By BILL SNIER
FAIRLAWN — Michael Clark Jr.’s debut on the PBA50 Tour “couldn’t have gone much better” after he completed his initial qualifying round in the PBA50 Akron Classic on Sunday at AMF Riviera Lanes.
“I had a couple of errant shots where I left some splits,” said the 54-year-old North Olmsted right-hander who owns two PBA50 Central Region titles. “But I’m quite happy with the way I performed.”
Clark decided to make his regular Tour debut this week because of the event’s position on the calendar — sitting between regional stops at Bowling Green and Wednesday in Lorain. His only other “national” appearances came in the USBC Senior Masters two years ago and during the Senior Regional Players Invitational in December.
But this also comes at a time when Clark already has been thinking about his future. And it means putting bowling on the back burner.
“I practiced a couple of times before I went to (USBC Open Championships in Reno) and before the regional in St. Joseph (Mich.),” Clark said. “I wasn’t real happy with the way I threw it in the regional.
“Then, I did some work before Bowling Green. But I’ve got a 7-year-old involved in baseball and soccer and I’m coaching and that’s a lot of running around. That’s take precedent right now.”
And, according to Clark, who its employed as a project manager for Midland Hardware Co., it is going to take precedent for the future.
“I’m about 95 percent sure that once this regional season is over, I’m going to be done with competitive bowling,” said Clark, who also is a high school basketball referee in Northeast Ohio during the winter months and does not bowl league play. “I might find something else I like to do and I’ll practice a few times. But I’m not going to be full time anymore.”
With his son, it’s moving one season to another plus his full-time job and refereeing duties.
“We’re wrapping up baseball, and then it goes into soccer and then right into basketball,” Clark said. “Then after that, it back to baseball and soccer. It’s constant motion, and there’s not enough time for everything. Family comes first.”
Clark used just two balls during his seven Sunday games — a Hammer Black Widow Dynasty and Storm Bionic — and sits fifth after the first 56-player shift while averaging 237.5 over seven games. Clark and the remainder of the early field return for seven more games at 3:30 p.m. Monday before the field is cut to the top 37 for the Advancers Round.
Does he plan any changes?
“I don’t think so. Donnie (Hogue) will le me know if I need something, but right how, I plan on the same two,” said Clark, who teamed with Dean Billings to win the PBA50-PBA60 Doubles at Park Centre Lanes in North Canton last season. “Whatever the lanes tell me to do, I’ll try to do it. I have a good cross with Chris (Barnes). I’ll just try to stay a little right of him and try to do the same things as today.”
JANAWICZ RETURNS: John Janawicz, who had to take time off from the PBA50 Tour due to.a finger injury suffered during the PBA50 World Series of Bowling, is making his return this week and took the lead after the first shift with 1,700 total pifnall, an average of 242.8. He sits 19 pins ahead of super senior Robert Newman (1,681). Newman shot 283 his final qualifying game. The remainder of the top five include Eddie J. Byrd (1,669), Amleto Monacelli (1,666), who is coming off a runner-up finish in the PBA60 World Championship in Columbus, and Clark (1,663), who is tied with Barnes for the spot. Hall of Famer Mika Koivuniemi sits 10th overall, and Liz Johnson, who became the first woman to win a PBA50 event earlier this season, is 14th.
LOCALS IN FIELD: Hudson bowling coach John Brockway, also making his first PBA50 Regular Tour appearance, is 18th overall with 1,548 (221.1 average). Former Canton resident and pro shop owner Tony Johnson is 23rd (1,525) and Ed Carter is 30th (1,486) after the opening shift.
WAITING MODE: It’s seven days and counting as the members of Higgy’s Aquarium wait to see if their 10,452 total pinfall in the USBC Open Championships all-events category will hold up for another team Eagle. Dan Higgins Jr., captain on the team, is passing the time participating in this week’s PBA50 tournament. Watching him was Higgy’s teammate, Doylestown’s Joe Bailey. “We have a couple of teams to watch (this week) to see what happens,” said Bailey, who with Higgins and Chad Roberts are each seeking their fourth overall USBC Eagles, making them USBC Hall of Fame eligible. Higgins is sitting 17th overall after the morning shift (1,559).
NOTEBOOK: The opening shift had 56 players participating with 56 also bowling on the second shift. Bowlers will roll seven more qualifying games Monday before the field is cut for the Advancers Round. … Bowlers are rolling on the 48-foot PBA50 World Championship oil pattern. … Aaron McCormick a 52-year-old right-hander, had 300 in Game 5 of the opening shift for his first PBA 300. … There is no re-oiling between the shifts, with bowlers rolling on the burn this afternoon and on fresh during the 9 a.m. shift Monday. … Admission to the tournament is free for fans.