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Hubbard Open champion relishes return
HUBBARD
Eugene McCune probably feels comfortable coming here for two reasons: one, it’s where he won the Hubbard Open in 2014 and, two, the drive here reminds him of home.
As a resident of Munster, Ind., McCune is just a mile or two from I-80.
When he returns to Hubbard this weekend as the defending champion, he can’t miss his eastward destination, either, because of Hubbard’s proximity to the interstate.
“If you keep on going on 80, you run into it,” McCune said of Munster, which is near the Illinois border, very similar to Hubbard’s distance from the Pennsylvania line.
Like his travels, the 46-year-old McCune hopes he’s on target on whatever Bell-Wick Bowl lanes he has to traverse for a shot at the first-place money that’s projected to be $2,500, or at least some of the rest of the purse payout.
A year ago, McCune defeated Erie’s Michael Machuga for the 2014 Hubbard Open title.
McCune’s return marks his third Bell-Wick appearance. The other previous champions are Ryan Ciminelli, Rhino Page and Joe Ciccone. Ciminelli was also a two-time runner-up for the second and third Hubbard Opens.
Along with Bell-Wick proprietor Francis Zitnik, Hubbard Open organizer/co-host Jim Bryant confirmed that Page isn’t participating. Machuga’s participation this year isn’t certain.
After his 2014 Hubbard Open win, the remainder of McCune’s bowling included a mediocre year on the PBA national tour and somewhat better results in the smattering of regionals in which he bowled.
“I did good in the regionals because I was allowed to play straight [more his A game] once in a while, but, on tour, my hook [or B game] didn’t have a chance. I can play up the gutter [coming straight off the gutter instead of trying to swing the gutter] better than most. There’s hook, so I can throw hard. I keep my speed to come in at a better angle to strike.”
In addition to Hubbard, McCune also won in Ft. Wayne, was No. 1 in point standings in the Central Region and won bowler-of-the-year in the Midwest Region.
“Bowler of year means that you’re just making money when you’re winning and placing second, other than that, it’s a plaque or trophy,” McCune said while working behind the pinsetting machines at Lynwood Lanes in Lynwood, Ill., about 20 miles south of Chicago, where he runs the pro shop.
So far this year, McCune has three top 20 national tour finishes: reached the finals and finished 26th in the Masters, 20th in the Touring Players Championship and 22nd in the Tournament of Champions.
In the double-elimination Masters, McCune reached the 64-man finals. The other two tournaments were round-robin, similar to Hubbard’s finals which cuts to the top 16.
“I changed a couple things, to get a little more hook on the ball,” he said of adjustments on the national tour to start 2015.
So it’s shaping up to be a decent year?
“It’s a little better, but not enough to retire or take a day off,” McCune said, “but at least it started in the right direction.”
His earnings so far have amounted to about $7,000.
McCune’s changed delivery involves a different pitch off of his fingers to produce a little more hook.
“It’s a little more rub off of my hand to get a little more lift,” the right-hander said.
Hubbard will be McCune’s first regional of 2015. Since the T. of C. in Indianapolis in mid-February, he tends to his pro shop business.
“Nothing tour-wise,” McCune said of his tour void, unless he went overseas.
A few other top bowlers expected for the March 20-22 event are Ryan Shafer and E.J. Tackett, last year’s tour rookie-of-the-year.
McCune’s most recent bowling was in an Indiana state tournament for team doubles and singles over the weekend.
McCune won’t hazard a guess as to his likelihood to repeat.
“I have no idea,” he said. “It depends how the lanes play. I don’t think I did very good there the year I had to hook it, but, last year, was a Cheetah pattern which calls for a hard and outside shot, which is to my advantage.”
This year, Bell-Wick will use the Scorpion pattern.
“I’ll have to get there, throw a couple shots and see what’s out there,” said McCune, who, obviously, won’t be satisfied without a top finish. “I’ve got to get it when I can get it. Cashing doesn’t cut it. If you’re not in the ‘show’ or top spots, you’re not making money you could live on.”