04/08/2007

Singer sews up first place

Local, national contest decided on tiebreakers

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Lynell Singer was within eight points of a perfect score in the $25,000 Bracketbucks NCAA basketball contest.

She was not alone.

Singer was one of four Record-Eagle readers to score 1,992 points in the contest. But Singer was able to win the tiebreaker of 166 total points in the NCAA championship game on Monday to take top honors.

Her guess was just seven away from the total of 159 in Florida's 84-75 victory over Ohio State.

Kalamazoo's Greg Larner won the national contest and the $25,000 grand prize with 1,998 points, just two away from a perfect score. First place also came down to a tiebreaker.

A contestant from Portland, Ore. also had 1,998 points, but failed to put down a tiebreaker while Larner's guess of 153 points was just six off the total.

Taking second place in the Record-Eagle contest was Sarah Bordeaux of Lake Leelanau, also with 1,992 points. Third-place Kris Weber of Kingsley and fourth-place Denny Marois of Traverse City also finished with the same total while Joe Deegan of Suttons Bay was fifth with 1,991.

The winner of the local contest can choose between two 18-hole rounds of golf with a cart at the Crown, a 10-bucket range card at the Traverse City Golf Center or one of three $50 gift certificates to Apache Trout Grill, North Peak or Blue Tractor restaurants.

Singer could not be reached on Saturday to choose her prize.

Bordeaux said this is the first time she's placed in the Record-Eagle contest.

"I fill out a bracket every year,” Bordeaux said. "I've entered a couple of times in the Record-Eagle, but I've never won before.”