BOWLING UPDATE

From Tenpins & More

• Two-hundred-eight games bowled and there is a tie for first place in the annual Valentine’s Doubles tournament at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho.

Teri and Joseph Paterson of Soccoro closed with a team game of 490 and Mike Lee/Joseph LaPointe fired 489 to end up tied for the win at 1,888, twenty pins ahead of Rio Ranchoans, Laurie and Steve Shultz who had held the lead the prior two days on 1.868.

Other place-getters included Tom Garcia/Joe Romero with 1,863, followed by Adrian Brown/Jeremiah Martin 1,862 then Jeanne Hietpas-Carver and Andrew Carver 1,851 and Trent Irwin/LaPointe 1.850 in one of the most closely held events in months.

• A sell-out field with a lengthy wait list is on tap in this weekend’s annual Junior Bowlers Tour “double-header” at Tenpins & More.

The doubles event Saturday (February 22) has more than 160 sign-ups while the youth singles on Sunday is likely to also be over-subscribed.

• The following Sunday (March 2) a first prize of $ 1,500 is attracting bowlers from West Texas, Arizona and Colorado as well as all over New Mexico but it’s not just the strong check.

The event is being bowled with dual lane oiling patterns on each pair of lanes, presenting quite a challenge in both physical and mental game preparation.

One lane will feature “short oil” and the other “long oil” requiring the use of different bowling balls on the pair.

Adding to the affair is that bowlers change lanes each game for five games, before the field is cut in half or more for further cuts before the championship round.