Batavians Mike Johnson and Gregg Wolff threw a powerful left-right combination over the weekend in taking first place in the 6th Genesee Region USBC No-Tap Doubles Tournament at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.
The left-hander Johnson rolled a natural 300 game – 10 pins into the pit on all 12 deliveries – en route to an 844 no-tap series while the right-handed Wolff added a 784 series. With their 33 pins handicap, the duo posted 1,661 to take home the $600 top prize.
Johnson’s perfect game will be recognized by the United States Bowling Congress and added to his career honor score list.
On a separate shift, Johnson teamed with his son, Kyle, to record 1,637 – good for second place and $300 – and Wolff rolled an 829 series while partnering with Johnson’s other son, Bryan, to amass 1,622, which was good enough for fourth place and $132.
Third place went to Keith and Eileen Nugent of Portageville, who posted 1,631. They won $160.
In fifth through 12th place:
Gary Kuchler and Frank Jarkiewicz, 1,619, $110; Jeff Aradine and Mike Slattery, 1,619, $110; Dana Nowack and Dennis Nolan, 1,613, $100; Nicole Piegzik and Jeremy Vallance, 1,609, $96; Roe Smith and Pat Smith, 1,587, $92; Nick Shute and Ryan Nugent, 1,584, $88; Patrick Yohon and Rich Covell, 1,577, $84; Chad Evert and Frank Jarkiewicz, 1,570, $80.
BBA NORTH EXTENDS WINNING STREAK
For the fifth straight year, the BBA North team upended the BBA South squad in the longstanding Karl Marth Cup series pitting bowlers from the former Batavia Bowling Association centers, this time primarily Medina Lanes (North) and Mancuso Bowling Center, Batavia (South).
The North team’s 69-54 victory in Singles, Doubles, Baker Doubles and Baker Team competition at Medina Lanes on Dec. 6 gives the victors a 19-12 lead in the event’s 31-year history.
The tournament is dedicated to the memory of the late Karl Marth, a Batavia Bowling Association (now Genesee Region USBC) Hall of Famer.
Sparked by left-hander Brian Cline and righty Hayden Allis, the North squad grabbed the lead after the Doubles event and didn’t relinquish it.
Cline averaged an event record 254, winning three of his four matches en route to being named recipient of the Scott Wright Memorial Award. His high game was 295 in Doubles.
Allis was recognized with the Joe Trigilio Memorial Award by winning all four of his matches, averaging 247 and leading all bowlers with 9.75 points. He becomes the first person to win the Scott Wright Memorial Award (2018 & 2022) and the Joe Trigilio Memorial Award (2025).
Also for the North, Jim Foss averaged 240 and Garrett Gibson averaged 230 for the tournament.
Other members of the winning North team were Ricky Mussell, Alex Allis, Jake Rosenbeck, John Ross, Tim Talbot, Andy Ritz, Roger Allis and Scott Gibson.
Scott Culp (230) and Steve O’Dell (228) had the top averages for the South squad. Other members of that team were Brian Green, James Townsend, Geoff Harloff, Dave Montemarano Jr., Paul Bacon, Rick Underhill, Mike Johnson, Devon Leach, Gregg Wolff and Matt Balduf.
Next year, the event will likely be contested at Mancuso Bowling Center.
NEW YORKER LEADS NATION WITH 246
Liz Kuhlkin of Schenectady, a three-time champion on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour and a New York State Queens Tournament champion, captured the national high average award in the women’s division for the second straight season – averaging a lofty 246.39 over 120 games for 2024-25 in the Towne Mixed Doubles League at her hometown’s Towne Bowling Academy.
She also claimed the top average during the 2019-2020 (240 average), 2021-2022 (247) and 2023-2024 (239) seasons.
Kuhlkin set the women’s three-game series record (890) to win the National High Series Award during the 2016-2017 season and also is the owner of three youth awards for top average (2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011).
Other national high average winners for 2024-25 are as follows:
Men’s Division — Jake Washington of Hiram, Georgia, 253.86 for 93 games in the Monday Money league at AMF Woodstock Lanes (Woodstock, Georgia).
Youth Female Division – Kaitlyn Stull of Raleigh, N.C., 226.84 for 71 games in the NorthHouseElite League at Raleigh’s Buffaloe Lanes North.
Youth Male Division – Ryan Campbell, Clinton, S.C., 248.11 for 72 games in the Saturday Morning Youth Junior/Masters 24-25 League at Expo 300 in Greenwood, S.C.
The national high series award in the men’s division went to Desron Weatherspoon of Buffalo, who rolled a 900 series on Jan. 18 in the Saturday Elite Bowling League at AMF Airport Lanes in Cheektowaga.
Baltimore’s Jordan McGainey earned the recognition in the women’s division with 300, 300 and 278 for an 878 series on May 1 in the Thursday Elite League at Baltimore’s AMF Perry Hall Lanes.
In the youth division, Jacob Tirado of Schenectady posted an 890 on Jan. 16 in the Suburban Council high school match at Kingpin’s Alley in Latham, and Sicora Floyd of Allentown, Pa., recorded an 837 series on March 15 during the Jr. Classics League at Steel City Bowl and Brews in Bethlehem, Pa.