Bowling with the PBA pros

LIHU’E — A steady stream of cars, vans and SUVs rolled into the parking lot of the Rice Shopping Center Sunday.

Seven bowlers from Kaua’i will have an opportunity to compete with a field of about 70 professional bowlers starting today at the PBA West/Northwest Regions Rice Shopping Center Open.

Bowlers were arriving to check in prior to the start of the practice session that ran from 2 to 4 p.m. followed by the pro am event.

A pre-tournament luau preceded the evening rock-n-bowl event to get the fans and bowlers excited for the tournament that starts at 9 a.m. today and runs through the championship game on Tuesday.

Bowler Darron Peters of California was one of the bowlers checking in. Peters said this is his third year bowling on Kaua’i.

“It a great place to come to,” Peters said.

Kevin Tennberg was one of the seven Kaua’i bowlers who will be competing.

Tennberg said this is his second time competing in the tournament; he also competed in 2004.

Other Kaua’i bowlers who will be aiming for the projected $2,500 first-place check include Kyrin Sasaki, Juni Cacal, Randy Iloreta, Darren Alcos, Sheldon Peralta and John Petrovits.

Darryl Izumo, manager of the Lihu’e Bowling Center, is also scheduled to be part of the competition as he joins the A Squad as the field rolls to “Cut to 16.”

Izumo noted that Mel Matsumura, manager of the Hickam bowling center, was one of the visitors to this year’s tournament because he is planning to host a PBA event, the PBA West/Northwest Hickam AFB Open on April 27-28.

Defending champion for the Rice Shopping Center Open is Vayle Floria of Long Beach, Calif., who was ranked No. 13 as of Jan. 23 with 11 events and 91.528 points.

Marv Sargent of Temecula, Calif., ranked No. 1 as of Jan. 23, is part of this year’s competition, as is the No. 2 ranked Dave Arnold of Reno, Nevada.

Sargent has 22 events with 225,480 points, chased by Arnold who has 21 events with 220,001 points.