Auburn Wins First Ten Pin Tournament

By Ed Goba

The 1st Annual Ten Pin Bowling Tournament was held at the AMF Town & Country Lanes in Shrewsbury on October 27, 2002.  Worcester Lodge No. 243 was the host for the event and co-chairpersons were Maureen McNamara and Ann Marie Haggerty, Exalted Ruler of the Lodge.

The bowling was competitive, friendly and enthusiastic.  At the competition of bowling all participants were treated to a pasta dinner at the Worchester Lodge.

Auburn Lodge No. 2118 prevailed as the 1st State Champions of this event, with a score of 2,288.  The bowlers and their scores were Sal Moccia (594), Kevin Packard (567) and John Delaney (598).  Franklin Lodge No. 2136 was runner-up with a score of 2,027.  Sal Moccia bowled a high single string of 220 and John Delaney bowled high triple of 598, both of Auburn Lodge.

The 1st Annual Ten Pin Tourney consisted of 9 teams and 34 bowlers.  This may sound small, but the first candlepin tourney, 37 yrs ago, has 12 teams participate, and today the tourney consistently draws over 200 teams. I feel that the Ten Pin tourney will grow in the same manner with the support of all Lodges. Charter members of this first Ten Pin Tournament were Worchester, Franklin, Auburn, Leominster and Fitchburg lodges.  Congratulations.

The big winner of the day was the Massachusetts Elks Charities, which will receive $142.51 thanks to all the charter member participants.