The CT Duckpins Newsletter

March 5, 2025

Vol. 1, No. 7

The Leadoff: Green Holds Off Buckingham’s Charge to Capture 95th Barber Memorial Eastern Classic

The 95th Barber Memorial Eastern Classic was one for the history books. Held over two weekends at Lucky Strike Lanes in Mansfield, Connecticut, the tournament continued its tradition as one of the most grueling tests in duckpin bowling. With 140 bowlers competing in a 12-game total pinfall format, this year’s event showcased resilience, precision, and thrilling competition. As the newly renamed Barber Memorial Eastern Classic, the tournament honored Frank and Tony Barber’s contributions to the sport, ensuring their legacy remains intertwined with duckpin’s most prestigious event.

Gary Santora, a retired electronics technician and software engineer from Auburn, MA, led after the first weekend of competition, but he was pretty certain he would not be champion. "I was pretty sure my score would not win. I had actually picked Jonathan Green to win before the tournament started," Santora admitted. Bowling well in the months leading up to the event, Santora was a model of consistency —eleven of his twelve games fell between 140 and 174—but missed single-pin spares kept him from putting together the big games necessary to claim victory. "I missed too many single pin spares to put me in position to win. More than I would normally miss. That about sums it up. Of course, carrying a few more strikes at the right time would have helped. I just wasn't putting them together," he reflected. His score of 1783 stood as the mark to beat heading into the second weekend.

One bowler who took up the challenge laid down by Santora was none other than Jonathan Green. The 22-year-old pest control technician from Manchester, MD, showed poise beyond his years, navigating the difficult lane conditions with a steady approach. Green, a three-time DPBA Tour champion, ranked his Eastern Classic victory among his proudest accomplishments. "The Eastern Classic I think is just as great a challenge as the pro tour. I put it high up with my accomplishments in bowling because it is hard to stay consistent in that tournament for 12 games to put a good number up." He pointed to a crucial adjustment in game nine—moving up slightly to correct his footwork—which turned a struggling game into a 145 finish. "The one moment that made the difference was game 9, frame 9 and 10. I made a late-game adjustment, having 86 in the 8th. I moved up a hair and it fixed my first and second step, and I went triple-9 to get 145, which is a huge 59-pin swing," he explained. His mental approach also played a role in his success. "The main thing that contributed to my success was I wasn’t thinking as much. Usually, when I’m spaced out when I bowl, I win tournaments because I’m more locked in." Though Green was consistently out in front, Matt Buckingham made a massive charge over the last six games and had a chance to catch Green.

Buckingham, a 30-year-old product manager from Middle River, MD, started the tournament with an 816 set, leaving him well behind the leaders. However, in his second set, he erupted for a 990 series, the best six-game total of the tournament. "The first set, my body was turning and I wasn’t following through all the way. I was still hitting the headpin, but I had several balls deflect, causing me to leave a lot of splits with the 5 pin up. Once I straightened up in the second shift, a lot of splits turned into single pins," he explained. With lane conditions demanding precision, Buckingham’s spare shooting was exceptional—going 25 for 29 on single-pin attempts. "Lane conditions were tough. You had to really earn your scores. My 990 set only had 11 strikes (10 if you exclude a count strike in a 10th frame). But I kept the ball low with a good snap release on it and made my spares." Despite his incredible rally, his final total of 1806 left him 13 pins shy of Green’s championship-winning 1819.

While Green and Buckingham took center stage, other competitors also made their mark. Santora’s 1783 held up for third place and the Senior title, while Ty Turcotte’s 1782 secured fourth place in a tightly contested battle at the top.Turcotte, a 20-year-old bowler from Connecticut, made a strong impression in his first Eastern Classic appearance, finishing just 37 pins shy of the championship. His tournament was highlighted by the only 200 game of the event, a performance that stood out in a field of tough competition. After a rough start with a 109, Turcotte’s resilience showed as he bounced back with games of 158 and 159. His confidence grew, and in game five, he put together a string of strikes and spares, including a triple and a double, to reach the 200 mark. “Before I knew it, I was on pace for a 200 game at the

Eastern Classic,” Turcotte said. “The next thing I remember was a bunch of people coming over behind my lanes watching me bowl. I stayed locked into my game and pretended like nothing was going on. Just me bowling, trying to knock down pins 60 feet away.” When the score hit 200, fellow competitors and spectators congratulated him on the achievement, as it would hold up as the tournament’s highest game. Reflecting on his fourth-place finish, Turcotte expressed pride in his performance and the lessons learned. “The biggest takeaway I learned over the weekend was to have confidence and trust your game,” he said. Despite challenging moments, he kept his focus and maintained composure, telling himself to “take a breath and go get the 10 box.” His ability to grind through tough games and finish strong was evident as he consistently produced marks to stay competitive. “Even when I had games I was struggling, I was able to dig deep and get 2 or 3 marks at the end of the game to get to the 140s or 150s, which I’m very proud of.” His fourth-place finish, combined with his high game, provided a significant confidence boost as he looks toward future tournaments. “At the end of the day, finishing fourth and only 37 pins away from the win in my first Eastern at only 20 years old was a great feeling,” he concluded.

In the B and C divisions, Connecticut’s John Davis claimed the B division title with a 1728 total, while Carrie Matheson of Maryland took home the C division crown with a 1595 score.

As the lanes quieted and the final scores were tallied, the 95th Barber Memorial Eastern Classic once again delivered a tournament filled with history, drama, and exceptional performances. Green’s steady dominance, Buckingham’s electric comeback, and Santora’s veteran consistency made this year’s event one to remember. With each passing year, the Eastern Classic continues to be the ultimate proving ground for duckpin’s best, ensuring its legacy lives on for generations to come.

95th Barber Memorial Eastern Classic Results

The Eastern Classic is unique in the number of bowlers awarded a prize. Other than the top finishers, bowlers in numerous average, age, and geographic categories take home prizes for high games and sets. As such, the results do not become official for a few weeks as the tournament organizers verify all of the scores and eligibility criteria. Until then, see the unofficial results here:

Leaderboard