With the intensity of The Citizen Masters past us, perhaps it's time to tone things down a bit.

Area senior bowlers will have their chance to shine in a head-to-head format. The third annual Vi Stoddard Women's Senior Masters holds qualifying 2 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at Rainbow Lanes. The 12th Byrn's-Sennett Men's Senior Masters has its qualifying round Sunday, March 30 at Rainbow with squads at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The handicap events are for those aged 50 and older. Entry fee is $25. The top qualifiers in each tournament (16 women and 32 men) will bowl one-game elimination matches beginning at 1 p.m. April 6 at Falcon Lanes.

The four remaining players in each division then compete in stepladder finals, and two champions will be crowned.

Marion Fritz runs the women's tournament with help from Sharon Mills. They are still accepting sponsors for the event. Applications are available at all area bowling centers.

Mills, a former Women's Citizen Masters champion, has made it a clean sweep so far. She's captured the Vi Stoddard Memorial Trophy twice. Last year, Mills defeated Robin Ross, 218-199, to defend her title.

Still, it was all in good fun. Mills said she never felt the pressure to repeat, or rode a surge of momentum. She simply took things in stride.

“Obviously, you always want to win,” Mills said after her victory, collecting a $250 check. “But there are so many top-notch bowlers here, you never really know what's going to happen.”

Ross earned $200 for second. Hildegard Gunnip took home $150 for third and Leatrice Morgan won $100 for fourth.

For more information or to donate as a sponsor, call Mills (776-5884) or Fritz (252-0065).

Tom Ostrander, the men's tournament director, has drawn more than 60 participants in each of the past two years.

The winner receives $500 and the Vito Tozzi Memorial Trophy.

Reigning champion Don Paquette edged Ron Rizzo, 237-228, to take the title at Rainbow. It was an exciting final as the two friends did battle.

Rizzo was the clear favorite among the boisterous fans.

But Paquette went about his business, throwing his steady shot. The result was the championship and a prize of $500.

Paul Roche finished third to win $200, while John Saxton was fourth, earning $100.

Rizzo summed up his elation despite falling just short.

“I had a ball. I had a great time,” he said. “For me, personally, it was so much more relaxing than The Citizen Masters. There's just something about the way seniors go about it.”

Clearly, the tournaments have a lot to offer, combining fun, enjoyment and camaraderie, along with a chance to compete on the lanes.