KETTERING, Ohio – After two tournaments Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wis., has already experienced the highs and lows of competing on the Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour. He won the opening tournament of the season in his Senior Tour debut but could only manage a 46th-place finish in the next tournament he entered.

But the 50-year-old pro shop owner and recent inductee into the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame was able to get back on track Tuesday by averaging 250.5 to take the first round lead in the PBA Senior Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip at Capri Lanes.

Boresch bowled a consistent eight-game first round with games of 226, 235, 289, 257, 254, 230, 245 and 268 for a 2,004 pinfall total.

“I drilled up a new ball for the start of qualifying that matched up right away with the (lane) condition,” said the 25-time PBA regional tournament winner. “It was just a matter of carrying the corner pins. I just had to make a few small adjustments in the whole block.”

Boresch admitted to being a little stubborn about making a ball change in his 46th-place finish in the Senior Mooresville (N.C.) Classic last week.

“I was 23^rd after the first round and probably should have changed to another ball for the second round,” Boresch said. “I guess you could say I made some rookie mistakes and learned not to fall in love with the same ball. Now I just need to learn from that experience.”

Boresch holds a commanding 66-pin lead over Senior Dayton Classic defending champion Hugh Miller of Seattle in second with 1,938. Rounding out the top five are last week’s Senior Mooresville Classic winner Bob Learn Jr., 1,931; PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 1,930, and Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 1,927.

The Senior Dayton Classic is being streamed live on pba.com’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame. For subscription information click on the Xtra Frame logo on the pba.com homepage.

The 114-player field will bowl another eight-game qualifying round Wednesday after which the top 32 players will advance to match play Thursday morning. Match play continues all day Thursday to determine the top four who will compete in the stepladder finals beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

PBA SENIOR DAYTON CLASSIC PRESENTED BY ROTO GRIP

Capri Lanes, Kettering, Ohio, Tuesday

FIRST ROUND RESULTS

(after 8 games)

a-indicates amateur

1, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 2,004.

2, Hugh Miller, Seattle, 1,938.

3, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 1,931.

4, Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 1,930.

5, Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 1,927.

6, (tie) Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., and Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 1,926.

9, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 1,925.

10, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 1,905.

11, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 1,901.

12, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 1,897.

13, (tie) Brian Miller, Springfield, Ohio, and Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 1,889.

15, John Shreve Sr., Elyria, Ohio, 1,881.

16, Marc Lineberry, Camanche, Iowa, 1,880.

17, William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 1,877.

18, Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,867.

19, Peter Knopp, Germany, 1,839.

20, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 1,837.

21, Ernie Segura Jr., Taylor, Mich., 1,832.

22, Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 1,830.

23, Roy Buckley, New Albany, Ohio, 1,821.

24, Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, 1,814.

25, Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 1,808.

26, Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 1,806.

27, Steve Easterday, Strasburg, Ohio, 1,798.

28, Vince Mazzanti Jr., Levittown, Pa., 1,786.

29, (tie)Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, and Bill Spigner, Vernon Hills, Ill., 1,782.

31, Mark Everette, Aliquippa, Pa., 1,779.

32, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 1,774.

33, (tie) Dick Gran, Hartville, Ohio, and Brian Cooper, Visalia, Calif., 1,773.

35, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,765.

36, Arturo Hernandez, Venezuela, 1,761.

37, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,760.

38, Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 1,759.

39, Steve Lickliter, Beckley, W. Va., 1,757.

40, Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla., 1,749.

41, Ron Glick, Morganville, N.J., 1,744.

42, Mark Jones, Amelia, Ohio, 1,743.

43, Garry Blanton, Owensboro, Ky., 1,740.

44, (tie) Michael Llaneza, Columbus, Ohio, Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn., and a-Gerry Loudin, Bridgeport, W. Va., 1,738.

47, James Souder, Greeneville, Tenn., 1,737.

48, Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D., 1,736.

49, (tie) Larry Popp, Marion, Ohio, and Jerry Lau, St. Peters, Mo., 1,724.

51, Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 1,721.

52, (tie) Randy Shewmake, Ft. Worth, Texas and a-William Peters, Dayton, Ohio, 1,720.

54, a-Peter Minaudo, Chesterfield, Mich., 1,719.

55, Emilio Mora Sr., Defiance, Ohio, 1,718.

56, (tie) Patrick King, Yankton, S.D., and Kerry Fulford, Brownwood, Texas, 1,715.

58, Dave Flemming, Fairborn, Ohio, 1,714.

59, (tie) Paul Gerard, Cincinnati, and Rod Michael, Florissant, Mo., 1,712.

61, Dave Bernhardt, Romeo, Mich., 1,708.

62, Bob Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 1,707.

63, Jim Lesiuk, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 1,706.

64, Richard Hunt, Valparaiso, Ind., 1,705.

65, Robert Michalojko, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1,700.

66, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 1,697.

67, (tie) George Patel, England, and Robert Callari, Bloomfield, N.Y., 1,696.

69, Dale Albert, Kenton, Ohio, 1,687.

70, Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., 1,684.

71, Frank Gallo Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 1,681.

72, Darryl Traber, Waterford, Wis., 1,680.

73, a-Timothy Hartley, Englewood, Ohio, 1,679.

74, Daniel Miner, East Moline, Ill., 1,677.

75, (tie) Dave Osim, Roscommon, Mich., and Dale Holgate, Silver Lake, Ohio, 1,675.

77, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 1,670.

78, Christopher Keane, New City, N.Y., 1,667.

79, Dale Csuhta, Wadsworth, Ohio, 1,663.

80, Teata Semiz, North Brunswick, N.J., 1,660.

81, Vince Honeycutt, Buford, Ga., 1,647.

82, Brad Snell, Mount Prospect, Ill., 1,643.

83, Harley Trumbull, New Boston, Mich., 1,642.

84, Bruce VanMetre, Delphos, Ohio, 1,634.

85, Robert Harvey, Boise, Idaho, 1,630.

86, Steve Stein, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,624.

87, Tom Howison, Chillicothe, Ohio, 1,615.

88, George Lord, Lakeland, Fla., 1,601.

89, Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 1,598.

90, Dave Schultz, Jackson, Wis., 1,596.

91, Steve Fuhrman, Fort Worth, Texas, 1,594.

92, Terry Wellman, Marengo, Ohio, 1,593.

93, Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 1,589.

94, Fred Baldwin, Sturgis, Mich., 1,588.

95, Brendan Bierch, Grafton, Mass., 1,584.

96, Andy Anderson, Falls Church, Va., 1,572.

97, Kim Kirkpatrick, Rockford, Ill., 1,570.

98, William Banks, Laurel Hill, N.C., 1,558.

99, Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 1,555.

100, Harv Pallas, Stevensville, Mich., 1,551.

101, Todd Kjell, Roscoe, Ill., 1,542.

102, Paul Mielens, Menomonie, Wis., 1,531.

103, Dennis Amato, Pine Brook, N.J., 1,528.

104, Howard Frostman, Washburn, Wis., 1,508.

105, (tie) a- Bill Carpenter, Middletown, Ohio, and Mike Walden, Stony Point, N.Y., 1,495.

107, a-Larry O’Neill, Alexandria, Va., 1,479.

108, Dave Paquin, Kannapolis, N.C., 1,455.

109, Dannie Hettinger, Circleville, Ohio, 1,441.

110, a-Dave Rossi, Morgantown, W. Va., 1,425.

111, a-Daniel Goodrich, Columbus, Ohio, 1,421.

112, Walter Sova Sr., South Daytona, Fla., 1,410.

113, Ray Randall, Dearborn, Mich., 1,406.

114, Allen Meskan, Addison, Ill., 1,402.

300 Games - Mike Dias, Bo Goergen

KETTERING, Ohio – PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia became the first player in PBA history to win a national tour or senior tour title in six decades by winning the PBA Senior Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip Thursday at Capri Lanes.

Petraglia, who won his eighth career Senior Tour title, also ended a three-year drought without a win by defeating reigning Senior Player of the Year Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, 220-204, in the title match.

Petraglia, who was the top seed for the finals, started strong with the first three strikes but then ran into trouble in the fourth frame throwing a 4-6-7-10 split. He threw another split (3-7) in the seventh frame but was able to close out the match with four strikes and a nine-count which was enough to beat Mohr who was also struggling.

“When I threw that first split it surprised me because I thought it was going to be a strike,” said the 65-year-old Petraglia, whose last Senior Tour title came in the 2009 Sun Bowl In The Villages. “Frankly, I was a little lost at that point. I really didn’t make an adjustment until after that second split when I moved right on the approach threw it a little farther left on the lane and trusted that it would come back and it did.

“I guess some things are meant to happen,” he added. “Ron was having trouble on the left lane leaving three 10-pins which meant if I could get back to striking I could still win the match.”

Overall, Petraglia and fellow PBA legend Dick Weber both have PBA titles in six decades, however, Weber’s longevity mark includes a PBA regional title. Petraglia also owns 14 PBA Tour titles, winning his first at a national tour stop in Ft. Smith, Ark., in 1966 at the age of 19.

“I guess it shows how old I am,” Petraglia said jokingly after achieving the milestone. “But this is very special to me because it’s part of history and makes it all worth it.

“You know at my age, I was wondering if it was going to happen,” he said. “There are so many great Senior Tour players and there are more great bowlers from the regular tour who are becoming eligible so it doesn’t get any easier. Another thing that makes it special is that there are some guys that might be able to tie this record in the coming years and decades but probably not going to break it.”

In the semi-final match, Mohr, trying for his first title of the season and eighth of his career, defeated Ron Profitt of Brookville, Ohio, 238-222, to advance to the title match. In the opening match, Profitt defeated last week’s Senior Mooresville Classic winner Bob Learn Jr. of Erie, Pa., 243-217. Learn beat Profitt in the championship match of that tournament, 203-196, for his first Senior Tour title.

The Senior Tour takes a two-week break before the Senior U.S. Open June 3-8 at the Suncoast Bowling Center in Las Vegas. The season’s first major will be streamed live in its entirety on bowling’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame. Subscription information is available at www.xtraframe.tv.

