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The NYS USBC Office Will Be Closed
on Monday, Oct. 14 for the Holiday

NYS Open Senior Tourney
Gets Under Way This Weekend

OCTOBER 11, 2019 -- The 41st NYS Open Senior, a Doubles and Singles event for NYS USBC members (men and women) who are at least 50 years old, gets under way this weekend at Sportsmans Bowl in Schenectady.

The handicap tournament will offer three squads on each of four days – Oct. 12-13 and 19-20.

Currently, more than 110 Doubles teams have signed up to compete, with four of the 12 squads already full.  The full squads are Oct. 12, 12:30 p.m.; Oct. 19, 12:30 and 3 p.m., and Oct. 20, 12:30 p.m.

The oil pattern will be a 43-foot Recreation pattern.

Hotel information: Quality Inn, 2788 Hamburgh St., Schenectady, $80 per night plus tax, includes breakfast. Phone: 518-355-1111. The hotel 5 minutes is from the bowling center.

'Visionary' Pearl Keller
Succumbs at Age 95

ARLINGTON, Texas. OCT. 10, 2010 – Pearl Keller, a member of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association, United States Bowling Congress and New York State Hall of Fame, passed away Oct. 2 in Brighton, Massachusetts, at age 95.

She was inducted into the New York State Hall of Fame in 1994 for Meritorious Service as a member of the Westchester County WBA and to the PWBA Hall of Fame in 1997 in the Builder category. Two years later, she joined the USBC Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service.

“Pearl was a great promoter of the sport; she was my favorite,” said Nancy Walczyk, former longtime association manager for the NYS WBA. “She served on the state board for a time, and it was plain to see that she was a visionary. She always looked at the possibilities.”

Keller was a trailblazer for women’s bowling -- teaming with Jean Fish in 1971 to start the Women’s All-Star Association to promote tournaments specifically designed for high-average women bowlers. WASA drew the best amateur and professional bowlers from throughout the country to its events.

She served as WASA Executive Director for more than 30 years. In 2001, WASA had a membership of 325 competitors and awarded more than $85,000 in 17 tournaments.

Keller also paved the way for women bowling writers. A bowling columnist for 27 years for Gannett Westchester Newspapers, the largest newspaper chain in the country, she was one of the first women writers admitted to the Bowling Writers Association of America.

She joined the BWAA in 1973, and held many leadership positions before she was elected the first woman president of BWAA in 1992. She also served as president of the National Women Bowling Writers (NWBW) for six years.

She won numerous writing awards, including the BWAA’s Mort Luby Distinguished Service Award, the NWBW Alberta E. Crowe Award and the Murrey International Bowling Writer of the Year Award.

Keller, who lived in Chappaqua for nearly 50 years, served bowling on the local, state and national levels.

She was on the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) board from 1984-1999, and was a longtime board member of the Westchester Women’s Bowling Association and New York State Women’s Bowling Association. The WIBC recognized her work as an innovator with Joyce Deitch Trailblazer Award in 2002.

Born Dec. 19, 1923, she graduated from Yale University in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree in music (piano major) and spent a year teaching piano at the Perkins School for the Blind. She did graduate work toward a Master’s degree at Texas Christian University and was a graduate assistant in the school’s music history department.

Keller is survived by her four children, Jan Schultz (Howard), David (Mary), Richard, and Lisa Lee (Daniel), six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Norwich's Sammy Ventura Receives
PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award 

CHICAGO (Sept. 30, 2019) – Nine-year PBA50 Tour veteran Sammy Ventura of Syracuse, New York, has been named the 2019 PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award winner as voted on by his fellow competitors on PBA’s tour for players 50 and over.

“It’s an award you always hope to receive not only because it’s voted on by your peers but because of the person it’s named after,” the 61-year-old Ventura said. “I think my intense passion for the sport helps keep my attitude positive and that’s what everyone sees. When you’re fortunate enough to compete at the highest level against great bowlers, how could you not enjoy that experience?”

On the competitive side, the 2019 season was arguably Ventura’s best with two runner-up finishes that matched his career high on the PBA50 Tour.

