The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Bowling Federation’s National Bowling Championship is back. After a 15-year hiatus in New Providence - it was last held two years ago in Grand Bahama - the Nationals opened last night at Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace. The event is slated to run through Sunday, April 21, when the final is expected to be aired live on Cable 12 TV.

During a brief opening ceremony in which a moment of silence was offered for the late Ivy Turnquest, Mispah Archer and Cheryl Thompson, Timothy Munnings, director of sports in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, officially opened the tournament.

“I want to welcome everyone to the Bahamas National Open Bowling Championships,” Munnings said. “I want to thank Mario’s for providing this facility where bowling can return to New Providence.”

Munnings extended best wishes to all of the bowlers, adding that he hopes that the best bowlers will come out on top. He noted that he was particularly pleased to see the many multi-talented sporting personalities who are participating in the tournament. He also commended the bowlers from yester-year, who were also out lending their support.

The biggest name was Glenroy “Flo” Saunders, the first Bahamian to bowl a 300 game.

“I miss it. I wished I was here,” Saunders said. “I know my knee won’t allow me to play. It’s gone. Too bad. I would love to play.”

Saunders, however, said he expects that the same names will surface to the top of the ladder because he hasn’t seen any influx of competitors like the other sports. He suggested that the federation go into the schools and begin a recruiting programme to produce more young competitors.

Bowling Federation president Yule Hoyte, who was also participating in the tournament, said they are excited to have the nationals back after the closure of the Village Bowling Lanes and the opening of Mario’s. “Good luck to all,” he said.

A number of bowlers in action during the opening night were just eager to get the competition started.

Driskell Rolle, who won the junior title during the last nationals held at the Village Lanes, has emerged as one of the top female bowlers.

“We have about 14 women entered, so I’m looking forward to the competition,” Rolle said. “As a member of the national team, we are participating every Sunday, Monday and Thursday, so that has helped me to improve my game. All of the ladies here have been practicing together, so hopefully that will help us all in the competition. I’m excited to be here and competing in the nationals again.”

Xynae Johnson, one of the rising young stars, said she too is looking to make her mark. “For me, once I can go out there and perform the way I am capable of doing, I know that I will be right there,” said Johnson, who has been bowling for about seven years. “We have a very talented field of female bowlers, so I have to be on top of my game.”

And Janice Hoyte, one of the top bowlers from the Village Road era, said she too is thrilled about the return of the nationals. “I expect to be in the top five and hopefully win,” she said. “At the end of the day, it will only be one game when the final rolls around, so I hope that I am in there and I will eventually come out on top.”

As for her rivals, Hoyte said all of them are tough and, on any day, they can come out on top. “So I think it will be really competitive,” she sad.

On the men’s side, Sonith Lockhart said he’s looking forward to performing exceptionally well. “Most of the bowlers today have a very good knowledge and grasp for the game, so I expect that the competition will be very fierce,” he said.

“But I expect to be number one at the end of the tournament. I have some concerns about the competitors entered, but I just have to stay focused on my game and do the best I can and hopefully I can come out on top, no doubt about it.”

And veteran Leon Graham, who was one of the household names at the Village Lanes, said since returning from the United States, he was delighted to see the sport continue at Mario’s.

“They haven’t had this tournament in a while, but they had a tournament for the national team about two or three months ago and I came in seventh,” he said. “I intend to win this one. That’s why they put me down here. I intend to move from the bottom to the top.”

The scores from last night’s opening round were not available up to press time last night.