Hawthorn's four play results in Eagles for all - News, Notes & Quotes

Bowling Digest, Oct, 2003 by Brett Ballantini

WHEN THE DUST SET-tled after the 100th ABC Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn., it was a bowling center that emerged with some of the heaviest decorations.

Hawthorn Lanes of Vernon Hills, Ill., owned by BOWLING DIGEST contributing editor Bill Spigner, now employs four ABC Eagle winners, which is believed to be more than any other center in the country.

The Hawthorn Lanes #7 team of Brian Chilcutt, Vince Biondo, Mike Steil, Jim Servis, and Mark Raymond Jr. won the All-Events title with a 9,971 (better than a 221 average), beating out 9,883 other teams. Team #7 also finished 12th in Team Events with a 3,159 pinfall.

"It was a thrill for me and all of our employees to have Hawthorn Lanes employees and bowlers win the biggest bowling event in the world," Spigner says. "I am very proud of the team, having watched them work long and hard on their games to reach this level of success."

The laurels didn't stop in team competition. Raymond's 2,144, Steil's 2,102, and Biondo's 2,093 in All-Events were good for finishes of third, 11th, and 14th respectively (of 46,781 bowlers). In Singles, Biondo finished 19th (760) and Steil 21st (758) among 48,889 bowlers.

Spigner doesn't downplay the achievement, especially in light of his personal journey toward an Eagle: "I've bowled in 37 ABC tournaments, and it took me 30 years to win an Eagle. It's a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for most bowlers."