Amateurs enjoy tour of their own

If you think the ABT in this article stands for the American Ballet Company think again.  ABT is the acronym for the Amateur Bowlers Tour and it is alive and well in the Nation's Capital area.  The ABT is a member's organization whose tournaments are sanctioned by the USBC and only amateur bowlers may participate.  Sorry, no pros allowed.  Membership fees are nominal and any USBC bowler in good standing may join.

The ABT offers two categories, a Classic division for bowlers that average 189 or below and a Masters division for those high rollers who average 190 or above but not more than 225.  Prince William County bowlers often participate in the weekly tournaments held in different area bowling centers. The next tournament is on Sunday, October 19th at AMF Annandale, squad times are: 12:30, 2:00, 3:30 and 5:00pm.

There is guaranteed prize money for one position out of every 6 entries.  Handicap is figured at 80 percent of the difference between the bowler's average and 225.  Money to be won de-pends on the number of entries.  A typical first place payout runs something like this: 3 to 29 en-tries - $350; 30 to 39 entries - $450; 40 to 59 entries - $500; 60 to 69 entries - $600; 70 to 79 entries -$700; 80 to 89 entries - $800; 90 to 99 entries - $900; 100 to 109 entries - $1,000.

To sweeten the kitty there is also an optional Progressive Pot open to all bowlers.  It requires an entry fee that is in addition to the tournament entry fee.  Only the tournament winner is eligible to win the Progressive Pot provided that the winner has paid the entry fee for his or her squad.  The Pot is paid out according to the entry fee paid.  For example, a $5 fee has a return of 20% of the Pot, a $10 fee will return 40 %, a $15 fee - 60% and a $20 fee will pay out 80%.  Twenty percent of the Pot is always saved and used to start up the Progressive Pot in the next ABT tournament.

Some ABT bowlers will qualify for the National tournament in Las Vegas (Sam's Town lanes) where they can shoot for a big first place prizes.  This spring's 2009 tournament is paying a guaranteed first prize of $53,675 to the winner of the Classic division and $25,000 to the winner of the Masters division - not bad for amateurs.  To qualify for the National, a bowler must have bowled at least 10 entries in local branch tournaments. For more information on the National tournament go to http://www.abtbowling.com and click on the "tournament" button.

To find out more about the local branch of ABT and the tournaments contact tournament directors Andy Mitchell or Les Gay Jr. at 301-390-1864 or e-mail to .

Tournament Tidbit

The Big Dawg Championship:  A scratch singles tournament is coming to Bowl America Manas-sas on Oct. 17, 18 and 19.  This is a USBC certified event bowled on challenging PBA style lane conditioning.  Qualifying will consist of 6 games across 12 lanes.  Friday squad entries bowl at 8:00pm, Saturday entries bowl at noon and 3:00pm with the finals on Sunday (time to be an-nounced).  From each squad the top 2 qualifiers, top 2 females, top 2 seniors (50-59) and the top super senior (60 and over) will move on to the Sunday elimination finals which will culminate with the last 4 bowlers bowling one game stepladder matches until a champion is determined.  For more information contact Jim Smith at 703-973-6005 or e-mail .

Myth Buster

MYTH: If a bowler shows up too late for league, he or she is not allowed to bowl.

BUSTED: A bowler is never too late to bowl according to the USBC.  The bowler may enter the game in the frame being bowled upon arrival.  One tenth of the league absentee score is used for all frames missed and the game cannot be used to calculate the bowler's average.  The exception, with most leagues in Prince William County allow, is when the league adopts a rule stating a bowler cannot enter the game after a specified frame (usually the 5th frame).

Gil Sanchez is a freelance bowling writer for the News & Messenger.  Reach him at 703-587-6792 or at .

Area High Roller

The scores shown are for bowling leagues in Prince William County that reported their scores for the week of 10/5/08 thru 10/11/08.  Each league has its own characteristics and different levels of bowling averages.  Scores reflect high series and high games.

