Low Turnout for Big Money

  Between a rival tournament in Great Falls, and the slowness of the September newsletter getting out to the SISBA members, the turnout in Missoula was, well, miserable. Only 19 showed up to vie for the $900 added money - there were 26 entries total in the tournament.

 The scores were either very good, or so-so. There were three qualifiers with scores over 1100 with Larry Wasson of Idaho Falls in the lead with 1156. Low to qualify was 1018. In the two-game rolloff, every bowler was over 400 for the two games with an exciting match going on between Les Comer of Dillon, Montana, and Chris Leary of Missoula, Montana.

  Leary went ahead on the first game when he shot a 218 to Comer's 212, but Comer came back in the second game with a 211 to Leary's 206. However, Leary managed to hang on (deja vu of last month's tournament?) to win the match by one pin - 424 to 423. Mark Hodges, of Butte, Montana, was top qualifier from the first squad with 1142 and managed to add to those pins by rolling games of 259, 279 for a 538 in the two-game rolloff.

  In the one-game match, Wasson not only eliminated his opponent, but took over first seed after rolling out a 278 game. Then, in the stepladder games, it looked like Leary may make a repeat performance of the Boise tournament as he eliminated Mark Hodges in the one-game match and then beat second seed Allen Nelson of Boise with a 242 game to meet Wasson in the championship match.. 

  And what a championship match it was. Both Leary and Wasson made the game look easy as the pins just kept falling for both. In what is possibly the highest scoring championship match in SISBA history, Wasson was finally able to win the game by rolling a 269 to Leary's 256. 

  The entry to the High Rollers tournament went to Allen Nelson, the highest finisher over the age of 50. Leary won the entry last month, and Wasson won't be 50 for several months. The STORM bowling balls went to Lauri Connelly of Boise, Idaho, and Pat Comer of Dillon, Montana. The booby prize went to our only Utah entrant, Kevin Broderick of Harrisville, Utah.

  We would like to thank our sponsors again. Without their help, we would not have been able to conduct our regular playoff format of 10 qualifiers. James Ouelette, DDS, Overhead Door of Missoula, BFI, Ziegler Building Supply, Western Door, Paradise Falls Casino, and Westside Lanes. Southgate Inn, which has been a longtime sponsor decided to pull its sponsorship for this tournament.

  The next tournament will be at Snake River Bowl in Burley, Idaho. Wally Studer and his staff ALWAYS make the visit to their center very enjoyable.

Welcome! Welcome!  New members Darren Peers of Missoula, Montana, and Rick Perry of Kallispell, Montana. 

Our thanks to Robin Barker, Terri Hodges, Norm Carey and the staff at Westgate Bowling center for putting on a great tournament. 

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