PBA SENIOR DAYTON CLASSIC PRESENTED BY ROTO GRIP

Capri Lanes, Kettering, Ohio, Thursday

FINAL STANDINGS
1, Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., one game, 220, $8,000.
2, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, two games, 442, $4,500.
3, Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, two games, 465, $3,000.
4, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa. one game, 217, $2,500.

PLAYOFF RESULTS
Match One - Profitt def. Learn, 243-217; Semifinal Match – Mohr def. Profitt, 238-222; Championship Match – Petraglia def. Mohr, 220-204.

MATCH PLAY RESULTS

(Includes match play record, total pinfall and money earned. Top four advanced to stepladder finals)

1, Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 12-4-0, 7,982.

2, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 7-8-1, 7,924.

3, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 9-4-3, 7,909.

4, Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, 9-7-0, 7,873.

5, Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 10-6-0, 7,820, $2,000.

6, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 10-4-2, 7,813, $1,800.

7, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 5-11-0, 7,797, $1,700.

8, Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., 10-5-1, 7,782, $1,600.

9, Hugh Miller, Seattle, 6-9-1, 7,767, $1,500.

10, Roy Buckley, New Albany, Ohio, 10-6-0, 7,736, $1,450.

11, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 10-6-0, 7,706, $1,400.

12, Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 6-10-0, 7,654, $1,380.

13, Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 5-11-0, 7,625, $1,360.

14, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 9-7-0, 7,604, $1,340.

15, Marc Lineberry, Camanche, Iowa, 6-10-0, 7,578, $1,320.

16, Mark Everette, Aliquippa, Pa., 6-9-1, 7,499, $1,300.

Failed to advance to second match play round

17, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 3-5-0, 5,586, $1,200.

18, Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 3-5-0, 5,580, $1,180.

19, Brian Cooper, Visalia, Calif., 5-3-0, 5,568, $1,160.

20, Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 5-2-1, 5,555, $1,140.

21, (tie) Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 4-3-1, and John Shreve Sr., Elyria, Ohio, 1-6-1, 5,539, $1,110.

23, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp, Mich., 3-5-0, 5,536, $1,080.

24, Ernie Segura Jr., Taylor, Mich., 5-3-0, 5,518, $1,070.

25, James Souder, Greeneville, Tenn, 5-3-0, 5,505, $1,060.

26, Arturo Hernandez, Venezuela, 4-4-0, 5,495, $1,050.

27, (tie) Peter Knopp, Germany, 5-3-0, and Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 2-6-0, 5,492, $1,035.

29, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 2-6-0, 5,462, $1,020.

30, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 3-5-0, 5,454, $1,010.

31, Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 4-4-0, 5,321, $1,010.

32, William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 2-6-0, 5,302, $1,000.

300 Games - Daryl Bower

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – In only his third tournament on the PBA Senior Tour, Bob Learn Jr. of Erie, Pa., won the Senior Mooresville Classic presented by Columbia Wednesday for his first Senior Tour title.

Learn, who won five PBA Tour titles including the 1999 U.S. Open in a 15-year PBA Tour career, defeated Ron Profitt of Brookville, Ohio, 203-196, in the championship match at George Pappas Victory Lanes.

After starting the match with two strikes, Profitt ran into trouble early with a split and a washout in the third and fourth frames, respectively, which he failed to convert and was not able to recover from later in the match.

“When he threw the split and the washout it definitely changed the tone of the match,” said the 50-year-old Learn. “Even though I didn’t have a good look on the pair either, from that point on I was able to bowl just good enough to stay ahead of him.”

In his two previous Senior Tour tournaments this season Learn finished ninth in both the Senior Sun Bowl In The Villages and Senior Don Carter Memorial Open.

“Third time’s the charm I guess,” said Learn. “I’m qualifying well but you have to get some breaks in the match play rounds and it kind of made up for some bad breaks I had in the first two tournaments.”

Profitt was trying for his first win in six seasons on the Senior Tour. He had a long road to the championship match winning three best-of-five matches, a best-of-three match and the semifinal. His runnerup finish was a career best with fourth being his best previous finish.

In the semifinal matches, Learn defeated Mike Henry of Brunswick, Ohio, 201-189, and Profitt defeated last week’s Senior Don Carter Memorial winner Walter Ray Williams Jr., 248-206.

The next stop for the PBA Senior Tour will be the Senior Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip May 14-17 at Capri Lanes in Kettering, Ohio. The tournament will be streamed live in its entirety on pba.com’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame. For Xtra Frame subscription information click on the Xtra Frame logo on the pba.com homepage.

PBA SENIOR MOORESVILLE CLASSIC PRESENTED BY COLUMBIA

George Pappas Victory Lanes, Mooresville, N.C., Wednesday

Final Results

Championship Match

Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa. ($8,000) def. Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio ($4,500), 203-196. 

Semifinal Round (one-game matches, losers earn $3,000)

Profitt def. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 248-206.

Learn def. Mike Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 201-189.

Round of 8 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, $1,700 each)

Profitt def. Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 2-0.

W.R. Williams def. Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D., 2-0.

Henry def. Roger Kossert, Lithia, Fla., 2-0.

Learn def. Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 2-0.

Round of 16 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,300 each)

M. Williams def. Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 3-0.

Profitt def. Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 3-1.

W.R. Williams def. Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., 3-0.

Beck def. Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 3-2.

Henry def. Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 3-1.

Kossert def. Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 3-2.

Petraglia def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3-2.

Learn def. Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3-2.

Round of 24 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,100 each)

M. Williams def. Brent Hunter, Glenville, Pa., 3-2.

Profitt def. Dave Sill, Titusville, Fla., 3-0.

Schrum def. Kerry Fulford, Brownwood, Texas, 3-1.

Ferraro def. Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 3-0.

Kossert def. Joel Carlson, Omaha, Neb., 3-0.

Petraglia def. Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 3-0.

Gonzalez def. Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., 3-0.

Beck def. Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 3-2.

Round of 32 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,050 each)

Hunter def. Brian Gottry, Wilmington, N.C., 3-2.

Profitt def. Bob Handley, Winter Park, Fla., 3-0.

Schrum def. Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn., 3-2.

Beck def. Al Brooks, Bluefield, W. Va., 3-0.

Ferraro def. Ron Glick, Morganville, N.J., 3-0.

Carlson def. Peter Knopp, Germany, 3-2.

Petraglia def. Peter King, Yankton, S.D., 3-2.

Gonzalez def. Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill. 3-2.

The Regional Players Championship-East, which is open to all PBA members except for those who finished among the top 32 in competition points during the 2011-12 PBA Tour season, will also pay a $6,000 first prize based upon field of 80 players.

Scott Newell of Deland, Fla., who went on to win his first PBA Tour title in the Xtra Frame Tour Ricart Ford Open, is the defending RPC-East champion.

Following Friday, May 25, practice and pro-am events, the RPC-East gets underway with an eight-game qualifying round Saturday. The top one-third of the field will advance to a four-game cashers’ round Sunday morning, with the top 32 (based on 170 entries) moving on. Additional two-game elimination rounds will follow at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. with the field being trimmed in half after each round.

At 2 p.m., the four surviving players will bowl one more game, with total pinfall for 19 games deciding the champion.

The entry fee will be $295. One in three entries will cash with last-to-cash guaranteed to pay a minimum of $600. For additional entry and prize fund information, visit pba.com and click on the “Regional Players Championship” in the Regional Tours section under the Schedules tab.

2012 PBA REGIONAL PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP-EAST
Columbus Western Bowl, Columbus, Ohio, May 25-27 (all times are Eastern)

FRIDAY, MAY 25
11 a.m. – Squad A practice session
2 p.m. – Squad B practice session
5, 8 p.m. – Pro-am squads

SATURDAY, MAY 26
9 a.m. – Squad A, 8 games qualifying
4 p.m. – Squad B, 8 games qualifying
  Top one-third of field advances to cashers’ round

SUNDAY, MAY 29
9 a.m. – Cashers’ Round: 4 games (*top 32 based on 12-game pinfall totals advance if field is 170 entries or more)
11 a.m. – Round of 32, 2 games (top 16 based on 14-game pinfall totals advance)
Noon – Round of 16, 2 games (top 8 based on 16-game pinfall totals advance)
1 p.m. – Round of 8, 2 games (top 4 based on 18-game pinfall totals advance)
2 p.m. – Championship Round (four players, 1 game; final standings based on 19-game pinfall totals)

* Based on 140-169 entries, top 24 advance from cashers’ round; based on 110-139 entries, top 20 advance from cashers’ round; based on 80-109 entries, top 16 advance from cashers’ round. Top half of field advances in each subsequent round.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Wayne Webb relied on his arsenal of bowling equipment once again to help him retain the lead after the second round of the PBA Senior Mooresville Classic presented by Columbia Tuesday at George Pappas Victory Lanes.

Webb, an innovator in using knowledge of bowling ball mechanics and drilling layouts to achieve desired ball reaction since his days competing on the PBA Tour where he won 20 titles, led with a 3,969 16-game overall pinfall total (248 average). In Tuesday’s second round he had a 1,962 eight-game pinfall with games of 255, 256, 199, 300, 234, 217, 279 and 222.

“I put my experience to good use the past two days,” said the Hall of Famer. “One of my strengths is having an idea of what equipment to use to sometimes create something that isn’t there and get the desired results.”

In Monday’s qualifying round Webb used three different balls and two in Tuesday’s round to help him adjust to the changing lane conditions.

“I started with one of the balls I used yesterday thinking it would give me the same ball reaction today but it was hooking way too early,” said Webb, who is five-time Senior Tour titlist and was the 2010 Senior Player of the Year. “The lanes played differently in today’s first block so I went to another ball that gave me a similar look as yesterday and had good luck with it.”

Webb heads a field of 32 players who advanced to Wednesday’s match play rounds dominating qualifying by holding a 181-pin lead over Mike Henry of Brunswick, Ohio in second with 3,788. As a result of finishing in the top eight, Webb and Henry earned two byes for match play.

