It is safe to say that J.J. Owens is the hottest bowler Ithaca has seen in a while. Just two weeks ago, he came close to topping the city record of 847 by shooting an 834. He's still after that record.

Owens, bowling on lanes 7 and 8 in the Laughlin/VFW Aux League last Saturday, put together games of 234, 299 and 299 for an 832 series. Owens has been bowling for about 30 years, and said he wants the record and hopes he gets it this year.

Becky Kannus rolled her first 700 series, in the Manos/Chanticleer Women's League. On the strength of her 279 game, in which she had the first nine strikes and then left a stubborn 7 pin, Kannus finished with a 714 series. Matt VanEtten put together 12 strikes on lanes 3 and 4 to roll a 300 game and finished with a 735 series in the Punchbowl Mixed league.

One week left

The final two days of the 31st annual New York State Seniors Tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday. It's hosted by the Empire State's United States Bowling Congress Bowling Association. The event is being held at Lighthouse Lanes in Oswego.

Entry forms are available for the 86th annual New York State Open Championship Tournament, hosted by the Empire State USBCBA on April 10, 2010, at Niagara Falls.

Entry forms for both events, and more information, may be found at www.empirestateusbcba.org or by picking up an entry form at the Bowl-O-Drome in Ithaca.

Entries accepted

Entries are being accepted on a first come, first serve basis for the local association championship tournament. The Ithaca USBC Association will crown this year's local champions during the next two weekends.

Men's and women's team, doubles, singles and all-events titles are on the line, as well as mixed team and mixed doubles titles. The tournament is open to any adult bowler sanctioned in the Ithaca USBC Association. Entry forms are available at the Bowl-O-Drome in Ithaca, where all tournament events will be held.

Ithaca's junior bowlers will be competing for their respective championships during the two weekends of the tournament beginning with their team competition on the morning of Nov. 7.

There are still raffle tickets available for a chance at winning one of four bowling balls to be given away during the last squad on Nov. 15. Profits from the sale of the raffle tickets will be directed toward the prize fund for the adult bowlers. Tickets are available from members of the Ithaca USBC Association Board of Directors and at the Rip-A-Rack Pro Shop at the Bowl-O-Drome.

Junior fundraiser

Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, Ithaca junior bowlers will be selling candy bars as they raise funds for tournaments and other upcoming events. Profits from the sale of the candy go directly to the bowlers. The Ithaca junior bowling program is self-funded and every candy bar sold helps support the city's bowling stars of the future.