06/14/2010--Editor's Note:  At the close of the tournament, we learned that Toby was defeated in Singles in the last weekend by Bryan O'Keefe, a former Team USA Player and now Silver Level Coach, who shot 878 scratch.  Toby won the 6-Game Combine, withstanding challenges from both Chris Loschetter and O'Keefe.

02/20/2010--Toby Zoellner of Perryville, MO took advantage of one of those "special days" on the lanes, and established a solid lead in both the Singles and Six-Game Combine Divisions in the 2010 Greater Ozarks Open Handicap Bowling Tournament, held in Springfield, MO.

The day at Enterprise Park Lanes in Springfield began with the Singles Competition, and on this day, it would be the 25th frame before Zoellner would ever grab his spare ball.  Toby was perfect on Lanes 19-20 for both his first and second games, and completed the series with a 233 last game.  He entered the tournament with a 203 average, and received 34 handicap pins, so the Singles Division mark is now set at 867 in only the second week of the tournament.  As good as that looks, it still falls 24 pins shy of last year's winning mark of 891, shot by Roger Rinne of West Central, MO.

He would move to Lanes 17-18 for his Doubles, bowling with partner James Burnett of Jackson, MO.  Toby continued his hot streak for the first two games, but "didn't keep up with the transition" during the last game of Doubles.  He carded 248-277-193 for a 718 series, while partner Jim shot 218-166-224 for 608.  They got 6 pins handicap, and ended up with 1,332 for Doubles.  He reported one open frame, a "missed 10-pin," in the last game of the day.

Toby's Six Game Combine score was 833 and 718, plus 68 pins handicap, for a total of 1,619.  That beats last year's winning score by 9 pins.

He shot all six games using the Hammer Sting, a ball he's had for about two and a half months now.  He reported that Mike Jasnau did not have the chance to grab the ball and use Abralon on it without his consent.

The Greater Ozarks Open Bowling Tournament is in its 52nd year, and paid over $333,000 in prize money last year.  The tournament is held on weekends through June 12-13, skipping Easter Weekend, and they have extended the entry deadline to March 31, 2010.  You can follow the tournament results and get an entry blank here.