JULY 6, 2017 CALIFORNIABOWLINGNEWS.COM PAGE 1 JULY 06, 2017 CALIFORNIA 7502B Florence Ave, OWLDowney, CA 90240 • Website: CaliforniaBowlingNews.com NG • Email: [email protected] N • Office:EWS (562) 807-3600 Fax: (562) 807-2288 EJ Tackett Wins Inaugural Main Event PBA Tour Finals for Third 2017 Title ORLANDO, Fla. – Af- petitors Jesper Svensson ter winning his first GEI- of Sweden; Sean Rash of CO Chris Schenkel PBA Montgomery, Ill., and An- Player of the Year Award thony Simonsen of Austin, in 2016 at age 24, EJ Tack- Texas. ett of Huntington, Ind., has In the title match against indicated he’s not ready to Belmonte, who had held relinquish his role as the the PBA Player of the Year Professional Bowlers Asso- title for three years in a row ciation’s premier player. before Tackett overtook Tackett became the him in 2016, Belmonte 2017 season’s first three- took a one-pin lead after the time title winner when he first game, 225-224. Tack- defeated Australia’s Jason ett then took charge, win- Belmonte, 666-628, in the ning game two, 222-191, three-game total pinfall ti- when Belmonte failed to tle match in the inaugural convert two difficult splits. Main Event PBA Tour Fi- The young Indiana high- nals at Main Event Enter- rev player kept Belmonte tainment. at bay throughout game The finals aired on CBS three, winning again, 220- Sports Network. Tackett 212, for a 38-pin margin of earned $30,000 (along with victory. his eighth career PBA Tour “The lanes were a little title) which will go toward EJ Tackett with Main Event Senior Promotions Manager Jeremy Carter weird at times,” Tackett his two-year earnings total Tackett won his berth in PBA Tour champion Tom- of Cheektowaga, N.Y. Bel- said of the title match. “I in his ongoing bid for a re- the title match as winner of my Jones of Simpsonville, monte had an uphill battle don’t know if it was from turn trip to the 2018 Main the Group Two preliminary S.C.; Dom Barrett of En- in his four-player pod, but Tommy (Jones) or Belmo, Event PBA Tour Finals. rounds, topping 18-time gland, and Ryan Ciminelli led Group One over com- continued on page 6 TERRY LANKSTER Marshall Kent Victorious in Grand Casino Hotel & Resort CALIFORNIA PBA Oklahoma Open Event SHAWNEE, Okla. – In a title match that featured BOWLINGby Frank Weiler HERO five lead changes, Marshall REDLANDS — Bowl- Kent of Yakima, Wash., ing is fun and bowlers love outlasted 18-time PBA bowling. BUT, there’s Tour winner Chris Barnes more to life then bowling. of Double Oak, Texas, to Most bowlers have a life win the Grand Casino Ho- off the lanes, they are great tel & Resort PBA Oklaho- people doing great things ma Open Sunday for his for family, friends, commu- second title of the season nity and country. and fourth of his career. Most bowlers are heroes With both players strug- to someone in their life. gling to start the match, “That was a lot harder to come back with strikes Most bowlers do things for Terry Lankster Kent fired four consecutive than I wanted to work,” in the eighth, ninth and others, most do things that Terry’s entire life has strikes in the ninth and 10th said the 24-year-old Kent, the first two in the 10th to make CALIFORNIA a bet- been one of service. He is a frames to defeat Barnes, “but I’m grateful to be clinch the win. ter place to live. Today I am retired Marine and a retired 194-188, during the ESPN standing here as the winner. “The first half of the writing about a BOWLING Sheriff’s Deputy. In 1997, telecast contested on two It’s a dream come true.” game I just didn’t throw HERO: TERRY LANK- he retired from the U.S. specially-installed lanes With both players ham- the ball well,” Kent said. STER. It just so happens Marine Corps after serv- in the Grand Hotel Event pered by splits, Barnes held “I knew after the seventh Terry is a great bowler as ing our country from sea to Center for his first win on a 12-pin lead in the eighth frame I still had a chance well as being a hero. continued on page 9 national television. frame but Kent was able continued on page 9 HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! PAGE 2 CALIFORNIABOWLINGNEWS.COM JULY 6, 2017 George and Justin Pluchino Represent Formidable Father-Son Combination by Fred Eisenhammer WINNETKA – Dick Weber and Pete Weber. Al Tripp and Tim Tripp. Johnnie Englehart and Scott Englehart. ADULT SENIOR VIP DOUBLES Bill Lew and Adam (and / Amy) Lew. BOWLING TOURNAMENT Nationally and locally, ENTRY FEE $25 PER PERSON there have been plenty of SATURDAY, JULY 15 /12: 00 P M father-and-son bowling dy- Contact: