APRIL 15, 2021 CALIFORNIA 7502B Florence Ave, Downey,OWLING CA 90240 • Website: CaliforniaBowlingNews.com • Email: [email protected] N • Office:EWS (626) 252-2985 Fax: (562) 807-2288 Chris Via Wins 2021 U.S. Open Anthony Neuer picks up the 7-10 split - last one on a PBA telecast was in 1991 by Matt Cannizzaro, USBC Communications RENO, Nev. - Chris Via of Springfield, Ohio, has continued to put himself in position to become a cham- pion on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, 2021 PBA50 TOUR SEASON and he broke through in a major way Sunday at the 2021 U.S. Open. KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND The 29-year-old right- by Jill Laufer - PBA Public Relations hander claimed the first title New York, NY – After Petraglia BVL Open, pre- of his career and a $30,000 a year-long hiatus from sented by The Law Offices top prize with a dramatic competition, the PBA50 of Lucas & Magazine and 214-213 victory over Jakob Tour triumphantly returns Brunswick, April 18-21. Butturff of Tempe, Arizo- to the lanes this weekend Following Clearwater, na, at the famed National Via became the first a roll-off, but he fell short. said Via, who won a team in Fort Myers, Fla. with the the PBA50 returns to The Bowling Stadium. No. 1 seed to win the pres- He left a 2 pin after deliver- gold medal with Butturff PBA50 Lightning Strikes Villages for the Florida The show aired live on tigious title and coveted ing two strikes, the second at the 2017 International Open, presented by Ham- Blue Medicare PBA50 Na- FOX Sports’ FS1 as part of green jacket since 2015, of which featured a mes- Bowling Federation World mer. The event marks the tional Championship, pre- the 2021 PBA Tour televi- and the title tilt came down senger taking out the 7 pin. Championships. “It was first national PBA50 stop sented by Spanish Springs sion schedule. The event is to the final delivery of the “I fully expected to be more shock at first when he since August 2019. The Lanes April 25-29, then one of the five majors on long week. bowling in a roll-off, espe- didn’t get it, then the real- 2020 season was canceled to Aberdeen, N.C. for the the PBA Tour and was the Butturff had the oppor- cially after Jakob’s first two ization that I won, and I’m due to the COVID-19 pan- PBA50 Granville Financial final one of the 2021 sea- tunity to throw three strikes shots, but the last one was a a major champion. To do it demic. Open May 2-May 5, and son. in his final frame to force little off and didn’t strike,” continued on page 5 The first event of the to Centreville, Va. for the 2021 PBA50 season will PBA50 Bud Moore Classic feature three days of com- May 8-11. petition – qualifying and The 2021 Super Senior Donkee Tour Founder Bert Strain match play all streamed Classic and USBC Senior live on FloBowling.com, Masters, a highlight of the April 11-13. 2021 PBA50 season, will Teamed Again With Her Keith Kenworthy 145 senior bowlers are be held consecutively in by Carol Mancini set to compete for the first the fall as part of the West Bert Strain was a won- Grand Opening of Disney title of the season, with Coast swing at Sam’s Town derful friend I met in 1973 World. We took with us 100 In loving memory many notable players mak- Bowling Center in Las Ve- at Alhambra Valley Bowl. lbs of See’s Candy to share ing their PBA50 debut. gas. The Super Senior Clas- I took over the General with our new friends. Biruta Aldona Strain Among the new competi- sic will be contested first, Manager job on Halloween Her Donkee Tour Events March 12, 1925 ~~ March 23, 2021 tors are PBA Hall of Fam- taking place Sept. 9-13 fol- 1973 so I really didn’t get made weekends special for Love lives on forever ers Chris Barnes and Jason lowed by the Senior Mas- to meet bowlers face to face hundreds of club members. Couch along with PBA ters Sept. 13-19. until the masks came off When she and Keith In each memory and thought Tour champions Brad An- Shifts in timing also in- and the Blue Chips were Kenworthy teamed up, the Of the special ones who meant so much gelo, Tom Hess and Mitch clude the 2021 Suncoast passed out. DONKEE name was at- And the happiness they brought. Beasley. PBA Senior U.S. Open, Bert was the first one to tached to merchandise and Love lives on forever~~ Also, in the field are which will be held Aug. welcome me at the center. events. A winning combo. It will never fade away, PBA Hall of Famers Wal- 29-Sept. 3 at the Suncoast Over the