Bowling: A kid again, Kretzer reaches milestone

It was more than a win for Brian Kretzer, it was a milestone.

Kretzer’s recent championship finish in the PBA50 Mel Westrich Memorial/Ebonite Central/Midwest Open in Delphos marked his 20th career PBA title. The veteran bowler has claimed one PBA national title and 19 PBA Regional title — es three this year since joining the PBA50 ranks.

“It’s been great,” Kretzer said. “I was still competitive against the kids until I was about 48. All of a sudden, you turn 50 and you’re the kid. It’s pretty nice.”

It didn’t look promising early as Kretzer was 240 pins out of first place after eight games of qualifying Saturday but turned it around Sunday with a 458-pin swing.

“I went from 12th to first,” Kretzer said.

It’s been a strong season for the PBA50 rookie who, in addition to three regional titles, has finished in the top five in nine of 16 tournaments this season, including two runner-up finishes.

“Other than winning, the goal is always to make the top five,” he said.

Kretzer can add to his growing list of tournament titles as he competes this week in the PBA50/PBA60 Doubles Central Open in Canton.

West shines: University of Pikeville sophomore Angel West led all bowlers to propel the Bears to a team title at the Thomas Burris Memorial Classic. The Wayne High School graduate's tournament-leading performance also helped her earn Mid-South Conference women's bowler of the week honors.

Raiders tested: Wright State's women finished fifth out of 30 teams at the 46th Annual Midwest Bowling Championships in Wisconsin. It was the first Tier I event of the 2016-17 United States Bowling Congress collegiate season. The men finished 15th out of 40 teams. Webber International took the men's title while Grand View won the women's title. The Raiders will be close to home Oct. 15-16 at the Orange and Black Classic at Beaver-Vu Bowl and Poelking South.

Queens Tournament: The Annual GDUSBC Angie Kreitzer Queens Tournament is slated for Oct. 29-30 at Poelking Lanes, 1403 Wilmington Ave. The tournament is open to women who average 170 or above. The format will be six games of qualifying Saturday with the top 16 returning Sunday for double-elimination match play. The top four will face off in the stepladder finals and the top eight are guaranteed to cash. For information or an entry form, visit www.daytonbowler.com/.

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