Professional bowling returns to the Wabash Valley in the form of the PBA Central/Midwest Region Terre Haute Open at the Terre Haute Bowling Center on June 12-14.
“Rick [general manager Braden] and I have been working on this for a few months,” said tournament host Phil Cooper on Friday. “We should have the pro-am entries out sometime this week.”
THBC is using this event to recognize their major facility reconstruction after sustaining heavy flood damage in June 2008. In a related gesture to area bowlers, the THBC will charge no admission to that weekend’s tournament.
To draw a parallel to Major League Baseball, the PBA Region Tour is the Triple A level of the Professional Bowlers Association. With this tournament in the summer months, it’s in the realm of possibility PBA regulars might participate to keep their games sharp.
Also unique to this event is the temporary merging of the Midwest and Central region tours. The two tours are split geographically straight down the Indiana-Illinois border, a natural for Terre Haute.
The tournament begins on a Friday (June 12) with a practice session from 3 to 5 p.m. and a PBA non-member meeting following at 5 p.m. A pro-am is slated for 7 p.m., with an adult and youth division.
The tournament competition begins in earnest on Saturday (June 13) with an “A” squad bowling eight games starting at 9 a.m. then a “B” squad rolling its eight games at 4 p.m.
Match play is on Sunday (June 14) with the round of 16 based on the number of entries, also beginning at 9 a.m. The field will be whittled down to the final two bowling for the championship.
Typically, according to Cooper, around 100 bowlers could compete in this tournament.
“This tournament is open to all PBA Midwest and Central Region bowlers, but also anybody who wants to participate as an amateur by paying the entry fee,” Cooper added. Entry fee is $220 for PBA members, $285 for nonmembers. First place is projected to be $2,500 based on a 1 in 3 ratio.
Cooper also said that sometime in April, the Bowling Center will conduct a qualifying tournament with the winner earning a paid tournament entry. Bowlers will compete on a PBA oil pattern. If enough bowlers compete, more than one paid entry is possible.
• Bowl like a pro — The Bowling Center is setting aside a few of their lanes on a daily basis with a different PBA generated bowling patterns (Viper, Scorpion, Chameleon, Shark, etc.).
Interested bowlers wanting to test their skills on these specially prepared lanes should request them when they come to the Bowling Center, according to Cooper.
Also, Cooper announced a PBA League (bowling on these different PBA conditions each week) will begin soon. The organization meeting is set for May 6, with the league commencing on May 13.
• Church League — Vigo Bowl will host a 12-week Church League on Tuesday nights this summer. The meeting is 6:30 p.m. on May 5, with the league starting the same day at 7 p.m. Cost is $7 per person with a pizza party on the last night of bowling.
• Mixed Team Shootout — Vigo Bowl is also hosting a Mixed Team Shootout at 11:30 a.m. on April 19. Sign up as man/woman couples, couples will be placed in A or B divisions by average. Cost is $50, bowl five games, with the draw at 10:45 a.m. the day of the event. Entries are due by 10 p.m. on April 17.
For more information on either of these items, contact Vigo Bowl at (812) 232-6800.
• VU qualifies for intercollegiate finals — At Chattanooga, Tenn., Vincennes University men’s team bowlers earned a slot in the April 15-18 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships by grabbing the final qualifying position available at the Chattanooga qualifying sectional earlier in March.
VU edged out major college power Florida State for the final qualifying spot by 18 pins.
Dennis Clark can be reached by e-mail at dennis.clark@tribstar.com.
Kegler's Korner
Kegler's Korner: Professional bowling returning to Wabash Valley this summer
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KEGLER'S KORNER: GTHMBA takes interesting new approach to men’s city tourney
When I served on the Greater Terre Haute Men’s Bowling Association Board many, many moons ago, much discussion was devoted to increasing participation in the annual Men’s City Tournament.
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KEGLER'S KORNER: Valley bowlers in Women’s State Championship
No members of the Greater Terre Haute Women’s Bowling Association are atop any of the leaderboards, but several teams and individuals are listed in the top five of the ongoing 84th Indiana Women’s State Bowling Championship.
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KEGLER'S KORNER: Indiana Women’s State tourney continues today at Vigo Bowl
The 84th Indiana Women’s State Tournament will complete its third weekend of bowling competition at Vigo Bowl (team) and Terre Haute Bowling Center (doubles/singles) today.
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KEGLER'S KORNER: City has history as state tourney host
The 84th Indiana State Women’s Championship Tournament began its lengthy run in Terre Haute on Saturday and will run each weekend — except Easter weekend — until May 8.
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KEGLER’S KORNER: Spare nothing trying to get those extra pins
Throwing strikes are sexy and glamorous, but converting spares (ho-hum) is still the difference between winning and losing — at all levels of bowling.
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KEGLER’S KORNER: South team fourth at state finals
Terre Haute South’s boys team capped off a standout season with a fourth-place finish at the Indiana High School Bowling team state finals at Cooper’s Sport Bowl in Anderson last weekend.
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KEGLER’S KORNER: Bowlers still rolling on ice
While many sporting events around the Wabash Valley fell victim to the recent snow and ice storm, not so for bowlers. But we’re not surprised. Bowlers are a hardy breed.
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Kegler's Korner: South Vermillion boys secure sectional title
South Vermillion extended its recent success in the Indiana High School Bowling Sectional competition, both individually and collectively, last week.
