BOWLING : Maumelle woman earns title at inaugural event
Posted on Sunday, August 3, 2008
Rachel Perez of Maumelle won the inaugural Arkansas Scratch Bowlers Tour Ladies tournament, rolling qualifying games of 215, 300, 197 (712, her 82 nd 700 ) and 279 for a 4-game 991 block total.
“I think the first tournament for women was a success thanks to Greg and Sandy O’Neal for running it, and Gordon Childers for hosting it. I hope that it will continue to grow. I know there are more women out there that can play,” Perez said. “As far as my bowling goes, I think I had a good day. My rhythm was good, and when I hit those pairs that gave me a good shot, I took advantage of them.
“ The competition was tough. I could have lost several times. I think we all had a good time. Finally, someone is trying to do something for women, and we all just need to support it. I had three nice breaks in the 300. We were laughing and counting. You have to have some luck to pull you through those nerves, but overall, I threw it well. I used the Cell ball by Roto Grip the whole time.”
Perez defeated Tabetha Thomas of Crossett, 201-154, and Manda Moore of Sherwood 227-224, before Dee Dee Jeffery of Newport sent Perez to the losers bracket, 200-185.
Jeffery had victories over Jennifer DeGroodt of Sherwood, 239-212, and Stacy Heath of Benton, 184-170.
Perez faced DeGroodt in the losers bracket with the match ending in a 212 tie. In the one ball rolloff, Perez struck and DeGroodt knocked down eight pins.
This brought about a rematch between Perez and Jeffery, with Perez needing to win two games. She won the first game 217-181. The next game, Jeffery could not carry the 10-pin, leaving the 10 the first ball the 10 th frame to lose 222-206.
Perez received $ 365 plus $ 50 as high qualifier. Jeffery earned $ 195, DeGroodt $ 130 and Heath $ 65.
The 300 was Perez’s ninth, the most by a woman in the state, and 16 th overall. She has an 846 high, two in-state 800 series, four 299 games, the most by a woman in the state, and holds the state women’s triplicate series record with 268. She won the 2007 State 600 Club all events at Midland Bowl in Fort Smith.
Perez, 39, an administrative personal assistant at Timber Ridge Ranch NeurorRehabilitation Center, is a certified coach, and started bowling at 13 at San Marcos, Texas.
Prior to the tournament, Perez shot her 80 th and 81 st in-state 700 series with games of 238, 259 and 257 for 754; and 249, 211 and 244 for 754 in the Millennium Mixed League at Millennium Bowl. 20 TH 700 FOR UEKMAN Debbie Uekman of Maumelle rolled games of 289, 257 and 207 for a 753 series and her 20 th 700 series in the same league. Uekman, 50, of Maumelle, an administrative assistant at Axicom, started bowling at 18 at Professor Bowl South. She has one 300 game, and one 299. MORE FROM JEFFERY In the same league, Dee Dee Jeffery, 40, of Newport, ran off games of 249, 268 and 203 for a 720 series, her 76 th 700. Jeffrey a respiratory therapist, started bowling at 5 at Bentonville Bowl. She has an 815, one 300 game, one 298, and seven 11 strikes-in-a-row awards. She won the 2004 women’s state scratch all events with 2, 029, holds the local TCBA sixgame record with 1, 480, that is sixth nationally.
DIS ’N DATA Christy Johnson of Hot Sp-George Johnson, 55, of Alma, qualified for the $ 25, 000 first place NABI national finals at the Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas with 668 and received a $ 44 jackpot. Then he lost his strike ball in the semifinals and had to settle for $ 200. He also won jackpots of $ 24 in the Classic, $ 40 in the Kick-off Singles; $ 44 in the Ebonite Shootout and $ 44 in the Seniors. Jack Wallisch of Hot Springs Village rolled a 300 game during the champions division of the SASBA Champions / Non Champions at Holiday Lanes in Oklahoma City where he finished fourth for $ 800. Horace Childress of Little Rock finished second in the nonchamps and received $ 800, and Dewayne Thompson of Fort Smith finished third for $ 700. Tournaments INDIAN HILLS 5-GAME HANDICAP SWEEPER at Indian Hills Bowl in Ash Flat on Aug. 16 at 10 a. m. There is a $ 45 entry fee. Call (870 ) 994-7360 for more information. ARKANSAS SCRATCH BOWLING TOUR TOP 16 on Aug. 24 at Allfam Bowling Center in Cabot. Sweeper open to all at 9 a. m. MEMPHIS LABOR DAY ELIMINATOR on Aug. 31 at Winchester Bowl in Memphis. There is a $ 175 entry fee. Four-game blocks cut to top 25 percent, then top 50 percent with top five for finals. Based on 50 bowlers, first place is $ 2, 000 and second $ 1, 200. Call Greg O’Neal at (501 ) 351-7485 for more information.
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