On Saturday, Dec. 6, the Mercer County 700 Bowling Club is presenting their 2008 Fall Fling Handicap Challenge Championship Tournament. Celebrity Bowl, Greenville, will host the event with squad times at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The finals will begin after the 2nd squad. The entry fee is $40 per bowler and 1st place is estimated at $600 based on 80 entries. Re-entries will be permitted providing there is adequate availability.

Main sponsors for the event include Fagan Sanitary Supply, Knott’s Interiors, Wallace Law Firm and Durkos Painting. Lane sponsors are Campbell and Sherbondy CPA, Cianci Restaurant, T.K. Systems, Hoover Well Drilling, Dr. Richard Robbins, McGranahan Plumbing, Our Gang’s Lounge, Stan’s Custom Cabinets and Lee’s Pro Shop.

This is a USBC-sanctioned handicap tournament, with handicap being 80 percent of 220. However, there will be an optional scratch division with an additional fee of $10. The event is open to any male or female who has bowled a sanctioned ABC, WIBC or USBC three-game scratch series of 700 or more.

Those entering the tourney will use their previous season’s (2007-08) winter league average of 21 games or more. If you do not have a winter average, you may use your highest summer (2008) league average of 21 games or more. If you do not have a winter or summer average, you can use your current season average of 21 games or more as of Dec. 1, 2008.

If none of the above is met, the participant will bowl scratch. It should also be noted that bowlers are responsible for verifying their correct average.

The tournament format is as follows: Participants will bowl a three-game qualifier across 6 lanes. The field will then be cut to a 1:5 ratio for each squad. The finals will consist of three additional games with the winner being determined by total pins plus handicap.

The Mercer County 700 Bowling Club always stresses professionalism and the integrity of the sport. Therefore, it has a rather stringent dress code. No blue jeans or shorts are permitted and collared or mock neck shirts must be worn.

ä Dave Hartman survived a late surge from Jake Brown and managed to win the Nov. qualifier in the Reynolds Lanes Nine Pin No Tap Tournament of Champions 1098-1095. Hartman earned $200 for his efforts, while Brown pocketed $150.

However, Brown made it interesting. Trailing 852-817 after the 3rd game, Brown found the range for a 234, while Hartman could only manage a 196.

The oil pattern was 42 feet with a heavy concentration of oil from 10 to 10, but the outsides were lightly oiled. That created an over/under reaction and a rather competitive condition that was evidenced with only one scratch 300 game being shot----- in the final game by Denny DeLung.

However, the pattern also kept the competition close as only four pins separated the top 3 and just 44 pins the top five.

Other top finishers and their earnings are as follows: (3) Jen Hartman (1094-$120), (4) Tera Snider (1074-$90), (5) Ron Bennett (1055-$70), (6) Ryan Fraley (1047-$50), (7) Corey Evans (1040-$45), (8) Nick Perry (1019-$35) and (9) Ted Long (1017-$30).

Dave Hartman, Brown, Jen Hartman, Snider and Fraley qualify for the April finals as Bennett qualified in October.

Dave Hartman began the tournament with a 266. However, his handicap (50 ppg.) gave him the lead with 316. Brown shot 253 and his handicap (44 ppg.) put him 2nd with 297. Bennett (265-291) was 3rd with 291 while Snider (263) and Ben Ferencik were tied for 4th with 288. Fraley (251-284) was 5th.