JOE TOMSU MEMORIAL
THE BEGINNING
Joe Tomsu was one of Omaha's top bowlers from the time he began bowling in the late 1950's. He competed in the top scratch leagues and tournaments in the region. Joe passed his love of the game down to his son Matt Tomsu as Matt often accompanied him during these competitions. With Joe's coaching and encouragement, Matt became a regional PBA member and one of the top bowlers in the Midwest.
Father and son were inseparable until Joe's death from cancer at the age of 66 in 1997. The loss was tough for Matt and he sought a way to honor his father. Friends Ted Baer, local businessman and avid bowler, and Tom Kelley, Jr., pro shop owner and top amateur bowler, convinced Matt to use the game he and his dad loved, bowling, to memorialize Joe and contribute to the battle against the disease that claimed his life.
The first Joe Tomsu Memorial Bowling Tournament was held in 1999. Hosts Matt and Michaela Tomsu have presided over the tournament each year as it has grown in the number of competitors, purse money, side action available, and prestige. The Tomsu is now recognized as one of the top amateur tournaments in the region.
Due to the great success of the tournament a team event was added in 2011. This event provides another opportunity for competition and allows those who travel to make a weekend of the event.
2011 - TEAM TOURNAMENT ADDED
2015 - CHRIS TWOMEY AWARDS ADDED
2015 was a very difficult year for those involved with the Tomsu Memorial. Just one month prior to the tournament the Tomsus and the greater Omaha bowling community lost a beloved friend when Chris Twomey passed away from cancer. Chris bravely fought the very aggressive form of the disease he had for eight months. He inspired those around him with his courage and his positive attitude.
Chris was an avid and very capable bowler who competed in the top leagues and tournaments in the region. While a keen competitor he mostly enjoyed the time he got to spend with friends on the lanes. His friends enjoyed Chris too as he was quick to smile, laugh, and maybe even engage in a little smack talk. His engaging personality was only topped by his fashion sense. Check out the homage to this sense Chris' friends have paid him . . . . . < Click on thumbnail to enlarge >
The Tomsus decided to honor Chris by presenting a trophy bearing his name to the top qualifying "Over" and "Under" bowler each year. The design of the trophies bears a striking resemblance to Chris' pants.
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Chris' son Mason, November 2019
THE FORMAT
Over/Under Scratch Doubles
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Overs - aged 45 and over as of tourney date Unders - under age 45 as of tourney date
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All competitors will bowl 6 games of qualifying
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The top 16 Over & 16 Under will be paired by ordinal position after qualifying. Pairs will then compete in match play style eliminator
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The top 4 seeded pairs receive two round bye
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Seeds 5 through 8 receive a first-round bye
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The final matches will be the best of three competitions
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The field is limited to 128 bowlers
Team Tournament
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Each team consists of four bowlers - at least one of these bowlers must be 45 or over as of the tournament date
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Each team will bowl four games scratch across 32 lanes
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The field will be cut to the top eight teams after qualifying
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The top eight teams will then compete in a single elimination bracket to determine the champion
ABOUT THE TOMSU
PAST WINNERS
1999 - Rich Abboud & Pete Heim
2002 - Tony Manna, Jr. & Howard Jellsey
2005 - Tom Kelley, Jr.(2) & Mike Fleming(3)
2008 - Gary Livingston & Jay Watts(2)
2011 - Andy McIntosh & Julius Mickel
2014 - Chad Goodwin & Randy Jorgenson
2017 - Dave Dentlinger(2) & Rick Miller(3)
2020 - Dylan Burns & Tony Manna, Jr.(2)
2023 - Darin Bloomquist & Darin Galbraith
2000 - Eddie Hamblen & Steve Hall 2003 - Paola Gomez & Tom Kelley, Jr. 2006 - Rich Abboud(3) & Brian Kjergaard 2009 - Mike Remaklus & Tom Kelley, Jr.(3) 2012 - Jon Gibbs & Scott Lindsey(2) 2015 - Chad Goodwin(2) & Greg Burgess
2018 - Mitch Hupé & Rick Miller(4)
2021 - Anthony Dodge & Jay Watts(3)
2024 - Blake Earnest & Sean Mason
2001 - Rich Abboud(2) & Mike Fleming
2004 - Rick Miller & Mike Fleming(2)
2007 - Scott Lindsey & Jay Watts
2010 - Dave Williams, Jr. & Vito Figlioli
2013 - Sean Rangel & Greg Shields
2016 - Dave Dentlinger & Rick Miller(2)
2019 - Jayme Bargholz & Jimmy Johnson
2022 - Ryan Powers & Dave Dentlinger(3)
2025 - Zach Wilkins & Tony Manna, Jr.(3)