Bill Abercrombie: Bowling machine breakdown causes headaches for Macon bowlers

Every bowling center has a machine that is used to put oil on the lanes. The center mechanics program a specific pattern into the machine that controls how much oil to put down and where to put it. Bowlers adjust their delivery and positioning according to this application.

Just before the start of the 2015-16 season, the lane machine at the Macon Gold Cup center lost its controller. A spare machine was brought from Warner Robins as a replacement.

Efforts were made to program the replacement machine so the same conditions applied by the regular machine could be reproduced. Unfortunately, this did not happen.

Macon bowlers were accustomed to the old oil pattern, and for the first two weeks of the season scores plummeted. Most bowlers saw a drop of 30 to 40 pins in their average, and virtually no honor scores were recorded.

Last week, the replacement machine was reprogrammed, and scores are starting to improve. A new controller has been ordered and will be programmed upon receipt. Estimates are that the regular machine will be functional in a couple of weeks.

Macon Gold Cup management issued the following statement: “We apologize to our bowlers for the rocky start to the 2015-2016 season.”

TWO MORE 300 GAMES

The fourth and fifth 300 games of the current season were recorded by Mark Petit of the New Kids in the Alley league (Warner Robins) and Dan Bueno of the Tuesday Peterson Point league (Robins AFB).

MACON ACTION

Daryl Lewis posted a nice 276 game on Wednesday night.

WARNER ROBINS ACTION

The Men’s Commercial bowlers had top scores coming from Dennis Craig (729), Tim Chapman (710) Jay Taylor (710), DJ Harvey (279 game) and Kyle Snell (279 game). Leading the New Kids in the Alley were Justin Gordon (737), Rodell Poole (720), Trellis Hamilton (641), Arnita West (635), Karley Bowie (632) and Wyatt Crandall (299 game). Town and Country honors went to Bryan Carrier (732/298 game), Robert French (731) and Corey Conger (288 game). Cathy Copeland (689 and 654) was superior in two leagues. Other totals of interest were Stephen Lackey Jr. (675), Amy Handley (592) and Linna Nielsen (585). Senior stars were Jerry Dennison (684), John Trichintotis (678/254 game) and Henry Owens (631). Youth highs were posted by Khyle Bentley (647) and Jarred McCarley (604/280 game).

ROBINS AFB ACTION

Friday night belonged to Amber Lethco (689/253 game), Amanda Ross (674/254 game), Celena Wilson (633) and Carolyn Helmick (607). In the Tuesday Peterson Point group, honors went to Jim Fee Jr. (740) and Bob Walker (728). Other high sets were scored by Will Kirksey (693), Andrew Hust (690), Jimmy Jean (684), Ken Smith (680) and Mike Butler (679). Top youth scores went to Nathan Johnson (620) and NeCole Hilton (586/256 game).

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Q: If I bowl in league, do I have to be a member of an association such as the USBC?

A: No. This is only true if you bowl in a sanctioned league; however, almost all current leagues in the Central Georgia area are sanctioned.

EVENTS UPDATE

The 35th annual Georgia State WBA Seniors Tournament will be held on weekends from Oct. 24-Nov. 15 in Milledgeville. Singles and doubles will be held. The entry fee is $24 per bowler per event, and the deadline to enter is Sept. 30.

The 35th annual Georgia State USBC Seniors Tournament will be held on weekends from Oct. 24-Nov. 15 in Milledgeville. Singles and doubles will be held. The entry fee is $24 per bowler per event, and the deadline to enter is Sept. 30.

The fifth annual Georgia State Men’s Championship will be held on weekends from Oct. 31-Nov. 16 in Rome. Singles, doubles and team events will be held. The entry fee is $24 per bowler per event, and the deadline to enter is Sept. 30.

The 35th annual Georgia State USBC WBA Queens and Senior Queens Tournaments will be held Feb. 27-28 in Milledgeville. The entry fee is $55 per bowler for individual competition, and the deadline to enter is Feb. 5.

The 60th annual Georgia State USBC Women’s Handicap Championships will be held on weekends from March 5-20 in Snellville and Lawrenceville. Singles, doubles and team events will be held. The entry fee is $24 per bowler per event, and the deadline to enter is Jan. 15.

Scores

Macon Gold Cup

GOLDEN NUGGETS: Christian Baker 174-88, Zaden Channel 154-98.

GOLDEN TEENS: Matt Huffman 399-136, Adam Lin 307-147.

GOLDEN YOUTH: Alijah Harris 184-69; McKenzie Scott 79-37.

OUTSIDERS: Mike Chandler 566-222, David Hutcherson 566-222, Erie Chisolm 534, Tommy Scaggs 201; Elma Ross 465-183, Carol Wallace 465, Donna Carroll 438-175.

SOUTHSIDERS: Janice Findlay 493-174, Colleen Dunagan 467-177, Theresa Walker 448-179.

THURSDAY NIGHT BOWLERS: David Hutcherson 602-226, Mumbo Cornelius 536-212; Pat Freeman 471-188, Gladys Anthony 391-141.