“The guys (on tour) keep telling me I’m like a fine wine getting better with age,” said Ventura, who finished second in the PBA50 Johnny Petraglia BVL Open and PBA50 South Shore Open. “I’ve had a tendency to throw the ball too hard but within the last year or so my ball speed and rev rate have started to match up better which has resulted in more strikes.

“I’m confident as ever and still determined to win,” the 11-time PBA50 Regional winner added. “The game evolves so you have to be able to learn from your experiences and make the changes to get better.”

The PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award is named in honor of the PBA legend who won 30 PBA Tour and six PBA50 Tour titles during his Hall of Fame career and was considered one of the sport’s greatest ambassadors. 

Other 2019 PBA50 Tour award winners were Walter Ray Williams Jr., who won his third PBA50 Player of the Year honor; Eugene McCune, Rookie of the Year, and Ron Mohr who won his fourth consecutive PBA60 Player of the Year award. Recipients will be presented their awards at the 2020 Senior U.S. Open in Las Vegas.

NYS USBC Directors Meeting Recap
Bowler Contributions Hit
High-Water Mark -- $29,000

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 -- Acting on recommendations from the Finance Committee, the New York State USBC board of directors on Sunday (Sept. 22) approved a record-setting Pathways contribution for the 2018-19 bowling season and agreed to additional support of the association’s three youth bowling tournaments.

Donations generated at last season’s state tournaments and Annual Meeting and through special fundraisers and individual gifts resulted in $29,000 being available for the NYS USBC’s designated charities as well as its scholarship program.

The board accepted the Finance Committee’s suggestion to give $11,500 to both Roswell Park Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, $3,000 to the Bowlers to Veterans Link and $3,000 to the Youth Education Services committee for scholastic awards.

“The NYS USBC extends thanks to the bowlers, delegates and all others who graciously donated to these fundraisers and the worthwhile causes they support,” President Roger Buckman said. “To be able to increase our charitable contributions from the 2017-18 season is phenomenal, and is a tribute to the fine people who support bowling in New York State.”

It also voted in favor of $2,000 allocations to the Youth Team, Youth Pepsi and Adult-Junior Tournaments for the next three years – a total of $18,000. Thousands of dollars in scholarships are distributed to participants in the state youth tournaments.

In addition, the board voted to continue to fund the scholarships for graduating high school seniors, grades 9-11, grades 5-8 and grades K-4 at the $15,250 level for 2019-20.

The YES Committee will be looking into its options to raise funds for sustainability of the scholastic program.

In other developments, the board:

-- The board approved the appointments of two at-large directors, Arthur O’Connor (Long Island USBC) and Nathan Johnson (Sayre Athens Waverly Valley USBC).

Per revised USBC bylaws, at-large director appointments are based on experience that will enhance the board’s ability to achieve its goals. At-large directors serve for one year (they can be reappointed) and have voting privileges.

O’Connor was selected for his experience in public relations, social media and youth bowling promotion and coaching, while Johnson, the SAW Valley USBC association manager and Level I coach, was appointed for a progressive perspective in working with future youth leaders and membership retention and recruitment.

-- Confirmed that NYS USBC members wishing to run for Youth Director positions on the board must first serve on the state Youth Committee (as Regional Tournament Managers).

-- Reviewed the list of nominations for the NYS Hall of Fame and will be emailing local associations with nomination forms for the Hall of Fame and for the Service Awards. The forms also can be found on this website.

-- Set the 2020 Annual Meeting for June 6 at the Holiday Inn in Binghamton.

Changes Made to Tourney Rules;
Entry Forms Posted on Website

SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 -- Several changes to New York State USBC adult tournaments for 2019-20 -- including changing the handicap base in the Open Championships and going with one qualifying squad for the Queens Championship -- were made during the state association’s Board of Directors meetings over the weekend at the Holiday Inn in Binghamton.

Changes approved by the Tournament Committee primarily affect the NYS Women and Open Championships. Some of the changes to the Queens stem from the results of a survey of participants at the 2019 tournament in Saratoga Springs.

A summary of the 2019-20 events follows.

Entry forms for all the adult tournaments for this season can be downloaded from the Tournaments section of this website.