Rounding out the top eight and also earning two byes in match play were Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 3,711; Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 3,667; Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,561; Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,549; Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 3,547, and Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 3,545.

PBA SENIOR MOORESVILLE CLASSIC PRESENTED BY COLUMBIA

George Pappas Victory Lanes, Mooresville, N.C., Tuesday

SECOND ROUND RESULTS

(after 16 games)

ss-indicates super seniors out of the regular prize fund cashing for $700

1, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 3,969.

2, Mike Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 3,788.

3, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 3,711.

4, Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 3,667.

5, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,561.

6, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,549.

7, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 3,547.

8, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 3,545.

9, Dave Sill, Titusville, Fla., 3,540.

10, Roger Kossert, Lithia, Fla., 3,536.

11, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 3,521.

12, Kerry Fulford, Brownwood, Texas, 3,501.

13, Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 3,499.

14, Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., 3,497.

15, Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 3,491.

16, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 3,488.

17, Brian Gottry, Wilmington, N.C., 3,477.

18, Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 3,463.

19, Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3,456.

20, (tie) Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D., and Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., 3,447.

22, Patrick King, Yankton, S.D., 3,445.

23, Joel Carlson, Omaha, Neb., 3,435.

24, Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, 3,418.

25, Bob Handley, Winter Park, Fla., 3,409.

26, Peter Knopp, Germany, 3,403.

27, (tie) John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn., and Al Brooks, Bluefield, W. Va., 3,400.

30, Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 3,397.

31, Ron Glick, Morganville, N.J., 3,387.

32, Brent Hunter, Glenville, Pa., 3,382.

Did not advance

33, Wayne Bolin, Lumberton, N.C., 3,381, $900.

34, (tie)Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, and Steve Lickliter, Beckley, W. Va., 3,376, $900.

36, (tie) Brendan Bierch, Grafton, Mass., and Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 3,366, $900.

38, Steve Stein, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,359, $900.

39, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 3,344, $900.

40, George Patel, England, 3,343, $900.

41, Vince Mazzanti Jr., Levittown, Pa., 3,341, $900.

42, George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C., 3,337, $900.

43, Danny Weikel, Dallas, N.C., 3,335, $900.

44, Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., 3,332, $900.

45, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 3,319, $900.

46, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 3,314, $900.

47, Roy Buckley, New Albany, Ohio, 3,303, $900.

48, Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 3,290, $900.

49, Jeff Bellinger, Columbia, S.C., 3,289.

50, ss-Marc Lineberry, Camanche, Iowa, 3,287, $700.

51, Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 3,286.

52, (tie) Frank Gallo Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., and Vince Honeycutt, Buford, Ga., 3,283.

54, Tommy Reeves, Gastonia, N.C., 3,273.

55, Christopher Keane, New City, N.Y., 3,269.

56, ss-Dave Bernhardt, Romeo, Mich., 3,268, $700.

57, Larry Popp, Marion, Ohio, 3,267.

58, Mike Hastings, Millsboro, Del., 3,265.

59, ss-Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 3,263, $700.

60, Tom Howison, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,257.

61, Ernest Lukacs, Manville, N.J., 3,254.

62, ss-Ron Woods, Hudson, Fla., 3,252, $700.

63, Dick Gran, Hartville, Ohio, 3,247.

64, David Kneas, Annapolis, Md., 3,241.

65, Jim Price, Harrrisburg, N.C., 3,234.

66, Greg McMahan, Dandridge, Tenn., 3,232.

67, Keith Sharp, Orlando, Fla., 3,227.

68, Gary Morgan, Marietta, Ga., 3,224.

69, ss-Richard Hunt, Valparaiso, Ind., 3,223, $700.

70, Brian Cooper, Visalia, Calif., 3,207.

71, ss-Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., 3,206, $700.

72, Bob Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 3,196, $700.

73, (tie) Todd Wilson, Summerfield, N.C., and ss-Paul Mielens, Menomonie, Wis., 3,191, $700.

75, Doug Arden, Newport, N.C., 3,189.

76, Mark Glover, Woodbridge, Va., 3,187.

77, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 3,171.

78, Nick Panicaro, Naples, Fla., 3,170.

79, William Banks, Laurel Hill, N.C., 3,169.

80, Thomas Ream, Tampa, Fla., 3,136.

81, Andy Anderson, Falls Church, Va., 3,133.

82, Emilio Mora Sr., Defiance, Ohio, 3,131.

83, Randy Robertson, Evansville, Ind., 3,128.

84, Marty Berke, Allentown, Pa., 3,126.

85, Chris McGee, Townvilel, S.C., 3,124.

86, Rod Michael, Florissant, Mo., 3,122.

87, Charlie Tomey, Spartanburg, S.C., 3,119.

88, Harv Pallas, Stevensville, Mich., 3,118.

89, (tie) Darrell Adams, Flintstone, Ga., and Dave Flemming, Fairborn, Ohio, 3,109.

91, David Hull, Lexington, N.C., 3,107.

92, Dennis Amato, Pine Brook, N.J., 3,104.

93, Ron Garr, Ridgedale, Mo., 3,101.

94, Ken Shealy, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 3,099.

95, Terry Metzner, Kentwood, Mich., 3,097.

96, Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., 3,088.

97, Randy Shewmake, Ft. Worth, Texas, 3,085.

98, (tie)Steve Easterday, Strasburg, Ohio, and Steve Fuhrman, Fort Worth, Texas, 3,074.

100, Chuck Gardner, Charlotte, N.C., 3,068.

101, Rich Giragosian, Charlotte, N.C., 3,066.

102, Ken Gibson, Greenville, S.C., 3,057.

103, William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 3,056.

104, George Lord, Lakeland, Fla., 3,053.

105, Gene Morrison, Spring Lake, N.C., 3,042.

106, (tie) Terry Wellman, Marengo, Ohio, and Michael Truitt, Orland Park, Ill., 3,041.

108, Ross McDonald, Clarksville, Md., 3,039.

109, Todd Kjell, Roscoe, Ill., 3,028.

110, Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 3,017.

111, Bill Argenbright, Fisherville, Va., 3,009.

112, Phil Gessner, Spring, Texas, 3,008.

113, (tie) James Souder, Greeneville, Tenn., and Mark McNutt, Alpharetta, Ga., 2,997.

115, Teata Semiz, North Brunswick, N.J., 2,987.

116, Daniel Miner, East Moline, Ill., 2,986.

117, (tie) James West, Catonsville, Md., and Steve Bova, Massapequa, N.Y., 2,970.

119, Bob Andersen, Forest City, N.C., 2,941.

120, Donald Breihan, Columbia, S.C., 2,936.

121, Dave Paquin, Kannapolis, N.C., 2,934.

122, Kevin Murray, Concord, N.C., 2,926.

123, Jim Lesiuk, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 2,898.

124, Rusty Huggins, Concord, N.C., 2,891.

125, Darryl Traber, Waterford, Wis., 2,879, $50.

126, Frank Manley Jr., Fletcher, N.C., 2,876.

127, John Hunt, Grayling, Mich., 2,875.

128, Larry Swain, West Columbia, S.C., 2,874.

129, Bill Carpenter, Middletown, Ohio, 2,872.

130, Jack Howell, Lyons, N.Y., 2,848.

131, Larry Graybeal, Elizabethton, Tenn., 2,841.

132, Richard Felten, Rockville, Md., 2,839.

133, Wayne Garren, Candler, N.C., 2,838.

134, Dave Rossi, Morgantown, W.Va., 2,837.

135, Bill Ursillo, Bluffton, S.C., 2,822.

136, Matty Robinson, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 2,818.

137, Larry Felts Jr., Moore, S.C., 2,811.

138, Mike O’Barr, Anderson, S.C., 2,776.

139, Bobby Dunn, Augusta, Ga., 2,753.

140, Brian DiCicco, Ridgefield, Conn., 2,750.

141, Larry O’Neill, Alexandria, Va., 2,639.

142, Mike Walden, Stony Point, N.Y., 2,607.

143, J. Wayne Shank, Winter Park, Fla., 2,453.

Charlie Toney, Oak Hill, W.Va., 1,923 (WD)

Jim McGee, Townville, S.C., 1,473 (WD).

300 Games - Wayne Webb, Brian Gottry

PBA Senior Tour
PBA Senior Don Carter Memorial Open
Carter Family Bowl
Winter Garden, FL

