Vittone Wins Michigan State Senior Masters

April 1, 2011


By: Mark Martin

MICHIGAN STATE SENIOR MASTERS

Rick Vittone of Tecumseh, Ont. won the third annual Michigan State Senior Masters at M66 Bowl in Battle Creek Sunday when he defeated Richard Wayne of Westland 526-475 in the final two-game total pins match to win the $2,500 first prize and the title. Wayne settled for the second place check of $1,500.

Vittone qualified fifth with 1,377. His run in the winner’s bracket included wins over David Hallock of Grand Rapids 454-426, Ron Burgess of Plymouth 512-425, Dan Mayer of Waterford Township 462-403, Ron Jonas of South Bend, Ind. 528-435 before falling to Richard Wayne of Westland 502-454. In the loser’s bracket he beat Jonas again 462-417 and avenged the previous loss to Wayne 530-455 forcing the final match.

Vittone averaged 241.1 for the entire tournament. He also wins a paid entry into the 2011 USBC Senior Masters in Columbus, Ohio.

“I owe a lot of credit to my wife, Reis.”, said Vittone. “She wanted to come watch me this weekend and knows my game and can tell when my feet are fast or my follow through is not what it should be.”

Wayne, the 2010 Michigan State USBC BA Masters champion, qualified sixth with 1,373. He remained undefeated with triumphs over Richard Eiermann of Garden City 456-395, Eugene Bowhall of Brighton 475-464, Joe Krajenke of Clinton Township 490-480, Larry Walker of Garden City 462-461 and Vittone 502-454. Wayne then fell to Vittone 530-455.

Defending champion Jonas was seeded ninth per tournament rule and shot 1,302 in qualifying. He remained in the winner’s bracket with wins over Dave Forfitt of Windsor 471-430, Ken Wyatt of Sterling Heights 474-449 and Nick Cipiti of Clinton Township 485-396 before falling to Vittone 528-435. In the loser’s bracket he beat Bo Goergen of Sanford 494-422 and Larry Walker 486-430 before getting knocked out by Vittone 462-417. He cashed for $750.

Walker qualified 10th with 1,364. In match play he remained in the winner’s bracket with victories over Jim Rock of Kalamazoo 505-389, Doug Spicer of Canton 5114-428, Brian Fazio of Croswell 466-461 before losing to Wayne 462-461. In the loser’s bracket he beat Dan Mayer 475-258 when Mayer became injured and was unable to finish the match. In the next match Walker lost to Jonas 486-430 to finish his day. He settled for $600.

Top qualifier Larry Martinez of Waterford Township led qualifying by 10 pins with 1,439 with his top game of 276. He struggled in match play losing to Nick Cipiti 415-367 before beating Lewis Agius of Wyandotte 328-323 and getting knocked out by Doug Spicer 517-344. Martinez took home $175 and an additional $100 as high qualifier.

Other Oakland County seniors who cashed were Dan Mayer of Waterford Township for $500, John Bennett of Clarkston $175, David Silverman of Farmington Hills $175 and Dan Wagner of Troy $120.

Goergen recorded the top game during qualifying with a 300. Krajenke bowled a perfect 300 game during match play.

The field of 109 bowlers averaged 205.9 during the six games of qualifying.

The top 32 qualifiers averaged 223.3 during qualifying and 222.6 in match play.

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BUDWEISER MICHIGAN MAJORS

Craig Nidiffer of Monroe won his third Budweiser Michigan Majors title with a best three out of five win over Randy Warnken of Clinton Township in the Match Game Championship at Parkway Lanes in Trenton.

En route to the championship match Nidiffer defeated Brian Newcomb of Romulus, Mike Chism of Farmington Hills and Jeff Hicks of Allen Park. Nidiffer took home the top prize of $1,500.

Warnken’s road to the finals included wins over Mason Brantley of Detroit, Troy Stus of South Lyon and Doug Evans of Gibraltar. Warnken settled for $800.

Terry Haines of Westland was the top qualifier with a six-game qualifying score of 1,518, an average of 253. He lost his first match and took home $275.

“I thought it was all over after the third game.”, said champion Nidiffer. “I made a ball change and it all worked out. This is the greatest thing to happen to me so far in my career. To win a Major title is the best.”

Oakland County cashers were Chism for $375 and Stus for $375.

