Campbellsville University bowling is officially here, as the Tiger men's and women's bowling teams made their debut Sunday at the Kentucky State Collegiate Tournament in Lexington. The women finished seventh of eight teams, while the men finished 15^th of 16, beating out rival Lindsey Wilson College.

"Our biggest enemy was spare shooting and open frames," CU head coach John Rausch said. "I was pretty happy of the whole thing, because it's pretty intimidating to go to tournaments like this, and we've got several kids who are pretty much beginners."

Campbellsville announced in December 2008 that it would add bowling this fall. It is now the 18th school in the NAIA to add the sport, joining Pikeville College, Union College, St. Catharine College and Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky. Those teams were joined in this weekend's tournament by the University of Louisville men, Morehead State University men and Bellarmine University men and women.

Rausch, who was hired in November to start the program, is glad to have the first tournament under his belt.

"Things are kind of settled now. We've really been anxious to get this thing going and to get enough girls on a roster to have a team," said Rausch, "The guys are competing for position also."

The Kentucky State Tournament began with five regular team games and six baker games. Baker games are played by taking five guys to bowl 10 frames, bowling two frames apiece. The first bowler takes frames one and six, the second bowler takes frames two and seven and so forth. CU struggled out of the gate in the regular games but did better as the day went on.

"They were kind of hanging their heads there for a while, but they started to perk up and did good in the baker games. It was just a little too late," Rausch said. " Both teams improved rather drastically in the later half"

For the women, Lauren Nolte of Nashville, Tenn., led the Lady Tigers, finishing in the Top 20 of 48 individuals. Christina D'Ordine of Hendersonville, Tenn., was 24^th overall and second for CU. Jacqueline Hildebrand of Alexandria, Ky., was third for CU.

On the men's side, Matt Fitch of Nicholasville, Ky., led the Tigers, followed by Campbellsville natives Steven Tucker and Chance Harker.

Morehead State won the men's tournament and Pikeville won the women's tournament.

CU will host the Inaugural Green River Classic on Oct. 3 at Phillips Lanes. Bowling will begin at 10:30 a.m. with five team games followed by six baker games. Teams expected to attend include the University of Tennessee, Lindsey Wilson College, Pikeville College, St. Catharine College,Union College and Cumberland University.