Pete Sheridan used his many years of experience in competitive bowling around the world to win Sunday’s King of the Hill tournament at Tenpins & More.

BOWLING NEWS From Tenpins & More * Pete Sheridan used his many years of experience in competitive bowling around the world to win Sunday’s King of the Hill tournament at Tenpins & More. Sheridan overcame a testing sport lane condition laid down for the event – appropriately named “Scrooge 46” – that produced only thirteen scores above 200 in the qualifying round of 116 games, a lowly eleven percent above “par”. House pro, Paul Yoder had 223, 224, 190, 268 for 905, followed by Jacob Gill 190, 257, 253, 154 (854) then Scott Wiley of Corrales third on 743. Sheridan made the cut to the top 15 with 707. In round two of the survivor series format, Josh Burnett 246 and Andy Zunwalt 227 led the eight to round three, Sheridan’s 199 good for fourth. Next round Carson Opela, last month’s runner-up to Andy Byer had 210, ahead of Sheridan’s 204, followed by Cliff Byer 201 and Yoder 198. The penultimate semi relegated Opela and Yoder to third and fourth, leaving Sheridan, 61 and Byer 66 to bowl for the title. Sheridan bowled a clean game of 194 with three strikes, five single-pin spares and two 8-count spares to win by a good margin. His many years of bowling in Air Force competition throughout Europe, Turkey and England guided his win Sunday and support the adage “experience counts”. * Calendar: Thur Dec 28: Champion of Champions squad at 1.30pm Sat Dec 30: “Desperado” squads at 9am & 11.30am Sun Dec 31: New Year’s Eve parties at 2pm, 5.30pm & 8.30pm e n d

Fall and winter seasons are the busiest for local bowling tournament enthusiasts and this past month has been no exception.

BOWLING UPDATE From Tenpins & More Fall and winter seasons are the busiest for local bowling tournament enthusiasts and this past month has been no exception. * Former Storm stand-out Robin Prioleau, the metro area’s woman bowler-of-the-year, did well at the “Dick Tanner Memorial” event at Starlight Lanes. Prioleau in mixed doubles with Jeremiah Martin carded 246, 225, 215 (686) as the pair fired 1,367. She followed this in singles with 624 then added a stellar 232, 224, 278 (734) in teams for a 2,034 all-events output over nine games – a 226 average. * Scott Wiley, of Corrales, shot 269, 231, 258, 249 for 1,007/4 to lead qualifying in the King/Queen of the Hill number 2 at Tenpins & More. However the championship round belonged to Andy Byer who survived a close match 208-204 over Carson Opela. He’ll “defend” his crown at the next tournament scheduled Christmas Eve morning (December 24) at 9.30 am. * Two doubles marathons were decided as well. The first was won outright by Bobbie Vega and Dan Brenning with a 7-1 match-play record, followed by Joe Chacon and Aileen Linares second in a four-way play-off on 6-2, assisted by Linares’ closing 236 game. Wilson Manning of Gallup teamed with Joseph LaPointe to break a three-way tie in the second event, led by LaPointe’s dominating 233 string. LaPointe’s game has improved with greater fitness and a rigorous weight loss program. Second went to Soccoro’s Teri Paterson and Noe Baltazar, followed by fellow nurses, Lisa Montoya and Lesley Rico. Forty-four bowlers won gold, silver and bronze medals next in the 23rd annual New Mexico Games/Bowling that also paid out a record $ 4,475 in prize-money. Divisional winners included Dan Brenning, Tyler Grier, Rusty Steele and Ryan Clark, while women were led by Wendy Pase, Sue Robertson and Emily Sanchez. Senior winners were Perry and Arthana Hampel, Terry Kamm and Troian Donnachaidh, while youth victors included Xavier Provencher, Jonathan Paterson, Naomi Seiler and Lucia Griego. Finally, this weekend’s Christmas Cash 9-pin No-Tap tournament provided twenty-one people with prize-money of $ 1,674. James Delmore won men’s Open, the Hampel’s won their respective men’s A and women’s C grades, Mikey Guevarra took men’s B and new league bowler, Kenny Sandoval men’s C. Monica Redman parlayed her Sunday night sport lane condition experience to win women’s A while army veteran (retired), Gloria Gonzakowski took out the women’s B final. * Qualifying rounds continue at Tenpins & More the rest of December in the 23rd annual “Champion of Champions” tournament in separate divisions for men, women, seniors and youth. The handicap-added contest attracted a record 148 entries in 2022. With over sixty bowled thus far in early bird squads, it’s possible last year’s record $ 5,400 plus pay-out will be beaten. * Another date to be prepared for is the New Year’s Eve parties set for 2 pm, 5.30 pm and 8.30 pm on Sunday December 31. Over 270 attended a year ago, so reservations are essential.

