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Whidden Gets 800 The Hard Way

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By BOB AUSTIN, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 28, 2007

Matt Whidden didn't let a 4-9 pocket split leading off his third game deter him.

In fact, a near miss at perfection in the second game probably set him up for what was to eventually occur - obtaining one of the toughest accomplishments in bowling.

Whidden, in the Pin Chasers Veterans Next Generation League, rolled the first 800 series of his bowling career, an 803 on games of 268, 279 and 256.

And after opening in the first game of the finale, he knew a string of strikes was necessary for that oh-so-difficult 800.

"I rolled the next eight strikes," Whidden said. "I got seven pins on the first ball in the 10{+t}{+h}, spared it, then struck for the 800."
Whidden began the 279 with the first nine strikes before "letting up" on the ball and leaving the 10 pin on the first ball in the 10{+t}{+h}.

Prior to his first 800, Whidden's highest series was a 791 rolled in March at Florida Lanes. The 800 raised his average from 224 to 227.

Meanwhile at Oakfield Lanes, Tony Jones also attained the 800 mark with a 279-811 in the Alvarez Plumbing League.

Other good scores for the men at Oakfield were Andy Shultz 288-781, Mike Devore 269-722, Reggie Mitchell Sr. 279-718, Scott Eder 279-713, Scott Epperson 267-703, Al Kennon 267-673, Ed Tanis 279-670, Jeremy Calkins 279, Eric Elkins 278, Don Marsee 269, Robbie Marsee 268 and Rob Mitchell 264.
Women leaders were Stephanie Talley 276-663, Debbie Parham 264-629, Denise Sneed 224-596, Melody Williams 245-579, Ursula Chapman 234-552, Lynn Simpson 234, Barbara Martin 227, Shirley Rountree 226 and Vi Zonfrelli 224.

A DROP IN 300s, 800s: For the first time in more than two decades, bowlers rolled fewer 300 games and 800 series in regular leagues and tournaments than the previous season while numbers in Sport Bowling competition rose for the 2006-2007 season.
USBC members earned 51,557 perfect-game awards in regular league and tournament play and 60 in Sport Bowling competition for the period Aug. 1, 2006 through July 31, 2007. During the same period, there were 16,635 approved regular and eight Sport 800 series. Those compare to 56,212 approved 300 games and 17,612 approved 800s in regular leagues and tournaments and 33 perfect games and two 800s in Sport Bowling in the previous season.

Not since the 1985-86 season had the number of 300s and 800s dropped. In all, USBC issued 130,537 regular high-score recognition honors. Those included 21,416 for 299s, 8,053 for 298s and 32,876 for 11 strikes in a row. This was the last season 299s and 298s will be considered separate honor scores. They now move within the 11-strikes-in-a-row category.

AMF UNIVERSITY: Darin Hays and Shaina Schwartz were the stars for the men and women last week.

Hays went 279-767 to lead the men, followed by Jay Vogt 278-748, Billy Kelly Jr. 255-748, Casey Wood 278-725, Mike Maine 277-646 and Terry Cooper 231-609.

Schwartz led the women with 228-648, while Tonya Smiley went 223-613, Selena Santana 227-596, Jodi Moores 200-577 and Nezetta Page 211-504.

Send local bowling news to bobaustin@verizon.net.

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