Bowl America Manassa

Monday Night Mixed (10/6/08): Men -  Michael Beauvais 259-236-279-774 Don Langguth 278-235-744 Mike Pilkington 235-276-706 Danny Pilkington 256-676 James Walker 235-648 Dennis Miller 255 Jeff Abt 245 Michael Martin 239 Art Radosh & Joe Sheviz 233 Women - Erin Fleischer 191-209-211-612 Cheryl Comfort 191-204-566 Polly Bishop 179-191-525 Terry Jerman 202 Terri Butts 201 Tina Craft 185 Wendy Boutselis 183 Lassie Dean 174

Sunday Night Mixed (10/5/08): Men - Allen King 226-237-213-676 Mitch Michaud 223-236-660 John Humphrey 224-235-652 Albert Utterback 236 John Humphrey 235 Bill Kenny 222 Jim Hurt 212 Paul Geoffroy 202 Women - Tammy Rowe 204-177-534 Kimberly Bentley 163-174-188-525 Colleen Ganoe 170-174-504 Paula Ditamore 169-189-499 Mary Burress 180-495 Joyce Michaud 182 Christi Watson 180 Margie Pritchard 174 Ruth Sullivan 164 Jean Sinopoli 163

Sunday Night Foursome (10/5/08): Men - Travis Harrison 268-232-718 Matt Davis 234-636 Doug Saunders 244 Garry Breeden 238 Gej Moran 228 Kevin Eberly & George Moran 223 Women -  Janice Brown 205-215-578 Wendy Harrison 212-561 Elaine Saunders 523 Cathy Eberly 206 Louise Moran 200 Pat Harrison & Dana Sullivan 192 Sharon Moran 191

Tuesday Early Mixed (10/7/08): Men - Pete Sheil 255-246-673 Mark Hadberg 198-209-505 Dustin Maness 216-207-604 Matt Toins 210 Harry Acheson 192 Bryan Waldeck 190 Women - Bobbie Shinabarger 172-464 ecky Hornbrook 162-167-457 Linsey Stphens 174 Monica Cook 168 Sandi Shimada 159 Pat Craddock 159

Clubhouse (10/6/08): Men - Dave Markell 221-221-622 Dave Kane 241-592 Time Morris 213 Stax Carrington 212 Alan McInwee 210 Boo Claypoole 207 Spencer Hedden 202 Women - Lori Pettry 171-180-470 Teresa Carter 174 Heather Huntington 165 Jeannie Willette 155

Thursday Nite Mixed (10/9/08): Men - Tim Sanfored 286-757 Rob Dillinger 258-243-713 Ricky Hall 269-713 Tony Foster 243-679 Anthony King 277 Terry Culbertson 275 A.J. Wilhelm 257 Billy Litten 247 Scotty Craft 242 Women - Valerie Smith 194-180-186-560 Joyce Spencer 168-190-191-549 Lola Williams 163-196-180-539 Dianne Pauza 225 Peggy Demeria 199 Doris Jones 184 Melanie Smallwood 160 Elissa Tinter 156

Dulaney's Dollies (10/7/08): Series - Tammy Rowe 176-189-505 Ruth Sullian 165-151-160-476 Peggy Fry 154-155-157-466 Tamie Barbour 167-168-462 Game - Cheryl Comfort 204 Helen Jones & Lucy Poblacion 174 Hinke Benson 169 Chris Moore 168

Friday A.M. Mixers (10/10/08): Men - Buck Crouch 232-204-186-622 Richard Ashworth 186-204-567 Tom Foskey 212-Gene Keyton 206 Harold Compton 199 Jon Shinabarger 188 Wally Johns-ton 184 Women - Lil Landsdown 156-164-179-499 Pat Craddock 180-165-491 Bobbie Shina-barger 172-165-150-487 June Wing 180 Phyliss Eelwein 154 Alice Davis 152

Wednesday Night Mixed (10/8/08): Men - Nathan Sekula 278-230-236-744 Albert Utterback 258-235-211-704 Ray Ovelletter 215-205-235-655 Les Patterson 233 Kirk Riner 215 D.J. Davis 207 Scott Finney 192 Ronnie Nethercutt 191 Women -  Patricia Utterback 191-163-165-520 Colleen Ganoe 171-185-504 Barbara Finney 159-169-168-496 Mary Burress 158-180-466 Linda Merry-man 168 Paula Wirth 168 Debbie Martin 160 Terry Riner 158 Mary Spruvse & Gloria Bryant 156