The new “King or Queen of the Hill” bowling tournament series started last Sunday at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho has crowned it’s first champion – and that is Adrienne Hare of Rio Rancho.

BOWLING UPDATE From Tenpins & More * The new “King or Queen of the Hill” bowling tournament series started last Sunday at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho has crowned it’s first champion – and that is Adrienne Hare of Rio Rancho. Hare dominated proceedings in the survivor format in which the top half of the field after each round moved on while others were eliminated. All this while bowling on a more difficult sport lane condition, Sunday a 37-foot long oil pattern, which seemed to favor outside boards on both right and left side of the lanes. Seven advanced after the first four games, led by Scott Wiley of Corrales, whose 245, 211, 186, 279 (921) was followed by Hare’s 215, 206, 214, 236 (871) along with Andy Byer 796, Jacob Gill 781, Paul Yoder 766, Eric Vanderlip 759 and Espanola’s Ken Friedrich 749. With previous pinfall dropped, Vanderlip fired 259 to lead three more, Gill 213, Hare 211 and Yoder 210 in to the semi-finals. Hare had the first ten strikes in a row before leaving a pocket 7-10 split for 287, and Vanderlip finished with a desperately needed four strikes in a row to claim the second available spot with 217, relegating Gill 213 and Yoder 204 to third and fourth placings. In the championship round, Vanderlip held a seven-pin lead by the sixth frame but powerful strikes in frames seven through nine gave Hare the nod 228-198. There are two more events set this year – next Sunday November 12 then Christmas Eve December 24.

Eighty bowlers have advanced in the 23rd annual New Mexico Games bowling tournament at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho.

BOWLING UPDATE From Tenpins & More * Eighty bowlers have advanced in the 23rd annual New Mexico Games bowling tournament at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho. From a near-record 374 qualifying attempts and 127 finalists, the eighty won their way to a shot at gold, silver and bronze medals later this month as well as a chance to be able to represent New Mexico in the National State Games of America finals in San Diego, California next July. Part-time regional pro bowler, Brian Bledsoe included 229, 268, 245, 238, 246 in his winning the scratch Open division with 1,401/6 – a 233.5 clip. Second went to former New York City police-man, Joe LaRosa, only two pins behind with 1,399 followed another two pins back by Dan Brenning on 1,397 in one of the closest finishes in history. Tyler Grier, who recently moved back to Rio Rancho from Ohio, won Men’s A with 1,479, including handicap, ahead of Tom Thornhill 1,433 and Michael Radasa whose 1,429 included his first 700 series which featured strings of 258 and 252. Averey Marquez opened with 265 and closed with 227 to capture Men’s B on 1,516, well ahead of Seth Muller 1,404 and Andy Woolf 1,400. Jeffrey Chavez had an opportunity for a perfect game after starting with nine strikes in a row but settled for 266 as he ran off with Men’s C from Kyle Belnap and Brian Peterson. Robin Prioleau showed some of her best form with games of 215, 227, 245, 266 and 214 to take out Women’s A on 1,427 in front of Monica Redman 1,314 and Johnna Mora 1,307. Jeanne Carver finished with 234, 161, 222 for the Women’s B win on 1,458 ahead of Native American bowlers, Shannon Lastyona 1,402 and Felecia Padilla 1,379. Taking recent lessons from house pro, Paul Yoder lifted Celina Bennett to the Women’s C title with 1,431 beating Emily Sanchez 1,415 and Sandra Fride 1,393. Ken Friedrich, who drives to Rio Rancho from Espanola twice a week for leagues and tournaments threw 215, 225, 255 and 212 to win Senior Men’s A over John Mitsunaga 995-943, followed by perennial New Mexico Games stalwart Perry Hampel next with 904. Mike Creager Sr bowled all four games well above his average of 167 (228, 210, 201, 193) as did second-placed Terry Kamm for first and second in Senior Men’s B action, with Doug Wilson third, not far behind. So too did Rose Burnett in Senior Women’s. Entering on a 142 average, Burnett fired 167, 200, 173 and 160 to beat Thursday night league team-mates, Evelyn Trujillo and Marilyn Wassmann, 996-943-930. Cindy Creager won Senior Women’s B by twenty pins from Sally Kantz with Donna Fevig third a further twelve pins behind. Youth who advanced were Shane Muller, Alex Blair, Carson Belnap, Reid Ross, Alberto Medina, Xavier Provencher, Jonathan Paterson, Marcus Ross, Kylie Belnap, Kenadie Haines, Naomi Seiler, Lucia Griego, and sisters, Evelyn and Annie Alvarado. State finals will be held at Tenpins & More between November 18-26. * Calendar: Sat Nov 4: High School tournament at 8.30 amSun Nov 5: King or Queen of the Hill at 9.30 am

