Indiana Harbor
Athletic & Recreation Association

KOFOID's PRO SHOP DEFENDS TEAM CHALLENGE TITLE
Defeats Hobart Lanes, KP Shrimphouse in Match Play Finals

| Final Results | Standings | Individual Scores | Second Chance |

Kofoid's Pro Shop became the first team to successfully defend it's championship in the seven year history of the World Team Challenge event hosted at Hebron Lanes. The return trip to victory circle did not come easy as the defending champs struggled through the qualifying portion, spending most of the day in fourth position, until a late surge propelled them into second place, some 200 pins behind tournament leaders, Hobart Lanes, at the completion of the 27-game qualifying segment.

Kofoid's tournament experience under the difficult team challenge conditions then made the difference as the other finalists - Hobart Lanes, KP Shrimp House, and Dirty Ed's , were all making their first appearance in the championship round. In the battle of the top seeds, Kofoid's defeated Hobart Lanes 438 - 339 in the 2-game baker match to advance to the finals. KP Shrimp House then defeated Dirty Ed's 360 - 328, setting up a semi-final match with Hobart Lanes. Hobart Lanes jumped out to a 186 - 137 lead, but, was unable to hold the lead, as KP strung the final six strikes to emerge with a 350 - 314 victory. The finals began with KP Shrimp clinging to a slim 190 - 188 lead at the midway point, but, a slow second game start, and opening strikes by Mike Kubacki, Mark Kodoid, and Rick Woloszyn was all the defending champs needed in route to a 391 - 354 victory. Other members of the champions are PBA tour member Eugene McCune and current IAA bowler of the year Bob Kammer Jr.

Sixteen teams comprised the events strongest and most well-balanced field in its seven year history. Hobart Lanes (Dave Reuhl, Gordy Baer, Jeff Snuffer, Mike Rustin, and Scott Dziebre) controlled the qualifing portion, never relinquishing first place. Baer's 639 paced all individual competitors. KP Shrimp House made a strong run through the Baker-portion of qualifying on the strength of their 5-1 match-play record, jumping from the eighth position to third. Members of KP Shrimp were George Clarke, Ken Parks, Leroy Johnson, Jay Bridges, and Don Draia. Dirty Ed's, Inland Athletic, Plaza Lanes, and I/N Kote-Tek all battled for the final qualifying position throughout the day with the final shots determining the qualifier. With Dirty Ed's Ed Olszewski needing to double in the tenth frame of the 27th game to advance, "Eddie O" answered the call with three clutch shots propelling his team past 3-time champions Inland Athletic by 9 pins, into fourth position, sending Inland Athletic to the consolation event or the first time in seven years. Dirty Ed's team members were Olszewski, Laird White, John Cleve, Butch Bodnar, and Al Dobolrowski.

The consolation event was won in dramatic fashion as the Green Machine (Tim Green, Rick Tucker, Gregg Schmied, Mike Carlson, and Joe Muino) defeated I/N Tek-Kote (Jeff Topp, Rick Podkul, Rod Rosenbaum, Robert Kindig, and Ron Jonas) 368 - 367.

Top individual performances were recorded by Gordy Baer 639, Eugene McCune 630, Jerry Michalak 634, and John Riffle 628. Hobart Lanes posted the high team game of 1,065 while Kodoids Pro Shop rolled the high baker game of 262.

Both Kofoids Pro Shop and KP Shrimp House will compete in the ABC World Team Challenge Regional championships in Indianapolis in February.

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