By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
Last week hundreds of electric and communication crews marched into Hopkins County and this weekend more than 100 bowlers will roll into Madisonville's Melody Lanes for the 27th annual United States Bowling Congress Seniors State Tournament.
The tournaments kicks off at 1 p.m. today, and participants will come from as far as Lexington and Ashland. Even those still sitting at home in the dark will be in attendance.
"A lot of these bowlers like myself still don't have power, but I haven't had a cancellation yet," tournament director Bob Bryant said. "They're planning on coming. Bowlers and sports people are kinda crazy anyway."
Bowlers will be separated into five age divisions: 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75 and older, also known as Super Senior. Bryant said the oldest individual signed up is 88 years old.
Each person will bowl a total of six games during the two-day event. Winners will qualify for the National Seniors Championship Tournament to be held in Reno, Nev. June 30-July 1.
"If you win, they pay your expenses to Reno to bowl in the national and pay your entry fee," Bryant said.
Four local bowlers average 220, but it's difficult to predict a winning score or favorite, Bryant said.
The tournaments kicks off at 1 p.m. today, and participants will come from as far as Lexington and Ashland. Even those still sitting at home in the dark will be in attendance.
"A lot of these bowlers like myself still don't have power, but I haven't had a cancellation yet," tournament director Bob Bryant said. "They're planning on coming. Bowlers and sports people are kinda crazy anyway."
Bowlers will be separated into five age divisions: 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75 and older, also known as Super Senior. Bryant said the oldest individual signed up is 88 years old.
Each person will bowl a total of six games during the two-day event. Winners will qualify for the National Seniors Championship Tournament to be held in Reno, Nev. June 30-July 1.
"If you win, they pay your expenses to Reno to bowl in the national and pay your entry fee," Bryant said.
Four local bowlers average 220, but it's difficult to predict a winning score or favorite, Bryant said.
"There's no telling," he said. "They're good, clean lanes, but they can be tough. You have to roll the ball. You might see a couple of 300s."
The 25 participants from Hopkins County will have a distinct advantage.
Bryant, 66, took part in last year's tournament in Somerset and said bowlers who used the lanes as a home "house" won three of the five age groups and placed second in a fourth.
"They know the house, so they have a better chance," he said.
This year's tournament marks the first time Melody Lanes has hosted the event.
Bryant said he's proud to hold the affair in Madisonville, but would like to do it again under ideal conditions. Some bowlers will have to room overnight in hotels in Hopkinsville because local places have turned away visitors due to circumstances from last week's storm.
The tournament's state organization told Bryant he could postpone the tournament a week, but that proposition wasn't given much serious thought.
"We made the decision to go with the tournament on Tuesday," Bryant said. "I bowl in a league on Monday night and on Tuesday night both. We went out there on Monday night thinking we'll get these people away from this because we've had a week of ice.
"Whether they've got power or not, let's see if they'll come out and that whole league was full and Tuesday was the same way. I said, 'Yeah, I'm tired of sitting in the dark house, I would rather be out here bowling.'"
With so many talented bowlers in action this weekend, aspiring bowling aficionados might hope to come out and learn a trick or too, but Bryant advised otherwise.
"You can see every kind of shot and stance and form," he said. "The only thing I suggest is don't copy any of them. If you're a young guy that comes out, learn to bowl the basic way. You need to learn the proper way. Use the spots on the lanes and just follow through, just a good, standard shot."
The event is free to the public to watch and begins at 1 p.m.
The 25 participants from Hopkins County will have a distinct advantage.
Bryant, 66, took part in last year's tournament in Somerset and said bowlers who used the lanes as a home "house" won three of the five age groups and placed second in a fourth.
"They know the house, so they have a better chance," he said.
This year's tournament marks the first time Melody Lanes has hosted the event.
Bryant said he's proud to hold the affair in Madisonville, but would like to do it again under ideal conditions. Some bowlers will have to room overnight in hotels in Hopkinsville because local places have turned away visitors due to circumstances from last week's storm.
The tournament's state organization told Bryant he could postpone the tournament a week, but that proposition wasn't given much serious thought.
"We made the decision to go with the tournament on Tuesday," Bryant said. "I bowl in a league on Monday night and on Tuesday night both. We went out there on Monday night thinking we'll get these people away from this because we've had a week of ice.
"Whether they've got power or not, let's see if they'll come out and that whole league was full and Tuesday was the same way. I said, 'Yeah, I'm tired of sitting in the dark house, I would rather be out here bowling.'"
With so many talented bowlers in action this weekend, aspiring bowling aficionados might hope to come out and learn a trick or too, but Bryant advised otherwise.
"You can see every kind of shot and stance and form," he said. "The only thing I suggest is don't copy any of them. If you're a young guy that comes out, learn to bowl the basic way. You need to learn the proper way. Use the spots on the lanes and just follow through, just a good, standard shot."
The event is free to the public to watch and begins at 1 p.m.
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