Bowling Buzz: Rio Rancho’s Youth NM Open Scholarships, ‘Filling Frames’ Triumph, Real Bowling Heroes, & High School Season Kickoff!

BOWLING UPDATE From Tenpins & More* An unprecedented, one-time added scholarship of $ 5,000 is being awarded to bowlers coming to Rio Rancho this weekend (September 23-24) for the annual Youth New Mexico Open. Both scratch and handicap division winners this Sunday will each receive scholarships for a record$ 1,250. Boys and girls ranging in age from six to twenty will vie for the prizes and trophies. It is also the first event in the Mountain West region season of the Junior Bowlers Tour, with double points given. Entries can be processed at bowljbt.com. * Six winners were named after contesting the new “Filling Frames” tournament at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho. Scores did not count in the multi-graded event, instead one point was awarded for each strike and spare made during a four-game set (with 40 points the maximum available). Joseph Paterson and wife, Teri, drove up from Socorro to win their respective divisions. Joseph closed 35 frames in Mens A, while Teri scored 17 in Womens C. Trent Irwin, one of the Center’s most diligent practice bowlers, won Mens B with 34 while James DeGroat, who attended last month’s Coaching Clinic, won Mens C with 25 marks. Johnna Mora, who bowled the summer Scratch Doubles league with multi-Hall of Fame member, Dana Miller-Mackie, threw 31 closed frames for the Womens A win, as did Gloria Gonzakowski in winning Womens B. * Rick Dennison, who bowls the Senior Trios here on Monday afternoons, was nominated and accepted as the newest member of the Tenpins & More “Real Bowling Heroes” award board. Dennison, who bowls three leagues a week between Rio Rancho and Albuquerque Centers, has had his share of health issues these past few years but continues to thoroughly enjoy the sport he has now played for more than fifty years. * The New Mexico High School bowling season gets underway Monday October 2 at Bowling Centers around the state with practice/training sessions after school weekdays and weekends prior the opening matches Saturday November 4 and 11 at Tenpins & More. The local Center has already booked Rio Rancho, Cleveland, Volcano Vista, Sandia Prep, Cibola and Bernalillo High Schools, along with eligible eight graders to get expert coaching prior the imminent start-up. * For more than two decades now, Rio Rancho league bowlers have been the most awarded competitive bowlers in the state, evidenced again last Saturday at the New Mexico USBC banquet. Female Bowler of the Year was our Aileen Linares, while all these bowlers won their way through state- organized events, including Lucia Griego, Kira Vanderlip, Aiden Ruiz-Jimenez, Ayden Lopez, Karen Barcal, Haskell Lee, Gary Hadley, Carl Chavez, Michael Beach, Mike Avila, Brenda Hamilton, Shane Muller, Mia Medina, Alyssa Burks, Kylie Belnap, Phyllis Bustos, Kathy Leitch, Rebecca Sanchez, Adrienne Hare, Robin Prioleau, Michelle Dennison, Kelsey Kryjewski, Zach Harvey, Carson Opela, Jacob Gill, Lauren Jaramillo and Pete Sheridan. The upcoming state tournament calendar was released. Senior is at Silva Lanes November, Pepsi Youth at Artesia in January and April, Women at Farmington in March and the Open State meet at Clovis in May. Fifty members who passed during the year were honored and remembered including Tony Vigil who was a regular three-day-a-week league bowler at Tenpins & More.

