Special to Video News Service
JANUARY 6, 2025 – With his dad cheering him on, 22-year-old Tim LaGeorge of Retsof became the fourth member of his family to capture the Genesee Region USBC Scratch Memorial crown on Sunday afternoon at StrikeForce Lanes in Oakfield.
LaGeorge defeated former champion Adam Philp of Batavia, 267-234, in the title match to claim the $650 first prize in the annual event that began years ago as the Perry Bowling Association’s premier scratch singles event.
The two-hander finished with a flurry – posting a 267 in the final game of the semifinal round to make the five-bowler stepladder finals and adding games of 234 and 242 in the stepladder round to earn the right to meet the top-seeded Philp.
“I had to do it at some point,” said LaGeorge, who joins his father, John (2000-2001 season), and brothers Justin (2002-2003 season) and Matt (2015) in the Scratch Memorial winners’ circle.
In his senior year at St. John Fisher, majoring in Sports Management, LaGeorge said he used the Roto Grip RST X-1 ball in the semifinals and finals.
“I was able to open the lane up, basically moving left after I shot the 267 to make the top five,” he said. “I had a great shot. If I missed it in, it held and if I got it out a bit, it came back.”
The tournament, which drew 67 entries, was contested on the Kegel Gateway Arch challenge oil pattern.
It is the first tournament victory for LaGeorge, who said he started out as a two-hander at the age of 5 or 6. He said quit the sport for several years, taking it back up when he turned 18.
He said he is averaging around 215 in the Wednesday Night Classic League at Mount Morris Lanes, where he bowls with his father.
Tournament finalists, from left, Tim LaGeorge, Adam Philp, Mickey Hyde, Brian Weber and Geoff Harloff.
Philp, the reigning Super Bud Bowl champion, earned the No. 1 seed with a 911 total in the four-game semis. He earned $340 for his second-place finish.
Mickey Hyde of Le Roy (899) was the No. 2 seed, followed by LaGeorge (878), former champion Brian Weber of Perry (866) and Geoff Harloff of Batavia (854).
Weber opened the stepladder finals with a 221-192 win over Harloff before LaGeorge topped Weber, 234-146, and Hyde, 242-211, to advance to face Philp.
In the title match, LaGeorge started with a triple, spared in the fourth frame and then strung six in a row to hold off Philp, who finished with five consecutive strikes.
Hyde pocketed $225, Weber $195 and Harloff $170.
Mike Pettinella of Batavia, this season’s Senior Masters champion, rallied to finish sixth with an 832 score ($150).
Pettinella made it to the semis by winning a one-game rolloff, 193-192, over Brett Van Duser of Perry after they tied for the 60-and-over qualifying spot.
Other cashers, in order of finish, were Don Parrott of Warsaw, Roger Allis of Medina, Scott Shields of Batavia, Brian Cline of Middleport, Jim Foss of Medina, Rick Pernicone of Dansville, Paul Bacon of Lockport, Zach Farruggia of Mount Morris, Rich Wagner of Batavia, Keith Nugent of Portageville and Kevin Gray Sr. of Honeoye Falls.
Bacon claimed the $25 bonus for posting the high four-game qualifying score of 918.
The Genesee Region USBC added $300 to the prize fund.
The next association-sponsored tournament is the Adult-Junior event on Jan. 25-26 at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion. Entry forms for all GRUSBC tournaments can be found at www.bowlgr.com.