Don Holtz, whose real estate firm has sponsored a Kitsap Scratch Bowlers Organization tournament for 26 years, made his presence known in the annual Non-Champs/Champs Tournament held at All Star Lanes in Silverdale.
Holtz not only sponsored the Non-Champ side of the tournament, but won it. Not a bad weekend for Holtz, who qualified second in the Non-Champ Tournament and then roared to victory by beating Ryan Jamrog 226-198 to face top qualifier, Hannah Sutton. Holtz won the title match with Sutton, 201-184, to claim his first KSBO championship.
Holtz had a chance to make it an incredible weekend when he battled Leo Funari for King of the Hill honors. But Funari also had an incredible weekend. He qualified fifth and last in the Talbot Excavating-sponsored Champs Tournament, but then put on a show. He knocked off Lonnie Sharkey 258-186, beat Spencer Ludwig 225-195 and then Jeremy Sears 226-201 to run up against the top qualifier, Tim Clemens.
In the TV finale against Clemens, Funari continued to set the bowling lanes on fire, rolling a 259 games to beat Clemens, who shot a 220. For the four games in the championship round Funari averaged 242. He then shot a 233 to knock off Holtz, who bowled 163, to claim King of the Hill honors.
“Don has a long history with us, and it is very rare for a sponsor to win their own tournament,” said KSBO secretary treasure Jamie Watson. “Lonnie Sharkey has done it before as well, which is fitting as Lonnie and Don are good friends. Don also won using a ball and shoes from 1990 – for reference, Nick Bachteler
(KSBO President) is just a couple of months older than that! We took a
picture of them for posterity; pictures will be posted soon on our Facebook
page.”
The next KSBO Tournament ‑ James & Associates Open with the 205 & Under
sponsored by John’s Classic Auto ‑ will be held Feb. 22 at Laurel Lanes in Port Angeles.