For the second consecutive year, Jim Capps provided the top score on the first night of qualifying for the 46th annual Kenosha News Match Game Bowling Tournament Monday at Surfside Bowl.

Consistent all evening, Capps’ high score was 255 to go along with three 248s for an eight-game pin total of 1,923 to lead the Men’s Division.

Qualifying continues tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Surfside Bowl and runs through Friday. The top 16 advance to next week’s match game finals at Surfside.

The cut-off for qualifying was 1,841 last year. Six bowlers eclipsed that mark on Monday.

Capps, who finished second last year,was joined by Ryan Yanel (1,909), who rebounded from an opening game 175 with the night’s only 300 in Game 2. Ben Betchkal (1,888), Barry Parker (1,883), eight-time champion Lennie Boresch Jr. (1,875) and 2004 champion John Peterson all topped last season’s cut mark.

Three competed in the Senior Men’s Division Monday with Tom Ruffalo leading the way at 1,906. He had a high game of 251. Last season’s cut mark (the top 16 qualify) was 1,735. Only Bill Valenti joined Ruffalo across that threshold with a 1,738.

Stephanie DeFranco topped the Women’s Division qualifying Monday with a 1,721. DeFranco closed her final three games with a 717 series (248, 268, 201). The cut off last year for the 12-bowler finals was 1,625. Nicki Bolyard (1,719) also topped that mark Monday.

The Super Senior Men’s Division had nine competitors on Monday. The finals field holds eight. Jim Mollman Sr. turned in a six-game total of 1,333. Last year’s cut mark was 1,187. Three-time Senior Men’s champion Dick Beltoya (1,245) and Bob Manuel (1,245) cleared that mark on Monday.

Defending Men’s Division champion Brian Kaddatz is scheduled to participate in qualifying tonight. Defending Senior Men’s champion Steve Stone, also the 1971 Men’s champion, is also slated to roll tonight.