Ash earns multiple city senior crowns

It’s no contest for Les Ash.

“I’d rather be lucky than good any day,” Ash said.

The Washington Courthouse bowler was both at the recent Greater Dayton United States Bowling Congress Senior City Tournament at Century Lanes. Ash, 56, won the singles title in the 50-59 age group (783) as well as the handicap and actual all-events titles (2,160) in the same division. He also posted the two highest series in the tournament: a 783 in singles and a 777 in the team event.

“You can bowl one day and carry quite well and another day you can hit the pocket all day long and not carry,” Ash said. “I was just fortunate to bowl two good sets.”

Ash already had two

Rick Starbuck Pro Shop (Rick Starbuck, Mike Ekberg, Dave Cooper, Jeff Parks), 2,478

DNI International (Mark Northern, Herb Snyder, Dave Norton, Tim Mull), 2,701

Michael Langham/Robert Beach, 1,420 Andre Hutson/ Rickey Harris, 1,423 Larry Wanamaker, 721 Michael Ekberg, 733 Kim Hergenrather, 719 2,089 Les Ash, 783 Brian Miller, Les Ash, 2,160 city team titles to his credit, but this marked the first individual city title he has earned in a career that spans several decades.

“It’s nice that, at my age, I can still be competitive,” he said. “And it’s an honor to step on the lanes with these guys.”

Ash wasn’t the only one on the mark in the senior event, as Tom Hartley posted a 746 series, Jeff Parks bowled a 737 and 732 and Brian Miller scored a 732 in the team event and 715 in doubles.

“There is an abundance of bowling talent in the Dayton area,” Ash said. “And it doesn’t get any easier in this game because, every year, you get some ‘young’ guys moving into the seniors who can really crank the ball.”

While Ash was pleased with his tournament performance and humbled by the titles, winning pales in comparison to his favorite part of the game.

“To me, bowling is more about the people I’m surrounded by — they’re family,” he said. “Winning a city title is nice, but bowling well with your companions is even better.”

Joe Hoelscher posted the high game in the seniors tournament with a 290. His consistent play helped him to a third-place finish in the scratch all-events standings with 2,037.

High game: