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

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