Home Field Advantage Helps Mike Matosich Conquer The Field At MMA Senior Masters
The Event Was Held At AMF McRay Lanes In Chandler on Nov14. The Valley Right-Hander Is A Regular Entrant In Senior Tournys
By Michael 'Chip' Begg Managing Editor The TenPinExpress.Com Director Mesa Metro Association
Chandler - - - Prior to the start of the Mesa Metropolitan Associations Senior Masters on Saturday November 14, at AMF McRay in Chandler, Mike Matosich knew he had the home field advantage going into the tournament.
After all, he has bowled in the Ramblin Gamblers League there for the last three years on Thursday Nights. Since the 2011-2012 season, he has averaged: 226, 224, and 218 respectfully. And has one 300 game in the center, which was rolled on September 8, 2011.
If he did not make the finals of the event, he figured this will be a good practice session for him in the up coming week of league play.
Some Practice.
After qualifying second during the four game qualifying round with scores of: 222, 181, 162, and 214. Mike went onto defeat Tina Niles, and Cliff Connors in match play to claim this years title.
"I bowl pretty good at the center where I bowl at (AMF McRay). Y ou never know how you are going to do in a tournament," he said, before the start of league play on November 19. "I always like to win a tournament obviously. Just to be able to bowl good in a tournament is my goal these days.That is because my game has been up and down lately."
Mike, however, is used to being in the winners circle. He is a regular entrant in the Phoenix Classic Bowling Associations monthly tournaments. He has won it twice at Let it Roll Bowl in Phoenix, and once at Lakeview Lanes in Sun City.
"Before I arrived here to bowl in the tournament, I figured I had a good shot at winning the senior masters. When the conditions started to change on the lanes, I was not so sure," he said. "The shot was difficult, and it was not the normal shot I am used to in league play. The lanes were hooking a lot more for me than usual."
After retiring from his job with a screen printing company called Plasti-Print, near San Francisco in Burlingame, Ca. Mike moved to the Valley four-and-a-half years ago. He is an avid Giants fan. Which is understandable since they wion the World Series three of the last six years.
"The last game of qualifying was when I was convinced I had a good chance at winning the tournament. I shot a decent game the last game of qualifying, and moved up in the standings to make the cut," he said, on when he felt like he had a good chance to win the masters. "This is a pretty big win for me. There are a lot of good senior bowlers in the Valley. Even though it was a small field, the bowlers who bowled, were really good."
Mike also had a team entered in the MMA Open last year at McRay, which won the Division A Handicap mens event with a score of 2841. His teammates included: Ed Gardner, Bruce Nelson, and Tim Ramey.
"I did not do any extra practicing to bowl in the tournament," he admits. "I really only bowl in one league a week, and practice twice a week if I have a chance. That is usually my schedule. The biggest difference I noticed in leagues from California to Arizona, is there are more teams in the leagues. There is a lot more bowling going on in the Valley. We were lucky to get 12 teams in a league in California."
Mike has bowled in about 15 USBC Nationals, and they were with friends from California. He also has six perfect games from bowling in leagues there, to make it a total of seven.
"I averaged 220 on wood in the 70s, and 224 my first year bowling in a league here. I would prefer bowling on wood, but you can't find a center with wooden lanes anymore," he said, of his preferred playing surface. "The game is a lot different now with synthetic lanes. How the lanes are conditioned, and how the bowling ball manufactures have kept up with the new equipment to challenge these new oil patterns, have made the game different."
Mike's wife Mary, is a respectable bowler herself. She has averaged: 183, 181, and 180 the last three years as well.
"Since I have moved to the Valley, I have had my bowling equipment drilled by Mike Calderon at Bowl 300 pro shop, and by Dave Cirigliano and Bowling Dynamics," he said. "I would also like to thank Dave for the lessons and advice he has given to me."
Mesa Bowling News November 24, 2015