Letscher begins PBA Senior Tour

Marty Letscher has joined the PBA Senior Tour for 2007.
Letscher, proprietor of McKinley Lanes in Niles, is entered in the opening event -- the Manassas (Va.) Open, April 28-May 1.
Letscher, who has been a PBA member since 1979, never gave up his PBA card and won eight regional titles while competing on the regular tour.
Letscher finished third twice -- in the PBA national championship in Toledo in 1992 and the U.S. Open in 1998 when he made the TV finals.
"I've been looking forward to this," said Letscher, who became eligible for the Senior Tour when he turned 50 in November.
Not to be confused with the Generations Bowling Tour, the PBA Senior Tour comprises 13 tournaments, including the Senior U.S. Open (in Las Vegas, June 17-22) and Senior Masters (in Reno, June 8-13).
"I'm all set to go," Letscher said.
He plans to bowl in at least three-quarters of the events, depending on distance and travel.
After Manassas, Letscher said he'll bowl in the Northern Illinois Classic in Waukegan, Ill. (May 12-16) and Dayton Classic (May 18-22).
He'll then go out west for the Tucson Open (June 9-13) before stopping in Las Vegas.
At McKinley, Letscher has been getting good response to his anticipated "PBA Lanes Conditions Experience."
Starting May 1 and running through the summer, the experience simulates the five different PBA lane conditions.
"It's a singles handicap league for guys who think they can handle it," Letscher said.
"We'll put down the five different oil patterns, so bowlers can experience what PBA bowlers do. We've received a lot of interest in it."
Ladies & amp; Legends
Scheduled between Manassas and Waukegan is the PBA Hammer Ladies & amp; Legends, May 5-10.
After a more than 10-year hiatus, the event returns to the PBA Senior Tour. The 2007 Hammer Ladies and Legends is presented by the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors Association.
The event takes place at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Ill., and offers 15,000 to the winning team. The top 24 seniors and top 24 women will advance after 15 games of qualifying, with one woman and one senior teaming up based on qualifying position for the Baker-style match play rounds.
A minimum of 2,000 will go to each team that advances to match play, with additional cash spots awarded in the Senior, Super Senior and Ladies divisions.
Past champions include Jim Brenner and Cheryl Daniels, who picked up the inaugural Ladies and Legends title in El Cajon, Calif., in 1995, and Mike Kench and Liz Johnson, who won the event in 1996.
Sauerwein rolls 813
Larry Sauerwein had 289-265-259 -- 813 in Ron Haus Auto Classic at Camelot April 18. Ameristate Bancorp won Ron Haus' fourth quarter with Joe Cullen Sr., Joe Cullen, Jr., Russ Anania, Chris Bletso, Bob Diamond and Dino Balkan.
J.D. Bossone produced Window World/Casper Welding's top three games on April 3 (297-258-256) for 811. That was 143 pins higher than the next-closest series.
Bob Mraz rolled his second 300 for Frank's Greenhouse while Chris Morrison had 299 for an 811 series bowling for Mamonis Pro Shop in Thursday Night Sportsman at Wedgewood.
Tom Dobos had 300-794 and Rob Lucente 300-786 in Spiech Classic at Bell-Wick April 16. Lucente had a career-best 816 in the same league April 9.
Joe Beeson Sr. had 300 in Spiech Classic at Bell-Wick April 23 when Adam Barta's 794 and Matt Mariano's 725 were the top sets.
bassetti@vindy.com