By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
May 7, 2002
The 55th Annual Mississippi State Bowling Tournament kicked off last Saturday and Sunday at Dixie Bowl Lanes with 35 teams, 85 doubles and 170 bowlers competing in singles.
The State Tournament will continue for five more weekends with the biggest weekend expected to be May 25-26.
In the singles event, Brian Napolion of Vicksburg leads after the first weekend with a 796 Handicap series (697 Scratch). Mitch Mitchell of Greenwood is in second with a 790 Handicap series (652 Scratch) and Greg Tompkins rounded out the top three with a 743 Handicap series (674 Scratch).
Tim Van Doren is the only bowler from Meridian in the top ten after the first weekend. He bowled a 729 series to place eighth after the first weekend.
Charlie Hufford of Oxford and Ben Edwards of Tupelo lead the Doubles with a 1464 series. Cliff Smith and Dennis Phillips of Greenville bowled a 1462 to take second after the weekend. Alan Topcik and Ronnie Thomas of Meridian rounded out the top three with a 1435 series.
In team competition, Window Shop from Columbus lead with a 3409 series. Graphic Arts, also from Columbus, is in second with a 3389. Dixie Bowl Class of Meridian, which had the High Scratch Series for the week, is currently in third place.
Dixie Bowl Class also bowled the High Team Scratch Game with an 1181. The team consists of Mike Cothern, Kenneth Miller, Jim Broderick, Jeffery Gaines and M.A. Copeland.
Andrew Clayton and Brian Gressett, both of Meridian, shared the high scratch game of the weekend with each rolling a 289. Clayton rolled his game in the singles event while Gressett rolled his during the doubles competition. High scratch series went to Edwards with a 775.
In Doubles, Kevin Hartigan and Don Wall ended the weekend with the High Scratch Game with a 525. The 1464 series bowled by Hufford and Edwards was the High Scratch Series for the weekend.
The All-Events totals are not completed yet but All-Event information should be ready next week.