DATE: Sunday, April 27, 1997                TAG: 9704250258

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 23   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: AROUND THE ALLEYWAYS 

SOURCE: Michelle Schloff 

                                            LENGTH:   78 lines

BEACH MAN BREAKS LEAGUE SERIES RECORD

Last Saturday Joe Lawson left Pinboy's of Norfolk thinking his games of 279, 300 and 278 for the 857 series were good enough to get him in the record books for the area's all-time highest series by a league bowler. But before the ink was dry, the record was erased by a friend.

On Monday, Ray Korchak Jr. pitched 298, 268, and 300 for an 866 series in the Scratch Doubles League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake.

``It didn't matter, what I did, it was right,'' Lawson said. ``I got real lucky and hit some strikes. He beat mine, but it was fun while it lasted.''

Lawson, who rolled a 300 game and won a trip to Las Vegas three years ago while rolling on the same lane, wasn't the only lucky fellow.

Luck also smiled on Ray Korchak Sr.

The senior Korchak, who witnessed his son's record-setting series, won $173.25 in the nine-strike jackpot on the same night at Pinboy's of Chesapeake.

``I guess you could say I had a lot of luck that night,'' said the younger Korchak, a Virginia Beach resident who rolled his first 300 game as a junior bowler.

BOWLER OF THE WEEK: This week's kudos go to Larry Martinez and Donald Dugger, two bowlers in the Tuesday Divisional League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. They both hit 11 strikes in a row. Martinez rolled a 290 game and Dugger slammed a 279 game.

TENPIN TIDBITS: In the Wednesday Night Mixed at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven, Julie Williams, with a 132 average, converted triplicate scores of 134. ... In the Friday Ball and Chain League at Indian River Lanes, Art Bisner pitched a 297 game. ... At Pinboy's of Military, Joan Haskell, who has an 80 average, fashioned a 192 game in the Christian Fellowship League. ... In the Primetime Winter League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake, Frank Gordon strung games of 208, 246, and 223 for a 667 series. ... Bill Kaelin in the Tuesday Splitters at Pinboy's at the Beach blasted games of 269, 193, and 257 for a 719 series. ... Bob Kulenguski, with a 203 average in the Big Chiefs League at Indian River Lanes, put together games of 280, 237 and 224 for a 741 series. ... Chris Hayes of the Tuesday Night Mixed League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven rolled a triplicate score of 167. ... Ray Jaecques racked up games of 243, 199 and 234 for a 676 series in the Primetime Winter League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. ... In the Tuesday Nardac League at Pinboy's of Norfolk, Andy Zuidema is taking bows for triplicate scores of 148 for a 444 series. ... Mike Manson, who has a 153 average, smashed a 274 game in the Funseekers League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven.

DUCKPIN DATA: Youth Bowlers from Victory Lanes won several awards at the state tournament at Bowlarama.

In the Prep Division, Megan Long finished in third place, Brittany Weaser took high-set honors and Amy Ketchum took the high-game honors.

In the Bantam Division, the Victory Lanes teams finished first, second, and third. The Bantam team championship went to Don Ferguson, Brian Kindley, Brianna Vain, Brittany Long and Ashley Johnson. Second-place honors went to Ashley Johnson, Brittany Long, Don Ferguson, Scott Craven and Rachel Schumacher. Rachel Schumacher, Tasha Buchanan, Katrina Vain, Morgan Fussell and Angel Bolin won third place. Brianna Vain took the girls high set with a 351. Ashley Johnson fashioned the girls high game with a 136. Don Ferguson pitched the boys high game with a 110.

On the Junior Championship team, Adam Perez rolled a 371 set. Rebecca Ashe won the girls high game for the Division with a 128 game.

In the Major Division, Kelly Frederick, Adam Perez, Tommy Ricks, Chris Ricks and Lee Hoggard placed third.

The Bantam and Junior Championship teams will represent their divisions in the National Championships in Hagerstown, Md., in June 1997. ...

In the Goodtimes League at Bowlarama, Herbert Webster rolled 114 pins over his previous average of 101 to convert games of 148, 131 and 139 for a 418 set.

BOWLING NOTE: On June 28, Pinboy's of Chesapeake will host the Portsmouth and Chesapeake Face Off to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The winner keeps the trophy until it's time to meet the challenge next year against the city of its choice. For more information, contact Marcia McGill at 461-0177.

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