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Tenpins & More house professional Billy Grant used a pre-tournament practice session to hone his considerable skills and average a personal best in two back-to-back events there on Easter Sunday.
After opening with a sub-par 152, Grant went on a scoring rampage, first in the Scratch Series, presented by the Rio Rancho Convention & Visitors Bureau, then in the 11th annual Easter Doubles Marathon.
He closed out qualifying with 251, 244, 264, 289, 290, then added 233, 239, 256 and 214 to finish with a 247.2 average over 10 games. He finished seventh after being eliminated by Dave Templeton.
In doubles, Grant and Justin Medina went 8-0 to win with Medina averaging a career-high 241.7, assisted by Grant’s 231.3. For 18 games, Grant carded 4,323 (240.1), also his best ever.
In the Scratch Series, Dana Miller-Mackie successfully returned from recent knee surgery to notch a win, going 5-0, beating Chris Yoshimura of Amarillo 247-192, Templeton 227-205, Adrienne Hare 247-237, Lance Emerson 268-197 and J.D. Nance in the championship round, 255-213.
A number of scoring records were established, including a 60-game field average of 225.9 in the finals and four over a 240 average, including Miller-Mackie 248.8, Emerson 244.8 in third, Grant 245.5 in seventh and John Young, back after shoulder surgery at 242.5 in 13th place.
The next scratch series tournament is Memorial Day weekend in May. Miller-Mackie will be away bowling in the nationals in Reno.
In other bowling news from Tenpins & More:
- The Doubles Marathon attracted 20 teams Easter Sunday night and while Grant and Medina dominated match-play, scoring was no less torrid than earlier in the day.
Theran Lewis opened with 300, then 241, 256, 257, 228, 257, 182 and 225 for 1,946 (243.2 average). Donna Dowd started with games of 268 and 290.
Demos Quintana included 287, 289 and 266 in a 235.2 average performance and, along with Al Nieves (226), Bill Byer (225.2) and Brent Garcia (224.6) scored big in the handicap event.
Garcia and Ken Goode finished second to Grant/Medina, shooting 380 in the play-off, ahead of Nieves/Byer (366) and of Sharon Krizan/Monte Gustafson (351), who were fourth.
Dan Price’s team was next, with a 6-2 record and 394 pins over Daniel Paul/Quintana (380, in sixth), then Eddie and Donna Dowd (388).
- Don Chalmers Ford dealership in Rio Rancho and other parts of New Mexico is a strong supporter of area charities and fellow businesses.
Last month, a team representing that company won the Spring Bowlathon on behalf of the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce at Tenpins & More.
The foursome carded 2,381 pinfall over 12 games, beating Sunrise Electrical Contractors by 147 pins.
Then followed Huitt-Zollars, New Mexico Gas Company and the Rio Rancho YMCA.
“Bowlathons are an easy and popular way to raise money,” says center manager Steve Mackie. “We run about a dozen a year, with always more than $1,200 raised each time.”
The biggest one of the year will be held on Saturday, June 8, when ARCA holds its fifth annual “Smileathon,” aiming for another $100,000 day to add to the more than $390,000 already collected in the past four events.
- Summer leagues get started during May and the schedule is now out at Tenpins & More, featuring more than 15 short-season loops for bowlers of all abilities and ages.
Calendar:
April 8-12: Early opening for RRPS spring break; 10 a.m.
April 14: Coaching camp; 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