AMF Dale City

Kings & Queens (10/6/08: Men - Ralph Grubb 219-581 Chuck Grove 215-569 Josh Regan 544 Marvin Smyth 201-522 Dwain Wise 512 Dave Zamora 496 Women -  Linda Wise 177-172-156-505 Jean Roske 192 Valerie Muck 158 Carole Nord 154 Johanna Grove 150

Strikes, Spares & Mrs: Series - Doris Lenyon 193-224-157-574 Sylvia Mobley 206-195-536 Game - Joyce Castro 165-176 Glenda Jones `57 Millie Neff 153 Jackie Carroll 160 Hazel Wallace 150-171-171 Tina Cech 157-171 Carolyn Rachele 156-182 Cheryl Stonebraker 177-160 Betty Greene 159-158 Ellen Patch 166 Donna Koczot-Grant 182 Renee Gregory 173

Bowl America Woodbridge

Thursday Nite Early (10/9/08): Men - Calvin Maddox 224-289-708 Shaun Greer 280-683 Jay Bowling 245-626 Pat Mock 236-621 Joseph Hansen 258-613 Dick West & Gary Griffin 225 Larry Smith 223 Glenn Keffer 222 Ken Catterton 221 Robert Bzdyr 216 Women - Debbie Reynolds 186-200-226-612 Debbie Gring 180-181-530 Elaine Ambrose 208-187-527 Valerie Greer 186- 515 Karon Bosze 183-190-515 Adele Boese 191-500 Marline Riehle 192 Penny Duncan 190 Misty Newman 184 Karen Smith 181 Pat Tyler 179

Monday Early Mixed (10/6/08): Men - Kenny Butler269-708 Henry Potter 245-685 Greg Bruff 234-666 Vern Clemons 264 Nelson Duff 264 Craig Wade 254 Terry Peck 236 Women - Debbie Smith 215-589 Val Greer 236-205-580 Dana Rose 220-577 Trish Tyler 227 Tabitha Yaksima 219 Joyce Peck 205

Sunday Night Mixers (10/5/08): Men - Akil Barlow 290-257-227-774 Howard Smith 265-249-705 Al Massey 256-700 Garth Longdon 248-680 Alex Morris 256-679 David Reid 258 Wayne Shultz 249 Mat Matsuda, Johnny Wilson & Doug Gathof 248 Women - Haw Sok Yi 269-204-649 Lyn-nette Fanning 218-213-621 LaToya Kirkland 224-595 Paula Williams 210-201-595 Linda McGuire 220-202-578 Alex Gathof 204 Anita Hawkins 203 Sonya Wilson 201 Shelly Hansen 198 Janice Cephas 197

Utopia Ladies (10/7/08): Series - Rose Robbins198-553-Debbie Smith-214-192-553-Doris Lenyon 191-540-Marian Young 193-534 Game - MaryAnn Fisher 200 Bonnie Gembarowicz 193 Pete Joseph193 Joellen Patterson 192

Ladies Nite Out (10/9/08): Series - Docie Whitlock 256-227-664 Barbara Gutridge 211-199-591 Teresa Medina 198-211-588 Margaret Rhodes 204-557 Yulanda Beale 193-550 Game Susie New 232 Cindy Stump 224 Lynn Frechette 201 Terri Willis 201 Debbie Batchelor 199

Woodbridge Rollers (10/8/08): Men - Ralph Miller 234-682 George Conway 248-658 Michael Anderson 244-656 Paul Furman 226-653 Michael Vance 235-609 Andrew Ayres 244 Carlos Cole 236 David Holmes 235 Martin Wagner 233 Willie Bilbro 226 Women - Cassie Robinette 209-185-559 Anita Hawkins 190-196-545 Bobbie Miller 206 Martha Keplinger 191 Barb Alwine 185 Victoria Velasquez 180

