Women win first City Tournament titles
12/6/2000Two women bowlers conquered 386 men to make history last month in the City Tournament.
Brenda Hall became the first woman to win a singles title in the 91-year history of the tournament. Kaye Collins joined Hall in accomplishing an unprecedented feat when she won a doubles title at the tournament held at Eastern Lanes Nov. 4-12.
“It's extremely unusual,” said Rob Huss, executive secretary of the Greater Toledo Bowling Association. “We've had some females cash high up in the City Tournament, but this is the first time we've ever had a woman win a category.”
What's even more impressive is that Hall beat out 188 single bowlers and Collins and her partner topped 103 doubles teams. Only nine women participated of the 845 bowlers who took part in the city tournament, according to tournament directors Gary Dulinski and Marty Kruzel.
Hall routed Alan Wcislek by 74 pins in Class B singles division (190 to 209 average). Hall carried a 195 average and bowled a 253 actual series to beat her male counterpart, 790-716.
“It's amazing, exciting and surprising,” Hall said. “I got into this just for fun and to become the first woman to win the tournament is incredible. It's a memorable event that I'll think about for quite awhile.”
In Class C (189 and below), Collins teamed with Redd Williams to become the only woman bowler to win a doubles title, with a 1,262.
Northwood native Tom DeSimpelaere dominated the top division, winning singles and doubles titles.
Just hours before bowling the winning 768 series, DeSimpelaere purchased a new ball from doubles partner Tom Watterson.
“I give (Watterson) a lot of credit,” DeSimpelaere said. “He knows my game and he knows how to drill my ball.”
DeSimpelaere first tried out his new Ebonite in a doubles match with his son, but did not fair well. However, he said “everything fell right” just moments later during his singles game.
“Then I asked Jim Watterson to bowl with me,” he said. “The lane conditions were the same and everything fell right.”
DeSempelaere and Watterson posted a 1,465, 58 pins better than runners up Greg and Mike Frost.
“It means a lot to win the title against the best,” he said.
DeSimpelaere edged Dave Dobrzykowski (766) for the singles title, but Dobrzykowski won the all-events title in Class A. In nine games (team, singles and doubles), Dobryzkowski scored 2,175.
Other winners at the City Tournament were:
Class B: Doubles-Chuck Faller and Jack Frost (1,419); All-events-Chuck Faller (2,087).
Class C: Singles-Rob Young (692); All-events-Todd Spears (1,834).
There were no 300 games or 800 series in the singles and doubles events. Chad Erdmann had the highest individual game with a 290.
“That's not unheard of,” Huss said. “But with that many people, you would think someone would get a 300.”
This weekend in prep bowling, Whitmer Gold and Bowling Green will meet in a three-game roll-off to determine the first-half champion in the Metro National League.