| Larry Walker, Champion; Dan Williams, Mgr Cherry Hill Lanes Aaron Lorincz, runnerup |
A COLOSSAL WIN FOR LARRY WALKER
Larry Walker won the 44th Budweiser Michigan Majors Championship at Cherry Hill
Lanes. This one was huge for Walker. Walker won the Championship for a record third
time. He won also in 1990 and 1997. This was the 9th title overall for Walker.
Aaron Lorincz, the defending champion, was the leading qualifier. He far outdistanced
the 64 entrants with a six game record 1560 score on games of 267-213-277-255-300-
248. Walker had the only other 300 game of the tournament in the stepladder.
The opening match pitted two members bowling in their first finals match. Anthony
Hargar II defeated Dan Folks 247-207.
The next match was a real heart breaker for Hargar. A youngster of 19 was going
against Ken Wyatt, a MMBA Hall of Famer with 9 titles. Hargar working on a strike in his
9th frame needed the first strike in his 10th frame for the win. He left a solid 9 pin for a
227-226 loss to Wyatt.
The semi-final match had two Hall of Famers going at it. They bowled like Hall
members. Wyatt had two 10 pins in his 4th and 7th frames for a 258 game. Walker had
his 9th 300 game in Michigan Majors competition.
The championship match came down to open frames. Lorincz had two splits and
Walker one in a 225-210 win for Walker. Walker was so excited after the 1st strike in his
10th for the win; he jumped in the air and spun around almost falling.
Lorincz said, “This was exciting to almost win back to back Championship. I want a
rematch.”
Walker said, “This was huge the most rewarding win I have had. I will be 55 next week
and I never thought I was going to win again against these talented young kids.”
They will be going at it again in the Tournament of Champions on December 17 at
Taylor Lanes. This tournament is for only those that has won a title.
FINAL STANDINGS
Larry Walker (Garden City) $1500
Aaron Lorincz (Saginaw) $850
Ken Wyatt (Sterling Hgts) $650
Anthony Hargar II (Flint) $550
Dan Folks (Belleville) $450
Bob Chamberlain Jr. (Holly) $300
Ryan Mitter (St. Clair Shores) $280
Nick Wissinger (Clinton Twp) $250
Ed Danner (Otter Lake) $240
Paul Kwiecien (Lansing) $230;
Eddie Grace (Howell) $220
Val Sherlock (Flint) $200; Kerry Kreft (Warren) $180;
Scott Kapke (Canton) $140
Rick Gregor (Sterling Hgts) $130
Bryan O’Dell (Alma) $120