Ken Abner wins River Valley Challenge

Ken Abner (on left) receives the championship belt
from two-time defending champion Chuck Tompkins

After a three-week break since he rolled his last game, Ken Abner of Cincinnati didn't know how he would make it through eight games in the 19th River Valley Challenge at Town and Country Bowling Lanes today. 

When the long day of competition was over, Abner was the winner with a total of 1,616 pins. 

Jeff Fehr was the runner-up with a total of 1,606 pins. Jeremy King was third (1,605) and two-time defending champion Chuck Tompkins took fourth place (1,602).

"I made spares and survived and stayed close," Abner said. "I was in fifth place going into the last game, so I didn't expect to get to that point where 216 would get me a win, so it was nice."

Abner's high game was 249 in Game 2.

Here are the top 12 finishers:

1. Ken Abner 1,616
2. Jeff Fehr 1,606
3. Jeremy King 1,605
4. Chuck Tompkins 1,602
5. Marc Massie 1,598
6. Chris Pollard 1,571
7. Tommy Kalb 1,550
8. Shane Ison 1,549
9. Brian Himmler 1,533
10. Gary Ostrowski 1,529
11. Jennifer King 1,528
12. Brandon Novak 1,520
13. Kirby Allen 1,516
14. Audra Mrenak 1,511
15. Ben Sobel 1,506

19th River Valley Challenge Saturday

Forty-eight bowlers will compete in the 19th River Valley Challenge, an eight-game scratch tournament Saturday at Town and Country Bowling Lanes in Aberdeen.

Chuck Tompkins of Columbus, Ohio is the back-to-back champion. He will be trying to become the first four-time champion of the tournament.

This is year's purse is $2,700. 

The tournament begins at noon. Doors open at 10 a.m. Admission is free.

Brian Aldridge of Town and Country Bowling Lanes was my guest on SportsTalk this morning.

Here is a link to the podcast.

Bowling and basketball the topics on SportsTalk

Bowling and basketball were the topics on SportsTalk this morning. My guests were River Valley Challenge champion Chuck Tompkins, bowling enthusiast Vic Amman who is trying to bring back the King of TV Bowling television show, and former Mason County Royals basketball player Ryan Hamm who is hosting a free camp for 1st-6th graders tomorrow.

Here is a link to the podcast.

Chuck Tompkins is first back-to-back champion of River Valley Challenge

Chuck Tompkins of Columbus, Ohio is the first back-to-back champion of the River Valley Challenge at Town and Country Bowling Lanes.

Tompkins had an eight-game total of 1,787 pins today in the 18th River Valley Challenge. Mike Kirian was second at 1,736 and Brian Himmler finished in third place at 1,717.

Tompkins had taken four months off after suffering a knee injury. He just started bowling again about six weeks ago and wasn't sure if he would be able to defend his title. But he started practicing again when he got the okay from his doctor.

"I had a 300 game last night (in Columbus), so I came down today with a lot of confidence and came down with the same game plan: make my spares and just try to stay out of trouble, and it worked," Tompkins said.

Tompkins only had two games under 200 in winning the River Valley Challenge for the third time.

"Probably my best eight-game block here in all the years I've bowled this tournament," Tompkins said.

Brian Aldridge and Jeff Wallace talk bowling on SportsTalk

Brian Aldridge from Town and Country Bowling Lanes and Ripley bowling coach Jeff Wallace were my guests on SportsTalk this morning.

The 18th River Valley Challenge tournament takes Saturday at Town and Country Bowling Lanes.

Forty-eight bowlers including defending champion Chuck Tompkins are scheduled to compete in the scratch tournament.

Each bowler will roll eight games over all 16 lanes. 

Doors open at 10 a.m. The tournament begins at noon. Admission is free.

Here is a link to the podcast. 

Chuck Tompkins and Clay Boone on SportsTalk

River Valley Challenge champion Chuck Tompkins and Mason County tennis coach Clay Boone were my guests on SportsTalk this morning.

Here is a link to the podcast.

Chuck Tompkins wins River Valley Challenge

Chuck Tompkins rolled a 234 in the final game of the 17th River Valley Challenge at Town and Country Lanes Saturday for a 17-pin victory over Ken Abner.

Defending champion Jeff Fehr began the eighth and final game with a six-pin lead over Abner and a 19-pin lead over Tompkins, but finished in third place after rolling a 171.

Tompkins had a total of 1,750 pins. His best game of the day was a 268 in the third game.

Adam Mix, who finished sixth, rolled the high game of the tournament-  a 277- in the fourth game.

Forty-eight bowlers competed in the tournament.

Top 10

 1. Chuck Tompkins 1,750
 2. Ken Abner 1,733
 3. Jeff Fehr 1,706
 4. Nick Vogelsang 1,667
 5. Kirby Allen 1,639
 6. Adam Miz 1,631
 7. Dan Higgins 1,624
 8. Jason Reynolds 1,620
 9. Dave Wodka 1,612
10. Rick Pollard 1,611