WEEDSPORT - History has shown that Sharon Mills and Don Paquette are talented enough to excel in a bowling tournament. But each had the benefit of strong family support Sunday at Rainbow Lanes on their way to victories.
Jennifer Meyers / The Citizen
Don Paquette prepares to bowl during the Men's Senior Masters at Rainbow Lanes in Weedsport Sunday afternoon.
Don Paquette prepares to bowl during the Men's Senior Masters at Rainbow Lanes in Weedsport Sunday afternoon.
Mills won the Vi Stoddard Women's Senior Masters with a 218-199 triumph over Robin Ross, successfully defending the title she won a year ago.
Between frames of the final game, Mills walked off the lanes toward her husband, George, who rested his hands on her shoulders and offered moral support.
Paquette emerged as champion of the Byrn's-Sennett Men's Senior Masters with a thrilling 237-228 win over crowd favorite Ron Rizzo, the Rainbow proprietor.
In his corner, Paquette had his 16-year-old daughter, Chelsea, who wasn't vocal but stood by her father all day, helping him soak in the victory when it was over.
Getting lined up and keeping open frames at a minimum were the order of the day for the 50-and-older set. Competitors went head-to-head in the single elimination, handicap tournaments. The fields were whittled to four in each event, and then stepladder finals determined the champions.
“I always enjoy it, win or lose,” said Gus Ventura, 76, who won his opening match before bowing out in his second.
Ventura said the fast-paced action didn't bother him at all.
“I could have kept going,” he said. “You just have to make sure you make adjustments along the way.”
Mills, who received 22 pins handicap each game, was steady. She won with a 236 game to start the day, and then rolled 207 before winning in the finals. However, she didn't come into the event with a feeling of momentum from last year.
“No, not really,” said Mills, 58, who assisted Tournament Director Marion Fritz.
“Obviously, you always want to win. You don't enter a tournament to lose. But there are so many top-notch bowlers here, you never really know what's going to happen.”
Indeed, Mills knows something about closing out tournaments. She was the scratch winner of the 1993 The Citizen Masters. Still, her goal is simply to have fun on the lanes.
“I don't consider myself a student of the game,” she said. “George is more into the technical part of it, and he helps me out with that.”
George Mills, a longtime competitor in The Citizen Masters, offered advice to Sharon throughout the day.
Ross, the runner-up, entered the event on something of a whim. Her Friday afternoon teammate at Rainbow, Freeda Benham, talked her into competing, and she made the most of it.
“I was nervous, but I'd definitely do it again,” she said.
Ross started bowling again last September after many years away from the game, and she plans to bowl in a spring league to stay sharp.
Paquette, 52, was impressive over his five-game run to the championship. His goal was to reach the stepladder finals, since he'd lost his first match last year. With his 13-pin handicap, he rolled 268, 248, 239 and 214 before defeating Rizzo.
After a long day of competition a nice crowd, clearly favoring Rizzo, remained for the finals. He built a lead over the opening five frames, but Paquette narrowed the gap with his own flurry of strikes.
“C'mon honey, let's go,” Rizzo's wife, Kay, shouted. She had earlier competed in the women's tournament.
In the 10th, Rizzo left a pocket 8-10 split while Paquette spared to secure the victory.
“It was a ball. I had a great time,” said Rizzo, who received a hug and kiss from his wife after picking up his spoils, including a $250 check. “For me, personally, it was so much more relaxing than The Citizen Masters. There's just something about the way the seniors go about it.”
Paquette, a longtime friend of the Rizzos, said he used the crowd support to his advantage. He felt it would create more pressure for Ron, while he sought to go about his own game.
“I thought it would make it easier for me, but everybody's friends, and it didn't bother me,” said Paquette, who was runner-up in the 1998 The Citizen Masters.
As fans made their way out the door, Paquette sat with his daughter, winding down in a triumphant moment.
“He did pretty good today,” said Chelsea, who finished third in the Byrn's Junior Masters this year and pulled some inspiration from her father's performance.
“I was nervous for him, but I just spent the day watching.”
Chelsea was treated to a good show.
Notes: Paquette earned $500 and the Vito Tozzi Memorial Trophy, while Mills took home $250 and the Vi Stoddard Memorial Trophy for their victories. ... Paul Roche finished third for the men to win $200, while John Saxton was fourth, earning $100. ... Ross won $200 for placing second, Hildegard Gunnip took home $150 for third and Leatrice Morgan won $100 for her fourth-place finish. ... Joan Chapman won plaques donated by the Locastro family, in honor of their mother, Betty, and Cedar House Lanes for her high single game (270) and high qualifying score (693). ... Tom Ostrander ran the men's tournament, with help from Sean O'Donnell and Tony Brock, while Kandy Brock also assisted in the women's tournament.