The next MMBA event will be April 23 at Plaza Lanes in Plymouth.


For more information contact Ken Charrette at (586) 775-2414.


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NATIONAL SENIOR BOWLING ASSOCIATION

Larry Walker of Garden City won the National Senior Bowling Association tournament at Bowl One Lanes in Troy with an overtime 50-39 rolloff over Ross Beers of Saginaw after the two tied at 246.

Walker qualified second and proceeded to defeat Keven King of Sterling Heights 234-207, Dan Mayer of Waterford Township 268-225 and Mike Abbey of Jackson 270-227 on his way to the final match. Walker received $1,000 for the win.

Beers qualified fourth. In match play he beat Mike McCleskey of Southfield 264-258, Steve Scherle of Canada 235-233 and Key Wyatt of Sterling Heights 258-237. Beers settled for $500.

McCleskey recorded the top game of the competition with 299 and the top qualifier was Wyatt.

Local bowlers who cased were Mayer for $150, McCleskey $115, Mike LaRocca of New Hudson $115, Ken Kossick of Commerce Township $100 and Jerry Owczarski of South Lyon $70.

The next NSBA tournament will be April 9 at Westland Bowl in Westland.

For more information on the NSBA contact Phil Horowitz at (248) 489-1333, e-mail to prh300@aol.com or visit www.nationalseniorbowling.com.


