CANTON — One of Stark County’s two remaining major singles bowling tournament will return for his 32nd year in February 2024, but there will be a couple of changes.
Co-tournament director Gary Rebillot, who won the John Klonowski Memorial Scratch Singles the second year it was held at the former Sports Bowl in Massillon, is preparing for Eastbury Bowling Center’s 29th hosting of the annual event at 9 a.m. Feb. 4.
Why has this event endured while others, with the exception of the Furbay Electric Open at AMF Hall of Fame, are gone?
“We have had a great response over the years and everyone I’ve talked to likes the format and the way it is run,” said Rebillot, who co-directs the event with Deana Gouge, with Dawn Altimore-Eckenrode directing the side action. “They just like the event overall and keep returning.”
There will be three major changes this season:
- The field will be limited to 90 bowlers, down from its past capacity of 108;
- The entry fee will increase to $120 this season; and
- The match-play portion of the event will be reduced from three-game total pinfall battles to two games.
- Ties among the top 20 will no longer be determined by rolloff; instead, high game thrown during the qualifying round will determine seeding. A rolloff will only be contested in case of a tie for the 20th spot in match play or the final cash spot.
“We’ve had a hard time the past few years getting to that 108 number while we seem to be able to et to that 90 to 92 pretty easily,” Rebillot said. “We decided to go with 90 to get a full field. Then we don’t have to do any juggling on tournament day … we will keep them at five bowlers per pair. The fee increase is to compensate, but we will still cut to the top 20 for match play and pay 1-in-4, which will be 22 spots.
“As far as the match play, it should go a little quicker now and the out-of-town guys won’t be getting home as late. We also have both of our Sunday leagues at 6 p.m., so it will make it easier for us to get the lanes ready and clean up to get them started.”
Rebillot also thinks the reduction of match-play games might help draw in some older players who may have not participated in what has become a “marathon” event.
“Two game still is two games you’re not bowling,” Rebillot said. “There’s a chance we could bring in some late 50 or early 60s players with this change. It’s tough to bowl all those games in one day.”
Under the new format, bowlers still will bowl five qualifying games on the house oil pattern before the cut to the top 20. That top 20 then will bowl two-game matches by seed before the field again is reduced to the top 10. The 10 remaining players will bowl two more match-play games before the field is cut to the top five for the traditional stepladder finals.
To reach the stepladder, a bowler will bowl a minimum of nine games.
Matches are based on total pinfall with no carry over from qualifying.
Why stay with the house shot when many other events are going to different oil patterns?
“We have a lot of bowlers who bowl in leagues here who bowl in the tournament,” Rebillot said. “We’re not going to change things on the bowlers who have supported us all these years.”
First place will remain $ 1,600 with a free entry into the 2025 event. Mike Thewes is the defending champion.
Entries should be available by next week. For information, go to Eastbury’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/eastburybowling
USBC ADULT-YOUTH
The Inaugural Adult-Youth Tournament, co-sponsored by the BCAO and the Ohio State USBC, was held on Oct.7-8 and 14-15 at LeElla Lanes in Washington Court House.
Eighty-four teams ranging from ages 6 to 84 competed for a state championship title. The event had 45 entries and the adult-teen event had 39 entries.
Below are the current unofficial handicap standings:
OTHER EVENTS
TRIWAY LANES: Triway will host a Mix It Up 2 N 1 tournament at 6 p.m. Nov. 22. It will include two scratch tournaments in one, including a four-person team (any combination) and an optional individual sweeper. It will be bowled on the house oil condition. The four-person event carries a $100 entry fee and a $25 fee for the individual sweeper. There is a maximum 16-team field. See Triway’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1545042189638173/?ref=newsfeed for details.
LEGACY LANES: The Turkey Shoot Singles Sweeper is set for 1 p.m. Nov. 19 at Legacy in Coshocton. Bowlers will roll four qualifying games in the handicap event, with the top five moving on to match play. Winner receives a $200 bonus and a frozen turkey. Call 740-575-4279 to enter.
ALLIANCE SINGLES: The Ted Nagle Memorial Tournament is set for 10 a.m. Dec. 17 at Christopher Columbus Lanes in Alliance. Entry fee is $65, with bowlers rolling six qualifying games before the top five advance to the stepladder finals. The top 15 entries will cash based on 48 entries. For information, contact Christ Miller at 330-205-5672 or Christopher Columbus Lanes at 330-823-0299.
GOSHEN LANES: The 41st annual Thanksgiving Classic is sent for 6 p.m. Nov. 24 at Goshen Lanes in Mechanicsburg. Entry fee is $75 with bowlers rolling five qualifying games before the first cut to the top 16 for match play. That is followed by a second cut to the top eight. Go to https://www.facebook.com/GoshenLanesLLC for details.
HIT DEM POCKETS: Hit Dem Pockets will hold a doubles handicap sweeper at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at North Woods Lakes in Macedonia. Bowlers will roll six games with payouts being 1-in-6. Entry fee is $60. For information, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1468259770652017/1468259807318680/?ref=newsfeed
BAKER DOUBLES: The team of Brian Waliczek and Adam Barta captured the third annual Baker Doubles event recently at Hollywood Casino at the Meadows. The team of Shawn Curtis and Don Hipkiss finished second in a two-game final. The next HBT event is the Pittsburgh Cup, sweet for Nov. 18 and 19 also at the Meadows. For entry information, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1312416862832814?ref=newsfeed
OHIO MATCHPLAY TOURNAMENTS: The next OMT event, open to bowlers ages 50 and older, is the third anniversary Veteran’s Day Event, set for 1 p.m. Nov. 11 at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl in Columbus. Entry fee is $110. For information, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/360430239160799
AGE 50-OVER AND 49-UNDER DOUBLES: The Greater Youngstown USBC will hold a handicap doubles event Nov. 11 and 12 at Boardman Lanes in Boardman. Entry fee is $40 per team, with one bowler being age 49 and younger and the other 50 or older. You must hold a GYBA sanction to participate. Bowlers can bowl with the same partner more than once, but only cash with same partner once. There are three shifts available. For information, go to https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064369583867