Fast Lane
Jason Osborne - two 700's in three days!
Story first published in the Central Western Daily, Saturday 19 December, 1998.
Jason Osborne (pictured left) certainly has the hot hand at the Orange Tenpin Bowl at present and followed up a 700 series in the Wednesday 7:30 league, reported in this column last week with another just two days later.
Competing in the Friday Triples, Osborne shot games of 236-267-221 for a 724 three game series to cap off a great week and an equally impressive year which included a 300 game and numerous other high series.
In the same league other high games were bowled by Ross Caltabiano 202, David Hayward 225, Bonnea Wiseman 205, Gwen Britt 213 and Henry Phillips 231.
Judy Streatfeild was in excellent form with a big 256 game in the Tuesday Ladies Singles while Marilyn Schwenke bowled 207-240 and Dianne Gee a 218.
Two players rolled personal best games in the Tuesday 6:30 league with Garry Barwick shooting 201 and Tammy Lennard 200.
In the Monday 6:30 league Trevor Rowney rolled a nice 234 game ahead of Gus Rodriguez 217 and Frank McGovern 206.
The Thursday Singles saw junior Greg Perry continue his great year with a top 252 game ahead of Ken Perry 212, Ken Wiseman 217, Alan Collins 223 and Jim Dullaway 202.
Another junior in Mark Holle, second in the recent Adult-Junior Doubles tournament, bowled a personal best 217 game in the Friday Juniors which must have been close to 100 pins over average going by his entering average in the just mentioned tournament.
Finally the last round of the Monday Scratch Singles was held this week with victory going to lefty Steve Reil. Reil only grabbed the lead in the last month of competition and held on to defeat early front-runners Jason Belmonte and Les Gunner with Jim Dullaway and June Bryant heading the rest of the field.
In the final night's competition Jim Dullaway was the star performer for the second consecutive week, missing a 1200/6 block by a single pin after opening with 244-212 (647/3).
In a subdued scoring night other decent efforts included Steve Reil 216, Jason Belmonte 217, Les Gunner 202, June Bryant 206-208, Joe Werner 200-204, John Cooney 213 and Wally Price 246-226.
The league high game went to June Bryant with 278 while Steve Reil topped the averages on 194.
Qualifying continues for the annual Bob Jane T Mart and Harvey Norman No-Tap tournament with players required to bowl four games using the seven or eight no-tap format, depending on their average.
Bowlers with an average of 180 or over use eight no-tap while everyone else just needs to knock down seven pins for a strike.
That gives those players a distinct advantage and that's borne out by the current list of qualifiers.
The top ten at the time of writing was:
1 Leo McKay 1170 (maximum possible 1200)
2 Frank McGovern 1135
3 Jan Peters 1106
4 Aaron Osborne
5 Jason Osborne
6 Jeff Hunt
7 Will Harvey
8 Tim Irwin
9 Joe Leonardi
10 Jenny Rout
The highest qualifier gains free entry into the final.
The top twenty players at the end of qualifying will contest the ten game final on Sunday 24 January where the winner will receive a set of all rounder tyres valued at $400. The minor placegetters will receive electrical goods while all finalists will go into a draw for a Getaway holiday.
Nominations are now being accepted for two representative teams.
Juniors have until 10 January to nominate for the Western Warriors 1999 squad which will compete in the Challenge Shield during the New South Wales State Junior Championships next Easter.
A ten game roll-off to decide the seven-member (boys and girls) squad will take place on 17 January at the Dubbo Bowl.
Adults can nominate for the New South Wales Walter de Veer team up until 20 February 1999. The Walter de veer Trophy is part of the Australian National Championships and Orange bowlers Chris Collins and Jim Dullaway represented their state in the event this year.
The ten game roll-off will be held at Bathurst Bowl on 21 March 1999 with the top four players moving on to the state finals in Sydney next April. The state squad will then compete in the Nationals in Adelaide next October.
Bowlers must have an average of 180 and under for men or 170 and under for women to be eligible.
Players should check the respective nomination forms for full details and eligibility requirements for both teams.
Upcoming tournaments include the Australian International Youth Championships at Manhattan Bowl Mascot from 6-10 January and the Liverpool Cup at manhattan Bowl Liverpool on 16-17 January.
Locally, Orange Tenpin Bowl will be hosting the 10th annual New South Wales Country Championships and Masters from 30 January to 7 February. The event is proudly sponsored by Orange City Council and Hansen's Optometrists Orange.
As this is the last Fast Lane column before the festive season may I wish all readers a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year and may all your bowling dreams come true in 1999.
Next week sees the first part of the annual tenpin bowling wrap-up, looking back on a year when three 300 games were bowled, a number of series records were broken and some exciting and close fought tournaments were contested.
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