If the subject of lane conditions isn't in the forefront of bowling news these days, it should

be in the light of the record scores being turned in this week in the Pepsi Red, White and

Blue Open presented by USBC in Wichita, Kan.

The scores are going through the roof at Northrock Lanes on the experimental Red, White and

Blue lane conditions the USBC plans to introduce on an optional basis to league bowlers in

cooperation with the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America for the 2010-11 season. The

Red oil pattern is the most forgiving, the White is a medium challenge and the Blue is most

challenging.

In the Wichita tournament, one eight-game qualifying round was held on each condition, then

a round of match play was held on each condition. The final six will bowl the finals Sunday on

the Blue pattern. It will be taped for presentation on ESPN at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10.

Through three rounds of qualifying and one round of match play, a record 26 300 games were

bowled in the Red, White and Blue. Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga and Brad Angelo of Lockport were

among those who threw perfect games.

Mike Machuga of Erie, Pa., the leader going into Friday's match play, threw two 300s.

Rookie Cassidy Schaub, the two-hander from Ashland, Ohio, also had a pair of 300s, thrown

in succession during the second round of qualifying on the White condition.

The twin 300s helped Schaub set a PBA 16-game scoring record, averaging 257.25. He posted a

total of 4,116 to erase the record of 4,095 by John Mazza in Las Vegas in 1996.

"Everyone knew the scoring conditions were going to be easier than what we're used to,"

Schaub said. "Some guys like it, some guys don't, but I like this pace for once a year. I get

a lot of questions about lane conditions when I go home. I think an event like this answers a

lot of questions league bowlers have about the differences between league and professional

bowling conditions."

Thursday, it was Machuga's turn for an assault on the record book. He threw the

tournament's 24th 300 game, tying the previous record, on his way to the PBA 32-game scoring

record. He averaged 250.50 for 32 games, posting an actual total of 8,016 pins to break the

record of 7,940 set by Parker Bohn III in Japan in 1999.

With his bonus pins after posting a 5-3 won-lost record in match play, Machuga had a total

of 8,166 pins for a 67-pin lead over Patrick Allen of Wesley Chapel, Fla.

Three Western New York bowlers were still alive in the Red, White and Blue heading into

Friday's match play. Angelo, who was tied for 42nd after the first round, stood in seventh

place with 7,991 pins. Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga was 18th at 7,709 while Johnson was 19th

at 7,689.

Closer to home, old timers and purists keep shaking their heads at the skyrocketing scores

turned in each week in the Denny's Restaurant Classic Open Trio League that bowls at Rapids

Lanes in Niagara Falls on Monday nights. If it's not the highest scoring league in Western New

York, it's close. It also includes some of Western New York's most prolific bowlers.

The Denny's league outdid itself this week with three 300 games and a pair of 800 series.

Pat Desjardins led the way with 279-278-268-825, his fifth career 800 series. Vern Jacobs

was competing against Desjardins on the same pair of lanes and nearly matched his pace. Jacobs

bowled 267-258-287-812, for his second 800 series.

There were eight series in the 700s this week. Jim Reese Jr. bowled the third perfect game

of the night, his 88th career 300, in a 683 series.

Pin chasers

Tom Sorce of Blasdell and Ciminelli will be among the field of 90 bowlers who will

compete in the 41st annual Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational at the National

Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., this week, Tuesday through Thursday. Only the top 25 points

leaders in each of the PBA regions are eligible to compete in the event that will award seven

players with exemptions for the 2010-11 PBA Tour season. There is a $7,500 first prize plus a

berth in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions in January.

Last year's winner, John Nolen of Waterford, Mich., went on to win the USBC Masters.

Josh Robertson of Tonawanda defeated top qualifier Kevin Gray Sr., of Warsaw,

220-216, in the championship match and collected the top prize of $530 in the most recent

Amateur Bowlers Tour stop at Allie Brandt Lanes in Lockport. Robertson got to the final via a

262-236 win over Mike Platter of Cheektowaga.