Columnist John McCarron: Six skins tournament decided on final game

John McCarron

Thursday, Feb. 26, 1998 | 11:28 a.m.

JOHN McCARRON is a former pro bowler, international coach and a member of the Massachusetts Bowling Hall of Fame. He can be reached via the internet at J300SUN@aol.com or by fax at 254-7330.

GARY TROSEN came from behind in an exciting finish to beat Harold Mountain for the Six Skins win at Mahoney's Silver Nugget Feb. 21.

Trosen (1389 total) and Mountain (1360) entered the last game just two pins apart. But Trosen rolled a 234 to Mountain's 203. Third-place finisher Rick Freels led at the midpoint but ran into some trouble after he made the turn to the low end of the tournament lanes. Rick's 1336 total was just better than that of David Haynes, whose last game 268 got him the last cash spot with a 1317 total. The strong field averaged 206 with Trosen, Mountain and Haynes all over the 200 mark in all six games.

The seventh game roll-off to determine the Skins Game bowlers produced the power-packed lineup of Billy Hillers, Scooter Woolums, David Haynes, Harold Mountain and Gary Trosen, who won a tie-breaker over Chris Schwartz. Woolums emerged with a clutch strike in the 10th frame to beat Mountain for all the skins.

This was the third Nevada Tournament Bowlers Alliance event of 1998. The next NTBA tournament is the WildDOG Field Match Play at Santa Fe Lanes at 9 p.m. Saturday. Call Bart di Bartolo at 451-7474 for details.

Trivia time

How many new balls were introduced to customers in 1997?

Monyak dominates

While bowling center manager Mike Monyak had things pretty much his way in Big Al's Challenge at The Orleans Feb.15, the next nine bowlers were so tightly bunched that a last frame double, spare or open spelled the difference between second and 10 spots.

Monyak shot a resounding 1924 eight-game total to finish 91 pins better than runner-up Tim Schwerdtfeger, whose 1833 total was just 30 pins more than that of 10th-place finisher Paul Renteria. Tim's 279 finale vaulted him over nine players, including fellow cashers Dick Baker, 1825; Billy Hillers, 1825; Hal Wilber, 1823; Dave Jordan, 1814; Derek Alexander, 1812; Rick Benard, 1810; and Renteria. Ninth- place finisher John DeBenedetta also finished with a 279 to move up five spots into a cash spot.

The 41-bowler field averaged 208, with a 225 standard needed to cash. The 279 games by Swag and DeBenedetta were high for the tourney while Hillers and Benard each posted games of 276.

Gold Coast

Bo Lacksanamyxay's ($155) 242 overpowered Hia Hgugen ($115, 201) and James Nicodemeus ($80, 175) to win the Gold Coast Survival Shoot-Out. Mana Kyle and Kyle Davis placed fourth and fifth for $50 each.

The Survival Shoot-Out is held every Thursday at 11:30 p.m. with a $25 entry fee. Call tournament director Jason Gupton at 367-4700 for details

Senior scratch

The Senior Scratch Bowlers Tour is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday at the Santa Fe. Call tournament director Gary Walters at 646-8466 for information.

Trivia answer

There were 57 new balls introduced in 1997.