The second annual Finger Lakes Pin-Golf Open hosted by the WNY Pinball League is happening on Sept. 20. Here are the details:

2014 Finger Lakes Pin Golf Open

When: Sept. 20, 2014 • Doors open at Noon, play begins at 1 p.m.

Where: 3097 Bailey Rd., Bloomfield, NY 14469

Format: In pin golf, 18 different machines will be set up as pin-holes. Players need to achieve a target score on each machine in as few attempts as possible. As in real golf, lower scores are better.

Registration and cost: Preregister by Sept. 10 and the cost is just $25 and you’ll receive extra chances to win door prizes.

• Preregister now by sending $25 via PayPal to wizard_mode@yahoo.com
• No refunds after Sept. 10.
• After Sept. 10, register at the door for $30.

The event is International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) endorsed, players will earn IFPA regulation (WPPR) points. It’s open to all players and full details and registration information are available at wnypinball.com.

(Thanks to pinball.rocket9.net for the flyer header photo)

The final Buffalo Pinball tournament of the summer saw a record turnout of 41 players for a fun day of competition at Pocketeer Billiards and Bar in Buffalo.

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The finals came down to Chris Bucci, Kevin Manne, Jordan Nittoli and Jason Plourde, who played on World Poker Tour, The Simpsons Pinball Party and Iron Man. In the end, Chris took the top spot followed by Jason (second place), Jordan (third place) and Kevin (fourth place).

Full results will be posted to the IFPA site soon, so watch your email if you’re signed up on our mailing list or keep an eye on the Facebook group to be notified when the results are up. If this was your first competitive pinball event, you’ll now be an internationally ranked player.

THANK YOU to everyone who came out and played, it was great to see such a big turnout of players. The next event in the area is the upcoming second annual Finger Lakes Pin-Golf Open hosted by the WNY Pinball League on Sept. 20 in Bloomfield, NY. The event is open to all players and full details and registration information are available at wnypinball.com.

The third and final 2014 Summer Series tournament at Pocketeer is coming up on Saturday, August 23. Here’s their current lineup of games:

• Wizard of Oz
• Star Trek Pro
• AC/DC Pro
• Avengers Premium
• Simpsons Pinball Party
• Sopranos
• Gillgan’s Island
• Breakshot
• NASCAR
• Space Shuttle
• World Poker Tour
• Terminator 2
• RollerCoaster Tycoon
• Iron Man Vault Edition
• Goldeneye
• Funhouse

The tournament format will be the same as the first two in the series. To recap:

1. Registration and practice begin at 12:30 p.m., match play will begin at 1:30 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m.
2. After that, the playoffs will begin. The number of players who advance to the playoffs will be based on the total number registered in the tournament:
   • <20 registered players, top 4 advance
   • 20-40 registered players, top 8 advance
   • 40+ players, top 12 advance
3. The tournament games will not be on free play so be sure to bring cash for the coin drop. Pocketeer does have an ATM on site if you need.
4. IFPA endorsed, so you’ll earn World Pinball Player Ranking Points. You can play in one, two or all three of the tournaments.
5. Location: 2444 Clinton St., Buffalo.
6. Cost: $10 per tournament.
7. 100% of the money collected will be paid out to the winners. The number of payouts depends on the number of registrants.

The tournament software we use will match you up with players of similar skill as we play so it will be fun and competitive for all. So even if you’ve never played competitively, come on out and have a good time.

Congratulations to Nick Lane for winning the second of three summer pinball tournaments at Pocketeer Billiards and Bar in Buffalo. We had 24 total players again this time, and were glad to host a number of new players for the competition.

Top four finishers of Summer Series #2. From left to right: Bruce Nightingale, second; Nick Lane, first; Jordan Nittoli, fourth; Eric Russell, third.

The complete results are below, and will be posted to the IFPA soon. You’ve got one more chance to play this summer as we wrap up the Summer Series at Pocketeer Billiards on August 23. We’ve also got a few spots left in the league, so if you had fun at the tournament and want to join us once a month from September 2014 – April 2015, be sure to sign up.

