Lots of Excitement!

   The turnout wasn't too bad this month - maybe the rain was a factor, but there were 57 entries at the Bob Ross Memorial Tournament - including six new and a couple of returning members bowling for the first time. The tournament was again sponsored by Rod and Teresa Ross of Bowler's Connection, continuing the legacy of Bob Ross' sponsorship of many tournaments.

  The 1100 barrier was cracked as Den Fernandez, West Valley City, Utah, rolled an 1133 series including a 257 game. He started out the five-game series with a 189 game, so he had quite a comeback with the remaining games. Ben Fulton, Ogden, Utah, had a high game of 288 to dip into the STORM 300 Game Pot - the fourth month in-a-row that the pot has paid out $50.

   In a first for Pine Bowling Center, it took over 1000 to qualify for the playoffs with 14 scores over 1000. Ron Hendricks, Fort Hall, Idaho, was first out of the money with an 1002 score - it took a 1005 to make the playoffs. And, boy, was there some excitement there. 

  In the two-game playoff, JR Lopez of Pocatello, Idaho, nudged Ed Hodges, Missoula, Montana, by a nose - 463-459, and Vardell Tait, McCammon, Idaho, barely beat Rod Ross of Manteca, California (sponsor of the tournament) by a 371-364 score. In the one-game roll-off, Fulton beat out Tait 219-213, and in a slug fest of epic proportions, Bill Hewlett of Meridian, Idaho, beat out Lopez with a 164 to 161 score.

  But the real excitement was in the first match of the step-ladder playoffs between Hewlett and Don Winter of Kearns, Utah. In the tenth frame, Hewlett had finished with a 203 game. All Winter needed was a strike and spare to beat him. Winter got the first strike and Hewlett started to put away his equipment. Then, Winter threw the ball in the eleventh frame and unbelievably left the big-four split! He needed to pick seven to tie, the spare to win. The score ended up 203-202.

  Hewlett's luck ran out in the next game against newcomer Troy Wareing of South Jordan, Utah as he shot a 191 game to Wareing's 203, then Wareing went on to meet top seed Fulton, rolling a 217 to Fulton's 209 for the championship. Wareing is only the second new member to win a tournament on his first attempt. See Tournament Results.

  The winner of the STORM Bowling Balls were Vardell Tait and Mike Jones of Pocatello, Idaho. The STORM Bowling Bag went to Shane May of Jackson, Wyoming. Don Winter was the winner of the High Rollers entry.

  The March tournament will be held at Desert Paradise Lanes in Elko, Nevada, again this year and the Stockman's Hotel and Casino has offered two free nights stay for our event. A drawing was held at the February tournament with Jay Ankeny of Jackson, Wyoming, being the lucky winner. 

  There is $1000 added money to the March tournament from Stockmen's Hotel & Casino, Swire Coca-Cola, Eagle Eye Embroidery, Desert Paradise Lanes, Edward Jones (Sonny Davidson), and Toki Ona Restaurant and Bar. And, as always, Stockmen's Hotel & Casino will award an added $500 to the winner of the tournament if he/she stayed at the hotel during the tournament. 

The 2006-2007 season is winding down - there are only two tournaments left to qualify for the Grand Finals. Remember, you need four squads to be eligible to bowl in the Grand Finals and you need six squads to be eligible for the year-end prizes (high average, game and series, Bowler of the Year).

Those needing three tournaments: Jay Aono, Dan Archibald, Howard Christensen, Mike Cuzzo, George Denton, Dennis Frost, Mike Galloway, Brian Haga, Hal Hinsz, Mark, Hodges, Marty Holland, Steve Long, Richard Loya, Don Morris, Jim Ouellette, Darren Peers, Rick Perry, Pat Pethtel, Steve Robbins, Rick Ross, Rod Ross, Teresa Ross, Phil Santillanes, Richard Schaefer, Mike Storrier, Jolly Swafford, Vic Verhoff, Chet Waite, Troy Wareing, Sylvia Wasson, Blaine Yoshimura.

Those needing two tournaments: John Conway, Boyd Eckerts, Orville Edwards, Dave Johnson, Tom Karr, Lynn Larsen, Wayne Manwill, Mike McCarthy, Brenda Roberts, Don Robinson, Dave Sase, Randy Scharf, Bruce Watts, Jamie Wehner.

Those needing one tournament: Steve Bordley, Larry Buffington, Gary Burton, Jerry Caple, Mike Dansie, Mike Fries, Gene Giesbrecht, Jay Gneiting, Maury Hardman, Kerry Johnson, JR Lopez, Bill McBath, Don McKay, Randy Millspaugh, Ron Ruiz, Don Winter..

  If your name is not listed, then you have the required four squads, if you have any questions about your eligibility, contact Dean Livingstone. Email: deano@dats.com or 208-237-3133.

  And on a sadder note: another one of SISBA's Charter Members passed away. Bill Brown of Idaho Falls, Idaho, put away his bowling shoes for good on January 21, 2007. He was 82 years old.

   Welcome to new members John B. Conway of Boise, Idaho; Brian Haga and Steve Long of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Don Morris of American Falls, Idaho; Steve Robbins of Riverdale, Utah; and Troy Wareing of South Jordan, Utah. Hope to see all of you at future tournaments.

Thank you to Stacey and Darren and the staff of Pine Bowling Center for helping to make the tournament run smoothly.

SO!! Who's Winning the Pots?