News

W. Babylon, NY:  Cary Fishman, a retired taxi owner from New York City, won the LIGBT Memorial Day Weekend Major at AMF Babylon. Cary won the $2,000 top prize by defeating second place finisher Calvin Nottingham, Deer Park, NY 253-237. Calvin earned $1,000 for his second place finish while Adam DeRossi, Massapequa Park, NY finished third with a 211 earning him $500. This was Cary’s fifth LIGBT title, the most in the club, while Calvin and Adam were looking to earn their first title.

The shootout was an exciting match as the champion was not determined until the final frame. Cary was giving at least 30 pins in handicap to each competitor so a fast start was crucial. Cary started with two doubles in the first 5 frames while Calvin and Adam had several opens. Calvin marked in his final 5 frames which forced Cary to mark in his tenth frame. Cary, like a true champion, struck on his first ball to secure the title.

The LIGBT Memorial Day Weekend Major drew a 3-day crowd of 304 entries (including the Desperado), advancing 50 bowlers to the finals, and paid out over $10,300. Ten Radical Mighty Gurus were won in the Brunswick bonus squads.  The scores on the 41 foot Kegel Turnpike pattern were moderate ranging 698 and as high as 756. High handicap series for the 6 squads was shot by Tim Brennan, Lynbrook, NY with an 835 in the Saturday 5pm squad..

LIGBT’s next tournament is a regular 2-squad handicap event at AMF Garden City. Top prizes are guaranteed to pay $1,000 & $500. One in 6 will cash each squad for a minimum of $60. Preregistered cash entry fees are only $60 and $50. For complete results of the 2015 Memorial Day Weekend Major please visit www.ligbtour.com. The LIGBT is sponsored by Brunswick, Kegel, Randi Siegel Law Offices, Knockout Ball Cleaner and CLS Custom Upholsterers.

May 10, 2015

Syosset, NY: The LIGBT has announced new “bonus pin” rules for its events with the goal of lowering the cut scores in qualifying squads. Beginning with the first event on the Season 7 Summer Schedule (Sunday, June 7 at AMF Garden City) the following changes will be in effect.

• The maximum number of bonus pins a player can have is 15 per game or 45 total. All bowlers that currently have more than 45 bonus pins will have their total lowered immediately to the maximum (45- 15 per game).
• All bowlers that advance to the finals will lose 9 (3 per game) of their bonus pins.
• Every round a bowler advances in the finals an additional 9 bonus pins (3 per game) will be eliminated.
• All bowlers that advance to the final shootout will lose all of their bonus pins.
• Bowlers that fail to advance to the finals will receive 9 bonus pins (3 per game) at their next event unless they already have the maximum of 45 (15 per game).
• There are no negative bonus pins.
• The LIGBT will no longer freeze bonus pins prior to a major event.
• Bonus pins will no longer be used at “house shot” tournaments.

The LIGBT cut scores have risen by 20 to 30 pins per squad due to the bonus pin rules enacted in Season 6. Our goal is to return the cut scores to a reasonable number (under 700 each squad) and the new bonus pin rules should help us accomplish our goal. Bonus pins are a great way to even out the competition but unfortunately some of our members took advantage of the rules. These revisions should resolve any problems.

Levittown, NY:  Derek Brandi, a 27 year old right hander from Whitestone, NY, captured his second LIGBT title with a victory at South Levittown Lanes. Derek won the $1,000 top prize in a special house shot tournament where he bowled a 290 handicap game in the final shootout to claim victory. Finishing second with a 286, and earning $600, was left hander Joshua Valdes from Staten Island, NY. Third place went to Denis Mendelson, Levittown, NY with a 270 worth $400.

The final shootout was a high scoring match as all three bowlers had at least a triple in the first 5 frames. Dennis fell behind with a couple of opens while Derek had two “four timers” to eventually eat away at Joshua’s 33 pin handicap advantage. Joshua marked in his last two frames while Derek needed a strike on his first ball in the tenth frame to win. Derek threw a perfect strike to take the South Levittown title. 

The South Levittown tournament drew an incredible crowd of 134 entries, advanced 23 bowlers to the finals, and paid out $4,810. This was a special “house shot” tournament and the scoring was extremely high. The cut was 813 in the 1pm squad and 830 in the 3pm squad. High series of the tournament was shot by Richard Frost, East Islip, NY with a ridiculous 904 in the 3pm squad.

