When the South Dakota U.S. Bowling Congress Mixed Doubles and Team Tournament comes to a conclusion on March 24, more than 500 bowlers will have visited Madison.
Cherry Lanes played host to this same tournament in 2005. Cherry Lanes put the bid in to host the tournament and the State Bowling Association accepted it.
"It is set up on a 10-year rotation," said Jim Olson of Cherry Lanes, Madison's bowling alley.
To host the tournament, bowling centers need to have at least eight lanes, automatic scoring and be a member of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America, according to Olson.
"If the rotation remains the same, Cherry Lanes will have to wait to host the tournament for 10 years," he said.
This is the only state tournament that Cherry Lanes can host.
"We are not big enough to host the men's or women's tournament," he said.
Hosting this tournament is important for the smaller bowling centers in the state.
"This is a nice revenue boost and good for the lanes," Olson said. "It is also good for the local economy as bowlers will stay in hotels and eat at local restaurants."
Bowlers from all over the state participate. During the first couple of weekends, 58 teams (four members each) have competed in the tournament and 150 mixed double teams have tried their luck at taming Cherry Lanes.
"The only requirement an individual needs is to be a member of the South Dakota State Bowling Association," Olson said.
A team may entire twice with the change of two members. A person participating in the doubles event may bowl twice with a change of partner.
This tournament marks the beginning of the State Bowling Tournaments as the men's and women's tournaments will follow. According to Olson, this tournament is more fun as it is not as serious as the others.
"This is something men and women can do before they go to their own tournaments later on," Olson said.
NEW TEAM LEADER
A new team leader has emerged after the second weekend of the South Dakota Mixed Bowling Tournament that is being held at Cherry Lanes. The leader with a score of 2,694 is Cherry Lanes #5. Cody Peterson, Deb Nold, Traci Reinicke and Greg Smith take over the top spot.
Currently, there are three other Cherry Lanes teams that are in the top 10. Here are the standings:
1. Cherry Lanes #5 (Peterson, Nold, Reinicke, Smith), Madison, 2,694
2. Tuhino, Klein and Murphy, Arlington, 2,594
3. Boom Concrete, Northern Hills, 2,562
4. Mitchell #5, Mitchell, 2,557
5. State Farm Gary Heintz, Pierre, 2,545
6. Cherry Lanes #11, Madison, 2,526
7. Cherry Lanes #8, Madison, 2,521
8. Cherry Lanes #4, Madison, 2,502
9. Doug's Rugs, Lemmon, 2,499
10. Nice Rack Hardwood, Gettysburg, 2,490
Lowest score in the money is 2,468.
|
