Capaldi Wins MDUSBC Masters

February 3, 2012


By: Mark Martin

MDUSBC MASTERS

Rick Capaldi of Canton won the Metro Detroit USBC Association Masters Tournament at Century Bowl in Waterford Township Sunday when he defeated Corey Miller of Grand Blanc 734-691 to win the $4,000 first prize and the title. Miller settled for the second place check of $2,000.

Capaldi was the 20th qualifier with a 10-game total of 2,255. He averaged 231.1 for the entire tournament and 233.7 in match play. He remained in the winner’s bracket by defeating Andrew Featherstone of White Lake 696-688, Ronnie Sparks Jr. of Ecorse 665-595, Craig Nidiffer of Trenton 590-560, Joseph Krajenke of Clinton Township 815-684 and Miller 773-759 en route to the final match. In the final match he lost to Miller 659-635 to force a final set, where he prevailed.

“It may take a while, but dreams do come true,” said the 62-year-old Capaldi. Capaldi also won the MDUSBC Super Senior competition in 2010 and was runner-up in 2011.

Miller qualified sixth with 2,321. He averaged 228.2 for 34 games of tournament competition. In match play he remained in the winner’s bracket with victories over Patrick Cusick of Sterling Heights 640-545, George Juszczyk Jr. of Dearborn Heights 652-640, Scott Bowersock of Dearborn Heights 713-639 and Brian Thompson of Flat Rock 594-592 before falling to Capaldi the first time 773-759. In the loser’s bracket he defeated Nidiffer 730-705 before beating Capaldi 659-635 to force the final match.

Nidiffer qualified 12th with 2,299 and cashed for $1,500 for third place. He won his first two matches against Jeffrey Suma Sr. of Auburn Hills 664-577 and Alan Pittman of Clarkston 683-661 before being knocked into the loser’s bracket by Capaldi 590-560. Once in the loser’s bracket he beat Michael Chism of Redford 709-644, Juszczyk 687-641, Thompson 782-518, defending champion Mason Brantley of Detroit 719-687 before ending his day with a loss to Miller 730-705.

2011 champion Brantley was seeded ninth by tournament rule with 2,282 and took home $1,000 for fourth place. He won his first match over Kevin Trumbull of Romulus 705-698 before being knocked into the loser’s bracket by Krajenke 686-659. Once in the loser’s bracket he beat Jeffrey Austreng of Waterford Township 744-633, Sparks 721-613, Bowersock 802-651, Jake Monto of Walbridge, Ohio 778-591, Krajenke 697-645 before being knocked out of the tournament by Nidiffer 719-687.

Krajenke and Thompson each earned $750 for their efforts. Monto and Juszczyk Jr. took home $500 each for seventh and eighth respectively.

Former champions Jeffrey Austreng of Waterford Township finished 19th for $275, David Tulak of Taylor finished 21st for $275 and Kerry Kreft of Warren 27th for $225.

Top qualifier 2006 champion David Ewald of Macomb won his first two matches, then lost his next two to get knocked out of the competition and cashed for $400.

Other local bowlers who cashed were Alan Pittman for $325, John Robertson of Waterford Township $275, Andy Featherstone of White Lake $225, Jeff Suma Sr. of Auburn Hills $225 and Glen Pilon of Farmington Hills $150.

Turbo 2-N-1 Grips, Red Robin Restaurants of Michigan and Ansara's Big Boy Restaurants are co-sponsors of the MDUSBC Masters.

The MDUSBC Masters Tournament is a USBC certified event operated by the Metro Detroit USBC Association, the largest local association of the United States Bowling Congress with more than 60,000 members.


