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Tees & Pins Tourney A Strike

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

The Acura ARX-01B piloted by Bryan Herta races past the Ferrari 430 Berlinetta GT during the ALMS Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway on Monday.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: January 29, 2008

LAKE PLACID –– When you mention birdies, pars and bogeys, you think of golf.

That wasn't the case on Sunday in the second annual Tees & Pins Bowling Classic at Royal Palms Bowling Center.

The birdies and pars were flying, but it was on the lanes where the action was happening.

The one-day event, which was a fundraiser for the Florida Hospital Lake Placid Foundation and the Rotary Club of Lake Placid, attracted 72 bowlers and was sponsored by Wauchula State Bank.

"This is a chance for young and old to get together to help raise funds for two great organizations," said Rotary member and event coordinator Jim DiNapoli. "It's a bowling tournament, but we run it like a golf tournament."Each team of four bowls on 18 lanes and the scores are figured out using birdies, pars and bogeys. "Then we use each team's handicap to come up with their final scores.

"It's a little confusing, but we managed to work it out and it's a unique twist on bowling and golf."

Finishing first with a score of -19 was C & C Plumbing and Repair, whose members were Christina Annons, Teresa Nicolai, Troy Nicolai and Carl Canebari.

Placing second at -18 and representing the Family Medical Group was the foursome of Ben Kuse, Helena Kuse, Franchesca Orobit and Victor Flores.

Coming in third place at -17 and representing Century 21 Compton Realty was the talented team of Milagros Perez, Sara Rios, Clarence Brewer and Pam Brewer.

More than $10,000 was raised by the event, which will be split between Florida Hospital Lake Placid Foundation and the Rotary Club of Lake Placid.

"Florida Hospital uses the money toward a scholarship to South Florida Community College in the medical field for a student at Lake Placid High School or a person from Lake Placid," said Jamie Bateman, who is the executive director of Florida Hospital Heartland Division.

"It's great to see the community support this event and the best part of this fundraiser is that all the money raised stays in Lake Placid. "

After the bowling was finished, a raffle was held with numerous outstanding prizes, including a six-day vacation and a brand new $3,000 wide-screen television.

Ten-year-old Christian DiNapoli was the lucky winner of the television.

"I can't believe I won," said DiNapoli. "This was a great day and just in time for us to be able to watch the Super Bowl on it on Sunday."

It's the support of the community that helped to make this event such a success.

"No one has a fundraiser like this and it was a very successful day," said Jim DiNapoli. "It continues to grow and we look forward to making next year's event even better.

"The best part of the event is the support from the people of Lake Placid and the businesses in the community, and we can't thank them enough."

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