years we I would love to hear For, in our hearts, our loved ones ter Ray Williams Jr. and Bowling Center in Las Ve- shared many trips, tourna- from anyone who would Are with us every day. Pete Weber who both re- gas and the PBA50 North- ments and tales! like to share a story or cently announced their ern California Classic in In 1991 Bert and I plus thought. Email me at Car- retirements from the PBA Brentwood, Calif., from nineteen other Southern [email protected] National Tour at the PBA Sept. 5-8. California bowlers flew to To the Strain family – World Series of Bowling The complete PBA50 Tokyo Japan. weren’t we lucky to have XII in March. Tour schedule is available In one week we bowled loved her for so long… The PBA50 Tour then at www.pba.com/pba-tour/ three separate tournaments she will be forever in our moves to Clearwater, Fla. pba50-tour. More dates will in three separate cities, plus hearts. for the PBA50 Johnny be announced and added. visiting Temples and The No services will be held. PAGE 2 CALIFORNIABOWLINGNEWS.COM April 15, 2021 DAVE WODKA WINS PBA AMF AIRPORT LANES OPEN ON HIS 50TH BIRTHDAY by DDZIOMBA - BowlersJournal.com CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. – Dave Wodka of Mus- kegon, Mich. defeated Matt White of Warren, Pa. by 163 pins to win the PBA AMF Airport Lanes Open in Cheektowaga, N.Y. on Sunday. Wodka finished with a near perfect 11-1 match play record and a total of 4,956 pins for 20 games, including match play bonus pins. The title was Wod- ka’s first in the PBA East Region since 1998 and his 23rd career PBA Regional title. Wodka, who also cel- ebrated his 50th birthday Sunday, earned $3,200 for his win at AMF Airport Lanes. Next week, the senior bowlers travel to Corning, N.Y. for the PBA50 Crystal Lanes Open. The event is open to bowler age 50 and above. The next full-field tournament is April 16-18 in Towson, Md. PBA AIRPORT LANES OPEN AMF Airport Lanes, Cheektowaga, N.Y., Sunday Final Match Play Standings (after 20 games, including match play bonus pins): Dave Wodka, Muskegon, Mich., 11-1, 4,956, $3,200. Matt White, Warren, Pa., 6-6, 4,793, $1,900. n-Chad Mee, Hamburg, N.Y., 8-4, 4,647, $1,600. Tim Foy Jr., Seaford, Del., 6-6, 4,640, $1,300. s-Troy Lint, Blandon, Pa., 7-3-2, 4,564, $1,100. n-Andrew Herbert, Orchard Park, N.Y., 6-5-1, 4,554, $1,000. Keith Laing, Oakdale, Conn., 7-5, 4,517, $950. n-Ryan Reese, Buffalo, N.Y., 5-7, 4,515, $900. n-Kevin Bienko, Kenmore, N.Y., 4-8, 4,434, $850. John Furey, Howell, N.J., 5-6-1, 4,427, $800. Ryan Graywacz, Canastota, N.Y., 4-8, 4,353, $780. n-y-Nate Purches, Marlborough, Mass., 7-5, 4,345 $760 (SMART). s-Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3-9, 4,343 $740. Kevin Donovan, Painted Post, N.Y., 4-8, 4,293 $720. Scott Kinkaid, Elizabethtown, Pa., 5-7, 4,292, $710. Paul Smith, Madison, Conn., 6-6, 4,187, $700. s-denotes PBA50 player y-denotes youth scholarship player n-denotes non-member ESTABLISHED 1940 CALIFORNIA BOWLING NEWS MAILING ADDRESS EDITORIAL OFFICE 7502 Florence Ave. 11459 Imperial Hwy. Downey, CA 90240 Norwalk, CA 90650 TEMP. OFFICE NUMBER: 626-252-2985 24-HOUR FAX NUMBER: E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.californiabowlingnews.com CHARLES KINSTLER ................................. ..Publisher DEAN LOPEZ ................................ Editor / Typesetter CAROL MANCINI .............................Editor / Publisher DOUG HOSKINS ......................Computer Consultant California Bowling News is NOT responsible for ADS, EDITORIALS, STORIES, FACTS, PICTURE CAPTIONS or SPELLING emailed for publication. Published 52 weeks. April 15, 2021 CALIFORNIABOWLINGNEWS.COM PAGE 3 Carol's Corner by Carol Mancini E-mail: [email protected] EMPIRE BOWLby Frank Weiler REOPENS! REDLANDS – I have faithfully driven by EMPIRE BOWL twice a week throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic I hear that some centers are open and others lockdown. It was as if I was visiting a hospitalized friend every week to see how he/she was doing. Or even are in the wrong county. But, let’s get ready. How’s worse, visiting a friend’s gravesite to say a prayer. I wanted to be the first to know if Bowling here would be your bowling hand? Soft? Long fingernails? Calluses resurrected. The first to know when bowling was back in this area. gone? You are NOT ready. On Monday April 5,2021 at 6:52 PM I stopped by a darkened Empire Bowl again to find a Notice on the Go get your ball.