Out of Fast Lane, Stempke Fails to Qualify in Cal Bowl

Bill Stempke of Moorpark, a stranger on the Professional Bowlers’ Assn. Senior Tour who threatened to steal the show, ran out of gas Wednesday night late in the match-play round of the $120,000 Pacific Cal Bowl Senior Open in Lakewood.

Stempke, 53, pro shop owner at Mission Hills Bowl, scored 200 or better only once in his final 11 games after a 215.17 average through two days of qualifying put him in a ninth-place tie entering match play.

Stempke finished 21st, averaging 205.29 before departing the tournament with a $1,450 check. Two-time defending champion Gene Stus of Allen Park, Mich., emerged the top qualifier for today’s televised stepladder final with a 220.67 average.

Former Thousand Oaks resident John Handegard, a six-time tour champion, qualified second.

Stempke appeared to tire toward the end of the 24 match-play games. His scores averaged 208 after eight games, dropped to 200.38 his second eight and 185.25 his final eight.

“I’m not out of gas, I’m just slow tonight,” said Stempke, the only one of 12 Valley bowlers to advance to match play. “I’m not throwing the ball hard enough, and I’ve fallen from contention to almost the bottom.”

Stempke, competing in his second tournament of the year, enjoyed his biggest payday as a pro and outplayed all but two of the top nine Senior PBA career money winners who entered the tournament.