Baker strings together 'turkeys' for win

Ledger photo by SCOTT POWELL Fifteen-time pro bowling champion Jason Couch practices Friday afternoon before a pro-am tournament held at Star Max. The event was part of the weekend's South Carolina Peach Festival activities. Stoney Baker strung together two bowling "turkeys" Sunday afternoon to capture his 20th pro bowling title in Gaffney.

Baker delivered a strike in six of his final seven frames to defeat Greenville resident Lee Vanderhoef, 217-202, in the first Peach Bowl at Starmax. Baker was given a $2,500 check and a silver Eagle trophy to add to his trophy collection. Vanderhoef received $1,250.

Baker and Vanderhoef each bowled 30 games over a weekend to reach the final game. The lanes were set up with the "Shark" oil pattern, which ranks as one of the most difficult oil patterns on the PBA tour.

Baker won the last "Shark" bowling tournament in Rocky Mountain, N.C. He joined other pro bowlers in praising the Starmax bowling lanes.

"This is a great facility," Baker said. "I'm looking forward to coming back."

The bowling tournament was held as part of the South Carolina Peach Festival.

Christopher Collins bowled a perfect 300 game Saturday morning. It was the first 300 game at an officially sanctioned event in Starmax.

The festival bowling tournament drew 72 pro bowlers, including several from the Denny's PBA tour.

One of the biggest names was Jason Couch of Florida. He is a winner of 15 PBA Tour Titles and almost $1.5 million in career earnings. He made an appearance at the Pro-Am tournament Friday.

Couch is a good friend of Keith Nichols, a PBA tour veteran and the national operations manager for Starmax. Nichols organized the Peach Bowl tournament.

"I've known Keith for a long time. When he called to invite me to the tournament, I told him I would be more than happy to come," he said.

Couch is recovering from a knee injury that limited his action during last year's PBA tour. He typically appears at 7 to 10 regional bowling events to help local bowling centers and promote the sport.

He is taking it easy with bowling so he will be ready when the PBA tour season begins in October. "This was an unusual year for me," Couch said. "I'm just trying to get my bowling back to where it needs to be."

Pro bowlers Rudy Kasimakis and Johnny Horton came to Gaffney to keep their bowling games sharp. Both run pro bowling shops, balancing their professional bowling careers around family and work schedules.

Horton advanced to the final round of eight in the Peach Bowl.

"I love to compete. I learn something new every time I come to a tournament," Horton said. "The only way to get better is by bowling against the best. I really enjoyed coming here. I hope this event will continue to grow and get bigger every year."

Starmax plans to hold the Peach Bowl annually. The event attracted the attention of pro bowlers like Kasimakis, who won a tournament in Tennessee last weekend.

Kasimakis has been bowling professionally since 1996. A seven day work schedule leaves little time for leisure so he planned to see a few movies at Starmax before heading home.

"I came here to win the tournament," Kasimakis said. "Starmax is a great facility. I would like to see us come back here for many years to come."