Panera Bread steps up to sponsor PBA

A few changes have surfaced surrounding the PBA Hubbard Open, which will return for a second straight year starting Friday at Bell-Wick Bowl.

With the addition of main sponsorship, the event is now known as the Panera Bread PBA Hubbard Open presented by the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau.

“That’s good for us,” said Jim Bryant, who is co-tournament director along with Bell-Wick proprietor Francis Zitnik.

Another late change leading up to the St. Patrick’s Day weekend affair is a kickoff party/meet-and-greet on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at Quaker Steak and Lube in Sharon, Pa., where defending champion Ryan Ciminelli and Rhino Page will sign autographs.

“They were the largest draw last year as far as being popular,” Bryant said of Ciminelli and Page, who were among the 100 competing in the inaugural PBA Hubbard Open in March 2011.

“We’re hoping to eclipse that,” Bryant said of the field size, “but we’ll have a better idea on Tuesday when it’ll be posted on pba.com.”

However, entries will continue to be accepted until Thursday at midnight.

Bryant was one of the top three finishers in the Quality Inn-Liberty qualifier. Joining Bryant as qualifiers were Chuckie Zarbaugh and Mike Smallwood.

All three received paid entries into the Hubbard Open based on their scores attained on March 4.

Bryant’s four-game total was 885 while Zarbaugh rolled 879 and Smallwood 876.

“I was going to bowl anyway, so why not take the chance and win a paid entry,” said Bryant, who, because of his regional touring pro status, would had to have dished out $220. Zarbaugh and Smallwood saved themselves the non-member rate of $285.

Even those who failed to earn a paid entry via the Quality Inn Qualifier aren’t shut out if they pay the $285 (amateur fee) by the deadline and meet the eligibility requirement (200 average based on 36 games or more).

Ferrara has 841

Mark Ferrara’s 300-841 led Spiech Classic at Bell-Wick on Feb. 27, when Frank Florjancic also had a perfect game.

Mike Domer’s 824 topped Ron Haus Auto bowlers at Wedgewood on March 3.

Perfect games were rolled by four individuals on the same night in Belchyk/Action Plumbing Classic at Holiday recently when Adam Barta, Jim Dodge, John Cambert and Tom Razo had 300s.

Two 300s were rolled in West Side’s Monday Classic on March 5 by Steve Harper Sr. and Rich Thompson.

Teri Haefke had 300-780 in Thursday Matchplay Ladies at Amron on Feb. 23 (week 24 of 30).

Michalojko winner

Bob Bures Sr. of Mentor won the 11th annual Mickey Michalojko Memorial Scratch Bowling Tournament at New Castle’s Colonial Lanes.

A field of 144 from seven states competed for the $2,200 first-place prize.

Bures captured the title by averaging 215 for the four games of qualifying. He fought his way through the tough finals competition and posted a two-game score of 450 — just two pins higher than runner-up Artie Fink Jr. of Altoona, Pa.

Larry Verble of Mason, Mich., was third and John George of Tarentum, Pa., was fourth.

On the last shot, Fink needed nine pins to win, but his shot went wide and he got a 6-count to hand the title to Bures.

Pizza Joe’s was the main sponsor of the event, which raised $1,700 in scholarship money for area junior bowlers.