Steve Brownlee

Three bowlers won titles at the annual women’s association tournament conducted by the Marquette County U.S. Bowling Congress on Nov. 11 at River Rock Lanes in Ishpeming.

This was a two-division tournament with both singles and doubles. The wealth was spread around well, as nobody came to close to dominating both divisions.

The day opened with singles held in a traditional three-game format as Cis Dompierre came out on top with 615 that included handicap to win her $40 and a plaque.

Christy Pizziola was runner-up with 602, while Dindy Cousineau came in third with 596 in the 16-woman field.

Then the women paired off and bowled doubles in the Baker format, where partners alternated frames to come up with single-game scores.

I heard they were going to knock out a certain portion of the field after each game, though I’m not sure on that, but I did get a report on the finals, where Merilee Keller and Mary Gingras defeated Paulette Kordish and Cathy LePage in the championship match.

Jen Lake and Krissey Kampe finished third.

Keller and Gingras also pocketed $40 for winning their portion of the event.

That’s nine different names placing in the top three, a nice way to spread the wealth.

The association is putting plans together for its open association tournament, likely to be held in late March or April, though before that will be the third annual Marquette County Bowling Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

That will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17, at River Rock. I’ve been told I can let the cat out of the bag about who the 2017 inductees will be.

They are the late Everett Senobe, along with living enshrinees Mary Ann Mitchell, Patsy Ross and Jim “Roxy” Lawson.

What’s been estimated at about a hundred people have turned out each of the past two years, with everyone gathering in one of the building’s banquet rooms for testimonials about the honorees, then moving out to the lanes where the plaques are unveiled on the center’s wall behind lanes 13 to 16.

All in all, it makes for a nice several hours on a Sunday afternoon just before Christmas where one of the most tangible benefits are friends and families getting a chance to mingle with others they may not have seen in years.

Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.