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This years stepladder finale began with 5th seeded Joe Martinich defeating 4th seed, 16 year old Jeff Preston, 245-236. Preston's effort was good for a scholarship and set a record as the youngest bowler to make the top five at this event.

Martinich, who also made the top five for the first time in his young career, was then defeated in the next match by 3rd seed McKenzie, 211-170.

The veteran McKenzie then dominated the semifinal besting 2007 champ Todd Edelen 249-152. Edelen, always a tough competitor, rolled the tournaments high series with a 730.

The match set up the final, with the 46 year old McKenzie facing the Butte Hall of Famer Hodges. Having bowled a fine tournament, winning 10 of 12 points and averaging 219, McKenzie fell short in his quest for a third title, as Hodges broke to an early lead and never trailed in the title match. Besides winning the tournament, Hodges also had the competitions high game, a 280.

The rest of the top qualifiers were led by 6th place alternate Nate Gelling, whose 58.23 point total saw him miss the top five finalists by 2 pins.

The remaining Sunday-morning tourney qualifiers and their Peterson point totals follow:

7.   Bill Keller,   57.22;
8.   Mike Krankowski,   56.24;
9.   Dave W Martinich,   56.07;
10. Pat O'Rourke Jr.,   55.05;
11. Kurt Kramer,   54.38;
12. Keith Woods,   54.19;
13. Brenda Shaffer,   53.41;
14. Shana Fortune,   53.07;
15. Brad Cottom,   52.45;
16. Dan Grundhauser,   52.37;
17. Leo Levengood,   51.46;
18. Chris Medina,   49.38;
19. Bill Abraham,   48.28;
20. Tony Woodward,   48.12;

Tourney Sidelights - Hodges becomes the oldest person to win the title, edging out Hall of Famers Bill Meagor and Steve Ryan, who were both 54 years old when they won their respective titles.

Barry Butori saw the bowlers dream com true, converting the next to impossible
7-10 split. It was most likely the first time in tourney history, it was converted. In this years skins game, Brenda Shaffer came out the winner with 5 skins. Brandon O'Connell was second with 3 skins, and Jim McKenzie had the remaining 2. The remaining contestant, Raylene Shaffer, rolled well, but failed to win a skin.

The Count Up-Count Down competition was won this year by Dave W Martinich who was crowned the champ 8-7, in a a game that went into sudden death. Bill Abraham was the 2nd place finisher. The consolation wound up in a tie between Neil Midtlyng and Walt Parrett.

— Submitted by tourney manager Walt Parrett.

The Davis family consisting of Larry, Kathy, son Mike, and daughter Sherrie together with her husband Kelly Sullivan and their children Lauren, and Quinn have achieved this award by virtue of their ability on the lanes and their dedicated service to the game as well.

Larry Davis has always been the driving force behind the achievements of his family. His own accomplishments include a high game of 289 and a high series of 704. He has always had an average in the 180’s. Larry was the Pacific League secretary at the King Pin Lanes for many years, and has been a tireless worker in every bowling endeavor the family has undertaken.

Kathy and Sherrie have been recognized as some of Butte’s best female bowlers for many years. Kathy’s career high game is 275 and her high series is 717, while Sherrie’s career high game is 270 and her high series is 709. Kathy has won the prestigious Jeanette Martinich Scratch Tournament for women 2 times, and Sherrie has finished 2nd in this tournament 3 times. In the annual city tournament, Sherrie has won the singles event, and Kathy and Sherrie are past champions in the doubles event, as well as having been members of the 1st place team. One of the teams they participated in finished 9th in the Women’s National Tournament in Reno, Nevada.

Kathy’s service to the game has been exceptional as well. She was elected to the Butte Women’s Bowling Hall of Fame in the category of Superior Performance. She was the manager of the 2011 USBC Montana Youth Tournament and helped manage the 2008 Women’s State Tournament. For the past 20 years Kathy and Sherrie have run their own tournament titled the Young and Youngest Tournament in which a bowler 45 years and older team up with a bowler who is 44 years and under. Kathy was also a major force in the local traveling league for women in the Butte area. Kathy and Sherrie have been board members of the local bowling association for many years.

Mike Davis, who now resides in Boise Idaho, has had a stellar career himself. He has rolled 5 perfect 300 games and his high series is 824. He once bowled an 822 series with games of 300 – 222 – 300. His high average is 221. After an exceptional junior bowling career which saw him win both local and state scholarships, he bowled at West Texas State for two years. After college and while residing in Missoula, Mike’s career flourished as he won a state team title, as well as state singles and scratch singles.

Sherrie’s husband, Kelly Sullivan, has also bowled his own perfect 300 game, and has had a high series of 736. In 2010 he won the city tournament doubles event.

Kelly and Sherrie’s children Lauren and Quinn are the new generation of the Davis’s bowing family. These grade school kids have participated at both bowling alleys since they were able to roll a ball, and it shows. Lauren currently has a high game of 170 and a high series of 489. Quinn’s high game is 217 and high series of 550. They are great helpers at the tournaments their family runs. They also participate in the local punt, pass, and kick competition.

Plans call for the Open Championships to be held in the National Bowling Stadium, while the Women’s Championships will take place in a custom-built arena inside the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. USBC will install dozens of lanes and the largest indoor mobile scoreboard in the world at the convention center continuing the spectacular feel bowlers expect. The convention-center setting first was introduced to the Women’s Championships at the 2010 event in El Paso, Texas.

“Hosting USBC’s two largest championships in the same city will create great new opportunities and experiences for our bowlers,” USBC Executive Director Stu Upson said. “We want families to have the option of traveling to the national tournaments together, but we also respect the need to preserve the tradition of separate tournaments.”

USBC plans to develop additional events that will coincide with the two main tournaments in Reno. These new events will potentially involve mixed teams and youth entry options. The lanes of the Women’s Championships arena will remain in the Reno-Sparks Convention Center between the 2013 and 2014 tournaments, saving construction resources and allowing for greater flexibility in scheduling new events.

USBC received bids from several cities interested in hosting the Open and Women’s Championships. The 2013 Open Championships already was scheduled to be at the National Bowling Stadium, allowing Reno to provide a natural fit for bringing both events to the same city by offering two arena settings for a multi-year agreement. Now there will be greater opportunities for couples who might only be able to afford one bowling trip a year to travel together and both have events to enjoy.

“Reno is a fantastic family destination and our aim is to develop a reason for every type of bowler to visit there in 2013 and 2014,” Upson said. “Our partners in Reno have a great track record of creating a first-class experience for bowlers and they have done it again by committing to a second championship venue.”

Historically, Reno has proven to be a popular destination for tournament bowlers. The Open Championships has averaged more than 80,000 bowlers, while the Women’s Championships has averaged more than 60,000 bowlers in Reno host years since 1995.

“We’re just tickled to have these two prestigious bowling tournaments in the biggest little city,” Reno Mayor Bob Cashell said. “I just know they’ll love visiting Reno and competing at the National Bowling Stadium—it’s the only facility of its kind in the world.”

Looking ahead to 2013, USBC plans to investigate new ideas for the Open and Women’s Championships, including potential adjustments of incentive programs, lane conditions, squad schedules, price structure and entry process. Hosting two major events in one city should allow for improved staffing and better customer service. The focus will be on providing the best possible experience for bowlers in Reno and attracting more participants to USBC’s national tournaments.