Bev Hills lawn bowler winner

A lawn bowling tournament named in tribute of longtime Women’s International Team lawn bowler Katy Stone drew 14 ladies from all over the Southern California to Santa Anita Bowling Green Club on May 19.

Stone, who died in 2010, was a teacher and inspiration to the younger bowlers. The Southwest Women’s Division added her name to the Singles Tournament

Cheryl Barkovich of Beverly Hills, winner of Katy Stone Singles Tournament at Santa Anita Bowling Green Club (Photo by Gene Plunkett)

Cheryl Barkovich from the Beverly Hills Lawn Bowling Club was the winner with four wins. Second place went to Eileen Morton from the Santa Barbara LBC; Third place was Eileen Lancendorfer from the Long Beach LBC; Last year’s winner Dee McSparran, from the Newport Harbor LBC, was fourth.

Santa Anita Bowling Green Club, on the east side of the County’s Arcadia Park, 405 S. Santa Anita Ave., was started in 1937 and is celebrating 75 years in Arcadia this year. The Men’s U.S. Singles & Pairs Playdowns will be hosted by the club Saturday and Sunday June 6 & 7 to determine who gets to go to the U.S. National Tournament. Those winners are often asked to be on an international team.

The Santa Anita Club is considered to have some of the premier greens in the country. As one of only two clubs in the country with four greens, it is a popular site for tournaments. Another unique feature of the Santa Anita lawn bowling are lights on two of the greens, allowing bowling in the evening. Beginning Tuesday, May 8, Santa Anita will have social bowling at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well 8:30 a.m. Saturday mornings. In July and August BBQ is offered before each Thursday evening bowling.

Lawn bowling is a low-impact, low-cost sport with no age or skill requirement. The American Heart Association has recommended lawn bowling as a positive aid to maintaining a healthy heart.

Learn more at Santa Anita Lawn Bowling’s Facebook page or send schedule a free lesson on the first and third Saturday mornings.by sending an e-mail to lawnbowling4U@yahoo.com.

— By Scott Hettrick