California Thursday March 16, 2017 7502Bowling Florence Ave, Downey, CAww 90240 • Website: CaliforniaBowlingNews.com • Email: [email protected] news • Office: (562) 807-3600 Fax: (562) 807-2288 Hurricane Matthew Postponement Matt O’Grady Wins Southwest Puts PBA’s Xtra Frame Reality Check “Super” Regional Thriller LAKEWOOD Colo.— Classic in the Spotlight for 2017 Matt O’Grady from Rah- Re-scheduled tournament to kick off new $50,000 Storm Cup point series way, N.J., normally a TAMARAC, Fla. – Hur- QubicaAMF East Region ricane Matthew’s arrival in competitor, defeated U.S. south Florida last October Open champion Francois forced postponement of Lavoie of Canada, 279-278, the Professional Bowlers in a thrilling title match to Association’s inaugural conclude the fifth annual PBA Xtra Frame Reality PBA Lakewood Southwest Check Classic, but the de- Super Regional, sponsored lay turned into good news by Denver Broncos running for Sawgrass Lanes and the Walter Ray Williams Jr. back C.J. Anderson and Tamarac area. Frame Tour series, the Re- More than 100 of the Storm Products, Sunday at In the aftermath of Hur- ality Check Classic will be PBA’s best-known stars Holiday Lanes. ricane Matthew, the tourna- live streamed around the will be on hand at Saw- The win was O’Grady’s ment has been re-scheduled world on the organization’s grass Lanes. Among the es- third in QubicaAMF PBA for March 17-19 as the online, subscription-based tablished veterans already Regional competition and strikes heading into his qualified second. He edged kickoff event for a new bowling channel. Bowling entered are 18-time PBA his first in the PBA South- 10th frame. O’Grady start- Dylan Macon of Lubbock, eight-event Storm Cup fans can watch the entire Tour titlist Tommy Jones, west Region. ed with four strikes, spared Texas, 2-1, in his Round of Xtra Frame Tour series in event for as little as $3.99 superstar Walter Ray Wil- Lavoie, the 2016 PBA a 10 pin, then struck out to 8 match and AJ Chapman 2017. In addition to com- for a three-day subscrip- liams Jr., England’s Dom Rookie of the Year, won force Lavoie to throw three from Wichita, Kan., 279- peting for prize money and tion (or for roughly $1.25 Barrett and PBA Tour ti- his first PBA title in last more strikes to force a sud- 236, in the semifinal round a PBA Tour title in Tama- a week, have access to tlists Dick Allen, Josh year’s Lakewood event. den death roll-off. A 10 pin match. Lavoie survived rac, all PBA members will hundreds of hours of PBA, Blanchard, Ryan Ciminelli, In this year’s title match, on Lavoie’s final shot al- a semifinal round thriller compete for points toward PBA50 and PWBA wom- Tom Daugherty, Bob Learn the 23-year-old Canadian lowed O’Grady to claim the over Andrew Klingler of $50,000 in end-of-season en’s tournament program- Jr., Bill O’Neill and Ron- started the game with a $5,000 first place check. Grand Rapids, Mich., 269- Storm Cup bonus money. ming for a full year). Visit nie Russell. Representing 7-10 split, picked up one O’Grady, who averaged 268, to advance to the title As part of PBA’s Xtra xtraframe.tv for details. continued on page 10 pin, and then threw eight 256.89 for the tournament, match. It’s No Snow Job – Winnetka Bowl’s Mike Willis Still Going Strong by Fred Eisenhammer WINNETKA – In 1989, “I’ve been here the $30,000 Canoga Park the Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour [California] all my life,” Classic semifinals. made a stop at Canoga Park says Willis, the general “It was really ironic,” Bowl for one of its national manager at Winnetka Bowl, says Willis, born in North tournaments. formerly called Canoga Park Hollywood. “They had “I remember waking up Bowl. “I hadn’t seen that come here for a pro that morning and looking before and I haven’t seen tournament – and it snows!” out in the yard and it was that since.” Santa Clarita Valley all white,” says Mike The February snow was was hit so hard that one Willis, who was running so severe that some bowlers spokesman told the Los the tournament. who were staying in the Angeles Times that the It was snow. Snow in Santa Clarita Valley weren’t area was “basically sealed by Treesa Spencer California! able to make it down for off” from the three to five inches of snow. Other Los BOWLERS BEWARE; THE LEPRECHAUNS ARE COMING! Angeles-area communities, St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, it has been reported that numerous airlines and such as Westlake Village, cruse ships have observed many strange little “pigmys” dressed in green suits, Porter Ranch, Calabasas, sneaking aboard as stowaways. Simi Valley and Tarzana, These little bearded men are wearing square hats and boots with buckles on also were pelted with up to them