SEPTEMBER 5 Filling Frames at various times

* It took a while but former stand-out youth bowler Andy Byer is back in the winner’s circle, following a decisive victory in the Labor Day Scratch Match-Play tournament at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho. Byer, whose good form of late in league prompted him to bowl last month’s New Mexico Open, during which he rolled a squad high game award of 243, also rolled a near-perfect 299 a week ago. Monday, his 225 average in the finals was almost 13 pins a game higher than the next best 212.75 mark from fifth-placed Jacob Gill. En route to the championship match Byer beat Justin Medina 267-225, Jeremiah Martin 183-159, Paul Yoder 257-215 and Aileen Linares 221-190. Previous winner, Yoder, relegated to the loser’s side of bracket play, then eliminated Brian Hare, also on the comeback trail, 176-173, Martin 225-181 and Linares 264-195 to reach the final against Byer. Byer bowled six strikes, four spares and an error for 197, as Yoder, whose day-long average had so far been over 223, left five frames open – all splits – to close with 136. Byer received $ 1,000, Yoder $ 500 from the $ 3,708 prize-fund, supported by Tenpins & More and new sponsor, T-Mobile. Final placings:1 Byer 225.0 average 5-0; 2 Yoder 211.1 5-2; 3 Linares 207.2 3-2; 4 Martin 203.5 4-2; 5 Gill 212.75 2-2; 6 Hare 202.2 3-2. * A new tournament format is being unveiled this weekend at Tenpins & More. It’s called “Filling Frames”, in which actual scores don’t count but getting strikes and spares do, with each mark worth one point, for a maximum of ten points per game. Squads will be held this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (September 8-10) in three different average categories for men and women. * Calendar:Fri 8-Sun 10: Filling Frames at various timesSat 16: Paws & Stripes Bowlathon for Vets at 1 pmSun 17: Color Pin Cash at 9.30 am

AUGUST 29 Scratch Match-Play at various times

* An exciting finish in Monday’s championship round match of the Scratch Doubles summer league at Tenpins & More resulted in only one and a half points separating the top four teams. Tylor MacPhee utilized his two-handed release to average 215 for the season, assisted by league high average partner, Zach Harvey (227.8) to amass 44.5 points, going 1-1 in the final match over former Rams team-mates, Angel Ortega and Carson Opela. They finished on 44 points, one point ahead of two teams tied for third on 43 points, being defending champions, J D Nance/Eric Vanderlip along with Robert Miera and Michelle Dennison. High average for the women went to Dana Miller-Mackie at 220.2, while other women to enjoy a strong showing against the male-dominated field included Aileen Linares 211, Robin Prioleau 208 and Dennison 208. Thirty members of the 46-bowler roster averaged above 200, many with career best marks. Those over 220 were Miera at 220 and Paul Yoder 223. * Yoder’s son, Levi had the highest average in the “Coffee Wars” league that finished last Thursday at 231, only four pins shy of his dad’s 235 set more than 20 years ago. Certainly, Levi is a “chip off the old block” father who runs a successful Pro-Shop inside Tenpins & More. Many of these players are scheduled to bowl in this Labor Day weekend’s Scratch Match-Play Series sponsored by T-Mobile, that offers $ 1,000 to the winner in Monday’s final starting at 2 pm. * Forty-eight bowlers will be attending the annual Draft meeting next Monday night. This will determine teams for the $ 30,000 league that kicks off September 11 at 6,45 pm. Sixteen highest average folks will select their teams based on entering averages to create team equity, at least at season’s start. It is quite a good field overall with some new members joining including Louis Perrone, Eric Altenburg, Brian Bledsoe and Scott Wiley. * Calendars:Sat Sept 2-Mon Sept 4: Scratch Match-Play at various timesFri Sept 8- Sun Sept 10: Filling Frames at various times