Sunday, April 29, 2012

QUALIFYING SCORES - ROUND ONE

A, B & C Squads After six Games
Updated 9:00 p.m. EST

1,  Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 1,414.
2,  Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 1,402.
3,  Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,393.
4,  Larry Popp, Marion, Ohio, 1,381.
5,  Ron Dixon, Boynton Beach, Fla., 1,377.
6,  George Patel, England, 1,376.
7,  Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 1,358.
8,  Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 1,354.
9,  Brian Cooper, Visalia, Calif., 1,346.
10, Paul McCordic, Sugarland, Texas, 1,337.
11, Steve Lickliter, Beckley, W Va., 1,335.
12, Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, 1,329.
13, Frank Gallo Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 1,319.
14, Sal Bongiorno, Hollywood, Fla., 1,311.
15, Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D., 1,308.
16, (TIE) Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan.,
    Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,303.
18, Steve Neff, Homosassa Springs, Fla., 1,300.
19, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 1,298.
20, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 1,297.
21, Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 1,294.
22, Christopher Keane, New City, N.Y., 1,289.
23, (TIE) Todd Kjell, Roscoe, Ill.,
    William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 1,288.
25, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,287.
26, Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., 1,284.
27, (TIE) Tony Majcher, Rolling Meadows, Ill.,
    Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla.,
    Pete Couture, Titusville, Fla., 1,281.
30, Bob Pazur, Venice, Fla, 1,279.
31, Larry Barwick, Wauchula, Fla., 1,275.
32, Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 1,274.
33, (TIE) Phil Gessner, Spring, Texas,
    Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp, Mich., 1,273.
35, Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn., 1,259.
36, Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash., 1,257.
37, Gary Hiday, Indianapolis, 1,251.
38, Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 1,248.
39, Vince Mazzanti Jr., Levittown, Pa., 1,246.
40, Keith Sharp, Orlando, Fla., 1,243.
41, Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 1,239.
42, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 1,232.
43, Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 1,230.
44, (TIE) Thomas Young, Houston,
    Terry Metzner, Kentwood, Mich., 1,229.
46, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 1,228.
47, (TIE) Peter Knopp, Germany,
    Steve Fuhrman, Fort Worth, Texas, 1,224.
49, Dave Sill, Titusville, Fla., 1,223.
50, Arturo Hernandez, Venezuela, 1,221.
51, (TIE) Emilio Mora Sr., Defiance, Ohio,
    Kerry Fulford, Brownwood, Texas, 1,220.
53, Bob Chamberlain, The Villages, Fla., 1,219.
54, Randy Shewmake, Ft. Worth, Texas, 1,218.
55, (TIE) John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J.,
    Dave Bernhardt, Romeo, Mich., 1,216.
57, George Lord, Lakeland, Fla., 1,213.
58, Garry Blanton, Owensboro, Ky., 1,208.
59, Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 1,206.
60, Steve Stein, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,199.
61, Charlie Toney, Oak Hill, W.Va., 1,192.
62, (TIE) Jim Burch, Columbus, Ohio,
    Danny Gould, Palm Bay, Fla, 1,191.
64, Daniel Miner, East Moline, Ill., 1,188.
65, Vince Honeycutt, Buford, Ga., 1,183.
66, Andy Anderson, Falls Church, Va., 1,176.
67, Larry Lichstein, Ft. Myers, Fla., 1,174.
68, Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 1,172.
69, Bob Handley, Winter Park, Fla., 1,170.
70, Peter Brainard, Tampa, Fla., 1,160.
71, Jim Lesiuk, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 1,159.
72, Bobby Dunn, Augusta, Ga., 1,155.
73, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 1,154.
74, Chuck Richardson  *, The Villages, Fla., 1,142.
75, Keith Glasgow, St. Petersburg, Fla., 1,141.
76, Michael Truitt, Orland Park, Ill., 1,139.
77, Ron Garr, Ridgedale, Mo., 1,138.
78, Roger Kossert, Lithia, Fla., 1,137.
79, James Souder, Greeneville, Tenn, 1,132.
80, Tom Kennedy, Shepherdsville, Ky., 1,127.
81, Lee Rucker, Fort Myers, Fla., 1,121.
82, Brian DiCicco, Ridgefield, Conn., 1,118.
83, (TIE) Bruce Hall, Los Altos Hills, Calif.,
    Nick Panicaro, Naples, Fla., 1,115.
85, Mike Anthony, Mason, Ohio, 1,111.
86, Edward Kramarcik Sr., Lake Mary, Fla., 1,109.
87, Mark Scime, Winter Garden, Fla., 1,098.
88, Gary Lambert, Orlando, Fla., 1,093.
89, Bruce Himschoot, Sanford, Fla, 1,091.
90, Howard Frostman, Washburn, Wis., 1,087.
91, Frank Manley Jr., Fletcher, N.C., 1,081.
92, Rod Michael, Florissant, Mo., 1,079.
93, (TIE) Donald Breihan, Columbia, S.C.,
    Ray Randall, Dearborn, Mich., 1,066.
95, Rolando Sebelen, Dominican Republic, 1,061.
96, Bob Andersen, Forest City, N.C., 1,054.
97, Larry O'Neill, Alexandria, Va., 1,048.
98, Randy Niehaus, Rockford, Ill., 1,044.
99, Miguel Ventura, Kississmee, Fla., 1,041.
100, Rick Bucceri  *, Deltona, Fla., 1,036.
101, Angel Zugarramurdi, Venezuela, 1,035.
102, Tom Howison, Chillicothe, Ohio, 1,028.
103, Thomas Ream, Tampa, Fla., 1,020.
104, Dan Howsmon, Lutz, Fla., 1,003.
105, Timothy Bates, Orlando, Fla., 987.
106, Miguel Varela  *, Venezuela, 983.

  

CHICAGO – Four of the top 2012 PBA Chris Schenkel Player of the Year candidates—Jason Belmonte, Mike Fagan, Sean Rash and Pete Weber — are among the star-studded players who will return to upscale 10pin bowling lounge in downtown Chicago May 27-29 for the 6th annual PBA Summer Shootout. The made-for-TV event will once again feature a battle of bowling stars representing bowling ball manufacturers in a fast-paced PBA Summer Shootout series for telecast on ESPN.

The PBA Summer Shootout weekend will get underway with a special pro-am event at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 27. Eight Eliminator Round tapings will be conducted Monday, starting at noon. On Tuesday, the final two Eliminator Rounds get started at 1 p.m., followed by the Eliminator Doubles Shootout and four Baker Doubles stepladder finals matches.

The preliminary Shootout telecast schedule begins on ESPN Saturday, July 7 and continues Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15. ESPN2 will carry re-airs of Shootout telecasts on Sunday, July 8, Saturday, July 21, Saturday, July 28, Saturday, Aug. 4, and Sunday, Aug. 5. Telecast times will be announced at a later date.

“It’s great to get to come back to downtown Chicago for Memorial Day weekend,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. “The city has a rich bowling history and last year’s event had one of the best pro-ams I’ve ever seen in 10pin’s cool surroundings with 20 of the top players in the world.”

The 2012 installment of the PBA Tour’s post-season special will the sport’s most accomplished players representing nine of the bowling industry’s best-known bowling ball franchises in a series of elimination and Baker doubles contests along with a pro-am event for Chicagoland grassroots league bowlers.

Teams must include a minimum of two players and teams with more than two players on their roster may substitute at their discretion: Teams and players competing are:

Storm: Jason Belmonte, Osku Palermaa and Pete Weber

900 Global: Robert Smith, Missy Parkin and Brian Voss

Roto Grip: Wes Malott, Brian Kretzer and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard

DV8: Mike Machuga, Ronnie Russell and Brian Valenta

Brunswick: Sean Rash, Ryan Ciminelli and Chris Loschetter

Track: Mike Fagan and Mika Koivuniemi

Columbia 300: Dan MacLelland and Chris Barnes

Hammer: Mike Wolfe and Bill O’Neill

Ebonite: Tommy Jones and Jason Couch

The 2012 PBA Summer Shootout will get underway with one member of the nine ball-brand teams bowling in each of 10 “Eliminator Rounds.” In the Eliminator Rounds, each player will throw one shot, with the low score in each frame eliminated. In cases of ties, the players involved will bowl sudden-death until one survivor remains.

“Make no mistake, while this event is guaranteed to be fun and exciting for fans to watch on site and as it plays out over the summer months on ESPN, the radical format means it will be a unique tightrope walk for players that will have them on edge fighting for survival from the first ball,” Clark said. “Players who represent the top bowling ball brands will be fighting for bragging rights and the prize money is significant, so it figures to be intense competition.”

In each Eliminator Round, players will earn points for their respective teams based upon how long they survive. The winner of each round will earn 12 points, second place eight points, third seven points, etc., down to one point for the first player eliminated (ninth place).

There will be 10 Eliminator Rounds, each resulting in a half-hour show for delayed telecast on ESPN. At the conclusion of the 10 shows, teams will be seeded for the Summer Shootout finals based upon their points totals. The top four teams automatically advance to the Baker Doubles stepladder finals. Teams seeded five through nine will then bowl in an “Eliminator Doubles Shootout” with the winning team claiming the fifth spot in the stepladder finals).

In the Eliminator Doubles Shootout, both members of each team will throw one shot and their scores will be combined for the frame. The low doubles score each frame will be eliminated until one team remains.

The final four half-hour shows will feature Baker format matches where one member of each team will bowl five frames per game. The No. 5 team will take on Team No. 4 in the first show. The winner will take on Team No. 3 in the second match. The match two winner will bowl Team No. 2 in the semifinal contest, and the semifinal match winner will meet Team No. 1 for the title.

Admission will be free for the entire weekend. For pro-am entry information, visit pba.com and look for the PBA Summer Shootout logo.

Past Winners:

2011, 10pin bowling lounge, Chicago – 900 Global (Missy Parkin, Michael Haugen Jr., Robert Smith, Steve Jaros and Brian Voss)

2010, Six Flags, Jackson, N.J. – Storm (Norm Duke, Wes Malott, Jason Belmonte, Rhino Page and Pete Weber)

2009, Six Flags, Jackson, N.J. – Team GEICO (Patrick Allen, Mika Koivuniemi, Mike Wolfe, Brad Angelo, Wes Malott and Chris Barnes)

2008, Six Flags, Gurnee, Ill. – Carmen’s Cartel (Wes Malott, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Jason Belmonte, Mike Fagan, Mika Koivuniemi and Sean Rash)

2007, Six Flags, St. Louis – Norm Duke and Walter Ray Williams Jr.

SEATTLE – The 2011-12 Professional Bowlers Association Tour season turned into one of the most compelling season-long battles for Chris Schenkel Player of the Year honors in history as a group of stars battled in PBA major championships and events around the world.

The three leading vote-getters in the Player of the Year race will be announced on Wednesday, May 16, followed by the first-ever live announcement of the winner on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel on Monday, May 28, during the PBA Summer Shootout at 10pin Bowling Lounge in Chicago.

The leading PBA Player of the Year candidates, in alphabetical order are:

JASON BELMONTE - Australia
Won three titles including the Elite Players Championship, had seven top-five finishes, finished third in average and second in both points and earnings. Belmonte also finished third in the U.S. Open and Tournament of Champions, fourth in the PBA World Championship and ninth in the USBC Masters.

NORM DUKE - Clermont, Fla.
Won three titles, including the Dick Weber Playoffs, and had five top-five finishes. The Hall of Famer moved into third place in all-time PBA Tour titles with his 37th career victory. He ranked sixth in average, points and earnings.

MIKE FAGAN - Dallas
Qualified for TV shows in all four PBA Tour majors. He won the USBC Masters, finished second in the U.S. Open, fourth in the Tournament of Champions and 12th in the PBA World Championship. He also won an international PBA Tour title, the Brunswick Euro Challenge in Paris, France. Statistically, he was second in average, and third in points and earnings.

