07/19/2011--Well, it’s definite now!  My little bowling friend has left me far behind and I probably won’t be challenging him to anymore matches!  On April 16th and 17th, Spencer Robarge made Gateway history by being the youngest competitor at age 8 to win a tournament in that series.  He was bowling in the Junior Bowling Club Gateway Tournament Major Division at Stars and Strikes Lanes at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. 

Spencer, from Springfield, Missouri, and I have had a “friendly” grudge match at the Showcase for the past two years.  He consistently beats me.  For sure there’s no way this gray haired old lady can keep up with him now!   He averaged 193.1 on Sunday and 179.8 for the whole tournament of 19 games. 

Taking the top 8 finishers on Saturday, Spencer qualified 6th averaging 167.9 for ten games with high games of 215 and 212.  During match play on Sunday, Spencer started out with a 177 game, putting him in 2nd after the first game.  He then shot games of 223, 184, 235, 203, 171 and 166.  He won all his match play games receiving 30 bonus points for each match.  This put him at +519 before the position round.  He shot a 200 in the position round and winning the 30 bonus points put him at +599 before the step ladder finals.  Spencer shot a 179 to this opponent’s 164 to claim the title.  He was awarded a plaque, a winner’s jacket, a banner with colors of his choice (of course that will be Wichita State yellow and black) and a $225 scholarship.

Spencer is a 2nd grader at Horace Mann Elementary School in Springfield.  He bowls at Enterprise Park Lanes and Battlefield Lanes – four leagues a week.  His highest current average is 165.  He has two high sanctioned games of 254 and high sanctioned series of 637.  He bowls several tournament series in the KC and St Louis areas.  One of his goals is to be the youngest competitor in the Junior Gold Championships.  Another goal is to attend Wichita State University (where brother Blake Demore is now) upon graduation from high school in 2021.  Spencer’s SMART account is almost $2000 and he intends on adding to that total in the next 13 years. 

Spencer, my little bowling dynamo, I think our competition days are over, but how about a nice friendly game sometime……. maybe you can give me some pointers!