Local Bowler Hits Jackpot In Reno

Matt Surina was so focused on his goal he completely overlooked the big picture. Now he’s the focal point for bowlers around the country.

Surina, 43, the Diamond Bowl pro, shot a record-tying 826 three-game series during the second weekend of the American Bowling Congress Tournament in Reno, Nev., to lead the singles competition.

“This is definitely one of the biggest thrills I’ve ever had,” Surina, a three-time winner on the PBA Tour from 1971-81, told the Reno Gazette Journal after his memorable series.

And this month alone has been a big one for him. He added an endorsement when he was signed by Pro Sports Systems as area representative for Contour Power Grips, and on Valentine’s Day he became engaged to Joyce Johnson.

But that was all overshadowed in Reno, and Surina capped the effort with his 10th sanctioned 300 game.

“I was all excited about (getting) the 300 and didn’t think about an 800 (series) or all that other stuff,” he said.

“Afterward, someone asked if I knew I had tied the record,” he said. “I didn’t. I think it’s great.”

Surina led into his perfect finish with games of 268 and 258.

Julie Heath, who has been bowling 26 years, collected her first 300 game Feb. 15 at Sports Page subbing for friend, Julie Twiss, in the Rainier Tigress Scratch league.

“It was exciting,” said Heath, who is now 28 sanctioned 300s behind husband Sean. “It’ll take me a while to catch up, but it’s nice to know some of (his magic) rubs off,” she said.

Twiss, who earlier this season rolled a 288, said the difference in finishing the perfect game and settling for something less was relaxation.

“I just went in relaxed,” she said. “I didn’t even think about a 300 until after the 11th ball. I’ve had 10 (strikes) in a row before, and on the 11th ball I was shaking so bad I couldn’t do anything. This time, after the 12th, I just collapsed.”

Also in the Tigress Scratch, Darci Schelling pounded out a 289 game and Lesa Hambleton put together a 708 series.

Julie Twiss and Pearl Burchett are the singles and all-events leaders after the first weekend of the Spokane Women’s Bowling Association city tournament.

Twiss, who had a high game of 278, leads the A handicap singles with a 732 and the all-events with a 1,945.

Burchett, who had her first scratch 600 series in more than 30 years, a 608, leads the B division with a handicap singles score of 779 and the all-events with a 1,613. The tourney winds up this weekend.

A Spokane quintet - Sandy’s Boys - compiled 36 points out of a possible 48 to win a 16-team Swiss tournament at Saw Mill Lanes in Post Falls.

Sandy Hanson teammed with Kyle and Sean Heath, Gary Gwinnup and Mike Hanson to pocket $1,000. GMAC Mortgage Co., with Rick Jones captain, was second and Columbia Lanes of Wenatchee, Max Faulkner captain, third.

Jones had the high six-game series, a 1,286.