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HONOR SCORES


300 Games


Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League
March 1, Trapper Halam, Shelby Twp., Astro Lanes, Tuesday Goodtimers
March 1, Nicholas Tubbs, Auburn Hills, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Merchants
March 1, Raymond Taunton Jr., Hazel Park, Regal Lanes, Tuesday Night Junior House
March 1, Art Brown, Lansing, 300 Bowl, Tuesday Invitational Shootout
March 2, Anthony Agrusa, Sterling Hts., Bowl One Lanes, Ford General
March 3, Yvon Banks, White Lake, Wonderland Lanes, Thursday 5:30 Men’s
March 3, Gary Arenz, Clarkston, Five Star Lanes, 5 5 5 League
March 3, Dale Cheer, South Lyon, Wonderland Lanes, St Williams
March 3, Brent Howard, Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed League
March 4, Michael Busch, Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Friday 300 Mixed
March 4, James Halanski, Warren, Astro Lanes, Detroit Architectural
March 4, Kenneth Rogers Jr., Detroit, Hazel Park Bowl, Pepsi Classic
March 4, Mark Taylor, Oak Park, Thunderbowl Lanes, Postal Mixed Trio
March 4, Daniel Alsheskie, Wixom, Bowl One Lanes, Bowl One Classic Mixed
March 5, Anthony Simpson Jr., Pontiac, Airway Lanes, Thunder Rollers
March 5, Jessica Lemmon, Allen Park, Astro Lanes, MDUSBC Women’s Championship
March 6, Michael Sarka, Macomb, Astro Lanes, MDUSBC Open Championship
March 6, Kristopher Farley, Royal Oak, Five Star Lanes, Five Star Stingers
March 7, Scott Hill, Auburn Hills, Sunnybrook Lanes, San Marino Men’s
March 8, David Beck, Orion, Collier Lanes, Oxford Merchants
March 8, Jeffrey Austreng, Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Tuesday Invitational Shootout
March 8, Kate Featherstone, Waterford Twp., Wonderland Lanes, Tuesday Night Men’s
March 8, Ivie Shelton, Southfield, Cloverlanes, Tuesday Prime Time
March 8, Arnold Luster Jr., Pontiac, Classic Lanes, Untouchables Mixed
March 9, Richard Bolotta, Rochester Hills, Van Dyke Bowl, Wednesday Nite Men
March 9, Kennedy Baughman, Madison Hts., Van Dyke Bowl, Wednesday Nite Men
March 9, Josh Coklow, Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, Hanna’s Doubles Tournament
March 9, Duane Henderson, Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, Hanna’s Doubles Tournament
March 9, Roger Ziemba, Rochester, Sunnybrook Lanes, Tri County Men’s
March 9, Charles Branch Jr., Southfield, Thunderbowl Lanes, Semi Seniors Invitational
March 9, Emmanuel Madden, Pontiac, 300 Bowl, Pontiac Motor Inter Office
March 10, Guy Dufresne, Wixom, Wonderland Lanes, Thursday 5:30 Men’s
March 10, Delano Voletti, Lake Orion, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Men’s
March 10, Debbie Frost, Clarkston, Cherry Hill Lanes North, The Jets
March 10, Ken Lenz, Sterling Hts., Bowl One Lanes, Clawson-Troy Elks Thursday Men
March 11, Terence Haines II, Westland, Bowl One Lanes, Bowl One Classic Mixed
March 11, Christopher Pappas, Oxford, Astro Lanes, Detroit Architectural
March 12, Lane Lauer, Ortonville, Pro Bowl West, 2011 Michigan State Eagles
March 12, Scott Pace, Waterford Twp., Pro Bowl West, 2011 Michigan State Eagles
March 12, Richard Brackins, Waterford Twp., Airway Lanes, Saturday Nite Live Mixed
March 12, Marilyn Horne, Farmington Hills, Royal Lanes, Royal Guys & Dolls
March 13, Robert Raymond, Novi, Fairlanes, BTI Sunday Mixed
March 14, Jerome Cooper II, Pontiac, 300 Bowl, Pontiac Community Mixed
March 14, John Bennett, Clarkston, Bowl One Lanes, Gus Ponder’s Senior Classic
March 14, Carl Wagner, Waterford Twp., Cherry Hill Lanes North, Dixie All-Stars
March 15, Scott Burhans, Clarkston, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Merchants
March 15, Daniel Kessel, Farmington Hills, Merri Bowl Lanes, Big 10 Mixed
March 15, Danny Huntoon Jr., Pontiac, Collier Lanes, Oxford Merchants
March 15, Eric Schultz, Northville, Country Lanes, University Men
March 16, Jason Flynn, South Lyon, Novi Bowl, Men’s Lutheran League
March 16, James Coursen, Lake Orion, Classic Lanes, Classic Trio
March 16, Matthew Coleman, Auburn Hills, 300 Bowl, Pontiac Motor Inter Office
March 17, Phillip Hanna, Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed League
March 17, Edward Holsey, Ferndale, Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed League
March 17, George Juszczyk Jr., Dearborn Hts., Country Lanes, Detroit Traveling All-Stars
March 18, Chris Allen, Roseville, Astro Lanes, Detroit Architectural
March 18, Terrance Bell, Waterford Twp., Airway Lanes, Westside Merchants
March 18, Michael Busch, Waterford Twp., Airway Lanes, Westside Merchants
March 21, Steven Sharrard, Waterford Twp., Cherry Hill Lanes North, Bucks N Does
March 21, Mark Cebelak, Madison Hts., Novi Bowl, Novi Junior House
March 21, Paul Person, Detroit, Madison Park Bowl, Wayne County Mixed Foursome
March 21, Kelly Konarski, Sterling Hts., Luxury Lanes, Luxury Ladies Invitational League
March 21, Michele Ewald, Clinton Twp., Luxury Lanes, Luxury Ladies Invitational League
March 21, Jerry Williams, Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, Fellowship Mixed
March 21, Joseph Jones IV, Farmington, Cloverlanes, TCAC
March 21, Daniel Sullivan, Highland, Cherry Hill Lanes, Ford Maintenance Local 600
March 22, Tim Radtke, Troy, Bowl One Lanes, GM Men’s #1
March 22, Anthony Simpson Jr., Pontiac, Classic Lanes, Untouchables Mixed
March 23, Carrie Cataldo, Walled Lake, Wonderland Lanes, Ten Spots
March 23, Jack Lawson, Clinton, Novi Bowl, Men’s Lutheran League
March 24, John Peters, Roseville, Novi Bowl, Detroit Traveling All-Stars
March 24, Steven Hatch, Commerce Twp., Cherry Hill Lanes, Thursday Nite Men’s Invitational
March 26, Pierre Taylor, Pontiac, Airway Lanes, Thunder Rollers
March 26, Richard Dolph III, Waterford Twp., Cherry Hill Lanes North, Saturday Merry Mixers
March 27, Jeffrey Pascoe, Rochester Hills, Five Star Lanes, DiLaura Brothers IQ Classic
March 27, Steve Pepper, Farmington Hills, Drakeshire Lanes, Easy Commuters
March 28, Robert Makowiec, Troy, Total Sports Lanes, Total Sports Junior House
March 29, James Kulha, Highland, Plaza Lanes, St. Colette Men’s
March 29, Nicholas Tubbs, Auburn Hills, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Merchants
March 29, Brandon Shaffer, Sterling Hts., Hazel Park Bowl, Tuesday Classic Trio
March 29, Tiffani Stout, Farmington Hills, Cloverlanes, Tuesday Prime Time



