Indiana Harbor
Athletic & Recreation Association

NEW CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN TEAM CHALLENGE IN 2002
Rays Lanes defeats Irwin Mortgage,
Kofoids Pro Shop, and The Green Machine in Finals

| Championship Finals | Second Chance | Baker Bracket |
| Individual Scores | Team Scores |

Ray's Lanes counted on their talented lineup and a little bit of luck to carry them past a star-studded tournament field in the IAA's eighth annual World Team Challenge Qualifier December 15, 2002 at Hebron Lanes. Anchored by PBA Regional titliest Bob Hileman, Ray's rebounded from a devastating 9th and 10th game performance in the Baker Match Play round which dropped them from 3rd to 6th in the overall standings to defeat Plaza Lanes Pro Shop in the final qualifying round match, which, coupled with a complete collapse of Sid Given's fourth place "Mix" quintet, allowed Ray's to sneak into the championship round in fourth place. Joining the eventual tournament champions in the championship round were two-time defending champions and the tournament's top qualifier Kofoids Pro Shop, 1997 runners-up "The Green Machine", and Irwin Mortgage, a team comprised of several of the area's young guns participating in the finals for the first time.

The championship round's first match featured Ray's Lanes and Irwin Mortgage. The two-game match was tight throughout, with Ray's holding a slight lead into the 9th frame of the final game. In a turn of events that no one could have foreseen, Brain Gunn (Ray's Lanes) missed a ten pin appearing to give the match to Irwin, however, Hileman struck out in the tenth, forcing Irwin anchor Al Dobolrowski to mark in the tenth to secure victory. Dobolrowski, a member of the 1998 champions, shot missed right on the difficult "sport" conditions leaving a "washout" which he failed to convert, allowing Ray's to advance. In the battle of the tourney's tops seeds, The Green Machine then rolled by Kofoid's Pro Shop, sending the two-time defending champs into the semifinal match against Ray's. Again, this match came down to the anchormen, PBA National Titliest Eugene McCune (Kofoid's) and Hileman. Hileman's spare in the tenth forced McCune to strike out for victory but a stubborn ten pin in the eleventh frame eliminated the defending champs. Ray's then cruised by "The Green Machine" in the finals.

Members of the championship team included Jay Bridges, Brian Gunn, Don Draia, 2002 ABC Singles Champion Mark Millsap, and Hileman. Tim Green, Scott Tucker, Rick Tucker, Scott Golden, and Gregg Schmied comprised the Green Machine, while the defending champs featured McCune, 2002 IAA & GCABA Bowler of the Year Bob Kammer Jr, 2002 Indiana Masters Champion Mike Kubacki, 2002 Indiana State Doubles Champion Mark Kofoid, and 5-time IAA Bowler of the Year Ricky Woloszyn. Irwin Mortgage's young guns were Dobolrowski, John Cleve, John Yanek, Mike Pollard, and Jason Starzak.

Eugene McCune's 789 series in qualifying set a new tournament record. Other top individual efforts were posted by I/N Tek's Rodney Rosenbaum 664, and Jeffrey Topp 645, Hobart Lane's Jeff Snuffer 649, Kubacki 643, Woloszyn 644, Yanek 650, Rick Tucker 647, Millsap 656, and Olympia IAA's Dave Bohlin 662.

The tournament's second chance event was won by "The Mix" who edged Team Springer in the finals. The second chance featured the twelve teams who failed to advance to the championship round. Members of the "Mix" were Givens, Butch Bodnar, Jimmi George, Earnest Lipscomb, and Carl Dudley.

Rays Lanes and the Green Machine were awarded entries into a ABC World Team Challenge regional qualifier. Ray's will be participating in Mechanicsburg, PA while The Green Machine will travel to Columbus, Ohio. In all, sixteen teams participated in the event.

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