Five United States Bowling Congress members who were the winning bidders in USBC's second annual Holiday eBay Auction were not only thrilled with their unique purchases, but figured they got great bargains as well.

Foremost among the successful bidders was Mike Todisco, 55, of West Chester, Pa., who won the right to bowl doubles for the second year in a row with retired professional bowling superstar Mike Aulby in the 2006 USBC Open Championships. He bid $1,826 for the privilege. "I'm like a bad penny," Todisco grinned. "I just keep showing up."

Todisco, who made a $2,075 contribution to bowl with Aulby in 2005, was surprised. "I'd like to pay more," he confessed. "I had such a good time last year. I'm tickled pink. I can't believe I won it. I was prepared to go much, much higher. It's for a good cause."

Proceeds from the auction benefit USBC's Earl Anthony Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will receive nearly $10,000 despite technical difficulties on eBay's part that prevented several items from being listed.

Other auction winners were: James Peters, Naperville, Ill., who landed two of the auction prizes - an expenses-paid trip for two to the 2006 Denny's PBA Dexter Tournament of Champions at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., for $1,525 and a deluxe his-and-hers bowling equipment package from Storm Products for $1,025;

Linda Wagner, Saylorsburg, Pa., who bid $2,201 for a trip for two to Ebonite's manufacturing facility in Hopkinsville, Ky., personalized bowling lessons and new Ebonite/Hammer bowling equipment;

George Young, Orange, Calif., who bid $2,025 for a trip for two to San Antonio, Texas, including a deluxe visit to a San Antonio Spurs game, personalized coaching at Columbia 300's San Antonio facilities, and new bowling balls from Columbia, AMF 300 and Track;

Brian Tyson, Brighton, Colo., who won a day for two with PBA star Johnny Petraglia in North Brunswick, N.J., and new Brunswick bowling balls, for $1,278.

Peters, a 32-year-old bank branch manager, said he was elated with the outcome. "I thought the Dexter trip was a steal," he said. "The Storm package is for my wife (Tara, a tax agent) and me as a Christmas gift. We'll take the Dexter trip as a vacation so we can get away for a few days in front of tax season.

"I didn't mean to win both," Peters added, "but, hey, it's for a great cause."

Wagner, 53, wanted the Ebonite trip for herself and her husband, Peter Maynard. "We're both bowling coaches. He's been bowling a year and I'm back in the game after 18 years. Our best years may be behind us, but we're still having fun.

"I'm coaching juniors and we like to donate to charities," she added. "I figured if we could make a trip, get some instruction from top coaches in the world and get some new equipment, that would be good. We actually had a maximum $5,000 bid on the package, but the price never got that high, so we got a really good deal."

Young, a 45-year-old home builder and re-modeler, bought the Columbia 300 trip for himself and his wife, Connie. "I do a lot of charity stuff, and the main factor was it's going to charity. I actually tried to win a couple of the other trips, but had no luck, so I pushed this one higher and got it."

Tyson, a 39-year-old right-handed bowler, will be joined on his Brunswick trip by wife Cindy, who also is a bowler. "I'm a long-time bowler," he said. "I thought it would be a cool trip. I'm a fan of all of the greats, including Johnny. I was actually prepared to bid higher."

For more information about the Holiday Auction, contact Bill Vint at (800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3230.