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HONOR SCORES
300 Games
Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League
Jan. 16, Roderick Bryant, Oak Park, Cloverlanes, Monday Morning Mixed Foursome
Jan. 16, Richard Hotz, Oxford, Universal Lanes, Monday Night Men’s
Jan. 17, Lyle Schaefer, Southfield, Country Lanes, University Men
Jan. 17, Allen Bordui Jr., Sterling Hts., Hazel Park Bowl, Tuesday Classic Trio
Jan. 17, Shawn Maxwell, Milford, Woodland Lanes, Tuesday Night Men
Jan. 18, Jeffrey Smith, Pontiac, Thunderbowl Lanes, Semi Seniors Invitational
Jan. 18, Lawrence Mertz, Orion, Collier Lanes, Oxford Wildcats
Jan. 18, Donald Schlamb Jr., Canton, Novi Bowl, Men’s Lutheran
Jan. 18, Michael Stephens, Fraser, Bowl One Lanes, Ford General Classic
Jan. 19, Andrew Featherstone, White Lake, Wonderland Lanes, Thursday 5:30 Men’s
Jan. 19, Kenneth Kossick, Commerce, Mayflower Lanes, Detroit Traveling All Stars
Jan. 19, Leonard Kersten, Clarkston, 300 Bowl, 300 Senior Classic Trio
Jan. 19, Michael Burton, Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed
Jan. 21, Bryan Murphree, Rochester Hills, Bowl One Lanes, Saturday Nite Special
Jan. 21, Gary Wodowski, Harrison Twp., Century Bowl, MDUSBC Masters
Jan. 22, Jake Monto, Walbridge Ohio, Century Bowl, MDUSBC Masters
Jan. 23, Gregory Brown, Southfield, Cloverlanes, TCAC Mixed
Jan. 24, James Battishill, Clarkston, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Merchants
Jan. 24, Nelson Greaves, Waterford Twp., Ford Lanes, Ford Research 2011-12
Jan. 24, Scott McClue, Berkley, Taylor Lanes, Downriver Contractors
Jan. 24, Timothy Gallero, Pontiac, North Hill Lanes, Tuesday Nite Men
Jan. 24, Alan Reich, Farmington, Wonderland Lanes, Tuesday Night Men’s
Jan. 25, Thomas Delmotte Jr., Clinton Twp., Bowl One Lanes, Ford General Classic
Jan. 25, Winston Coles, Southfield, Plum Hollow Lanes, Wednesday Senior Mixed Doubles
Jan. 26, James Kulha, Highland, Cherry Hill Lanes North, Waterford Men’s
Jan. 26, George Barnes, Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed
Jan. 27, Julius Bierkamp, Ferndale, Hazel Park Bowl, Pepsi Classic
Jan. 28, John Buffa, Macomb, Century Bowl, MDUSBC Masters
Jan. 28, Mason Brantley, Detroit, Century Bowl, MDUSBC Masters
Jan. 29, Phillip Hanna, Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, Any Combo Doubles
Jan. 29, Rick Capaldi, Canton, Century Bowl, MDUSBC Masters
Jan. 30, Robert Lhamon, South Lyon, Plaza Lanes, Plaza Men


800 Series
Date, Name (Score), Hometown, Center, League
Jan. 17, Robert Learn (804), Macomb, 300 Bowl, Tuesday Invitational Shootout
Jan. 17, Allen Bordui Jr. (825), Sterling Hts., Hazel Park Bowl, Tuesday Classic Trio
Jan. 18, Lawrence Mertz (816), Orion, Collier Lanes, Oxford Wildcats
Jan. 23, Donald Haefner (823), Troy, Fairlanes, Our Lady Of Fatima Men’s
Jan. 23, Gregory Brown (814), Southfield, Cloverlanes, TCAC Mixed
Jan. 23, Jennifer Maples (802), Lathrup Village, Cloverlanes, TCAC Mixed
Jan. 24, Pierre Jackson (800), Detroit, Hartfield Lanes, Inner City Fellowship
Jan. 26, George Barnes (806), Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, TNT Mixed
Jan. 27, Alan Reich (802), Farmington, Wonderland Lanes, Pin Slammers
Jan. 28, John Grego (835), Waterford Twp., Wonderland Lanes, Scratch Doubles Tournament
Jan. 28, Mason Brantley (802), Detroit, Century Bowl, MDUSBC Masters
Jan. 29, Phillip Hanna (804), Detroit, Plum Hollow Lanes, Any Combo Doubles
Jan. 29, Rick Capaldi (815), Canton, Century Bowl, MDUSBC Masters




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.