800 Series


Date, Name (Score), Hometown, Center, League
March 1, Art Brown (801), Lansing, 300 Bowl, Tuesday Invitational Shootout
March 1, Nicholas Wissinger IV (831), Clinton Twp., 300 Bowl, Tuesday Invitational Shootout
March 1, Michael Chism (802), Farmington Hills, Country Lanes, University Men
March 3, Andrew Featherstone (801), White Lake, Wonderland Lanes, Thursday 5:30 Men’s
March 3, Brent Howard (813), Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed League
March 4, Kenneth Rogers Jr. (804), Detroit, Hazel Park Bowl, Pepsi Classic
March 4, Duane Henderson (835), Detroit, Hazel Park Bowl, Pepsi Classic
March 4, James Halanski (825), Warren, Astro Lanes, Detroit Architectural
March 5, Jeffrey Kendall (826), Clawson, Striketown Lanes, Elks State Tournament
March 6, Lyle Schaefer (804), Southfield, Drakeshire Lanes, Suburban Lakes
March 8, Christopher Strang Jr. (802), Pontiac, 300 Bowl, Tuesday Invitational Shootout
March 8, Rodney Morrow (800), Southfield, Regal Lanes, Tuesday Night Junior House
March 9, Kennedy Baughman (848), Madison Hts., Van Dyke Bowl, Wednesday Nite Men
March 9, Joseph O’Connell (806), Wixom, Plaza Lanes, Great 8 Invitational
March 9, Homer Heard (800), Southfield, Plaza Lanes, Great 8 Invitational
March 9, Josh Coklow (810), Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, Hanna’s Doubles Tournament
March 9, Duane Henderson (826), Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, Hanna’s Doubles Tournament
March 9, Mark O’Connell (806), South Lyon, Plaza Lanes, Great 8 Invitational
March 9, Jeffrey Austreng (817), Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Pontiac Motor Inter Office
March 9, Roger Ziemba (800), Rochester, Sunnybrook Lanes, Tri County Men’s
March 11, Kerry Kreft (803), Warren, Bowl One Lanes, Bowl One Classic Mixed
March 12, Mason Brantley (810), Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, LTB & Frenz
March 12, Verlin Terry (805), Madison Hts., Royal Lanes, Royal Guys & Dolls
March 15, Robert Schulz (811), Auburn Hills, Sunnybrook Lanes, Corpus Christi
March 15, Nicholas Wissinger IV (814), Clinton Twp., 300 Bowl, Tuesday Invitational Shootout
March 15, Thomas Mascaro (810), Milford, Country Lanes, University Men
March 16, Jeffrey Edwards (815), Sterling Hts., Bowl One Lanes, Ford General
March 17, Edwin Austreng (807), Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, 300 Senior Classic Trio
March 19, George Schester Jr. (805), Center Line, Fairlanes, Next Round At Margie’s Mixed
March 20, Kevin Hysell (803), Walled Lake, Wonderland Lanes, Spring Kick Off Tournament
March 21, Andrew McLarty (802), Oxford, Collier Lanes, Oxford Merchants
March 22, Lyle Jones (822), Northville, Wonderland Lanes, Tuesday Night Men’s
March 22, Michael Chism (833), Farmington Hills, Country Lanes, University Men
March 23, Aaron Gray (803), Waterford Twp., 300 Bowl, Pontiac Motor Inter Office
March 24, Brian Thompson (807), Flat Rock, Novi Bowl, Detroit Traveling All Stars
March 25, Frederick Donaldson (806), Oak Park, Cloverlanes, Renaissance Mixed
March 27, Adam Stoops (805), Hazel Park, Fairlanes, Strikes & Spares
March 28, Steve Taylor (812), Lake Orion, Airway Lanes, Pop’s Comets
March 28, Roy Taylor (824), Flint, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Dixie All Stars

Mark Martin writes a weekly bowling column for The Oakland Press and is the association manager of the Metro Detroit USBC Association. He can be reached at (248) 443-2695, faxed at (248) 443-2690 or e-mailed at mark.martin@mdusbc.com.