THURSDAY SENIORS: Larry Myers 564, David Hutcherson 551-299, Joe Gary 221; Joyce Flewellyn 467-187, Cathy Grant 442, Theresa Walker 178.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT MIXED: Daryl Leslie 678-276, Trey Smith 639, Doug Cox 583, Travis Patterson 582-246, Jerod Dumas 237; Leslie Strozier 525-201, Donna Carroll 492, Bernice Davis 486-174, Britney Morris 456, Maeghan Hudson 191, Saundra Parks 183.

Warner Robins Gold Cup

KINGS AND QUEENS: Steven Lackey, Jr 675-233, Justin Gordon 640-263, James Copeland 624-244; Cathy Copeland 689-235, Deanna Mines 565-236, Trena Ruhs 535

LADIES NIGHT OUT: Amy Handley 592-214, Linna Nielsen 585-238, Debria Nelson 538-233

MEN’S COMMERCIAL: Dennis Craig 729, Jay Taylor 710, Tim Chapman 710, D J Harvey 279, Kyle Snell 279

MIDDLE GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL NORTHSIDE: Jarred McCarley 604-280, Stephen Lackey III 591-233, Tyler Sierak 505-222; Hallie Hoffmann 447-173, Melissa Ozhan 307-110, Alli Petrucci 233-91

MONDAY SENIORS: John Trichintotis 646-245, Henry Owens 601-238, Mike Mauro 558; Linna Nielsen 540-196, Arlene Todd 502-172, Maggie Pope 496-181, Mae McGregor 183

MOOSETTES:Crystal Cooper 451-167, Patti Conley 396-169, Gae Fowler 390

MORNING GLORY: Helga Leahy 570-220, Trena Bolt 541-186, Mae McGregor 221

NEW KIDS IN THE ALLEY: Justin Gordon 737, Rodell Poole 720, Mark Petit 714-300, Wyatt Crandall 299; Trellis Hamilton 641-242, Arnita West 635-224, Karley Bowie 632

SENIOR WONDERS: Jerry Dennison 684-244, John Trichinotis 678-254, Henry Owens 631-235, Bunker Chipps 225; Anita Barker 526-181, Arlene Todd 516, Maggie Pope 193

TOWN AND COUNTRY: Bryan Carrier 732-298, Robert French 731, Corey Conger 288; Cathy Copeland 654-240, Delena McCarley 570, Denise Woodard 566-241

TUESDAY NIGHT DOUBLES: Frank Klima 629-216, Mac Angley 574, Mark Lynn 210

GOLD CUP PEE WEES: Carson Morgan 181-99, Caleb Mauro 160-82, Jaden Petrie 155-79; Lydia Mills 184-98, Yona Lacada 153-78, Ava Herrin 147-84

GOLD CUP BANT-PREPS: Kory Howard 358-140, Blake Thompson 355-136, Austin Leslie 322-130; E’Myia Thomas 396-141, Kara Smith 324-123, Payton McKinney 280-107

GOLD CUP JUNIORS: Patrick Odom 506-203, Trevor Mines 478-192, Christopher Brown 431-169; Jmonet Hill 440-170, Millie Babb 400-146, Harlee Bridendolph 383

GOLD CUP SENIORS: Khyle Bentley 647-236, Blake Flanders 596-250, Darius Moye 577, Kaelin Brown 235; Andrea McCleese 504-206, Rachel Bolt 428, Savanna McConnell 409-156, Shiann Williams 153

Robins Lanes

FRIDAY NIGHT MIXED: Bob Walker 666-245, Jimmy Jean 646, Jason Maine 265, Jeff Martin 245; Celena Wilson 631-223, Cariren DesRocher 568-223, Deb Hall 512-192

CHARITY LEAGUE: Doug Dugger 601, Tony Colbert 598-212, Steve Lackey Jr 213; Shari Rawls 551-204, Jennie Lackey 467-184, Kat McKenna 426-147; Stephen Lackey III 566-226, Austin Zuromski 505-187, Tony Molargik 502-209; Brittany Molargik 483-167

FRIDAY NIGHT MIXED: Will Kirksey 693-247, Ken Smith 680-253, Matt Ross 633-237; Amber Lethco 689-253, Amanda Ross 674-254, Carolyn Helmick 607-225

INTRAMURALS: Andrew Hust 690-249, Jimmy Jean 684-258, Mike Butler 679; Si Dyer 541-190, Charisse Bruce 536, Eva Erlich 215

TUESDAY PETERSON POINT: Jim Fee Jr. 740, Bob Walker 728, Dan Bueno 300

RYA BANTAM-PREPS: Landon Gleason 291-131, Jake Alefosio 283-119, James Stacy 238-93; Emma Wright 243-91, Nina Pankoski 204-78, Jocelyn Rowley 203-87

RYA JUNIOR-SENIORS: Nathan Johnson 620-258; NeCole Hilton 586-256

This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Bill Abercrombie: Bowling machine breakdown causes headaches for Macon bowlers ."