By:  Bette Addington

 SCOTT NORTON WINS GLOVER MASTERS TOURNAMENT

Bakersfield, CA.  The late Don Glover had to have been smiling down on AMF Southwest Lanes this past weekend, September 27-28, as the 2^nd annual Glover Masters Scratch Tournament took place.  Not only did the tournament nearly double the number of entries that it had at its inaugural event last year, but the prize fund doubled—not only for the champion but there was a visible increase in all the monies given to the top 20 that placed!!  To top it off, a former youth state standout, who was bowling his first year in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), became the 2008 Champion.  Scott Norton, of San Francisco, emerged as the 2008 Don Glover Masters Scratch Champion and took home $3,055.00.   

It wasn’t an easy win for Norton, who ended up the number two seed, as he had to win his Stepladder Final match against fourth seed Jeff Gordon who dominated the Stepladder matches by beating fifth seed PBA standout Tony Reyes 269-238, then third seed Daniel Watanabe 247-189.  Norton and Gordon had a great match, but Norton emerged with a win 279-245 and then faced number one seed Mason Sherman (the current PBA Western Regional point’s leader who dominated qualifying by ranking first in the top 20 and then again first after match play).  Sherman started the final match strong with a string of strikes.  Norton had a strike in the first frame but spared in the second.  But Norton turned on the strikes and finished with a 280 game to Sherman’s 255.  Over 60 spectators enjoyed an afternoon of terrific matches.   

Norton was the 2000 CWBA (California Women’s Bowling Association’s) Star of Tomorrow and also the Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow.  He received four Gold medals in the Tournament of Americas and one Gold medal in the World Youth Championships.  His career took off as he became the National Youth Amateur Champion and then just one year later the National Adult Amateur Champion.  He has been on Team USA.  Then, this year, he joined the PBA where he has captured one title to date.  A left-hander, as Don Glover was, Norton and Watanabe were the only two lefties making the Stepladder Finals.  He was bowling with Brunswick equipment. 

Norton bowled the first squad of qualifying on Saturday and came out strong with a 279 game, and averaged 235 to make the top ten of that squad.  He then came back Saturday night to compete with the top twenty bowlers (top ten from two qualifying squads) and bowled 6 games averaging 230, but more importantly, rolling a 299 for his fifth game of the night to help him end the night at +395 to secure his spot in the Top Ten Finals for Sunday.  Sunday morning’s nine games of Match Play Finals had him averaging 226 and winning 4 of his matches.  For the Position Round following the Match Play Finals, he beat his opponent Mason Sherman 205-195 to secure his number two seed in the Stepladder Finals.   

Scott Norton was truly a class act.  His parents making their way from down south to watch him compete in the Finals on Sunday made his story of victory even more interesting as his mom, Virginia Norton, a well-known State and National Hall of Famer, knew Don Glover.  Congratulations on a well-deserved win to add to your list of accomplishments, Scott!   

It’s important to note there were two 300 games rolled on Saturday during the qualifying squads.  First one was shot by Bakersfield’s Diz Francisco.  Francisco shot the 300 in game 5.  The second one was rolled by Tony Reyes in the second qualifying squad for his sixth game ending with +247.

DC Williams, representing GEUSBC (Golden Empire USBC) presented a trophy to the highest finishing youth bowler from Bakersfield and the trophy was presented to Patrick Smith who qualified with +67 in the first squad. 

Final results are as follows:

1^st – Scott Norton, San Francisco ($3,055.00)

2^nd – Mason Sherman, Moorpark ($1,000.00)

3^rd – Jeff Gordon, Ventura ($750.00)

4^th – Daniel Watanabe, Bakersfield ($600.00)

5^th – Tony Reyes, San Bruno ($500.00

6^th – Steve Smith, San Diego ($450.00

7^th – Lee Patterson, Antioch ($400.00)

8^th – Ivan Miyasato, Fresno ($350.00)

9^th – Jim Joy, San Pablo ($300.00)

10^th – Carlie Medina III, Bakersfield ($250.00)

11th – Aris C. Anadilla, Bakersfield (245.00)

12^th – Donald Benner, Bakersfield ($240.00)

13^th – John Whisler, Bakersfield ($235.00)

14^th – Aris Anadilla, Bakersfield ($230.00)

15^th – Russ Mayberry, Visalia ($225.00)

16^th – Chris Williams, Los Angeles ($220.00)

17^th – Gary Duran, Commerce ($215.00)

18^th – Jim Roberts, Tulare ($210.00)

19^th – Zack Newman, Bakersfield ($205.00)

20^th – Mike Wilk, Temecula ($200.00)

Special thanks to all the 2008 Event Sponsors because without their help and support, we could not have attained the prize payout we had: Golden Empire USBC; Ebonite/Ed Gallagher; Fabrications by Addington/Chris Addington; Tom Smith/GEUSBC Director; Jim Trino/Bakersfield Bowling Hall of Fame; Jim Foss/PGA Professional (Kern River Golf Course); Dale & Karin McVey; Confidence UST Services, Inc./Doug & Cheri Young, Owners; Justin Paquette, MD/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; Robb’s Pro Shop/Robb White (AMF Southwest Lanes); The Bowlers Edge Pro Shop/Mike Hefley (Regency Bowling Center); Stroope Realtors, GMAC Real Estate/Loren Stroope, Owner; True Amateur Tournaments/Ed McWilliams (Las Vegas); We The People – Legal Self Help/Carol Glover, Owner; AP Architects; Pair & Marotta Physical Therapy; The Bowler’s Alley/Mark Davis (Buena Lanes, Ventura); and Gary Cole & Russ Tweedy/Bakersfield 6-Gamer.    

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Youth Scholarship Events...

