Friday nights at Hi-Tor Lanes are usually booked for some kind of tournament or fund raiser and tonight is the no-tap. Held once a month from October to April, these competitions allow bowlers of all abilities the chance to come out and have fun in a friendly environment. Based on an 80 percent handicap of a doubles average of 460, historically, the tournament is won by bowlers of all averages.

Getting ‘tapped’ in the sport of bowling is the most frustrating part of the game. You see, sometimes the game just isn’t fair. You can execute with perfect timing, see the ball roll over your target, watch the ball pick up a roll and hit the pocket at the optimum entry angle and still not strike. So, no-tap tournaments were started where knocking down nine pins or more on your first shot counts as a strike. Yes, the scoring pace is higher in this environment as you’ll want to avoid open frames at all costs.

Originally, the game of bowling was played outdoors using only 9 pins setup in a diamond shape with the object being to knock down all 9 pins with one throw. Sometime in the middle of the 19th century, a 10th pin was added in a triangular pin setup.

This night, my partner, Robert James and myself, each paid our entry fee of $35. and made our way to lanes 15-16, our assigned lanes for the night. With a combined average of 425, we’ll be given 28 pins per game as our handicap.

With a large turnout of 44 doubles teams (88 total bowlers) and an average of 5 teams per pair of lanes, I reminded my partner to remain patient and steady. Benefiting from many 9 pin ‘no-taps’, Robert and I bowled consistently throughout the night to stay above the cut line and within the leaders reach. While I shot ‘no-tap’ games of 287-253-266=806 series, Robert added a 248-246-278=772 series. In a crucial frame in the last game, Robert came up with the goods, converting the 5-7 split to keep our hopes of cashing alive. By adding our 3 game handicap of 84 pins, we finished (+462) / 462 pins over a 200 avg / per game / per bowler.

Now, we waited for tournament director Joe Ardiri to tally up the score sheets and announce the cashers. Within the doubles tourney, there was an optional singles event of 65 entries. In the end, the trophy and $450 winners check was awarded to Tonya DeMarino and Bud Mann of Mahwah, NJ, who finished (+589). Bud Mann had the big night, also winning the singles event and an extra $170. Robert and I were happy with our performance as we finished 7th , pocketing $60.

For more tournament info, please go to (www.hitorlanes.com).

Tonya DeMarino and Bud Mann of Mahwah, NJ.

It was a beautiful day at the Overlook Driving Range located between Lititz and Fruitville Pike in Lancaster, Pa. Here, I competed in a LDA Tournament (Long Drivers of America).

Long Drivers of America is sponsored by Re-Max. The object of this sport is to register your longest drive. Each golfer is given 6 balls to register a drive, which must end in a grid. The grid starts at 270 yards and measures 40 yards wide.

After plucking down 2 Andrew Jackson's for entry into the contest, I warmed up using my SMT 455 grooveless driver, made for long drive.While practicing, I noticed the fairway was dry and decided to go with a lower trajectory shot, which would roll further. After hitting 40 plus balls, I hear my name called to report to the tee box. Here, we go.

In today's competition, golfers were paired, each alternating tries. OK, my turn. OB - left. OB means out of bounds. That's not good. Again, OB. Come on Scott, I tell myself. Finally, on my fifth try, I connected for a 295 yarder. Not bad. But, not long enough.

I leave the facility and have lunch with 2 friends I'm visiting, Scott and Mike Mancini. They ask, "Are you going again." I know I can hit it longer. I reply, "Of course, I am."

We come back into the park and hear the leading drive is 356 yards by Dan Osborne from Downington, PA. I throw down another $40 and here we go again. This time, on my second hit, I scorched a medium trajectory shot that worked its way left to right coming to a halt in the grid at 323 yards. That's more like it. My all - time high.

Although, I fell short of qualifying by 33 yards to move onto the districts, I leave with a sense that I can compete. I'll work on my swing over the winter to gain more clubhead speed and come back in 2008 with the goal of making it to the next level of competition.