Automotive Men (10/9/08): Series - Douglas Gathof 278-258-750 John Mason 290-734 Akil Bar-low 247-689 Mark Glover 257-213-685 Ken Redmon 231-682 Game - David Salfi 270 Steven Rippy 278 Robert Swithenbank 254 Brendan Nohilly 252 William Baxter 248

Dale City Men's Commercial (10/6/08): Series - Mike Robinson 277-766 Craig Mason 269-760 Ken Redman Jr. 267-717 Bob Foor 268-716 Chris Merrill 257-710 Game - James Smith 278 Kevin Austin 259 Vinnie Murabito 258 Andrew Campbell 257 Gregg Luhmann 256

Senior Prime Timers (10/9/08): Men - Sandy Lofaso 653 Gregg Luhmann 645 John Lyon 640 Fredric Bowen 628 Elmer Fulkerson & Orland Van Bavel 583 Dave Woodman 225 Herb Wilson 223 Bill Mulgrew 219 Terry Sheppard 214 Walt Strain & Joe Hayward 211 Women - Sandi Reese 552 Patricia Sullivan 523 Mary Johnson 521 Carolyn Frye 515 Doreen Root 510 Elizabeth Clem-ens 181 Gayle Levy & Janice Overman 179 Billie Barksdale 176 Virginia Davis & Alice Portt 175

Merchants Mixed (10/7/08): Men - Andrew Campbell 267-259-774 Pop Sneed 248-732 Dana Gore 258-720 Mike Brenemen 264-712 Jimmie Chatmon 265-705 Rob Baziluik 269 Rick Hood 258 Oscar Johnson 257 Jack Ondo 257 Shawn Anderson 257 Women - Nisha Harbison 224-278-268-770 Tiffany Bell 266-225-228-719 Dawn Fay 246-247-215-708 Teri Smith 226-231-671 Pam Hurlbrink 239 Ruthie Bonta 237 Andrea Curry 231 Linda Newman 226 Terri Franklin 224

Four Seasons Fun Bunch - Senior League (10/10/08): Men -  John Lyon 226-192-582 Roland Arrington 180-208-537 Fred Grabner 185-184-533 Brian Richard 194-180-527 John Byrd 201 Michael Coyne 184 Steve Holbrook 183 Dave Pierce 165 Women - Carolyn Frye 152-177-471 Georgie Holtzhauer 152-163-460 Marilyn Cole 160-167-453 Brenda Melvin 184 Sharon Dibbley 168 Nancy Aderholdt 166 Myra Gluckman 162 Edie Jones 159

Saturday Nite Mixed (10/11/08): Men - Matt Howery 731 Demonte Spence 729 Pete Wingers 696 Bill Blatt 673 Jim Anthanas 672 Ernie Valasteck 268 Oscar Johnson 255 Manny Fret 246 Mike Robinson 244 Justin McGuire 237 Women - Michelle Mullally 599 Sherry McKinney 592 Debbie Reynolds 579 Kathy Goode 579 Remy Sheppard 573 Teresa Medina 211 Joyce Massey 207 Brenda Tarosky 198 Debi Imhoff 197 Tami Cook 196

Nightengale Mixed (10/10/08): Men - Brian Hood 688 Doug Gathof 674 Gary Brauzer 649 Dan Azzato 640 Dennis Smith 632 Joe Herman 245 Chris Chapman 243 Mitch Sulkess 223 David Currie 213 Robert Brewer 212 Women - Alex Gathof 558 Debbie Kraus 532 Mona Hairston 513 Santa Quiniones 512 Cheryl Lucas 489 Susan Kolodziej 181 Judy Brewer 165 Carol Brauzer 152

Woodbridge Handicap Trios (10/7/08): Men - Cisco Hornsby 722 Brian Hood 718 Chris Lewis 678 A.J. McDaniel 676 Tamer McGuire 675 James Carroll 266 Anthony Harris 258 John Wyche & Tim Gentry 256 Sandy LoCaso 248 Women - Anita Hawkins 568 Judith Hankins 510 Cindy Swords 479 Mindy Hood 466 Letisha Giggetts 455