Two in a row for McKenzie

Youth kegler Marion McKenzie started his own streak in the SBA/Fiji Water Prince of the Lanes after ruling the June roll-off last Sunday at the Saipan Bowling Center.

McKenzie, who snapped M.J. Aldan’s four straight victory after winning the May roll-off, made it back-to-back, following a three-game total of 706 pinfalls. He was the lone youth bowler in the field of five to score at least 700 pinfalls in the weekend roll-off, as eventual runner-up Leeanne Yarobwemal mustered only 693 pinfalls and Aldan had only 583 to settle for third.

Yarobwemal boosted her chances for a first monthly win when she led after two games (187 and 179), but faltered in the end after slowing down in the last two games (142 and 185). McKenzie fell behind Yarobwemal after two games, 331-366, but grabbed the lead after a solid closing game (173 and 202).

Marion’s younger brother, Marcel, and Ryan Batac completed the field with their 489 and 390 pinfalls, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Budweiser King and Queen of the Lanes also had repeat winners in Ron Cal and Robert Talavera.

Talavera missed Day 1 of the roll-offs last Saturday, but when he appeared in the final day of the monthly competition, he ended up with the tournament’s best score (964 pinfalls).

Talavera stole the June title from Percy Omechelang, who led in Day 1 with his 810 pinfalls. Omechelang also bowled last Sunday and surpassed his Saturday score, but his 869 pinfalls were good only for second place. Bowlers in the adults’ roll-offs are allowed to compete in two days, but only the higher score is counted.

Raymond Zapanta also bowled for two days and his Day 1 score of 768 pinfalls handed him a third-place finish.

Talavera bested Omechelang, Zapanta, and 18 other male keglers after his consistent game on Sunday, as he knocked down more than 200 pins in all four games. The June winner got off to a strong start with 274 pinfalls in Game 1 and then tallied 226, 235, and 229 in the last three games for an impressive average of 241 pinfalls.

In the Queen of the Lanes, Cal’s Day 1 score (664) stood out, as Day 2 top scorer Carol McKenzie managed only 638 pinfalls and settled for runner-up honors. Gloria Omechelang completed the Top 3 with her 628 pinfalls.

Cal had her best showing in Game 2, logging 190 pinfalls. She posted 163, 150, and 161 pinfalls in the three other games for an average of 166 pinfalls.

With Cal and Talavera getting their second monthly plums, they joined Diane Camacho in the list of multiple monthly winners. Incidentally, Cal and Talavera won their first monthly title in the same month—February.