For fifty-eight year old Joyce Wright of Decatur, the 45^th Alabama Women’s State Bowling Tournament ended on a good note. This is the first major win for Wright, who has been bowling for some 30 years and has participated in the State Tournament for 25 years. Wright captured the State Championship for the singles event handicap with a 214, 191 and a 205 for a 610 series scratch and a 718 handicap series.

" I still can’t believe it, " Wright said, " it is such a shock for me and I guess I won’t believe it until I receive the check. " Wright bowled her doubles and singles on Saturday and when she came in on Sunday for her team event, I congratulated her and told her she had won the State Championship.

Shock and awe went over her face and then a big smile. She of course had to go look at the standing sheet and make sure that we were not pulling a joke on her, but she still cannot stop smiling. I couldn’t be happier for her, because she had participated so many years and really hasn’t had a major win to her credit, but now she has the bragging rights for an entire year.

Of course her main goal is to bowl a 300 game and continue bowling and having fun at what she does. She is a very pleasant person to be around and my sincere congratulations go out to her and thank goodness, we have a State Champion among us here in the River City of Decatur.

In Singles handicap, Donna Walling of Birmingham took first place honors with a 655 scratch and finished 13^th in the handicap divisions. Decatur’s own Jan Sanders took 2^nd place in scratch singles with a 1 pin difference and a scratch series of 654. Angela Harris of Birmingham took 3^rd place with a 636 series. Other Decatur finishers were Sherry Steadman 10^th place scratch, 604 and Therese Lane 18^th place with a 590 scratch,

In the team event handicap, The Bowling Chicks out of Birmingham captured first place with a score of 2530. The Fants of Marshall County took second place with a 2519 and Walker Brothers of Cullman placed third, with a 2516 series.

Team scratch champions were Randy and Rich’s Pro Shop #4 of Birmingham, with a score of 2442. In second place were Robin’s Gang of Huntsville, with a 2417 and Unity Bowling Club III of Birmingham in third place with a 2318 scratch.

Timi McCorvey and Kim Buchholtz of Huntsville captured first place in doubles scratch, with a 1237. F. Moore and D. Hillman of Montgomery placed second with a 1226 and Stanlene Sager and Valerie Dennis of Birmingham took third place with a 1207.

Pat Phillips and B. Tripp of Dekalb County took first place honors in doubles handicap with a score of 1385 handicap. C. Gormandy and F. Law of Mobile placed second with a 1369 and F. Moore and D. Hillman of Montgomery won third place with a score of 1340. Other notables from Decatur were Samantha Potts and Katherine Weiland placing 6^th handicap with a 1313, K. Wallace and D. Clemons placing 16^th with a 1285 and Paulette Clifton and Kim Jackson in 19^th place with a 1277 handicap.

In All Events scratch, Donna Walling of Birmingham took first place with an 1858. Timi McCorvey of Huntsville placed second with an 1826 and Angela Harris of Birmingham in third, with an 1822.

Neysa Hernandez of Enterprise edged out Samantha Potts in the last weekend to capture first place in all events handicap, with a 2045 score. Potts had a 2007 handicap series for second place and Sharon Gundlach of Birmingham place third with a 2003 handicap series

It was a very successful tournament with 314 teams, 1256 singles and 628 doubles competing. I would like to thank the entire Decatur Board of Directors for the excellent job that they did, the Greater Decatur Men’s Association and especially to Nikki Hicks and Wayne Potts, representing the YABA bowlers who were there just about every shift. Special thanks to Jim Howell who kept our tournament standing board up-to-date and the entire staff of River City Bowl for the great job that they did.

I know that we were all excited to get the tournament in Decatur and we really prepared well. Most of all, I know that everyone is relieved that the tournament is over and we can finally get back to our family and everyday activities that took our time.