Local youth bowlers fared well at a recent Junior Bowlers Tour stop at Silva Lanes in Albuquerque, finishing second and third in the 88-bowler contest. 

Billy Grant, came second to Dallas’ Geoffrey Young, losing 167-212 in the title match as the Texan picked up his fifth JBT title. Earlier, Grant had eliminated Andy Byer of Albuquerque 213-198 and Stephen Gaucin of El Paso 193-168. 

In the handicap division, 10-year-old Micayla Scheer finished third, after bowling a record 12 games in one day.  Scheer won round one of the play-offs with 213 (including handicap), then tied the next round with 233. There ensued a two-frame tie-breaker, with her and Albuquerque’s Sara Vargas tying again at 46 apiece.

The pair tied again at 34, forcing a record third tie-breaker, which Scheer won 46-32. in the next round, eventual winner Reanne Quesada of El Paso beat her 214-221 to advance to the championship round.

Other area bowlers to make the finals included Paul Carper, Jamison Spam, Josh Barress, Ryan Scheer, Janeyl Carper, Jaden Spam, Joey Grant, Tricia Barress, Andrew McKinsey and Jordan Spam.

More than 215 bowlers played the first half of the City Senior Championships at Tenpins & More last weekend, with a number of honor scores rolled, including a 300 by Mark Van Meter and 299 by Jim Vancil.

In the first game of a team squad Saturday, Scott Essington 234, Terry Buster 267, Zeke Ziska 245 and Van Meter 236 combined for what is believed to be a city tournament record game of 982.

The event concludes this weekend with another 200 bowlers scheduled for their team, doubles and singles events.

Two of last month’s Legends Bowling Camp attendees, Nicole Ullerich and Tevynn Laws, both of Rio Rancho, showed the benefit of expert advice in bowling their personal bests.

Ullerich had a 264 high game in a personal best 667 league series last Thursday night, while Laws, 15, had a pair of 630-plus series in a tournament.

Summer league sign-ups are underway at Tenpins & More, with most of the 24 different leagues starting during May. Interested bowlers, either individuals or teams, can sign up at the center or online at tenpins@flash.net.

Coming up:

April 12-13: Senior City Championships.

April 19-20: Pepsi State Youth Championships.

April 27: NABI Singles (scratch and handicap divisions).

May 3-4: International Family Tournament center finals.

May 8-11: Spring 9-pin No-Tap tournament finals.

May 11: Moms bowl free open play all day (with paying customers).

Meanwhile, at the Convention Center:

There’s something about New Mexico that brings out the best in Randy Weiss of Columbia, S.C., who rolled a 300 on the way to the Regular All-Events lead at the U.S. Bowling Congress Open Championships on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old right-hander picked up right where he left off when the USBC Open Championships made its first trip to the Albuquerque Convention Center in 2000, posting 747 in singles, 714 in doubles and 699 in team for a 2,160 all-events total. Edward Gallagher (2,141) of Clarksville, Tenn., previously held the lead.

On the way to the top spot, Weiss tossed the eighth perfect game of this year’s event during doubles and nearly repeated the feat when he started singles with eight consecutive strikes before settling for 279.

“Being in these tournaments is the best,” said Weiss, who shot 750 in singles, 664 in doubles and 617 in team for a 2,031 all-events total in 2000.

“I feel like I’m 18 years old with the world before me, and I know this is the range of score that might stand,” Weiss said. “I know anything can still happen ... I’m hoping for the best, but I’m realistic, and I know the odds.”

Weiss owns and runs a pro shop and also is an instructor for a bowling class at the University of South Carolina.