LIGBT’s next tournament is a 3-day Memorial Day Weekend Major at AMF Babylon May 22-24. Top prizes are guaranteed to pay $2,000 & $1,000. One in 6 will cash for a minimum of $80. Your first entry is $65 with all re-entries only $50 each. For complete results of the South Levittown tournament please visit www.ligbtour.com. The LIGBT is sponsored by Brunswick, Kegel, Randi Siegel Law Offices, and CLS Custom Upholsterers.

May 1, 2015

Syosset, NY: The LIGBT announced a 10 event summer schedule that will include 4 Sunday only events, 4 Friday night only events, and 2 multi-day major events. All Friday night and Sunday events will guarantee top prizes of $1,000 & $500 while the multi-day major events will feature top prizes of $2,000-1^st & $1,000-2^nd. Over $100,000 in prizes will be paid out during the summer and over 40 Brunswick balls will be given away.

The LIGBT Summer Tour will visit 7 different bowling centers on Long Island. Both major events, July 4^th and Labor Day Weekend, will be hosted by AMF Babylon. The Friday night events will be hosted by AMF East Meadow, AMF Wantagh, Farmingdale Lanes, and AMF Plainview. The Sunday events will be hosted by AMF Wantagh, S. Levittown, AMF Garden City, and AMF E. Meadow.

For the first time in LIGBT history Friday night 2-squad events will be offered. Squad times will be 7pm & 9pm and top prizes are guaranteed to pay $1,000-1^st and $500-2^nd. One in 6 each squad will advance to a 1-round elimination final with the top 4 advancing to a shootout. As a bonus, both squad leaders will earn a brand new high performance ball from Brunswick.

The LIGBT Summer schedule kicks off on Sunday, June 7^th at AMF Garden City. All regular one day events feature entry fees of $60 and $50. The multi-day major events have a $65 first entry and $50 re-entries. All final shootouts are video-taped and shown on the LIGBT website.

The LIGBT is an amateur organization for handicap bowlers averaging 230 and under. All qualifying is 3 games using a handicap of 90% of 220. Bowlers that don’t advance to the finals will earn 9 extra bonus pins in handicap at their next event. LIGBT sponsors include Brunswick, CLS Custom Upholsterers, Knockout Ball Cleaner, Kegel, and Randi Siegle Law Offices. If you would like additional information please visit the club’s website at www.ligbtour.com.

Fresh Meadows, NY:  So Young Chin, a 38 year old right hander from Whitestone, NY, won her first LIGBT title with an impressive victory at JIB Lanes. So Young earned the $1,000 top prize by shooting a 248 handicap game which was 22 pins more than second place finishers Tiffany Ocasio, Oceanside, NY and Andrew Mienkiewicz, Massapequa, NY both rolling a 226 and earning $400 each. Finishing in 4^th place was Eddie Cintron, Laurelton, NY, with a 213 worth $250 and fifth went to Lois Bramlette, Laurelton, NY, with a 209 worth $200. All 5 shootout finalists were looking for their first LIGBT title.

The 5-person shootout was an exciting match. The lead changed in almost every frame as all of the competitors had at least one open. Ed took the early lead with a double, So Young doubled in the middle of the game, and Tiffany tripled at the end to force So Young to mark in the final frame. In championship fashion So Young tripled in the tenth to secure her first title.

The JIB tournament drew a wonderful city crowd of 103 entries, advanced 18 bowlers to the finals, and paid out $3,330. The USBC Open Championship pattern (38 feet) was used resulting in moderate scoring; the cut was 699 in the 1pm squad and 716 in the 3pm squad. High series of the tournament was shot by Tiffany Ocasio, Oceanside, NY with an 813 in the 3pm squad.

LIGBT’s next tournament is a special “house shot” event at South Levittown Lanes on May 3rd. Top prizes are guaranteed to pay $1,000 & $500. One in 6 will cash for a minimum of $60. All bonus pins and averages will be frozen at the Levittown tournament. Preregistered cash entry fees are only $60 for your first entry and $50 for a re-entry. For complete results of the JIB Lanes tournament please visit www.ligbtour.com. The LIGBT is sponsored by Brunswick, Kegel, Randi Siegel Law Offices, and CLS Custom Upholsterers.

E. Meadow, NY:  Sal Florindo, a 74 year old right-hander from Forest Hills, NY finally captured his first LIGBT title after trying for 5 years. Sal shot a 245 handicap game in the final shootout to win the $1,000 top prize. Finishing in second place was Daniel Gehrig, Baldwin, NY with a 209 worth $550. Third place went to Max Thomas, Stamford, CT with a 199 worth $300. All 3 bowlers were looking for their first LIGBT title.