and are carrying a hammer in one hand and a shoe in the other. They have five inches of snow before it withered looking faces and are smoking pipes. started to melt. The airlines admitted that they have not been able to catch a single one as of yet, As for the tournament, because they are so sly, mischievous, and fast. But, the staff on a huge cruiseship it lived up to its billing as a heading for Long Beach thinks they caught one in a barrel because they can smell classic. Six women made the pipe tobacco. the stepladder finals and all Rumor has it that they are heading here to invade our bowling centers, as they the matches were down-to- did a few years ago, because that’s where green beer and Irish whisky is served. the-wire affairs. Hometown They are about three feet tall, love practical jokes and are very wealthy. The favorite Robin Romeo, then wealth of these fairies comes from the treasure crocks which were buried and un- of Van Nuys, turned in a covered and appropriated by these sly little creatures. virtuoso performance to win According to investigator and author, David Russell McAnally, a Leprechaun, is the championship, winning the son of an evil spirit and a degenerate fairy. They are not considered to be wholly all three of her stepladder good or wholly evil. matches. Romeo finished However..... if you should catch one stealing your beer or whisky, be aware that in a tie with top-seeded Rene they are known to grant three wishes and a pot of gold in return for their release. Fleming in the title match Sounds good, doesn’t it? But the minute you blink an eye, they are gone along at 229 and prevailed in a with the pot of gold and your booze. No sence reporting them; no one will believe General Manager Mike Willis has served Winnetka Bowl two-frame roll-off to claim you anyway. Another fact: There are no female Leprechauns. continued on page 5 for 39 years. Photo by Fred Eisenhammer Page 2 CaliforniaBowlingNews.com March 16, 2017 2017 PBA Billy Welu Scholarship Applications Now Being Accepted CHICAGO — The PBA has announced it is now ac- Scholarships. The application is a PDF file and requires cepting applications for the 2017 PBA Billy Welu Scholar- Acrobat Reader to view and print. Nominations can be ship Award which recognizes exemplary qualities in male emailed to [email protected] or sent through the U.S. or female college students who compete in the sport of mail to PBA Billy Welu Scholarship, 55 E. Jackson Blvd., bowling. Suite 401, Chicago, IL 60604. To be eligible candidates must be amateur bowlers who are currently in college (preceding the application date) HISTORY OF PBA BILLY WELU SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS SILVER RIDER and maintaining at least a 2.5/4.0 GPA or equivalent. Ap- 2016 – Sydney Brummett (Wichita State) plications must be postmarked by June 15. 2015 – Ramon Hilferink (Webber International) CHARITY BOWLING The scholarship, which awards $1,000 to the winner, 2014 – Melanie Hannon (Fairleigh Dickinson) was established to annually recognize a college student 2013 – Katie Thornton (Webber International) TOURNAMENT who combines outstanding bowling talents with academic 2012 – Danielle McEwan (Fairleigh Dickinson) SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 12:00PM excellence. 2011 – Kristina Frahm (Maryland Eastern Shore) 11AM Registration/Riverside Lanes The scholarship is named after the PBA Hall of Fame 2010 – Kim Yioulos (Pikeville) bowler who passed away in 1974 and was best known for 2009 – Elizabeth Seibel (Penn State) • $20 PER PERSON • RAFFLE • 50/50 • SILENT AUCTION • his expert analysis alongside legendary ABC broadcast- 2008 – Heather D’Errico (Robert Morris-Illinois) • CASH PRIZES AWARDED • er and fellow Hall of Famer Chris Schenkel on the “Pro 2007 – Ricki Williams (Wichita State) ( Proceeds benefit the Laughlin Meals On Wheels Program ) Bowlers Tour” series. Welu was a two-time PBA Tour 2006 – Jerrod Reece (Creighton University) champion and was a member of the PBA Hall of Fame’s 2005 – Mandy Pezzano (U of Penn) inaugural induction class in 1975. 2004 – Holly Pusok (University of Houston) Additional information and the application can be re- 2003 – Robby Spigner (Indiana University) EARN YOUR CHANCE TO trieved by clicking on http://www.pba.com/Corporate/ 2002 – N/A 2001 – Jennie Snoddy (Notre Dame College of Ohio) BOWL WITH A PRO! 2000 – Jackie Edwards (Cal State-Fresno) SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1:00PM 1999 – Steven Svetlik (University of Illinois-Chicago) ( $20 Entry Fee • Registration at Noon ) 1998 – Nick Hoagland (Indiana University) 1997 – Preston Brunswig (Wichita State) TWO SEPARATE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S DIVISION.