As many of you are already aware, the Amateur Bowlers Tour (ABT) is a nationwide bowling tour that has been around since 1977. The organization claims to be the "largest and best organized tournament club in the United States." A few bowlers may question that after the circumstances surrounding one of their tournaments this past weekend.
The East Coast division of the ABT ran a tournament this past weekend at Morrisville Lanes in Morrisville, PA and while it would seem it went off without a hiccup, looks can and probably are very deceiving in this case.
Mid-way through the tournament, one of the bowlers realized that another bowler, who had been bowling very well, was using an illegal ball with a weight hole drilled in it. According to USBC rules, as of August 1st, 2020, bowling balls with weight holes were deemed illegal for use in USBC-sanctioned tournaments. The bowler told his coach, Mike Valanzano, who then went over to the Tournament Director, Andrew Mitchell, Jr. When Valanzano asked for the ball to be disqualified, the director stated that the ABT was not governed by USBC rules and therefore did not adhere to that rule, thus allowing the illegal ball to be used. Valanzano decided to take a look at the ABT rulebook (located online) and the rules clearly state that the Tour is indeed governed by USBC rules and therefore no bowling balls with illegal weight holes should be permissible. He showed this rule to the TD, but was again reneged. Appalled by this decision, Mike went over to the bowling center owner who said he would take care of it. However, the TD was unwilling to reconsider, thus he decided to call the ABT headquarters. Upon making the call, he was able to speak to the CEO of the ABT, Myron Mitchell, who confirmed that the ball should've been deemed illegal. Mr. Mitchell explained that a picture of the bowling ball as well as a formal letter explaining the situation should be submitted to the ABT. Valanzano submitted the requested information, but up until now, has been largely ignored, thus it would seem the tournament results will stand.
And now the kicker . . . the bowler who used the illegal bowling ball WON the tournament while one of Valanzano's students came in second!
Valanzano took to social media to explain the situation and was met by Rick Niedermayer, a self-proclaimed owner of an ABT branch since 1977. Niedermayer confirmed that the ball should've been taken out of play.
Alas, it was not and so it goes, another tournament seems to be marred by illegal happenstances. Whether this will be rectified remains to be seen.
