shot by Dominique Calhoun with a 770 (Sunday 4pm.) There were 61 women entries with 12 advancing to the finals. There were 4 wildcard winners: So Young Chin (1367), Darryl McDuffie (1347), Bill Verni (1319), William Cron (1287.) Total payout for the weekend exceeded $50,000!
LIGBT’s next tournament is a BEAT-THE-BOARD TOURNAMENT at AMF Wantagh on Sunday, June 2nd. For complete results of Super Tournament #5 please visit www.ligbtour.com. The LIGBT is sponsored by Brunswick, Kegel, Torch Bowling, Vietri Associates, Billvee Electric, Knockout Ball Cleaner, and CLS Custom Upholsterers.