Jeff Austreng, Masters champion; Libbi Fletcher, MDUSBC President; Chuck Morris, Masters runner-up

JEFF AUSTRENG WINS $3,000 FIRST PRIZE IN MDUSBC MASTERS AT THUNDERBOWL LANES

Jeff Austreng of Clarkston won the Metro Detroit USBC Association Masters Tournament at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park Sunday when he defeated Charles Morris of Redford 592-534 and 672-596 to win the $3,000 first prize and the title. Morris settled for the second place check of $1,500.

Austreng, a 36-year-old bowling center manager at 300 Bowl in Waterford Township, was the 15^th qualifier with eight-game total of 1,623. He had the top average of the event with 216.2 for the entire tournament and 219.8 in match play. He remained in the winner’s bracket by defeating Jerome Jaracz of Clinton Township 607-553 and Edward Grace of Howell 718-577 before falling to Paul Szumny of Commerce Township 607-554. Once he fell into the lower bracket he caught fire with wins over Richard Wayne of Westland 671-547, Keith Kingston of Farmington Hills 621-559, Ken Wyatt of Sterling Heights 722-666 which included a perfect 300 game, John Nolen of Waterford Township 632-559 and Paul Hutchinson of Dearborn 803-597 to advance to the final match where he had to defeat Morris twice to win the title.

Austreng’s series against Hutchinson included games of 246, 278 and 279. He won the event in 2005 and was runner-up in 2000 to Chris Sand.

“I’m ecstatic about the win,” said Austreng. “It’s pretty cool to shoot 300 and 803 in this type of environment which places a premium on good shot making.”

Morris averaged 207.9. He qualified eighth with 1,653 and averaged 208.4 in match play. He remained in the winner’s bracket with triumphs over Jason Battishill of Clarkston 666-589, defending champion David Ewald of Macomb 707-565, Gary Wodowski of Harrison Township 597-557, Ken Wyatt 629-550 and Hutchinson 647-614. This was  Morris’ highest finish in the Masters.

Paul Hutchinson of Dearborn qualified 30^th with 1,579, averaged 205.2 and took home $1,000 for his third place finish. He remained in the winner’s bracket with victories over Mike Lee of Dearborn Heights 652-539, Fred Bauss of Eastpointe 652-649, Keith Kingston 583-577, Paul Szumny 659-542 before suffering his first loss to Morris 647-614 and falling to the lower bracket and losing to Austreng 803-597.

Nolen placed fourth averaging 204.5 and winning $650. After qualifying 22^nd with 1,601 he beat Eric Tulley of Southfield 687-644 before losing to Keith Kingston 593-489. In the lower bracket he beat Jason Battishill 656-619, Edward Grace 718-577, Gary Wodowski 638-520, Ryan Wilson of Garden City 617-571 and Paul Szumny 659-636 before being knocked out of the tournament by Austreng 632-559.

Wyatt and Szumny each earned $450 for their efforts. Wilson and Kingston took home $350 each for seventh and eighth respectively.

Defending champion David Ewald of Macomb finished 10^th for $275 and former champion Dave Tulak of Taylor (1988) finished 27^th for $200.

Sponsors of the MDUSBC Masters were Turbo 2-N-1 Grips, Red Robin Restaurants of Michigan and Ansara's Big Boy Restaurants.

The MDUSBC Masters Tournament was contested on the PBA Viper pattern and is an USBC Sport Bowling certified event operated by the Metro Detroit USBC Association, the largest local association of the United States Bowling Congress with more than 80,000 members.

MASTERS TOURNAMENT AT THUNDERBOWL LANES

CO-SPONSORED BY:

TURBO 2-N-1 GRIPS

RED ROBIN RESTAURANTS OF MICHIGAN

ANSARA'S BIG BOY RESTAURANTS

ALTERNATE FOR MATCH PLAY

     33   Clint Miller                              Sterling Heights                          196.50                $150

PL       NAME                                                CITY                           SCORE                      WINNINGS

34.       Mason Brantley                                 Detroit                        1572               $     100.00

35.       Donald McClain                                Allen Park                  1571               $     100.00

36.       Daniel Kelsey                                    Novi                            1570               $     100.00

37.       Christopher Simonson                     Howell                         1569               $     100.00

38t.      Rick Capaldi                                     Canton                        1568               $     100.00

38t.      Richard Rathburn                              New Baltimore           1568               $     100.00

HIGH QUALIFIER

            Jay Lang                                            Sterling Heights         1789               $    125.00

HIGH 4 GAME BLOCK OUT OF THE MONEY

            Randy Warnken                                Clinton Township       871                 $      75.00

            Dave Eatmon                                    Ferndale                     843                 $      75.00

            Joshua Daniels                                 Garden City               839                 $      75.00

Richard Pribula                                 Macomb                     833                 $      75.00

QUALIFYING RESULTS: