Kansas couple makes history at USBC Open Championships
06/01/08
In the 71 years they've been married, Flossie and Al Duffey of Osage City, Kan., have shared a lifetime of experiences and memories, and they added one more to the list when the competed at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Friday.
The two have been bowling together for 50 years, but because no one from their hometown has ever expressed interest in traveling to the USBC Open Championships, it took until they were both 95 years old to finally decide to make the trip together.
While Al did compete once before when the 1989 event was held in Wichita, Kan., just two hours from their home, the 2008 tournament at the Albuquerque Convention Center marked Flossie's debut.
The Duffeys now are believed to be the oldest couple (190) to bowl doubles at the Open Championships, while the late Art Shaver of Atlanta and the late William Hargrove of Clermont, Ga., hold the distinction of the oldest doubles team, having competed in the 2001 event in Reno, Nev., with a combined age of 203.
"Our kids met us out here, and it was great to see everyone and get together," said Flossie, who proudly wore her first-time participant button and rolled a 384 series in singles and 271 in doubles. "I couldn't believe we were doing this as old as we are, but I had a great time. I loved everything about this. I loved the ride, and I loved the sightseeing, and the stadium is really swell."
The couple made the trip to Albuquerque by car with two of their children and their spouses from Illinois and Nebraska, and they were joined at the tournament by their son and his wife from Arizona as well as a handful of other family members. In all, the Duffey's family includes three children, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and the entourage in Albuquerque included 11 people.
"It was wonderful watching them bowl six games and still keep up," said the couple's daughter Clara Piper. "When I heard they wanted to do this, I said oh wow, but if they really wanted to go, I'd have no problem bringing them. This was life-long dream for my father, and it was awesome."
Flossie and Al still travel 30 miles once a week to bowl in league, and they have each averaged around 130 for the last few years. Al currently is listed as the oldest male bowler in Kansas.
"We've been told that we're the oldest bowling couple in the world, and we wanted to make history here, but even if it's not true, our main reason for coming was to have fun," said Al, who shot 323 in doubles and 298 in singles Friday.
Flossie enjoyed her time on the lanes so much Friday that she did entertain thoughts about making an encore appearance at the 2009 event in Las Vegas.
"You never know," said Flossie, who along with her husband, turns 96 in September. "But I don't like to plan too far ahead. I know we sure enjoyed this, though, and that's the main thing."
Presenting sponsors for the 2008 USBC Open Championships are Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus Reno in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Roto Grip, official sponsor of the Roto Grip Sport Bowling Challenge; Isleta Casino & Resort; Santa Ana Star Casino, the official brackets sponsor; Rainbow Ryders, the exclusive hot air balloon company of the 2008 Open Championships; and Sandia Resort & Casino.
Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, N.M.
Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls
Team
1, Team Tilt (Thomas Ault Jr., Russ Wilson, Chris Greene, Joe Keltner, Jay Futrell), Lawrence, Kan., 3,374. 2, Rhino for President, Pleasant View, Utah, 3,298. 3, Bowlingfordumdums.com, Pritchett, Colo., 3,284. 4, Bluemound Bowl, Milwaukee, Wis., 3,268. 5, Bowlers Universe 1, Rockford, Ill., 3,249. 6, Bluegrass Bowling & Golf, Lexington, Ky., 3,244. 7, Woody's, Mulvane, Kas., 3,239. 8, Marcor Technologies, Gaylord, Mich., 3,235. 9, Armstrong Printing 1, Naperville, Ill., 3,231. 10, Clone Huskers, Milwaukee, 3,228.
Doubles
1, John Socha, Oak Creek, Wis./Dennis Rakauskas, Apopka, Fla., 1,467. 2, Skip Wolfe, Dixon, Ill./Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 1,462. 3, Robert Slayton, Apple Valley, Minn./Jason Lutgen, Brooklyn Park, Minn., 1,445. 4, Todd Koehler, Appleton, Minn./Doug Blood, Montevideo, Minn., 1,444. 5, Erik Mattingly, Puyallup, Wash./Robert Hanson, Tacoma, Wash., 1,441. 6, Ted Baer/Josh Edenburn, Omaha, Neb., 1,439. 7, Steven Levering, Landisville, Pa./Jim Rutherford, Coatesville, Pa., 1,428. 8, Ron Case, Oakley, Calif./Sam Carter, Ben Lomond, Calif., 1,422. 9, Mike Granberg, Batavia, Ill./Dave Rodak, Naperville, Ill., 1,419. 10, Ward Mocaby/Steve Elson, Wichita, Kan., 1,416.
Singles
1, Bryan Young, Everett, Wash., 832. 2, Jason Price, Grand Island, Neb., 817. 3, Wilbert Moorer, Dover, Del., 784. 4, Warren Crawford, McKinleyville, Calif., 779. 5, William Uthoff, O'Fallon, Mo., 775. 6 (tie), Larry Aldridge, Aurora, Colo., and Alexander Shand, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 774. 8, Alan Pecora, Drums, Pa., 773. 9, Don Pyle, Wilmington, Del., 768. 10, Darren Weiler, Dickinson, N.D., 767.
All-Events
1, Jay Futrell, Derby, Kan., 2,183. 2, Bryan Young, Everett, Wash., 2,165. 3, Mike Rose Jr., Rochester, N.Y., 2,161. 4, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 2,160. 5, Warren Crawford, McKinleyville, Calif., 2,159. 6, Brian Kjergaard, Fulton, Ill., 2,147. 7, Edward Gallagher, Clarksville, Tenn., 2,141. 8, Todd Fenske, Weston, Wis., 2,132. 9, Chris Gibbons, Madison, Wis., 2,122. 10, Don Pyle, Wilmington, Del., 2,118.
Team All-Events
1, Team Tilt (Thomas Ault Jr., Russ Wilson, Chris Greene, Joe Keltner, Jay Futrell), Lawrence, Kan., 9,986. 2, Team Pabst, Madison, Wis., 9,977. 3, MoRich Enterprises, West Bend, Wis., 9,901. 4, Rhino for President, Pleasant View, Utah, 9,801. 5, Bowlingfordumdums.com, Pritchett, Colo., 9,794. 6 (tie), S & B Pro Shop 2, Sterling Heights, Mich., and Pam's Boys 1, Salem, Ore., 9,736. 8, Pollard's Bowl, Versailles, Ind., 9,708. 9, J & S Auto Supply Inc., Valparaiso, Ind., 9,684. 10, Buddies Pro Shop, Congers, N.Y., 9,667.
Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls
Team
1, Cardinal Lanes (Edward Hitschmann, Mike Steinert, Reuben Flagor, Tim Higgins, Gary Boxberger), 2,804. 2, Lake Country Rollers 1, Clarissa, Minn., 2,799. 3, T-Rays, Jamestown, N.D., 2,795. 4, Garden Center Lanes 2, Alexandria, Minn., 2,789. 5, Plattsburgh Bowl, Plattsburgh, Mo., 2,773. 6, Sego Electric, Clarion, Iowa, 2,759. 7, Pla-Mor Lanes 5, New Weston, Ohio, 2,750. 8, Lady Pros, Albuquerque, N.M., 2,748. 9, Firenab 2, Lincoln, Neb., 2,745. 10, Red Carpet, Sauk Centre, Minn., 2,744.
Doubles
1, Jacqueline Snyder/Bill Calhoon, Cooksville, Ill., 1,282. 2, Janet Vaccari/Joe Vaccari, Gillette, Wyo., 1,255. 3, William Palmer, Sussex, Wis./Henry Dotson, McCool, Miss., 1,220. 4, Ron Schara, Big Timber, Mont./Tom Schara, Rio Rancho, N.M., 1,205. 5, Arthur King, Grass Valley, Calif./Sandy Wagner, Loomis, Calif., 1,203. 6, Jim Kohlman, St. Paul, Minn./Michael Roscoe, White Bear Lake, Minn., 1,196. 7, Larry Tschoepe, San Antonio/Ted Smith LaVernia, Texas, 1,188. 8, (tie), Lenny Boogaard, Osakis, Minn./Larry Sorenson, West Union, Minn., and Sue Kendall, Converse, Ind./Jeffrey Kistler, Marion, Ind., 1,184. 10, Butch Booker, Clarissa, Minn./Dave Lisson, Browerville, Minn., 1,181.
Singles
1 (tie), Brian Washington, Hopewell, Va., and Tim Hoffpauir, New Iberia, La., 676. 3, Tim Wagner, Hardin, Mont., 669. 4, Jeffrey Kistler, Marion, Ind., 668. 5, John Zapalac, Bishop, Texas, 662. 6, Randy Gaines, Austin, Minn., 658. 7, Ed Wethington, Poplar Grove, Ill., 657. 8 (tie), Dale Fuller, Otter Lake, Mich., and Bill Ingram, Aloha, Ore., 648. 10, Stefanie Suntum, Montrose, Colo., 647.
All-Events
1, Jeffrey Kistler, Marion, Ind., 1,887. 2, Bill Calhoon, Cooksville, Ill., 1,852. 3, John Millet Jr., Greenland, N.H., 1,821. 4, Troy Schultz, Clarion, Iowa, 1,820. 5, Dave Lisson, Browerville, Minn., 1,815. 6, Glenn Shields, Bowling Green, Ohio, 1,791. 7, Hartsell Duhart, Compton, Calif., 1,789. 8, Dave Dubois, Santa Monica, Calif., 1,782. 9, John Albaugh, Colorado Springs, Colo., 1,773. 10 (tie), Mycaiah Maestas, Hays, Kan., and Tommy Ballard, Iron Station, N.C., 1,769.
United States
Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, NM, United States (Feb. 16 - July 7, 2008)
In the 71 years they've been married, Flossie and Al Duffey of Osage City, Kan., have shared a lifetime of experiences and memories, and they added one more to the list when the competed at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Friday. The two have been bowling together for 50 years, but because no one from their hometown has ever expressed interest in traveling to the USBC Open Championships, it took until they were both 95 years old to finally decide to make the trip together.
While Al did compete once before when the 1989 event was held in Wichita, Kan., just two hours from their home, the 2008 tournament at the Albuquerque Convention Center marked Flossie's debut.
The Duffeys now are believed to be the oldest couple (190) to bowl doubles at the Open Championships, while the late Art Shaver of Atlanta and the late William Hargrove of Clermont, Ga., hold the distinction of the oldest doubles team, having competed in the 2001 event in Reno, Nev., with a combined age of 203.
"Our kids met us out here, and it was great to see everyone and get together," said Flossie, who proudly wore her first-time participant button and rolled a 384 series in singles and 271 in doubles. "I couldn't believe we were doing this as old as we are, but I had a great time. I loved everything about this. I loved the ride, and I loved the sightseeing, and the stadium is really swell."
The couple made the trip to Albuquerque by car with two of their children and their spouses from Illinois and Nebraska, and they were joined at the tournament by their son and his wife from Arizona as well as a handful of other family members. In all, the Duffey's family includes three children, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and the entourage in Albuquerque included 11 people.
"It was wonderful watching them bowl six games and still keep up," said the couple's daughter Clara Piper. "When I heard they wanted to do this, I said oh wow, but if they really wanted to go, I'd have no problem bringing them. This was life-long dream for my father, and it was awesome."
Flossie and Al still travel 30 miles once a week to bowl in league, and they have each averaged around 130 for the last few years. Al currently is listed as the oldest male bowler in Kansas.
"We've been told that we're the oldest bowling couple in the world, and we wanted to make history here, but even if it's not true, our main reason for coming was to have fun," said Al, who shot 323 in doubles and 298 in singles Friday.
Flossie enjoyed her time on the lanes so much Friday that she did entertain thoughts about making an encore appearance at the 2009 event in Las Vegas.
"You never know," said Flossie, who along with her husband, turns 96 in September. "But I don't like to plan too far ahead. I know we sure enjoyed this, though, and that's the main thing."
Presenting sponsors for the 2008 USBC Open Championships are Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus Reno in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Roto Grip, official sponsor of the Roto Grip Sport Bowling Challenge; Isleta Casino & Resort; Santa Ana Star Casino, the official brackets sponsor; Rainbow Ryders, the exclusive hot air balloon company of the 2008 Open Championships; and Sandia Resort & Casino. 2008 USBC Open Championships
Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, N.M.
REGULAR DIVISION
Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls
Team
1, Team Tilt (Thomas Ault Jr., Russ Wilson, Chris Greene, Joe Keltner, Jay Futrell), Lawrence, Kan., 3,374. 2, Rhino for President, Pleasant View, Utah, 3,298. 3, Bowlingfordumdums.com, Pritchett, Colo., 3,284. 4, Bluemound Bowl, Milwaukee, Wis., 3,268. 5, Bowlers Universe 1, Rockford, Ill., 3,249. 6, Bluegrass Bowling & Golf, Lexington, Ky., 3,244. 7, Woody's, Mulvane, Kas., 3,239. 8, Marcor Technologies, Gaylord, Mich., 3,235. 9, Armstrong Printing 1, Naperville, Ill., 3,231. 10, Clone Huskers, Milwaukee, 3,228.
Doubles
1, John Socha, Oak Creek, Wis./Dennis Rakauskas, Apopka, Fla., 1,467. 2, Skip Wolfe, Dixon, Ill./Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 1,462. 3, Robert Slayton, Apple Valley, Minn./Jason Lutgen, Brooklyn Park, Minn., 1,445. 4, Todd Koehler, Appleton, Minn./Doug Blood, Montevideo, Minn., 1,444. 5, Erik Mattingly, Puyallup, Wash./Robert Hanson, Tacoma, Wash., 1,441. 6, Ted Baer/Josh Edenburn, Omaha, Neb., 1,439. 7, Steven Levering, Landisville, Pa./Jim Rutherford, Coatesville, Pa., 1,428. 8, Ron Case, Oakley, Calif./Sam Carter, Ben Lomond, Calif., 1,422. 9, Mike Granberg, Batavia, Ill./Dave Rodak, Naperville, Ill., 1,419. 10, Ward Mocaby/Steve Elson, Wichita, Kan., 1,416.
Singles
1, Bryan Young, Everett, Wash., 832. 2, Jason Price, Grand Island, Neb., 817. 3, Wilbert Moorer, Dover, Del., 784. 4, Warren Crawford, McKinleyville, Calif., 779. 5, William Uthoff, O'Fallon, Mo., 775. 6 (tie), Larry Aldridge, Aurora, Colo., and Alexander Shand, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 774. 8, Alan Pecora, Drums, Pa., 773. 9, Don Pyle, Wilmington, Del., 768. 10, Darren Weiler, Dickinson, N.D., 767.
All-Events
1, Jay Futrell, Derby, Kan., 2,183. 2, Bryan Young, Everett, Wash., 2,165. 3, Mike Rose Jr., Rochester, N.Y., 2,161. 4, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 2,160. 5, Warren Crawford, McKinleyville, Calif., 2,159. 6, Brian Kjergaard, Fulton, Ill., 2,147. 7, Edward Gallagher, Clarksville, Tenn., 2,141. 8, Todd Fenske, Weston, Wis., 2,132. 9, Chris Gibbons, Madison, Wis., 2,122. 10, Don Pyle, Wilmington, Del., 2,118.
