Pandemic can't stop annual Greensburg Open bowling tournament - TribLIVE

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Noah Suidron was good-natured Sunday as he was outscored frame after frame by girlfriend Kayla Murphy.

“I’ve been bowling for four years, and as soon as I showed her bowling she was better than me,” said Suidron, 23, of Latrobe during the first session of the 32nd annual Greensburg Open bowling tournament at Main Bowling Center in Greensburg.

The event, scheduled over the next three weekends, is its 32nd year. But it was the first since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic that has restricted many indoor activities and, for a time, threatened the annual tournament that brings together bowlers from throughout the region and nearby states.

Tournament director Jim Heater said concessions to the pandemic meant limiting the number of bowlers allowed in the lanes, a situation that required adding additional preliminary sessions to whittle down the field of about 400 contestants to 32 finalists scheduled to play March 21.

Last year’s tournament wrapped up just days before all nonessential businesses, including bowling alleys, were required to shut down at the onset of the pandemic. Even after businesses reopened in June, a December shutdown left tournament organizers wondering if the 2021 event would end up in the gutter.

“I really considered canceling it this year, but as time went on I felt comfortable enough we could do it. It took a lot of thinking things through this time,” Heater said.

Bowlers are required to wear masks. Spectators are limited to just a handful, and plastic shower curtains separate lanes, but balls were rolled and pins knocked down as usual, a needed distraction according to Sunday’s participants.

The winner crowned later this month will take home a $1,500 prize.

Michael Krisfalusi, 36, of Ligonier said bowling has changed for him during the last year as he’s had to limit his league matches to individual sessions close to home. Sunday’s tournament was a call back to more normal times.

“This is the first time I’ve been in an alley with this many people since December. It’s great to get out,” Krisfalusi said.

Artie Fink, 51 of Altoona, a third-place finisher several years ago, said concessions to the pandemic haven’t been too noticeable.

“The pandemic has affected everything, but this is no different. It’s good to see everybody as we work our way back to normal,” Fink said. “We just have to mask up and take precautions.”

Lexington Tanaka, 15, of Johnstown is the youngest bowler in this year’s tournament. He rolled a 237 with his handicap in his first game.

“I actually really love it. I came here for my friend. He passed away in June, and he always bowled in this tournament, so I came here in his memory,” Tanaka said.

And for rookie bowler such as Murphy, 23, of Latrobe, it’s a chance to put her new skills to the test.

“It’s just trying to get out and try to do something new,” Murphy said.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293, rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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