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Lias leads bowlers into finals

Special to Tribune Chronicle Qualifiers for today’s final round of the 40th Warren Challenge Bowling Tournament are, front, from left, Greg Martha, Bob Haynie, Adam Barta, Mark Lias, rear, from left, Mike Benton (alternate), Robert Harvischak, Jeff Czerniak, Shelby Persons and Chuck Williams III.

Mark Lias put together a six-game series of 1521 (253 average) on Saturday at Freeway Lanes to lead seven other qualifying bowlers into today’s final round of the 40th Warren Challenge Bowling Tournament.

The finals also will be held at Freeway, beginning at noon.

Lias stood third after the first two rounds of qualifying, trailing Adam Barta and Chuck Williams III. Williams took the lead after the first two games on Saturday, but Lias used a 300 game in the third round to jump into the lead. He followed up with games of 244, 279 and 277 to post a final qualifying score of 4093 pins.

Barta and Williams ended up tied at 3889 and the remaining finals qualifiers are Robert Harvischak (3796), Shelby Persons (3776), Jeff Czerniak (3770), Greg Martha (3738) and Bob Haynie (3726).

Mike Benton wound up in ninth place and will be the alternate today. His score was 3716. Three other bowlers were within 100 pins of the final qualifying spot: James Nolen (3698), Joe Marcello (3656) and Jim Newbrough (3654).

Five former champions are in the final eight this season: Barta (2009, 2012, 2013, 2017), Haynie (2016), Harvischak (2015), Czerniak (2003) and Martha (1995).

Czerniak made the biggest jump on Saturday, vaulting from 14th at the start of the day into sixth place with a six-game score of 1347. Persons jumped six places from 11th to fifth with his 1337 day.

Rounding out the top 15 bowlers: 13th, Tom Burd, 3598; 14th, Jim Huff, 3589; 15th, Richard Adams, 3559.

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