OSKU PALERMAA - Finland
Became the first two-handed player to win a PBA major (PBA World Championship) and he won the Kuwait International Open, the first international title ever awarded under a new agreement between the PBA and the World Tenpin Bowling Association. He had two other top-five finishes, and finished eighth in the U.S. Open and Tournament of Champions. Palermaa was fifth in points and earnings.

SEAN RASH - Montgomery, Ill.
Won PBA’s signature event, the Tournament of Champions. He led the Tour with eight top-five finishes, including third place in the PBA World Championship, and finished first in average, points and earnings. He also qualified for a record five consecutive TV finals during the World Series of Bowling.

PETE WEBER - St. Ann, Mo.
Won the U.S. Open, the 36th title of his career, as he became the first player ever to win that prestigious title five times. The Hall of Famer, who has never won Player of the Year honors, also had two other top-five finishes including fifth in the PBA World Championship while finishing 12th in average, and fourth in both points and earnings.

Also on the Player of the Year ballot, based upon a top-10 finish in either competition points or earnings, are Chris Barnes, Ryan Ciminelli, Andres Gomez, Bill O’Neill and Ryan Shafer. A detailed breakdown of the Player of the Year candidates’ stats are available here.

The PBA has also announced six players will be considered in voting for PBA Harry Golden Rookie of the Year with Arizona’s Josh Blanchard the clear-cut favorite based on his 10 cashes, five match play finals and one television appearance in 13 events. Five players will be considered by their PBA peers for the annual Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award.

Rookie of the Year candidates, in addition to Blanchard, are: Dennis Eklund, Sweden; Antonio Medina, Louisville, Ky.; Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska; Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill.; and Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C.

Nagy candidates are Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y.; Martin Larsen, Sweden; Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa; Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., and Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif. Jurek is a two-time Nagy winner. Kulick is the first woman ever nominated for the award.

PBA Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year are selected by the entire PBA membership plus a panel of veteran bowling writers. The Nagy Award is voted on by players who bowled at least half of the PBA Tour events during the past season. Ballots, full statistical data and voting instructions will be available to PBA members on the members-only section of PBA.com beginning April 25. Hard copy ballots will be mailed to media voters. The deadline for voting will be May 15.

For Xtra Frame subscription information click on the Xtra Frame logo on the pba.com homepage.

CLICK FOR COMPLETE PLAYER OF THE YEAR STATS

THE VILLAGES, Fla.  – This week will be one not soon forgotten for Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour rookie Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wis.

In his Senior Tour debut, Boresch defeated 2011 Senior Rookie of the Year Ricky Beck of Box Elder, S.D., 278-266, to win the PBA Senior Sun Bowl In The Villages presented by Storm Tuesday at Spanish Springs Lanes. Then, it’s on to Arlington, Texas, where Boresch will be inducted into the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame on Thursday.

“This is a dream week and kind of weird the way it’s all playing out,” said Boresch, who just turned 50 on April 19 to become eligible for the Senior Tour. “I can’t believe it’s happening all so fast.”

In the championship match Beck struck on the first nine shots but opened in the 10^th allowing an opening for Boresch who was able to string his last eight strikes to clinch the win.

“If he strikes on the first ball in the 10^th it’s over but when he didn’t, I thought to myself, well, here’s my chance,” Boresch said.

Boresch is known for his success in PBA regional competition where he has won 25 PBA regional titles. His top finishes on the PBA national tour are a fifth and two sixth-place finishes. He also owns three USBC Open Championships titles.

“I was really hoping to just make the cut and get my feet wet out here,” Boresch said. “I still feel I can be competitive at a high level but never thought I’d win right out of the box on the Senior Tour.”

The road to the championship match wasn’t easy for Boresch, just squeaking out a win in the Round of 8 against Tom Carter of Rockford, Ill., 2-1 in the three-game match. He then faced four-time Senior Player of the Year and PBA Hall of Famer Tom Baker of King, N.C. in the semifinal, winning that single-game match, 238-227. Coincidentally, Baker, who was trying for his 10^th Senior Tour title, will also be inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame on Thursday.

“Tom is such a great bowler and I had to remind myself to stay cool, Boresch said. “But I kept telling myself to keep my footwork slow and just enjoy the experience.”

In the other semifinal match Beck squeaked by Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr., 258-257, to advance to the championship match.

The next stop for the Senior Tour will be the PBA Senior Don Carter Memorial Open presented by Ebonite April 28-May 2 at Carter Family Bowl in Winter Garden, Fla.

PBA SENIOR SUN BOWL IN THE VILLAGES PRESENTED BY STORM

Spanish Springs Lanes, The Villages, Fla., Tuesday

Final Results

Championship Match

Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis. ($7,500) def. Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D. ($4,000), 278-266.

Semifinal Round (one-game matches, losers earn $2,700)

Beck def. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 258-257.
Boresch Jr. def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 238-227.

Round of 8 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, $1,700 each)
W.R. Willams def. Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 2-1.
Beck def. Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 2-0.
Boresch Jr. def. Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 2-1.
Baker def. Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 2-1.  

Round of 16 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,300 each)
Mohr def. Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 3-2.
W.R. Williams def. Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 3-1.
Eagle def. Gary Hiday, Indianapolis, 3-1.
Beck def. Fred Kaczmarczyk, Martinez, Calif., 3-0.
Carter def. Peter Knopp, Germany, 3-1.
Boresch Jr. def. Randy Shewmake, Fort Worth, Texas, 3-0.
Kenny Parks def. Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 3-1.
Baker def. Joel Carlson, Omaha, Neb., 3-1.

Round of 24 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,150 each)
Learn def. Randy Robertson, Evansville, Ind., 3-2.
W.R. Williams def. Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 3-2.
Eagle def. Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 3-1.
Beck def. Paul McCordic, Sugarland, Texas, 3-2.
Knopp def. Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla.,  3-1.
Shewmake def. Amletto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3-2.
Sullins def. Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla., 3-2.
Carlson def. Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 3-2.

Round of 32 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,025 each)

Robertson def. Brodowski, Hyde Park, N.Y., 3-1.

W.R. Williams def. Emilio Mora, Defiance, Ohio 3-2.

Eagle def. Chuck Richardson, The Villages, Fla., 3-1.

McCordic def. Neff, Homosassa Springs, Fla., 3-1.

Knopp def. Keith Sharp, Orlando, 3-0.

Monacelli def. Dave Sill, Titusville, Fla., 3-2.

Wagner def. Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 3-2.

Traber def. Bruce Hall, Los Altos Hills, Calif., 3-2.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP: WALTER RAY WINS 32ND REGIONAL TITLE

PBA Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., boosted his amazing PBA title total to 81 overall when he defeated reigning PBA Senior Player of the Year Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, by 116 pins on April 19 to win the PBA South Region Don Carter Signature Series Tampa Senior Open at AMF University Lanes.

The regional event was the final tune-up prior to the start of the Senior Sun Bowl at The Villages presented by Storm at Spanish Springs Lanes in The Villages, Fla., to kick off the 2012 PBA Senior Tour season. The win in Tampa was Williams’ 32nd in regional competition to go along with his all-time record 47 PBA Tour titles and two PBA Senior Tour victories.

In the PBA East Region, Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y. went 13-3 in match play to record a 69-pin victory over Eddie Torres of Port Ewen, N.Y. in the PBA East Region 900 Global Open at Catskill Hoe Bowl Sunday in Catskill, N.Y. Ciminelli, coming off his runner-up finish in the PBA Tournament of Champions, averaged 249 to lead qualifying and was never challenged on his way to his seventh career regional title and a $2,500 first prize.

In Grove City, Ohio, Jason Lundquist of Englewood, Ohio defeated Patrick Dombrowski of Parma, Ohio by 60 pins to win the PBA Central Debbie & Leo Nunan Memorial/Grove City Open at AMF Stardust Lanes Sunday. Lundquist finished with a 9-3 match play record and a total of 4,725 pins for 20 games, including match play bonus pins, for his third career PBA Regional and a $2,400 prize.

The PBA West and Northwest Regions traveled to Hawaii where Tyler Jensen of Ft. Worth, Texas, defeated Rodney Garrick of San Francisco, 277-258, to win the PBA West/Northwest Regions Storm Open at Hickam AFB Lanes Sunday. The win was Jensen’s 11th in PBA Regional competition and the second time he has won this event. He also earned $2,000.

On Thursday April 19, at Schofield AFB in Waipahu, Hawaii, amateur Keith Odette of Waipahu defeated Garrick, 253-215, to win the West/Northwest Hawaii Open presented by Storm. Odette, who won his first PBA event, earned $2,000, but he doesn’t receive credit for a PBA title because he isn’t a member.

The PBA Southwest Region visited San Antonio, Texas, Sunday where Cole Copeland of Austin, Texas, defeated Terry Ward of San Angelo, Texas, 207-203, to win his first PBA title at the inaugural PBA Southwest Region San Antonio Challenge at Astro Super Bowl. PBA Challenge events are open only to players who have never won a PBA title.

REGIONAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

Three regional events are on tap April 27-29 in the PBA East, West/Northwest and Midwest regions. In the East, Rockaway Lanes hosts the Rockaway Lanes Chameleon Open which is the first of the “animal pattern” championship events. Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl in Dublin, Calif., will host a doubleheader regional/senior regional weekend with the Earl Anthony Memorial Classic and Earl Anthony Memorial Senior Classic. In the Midwest, Dutlers Bowl in Mankato, Minn., hosts the Dutlers Bowl Open presented by Etonic.

For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

LENNIE BORESCH JR. TO TAKE WEEK OFF FROM SENIOR TOUR

Lennie Boresch Jr., who won the season-opening Senior Sun Bowl In The Villages presented by Storm in his Senior Tour debut on Tuesday will not compete in next week’s PBA Senior Don Carter Memorial Open but plans to compete in most of the rest of the events in 2012. Boresch, who also owns 25 PBA regional titles, PBA Hall of Famers Tom Baker, Amleto Monacelli and Dave Husted, and former touring pro Gary Daroszewski will be among those inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame this week in Arlington, Texas.

