Rolph has perfect way to prepare for sectionals

Sam Rolph rolled a 300 in the Wednesday 6: 30 Men’s League at Orland Bowl. It was his “13th or 14th’’ 300.

That’s perfect timing considering it came four days before the opening sectional — Section 4 on Saturday at Orland — of the 55th Beat the Champions. Other sectionals are Sunday, next Saturday and Feb. 21. Advancing bowlers should have been notified.

Rolph advanced from Orland with a scratch 808 during contest week in early December.

No surprise. He has all kinds of links to bowling. He’s a league regular at Orland, Tinley Bowl and Oak Forest Bowl and a frequent sub at other south suburban centers.

“I will bowl in the middle of Cicero if somebody sets the pins,’’ said Rolph, an American Family Insurance agent in Oak Forest.

He is part of Superior Choice Pro Shop with Eugene McCune at Lynwood Bowl. Rolph worked with coaches such as Ron Hoppe and helped get The International Art of Bowling going, along with Jason Belmonte and Diandra Asbaty, who set the women’s target scores. Nor is Rolph a stranger to BTC. “Every year I get in it,’’ said Rolph, who has entered since he returned from the Air Force in 1987. “The net profits [ of BTC] go to charities. I am very supportive. And there is the car.’’

BTC, co- sponsored by the Sun-Times and the Chicagoland Bowling Proprietors Association, has raised more than $ 2.7 million from more than 5.7 million entries in the first 54 years.

In 1992, Rolph led the men’s finals through the first three games but left in- the- pocket 8- 10 splits in the eighth and 10th frames of the final game to finish third. He won a 20- inch TV. In 2004, he reached the finals again and was notable for returning from Florida to bowl.

The car? This year, both the women’s winner ( Lan- Oak Lanes, March 6) and men’s ( Elk Grove Bowl, March 13) win a Ford Focus from the Chicagoland Ford Dealers.

As for bowling at one of his home centers? “Doesn’t help much, other than maybe a 50 percent guess on the equipment; other people probably have a 25 percent guess on the equipment,” he said. “The shot will be wide open. It will be a shot for scoring if they put out the regular shot.”