It may have been cold outside, but the action inside Elgin Lanes kept everyone warmed up.
The large crowd in attendance witnessed probably the most exciting three-game match between Team Bowlway and Team Elgin during the short history of the Elgin Cross-Town Classic. Like two boxers in a ring for a three round fight, both teams traded strikes like punches the first two games, until finally settling down in the third game looking for the knockout shot.
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| Wayne Curley (Elgin) from Team Bowlway fires a shot to seal the victory. Photo credit: Jason Pawlowski. |
Elgin Lanes started the first match with a flurry, putting together a series of strikes that left the crowd in awe of the team’s raw power. Led by two young players, Brett Golabek with a 258 game and Drew Perly with a 224, the five man squad shot 1104 as a team, completely dominating Team Bowlway by 118 pins. Team Elgin’s first game average of 220 was the highest ever in the tournament’s history.
But Team Bowlway responded in the second game. Led by an early string of strikes by Sean Hargadon and Bill Killmer, and a strong finish by Dan Olson and Wayne Curley, they found themselves all tied up in match-game points and total pins after posting a 1083 team score and erasing the 118 pin deficit.
In the final match, the lead changed multiple times until finally it came down to the two anchor bowlers. Wayne Curley needed two strikes to seal the victory for Bowlway. He fired his first strike. Then John Mundt for Team Elgin threw a pocket shot that shredded the rack leaving the 7-pin, which he just missed on the spare conversion. Curley finished with another strike to seal the victory.
“You could not have scripted this any better,” said Bill Grocke, who stood the entire time during the event. “I found myself cheering on every shot. It was amazing.”
Team Bowlway took a 16-13 match-point lead and a total pin lead of 11 pins heading into this week’s contest at Bowlway Lanes. One point is awarded to each bowler for each game won against his opponent including total series. Two points is awarded to each team for each game won and three points for total series. If the two teams tie at the end of the event, total pins will be used to determine the winner.
The thought of watching team scratch bowling may have seemed dull to some people, but not this crowd, which practically cheered every shot.
“After the first game, I did not know how the other team would respond, but once they got going, the energy in the room was so exciting,” said Erin Conroy, official scorekeeper for the tournament. “During the last game, I had a hard time watching because the score kept changing back and forth – it was great.”
Team Bowlway was led by Wayne Curley with a 681 series, Bill Killmer with 641 and Dan Olson with 623. The team finished with 3,081 total pins for a team average of 205.
Team Elgin was led by Drew Perly with a 675 series, Brett Golabek with 657 and Cary O’Donnell with 621. The team finished with 3,070 total pins for a team average of 204.
The Elgin Cross-Town Classic II will continue next week at Bowlway Lanes, 810 Villa Street, on Saturday, March 8, starting at 1 p.m. The team that wins the most match-game points over the two week’s competition will be declared Elgin’s Match Game Champions and will personally receive the Mayor’s Cup from Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain.
Next week's event is free and open to the public. It’s sponsored by Bowlway Lanes, Elgin Lanes, madwill creative, City of Elgin and Mayor Kaptain, Elgin Today and Jeff Myers, Jason Pawlowski Photography, Anderson’s Awards, and tournament certification is provided by the United States Bowling Congress.
BOX SCORE
Team Bowlway 986 1083 1012 = 3,081
Team Elgin 1104 965 1001 = 3,070
Bowlway: Wayne Curley (Elgin) 681, Bill Killmer (Bartlett) 641, Dan Olson (Streamwood) 623, Sean Hargadon (Elgin) 610, Nick Miller (Elgin) 526
Elgin: Drew Perly (Elgin) 675, Brett Golabek (South Elgin) 657, Cary O’Donnell (Elgin) 621, John Mundt (Elgin) 606, Ken Buhlman (South Elgin) 511
Elgin: Drew Perly (Elgin) 675, Brett Golabek (South Elgin) 657, Cary O’Donnell (Elgin) 621, John Mundt (Elgin) 606, Ken Buhlman (South Elgin) 511
MATCH-POINT TOTALS
*= 1 point **= 2 points ***= 3points
BOWLWAY
|
GM1
|
GM2
|
GM3
|
Series
|
ELGIN
|
GM1
|
GM2
|
GM3
|
Series
|
Hargadon
|
173
|
225*
|
212
|
610
|
O’Donnell
|
203*
|
176
|
242*
|
621*
|
Miller
|
204*
|
143
|
179*
|
526*
|
Buhlman
|
191
|
172*
|
148
|
511
|
Olson
|
201
|
214*
|
208
|
623
|
Golabek
|
258*
|
188
|
211*
|
657*
|
Killmer
|
218
|
245*
|
188
|
641
|
Perly
|
228*
|
223
|
224*
|
675*
|
Curley
|
200
|
256*
|
225*
|
681*
|
Mundt
|
224*
|
206
|
176
|
606
|
Tot.Scores
|
986
|
1083**
|
1012**
|
3081***
|
Tot.Scores
|
1104**
|
965
|
1001
|
3070
|
Points
|
1
|
6
|
4
|
5
|
Points
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
RECAP
After game one: Team Elgin leads Team Bowlway 6-1 in points.
After game two: Team Elgin and Team Bowlway are tied 7-7.
After game three: Team Bowlway leads Team Elgin 11-10.
After Series totals: Team Bowlway leads Team Elgin 16-13.
After game two: Team Elgin and Team Bowlway are tied 7-7.
After game three: Team Bowlway leads Team Elgin 11-10.
After Series totals: Team Bowlway leads Team Elgin 16-13.
Team Bowlway leads in total pins by 11.