And left-hander Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., would like to spoil all of their chances.

The fourth and final major championship of the 2011-12 PBA Tour season airs at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. First prize is $80,000.

Rash, a four-time PBA Tour title winner, is the 2011-12 season’s competition points leader on the basis of 11 top-10 finishes in 14 tournaments, seven television finals and three second-place finishes. But Rash, who needs to win only one match, also is riding a streak of 14 consecutive TV finals without a title.

“I came to win,” the 29-year-old Rash said. “Finishing second would suck. I was told long ago you can’t win if you don’t bowl on Sunday. I’ve been on this stage before. I won the (2007) Masters, and I’ll have my hands full. I’m going to bowl against one of the best players on tour in the title match, but I’ll be ready.”

Belmonte, who has won three titles so far this season, is trying for his first major title. The 28-year-old two-handed star will likely be the most anxious player in Sunday’s finals, but not only because of the magnitude of the tournament title.

Belmonte’s wife Kimberly is four days overdue in delivering the couple’s second child.

“There’s a lot riding on this tournament, so you don’t want to come this far and fail,” said Belmonte, who qualified second for Sunday’s stepladder finals. “As happy as I am to be in this position, I won’t be happy to come this far and not accomplish what I came here to do. The mission is to win.”

Fagan and Ciminelli, who qualified third and fourth respectively, will meet in Sunday’s first match. Fagan, bowling in his 10th PBA Tour season, has already had a career-year with two titles including his first major, the USBC Masters. With a third title, Fagan, who ranks fourth on the competition points list, would become a serious Player of the Year candidate.

Ciminelli is the wild card in the finals. The 26-year-old hopes to become the first left-hander to win a title this season. There has not been a left-handed winner in PBA Tour competition during the 2011-12 campaign for the first time in 50 years. Ciminelli, who finished second in the Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 earlier in the season in Columbus, Ohio, won his only title in the One A Day Earl Anthony Memorial in January 2011.

PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Friday

FINAL MATCH PLAY STANDINGS (after 36 games, including match play bonus pins. Top 4 advance to ESPN stepladder finals Sunday at 1 p.m. ET):

1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 12-4-2, 8,884.
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 12-5-1, 8,825.
3, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 9-9, 8,717.
4, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 10-8, 8,676.

Did not advance:

5, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 11-7, 8,661, $10,000.
6, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 9-9, 8,579, $9,500.
7, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 13-5, 8,503, $9,000.
8, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 10-8, 8,436, $8,600.
9, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 9-9, 8,330, $8,300.
10, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 8-10, 8,319, $8,100.
11, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 8-9-1, 8,281, $7,900.
12, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 7-11, 8,243, $7,700.
13, Robert Smith, Los Angeles, 6-12, 8,171, $7,500.
14, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 9-9, 8,161, $7,400.
15, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 8-10, 8,135, $7,100.
16, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 8-10, 8,094, $6,900.
17, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 7-11, 8,080, $6,700.
18, Stuart Williams, England, 4-14, 7,745, $6,600.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS STEPLADDER FINALS

Sunday, ESPN, 1 p.m. Eastern

Match One – No. 3 Mike Fagan, Dallas, vs. No. 4 Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y.

Semifinal Match – No. 2 Jason Belmonte, Australia, vs. winner of Match One.

Championship – No. 1 Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., vs. Semifinal Match Winner.

THE VILLAGES, Fla. — For reigning PBA Senior Player of the Year Ron Mohr, his domination during the 2011 season will be a tough act to follow in 2012, but he’s up to the challenge.

Mohr will begin defense of his 2011 Senior Player of the Year title when the 2012 Senior Tour season April 21-24 with the Sun Bowl In The Villages presented by Storm at Spanish Spring Lanes.

Mohr won a record-tying four titles in the 10 PBA Senior Tour events he entered in 2011, supported by a 67-30 record in his head-to-head matches and an equally impressive qualifying record. In 10 tournaments, Mohr was the leading qualifier twice, No. 2 twice and he qualified lower than seventh only one time.

In what was probably his worst event in 2011, after finishing in 77th place after the first eight qualifying games in the Senior Decatur (Ill.) Open, Mohr moved up 53 places over the next eight games to make the cut to match play by four pins, qualifying 24th.

“I’m really fighting the notion that it was a career year and can’t be repeated,” Mohr said. “But on the other hand it’s unrealistic to expect to have a year like that again.”

In addition to his four titles – including his first major championship in the Senior U.S. Open – Mohr finished out of the top four only one time. He was second twice, third twice, fourth and had a 13-place finish in Decatur. The only tournament he didn’t enter was the USBC Senior Masters which he missed in order to attend a family wedding.

“The real expectation is that over time things even out but I’ve kept a winning attitude and feel as well prepared if not better than last year going into this season.,” he said. “Last year was something I never expected and I admit I had a lot of things go my way. I just need to keep that winning attitude and let everything else take care of itself.”

Tom Baker (2006), Bob Glass (2001), Dale Eagle (1999) and Pete Couture (1998) also had four-title seasons, but only Baker’s was in a comparable number of events (nine). In 2006, Baker finished second, third, fifth, seventh and 24th in his other five events. Eagle won four times in a 15-tournament schedule while Glass and Couture won their titles in 14-event seasons.

No one had a perfect 11-for-11 cashing record in 2011, but of the nine players who cashed in 10 events, Mohr, Baker, Peter Knopp and Henry Gonzalez were 10-for-10 while Walter Ray Williams Jr., Harry Sullins, Mike Henry, Kenny Parks and Eagle cashed in 10 of 11 events.

The only statistical category where Mohr fell short was in scoring average where Williams led with a Senior Tour record 229.56 and Mohr finished second with 225.98.

Defending champion Sullins of Chesterfield, Mich., defeated Williams, 248-239, to win last year’s Sun Bowl In The Villages for his second career Senior Tour title.

PBA Sun Bowl In The Villages presented by Storm Schedule                                                       Spanish Spring Lanes, The Villages, Fla. (all times Eastern)

Saturday, April 21
8 – 9 a.m. - A Squad Practice
11 a.m. – Noon - B Squad Practice
Pro-Am Squads: 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 22
9 a.m. - A Squad qualifying (8 games)
4 p.m. -  B Squad qualifying (8 games)

Monday, April 23
9 a.m. - B Squad qualifying (8 games)
4 p.m. – A squad qualifying (8 games)

Tuesday, April 24
11 a.m. - Players qualifying 17-32 bowl (best of five game matches) beginning at 11 a.m.
1 p.m. – Winners from first best-of-five match play round and players qualifying 9-16 bowl
4 p.m. - Winners and players qualifying 1-8 advance to best-of-five match play round
7 p.m. - Round of 8 (best of three) begins at 7 p.m.
Round of 4 (one game) immediately following
Round of 2 (one game) immediately following

# # #

After more than a half century competing on the PBA National and Senior Tours, Hall of Famer Dave Soutar of Bradenton, Fla., is going to call it a career at the conclusion of the 2012 Senior Tour season.

Soutar will begin his 51st year in PBA competition when the 2012 PBA Senior Tour season opens April 21-24 with the PBA Senior Sun Bowl In The Villages presented by Storm at Spanish Spring Lanes.

The numbers tell the story of a storied career that began in Detroit in 1961 and produced 18 career PBA Tour titles and seven Senior Tour titles including five major titles spread across both Tours. He is the only player who has won both the United States Bowling Congress Masters (1973) and Senior Masters (2000).

A product of the golden era of team competition in the late 1950s, Soutar’s talents were recognized when he was asked to bowl with the fabled Stroh’s Beer team originated by the legendary Joe Norris. Soutar honed his skills in that decade by competing in some of Detroit’s elite leagues such as the Detroit News Teen Masters League and became a star in the prestigious All-Star League which included Detroit area greats Bob Strampe, Ed Lubanski and numerous other hall of famers.

A career competing on the fledgling PBA Tour beckoned and in only his fifth tournament as a professional, he won a major – the 1961 PBA National Championship – for his first PBA title. From that launching pad to stardom, he would go on to win 11 titles over the next seven years, finishing in the top 10 in earnings six times over that same period.

His best season came in 1970 when he won five titles, the most of any player on Tour that year, but it wasn’t quite enough to earn Player of the Year honors. That distinction went to fellow Hall of Famer Nelson Burton Jr., who won four titles. Soutar’s consolation prize was the PBA’s prestigious Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award, awarded by his fellow competitors.

“For most of my career I considered myself a steady bowler. I never got on a real hot streak, but (1970) was the exception,” Soutar said. “The only thing that was disappointing that season was I didn’t get Player of the Year and that is really the only disappointment in my career.”

Soutar reached a low point in 1974 and was bowling so badly that he thought about retiring. Thanks to the encouragement of his wife, Judy (also a hall of fame bowler who announced her retirement after 50 years representing Brunswick in 2011), he was he able to turn his game around.

“It was just a depressing year, but looking back on it, it probably was not a slump that any athlete doesn’t go through at one time or another,” Soutar said. “Judy was the most instrumental factor in turning my game around, mainly through her encouragement and the insight she had as a professional bowler. Without her support it might have been a short career.”

PBA legend and fellow competitor Carmen Salvino, who bowled against Soutar throughout much of his career, agrees that Soutar’s greatest asset was his consistency.

“Dave was definitely one of the greats, but he never got the credit he should have for his consistency,” Salvino said. “He was a little bit overshadowed because he came up in the era of Dick Weber and Don Carter and then transitioned into the era of Earl Anthony, Johnny Petraglia, Dave Davis, Mark Roth and Marshall Holman.

“He may not have gotten the respect he should have from the fans, but I can tell you that all the bowlers knew he was great and had all the respect in the world for him.”

Burton, another one of Soutar’s rivals on Tour also attests to the fact that Soutar was one of his most feared competitors on Tour.

“I considered myself one of the top players in match play but whenever we had the opportunity to bowl in doubles formats, I chose Dave to be my partner so I wouldn’t have to bowl against him,” Burton said.

