BERGEN – Chili resident Dan Robinson added to his personal “dollar tree” on Sunday by winning the second annual Triple O Mechanical Singles Handicap Tournament at Rose Garden Bowl.
The 38-year-old right-hander, who is employed as the manager of Dollar Tree at Stoneridge Plaza in Greece, defeated Phil McMurdy of Spencerport, 233-195, in the championship match.
Robinson won $350, while McMurdy, a pro shop owner at Pleasure Lanes in Hilton, took home $175 for placing second. The tourney attracted 56 entries.
Supported by a cheering section comprised of wife, Theresa, and his kids, Robinson – a 220-plus average bowler – excelled in the eliminator portion of the event after qualifying in the 14th position with a 658 series. The top 16 bowlers advanced to the eliminator rounds, where half the field advanced after each game.
Robinson rolled 217, 207 and 228 to reach the title match against McMurdy, who qualified fifth with a 679 series. McMurdy and Robinson bowl in the same league at Pleasure Lanes.
“We’ve known each other for a long time,” Robinson said, speaking of McMurdy. “It was fun bowling against him.”
Warsaw’s Kevin Gray Jr. and Rochester’s Bruce Szczepanski tied for third place and won $100 each. Gray was the high qualifier with a scratch series of 776. Frank Stumpf of Bergen, John Yezarski of Rochester, Jay Wayda of Brockport, and Don Perrault of Pittsford bowed out in the quarterfinals. They won $50 apiece.
Other qualifiers were Ken Raley of Bergen, Geoff Harloff of Oakfield, Kyle Mapes of Batavia, Kyle Cortese of Rochester, Kevin Bacon of Batavia, Phil Kaiser of Rochester, Garry Reynolds of Churchville and Wayne Gates of Scottsville. They won $30 apiece.
In other tournament action over the weekend:
CHRIS LEACH WINS IN BATAVIA
Using her son’s bowling ball after hers was stolen, Christine Leach of Stafford turned back 29 other competitors to win a singles handicap tournament on Saturday at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.
“Oh my gosh; I can’t believe I won,” Leach exclaimed, following a 226 game with handicap (55 pins, based on her 151 average) to defeat Phil Kaiser of Rochester (207) and Mike Johnson of Batavia (161) in the three-person finals. The win was worth $200 for Leach, while Kaiser and Johnson earned $100 and $60, respectively.
Leach, a longtime bowler at Mancuso’s, works in the janitorial department at Geneseo High School. She and her husband, Randy, bowl in the Jack & Jill League.
Three bowlers won $45 apiece for finishing in the top six. They were Jay Wayda of Brockport, Penny Brown of Attica and Rob Kuszlyk of Bergen. Matt Balduf of Byron was the high qualifier with 753 (726 scratch).
LAGEORGES, PHILP TOPS IN LETCHWORTH
The team of Justin and John LaGeorge of Leicester and Adam Philp of Caledonia combined to claim the $1,000 first prize at the Warsaw Fire Department three-person handicap no-tap tournament at Letchworth Pines in Portageville.
The trio rolled 2,461 – better than 820 per man.
Travis Bennett of Castile, Jamie Watson of Leicester and Mike Malone of Dansville placed second, winning $500. Justin LaGeorge, Philp and his brother, Aaron, took third place ($250), while Jeff and Jason Schillaci of Silver Springs and Norm Vetter of Warsaw were fourth ($125), and Dan Carpenter of Portageville, and Blair Blue and Todd Carpenter, both of Nunda, finished fifth ($60).
According to Primo Biscaro, tourney director, the event raised about $1,700 for the Warsaw FD. Fifty-two teams participated.
BUCKLERS TAKE FIRST IN PERRY
The Bucklers team of Brett Van Duser, John McIntyre and Jimmer Jaggard shot 2,421 with handicap to win the three-person handicap no-tap tournament at Perry Bowling Center. Proceeds went to support the Perry High School wrestling team.
CHH Racing (Eric Sickles, Shelly Skinner and Sean Sickles) and Go For It Graphics (John LaPiana, Scott Balbick and Steve Cicero) tied for second with 2,404.
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MORE TOURNAMENTS ON TAP
-- November 21 – Monster Energy Drinks Scratch Singles, Mancuso Bowling Center: Entry fee, $60; First place, $1,600 (based on 100 entries); Squad times, 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.; Three-game qualifier; challenging lane condition; To enter, Mike Johnson, 345-1156.
-- November 29 – Mixed Doubles No-Tap, Brockport Bowl: Entry fee, $44; First place, $440 (based on 36 teams); Squad times, 1:45 & 3:45 p.m.; To enter, 716-474-7960.
-- December 13 – Scratch Doubles, Legion Lanes, Le Roy: Entry fee, $60; First place, $600 (based on 32 teams); Squad times, 1 & 3 p.m.; Format, two game qualifier, top eight advance to head-to-head Baker style match play; To enter, 716-474-7960.