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KRGLER'S KORNER: Tournament action abounds over Turkey Day holiday week
The days leading up to and including the Thanksgiving holiday found Vigo Bowl busy with tournament action.
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Kegler's Korner: Team Drake wins THBC Shootout
Nine teams competed in the 20th Terre Haute Bowling Center Shootout last weekend (Oct. 30-31) with Team Drake emerging as the champion by a slim nine-pin margin.
Team members Chris Drake, Rick Fugate, Sean Pepper and Trevor Monroney had a score of 8,663. Second place went to Team Nichols (Ryan Nichols, David Paulin, David Monroney, Mike Gambill) at 8,554. -
Kegler's Korner: Team Drake takes THBC Shootout
Nine teams competed in the 20th Terre Haute Bowling Center Shootout last weekend (Oct. 30-31) with Team Drake emerging as the champion by a slim nine-pin margin.
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KEGLER’S KORNER: Team Shootout at THBC coming this weekend
Hard to believe, but the Terre Haute Bowling Center is ready to run its 20th — count ’em — 20th Team Shootout next Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 30-31).
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Kegler's Korner: Leturgez, Russell and Bolinger members of TH Bowlers Hall 41st class
A trio of local bowlers were inducted to the Terre Haute Bowlers Hall of Fame in their 41st recognition dinner at the Excalibur in West Terre Haute on May 10. Brandy Leturgez was the lone men’s inductee (bowling achievement). Jeri Russell (achievement) and Lynn Bolinger (meritorious service) were the women’s inductees.
- Kegler's Korner: U.S. Open returns to Hoosier state The U.S. Open returned to the Hoosier state this week at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis, with the nationally-televised finals (ESPN) scheduled for 12:30 p.m. today.
- Kegler's Korner: A little snow can’t stop bowlers from getting in their rounds While a little snow has slowed down the process of playing boys and girls high school basketball games around the Wabash Valley recently, the white stuff rarely keeps bowlers from their appointed rounds.
- Kegler's Korner: Kulick becomes first woman to win PBA event If you missed it, female professional bowler Kelly Kulick defeated Chris Barnes 265-195 in the championship game of the Professional Bowlers Association Tournament of Champions. The victory marked the first female to win a PBA national tour event in, well, ever.
- KEGLER'S KORNER: PBA TH Open set to roll June 10-12
- KEGLER'S KORNER: Crystal Sullivan shoots 299 on tough Greencastle lanes Crystal Sullivan has been a dominate force among women bowlers in Terre Haute through the years. In fact, just as good, if not better at times, than the male bowlers she regularly bowls alongside.
- Kegler's Korner: Scamihorn still a force around lanes Jay Scamihorn has been a frequent high scorer in senior — that’s older folks! — leagues in recent years, frequently recognized for high game or high series (usually both).
- Kegler's Korner: TH Open Pro-Am set for June 12 The Greater Terre Haute Open Pro-Am will be at 7 p.m. on June 12 at the Terre Haute Bowling Center. This is being run in conjunction with that weekend’s (June 13-14) Professional Bowling Association Midwest/Central Regional Tournament.
- Kegler's Korner: TH bowlers hold their own with best in Indiana at Women’s State
- Kegler's Korner: Professional bowling returning to Wabash Valley this summer Professional bowling returns to the Wabash Valley in the form of the PBA Central/Midwest Region Terre Haute Open at the Terre Haute Bowling Center on June 12-14.
- Kegler's Korner: Vincennes University defends championship It must be spring. Vincennes University wins the National Junior College Athletic Association men’s bowling championship and their coach, Gary Sparks, is named NJCAA Coach of the Year.
- Kegler's Korner: TH native Marc Pruett takes on some of PBA’s finest While perusing daily standings from this week’s Professional Bowlers Association Etonic Marathon Open at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis this week, I happened upon the name of Terre Haute bowler Marc Pruett.
- Kegler's Korner: Valley high school bowlers rolling along in state tournament Wabash Valley high school bowlers excelled at the Indiana High School Bowling Association regional at Laurel Lanes in Washington on Feb. 7.
- Kegler's Korner: South’s Dowell rolls 234 to defeat South Vermillion’s Johansen for sectional crown Austin Dowell of Terre Haute South defeated South Vermillion’s Scott Johansen 234-226 to win the high-scoring championship match of the Indiana High School Bowling boys individual sectional tournament at Vigo Bowl on Friday.
- Kegler's Korner: Wabash Valley High School Travel League holds singles tournament As mentioned in last week’s column, a monthly Wabash Valley High School Travel League singles tournament was hosted by Terre Haute Bowling Center last Saturday.
- Kegler's Korner: Unlike NFL, no ties on lanes Take note Philadelphia Eagles quarterback — there ARE ties in regular season National Football League games, but there are NO ties in bowling. Ryan Nichols emerged victorious and claimed the $500 first prize in the 3rd New Year’s Day Sweeper at the Terre Haute Bowling Center. But not after settling a championship match deadlock against long-time bowler Dave Paulin.
- Kegler's Korner: The Landing now offers latest in boutique bowling The Landing at Fort Harrison mini-resort opened to the public last week and its eight-lane bowling facility is nestled right in the midst of this ambitious business undertaking.
- Kegler's Korner: Team Paulin takes TH Bowling Center’s ’08 Shootout
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