A Perfect Game Leads The Way In Scoring At The MMA Senior Open
Andy Mead, of Maricopa, Recorded His 11th 300 Game On The Alcatraz Pattern At AMF McRay
By Michael 'Chip' Begg Managing Editor The TenPinExpress.com
Chandler - - - In tournament bowling. We can all appreciate a bowler being modest when it comes to how they would like tod scoring wise, during the course of an event. Some bowlers are in it to win it. Some are in it to have fun, and hit their average. And yet, there are some bowlers who are entered in the event that well, just don't want to bowl bad and embarrass themselves. On Saturday afternnoon November 7. During the 1pm squad of the 25th annual Mesa Metropolitan Associations (MMA) Senior Open at AMF McRay in Chandler, there was nothing embarrassing about the way Andy Mead bowled. In the opening game of the doubles event, Mr. Mead, of Maricopa, rolled a perfect game on lanes 29 and 30. His 11th 300 game. He would then go on to post a 711 set in doubles, and come back with a 699 in singles. The interesting thing about his performance, was that he was asked to fill in as a sub at the last moment. "I did not want to emnarrass muself," Andy said, again modestly, after the completion of the doubles and singles event. "The last time I bowled with these guys, I rolled a 429 series."
Andy's first 300 game actually did not come in Arizona, but at Cove Lanes in Great Barrington, Mass. What made his first 300 even more memorable, was the fact that it came on a challenging condition. During a time when an oil can, lane applicator, and towels were used to condition lanes. "It was the first night of the season, during my transition from the juniors to the adult leagues in 1979," he remembers. "Cove Lanes was a 24 lane center, and I was the first bowler there since 1972 to throw a 300 game. I was 18 then and my photo is still up on the wall there. Everybody who knows me, knows I a sort of a celeberty when I go back there for a visit. It was really unusual to shoot a 300 back then."
Back in the old days, bowlers were rewarded with a ring every time they rolled a 300 game or 800 series from the old ABC. He has seven 300 rings and two 800 series rings. However, Andy always seems to thrive when it comes to tournament bowling.
"I bowled on TV twice. The last TV show was called 'TV Tournament Time', and it aired in Albany, New York," he said. "Bowling on TV did not bother me at all. When you are 18 or 19 years old, nothing bothers you. I shot a 238 on TV and got beat. The bowling show was taped at Schenectady Bowl."
He has lived in the Valley since 1985. Two more of his perfect games came in the Starlighters League on April 26, 2000. And the Tri-City Men's league on December 9, 2004. He has also averaged 215 or better on three seperate occasions. These accomplishments coming in the Tri City Men's (219), during the 2008-09 season. (216) in the Construction A Men's League in 2011-12. And (215) again in the Tri-City Men's league in 2005-06.
"I bowled on wooden lanes back in Massachusetts, and now everything is synthetic. Bowling on wooden lanes is a big difference," he said, of the difference of the two playing surfaces. "I used to throw a full roller when I bowled on wooden lanes. I had to learn how to throw a three-quarter roller on synthetic. I taught myself how to bowl, and never had a coach or lesson."
He averaged 210 on wood, and believes it was the truer average due to the skill level.
"It took a lot more skill and shot making ability. It wasn't about standing left, cranking the ball out to the right , and see how hard the ball would come back to the pocket," he said, of the wood experience. "Technology, equipment, and lane conditions has certainly changed the bowling industry in the past 20 years, as it has in many sports."
Andy bowled in El Paso, Texas this year in the USBC National Tournament, and plans on bowling again in 2017 in Syracuse, New York.
"My 11th 300 was another great bowling accomplishment for me," he said, of his latest. "I did not think I had any more perfect games or 800 series left in me. I did not realize I had a good shot at a perfect game, until the tenth frame. All of my shots were flush in the pocket and buried. I threw the ball over my mark on the lanes, and it was just a matter if the pins would carry."
Andy is employed with Gold Tech Industries, as a plant manager. Gold Tech produces gold plated reflectors for the semiconductor industry.
Andy would like to thank his wife, Tamie, for supporting him for over 20 years. Through many leagues, tournaments and accomplishments. He would also like to thank his grandson, Cason, for keeping him 'young'.
Unofficial Results For 25th MMA Senior Open
Handicap Doubles - 1. Andy Mead/William Shugarman - Maricopa - 1518
Scratch Doubles - 1. Johnny Wing/Don Caron - Mesa - 1298
Handicap Singles - 1. Mark Hoerner - Mesa - 806
Scratch Singles - 1. Mark Hoerner- Mesa - 725
Team HDCP - 1. Springfield - Chandler - 3,085
Team Scratch 1. Outcasts - Mesa -2585
All Events HDCP 1. Ken Mcintosh - San Tan Valley - 2,283
All Events Scratch 1. Larry Barton - Mesa - 1995
Mesa Bowling News November 20, 2015