AUGUST 13 Dan Brenning of Albuquerque

* Dan Brenning of Albuquerque added his name to the entry list for this week’s $ 70,000 New Mexico Open with a solid 1,398/6 in Sunday’s qualifier in Rio Rancho. Brenning, using a slower approach and ball speed, threw 239, 212, 266, 225, 224 and 232 to beat returning Andy Byer of Rio Rancho with 1,329. Brenning was entry number 207, with the 19th annual meet exceeding 200 entries for the first time since 2016. Seven previous winners are in the field, including defending champion, Cortez Schenck from Phoenix alongside bowlers from fifteen states as well as Canada and Mexico. Notables include two-time US Open champion, Francois Lavoie of Kansas who has twice been runner-up here (2015 and 2021), Steven Novak of Kentucky and local pro, DeeRonn Booker. There are fifteen women and two youth bowlers signed up. The highest place by a female was current US Women’s Open winner, Bryanna Cote of Arizona who finished fifth some years ago. * The Summer 9-pin No-Tap tournament produced seven new winners in finals at Tenpins & More last week. Rusty Copeland had 1,602/6 to win Open from Phil Topping by eight pins with early leader, Lorenzo Rico third, three pins behind. Phillip Corson, improving weekly in his summer leagues, fired 1,638 that included a 300, 298, 300 finish ahead of Rob Troxell 1,495 and Tony DeVargas 1,451 for Men’s A. Eric Ferdig finished strongly with 233, 274, 229 for 1,360 in Men’s B, nineteen pins higher than Seth Muller with Mikey Guevarra third with 1,314. Youth bowler, Keller King won Men’s C with 1,242, well ahead of Gabrielle Copeland 1,105 and Benny Le Beau’s 1,038 in third. Becky Fisher overcame a slow start 185 adding 212, 256, 228, 239, 221 in winning Women’s A on 1,341, followed by Donielle Waite 1,318 and Teresa Hope 1,282. Shannon Lastyona closed with 257 and 246 to win Women’s B running down early leader Vickie Moore second with 1,216 and Felecia Padilla third. Soccoro’s Teri Paterson ran away with the Women’s C win closing with 276 for 1,183. Then came Andrea Valdez 1,102 and Cathy Torbett 1,028 in third. * Calendar:Fri 18-Sun 20: New Mexico Open (Watch live or on-line at www.BowlStreamTV.com)Sun 27: Color Pin Cash at 9.30 am; Rio Rancho Regional Chamber Bowlathon for Vets at 1 pm

July 30 Brian Skidmore ran away from the field Sunday at a qualifier

* Brian Skidmore ran away from the field Sunday at a qualifier for the August 18-20 New Mexico Open bowling tournament at Tenpins & More. The nephew of Gary Skidmore, a successful touring professional, Skidmore opened his account with 300 and followed with 201, 254, 254, 279 and 236 for 1,524 at an average of 254 per game. He beat house pro, Paul Yoder by 100 pins with Chris Trujillo third with 1,403. Yoder also bowled 300, then 223, 207, 254, 225 and 215, while Trujillo shot 231, 276, 202, 243, 222 and 231 in a high-scoring affair. Fourth went to Espanola’s Darren Calvert, eight pins behind on 1,395, then Sam Pinge ten pins further back. * Entries climbed to 155 as at July 30, with the addition of bowlers from Iowa, Colorado, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico this past week, including such luminaries as former US Open champion Robert Lawrence, former ABC Masters winner, Brett Wolfe, last year’s fourth place finisher, Morgan Moore and metro area female “Bowler-of-the-Year”, Robin Prioleau. Pro-Am entries took a spike too with more than 110 local league bowlers signed to bowl alongside the stars on August 15, 16 and 18 in a 9-pin No-Tap event.