Final standings from Summer Series #2:

1. Nick Lane
2. Bruce Nightingale
3. Eric Russell
4. Jordan Nittoli
5. Michael Suszka
6. Amos Hanley
7. Jay Fairbrother
8. Peter O’Brien
9. Jason Plourde
10. Neil Parrish
11. Paul McNamara
12. David Bentivegna
13. Dave Dluga
14. Kevin Manne
15. Philip J Tomczak
16. Matt Quantz
17. Kathie Nightingale
18. Bret Wallace
19. Joey Ryan
20. Adan Becerra
21. Logan Manne
22. Jeff Wirth
23. Chris Sartain
24. Maynor Gonzales

The second tournament in the Summer Series at Pocketeer is coming up on Saturday, July 26. They just added their 13th machine–RollerCoaster Tycoon–to the lineup, so here’s the updated list of games:

• Wizard of Oz
• Star Trek Pro
• AC/DC Pro
• Avengers Premium
• Simpsons Pinball Party
• Sopranos
• Gillgan’s Island
• Breakshot
• NASCAR
• Space Shuttle
• World Poker Tour
• Terminator 2
• RollerCoaster Tycoon
• Iron Man Vault Edition (just added)
• Goldeneye (just added)

Iron Man: Vault Edition added to the lineup just in time for the tournament!

There may be one or two more surprises in there for the tournament too. Here’s a quick recap of how it will run:

1. Registration and practice begin at 12:30 p.m., match play will begin at 1:30 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m.
2. After that, the playoffs will begin. The number of players who advance to the playoffs will be based on the total number registered in the tournament:
   • <20 registered players, top 4 advance
   • 20-40 registered players, top 8 advance
   • 40+ players, top 12 advance
3. The tournament games will not be on free play so be sure to bring cash for the coin drop. Pocketeer does have an ATM on site if you need.
4. IFPA endorsed, so you’ll earn World Pinball Player Ranking Points. You can play in one, two or all three of the tournaments.
5. Location: 2444 Clinton St., Buffalo.
6. Cost: $10 per tournament.
7. 100% of the money collected will be paid out to the winners. The number of payouts depends on the number of registrants.

Bruce Nightingale took the top spot in Buffalo’s first-ever pinball tournament at a public location on June 21 at Pocketeer Billiards and Bar in Buffalo.

In all, 24 players participated in the event. Don’t forget, we’ve got two more events just like this coming up at Pocketeer on July 26 and Aug. 23.

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Final standings:

1. Bruce Nightingale
2. Rob Metzler
3. Nick Lane
4. Kevin Manne
5. Chris Nosiglia
6. David Bentivegna
7. Paul McNamara
7. Mike Szilagyi

9. Bret Wallace
10. Matt Quantz
11. Jason Plourde
12. Andy Schwab
13. Phil Tomczak
14. Ron Sanecki
15. Jay Fairbrother
16. Michael Suszka
17. Logan Manne
18. Renee Downing
19. Paul Sutton
20. Eric Russell
21. Dave Cohen
22. Jeff Wirth
23. Josh Reitz
24. Amy Jo Lauber

The first of three tournaments at Pocketeer Billiards and Bar this summer is quickly approaching! They’ve been stocking up on games in preparation for the tournaments, here’s the lineup as of 6/19/14:

• Wizard of Oz
• Star Trek Pro
• AC/DC Pro
• Avengers Premium
• Simpsons Pinball Party
• Sopranos
• Gillgan’s Island
• Breakshot
• NASCAR
• Space Shuttle
• World Poker Tour
• Terminator 2

Click here to read the original announcement with more information, but in the meantime here’s some additional details about how the tournament will run:

1. Match play will begin at 1:30 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m.
2. After that, the playoffs will begin. The number of players who advance to the playoffs will be based on the total number registered in the tournament:
   • <20 registered players, top 4 advance
   • 20-40 registered players, top 8 advance
   • 40+ players, top 12 advance
3. The tournament games will not be on free play so be sure to bring cash for the coin drop. Pocketeer does have an ATM on site if you need.

That’s it for now! See you there.

Congratulations to Eric Russell for taking first place in the IFPA Oursler Tournament – Buffalo, hosted by Bruce Nightingale on May 17 in Bloomfield, NY. The top four finishers were:

1. Eric Russell
2. Ron Hallet Sr.
3. Nick Lane
4. Jack Tadman

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In all, 30 players from all across New York State and even from as far away as Connecticut and Ontario, Canada gathered for a day of fun in the name of a good cause. We raised $826 to benefit pinball designer Barry Oursler and his wife Donna!

The final standings are up on Brackelope, and will be posted to the IFPA within the next week or so. Thank you to everyone who came out to play and to the businesses and individuals who donated raffle/auction prizes:

• Ron Hallet Sr.
• Mezel Mods
• Bruce Nightingale and Pinball Lifter
• Stern Pinball

Consolation tournament results:

1 Neil Parrish
2 Brett Wallace
3 Chris Sartain
4 Matt Caine
5 Dave Cohen
5 Kevin Manne
7 Doug Heerdt
7 Thomas Caine
9 Logan Manne