BUCYRUS — The 56th annual Bill Rahm Invitational Bowling Tournament got underway on Saturday, featuring the top 16 average bowlers in the men’s leagues at Suburban Lanes. The lowest qualifying average was 209.
In the opening round, Brock Lykens defeated Joel Butt, 888-862, Dave Shock used a bit 1000 series to drop Bob Lear, Jr., 1000-843, Mike Lear stopped Chris Traxler, 878-824, and Al Garvin bumped Phil Gabel to the losers’ bracket, 940-800.
Mitch Long rolled a 991 to Butch Pangallo’s 865, Nathan Monk got by Todd Entenmann, 868-794, defending champion Curtis Groves had the high series for the day in defeating Shawn Ridgeway, 1001-878, and Don McGlaughlin took down Terry Miller, 984-801.
On Sunday, the field was cut in half, with eight bowlers being eliminated.
In the winners’ bracket, Mike Lear bested Mitch Long, 1017-823, Don McLaughlin edged Nathan Monk, 963-947, Chris Traxler beat Butch Pangallo, 823-749, and Terry Miller got by Todd Entenmann, 960-920.
Bob Lear defeated Shawn Ridgeway, Phil Gabel slipped past Joel Butt, 883-867, Dave Shock knocked off Curtis Groves, 1029-885, and Brock Lykens downed Al Garvin, 898-878.
Pangallo, Entenmann, Ridgeway, and Butt were eliminated.
In the second session, Al Garvin topped Bob Lear, Jr., 923-833, Phil Gabel edged Curtis Groves, 832-815, Mitch Long beat Terry Miller in a shootout, 1171-1145, and Nathan Monk dropped Chris Traxler, 867-716.
Groves, Miller, Traxler, and Bob Lear, Jr. were eliminated.
The tournament continues Saturday with two matched in both the winners’ and losers’ brackets.
In the winners’ bracket, Dave Shock will bowl Mike Lear and Brock Lykens will take on Don McLaughlin. In the losers’ bracket, Al Garvin faces off with Nathan Monk and Phil Gabel goes against Mitch Long.
The tournament will begin at 1 p.m. back at Suburban Lanes.