Soutar made the transition to the Senior Tour in 1990.

It was at the 1999 PBA Senior Tournament of Champions, conducted on an outdoor bowling lane installation at The Villages, that Soutar won one of the most memorable titles of his career. For winning that tournament he earned one of the most unique top prizes in PBA history – a house in The Villages worth an estimated $100,000, plus $10,000 in cash.

“That was definitely one of the most memorable moments in my career,” said the 72-year-old Soutar. “Bowling in that outdoor arena for the championship was impressive enough but to win the house, well, that was just unbelievable.”

Soutar’s last PBA title came in the 2003 Senior U.S. Open which marked his fifth major in PBA competition.

“With any luck I think I could have won a few more tournaments, but it always seemed like when I made it to the finals guys were throwing 250s at me when I was shooting 230 or 240,” Soutar said.

Among Soutar’s many other Senior Tour accomplishments entering the 2012 season are records for most Senior Tour tournaments entered (250) and career Senior Tour earnings of more than $512,000.

He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1979 and the USBC Hall of Fame in 1985 and was voted the 20th greatest player of all time as part of the PBA’s 50th anniversary in 2009.

“Looking back, if I had to single out the most memorable moments in my career, it would be going into the PBA and USBC Halls and being selected to the list of 50 greatest players,” Soutar said. “I’m satisfied and have no regrets.”

The Soutars, who lived in the Kansas City area for several years before retiring to Florida, have travelled together for 20-plus years on the on the Senior Tour. One of their labors of love has been conducting a golf outing the day before each Senior Tour event.

“It started in the early 90s when a bunch of us would get together to play golf before every tournament and then it became more organized,” Soutar said. “We’ve made a lot of friends and had a lot of fun over the years. I will miss it.”

2012 PBA Senior Tour Schedule

April 21-24 - PBA Senior Sun Bowl In The Villages presented by Storm, Spanish Springs Lanes, The Villages, Fla.

April 28-May 2 - PBA Senior Don Carter Open presented by Ebonite, Carter Family Bowl, Winter Garden, Fla.

May 6-9 - PBA Senior Miller High Life Classic presented by Columbia 300, George Pappas Victory Lanes, Mooresville, N.C.

May 14-17 - PBA Senior Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip, Capri Lanes, Dayton, Ohio

June 3-8 - Etonic PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Suncoast, Suncoast Bowling Center, Las Vegas

June 10-15 - USBC Senior Masters, South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas

June 17-20 - PBA Senior Northern California Classic presented by Track, Harvest Park Bowl, Brentwood, Calif.

August 6-9 - PBA Senior South Shore Open presented by DV8, Olympia Lanes, Hammond, Ind.

August 11-14 - PBA Senior Decatur Open presented by Brunswick, Spare Time Lanes, Decatur, Ill.

Rash, who hadn’t won a title since the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Masters, started the title match with four strikes and bowled an almost error-free game to win the $80,000 first prize and the fifth title of his career.

“This one ranks right up there with the most important titles I’ve ever won,” Rash said. “Your first title is always special, and so is your first major, but this tournament is special because everyone who bowls in it is a champion. The other guys in the finals are all great young players.

“The biggest thing is learning from your failures. I learned that a long time ago, and I’ve worked hard to overcome my mistakes,” the 29-year-old said. “The great thing about winning a title like this is we’re all family out here. Every other player wants the other guy to succeed. It really feels good.”

With his title, Rash also inserted himself into the PBA Player of the Year chase. He unofficially led the Tour in earnings, average and competition points while finishing in the top 10 in 11 of 14 tournaments.

Ciminelli had nothing but praise for Rash’s performance after eliminating two PBA Player of the Year candidates in his first two matches.

“I’m disappointed I didn’t win, but Sean bowled a great game. He earned it,” Ciminelli said. “Getting to the title match was another step in my career. I won by far the biggest check I’ve ever gotten ($40,000), I qualified for the Japan Cup and I’ll get to bowl in the PBA Summer Series, so it was a big week for me.

“And I think I handled the pressure well,” the 26-year-old left-hander said. “I usually beat myself up, but this week I’m proud of myself. There are going to be many, many more opportunities. I’m very young.”

In the semifinal match, Ciminelli missed a 7 pin in the first frame but raced away to a 257-223 victory over Australia’s Jason Belmonte, striking on nine of his next 10 shots. Belmonte couldn’t solve the right lane until the 10th frame and by then it was too late. Belmonte came into the finals with three victories during the 2011-12 PBA Tour season and was considered a leading contender in the PBA Player of the Year race.

In the opening match, Ciminelli defeated another Player of the Year contender, Mike Fagan of Dallas, 190-182, in a mistake-filled match. Fagan opened in three of his first five frames before rallying with a late turkey. Ciminelli also survived a pair of unconverted splits, throwing the first string of three strikes in the match to protect his slim lead and converting a 7 pin in the 10th frame to lock up the win. Fagan had won a pair of 2011-12 titles including the United States Bowling Congress Masters, one of the PBA Tour’s four major championships.

With Ciminelli’s loss, the PBA Tour completed its first season since 1962 without a left-handed title winner.

While the PBA Tour’s regular season ended with the Tournament of Champions, a special post-season PBA Summer Shootout is planned for Memorial Day weekend in Chicago. Details will be announced soon.

PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Sunday

FINAL STANDINGS
1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., one game, 239 pins, $80,000.
2, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., three games, 652 pins, $40,000.
3, Jason Belmonte, Australia, one game, 223 pins, $20,000.
4, Mike Fagan, Dallas, one game, 182 pins, $12,000.

STEPLADDER RESULTS
Match One: Ciminelli def. Fagan, 190-182.
Semifinal Match: Ciminelli def. Belmonte, 257-223.
Championship: Rash def. Ciminelli, 239-205.

Rash, a four-time PBA Tour title winner, averaged 243.8 for the first 15 Elite Field games, finishing with a 3,657 total and a 31-pin edge over Nathan Bohr of Wichita, Kan. With five games to go Wednesday night to determine the 25 players who will advance to Friday’s Round of 36, he had a 263-pin cushion over PJ Haggerty of Roseville, Calif., who sat in 25th position. Eighteen other players were within 100 pins of making the 25-player cut.

“My tempo is what I’ve worked on all year and that’s what I’m working on,” Rash said. “Leading right now doesn’t matter. There’s no added prize money, no points. The goal is to survive these two days. I like where I’m at, but tomorrow is when the tournament starts. It’ll be a lot different tournament tomorrow - different players, different level of talent, different approach. Right now, I’m in survival mode. When it’s my turn to bowl, I bowl.”

The Elite Field consists of 77 players – 21 who survived Monday’s 14-game Champions Field qualifying and 56 PBA Tour title winners and exempt players. The Elite Field will bowl its final five qualifying games Wednesday night to determine the 25 who will join 11 current season title winners for the Round of 36 starting Thursday.

The current season title winners who begin play Thursday are three-time titlists Jason Belmonte of Australia and Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla.; U.S. Open champ Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo.; two-time winners Osku Palermaa of Finland and Mike Fagan of Dallas; England’s Stuart Williams and Dom Barrett; Colombia’s Andres Gomez; Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas; Eugene McCune of Munster, Ind., and Scott Newell of Deland, Fla.

Competition for the TOC title and the $80,000 first prize starts fresh with the Round of 36, which begins Thursday with two nine-game qualifying rounds. After 18 games, the top 18 will advance to two nine-game rounds of head-to-head match play on Friday. The top four players at the end of 36 games will advance to the live ESPN stepladder finals Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Bowling fans can follow progress in the Tournament of Champions through the PBA’s exclusive coverage on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online bowling channel; through live scoring on pba.com, and through the Professional Bowlers Association on Facebook and Twitter. Subscriptions to Xtra Frame are available on the pba.com home page.

PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Wednesday

ELITE FIELD STANDINGS (after 15 of 20 games; top 25 advance to Round of 36):

1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3,657.
2, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 3,626.
3, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 3,625.
4, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 3,598.
5, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 3,583.
6, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 3,550.
7, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,547.
8, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 3,540.
9, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,535.
10 (tie), Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., and Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 3,524.
12, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 3,464.
13 (tie), Robert Smith, Hong Kong; Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, and Martin Larsen, Sweden, 3,454.
16, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 3,448.
17, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,446.
18 (tie), Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif.; Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., and Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3,438.
21, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 3,437.
22, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 3,421.
23, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 3,398.
24, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 3,397.
25, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 3,394.
26, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 3,381.
27 (tie), Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., and Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,379.
29, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 3,378.
30, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 3,373.
31, D.J. Archer, Port Arthur, Texas, 3,368.
32, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 3,363.
33, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 3,360.
34, Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., 3,358.
35, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 3,349.
36, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3,339.
37, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,337.
38, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 3,334.
39, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 3,323.
40, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 3,320.
41, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 3,315.
42, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 3,309.
43, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3,298.
44, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 3,287.
45, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3,281.
46, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 3,279.
47, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 3,277.
48, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 3,276.
49, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 3,273.
50, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 3,271.
51, Bryan Alpert, Northridge, Calif., 3,266.
52, Eric Forkel, Henderson, Nev., 3,254.
53, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,252.
54, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 3,249.
55 (tie), Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., and Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 3,245.
57, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 3,236.
58, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 3,205.
59, Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, 3,197.
60, Michael Steil, Wheeling, Ill., 3,193.
61, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 3,179.
62, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 3,175.
63, Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 3,173.
64, Mike Bailey, Frisco, Texas, 3,169, $100.
65, Chris Hayden, Las Vegas, 3,164.
66, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,163.
67, Tyler Jensen, Ft. Worth, Texas, 3,155.
68, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 3,152.
69, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 3,149.
70, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 3,131.
71, Jason Poli, West Des Moines, Iowa, 3,124.
72, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 3,120.
73, Joe Salvemini, Henderson, Nev., 3,118.
74, Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., 3,058.
75, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 3,042.
76, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 3,032.
77, Carmen Salvino, Schaumburg, Ill., 2,840.