The Junior Bowlers Tour (JBT) began in 1996 as an offshoot of the 34 year-old east coast based JBT.  In our twelve seasons since, we have conducted over 500 tournaments, and awarded over $1,300,000 in scholarships to youth bowlers of all ages and averages.  Over 3,000 members have attended our tournaments. In 2007-08 we plan on conducting over 89 tournaments in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, California, Washington, and Oregon!  JBT events are unlike anything else you've ever bowled in... we offer a lot!

ARE YOU GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE JBT? YES! Any youth bowler with any average can do well in the JBT- that's what the handicap division is for.  Bowlers with averages under 100 regularly enter and succeed in our events.  Any age youth bowler may compete - we have 8 year olds, for example, that love playing against the big boys and girls.  Don't miss out on the JBT because of a misconception that you're not good enough - YOU ARE!!!

JBT FORMATS: Our regular season tournaments run under a few different formats to keep things fresh for our regulars.  They use the 'standard format' unless otherwise noted.  Here's a breakdown of our formats:

Standard Format: There are 2 divisions, scratch and handicap.  Bowlers choose to enter one or the other.  In each division, bowlers roll 5 games across ten lanes.  The top 50% of each division advance to the semifinals.  The semi's consist of three additional games, with the scratch bowlers competing in match play.  After the 8th game, the top 5 bowlers in each division advance to a stepladder finals.  If there are more than 50 entries in a division, the top 8 bowlers will advance to the stepladder finals.

'PBA' Format: The handicap division remains the same as standard format.  In scratch, you bowl the same 5 game qualifying round, then cut to the top 16 bowlers regardless of entries (8 if 20 or less entries).  Then, bowlers compete in best 2-of-3 head-to head match play, with the #1 seed playing the #16 seed, #2 playing #15, etc.  The winners play in another best 2-of-3 round.  The winners then play a one game match, and those 2 winners play a one game title match.

Survivor Format: This is one of our most popular formats, where 'you don't have to be the best, you just have to not be the worst'.  Both divisions bowl the 5 game qualifier, and the cut is to the top 50%.  The top qualifiers receive byes through early Survivor round(s), so you can't be eliminated right away.   In the survivor rounds, an equal number of bowlers are put on each pair.  You then bowl one game.  The LOWEST score on each pair is eliminated.  Surviving bowlers are then reshuffled, and another game is bowled, again with the LOWEST score on the pair eliminated.  Play continues until there is only one survivor- the champion!

Mega-matchplay Format: The handicap division format is unchanged from the standard format.  In scratch, you still bowl the 5 game qualifier and cut to the top 50%.  However, in your 3-game semifinals, you bowl EVERY other semifinalist in a match EVERY game.  So, if 20 people make the cut, you bowl all 19 of them every game.  Thus, if you have the high game in the semifinals, you'd go 19-0 in your matches that game and receive 19x10 bonus pins.  This is a super-exciting take on our normal match play!

Mulligan Format: The format is the same as Standard Format, except that in the scratch division, every bowler gets 3 'Mulligans', literally a do-over.  Make the cut and get an extra one, and making the finals gives you one more.  As bowlers, we always say 'man, I wish I had that shot over'-- now you do!

Nerve-wracker format: This format is just like the PBA format, except in the matchplay portion, if the match is tied 1-1 after two games, you go immediately to a one-shot rolloff-- thus the wracked nerves!!

Scratchplay format: We use this format where possible at scratch-only events.  The format is just like PBA format, except each game in the qualifying round is also a head-to-head match with 30 bonus pins for a win.      

We're always keeping things lively with new formats, so be ready! We also have a few events each year with still more different  formats, such as our Doubles Classic, Pro-Ams, our Invitationals, the TPC and more.  These formats are always explained on separate entry blanks. Each event also offers our included and optional scholarship programs. Check our website for the upcoming schedule of events http://www.juniorbowlerstour.com. If you have any questions, feel free to contact  us at jbtsouthwest@aol.com.

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April 16, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bill Vint
USBC Communications
(800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3230
bill.vint@bowl.com
On the Web: bowl.com

 METRO DETROIT, CALIFORNIA, INDIANA WOMEN WIN TOP PRIZES IN US BOWLER ASSOCIATION MEDIA AWARDS COMPETITION

GREENDALE, Wis. – The Metro Detroit USBC Association, California State USBC Association and Indiana State USBC Women’s Bowling Association are first prize winners in the inaugural US Bowler Association Media Awards competition.

Metro Detroit, USBC’s largest local association, won for best overall communications program. California’s “calusbc.com” topped the best Web site competition. The Indiana women’s association was first in the best newsletter contest with its three-times-yearly “In Indiana” publication. Each first-place association earned a $500 cash prize.

In the overall excellence category, the Ohio State USBC WBA was second and City of Firsts USBC Association serving the Kokomo, Ind., community was third. In addition to having qualify Web sites, each of the overall communications winners have a variety of other programs they use to communicate to their members. Metro Detroit’s Web address is “mdusbc.com,” Ohio WBA’s is “ohiowba.com,” and City of Firsts’ is “cityofirstsbowling.com.” 

In Web sites – the most popular category with 46 entries – the Greater Cincinnati WBA (cincybowl.com) was second while the Rapid City (S.D.) USBC (rcbowl.com) and Washington State USBC (wsusbc.net) tied for third place.

In newsletters, the Louisiana State USBC WBA was runner-up with its quarterly publication “Louisiana Lagniappe” and the South Sound USBC in Tacoma, Wash., was third with its “Kegler’s Korner,” which is distributed six times a year.

Each runner-up association earned $300 while third-place finishers received checks for $200 each.

The media awards competition, sponsored by the United States Bowling Congress’ official membership publication, is designed to encourage USBC’s grassroots local and state associations to develop high quality communications programs.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than 2.6 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience. Bowl with US