They're bowling to be known as the city's best

The Modesto USBC City Tournament kicks off Friday with the Senior No-Tap Doubles at McHenry. Bowlers must be 55 or older and bowl in a Modesto league. Teams can be men, women or mixed.

Squads start Saturday and Sunday for the regular City Tournament in team, doubles and singles events, plus the BVL and Youth City singles. The city team event is at Yosemite, with doubles and singles at McHenry.

There is a new scratch division this year for teams with averages over 1,100. BVL and the Youth City singles will compete alongside the city tournament at Yosemite. Youth bowlers roll in three divisions, including two handicapped and based on age. The third is scratch.

The BVL is a twofold event with division winners representing Modesto at the state finals in Citrus Heights in March. A combined handicapped prize list will have cash awards. Rules and entries are at each bowling center. Entries close for the two-weekend tournament an hour prior to the last squad Nov. 20.

Jackie Wilson, Sherry Kuharich and Linda Faughn teamed to win the Ladies No-Tap Trio tournament at McHenry with their 2,352. Wilson rolled a 768 set on games of 242-239-287. In second were Mary Eccleston, Olivia Clinton and Robin Sullivan (2,326).

Three of the four PBA "animal pattern" open events have been completed as part of the World Series of Bowling this month at the South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas. Modesto's Wayne Garber missed the cut in the first three, but the final Shark Pattern Open starts today.

A dozen PBA tournaments started with the Viper Open. Mike Fagan of Dallas topped the field at 3,393 — 90 pins ahead of Stuart Williams of England. Two leading international twin-grip players — Jason Belmonte of Australia and Osku Palermaa of Finland — led the Chameleon Open, and in the Scorpion Open, Dom Barrett of England was the leading finalist.

The top four contenders in each animal open roll against each other in the televised finals then join the top 60 qualifiers overall to compete for PBA World Champion title.

It's sign-up time for the New Year's Eve In Paris Celebration at McHenry. There will be lunch, no-tap bowling, music, prizes, favors and a champagne toast at midnight, Paris-time. The event is always a sell-out with a waiting list so reserve your spot now by calling (209) 571-2695.

The 2012 Youth Championships entries for the California State USBC have been released and are available at the bowling centers. The tournament is in Orange County from June 23-July 29.

Dallas Kadry is an employee of McHenry Bowl; reach her at (209) 571-2695 or mchbowl@aol.com.