| Jeff Austreng, Nick Wissinger - Champions; Kristin Goike, Lodge Lanes Manager Troy Stus, Larry Walker - Runnerup |
WISSINGER – AUSTRENG PREVAIL IN THE 22ND MMBA DOUBLES
Nick Wissinger and Jeff Austreng won the 22nd Budweiser Michigan Majors Doubles
tournament at Lodge lanes in Belleville. This was the 3rd title for Austreng and the 14th for
Wissinger. The 4th doubles title for Wissinger, the first with Austreng.
Wissinger-Austreng were also the leading qualifiers. Wissinger had 1533 and Austreng 1473
for a 3006 score. This is a record six game qualifying score for the doubles. There were two 300
games by Larry walker and Jeff Peoples.
The opening match of the Baker stepladder final had Jeff Grego-Bill Kazmierski defeat Rick
Gregor-Jeff Peoples 246-209. The Baker system has the pair alternate frames with each bowler
bowling five frames.
The next match saw two MMBA Hall of Famers, Troy Stus-Larry Walker eliminate Grego-
Kazmierski 237-199.
The end of the next two matches proved the old Yogi Berra saying of its not over til the fat
lady sings or its not over until its over.
Jeff Roche-Terry Haines trailed Stus-Walker by 14 pins going into the 9th frame. Walker left a
pocket 7-10 split and Stus completed the game with a spare, strike for 216. Haines needed a
mark for the win. He left a 3-10 split, which he failed to convert for a 210 game.
Stus-Walker with new life started with 4 strikes to give them a 31-pin lead as Wissinger –
Austreng had an open in their lst 4 frames. Wissinger-Austreng found their touch and closed
with 6 strikes for 237. This forced Walker to either strike, or spare, strike, spare for the win. He
came up light for a 7-pin count failing to convert the spare for 224.
“I didn’t want to see Walker up in the 10th frame the way he was locked in, but you just never
know,” Said Wissinger. “What a way to finish and get that title,” said Austreng.
Wissinger didn’t know if he could bowl right up to Friday. He told Austreng to find a partner if
he wanted to. Jeff said, “No I’ll wait and am I glad I did.”
FINAL STANDINGS
Nick Wissinger (Sterling Hgts)-Jeff Austreng (Waterford) $1500
Troy Stus (South Lyon)-Larry Walker (Garden City) $900
Terry Haines (Dearborn Hgts)-Jeff Roche (Dearborn) $800
Jeff Grego (Waterford)-Bill Kazmierski (Pinconning) $700
Rick Gregor (Sterling Hgts)-Jeff Peoples (Clinton Twp) $600
Eddie Grace (Howell) – Ken Wyatt (Sterling Hgts) $400
Dale Hofmeister (Essexville)- Bo Goergen (Stanford) $350
Ken Jordan (Burton)- Neville Kirby (Midland) $300
Mason Brantley (Detroit)-Gerald Johnson (Taylor) $250
Mark Robertson (Wayne)-Joe Balanger (Westland) $200.