NYS SENIOR MASTERS – NOV. 9, 2019 – OWEGO

The 3rd NYS Senior Masters is scheduled for Owego Bowl on Nov. 9 and is sponsored by A.L. George Inc. Distributors of Binghamton and Hemp Geek, with six locations in the Owego area.

Ray Textor (Jamestown Area USBC) is the two-time defending champion for the scratch tournament, which offers a $1,000 first prize (based on 80 entries). It is open to men and women NYS USBC members who are at least 50 years old.

Hotel information - Mention New York State Bowling

Hampton Inn, 1030 NY-17C, Owego, NY 13827 -- $115 plus tax - must book by Oct. 18 -- 607-687-4600

Holiday Inn Express, 20 Hickories Park Rd., Owego, NY 13827 -- $99 plus tax - must book by Nov. 5 -- 607-687-9000

Quality Inn, 1100 State Route 17C, Owego, NY 13827 -- $80 plus tax -- must book by Oct. 31 -- 607-687-4500

NYS MASTERS – MARCH 7, 2020 -- ROME

The 39th NYS Masters scratch singles event is scheduled for King Pin Lanes on March 7, 2020 and is limited to the first 120 paid entrants (maximum of 60 on each of two qualifying squads). There is no re-entry.

First prize is a guaranteed $2,500 and a free entry to the 2021 USBC Masters. The scratch tournament is open to NYS USBC men and women.

Dan Vick (Rochester NY USBC) won the 2019 tournament at Dixie Lanes in Elmira.

NYS WOMEN – APRIL 4-MAY 17, 2020 – SYRACUSE

The 84th NYS Women’s Championships, consisting of Team, Doubles, Singles and All-Events competition, will take place on April 4-5, 17-19, 24-26, May 15-17, 2020 at AMF Strike ‘N Spare Lanes in the Syracuse suburb of Mattydale.

A list of current reservations and paid entries can be found on the Tournaments page. Note that availability is limited on April 25-26.

Changes for this year are as follows:

-- Doubles and Singles will be bowled on the same pair of lanes – no moving to another pair after Doubles.

-- For the Brackets held in conjunction with the tournament, bowlers with averages of 200 or higher will be eligible to enter SCRATCH brackets only.  Handicaps for the Brackets will be determined by taking 100 percent of the difference in the bowler’s average and 190.

NYS QUEENS – APRIL 18, 2020 – LIVERPOOL

The 49th NYS Queens is scheduled for April 28, 2020 at Flamingo Bowl in Liverpool (outside of Syracuse). It is a scratch singles event for NYS USBC women.

Liz Kuhlkin of Schenectady is the two-time defending champion.

Changes for this year are as follows:

-- The Open Division will be for bowlers with averages of 200 and up; the Classified Division will be for bowlers with averages of 199 and under (see tournament rules for more details).

-- One qualifying squad (five games) is set for 11 a.m. with a maximum of 114 bowlers in the tournament (six per pair).

Survey results indicate that bowlers do not want re-entry (that is not a factor this year), want to continue to offer the USBC Queens entry to the Open Division champion, want to keep a Challenge/Sport oil pattern and want to continue the 1:4 cashing ratio.

NYS OPEN – APRIL 18-MAY 17, 2020 – SCHENECTADY

The 96th NYS Open Championships (Team, Doubles, Singles, All-Events) are scheduled for April 18-19, 24-26, May 1-3, 15-17, 2020 at Boulevard Bowl in Schenectady.

Changes for this year are as follows:

-- The handicap format for Division 1 is now, Team 1150-plus bowls scratch, Doubles 460-plus bowls scratch and Singles 230-plus bowls scratch. Handicap is 90 percent of 1150, 460 and 230 in Division 1 and 90 percent of 1000, 400 and 200 in Division 2.

-- Doubles and Singles will be bowled on the same pair of lanes – no moving to another pair after Doubles.

-- Doubles and Singles will be offered on Fridays; Saturdays will be for Doubles & Singles and Sundays will be for Team.

-- The first squad on Sundays will begin at 9 a.m.

-- A dress code and behavior code have been added to the rules.

