By By Mike Carson / bowling columnist
Oct. 1, 2002
September is now behind us as we look forward to a basket full of tournaments in the coming weeks. Already, we have seen the SASBA and the 600 Bowling Club tournaments breeze into town. Next on the agenda is the 6th Annual City Mixed Tournament which begins this Saturday and runs through Sunday, Oct. 13. This is a Teams and Doubles tournament only. Teams may consist of any combination of men and women. Doubles must consist of one man and one woman. An optional All-Events Handicap will also be available. Shift times are 1 and 4 p.m. each day. The entry fee is $20 per person per event. Entries will be accepted up to 30 minutes prior to the beginning of each shift depending on lane availability. Entry forms are available at both Dixie Bowl Lanes and NAS McCain Lanes. Pick one up and turn it into Ronnie Thomas or Jane Gibson as soon as possible. If you wait until the last minute to enter, you may not be able to bowl when you want to.
Champions in both Teams and Doubles will not only receive a cash award, but will also receive a paid entry into the state event which will also take place at Dixie Bowl the first three weekends in November. Entry forms are also available for this tournament. There are currently five mixed leagues bowling at Dixie Bowl plus the Captain's Cup league at NAS. If each team for all these leagues bowled just once in each of these two tournament, we would have two superb events. I would like to strongly encourage all mixed teams to take part and help make these tournaments successful.
The 22nd Annual Magic Age tournament will be held at Paradise Lanes in Jackson Oct. 19-20. Entry is open to all ladies who are WIBC members and who are 55 years of age or older. This tournament will consist of a Singles event only.
The 2002 Mississippi State Jamboree is slated to be held at Bulldog Lanes in Starkville Oct. 26. The event begins at 8 a.m. and concludes with a singles tournament at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. You must attend the entire Jamboree to be eligible for the singles tournament.
Also on the horizon is the Mississippi State Seniors Tournament, scheduled for December 7-8 and 14-15 at Larwill Lanes in Jackson. Open to all ABC bowlers 50 years of age or older, this tournament will consist of five separate age divisions. Local bowler C.W. "Shine" Gray is the defending champion in the Class "A" division and son C.O. Gray is the defending champion in the Class "D" division. Entry forms are available for all of the above tournaments. You are encouraged to get your entry as soon as possible.
In local action, for the first time in a long time, no 700 Series were recorded in the week from Thursday through Wednesday. Mike Holden recorded the high series for the guys with a 692 and wife Barbara led the ladies in both high game and series with a 239/642 effort. Rodney Bounds and Don Sabella each came within one strike of perfection during the week, both coming up just short on the last ball. Rodney hung a ten pin to finish with a 299 while Don performed a "Fike Tug" to record a 297.
Congratulations go out to Kim Shirley who recorded her first career 600 series during action in the Wednesday Night Mixed league. Kim also fired a nice 227 while on her way to a 608 series. Other notable scores included Tandee Marx (224/611), Nita Fike (225) and Bettye Simmons (234).
Until next week. . . Good luck and good bowling.