Team All-Events
1, Team Tilt (Thomas Ault Jr., Russ Wilson, Chris Greene, Joe Keltner, Jay Futrell), Lawrence, Kan., 9,986. 2, Team Pabst, Madison, Wis., 9,977. 3, MoRich Enterprises, West Bend, Wis., 9,901. 4, Rhino for President, Pleasant View, Utah, 9,801. 5, Bowlingfordumdums.com, Pritchett, Colo., 9,794. 6 (tie), S & B Pro Shop 2, Sterling Heights, Mich., and Pam's Boys 1, Salem, Ore., 9,736. 8, Pollard's Bowl, Versailles, Ind., 9,708. 9, J & S Auto Supply Inc., Valparaiso, Ind., 9,684. 10, Buddies Pro Shop, Congers, N.Y., 9,667.
CLASSIFIED DIVISION
Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls
Team
1, Cardinal Lanes (Edward Hitschmann, Mike Steinert, Reuben Flagor, Tim Higgins, Gary Boxberger), 2,804. 2, Lake Country Rollers 1, Clarissa, Minn., 2,799. 3, T-Rays, Jamestown, N.D., 2,795. 4, Garden Center Lanes 2, Alexandria, Minn., 2,789. 5, Plattsburgh Bowl, Plattsburgh, Mo., 2,773. 6, Sego Electric, Clarion, Iowa, 2,759. 7, Pla-Mor Lanes 5, New Weston, Ohio, 2,750. 8, Lady Pros, Albuquerque, N.M., 2,748. 9, Firenab 2, Lincoln, Neb., 2,745. 10, Red Carpet, Sauk Centre, Minn., 2,744.
Doubles
1, Jacqueline Snyder/Bill Calhoon, Cooksville, Ill., 1,282. 2, Janet Vaccari/Joe Vaccari, Gillette, Wyo., 1,255. 3, William Palmer, Sussex, Wis./Henry Dotson, McCool, Miss., 1,220. 4, Ron Schara, Big Timber, Mont./Tom Schara, Rio Rancho, N.M., 1,205. 5, Arthur King, Grass Valley, Calif./Sandy Wagner, Loomis, Calif., 1,203. 6, Jim Kohlman, St. Paul, Minn./Michael Roscoe, White Bear Lake, Minn., 1,196. 7, Larry Tschoepe, San Antonio/Ted Smith LaVernia, Texas, 1,188. 8, (tie), Lenny Boogaard, Osakis, Minn./Larry Sorenson, West Union, Minn., and Sue Kendall, Converse, Ind./Jeffrey Kistler, Marion, Ind., 1,184. 10, Butch Booker, Clarissa, Minn./Dave Lisson, Browerville, Minn., 1,181.
Singles
1 (tie), Brian Washington, Hopewell, Va., and Tim Hoffpauir, New Iberia, La., 676. 3, Tim Wagner, Hardin, Mont., 669. 4, Jeffrey Kistler, Marion, Ind., 668. 5, John Zapalac, Bishop, Texas, 662. 6, Randy Gaines, Austin, Minn., 658. 7, Ed Wethington, Poplar Grove, Ill., 657. 8 (tie), Dale Fuller, Otter Lake, Mich., and Bill Ingram, Aloha, Ore., 648. 10, Stefanie Suntum, Montrose, Colo., 647.
All-Events
1, Jeffrey Kistler, Marion, Ind., 1,887. 2, Bill Calhoon, Cooksville, Ill., 1,852. 3, John Millet Jr., Greenland, N.H., 1,821. 4, Troy Schultz, Clarion, Iowa, 1,820. 5, Dave Lisson, Browerville, Minn., 1,815. 6, Glenn Shields, Bowling Green, Ohio, 1,791. 7, Hartsell Duhart, Compton, Calif., 1,789. 8, Dave Dubois, Santa Monica, Calif., 1,782. 9, John Albaugh, Colorado Springs, Colo., 1,773. 10 (tie), Mycaiah Maestas, Hays, Kan., and Tommy Ballard, Iron Station, N.C., 1,769.