Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga can forget about those PBA Tour qualifying rounds he had to

go through each week to earn a spot in the main tournament field on the Lumber Liquidators

Tour.

Ciminelli earned a tour exemption for the 2010-11 season with his third-place finish this

week in the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational at the National Bowling Stadium in

Reno, Nev.

Ciminelli, 23, was the youngest to earn an exemption, but he has been knocking on the door

for the last two seasons. Twice this summer he advanced from the TQR rounds to make two

television appearances in the PBA World Series of Bowling in Detroit.

"My career is set," beamed the former Teen Masters champion and All-America bowler at Erie

Community College.

Ciminelli finished with 6,324 for 30 games (210.8) and collected $3,000. First-place

finisher Scott Norton of San Francisco bowled 6,482 and won $7,500. The top seven finishers

earned tour exemptions.

Jeff Zaffino of Warren, Pa., was the oldest qualifier at 50. Zaffino has bowled on tour in

years past, but is still looking for his first national title.

"Now my decision is whether or not to quit my job [as a garage door installer]," he said.

Tom Sorce of Blasdell finished in a tie for 35th at 5,958 and won $512.50. Dan Patterson of

Buffalo was 49th (5,859, $450).

Zebehazy honored

Jim Zebehazy, who was inducted into the Greater Buffalo USBC Association Hall of Fame in

2008, was selected by the the United States Bowling Congress Youth Committee to receive the

2010 USBC Kerm Helmer Horizon Award.

The award is named for the late team founder and long-time bowling coach at ECC and

recognizes "leaders in the youth bowling community who have displayed the courage,

determination and ability to develop far-reaching programs of national scope that provide fun

and exciting opportunities."

A Buffalo native who lives in Leesburg, Fla., Zebehazy has worked in the bowling industry

for more than 26 years. He was the executive director of the Young American Bowling Alliance

from 1998 until it became part of the unified USBC four years ago.

"I had the good fortune to get to know and work with Kerm Helmer," Zebehazy said. "He was

someone who dedicated his life to the betterment of youth bowling. He became a good friend and

mentor who helped me fully understand the meaning of the phrase, "The youth are our future.'

To win an award named in his honor is something that I never dreamed of, but humbly accept."

Zebehazy started his career in the bowling industry in the early 1980s as a field

representative for the American Bowling Congress before taking over as ABC's group executive

for field service in 1990.

Zebehazy will be presented the award during the USBC Convention, April 28-May 1 in Reno,

Nev.

Szczerbinski contends

Current Team USA member John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda stood in third place with one

nine-game round to bowl in the USBC Team USA Trials at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling

Center in Henderson, Nev.

Szczerbinski had 6,038 total pinfall (223.6 average), 199 behind the leader, John Janawicz

of Winter Haven, Fla. heading into the final day of the competition. PBA Tour pro Mike Fagan,

who was runner-up to Lackawanna's Jack Jurek in the PBA Shark Championship, was second with

6,185 pins.

Szczerbinski stood in fourth place after the first round with 2,022. He averaged 238.7 in

his last four games after a slow start.

After dropping with 1,961 in the second round, the Wichita State University star started

the third round with a 279 and averaged 228.3 (2,055 total) for the day.

The top three men and top three women finishers after 36 games will earn automatic spots on

Team USA.

Wells-Layton win

Booker Wells and Ike Layton Jr. won the $500 prize with their 1,065 total in the Amateur

Bowlers Tour Combined Doubles Tournament at the Broadway Sports Center. Shawn Bender and

Harley Burrows were second with 1,038 and Charlie Zmozynski and Mike Platter third with 1,023.

Next on the ABT schedule will be Sunday's Year End Appreciation Combination Singles at AMF

Airport Lanes with $1,500 first place guaranteed. Qualifying squads will bowl at 11 a.m. and 1

p.m. This event is for current ABT members only.