The Alro Steel – Michigan Junior Masters Association held its 7th Annual Alro Steel Sunnybrook Sport Challenge event at Sunnybrook Lanes in Sterling Heights, Michigan and we saw the largest field of the season turn out to compete for this years’ title and a share of the scholarships to be awarded.

Randy Shank and the whole staff at Sunnybrook Lanes were once again fantastic hosts and the challenge of the wood lane conditions proved to be an obstacle for many of our competitors. But, in the end, we crowned two champions, one a first time winner the other winning for the second time and awarded over $7,500.00 in total scholarships to our youth bowlers.

The field of 102 bowlers faced off on Saturday in the eight-game qualifying with the top 24 guys and 6 girls advancing to the match play portion of the tournament on Sunday. Ryan Fuller (Rochester Hills, MI) led the boys qualifying while averaging 221 over the 8 games. Addileen Pointer (Highland, MI) outdistanced the girls’ side by averaging 213 for her qualifying round.

Match play proved to be a jumping game on the guys’ side as positions changed frequently and dramatically, none more than Eric Bracken (Brighton, MI) who jumped from 11th after qualifying to second after match play. Bobby Bures (Mentor, OH) jumped two spots from 3rd to 1st place while Fuller finished third after match play. Cory Hine (Jackson, MI) and Kevin Madajczyk II (Clay Twp, MI) joined in to round out the five step-ladder finalists.

Madajczyk set the tone early in the first match against Hines as he started with a spare and then strung the next 11 strikes to complete a 279 – 234 win. Next up was our top qualifier in Fuller and in a match that went back and forth with spares and open frames until Fuller struck in the ninth and marked in the tenth to wrap up the match 168 – 160. Fuller had Bracken awaiting in the semi-finals and both bowlers looked poised to move to the championship match as strike were flying all over the place. Fuller had thrown 7 strikes to finish with a 221 but it was until Bracken opened in the tenth frame that Fuller was able to move on to the final match against Bures winning 221 – 204. In the finals Fuller continued the strike barrage as he started with the front five strikes to take an early lead. Bures was hitting the pocket but could not get ten to fall until the first ball in the tenth frame. As a result Fuller was able to win his first Alro Steel – MJMA title with a 211 – 172 win.

The girls’ side was just as exciting as the defending event champion Sarah Lokker (New Baltimore, MI) was in the step-ladder finals again but would have to move up the ladder from 4th to defend her title. In the first match Lokker would have to face a title holder in Kara Richard (Tecumseh, MI) who had struggled a bit in her last couple of match play games. Richard however, seemed to find her groove in the step-ladders and she was clean through the first game while Lokker opened the door with back to back opens late in the game and Richard eliminated the defending champion 203 – 157. Richard then faced Carrie Hopkinson (Drumbo, Ont.) in the semi-final match and in a very entertaining match, Richard threw eight strikes to Hopkinson’s five strikes to win and advance to the finals 231 – 198.

In the finals, Pointer was waiting for Richard and both ladies looked determined to take home the title. Strikes were a plenty again in this match but it was a couple of spares made in the middle of the match that gave Richard the edge and a 219 – 179 victory for her second Alro Steel – MJMA title.

We awarded three more Junior Gold qualifying spots in this event as well with Kevin Madajczyk II, Ryan Fuller and Carrie Hopkinson all earned their trip to Indianapolis in July 2009. Scholarships were also awarded as nearly $6,000.00 was awarded to the match play bowlers with another $1,700.00 awarded to our cookie dough fund-raiser qualifiers. The total scholarships reached $7,675.00 for this event and raised our yearly totals to almost $24,000.00 through our first 6 events.

The next tournament is in Jackson, Michigan at Airport Lanes on January 3rd and 4th for the Annual Adult – Junior event. This is where our youth members team up with an adult partner to test themselves to see which team can conquer the field and take home the prestigious title. Any one wanting to bowl in the event can find information HERE or you can call Jerry Tarabek at 616-780-2095.