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Get your own Free Home PageCompeting against some mighty tough opponents in the Monday Scratch Singles league, Irwin stood proud, coming home with an impressive 840 in her final four games, rolling games of 199-197-215-229.
Mark Lijic was top dog again, firing a 1280 six game block that included efforts of 203-211-255 (669/3) with a closing 215. He increased his league lead to 66 points.
Jason Belmonte wasn't too far behind, shooting a brilliant 286 in the second game of the night, a great effort coming on top of his personal best 290 the previous week. He was a bit erratic though; his only other noteworthy game a 216 as he compiled a 1244/6 series.
Jason Brown was also in good form in the same league, rolling 1256/6 after games of 257-219 (653/3) at the start as well as a 241 later.
Other decent efforts on the night were handed in by Wally Price 203-201-200, June Reil 204-202-211, James Dubbelde 233 and Tim Irwin 213-221-204 (817/4).
Les Gunner and Chris Collins both started with a flurry before running out of steam. Gunner opened with 248-204 (647/3) while Collins commenced with games of 208-224-204 (636/3).
Phenomenon. According to the dictionary the word means "a person having some remarkable talent, power or ability". At the Orange Tenpin Bowl the word describes Mark Lijic who is rolling numbers never before seen at a local level.
A couple of years back Peter Brown was in a class of his own, sporting a 210 average. Lijic has gone way beyond that and after 24 games in the Friday Triples is averaging an amazing 220! He maintained that mark last Friday with games of 216-200-258 for a nice 674 series.
Lijic is having a great year. He's leading the highly competitive Scratch Singles by a big margin and finished a great second in the NSW Country Open while his only glitch this year was a surprise defeat in the Orange Masters.
Next best in the Triples was Tim Irwin with 222-200 (621) while the only other player to crack 600 was Aldo Belmonte with 216-242 (611). Pity about his last game - you do the maths.
Other good games on the night were bowled by Joe Caltabiano 205, Chris Collins 223, David Hayward 211, Mick Moorby 211, Henry Phillips 200-214, David Rosser 211, Marilyn Schwenke 224, Tennille Smith 203 and Judy Streatfeild 207.
Mick Moorby rolled a nice 249 in the Sunday Doubles on the way to a 616 series while other good games were bowled by Jon Thatcher 223, Trevor Auliff 202 and Bob Waddell 209-211.
Waddell returned for a 212 in the Sunday Sabbath league while Rob Jones shot 228-202. Mick Moorby was also in fine touch in the earlier Sunday Singles league with a 216 while Gary Johnson rolled 215 and Niki Stones had games of 202-213.
Ian Hazzard's Wednesday Doubles comeback stayed on track, this week shooting 203-220-257 for a 680 series, amazingly his third consecutive series in the 680's. David Hayward also bowled well with 206-237 (635) as did Tim Irwin with 221-234 (629).
Other high games were bowled by Jan Peters 221, Wally Price 205-229, Ray Tyquin 204, David Smith 203, Sharon Trudgett 243 and Glenn Robinson 213.
In the Tuesday Ladies Singles Melanie Brown's 224 as high games ahead of Dianne Gee 203-210, Lyn Handel 221 and Gwen Britt 205.
Grant Huggett meanwhile fired a 220 in the Tuesday 6:30 league.
Judy Louie bowled a 223 game in the Monday 10am Triples while in the Monday Mixed Singles Leo McKay shot 202-208 and Clare Hodgson bowled 204.
Personal best games this week were bowled by Doug Southwell 196, Luke Knight 129, Luke Abbott 143 and a turkey, Nicholas Lijic 124-133, Joshua Quinn 100, Matthew Ripps 157, Brittany Butler 118, Ashley Calvo 114, Michele Ruggiero 185, Eileen McClure 127 and Angela McClure 122 while Maree Marks shot a 509 series, 98 over average.
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The Monday Mixed Singles concluded this week with Frank McGovern finishing as league champion ahead of Clare Hodgson and Leo McKay.
The league high game was a 252 from Melissa Johnston while the high series went to Leo McKay with 793/4. The high average award went to Frank McGovern on 164.
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The New South Wales State Championships continue throughout June at the Bankstown Bowl while the next event on the local calendar is the fourth round of the South West zone Country Challenge series at Wagga on June 19-20. The fourth round of the Central West Pennants between Orange and Bathurst is scheduled for the following weekend.
Entry forms are now out for the inaugural 1999 Central West Ladies Cup at the Orange Bowl on July 25. The event is worth $200 cash plus a trophy and shirt to the winner of both scratch and handicap divisions.
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Finally, a big thank-you to John Cooney who filled in for me at very short notice and wrote last week's Fast Lane column. He did a great job as always.
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