-- For the Brackets, handicap will be based on 90 percent of 230.

NYS Women’s Senior Singles
Three Albany Bowlers
Top Final Standings

UPDATE -- SEPT. 11, 2019

RESULTS ARE OFFICIAL:
PRIZE CHECKS WILL BE MAILED OUT ON FRIDAY, SEPT. 13

CLICK HERE for official standings.

CLICK HERE for official prize list.

----------------

AUGUST 27, 2019 – The lead in two age classifications changed hands over the weekend as the 39th NYS Women’s Senior Singles Championships drew to a close at North Bowl Lanes in Plattsburgh.

All results are unofficial pending average verifications. The NYS USBC has 30 days to finalize prize list and send out prize checks. One in six in each age group will cash.

In the 55-59 age group, Donna Gilfus (Auburn NY USBC) moved into the top spot with a 1,408 six-game total with handicap, putting her six pins ahead of previous leader Shelly Thompson (Malone USBC).

In the 75 & Up age group, Jeraldine Beeman (Fulton County Regional USBC) registered 1,436 with handicap to edge Vivian Johnson (New York City USBC) by 15 pins. Both of those ladies jumped past previous leader Peg Gilmore (Auburn NY USBC), who had posted 1,382.

First-place bowlers in the four other divisions stayed on top – Tammy Devins (Northern Adirondack USBC) in the 50-54 group, Charlene Brandow (Albany USBC) in the 60-64 group, Darlene Spivey (Albany USBC) in the 65-69 group, and Barbara Sim (Albany USBC) in the 70-74 group.

Six-game combine leaders in the six age classifications (unofficial) are as follows:

50-54 – Tammy Devins (Northern Adirondack USBC), 1,395 with handicap; Dena Harty (Albany USBC), 1,348; Lynn Zagorski (Greater Buffalo USBC), 1,338.

55-59 – Donna Gilfus (Auburn NY USBC), 1,408; Shelly Thompson (Malone USBC), 1,402; Anita Brody (New York City USBC), 1,391.

60-64 – Charlene Brandow (Albany USBC), 1,397; Kathleen Young (Northern Adirondack USBC), 1,383; Suzette Pavone (Northern Adirondack USBC), 1,370.

65-69 – Darlene Spivey (Albany USBC), 1,390; Linda Garrand (Northern Adirondack USBC), 1,369; Barbara Vaughan (Westchester County USBC), 1,339.

70-74 – Barbara Sim (Albany USBC), 1,456; Sylvia Simpson (Staten Island USBC), 1,389; Sylvia Bisson (Central NY USBC), 1,345.

75 & Up – Jeraldine Beekman (Fulton County Regional USBC), 1,436; Vivian Johnson (New York City USBC), 1,421; Peg Gilmore (Auburn NY USBC), 1,382.

Six-game combine champions in each division will be eligible to represent New York State at the 2020 USBC Senior Championships in Lousville, Ky.

Nancy Hulbert (Fulton County Regional USBC) won the breast cancer awareness bowling ball.

The NYS USBC would like to thank the Northern Adirondack USBC association for its assistance in running the tournament and the Munson family, proprietor of North Bowl Lanes, for hosting the highly-successful event.

Spivey Finishes 2nd, Pantley 5th
at USBC Senior Championships

AUGUST 9, 2019 -- Darlene Spivey placed second in the Women's Division 65-69 age group today, rolling 678 with handicap for her three games in the Advancers Round and finishing with a 708 series, including 30 bonus pins.

Her total was 12 pins less than divisional champion, Susan Sweatman of Trout Creek, Mt.

She earned $570 for her efforts.

In the Women's Division 50-54 age bracket, Maureen Pantley finished in sixth place, rolling 651 with handicap and totaling 661, including 10 bonus pins. She won $210.

Marion Kosiak of Goffstown, N.H., won the group with a 757 series.

Final results can be found in the Tournaments seciton of bowl.com.

