Monmouth County, NJ
A proud member of ...

Written by: George Faytok

THOMSEN CLAIMS MONMOUTH COUNTY MASTERS TITLE

Rusty Thomsen, 29 of the Morgan section of South Amboy claimed the title at the 48^th Monmouth County Bowling Association Masters Tournament at Knob Hill Country Lanes in Manalapan.

Thomsen after qualifying second with a six-game score of 1474 (Sean Riccardi of Plainsboro, was the leading qualifier with an 1492 which included the tourney’s high three-game series of 813) then compiled a perfect 5-0 match play record with a tourney high average of 238.  In the two-game match play finals Rusty defeated Lenny Pugliese III of Long Branch 491-440. He then defeated Eric Nilson of Long Branch 439-394, then edged Sean Riccardi 480-471 and Ryan Walsh of Port Monmouth 423-367 to gain entry to the championship match.

Ryan Walsh qualified third with a six-game score of 1441. In the match play finals Ryan defeated Mike Stone of Hazlet 406-365. He then beat John Paris of Belford (the 1975, 1983, 1991 & 2006 Masters Champion) 411-384, Ken MacWhinney of Neptune 465-399, before losing to Thomsen. In the Loser’s Bracket Walsh advanced to the championship match by defeating Stone once again with a 424-359.

In the championship match, Thomsen claimed the title over Walsh with a 506-373.

Honor scores bowled in the tournament were: Sean Riccardi 813; Ken Hayes of West Long Branch 300; Greg Hess Sr. of Jackson 299 and John Furey of Freehold 290 (11-in-a-row) .

226 participated in the tournament.