Spring Fling tourney is here

By By Mike Carson / bowling columnist
April 16, 2002
The Spring Fling weekend is upon us! Yes, the Spring Fling No-Tap tournament will be held this weekend at Dixie Bowl with shifts at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The proceeds will be going to help our youth bowlers participate in the YABA State Tournament later this year. These tournaments are always a lot of fun and I am sure this one will be no exception. The entry fee is just $15 and you may enter as often as you like. There will be separate divisions for men and women and it will be a handicap event. In addition, a special raffle will be held Sunday for bowlers who participate. A wide variety of items will be given away including bowling balls, bags, accessories, gift certificates from local stores and restaurants and more. Make your plans for an enjoyable weekend and we will see you at the lanes Saturday and Sunday.
Nearly 30 bowlers from as far away as Georgia participated in last week's Stan's Classic Tournaments 8-Game Sweeper with local bowler Chuck Gray overcoming some tough lane conditions to take the top spot in the Scratch division and Anthony Gillis winning the Handicap division. Other local bowlers finishing in the top ten included C.O. Gray, Bill Fike, Tyrone McAlpine and Mike Cothern. The next scheduled sweeper is slated for April 28 at Pine Tree Lanes in Picayune.
In local action, scores were down quite a bit, at least as far as the men were concerned. Only Chuck Gray, Johnnie Blackmon and Mike Cothern were able to crack the 700 mark with Chuck taking the high series with a 748. Johnnie and Mike were each able to scratch out a 710. Tom Bishop took the high game with a 278. As of Wednesday night conditions seemed to have returned to normal so things should be picking back up as we head down the homestretch.
The ladies encountered no such problems, however. Denise Rutledge was able to put together two 600 series with a 231/601 on Tuesday and a 256/609 on Wednesday which was good enough to hold down the high game for the ladies. High Series went to Willie Mae Aikens who posted a 241/637 in the Ball &Chain league. Mary Copeland made her mark with a 618 and Nita Fike reeled off a 617. Janie Tisdale checked in with a 242; Pat James added a 222 and Julie Hibbs rounded out the top scorers with a 221.
That's it for this week. Until next week, good luck and good bowling.