It wasn’t quite an “out of body” experience, but Brian Green of Pavilion definitely was in the “zone” last Sunday.
The big 27-year-old left-hander rolled 31 out of a possible 36 strikes – including a remarkable 24 strikes in a row – in the Scooter’s of Le Roy/Lambert’s Jewelers/Bob Harris Realty Sunday morning scratch league at Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield.
He posted games of 268-300-255 for an 823 series, coming within a pocket 6-8 split in the sixth frame of the final game of setting a new Genesee Region United States Bowling Congress Association record.
Craig Royce of Lima has the record with an 847 gem registered in February at Livingston Lanes in Geneseo.
Green ended the first game with seven strikes, ran the table in game two for the perfect game and started the third game with five more strikes before leaving the 6-8. He stayed clean the rest of the way for the 823.
“I was looking at 860,” Green said. “I pured that sixth frame (meaning it was solid in the 1-2 pocket).”
Green, who has two other 800 series and four other 300 games at Scopano’s, said his performance Sunday was a far cry from his recent efforts.
“I have been struggling, without a doubt,” he said. “I fell apart on the Shark (in the PBA Experience League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia) and I didn’t bowl that good at the (PBA) Regional in Ohio. I felt like I’ve been bowling on marbles; my feet have been coming out from under me.”
He said he took out a ball he hadn’t used in awhile – an Ebonite Overtime – on Saturday night, put some new inserts in it and gave it a try during practice on Sunday morning.
“I said ‘Wow’ when I saw the great reaction in practice,” he said. “Then, after the 268 game, I got numb and didn’t feel anything or hear anything around me. I’ve never had that happen before. It was weird.”
Green, who works at Wal-Mart in Geneseo, said he hopes he discovers more “weird” when he tries his hand, once again, in a PBA Regional Tournament – in Rome (N.Y.) on May 1.
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INTEREST IN ‘UPSTATE’ ABOUNDS
An unusual format and a promise to put down a challenging lane condition seem to be paying off for Frank Formicola and Jerry Brunette Jr. as they eagerly anticipate the start of the first Upstate New York Doubles and/or Singles Tournament at AMF Dewey Garden Lanes in Rochester.
The event, featuring three divisions – men, women and mixed -- will take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and on three Thursday nights (May 7 and 21, and June 18) from April 10 through July 12.
First prizes (which are guaranteed) range from $6,000 for the men’s doubles event to $1,500 for the women’s singles event. Entry fees are only $29.95 for the first event and just $20 for the additional event. As an example, a doubles and singles entry will cost $49.95 per bowler.
“We have a unique format that allows us to put 77 percent of the entry fee to prize money. This is the highest percentage in the country, maybe the world,” Formicola said. “This is a four-game event where these four games apply to both events entered. The entire $20 entry fee for the second event goes to the prize fund. Where else can you get a bargain like this?”
Formicola said Brunette and his crew have been working on the oil pattern for a month and “just finished tweaking it” this week.
“The condition is not going to be a Sport shot (extremely difficult) but it's not going to be the ‘stand left and roll right’ house shot that you find in 99 percent of all centers,” Formicola said.
“Remember the days when you rolled 600 with handicap in singles & 1,200 with handicap in the doubles and cashed high on the list? It's back. The condition will be equal for bowlers of all averages. Don't get upset if you don't roll 700 or 1,400; wait for the prize list and celebrate.”
Formicola added that he believes that sandbaggers will have a difficult time.
“I think the term ‘sandbagger’ will be reduced to a much smaller amount of the bowlers with this condition. We challenge them to participate.”
Bowlers will be allowed to enter each event five times. In doubles, bowlers can bowl twice with the same partner and cash with the highest score only. If they change partners, they can cash each time their score allows. In singles, a bowler is allowed to cash twice. Formicola said that at least one in eight entrants will cash.
For more information or to enter, log on to www.UpstateNYBowlingTournament.com, or call Formicola at 303-0323.
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LOCAL EVENTS SCHEDULED
Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Scopano’s Lanes and Cal Bowl are hosting tournaments this weekend.
n On Saturday, the Rose Garden Bowl singles handicap tourney lists qualifying squad times of 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., with the eliminator finals at 4 p.m. Entry fee is only $25 and first place, based on 48 entries, is $300. Special incentives are being offered on the 10 a.m. squad, for women and for seniors 60-and-over. Call 409-1717 or 343-3736 to enter.
n On Friday through Sunday (and Friday and Saturday next week) at Scopano’s, the 25th annual Frank Velletta Memorial Triples Handicap tourney is offering a $1,000 top prize (based on 120 teams). Entry fee is $66 per team. Call 948-9993 to enter.
n On Saturday and Sunday, the April Fool’s Doubles tournament concludes at Cal Bowl. Entry fee is $45 per team with first place set at $450 (based on 45 entries). Call 538-6530 to enter.
(Mike Pettinella’s Pin Points bowling column appears every Thursday during the bowling season. If you have an item of interest for his column, please contact him at mikepett2002@yahoo.com or at 343-3736 or by mail at 55 Edgewood Drive, Batavia).