Joe Stillman - Scratch Champion
March 21, 2010
Sayville, NY: The LIGBT, sponsored by Columbia 300, headed east on Long Island to AMF Sayville and 143 bowlers jammed the center on a beautiful day. Joe Stillman, of Staten Island, won his second LIGBT Scratch Title and its $1,000 top prize. Winning her first Handicap LIGBT trophy was Diana Cardinali, of Rocky Point, NY who earned $500.
Top celebrate the PBA coming to Long Island in March the PBA Cheetah pattern was used for the tournament. The top scratch qualifying series was by Chris Ziesig of Hicksville, NY who averaged 236 for 4 games. It took a 216 average to make the cut in the under scratch division and a 207 average in the senior division. A special thanks to all of the PBA bowlers that came down and watched including the US Open Champion Tom Smallwood and Masters Champion John Nolan.
Joe Stillman’s road to victory began with an 873 series in qualifying which placed him 7th. In the final rounds Joe advanced comfortably with scores of 223,192, and 278. In the final Shootout Joe took immediate control with the front 8 and finished with a 276 which was 50 pins more than second place finisher Chris Ziesig who earned $600. Finishing third was the Senior Champion, Don Hicks of W. Babylon who bowled great all day and shot a 205 in the shootout to earn $350.
The 210 and under handicap event had another great turnout of 77 bowlers with the top 19 advancing to the finals. It only took a 603 series, including handicap and bonus pins to advance. All finalists were guaranteed a minimum of $100, $40 more than the $60 entry fee.
Diana Cardinali, the handicap champion, day almost ended early as she was the cut score to advance to the finals (603- 495 scratch). Ironically, she beat out her father, Robert by 4 pins, to advance. Although Diana squeezed in she showed everyone she belonged as she dominated every finals round with handicap scores of 236, 259, and 259.
In the Handicap Championship Shootout Diana rolled a 224 (191 scratch) to beat second place finisher, and high qualifier, Billy Daniels of Amityville by 11 pins (213 – (177 scratch.) Billy needed a strike on his first ball in the tenth to win the title but a split forced him to accept second place and the $300 prize. Finishing third was Robert Lovaglio of Seaford, NY who rolled a 196 and took home $250.
The LIGBT will take an Easter break and return on Sunday, April 11
th at AMF East Meadow (1pm start). Two weeks later the LIGBT returns to Suffolk County with an event at AMF Commack on Sunday, April 25
th at 1pm. For more information on the LIGBT, and complete results of the Sayville event, please visit our website at
www.ligbtour.com or call the tournament office at 1.877.900.6464.