PREVIOUSLY TODAY:

AUGUST 9, 2019 -- Darlene Spivey (Albany USBC) and Maureen Pantley (Tri-County NY USBC) have made it to the Advancers Round of the 2019 USBC Senior Championships at Western Bowl in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Spivey placed third in the Women’s Division 65-69 age classification while Pantley finished fifth in the Women’s Division 50-54 age group on Thursday to advance to the rolloffs, which were scheduled for 9 o’clock this morning.

The top six in each age group in the Women’s and Mixed Divisions qualified for the Advancers Round.

Spivey rolled 436 scratch yesterday to finish with a 1,350 handicap total and Pantley rolled 350 scratch to finish with a 1,314 handicap total.

In the Women’s Division 75 & Up Division, Janice Thompson (Mid-Hudson USBC) placed seventh, but still claimed a prize check of $115. She missed the cut by 26 pins after a 454 scratch three-game series on Thursday.

Other New York USBC members in the Women’s Division were Katherine Yochum (Corning USBC), who placed 28th in the 60-64 group, and Janice Markowitz (Hudson Valley USBC), who finished 25th in the 55-59 group.

In the Mixed Division, Troy McClure (Rochester NY USBC) rallied with a 657 scratch series but fell short of the rolloffs, placing 11th with a 1,257 total.

Other New York USBC results:

55-59 – Kimberly Hawkins (Mid-Hudson USBC), 12th place, 1,245.
60-64 – R. Jeffery Ward (Greater Buffalo USBC), 25th place, 1,203.
65-69 – Wayne Potter (Canandaigua USBC), 15th place, 1,261.
70-74 – Richard Cook (Finger Lakes NY USBC), 29th place, 1,166.
75 & Up – Robert Mossotti (Central NY USBC), 17th place, 1,244.

Pathways Fundraiser Brings in $3,570

AUGUST 1, 2019 -- This year's July lottery fundraiser conducted by the New York State USBC raised more than $3,500 to support the state association's charities.

CLICK HERE for a list of winners.

Donations made by bowlers and friends have resulted in a total of $3,570, which will be used to support the NYS USBC Pathways committee.

As in the past, contributions will be made to the Bowlers to Veterans Link, and for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and Roswell Park Alliance Foundation in Buffalo.

The tickets were sold by NYS USBC officers, directors and youth committee members and at various state tournaments. Winners were determined by the NYS Lottery Evening Number.

USBC to Lower Youth
Maximum Age to 18
Starting in 2020-21

JULY 25, 2019 -- The United States Bowling Congress will lower the maximum age for USBC Youth membership to 18 starting with the 2020-2021 season.

The decision to lower to the maximum age from 20 to 18, with agreement from the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America and the International Bowling Campus Youth Committee, will align bowling with other youth sports.

“Over the last decade, we have made changes to USBC Youth programs and tournaments to provide a model comparable with other youth sports,” IBC Youth Managing Director of Youth Development Gary Brown said. “We moved to age-based divisions, as opposed to average, for events, to provide peer-to-peer competition. Setting the maximum age for youth bowlers to 18 aligns us with the standard of other national youth sports organizations.”

A U18 division will become the top division for the Pepsi Youth and Bowling.com Youth Open Championships for the 2020-2021 season. During the next season, USBC will address how the age change will impact the 2021 Junior Gold Championships, which will have a separate U20 division.

Please visit BOWL.com/YouthAgeChange for additional information.

Starting with the 2020-2021 season, USBC Youth membership policy will state youth membership is available to individuals who have not reached the age of 18 prior to Aug. 1 of the current bowling season. The decision to lower the maximum age will directly impact 3.3 percent of the total youth membership. The change also better aligns USBC Youth membership with new regulations from the U.S. Center for SafeSport requiring training for those over 18 who participate in a sport with minors.

Any USBC Youth member who reaches the age of 18 during the bowling season is required to complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport online education program, which is free, to continue to compete in leagues that have participants under age 18. This requirement was announced with the release of the revised Registered Volunteer Program (RVP) handbook.

The new age limit marks the second time the USBC Youth maximum age has been lowered. In 2009, USBC lowered the maximum age for youth bowlers from 22 to 20.

Future NYS USBC Adult
Championship Tournaments

CLICK HERE for NYS Adult Championship tournaments through 2021.