By BILL SNIER
GREEN — It was more about the man and the cause than the results at Apollo 3 Bowling Center.
But for the two finalists of Sunday’s 2025 Duane Snyder Memorial Tournament, it was the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a stepladder finals format for the first time.
But the Snyder Memorial was a different type of tournament for a few reasons:
- It was a one-ball event. Bowlers could roll any ball they wanted in practice, but had to choose just one to use for the remainder of the day during tournament play.
- It was a three-game handicapped event, with 64 players remaining on their same pair of lanes throughout qualifying.
- Handicap was based on 80 percent of 240 based on their highest average over the past two seasons.
Why just a one-ball event?
Duane Snyder’s son, Steve, who reached the final five in the event, explained it with his dad’s statement in the rules for the event.
“I can only roll one ball at a time,” Duane Snyder once said, “it’s all I need.”
When it all ended on the Apollo 3 house oil pattern, 44-year-old Canal Fulton right-hander David Teater had emerged with his first overall tournament win.
“I think I’m going to go home and clean out my underwear,” said Teeter, who was the No. 2 seed entering the stepladder finals after shooting 753 during qualifying, including 708 actual with the day’s high game of 278 in Game 2.
“I was more excited just to be part of this whole thing.”
Teater topped No. 1 seed Angela Hughey, a 44-year-old Kent right-hander, 239-158 in the title match, including handicap. Teater received 15 pins per game; Hughey was getting 33.
“It was jittery, heart-pounding and I was shaking a couple of times,” said Teeter about his first stepladder appearance and first tournament win. “I did settle down a little bit in the match against Steve (Snyder), but it picked up again against her.”
Snyder, a 62-year-old Green left-hander and Green High School assistant bowling coach, was on fire during his first two matches. After tying for the No. 4 seed with 63-year-old Barberton right-hander Chris McCalister, he won his opening match 275-245 (246-221 actual), throwing strikes on his final seven shots.
McCalister, who doubled to start the match, had his only open — an 8-10 split — in the fifth frame before running off four strikes of his own. An 8-pin spare on his first ball in the 10th ended his hopes.
Snyder continued his run in Game 2, striking on seven of his first eight shots against No. 3 seed Jeff Hull, a 42-year-old New Franklin thumbless right-hander. Hull started with the first four strikes, but then failed to convert four straight spares to fall back.
Snyder advanced with a 275-221 win (246-189 actual).
TEATER’S RUN
But in the semifinal match, Teater was able to go on his own run, using his Brunswick Vapor Zone. He struck on five of his first six shots, but failed to convert a 10-pin spare in the second frame.
Snyder converted a 2-7-8 split in the first frame, but had just one strike through his first six frames. He also failed to convert 2-4-7 and 7-pin spares in the fifth and sixth frames.
“My game plan was just to bowl my game basically,” Teater said. “I was just happy to be where I was at.”
Teater remained clean until leaving a 7-10 split in the 10th frame. But Snyder had just four strikes overall as the No. 2 seed advanced with a 218-209 (203-180 actual). Snyder struck on his first ball in the 10th frame, but left a 7-pin on his second to deny him a chance to rally.
BOWLING FOR THE TITLE
Hughey, who received 33 pins handicap per game, finished with a 662 actual series during qualifying and led the tournament from the start. She finished eight pins ahead of Teeter (761-753) to earn the top seed.
“The big thing is, I didn’t leave 10-pins,” said Hughey, who used a Brunswick Vaporize. “Pretty much everything carried.”
But the shot — and her carry — changed in the title match against Teater. She finished with just one strike while Teater struck on four of first five shots to build a big lead he would not relinquish.
“These lanes were different than the ones I was on (in qualifying),” said Hughey, who also was looking for her first title. “I was able to muscle the ball down there (Lanes 13-14), but I couldn’t muscle it here (Lanes 5-6 for stepladder). But that’s all right.”
Teater agreed that the pair played differently.
“I was really surprised there was that much oil left on the right side. I thought Steve was going to have an advantage being left-handed,” Teater said. “I thought it was going to be dry. But during practice, my ball was picking up oil to I had to start moving right.”
Hughey also admitted the nerves were a problem in her first career stepladder finals.
“They were terrible. I’m glad I used extra deodorant because I was just about to sweat through that,” said Hughey, who had six open frames, including three splits, in the title match. “I was able to settle down a little, but he was on such a string that I just had to go with the flow.
“But it was a huge day for me overall. It was fun and I will be back next year.”
Teater, who bowls an every-other week mixed league at Apollo 3, tried to use his Storm Daredevil in qualifying practice.
“But it just seemed to be taking off a little. The Vapor Zone has gotten me through here in the past, so I decided to stick with what was doing well for me,” said Teeter, whose target was around 13-to-14 (board) out to around 10.
“I just throw a nice gradual out and back in. I don’t play the quick snap. I think I moved maybe a board and a half during the two matches.”
Despite the big lead, it didn’t settle the nerves much for Teater.
“When she started having the opens and the splits, it kind of settled me down a little more,” Teeter said, “but it was still nerve-wracking.”
NOTEBOOK: The tournament was operated by the Summit County USBC and was open only to sanctioned bowlers. … The cut to the top five was a 733, with McCalister finishing just three pins ahead of Joe Haas and John (Mike) Harvey. … The tourney paid 10 spots, with the final cash spot going to Rick Wise with 718, four pins ahead of Sam Chrisant. … Entry fee was just $30. All proceeds from the event went to the Summit County USBC Scholarship Fund, as did proceeds from the Duane Snyder Memorial Scotch Doubles Fundraiser that followed the tournament. … Our thanks to the Snyder family and Tristan Stewart at Apollo 3 Bowling Center for their assistance with our report.
SNYDER MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
(Sunday, at Apollo 3 Bowling Center, Green)
Stepladder finals
Match 1: Steve Snyder d. Chris McCalistser 275 (29 pins handicap)-245 (24); McCalister wins $90
Match 2: Snyder d. Jeff Hull 275 (29)-221 (32); Hull wins $120
Match 3: David Teater d. Snyder 218 (15)-209 (29); Snyder wins $145
Championship: Teater d. Angela Hughey 239 (15)-158 (33); Teater wins $440, Hughey wins $210.
Other cashers
(Based on three-game qualifying scores)
6, Joe Hlas and John (Mike) Harvey 730, $70; 8, Jeff Facek 728, $55; 9, Joseph Kelly Jr. 722, $45; 10, Rick Wise 718, $35.
