Carson after third candlepin title

Bangor’s Chip Carson will attempt to win his third state candlepin bowling championship Sunday afternoon at Bangor-Brewer Lanes.

Carson will meet three-time champ Al Joy in the men’s finals at 1:30 p.m. while Judy Bowden will take on Mona Lemar of Gardiner in the women’s finals at noon.

Carson defeated Jim Singleton of Lisbon in the semifinals 1,263-1,246. Joy rolled past Tim Matero of Rockport 1,339-1,269 in the other men’s semifinal.

Bowden ended Karen Matero’s run of state titles at four in last Sunday’s semifinals 1,255-1,199. Lemar defeated Kelly Ames of Oxford Hills 1,246-1,197 in the other women’s semifinal.

Just reaching the final is an accomplishment as far as the 37-year-old Carson is concerned.

“It’s a tough tournament. The thing is, the early qualification rounds are just five strings [matches]. In five strings anyone can eliminate anyone,” Carson said.

Carson went 11 years between winning state titles after winning his first in 1987. He knows that to beat Joy, he’ll have to be at his best.

“The winning score’s going to have to be at least 1,325. It’s the finals and we’re both going to be ready. I think I have the home lane advantage but he knows how to win,” Carson said.

Bowden will be seeking her third state individual championship. The Pittsfield native won back-to-back titles in 1996 and 1997. She said she is surprised to be back in the finals.

“It surprised me because I had been in such a slump. It’s been a hard year this year. I lost my equipment [in a fire that destroyed the Pittsfield Bowling Center]. And I’ve had some injuries,” Bowden said.

But in the tournament Bowden found her rhythm bowling a pair of 1,200 series in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

“All of a sudden it just clicked. The key will be staying focused. We both bowled over 1,200 in our semifinals. It’s anybody’s ballgame,” Bowden said.