Between frames of the final game, Mills walked off the lanes toward her husband, George, who rested his hands on her shoulders and offered moral support.
Paquette emerged as champion of the Byrn's-Sennett Men's Senior Masters with a thrilling 237-228 win over crowd favorite Ron Rizzo, the Rainbow proprietor.
In his corner, Paquette had his 16-year-old daughter, Chelsea, who wasn't vocal but stood by her father all day, helping him soak in the victory when it was over.
Getting lined up and keeping open frames at a minimum were the order of the day for the 50-and-older set. Competitors went head-to-head in the single elimination, handicap tournaments. The fields were whittled to four in each event, and then stepladder finals determined the champions.
“I always enjoy it, win or lose,” said Gus Ventura, 76, who won his opening match before bowing out in his second.
Ventura said the fast-paced action didn't bother him at all.
“I could have kept going,” he said. “You just have to make sure you make adjustments along the way.”
Mills, who received 22 pins handicap each game, was steady. She won with a 236 game to start the day, and then rolled 207 before winning in the finals. However, she didn't come into the event with a feeling of momentum from last year.
“No, not really,” said Mills, 58, who assisted Tournament Director Marion Fritz.
“Obviously, you always want to win. You don't enter a tournament to lose. But there are so many top-notch bowlers here, you never really know what's going to happen.”
Indeed, Mills knows something about closing out tournaments. She was the scratch winner of the 1993 The Citizen Masters. Still, her goal is simply to have fun on the lanes.
“I don't consider myself a student of the game,” she said. “George is more into the technical part of it, and he helps me out with that.”
George Mills, a longtime competitor in The Citizen Masters, offered advice to Sharon throughout the day.
Ross, the runner-up, entered the event on something of a whim. Her Friday afternoon teammate at Rainbow, Freeda Benham, talked her into competing, and she made the most of it.
“I was nervous, but I'd definitely do it again,” she said.
Ross started bowling again last September after many years away from the game, and she plans to bowl in a spring league to stay sharp.
Paquette, 52, was impressive over his five-game run to the championship. His goal was to reach the stepladder finals, since he'd lost his first match last year. With his 13-pin handicap, he rolled 268, 248, 239 and 214 before defeating Rizzo.
After a long day of competition a nice crowd, clearly favoring Rizzo, remained for the finals. He built a lead over the opening five frames, but Paquette narrowed the gap with his own flurry of strikes.
“C'mon honey, let's go,” Rizzo's wife, Kay, shouted. She had earlier competed in the women's tournament.
In the 10th, Rizzo left a pocket 8-10 split while Paquette spared to secure the victory.
“It was a ball. I had a great time,” said Rizzo, who received a hug and kiss from his wife after picking up his spoils, including a $250 check. “For me, personally, it was so much more relaxing than The Citizen Masters. There's just something about the way the seniors go about it.”
Paquette, a longtime friend of the Rizzos, said he used the crowd support to his advantage. He felt it would create more pressure for Ron, while he sought to go about his own game.
“I thought it would make it easier for me, but everybody's friends, and it didn't bother me,” said Paquette, who was runner-up in the 1998 The Citizen Masters.
As fans made their way out the door, Paquette sat with his daughter, winding down in a triumphant moment.
“He did pretty good today,” said Chelsea, who finished third in the Byrn's Junior Masters this year and pulled some inspiration from her father's performance.
“I was nervous for him, but I just spent the day watching.”
Chelsea was treated to a good show.
Notes: Paquette earned $500 and the Vito Tozzi Memorial Trophy, while Mills took home $250 and the Vi Stoddard Memorial Trophy for their victories. ... Paul Roche finished third for the men to win $200, while John Saxton was fourth, earning $100. ... Ross won $200 for placing second, Hildegard Gunnip took home $150 for third and Leatrice Morgan won $100 for her fourth-place finish. ... Joan Chapman won plaques donated by the Locastro family, in honor of their mother, Betty, and Cedar House Lanes for her high single game (270) and high qualifying score (693). ... Tom Ostrander ran the men's tournament, with help from Sean O'Donnell and Tony Brock, while Kandy Brock also assisted in the women's tournament.
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