Summer bowling action still hot

By By Mike Carson / bowling columnist
July 7, 2004
It's summer. It's hot. It's wet. And it's tournament time.
With only a few weeks remaining before the 2004-05 season kicks off, tournaments aplenty await local bowlers. The Handicap Doubles Tournament kicked off this weekend at Playland Bowl in Selma, Ala. Hosted by former Meridian bowler Arnold Gibbs the tournament runs each weekend through August 1 and features a $1,000 guaranteed First Place.
Later this month, the ladies travel to Gautier for the 17th Annual 500 Club tournament at Spanish Trail Lanes. This event will take place July 17-18. The entry deadline is just four days away, so if you haven't gotten your entry in by now, don't waste any more time. For the first time, a 500 bowler may invite either a 400 or 600 bowler.
Also on tap is the Stan's Classic Tournaments Handicap Doubles Tournament at Dixie Bowl which runs every weekend from July 30 through Labor Day. This year's tournament is highlighted by a guaranteed first place prize of $4,000. You may bowl with more than one partner each time you participate.
Also in progress is the Bowl Your Average tournament. You may bowl anytime between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays or between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. All bowlers who bowl their average will share in the prize fund and you may cash up to three times. Check out the entry forms at Dixie Bowl for more information on exact dates.
The Mississippi Women's Bowling Association 40th Annual Workshop is slated for Aug. 14 at the Holiday Inn on Highway 49 in Gulfport. The workshop will be followed by a singles tournament at Triangle Lanes. You must attend the workshop in order to be eligible to bowl in the tournament. Pre-register before Aug. 11 to be included in a drawing for prize to be given away during the workshop.
Final results are in for the Men's State Tournament, which was held earlier this summer at Park Ten Lanes. Several local bowlers excelled during the six-week-long event, including Bill Fike and Tim Van Doren, who placed 12th and 13th respectively in All Events Scratch. John Lotts' 2355 was good for 11th place All Events Handicap, and C. O. Gray placed 18th in the same event. Richard Pigford reeled off an 834 to place highest among local bowlers in the Singles Event. His 15th-place finish was just ahead of M. A. Copeland at 19th and C. O. Gray in the 20th spot.
Local bowlers Pete Palisi and Wayne Griffin paired up to claim the 20th spot in the Doubles event with a 1553. Other individual performances stood out as M. A. Copeland and Bill Fike each recorded a 300 game. Ronnie Thomas just missed perfection with a 299, while both Keith Fike and Tim Van Doren cranked out games of 298.
Local summer league action continues through the first week in August. Mike Cothern and Ryan Malley cranked out a 277 and 258 respectively last week, while Denise Rutledge notched a 603 to lead the ladies. Mary Siegrist held down the high game with a 220. Last week's No Tap winner was Kim Shirley with an 873, followed by Jason Pierce at 863 and Debbie Jones with a 823. High Scratch out of the money went to Tyrone McAlpine with a 735. The next No-Tap will be held next July 14. Have your $15 entry fee ready and come join the fun.
If Sam Roberts seems a little stressed these days, don't blame him. Last week, while he was in Arkansas taking care of is parents who had been injured in a traffic accident, his house became the new home of an oak tree. Fortunately, the damage can be repaired, and Sam was not injured.