Milwaukee Lake Park Lawn Bowling Association

Six MLPLBA members represented the Central Division at the Bowls USA National Championships in Long Beach, CA October 20-25, 2015.

• Women’s Singles – Pat Wimmer
• Women’s Pairs – Anna Witt/Rebecca Nguyen (3^rd place)
• Men’s Singles – Steve Nelson (2^nd place)
• Men’s Pairs – Bob Schneider/Rob Behncke (1^st place)

This team tournament was held on October 10, 2015. 16 players participated and were divided into two teams of 8 players each. The teams competed against each other in Pairs and Singles competitions. The team of Carl Landgren, Rob Behncke, Jim Grzybowski, Mark Mathwig, Matt de St. Aubin, Pat Wimmer, Bob Schneider, Brian Schieble came out ahead. Chili was provided by Joe Zinna and Jim Grzybowski. Leif Andresen organized the tournament and provided excellent Mariachi music.

This Bowls USA tournament was held in the Los Angeles, CA area September 26 – October 3. There were 190 male and 82 female participants, including our own Anna Witt and Rob Behncke. Max Cavender, associate member, also played. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the format of the Open, any team reaching the Championship Flight finals has not lost a game going in.  Reaching the finals in another flight means you have lost only one game.  Considering the competition, which consists of some of the best bowlers from the US as well as many top bowlers from other countries, getting to the finals in any of these events is a great accomplishment.

• Anna Witt
  • Fours. 4th Flight. 2nd Place (partners Lorraine Hitchcock of SC Division, Laura Copper and Beverly Hadley of Australia)
  • Pairs. 2nd Flight. 1st Place (partner Brenda Wright of SW Division)
• Rob Behncke
  • Fours. 4th Flight. 1st Place (partners Ash Christie, Tim Christie, and Danyon Christis of Australia)
• Max Cavender
  • Fours. 4th Flight. 2nd Place (partners Aaron Zangl, Scott Roberts, Charlie Herbert of SW Division)
  • Pairs. Championship Flight. 2nd place (partner Matt Bauchiero of SW Division)
  • Singles. 5th Flight. 2nd Place

You can check out all the results here: http://bowlsusa.us/us_open/2015/results.php.

Veteran and novice bowlers came together to form six pairs teams and competed against each other in a 6-end round robin tournament on September 26, 2015. The tournament director was Carl Landgren. Results were:

• 1^st place:     Carl Landgren/Min Waite
• 2^nd place (tie):    Crandall Hays/Barb Gamoke and Pat Wimmer/Joanne Moll

This men’s only tournament was held on September 12, 2015. Ten men formed 5 pairs teams.  Thank you to tournament co-directors, Bob Schneider and Leif Andresen.

• 1^st place: Bob Schneider/Matt de St. Aubin
• 2^nd place: Rob Behncke/Jim Cavender
• 3^rd place: Crandall Hays/John Kirkwood

This women’s only tournament was held on September 12, 2015. Four women took turns playing with and against each other in a round-robin pairs tournament. Pat Wimmer was the decisive winner. Tiebreakers were needed to determine the final standings of the remaining participants. Thank you to tournament director, Glorianne Mather.

MLPLBA hosted the Central Division Playdowns Pairs tournament on August 15-16, 2015.  MEN – Steve Nelson needed all of his experience in national and international play to get by his long time pairs partner Carl Landgren and win the 2015 Singles Playdowns.  Both players were on their games in the 90 degree heat.  The match featured fifteen 1-point ends and a multitude of brilliant shots.  On the last end, Steve was up 19-18 and lying three with his bowls within 12 inches of the jack.  Carl then drew down inside Steve’s shot bowl.  With his last bowl, Steve rolled Carl’s bowl out of the head for the two shots he needed for the win.  Landgren finished in second place with Leif Andresen in third.

WOMEN – Pat Wimmer won the double elimination match against second year bowler Min Waite.  This will be the third year in a row that Pat has ably represented the Central Division.

Steve and Pat, both members of MLPLBA, will be representing the Central Division at the National Championships in Long Beach, CA from October 20-25, 2015.

MLPLBA hosted the Central Division Open Singles tournament on August 8-9, 2015. Eleven bowlers participated. Max Cavender edged out three time national champion Bob Schneider to capture the 2015 Central Division Singles title.  Bob had a 10 to 5 point advantage in the 18 shot final, but Max played some dynamic bowls to even up the match at 12 and then forge ahead for the win.   Both players traded shot after shot throughout the game which made it a very exciting and entertaining event to watch.  In the battle for third place, Steve Nelson played his usual steady and deadly bowls to defeat Anna Witt.   Jim Grzybowski was at the top of his game and took out Rob Behncke for first place in Flight A.  Pat Wimmer outlasted Glen Weber to win Flight B. The tournament director was Anna Witt. Special thanks to our volunteer markers, John Kirkwood, Margie Knitter, and Michael Bennett. Results were:

• Championship Flight 1^st place: Max Cavender
• Championship Flight 2^nd place: Bob Schneider
• Championship Flight 3^rd place: Steven Nelson
• Championship Flight 4^th place: Anna Witt
• A Flight 1^st place: Jim Grzybowski
• A Flight 2^nd place: Rob Behncke
• B Flight 1^st place: Pat Wimmer