AUBURN - Getting into The Citizen Masters match play is no easy task, where bowlers move to a different set of lanes after each game.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Dan Pilat, of Weedsport, bowls in a qualifying round of The Citizen Masters tournament on Sunday at Rainbow Lanes.
Dan Pilat, of Weedsport, bowls in a qualifying round of The Citizen Masters tournament on Sunday at Rainbow Lanes.
Sure, some guys have it all going on a particular day. Tom Charles, a two-time champion, rolled a couple of games in the 230s and then closed out with 225 to score 691 at Rainbow Lanes last weekend.
Nice and easy, right?
But others hung by their fingernails trying to qualify. By Sunday afternoon, it was clear that a score between 610 and 620 would be good enough to make the tournament. Carl Harvey II seemed to be a lock after firing 206 and 243 out of the gate. He finished with 169, his 618 series besting the cut by a mere eight pins.
“I was very lucky to make it,” he said shortly afterward, the color returning to his face.
Well, it's not that bad. Or is it?
Take the plight of Dan Pilat. He struggled in a 174 opener, and then got back in the hunt with a 265. In his last game on lanes 1 and 2, which caused bowlers some problems over three days, Pilat couldn't get untracked. He finally threw a clutch three-bagger toward the end to salvage another 174 game. He finished at 613.
For good measure, a Monday night roll-off was needed to determine the final three spots.
And so, after 246 contestants tried, defending champion Rick Liccion and the top 63 qualifiers move on. They take to Starlite Lanes at 1 p.m. Saturday for the first round of match play. Players are eliminated from competition after two losses.
Bowlers are lumped into groups, making it possible to anticipate matches down the road. Liccion, who will face Gavin Dennis, refused to look ahead. He simply worries about each opponent as he comes.
“No, I don't think about that other stuff at all,” Liccion said. “I just want to bowl the best I can. If it's good enough, then OK.”
Lee Burnett and Eric Wheeler, the top two qualifiers, will each receive $50 from the family of George Lumb, in memory of the Hall of Fame bowler. Burnett faces Josh Fatcheric, who rolled a 300 game earlier this season. Wheeler, meanwhile, takes on Gary Sutton.
Other intriguing match-ups include Mike Ryan going against Jeff Lumb; Derek Locastro meeting Kevin Ashby; and, Steve Gardner clashing with Dan Guzalak. Right down the line, however, it should be an interesting opening day.
Match play continues 1 p.m. Sunday at Starlite, when the field will be split into winners' and losers' brackets.
Nice and easy, right?
But others hung by their fingernails trying to qualify. By Sunday afternoon, it was clear that a score between 610 and 620 would be good enough to make the tournament. Carl Harvey II seemed to be a lock after firing 206 and 243 out of the gate. He finished with 169, his 618 series besting the cut by a mere eight pins.
“I was very lucky to make it,” he said shortly afterward, the color returning to his face.
Well, it's not that bad. Or is it?
Take the plight of Dan Pilat. He struggled in a 174 opener, and then got back in the hunt with a 265. In his last game on lanes 1 and 2, which caused bowlers some problems over three days, Pilat couldn't get untracked. He finally threw a clutch three-bagger toward the end to salvage another 174 game. He finished at 613.
For good measure, a Monday night roll-off was needed to determine the final three spots.
And so, after 246 contestants tried, defending champion Rick Liccion and the top 63 qualifiers move on. They take to Starlite Lanes at 1 p.m. Saturday for the first round of match play. Players are eliminated from competition after two losses.
Bowlers are lumped into groups, making it possible to anticipate matches down the road. Liccion, who will face Gavin Dennis, refused to look ahead. He simply worries about each opponent as he comes.
“No, I don't think about that other stuff at all,” Liccion said. “I just want to bowl the best I can. If it's good enough, then OK.”
Lee Burnett and Eric Wheeler, the top two qualifiers, will each receive $50 from the family of George Lumb, in memory of the Hall of Fame bowler. Burnett faces Josh Fatcheric, who rolled a 300 game earlier this season. Wheeler, meanwhile, takes on Gary Sutton.
Other intriguing match-ups include Mike Ryan going against Jeff Lumb; Derek Locastro meeting Kevin Ashby; and, Steve Gardner clashing with Dan Guzalak. Right down the line, however, it should be an interesting opening day.
Match play continues 1 p.m. Sunday at Starlite, when the field will be split into winners' and losers' brackets.
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