Women crown city bowling champions

Susan Lauch (left) and Erika Gulliver (right) won the Southwest Michigan Women's Bowling Association Doubles Title at Kelley's Bowl. The duo had 1433 pins with handicap. Gulliver finished third in Singles and second in All-Events.

Norma Hasse captured the Singles Title in the Women's City Tournament at Kelley's Bowl, March 11. Hasse shot 760 with handicap.

Women crown city bowling champions

By Tom O’Neill

            The second day of doubles/singles competition in the Women’s City Tournament at Kelley’s Bowl produced two champions. Susan Lauch and Erika Gulliver captured the doubles title and Norma Hess was crowned Singles Champion.

            Lauch, a 103 average bowler, and Gulliver, 136, shot 1433 with handicap to squeak by Saturday’s leaders, JoAnn Smith and Sharon Kreitner, with 1424. Lauch had 385, 76 pins over her average and Gulliver, 479, 71 pins over hers. Third place went to Candy Selent and Tricia Morris with 1422 pins. First place was $280.

            “I was a little surprised,” noted Lauch. “I had no idea what the other scores were.” This is her second title, having won the handicap singles title three years ago. She and Gulliver are teammates in the Tuesday Niters League at Coloma Lanes.

            Gulliver is the granddaughter of former Lakes Bowl owner, Rocky Gulliver. “I grew up in a bowling center since the time I was a baby.” At 29 years old, Gulliver says she’s comfortable bowling. “You can always go bowling to get your mind off things.” Gulliver has placed in the city tournament, but never won it.

            Hess, who carries a 146 average, shot 547 scratch. Combined with her handicap, she finished with 760 to win the singles event. Hess had games of 190, 188 and 169. Finishing second was Saturday’s leader, Robin Thompson with 735. In third was Gulliver, shooting 721 with handicap. Hess will receive $76.

            The All-Events winner was Tricia Morris, shooting 2230 with her handicap. Morris, currently averaging 201 in the Lakeshore Lassies League at Kelley’s Bowl, had games of 257, 247 and 237 in the team event. In Doubles she shot 212, 253 and 213, finishing off with 597 in singles, capped by a 246 game.

            Domaine Berrien Cellars II captured the team title March 3 at Lakeshore Lanes and the $280 first prize. Dana Hudek, Ami Huff, Chelsey Barber and Sue Wyman shot 2921 with handicap, 111 pins better than Ray’s Towing (2810). TNR was third with 2767.

            Wyman, who has been bowling for 30 years, shot a personal best 576 series. “It was my best ever and who knows what I did to achieve it, Wyman said. “We put the team together to have a good time and have fun. We didn’t have any expectations going in.” Wyman averages 149 in Kelley’s Whirlpool Mixed League.

Women’s State Tournament

            Domaine Berrien Cellars #1 is currently in 5^th place in the four-member handicap Division 1 of the state tournament in Grand Rapids. Domaine Berrien Cellars #4 is fourth in Division 2 while Gonzalez Brewing holds down 10^th.

            In the four-member scratch division, Domaine Berrien Cellars #1 is in first place. Team members include Karyn Fricke, Candace Wilson, Tricia Morris and Nicki Brose.

            Morris and Brose hold the 12^th spot in Doubles with 1415 pins. Fricke and Wilson are 33^rd. Wilson is in 19^th place in singles, shooting 741. 

Morris is 12^th in Division 1 All-Events handicap with 2170 for nine games and eighth in the scratch division with 1912 (212 average).  Brose is in 10^th place with 1817 pins scratch (202 average). Amanda Baldwin is 20^th in Division 2 with 2119 and Angie Benavides seventh in Division 3 with 2168 pins.