The final shootout was exciting with Sal taking the early lead with marks in his first 6 frames. Daniel and Max had early opens but Daniel got back into the match in the sixth frame when he doubled and Sal had his first open. When the match got tight Sal finished with 3 marks, including a triple in the final frame, while Daniel missed a spare in the 8^th and did not recover.

The AMF East Meadow tournament drew an incredible crowd of 154 entries, advanced 27 bowlers to the finals, and paid out $5,200. Kegel’s “Winding Road” pattern (39 feet) was used resulting in moderate scoring; the cut was 720 in the 1pm squad and 718 in the 3pm squad. High series of the tournament was shot by Donald Eubanks, Elmsford, NY with a 793 in the 3pm squad.

LIGBT’s next tournament is a 2-day Spring Major at AMF Babylon April 10 & 12. Top prizes are guaranteed to pay $3,000 & $1,500. One in 6 will cash for a minimum of $80. Preregistered cash entry fee is only $65 per squad. For complete results of the AMF East Meadow tournament please visit www.ligbtour.com. The LIGBT is sponsored by Brunswick, Kegel, Randi Siegel Law Offices, and CLS Custom Upholsterers.

Farmingdale, NY:  Michael Bagnato, a house bowler from Farmingdale Lanes, always said he would destroy all competitors if the LIGBT ran a league shot event at his home bowling center. Michael’s boasting was no lie as he won his first LIGBT title and the $1,000 top prize with a very clutch performance. Michael, who is from Lindenhurst, NY marked in all 10 frames to shoot a 255 to win by 4 pins.

The final shootout was a great match with an exciting finish. Arnold Yuen, a new member from Flushing, NY would have won his first LIGBT with a double in the tenth but only threw the first strike and had to settle for second place with a 251 worth $600. Frank O’Mara, Babylon, NY also bowled great but had 2 splits which caused him to finish in third place with a 225 worth $300.

The Farmingdale Lanes tournament drew a great crowd of 145 entries, advanced 27 bowlers to the finals, and paid out $5,200. The house shot tournament generated the expected high cut scores: 804 in the 1pm squad and 797 in the 3pm squad. High series of the tournament was shot by Fermin Diaz, New York, NY with an 849 in the 3pm squad.

LIGBT’s next tournament is at AMF East Meadow on Sunday, March 29^th. Top prizes are guaranteed to pay $1,000 & $500 with 1 in 6 each squad making the finals and earning a minimum of $60. All bonus pins will be frozen at the AMF East Meadow tournament since the next event is LIGBT’s Spring Major with a $3,000 top prize. Preregistered cash entry fees are $60 for your first squad and only $50 if you choose to re-enter. For complete results of the Farmingdale Lanes tournament please visit www.ligbtour.com. The LIGBT is sponsored by Brunswick, Kegel, Randi Siegel Law Offices, and CLS Custom Upholsterers.

W. Babylon, NY:  Rob Longiaru, a Biologist from Seaford, NY, won the $3,000 top prize at LIGBT’s 2015 Winter Major at AMF Babylon. Rob bowled a “clean” 224 handicap game to defeat second place finisher Rich Patson, Lindenhurst, NY by 8 pins. Rich earned $1,500 with his 216 while Abel David, Franklin Square, NY finished third with a 183 worth $750.

The Winter Major Shootout was not decided until the final frame. Consistency won this match as Rob filled every frame with 8 spares and 2 strikes. Richie had his only open in the 8^th frame but could have still won the title with a double in the tenth. Richie struck on the first ball but got a 6 count on his second shot to settle for second place. Abel could not get comfortable on the lanes and had 5 opens forcing him to settle for third place.

The LIGBT Winter Major drew a 2-day record crowd of 339 entries, advanced 60 bowlers to the finals, and paid out over $15,000. Eight Brunswick Fortera Intriques were won by: Redy Bugaoan, Terry Cooper, Angelo DeSena, Rob Longiaru, Vinny LoRe, Alex Padmore, Mike Simeone, and George Williams. Cut scores were as low as 717 and as high as 762. High handicap series for the 5 squads was shot by Abel David in the Sunday 3pm squad with an 871.

LIGBT’s next tournament is a “house shot” event at Farmingdale Lanes. Top prizes are guaranteed to pay $1,000 & $500. One in 6 will cash each squad for a minimum of $60. Preregistered cash entry fees are only $60 and $50. For complete results of the 2015 Winter Major please visit www.ligbtour.com. The LIGBT is sponsored by Brunswick, Kegel, Randi Siegel Law Offices, and CLS Custom Upholsterers.