Women crown Team Champions; Jared Metz captures Blossom Open; Coloma girls make state!
Women crown Team Champions
Jared Metz captures Blossom Open
Coloma girls make state
By Tom O’Neill
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for area bowlers. The Blossomland Women’s Bowling Association held their annual City Team Tournament; the men hosted the fourth annual Blossom Open, doubling last year’s entries and the Coloma High School girls competed at state.
Domaine Berrien Cellars II took first place at Lakeshore Lanes along with the $280 cash prize March 3. Dana Hudek, Ami Huff, Chelsey Barber and Sue Wyman had a three game total of 1978. Combined with their handicap of 943, the 2921 total was 111 pins better than Ray’s Towing (2810). TNR finished third at 2767 followed by Girls With A Plan at 2763.
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. She entered with a 149 average. Her first game was 220 followed by 204. The third game was 152.
“It was very exciting,” Wyman said. “We put the team together to have a good time and have fun. We didn’t have any expectations going in.” Bowling alongside her daughter, Chelsey, Wyman finished 126 pins over her Whirlpool Mixed League average.
Tricia Morris, averaging 201, had the high scratch series of the tournament. Morris had games of 257, 247 and 237 for 741. Candi Wilson shot 677 with games of 193, 240 and 244. Pam Head had 612 and Niikki Brose 607. Sixteen teams competed in the team event. Doubles and singles will follow March 10 and 11 at Kelley’s Bowl.
Blossom Open
Jared Metz captured the Blossom Open title February 24/25 at Coloma Lanes. Metz had 769, scratch, and totaled 823 with handicap. Finishing 14 pins behind was Dan Zimmerman with 809, including a 299 game. Kyle Genovese was third at 786 including a perfect 300 game. Tim Kling was fourth at 782. Metz will receive $650 for first. There were 94 entries.
Bill Hendrixson was the top scratch bowler, shooting 771. Hendrixson’s score was two better than Genovese, Bob Forsythe and Dennis Weatherman.
Coloma Girls finish ninth
Coloma High School’s girls bowling team missed making the eight-team bracket rounds by 50 pins, shooting 2953. “We didn’t bowl badly. We just didn’t get the scores we needed to,” explained Coach Carley Burrell. The Division III tournament took place at Northway Lanes in Muskegon, March 2/3.
In the Individual Championship two of the Comets’ three bowlers qualified for bracket play. Lainey Meader, a junior, shot 1085 but lost her opening match 332-327 and finished seventh in the state. Sophomore Morgan Hosbein shot 1055, also losing her opening match 401-367. Hosbein finished 15th in the state. Carissa Richmond was 44th.
“They were thrilled” Burrell said. “It gave them a sense of how good they really are.” She also pointed out the different levels of experience some of the teams had. The team champion, Alma High School, will graduate four seniors. Alma defeated Muskegon Oakridge 1205-1072.
Ten seniors qualified for the 16 Individual Match Play spots. There were three juniors and three sophomores. Shelby Kapanowski, a senior from Algonac High School, won the title averaging 196.75 through singles. Her team did not qualify for the final brackets.