The 3 Catalano Champions: Pat Catalano (sponsor) Hee Jin Jun (Handicap Champion),
Matt O’Grady (Scratch champion) and Ray Catalano (senior champion)
March 4, 2012
Babylon, NY: Matt O’Grady, Perth Amboy, NY emerged victorious at the 3rd annual Sandy Catalano Open held at AMF Babylon. The three day scratch and handicap event drew a record crowd of 435 entries which generated a prize fund exceeding $19,000. This event, which supports the Sandy Catalano scholarship fund, is held annually to remember Sandy Catalano, a great bowler and supporter of junior bowling.
The final shootout was not decided until the last shot of the tournament. Matt, who advanced to the shootout as the scratch champion, needed a double in the tenth to shutout his closest opponent Hee Jin Jun, Whitestone, NY the handicap champion. Matt did not throw a strike in the tenth which meant Hee Jin just had to mark to secure the title. Unfortunately, she chopped the 6-10 giving Matt the title.
Matt won $3,000 and a beautiful trophy with a 225 scratch game. Hee Jin took home $1,500 for second place with a 221 handicap game. Finish third was Gordon Tunison, New York, NY who shot a 216 handicap game and earned $1,000. Ray Catalano, Manorville, NY earned $500 as the highest finishing senior.
The Sandy Catalano Open was a three day event with 6 separate qualifying squads. 1 in 6 bowlers advanced each squad in both the scratch and handicap events. Kegel’s Broadway 37 foot pattern was used which produced moderate scoring. A total of 77 bowlers advanced to the finals, each earning a minimum of $100.
The Sandy Catalano Open was sponsored by CLS Custom Upholsterers, AMF Babylon, ESP Metal Crafts, D.B.L. Associates, and the LIGBT. Each spring the Sandy Catalano Scholarship Fund donates a scholarship to a male and female high school bowler from Long Island. The Catalano Family’s goal is to continue to offer bowlers a quality bowling event annually to honor Sandy’s life and love for bowling.
The LIGBT, which operates the Sandy Catalano Open, will be hosting its next event at AMF Syosset on Sunday, March 18th with two squads; 1pm & 3pm. Top prizes at the next event will pay $1,000 & $500 and feature a 3-game qualifier with a match play finals. For complete results of the Sandy Catalano event please visit www.ligbtour.com. To contact the LIGBT please call 1.877.900.6464