Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
A Kimball man is on a hot streak after the first weekend of the Kimball Hospital Foundation 9 pin no-tap bowling tournament.
Henry Barker sits atop the leader board after rolling a perfect 900 series Saturday night at the KimBowl, scoring three consecutive 300 games to land in first place in men's singles competition. Barker, who carries a 216 average, was able to add 9 handicap pins to score a 909 series. He currently leads Greg McDaniel of Kimball, who rolled two 300 games Saturday and now sits in second place in men's singles with an 875 series.
In the 9-pin no-tap format, any bowler who knocks down nine or more pins on his or her first ball is awarded a strike. No-tap bowling is often used to help less talented individuals bowl with more talented bowlers on a level playing field. The tournament features league and non-league divisions for men's and women's singles and mixed doubles.
"We had a fun first weekend and hope to see more folks join us next weekend," said Kerry Ferguson, director of the Kimball Hospital Foundation. "People really like the 9 pin no-tap format and it's open to league and non-league bowlers of all ages and abilities."
Two Scottsbluff women lead the adult league doubles division with a 1636 series. Angel Bering and Monica Garcia lead Brandon Barker and Cecilia Biberos, both of Kimball, who scored a 1589 and Paul and Mary Parsons of Cheyenne, who sit in third with 1536.
Alexis Lulf of Kimball sits atop the women's singles division with an 866 series. She leads Jenifer Gompert of Kimball with 860 pins and Jennifer Gillming of Kimball with 764.
This year's tournament features a new prize format, not only awarding cash prizes on a 1 of 6 ratio, but adding a $50 bonus cash award for the high scoring man and woman in each of 10 sessions.
After the first weekend, $50 bonus winners include Lulf, Gompert, Gillming, McDaniel, Henry Barker, Creg Barker and Thomas Lenzen of Kimball.
All players who score a perfect 300 game will be entered in a drawing for $100 in pro shop merchandise, sponsored by KimBowl.
The tournament is a fundraiser to help the Foundation purchase a new nurse call system for Kimball Health Services. It resumes this Saturday at 1, 3:30 and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m.
Anyone who would like to join can call the KimBowl at (308) 235-4301.