Jesse J. Dotson, Jr. (Tournament Director) namos. (909)628–1370 [email protected] Now, we may have to add George and Justin BOWLING FOR PETS Pluchino to the list. SUNDAY, AUGUST 6 /1: 00 P M George, the dad, is the ENTRY FEE $20 PER BOWLER ($10 DONATED TO SAINT) first to say that he needs No tap, 9 Pin 34 Lanes, 5 to a lane/Raffle & 50/50 to make considerable im- (Please bring a donation of PURINA ONE Dog or Cat Food provement before he and to the event and receive 3 free raffle tickets) his wunderkind 21-year-old For more bowling info contact SAINT 928-704-0800 son are ready to join that George Pluchino, right, and his son, Justin, third from left, are bowling on the same Tues- elite father-son level. day night league team with Ethan Thomas and Jayne Pluchino. 6TH ANNUAL LAUGHLIN BLAST! But the fact is: George Photo by Fred Eisenhammer SENIOR NO–TAP DOUBLES HANDICAP EVENT is no slouch. And Justin continues to put up head-turning Asked what it’s like to bowl with his dad, Justin’s eyes AUGUST 20–23 numbers. The two represent quite a formidable force. widen and he smiles broadly. “It’s really awesome,” he MULTIPLE DAILY SQUADS–$30 EACH OPEN TO ALL SENIORS 50+ The Pluchinos are now part of the same team in a Win- says. Contact: Joyce Dalton–Jensen (619) 251–9660 LaughlinBlast.com netka Bowl summer league on Tuesday nights. Their George was asked whether he taught Justin the finer teammates include Jayne Pluchino, the mother and wife; points of the game to help propel him into the top-flight LOUSY BOWLER TOURNAMENT and Ethan Thomas. bowler he is today. ENTRY FEE $20 PER BOWLER & RECEIVE A FREE T-SHIRT Late last month, Justin added a perfect game (his sev- “He got nothing from me,” said George, laughing. “I SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1ST /12: 00 P M enth) and an 800 series (his third) to his rapidly expand- can’t take credit.” ing resume. George, who averaged about 200 in the ear- In any event, George is a talented bowler in his own Three Divisions: 176 & above / 175–136 / 135 & beloW ly 2000s at Matador Bowl, is averaging 172 with a 204 right, owning a powerful 724 series. He’s also bowled 100% OF ALL PRIZE FUND MONEY GOES BACK TO THE BOWLERS! high during the early going of the summer season. Justin, two 290 games, missing a perfect game twice because of the anchor, is averaging 220 and recently won one of the an errant shot (foot foul) on his final shot. “I killed two men’s titles with Bill Lew in the recent Equalizer no-tap 300s in my life,” he said with a laugh. BOOK SWEEPERS /GROUP RESERVATIONS/BIRTHDAYS/ CORPORATE PARTIES doubles tournament. This is just the second time the two The Pluchinos-plus-Thomas team, incidentally, ranks 1.888.590.2695 Pluchinos have bowled together in a league. in the upper echelon of its highly competitive league. RiversideResort.com “I am actually having fun,” said George, like Justin, a “Hopefully, I can get better,” George said. right-hander. “Justin is having a lot of fun – but he bowls If he does, the Pluchino duo may take up residence well. I have to earn it. alongside the Webers, Tripps, Engleharts and Lews. RiversideLanes.July5.BowlingNews.indd 1 6/26/17 2:52 PM Min 1ST PLACE GUARANTEED Cash $400 SAME DAY PAYOUTS 18th, 19th, 20th Paying 1/8 2500 E Carson St. Lakewood, Ca. 90712 Squad Times: FRI 9:30pm |SAT 10:30am, 2pm, 5pm |SUN 10:30am Finals - 3pm Check-in at 2pm **Check-In 1 Hour Before each squad** Side Pots: CBTBOWLING.COM Open|HCP|WMNS 4th Game Super Side Pot 1st Place Strike, Get Rich! Pot $500 Guaranteed Crossover Doubles Entry: $70 Brackets *********************ENTRY FORM********************* Bowler Name: ________________________________ USBC#: _______________ SINGLES $70 DOUBLES $125 COMBO $175 Email: _______________________________________ Phone#: __________________________ TOTAL ENTRY FEES: $______ Bowler Name: ________________________________ USBC#: _______________ SINGLES $70 DOUBLES $125 COMBO $175 Email: _______________________________________ Phone#: __________________________ TOTAL ENTRY FEES: $______ See rules on the reverse side of this flyer. Rules are also available at www.CBTBowling.com. JULY 6, 2017 CALIFORNIABOWLINGNEWS.COM PAGE 3 PAGE 4 CALIFORNIABOWLINGNEWS.COM JULY 6, 2017 The Greatest Bowler of Them All by Dave Williams During my career in bowling I had an opportunity to work at AMF for many years. It was in those years that I met and became friends with Dick Weber, whom I always referred to as “Bowling’s Ambassador to the World.” I talk about him frequently and relate stories about Mr.