Manville man chasing national bowling title
Manville resident Robert Thomaszfski is among 108 amateur competitors who will compete in Las Vegas on April 8 and 9 as a finalist in AMF Bowling Centers tournament for the top prize of $50,000 at the National In-League Tournament finale.
Mr. Thomaszfski regularly rolls at AMF Strike & Spare Lanes in Green Brook.
He’ll receive an all-expenses paid trip to The Orleans Hotel & Casino and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win up to $50,000 and the ultimate bowling bragging rights.
According to the organizers, “Robbie” Thomaszfski has been a league bowler for 16 years. He is entering this year’s tournament with a final district average of 180. When asked how he will spend his winnings, Thomaszfski said he will pay off bills, maybe buy a new car, and get new bowling equipment.
More than 150,000 AMF league bowlers entered the 2011 National In-League Tournament, but only 27 from each of the four divisions made it to the finals, including Mr. Thomaszfski.
All 108 bowlers will compete in an elimination-style format that spans four rounds and two days of competition. The bowler in each division with the highest pins-over-average score or closest to average will walk away with the record-breaking purse. Although only one person in each division will be crowned the $50,000 grand prizewinner, every national finalist will receive prize money, ranging from $25,000 for second place to $250 each for the bowlers finishing in 17th to 27th place. About $500,000 in prizes will be distributed.
To make it to this point, Mr. Thomasfski and other division winners worked their way through a nine-week qualifying period, followed by two weeks of in-center finals at each AMF location and 27 district finals. AMF already has awarded about $300,000 in prize money to center and district finalists.
Fans of the bowlers can keep up with live tournament stats at www.tournament.amf.com, via Twitter at @bowlatAMF and on Facebook at facebook.com/AMFbowlingcenters. Bowlers interested in entering the 2012 tournament can sign up for a league at any AMF location this coming fall.
AMF Bowling Centers is the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling alleys, with 298 centers in the U.S.

