Bowler ready for national stage

For a guy who hasn’t bowled seriously since high school, Mike Thayer is enjoying quite the renaissance.
The Fort Frances resident will be heading to Thunder Bay in mid-May to take part in a tournament against bowlers from across Canada.
Thayer advanced to Thunder Bay after his team took top honours in the provincial P.O.A. (pins over average) tournament in Dryden earlier this month.
“I bowled in high school and a couple of buddies got me to come out,” Thayer noted yesterday. “This year it’s just clicking.”
But for all of his success this year, Thayer will be the first to tell you he’s just a “typical bowler”—a sentiment that certainly blends well in a tournament format like the P.O.A.
This means that while the competition is strong, there’s still an added social aspect that may not exist in more elite events.
“This type [of tournament] is for typical bowlers like me,” said Thayer.
While competitors aren’t likely to be throwing any perfect games, they’ll sure have a good time trying.
“It’s all based on average and consistency,” explained Thayer. “If your average is 200, they give you 2,000 pins. You bowl 10 tournament games and they add up your plus/minus based on those 2,000 points.”
In a single game, for instance, a player with a 100 average who bowls a 150 (+50) will beat a player who maintains a 175 average but who only bowls a 180 (+5).
Thayer is part of a Northern Ontario contingent that will make the trip to Thunder Bay to face 11 other teams from across the country.
Two of his teammates (as well as the team coach) hail from Dryden, with the other member coming from Kenora.
The competition allows for the team to compete as a unit, scoring total pins, but also provides individual recognition, as well.
Thayer, who bowls out of Plaza Lanes here in Fort Frances, carries a 172 average. This will be his first trip to the national tournament.
In other news, six local bowlers will be competing in the provincial roll-offs for the Open tournament over Easter weekend in North Bay.
Ken Dick and Jamie McKenny qualified for the Sunset Country men’s team during the Zone roll-offs here back in late January.
Brenda Hanzuk, Carla Hanzuk, and Dixie McDonald qualified for the ladies’ team while Andrew Starmarski is a member of the mixed team.