ANNA MARIA – Sold out again this year, the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament was a huge fundraising success on Saturday night at Bowlero Bradenton.
With 64 lanes sold and teams of six bowling in support of The Center of Anna Maria Island, the night was filled with the sounds of crashing pins, laughter and good conversation.
At night’s end, the Salty Dolphins of AMI Dolphin Tours once again were the top team with a combined team score of 974 in a single game.
Bowling pin “trophies” were awarded to Mikie Phetcher, the top female bowler, with a score of 150.
Hunter Parrish, scoring 234, was the top male bowler of the night. This was Parrish’s first individual achievement as a member of the AMI Dolphin Tours team.
King Middle School eighth-grader Cale Rudacille took home top honors as a youth bowler with a high score of 132.
On the flip side of bowling achievements, Keith Mahoney won the coveted Gutter Ball award.
The tournament, named in honor of Greg LaPensee, who passed away on Dec. 21, 2021 at 39 years of age, was once again sponsored by LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air. LaPensee’s sons, Preston and Chandler, opened the tournament with the first bowls of the night.
Many of the teams showed their originality and personalities through the costumes they wore at the fundraiser. Five teams were considered for the team costume contest prize.
In the end, the six Jamaican bobsledders, Don and Leah Purvis, Brian and Lauren Johnson, and Gavin and Amy Lee, took home the title of best team costumes.
The fundraiser planning once again was a tribute to the giving spirit that Janae Rudacille has for her Island community. Center staff and Rudacille outdid themselves again this year with a wonderful event featuring many raffle items and silent auction items donated to benefit the nonprofit organization.
The Center staff is grateful to everyone who made this year’s fundraising event an even bigger success than last year. All proceeds from the bowling tournament will go toward the programming and services provided by The Center.
The Center staff, volunteers and bowlers made the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament another night to remember.