300 Games: PJ Haggerty, Dick Allen.

Fagan rolled games of 238, 299, 268, 258, 299, 201, 290, 269 and 264 for a total of 2,386 pins.

Fagan, who had won only two titles in nine previous seasons as a PBA Tour player, is seeking his third title of the 2011-12 season, including his second major championship after winning the United States Bowling Congress Masters in January. He also finished second in the U.S. Open, another major, losing the title to Pete Weber by one pin in February, and the 31-year-old Long Island, N.Y., native won the Kuwait International Open for his second PBA title of the season in March.

“I just felt comfortable today,” Fagan said. “My tempo’s good, my speed control is good, my ball reaction is good. It’s probably something that’s never happened to me like this before.

“Things are just clicking this year,” he added. “I’m getting smarter with equipment, adjusting faster. The difference between me and top players last year was probably one shot a game, and I’m fixing that.

“I know things aren’t over,” he continued. “I’m just going to try to keep doing the same things. I’ve learned in tournaments like this, when you have a good shot, you’d better take advantage because it might not be there the next round.”

Trailing Fagan was Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte, who had won three titles this season. Belmonte had 2,147 pins for nine games. Third was defending champion Mika Koivuniemi, who snuck into the Round of 36 Thursday night, claiming his spot by a single pin in a four-player roll-off for the 25th spot in the Elite Field.

Competition for the TOC title and the $80,000 first prize continues Thursday night with nine more qualifying games. After 18 games, the field will be cut to the top 18 who will advance to two nine-game rounds of head-to-head match play on Friday. The top four players after 36 games of qualifying and match play will advance to the ESPN stepladder finals Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Bowling fans can follow Round of 36 progress through the PBA’s exclusive coverage on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online bowling channel; through live scoring on pba.com, and through the Professional Bowlers Association on Facebook and Twitter. Subscriptions to Xtra Frame are available on the pba.com home page.

PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Thursday

ROUND OF 36 STANDINGS (after 9 of 18 games; top 18 advance to Round of 36 match play finals on Friday):

1, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 2,386.
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 2,147.
3, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 2,121.
4, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 2,116.
5, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 2,113.
6, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 2,079.
7 (tie), Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., and Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 2,078.
9, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 2,058.
10, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,044.
11, Robert Smith, Los Angeles, 2,043.
12, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 2,041.
13, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 2,019.
14, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 2,011.
15, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 2,007.
16 (tie), Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., and Andres Gomez, Colombia, 2,004.
18, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,997.
19, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 1,990.
20, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,987.
21, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,947.
22, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 1,946.
23, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 1,945.
24, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,935.
25, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,923.
26, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 1,919.
27, Stuart Williams, England, 1,901.
28, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 1,899.
29, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,897.
30, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,883.
31, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 1,882.
32, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 1,860.
33, Dom Barrett, England, 1,837.
34, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,830.
35, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,805.
36, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 1,791.

300 Game: Osku Palermaa.

The finals of the eighth and final event in the PBA World Series of Bowling aired Sunday on ESPN.

The victory tied Belmonte with PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke for current season titles as the PBA Tour heads into its final event of the 2011-12 season, the PBA Tournament of Champions, which gets underway Monday at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas. The TOC, the fourth major championship of the season, offers an $80,000 first prize. The finals will air live on ESPN Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Belmonte, whose only PBA Tour title prior to this season was in the 2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Open, wrapped up a stunning PBA World Series of Bowling performance with his Elite Players Championship. He won titles in three of his six WSOB television finals, plus he had a third-place finish in the World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA which kicked off the World Series.

As he had done in previous World Series eliminator-format events, the Australian two-handed star got off to a modest start in the Elite Players Championship. DeVaney, a two-time PBA Tour title winner, led the four-player opening match with a 257 game. Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, was second with a 247. Belmonte was third with a 237. Duke’s hopes for his 38th career title, and fourth of the 2011-12 season, ended when he left a 7-10 split followed by a “big four” 4-6-7-10 split in the eighth and ninth frames, respectively, bowing out of the competition with a 222.

DeVaney again led the three survivors in game two with a 234. After finishing with a 205, Belmonte got a break when Scroggins, needing a strike in the 10th frame to advance, left the 4-6-7-8-10 “Greek Church” and opened for a 190.

If there was one player in the field who wasn’t concerned about Belmonte’s dominating performance in the World Series, it was DeVaney.

"I won’t be watching Belmo. (His two-handed technique) doesn’t impress me,” DeVaney said before the match. “I’m not interested. I don’t care. I throw it the right way. I put my thumb in there the way I was taught and how everybody should throw it."

In a classic title-match battle, Belmonte and DeVaney both pounded the pocket, but DeVaney left an 8 pin in the fifth frame, a 9 pin in the seventh and a 10 pin on his first ball in the 10th, and Belmonte capitalized with a late string of five strikes to take charge of the contest.

“Anyone who wins has a little luck go their way,” Belmonte said, “but to win three times during the World Series, I had a lot of luck go my way. Osku (Palermaa) missed a 10 pin (allowing Belmonte to reach the Chameleon Open title match)…Chris Barnes shooting 300 (in the second game, not the title match of the GEICO Shark Open)…Scroggins opening in the 10th…a lot of things really fell into place.

“I’m just overwhelmed right now.

“That second game might be the best 205 game I ever bowled,” he continued, referring to seven single pins he left standing during that game. “The pins were brutal to knock over. I didn’t know how I was going to double. But in the final game, I got the pins to fall.

“My expectation coming into the World Series was just to bowl well, and if I bowled great, to make a TV show,” Belmonte added. “To come home with a title was the ultimate dream, but to have exceeded that three times over? There’s no way I would have predicted it. I’m seriously overwhelmed.”

With Belmonte’s Elite Players victory, the international players in the World Series field completed a sweep of seven individual titles awarded (PBA World Championship: Osku Palermaa, Finland; Bayer Viper Open: Stuart Williams, England; Chameleon Open: Belmonte; Scorpion Open: Dom Barrett, England; GEICO Shark Open: Bemonte; Carmen Salvino Classic, Andres Gomez, Colombia, and Elite Players Championship: Belmonte). The only title won by American players was the Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship (Norm Duke and Wes Malott).

Competition in the Tournament of Champions gets underway with Champions Field qualifying on Monday. Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online bowling channel, will webcast all of the preliminary qualifying and match play rounds beginning with the Champions Field and continuing through Friday night’s Round of 36 match play finals when the four stepladder finalists will be decided. To subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

PEPSI PBA ELITE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

South Point Exhibition Hall, Las Vegas, April 8

Round One (lowest score eliminated): Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 257; Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 247; Jason Belmonte, Australia, 237; Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 222 ($10,000).

Round Two (lowest score eliminated): DeVaney 234, Belmonte 205, Scroggins 190 ($11,000).

Championship: Belmonte ($35,000) def. DeVaney ($18,000), 255-238.

For the past four seasons Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas has hosted some of the most dramatic Professional Bowlers Association Tournament of Champions finals telecasts in history. This year, with the PBA’s signature event moved into position as the final event on the 2011-12 schedule, it holds promise to add another chapter to its colorful history.

In 2008, Michael Haugen Jr. came back from a 50-pin deficit in the championship match to defeat Chris Barnes, 215-214.

In 2009, needing only a nine-count and spare in the 10th frame to win his first major title, Rhino Page missed the headpin, got four pins on his first shot and lost the TOC title to Patrick Allen, 267-263.

In 2010, Kelly Kulick made sports history by becoming the first woman to win a PBA Tour event when she defeated former PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes in the championship match, 265-195.

In 2011, Mika Koivuniemi of Finland defeated 2009 World Championship winner Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Mich., 269-207, to win the richest first prize in PBA history ($250,000). But it was Koivuniemi’s 299-100 romp past Tom Daugherty in the semifinal match that created a national wave of media attention.

In addition to providing a dramatic conclusion to the season, the tournament offers a year-long incentive for all PBA players to win a title in order to qualify for the elite finale. In 2012, that end-of-season drama returns as the PBA Tour comes full circle – returning to Las Vegas for its big finish after starting the season six months earlier with the PBA World Series of Bowling at South Point Lanes on the south side of the city.

When the tournament gets underway Monday, PBA regional, senior tour, national tour players and PBA Women’s Series players who have won titles will begin the week-long battle to determine which four players advance to the live ESPN stepladder finals on Sunday, April 15, at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. Pacific).

The known storylines are plentiful:

● PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke and Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte come into the event in a heated battle for PBA Player of the Year honors.

● The winners from the three previous PBA majors – U.S. Open champion Pete Weber, USBC Masters champion Mike Fagan and PBA World Championship winner Osku Palermaa of Finland – will be trying for a second major title, and Player of the Year consideration for themselves.

● A win by Pete Weber would make him the first player in PBA history to complete the “Triple Crown” twice.

● A win by Walter Ray Williams Jr., the winningest player in PBA history with 47 titles, would make him the seventh member of the elite Triple Crown club as well as the third “Grand Slam” winner in PBA history. Williams also needs to reach the stepladder finals to extend his record streak of 26 consecutive seasons with at least one TV appearance.

●International players have made their mark on Tour this season winning a total of seven titles. In addition to Palermaa and Belmonte, 2011-12 titlists Andres Gomez of Colombia, Stuart Williams and Dom Barrett of England are also entered. Reigning Player of the Year Koivuniemi, who is winless so far this season, will be trying to defend his title.

The 2012 TOC will combine the best of the event’s traditions with its newest features.

● The 11 players who won PBA Tour titles during the 2011-12 season have earned automatic berths in the Round of 36. Belmonte, Weber, Fagan, Palermaa, Duke, Eugene McCune, Scott Newell, Dominic Barrett and Stuart Williams of England, Wes Malott and Andres Gomez of Colombia will be exempt from Champions Field and Elite Field qualifying, and enter the competition on Thursday.

● The Elite Field will include any player who has won a PBA Tour title, the winner of the 2011 PBA Regional Players Championship and Doubles Championship, 2011 PBA Senior U.S. Open and USBC Senior Masters champions.

● The top four players who will compete for the title will be determined over 18 qualifying games on Thursday and 18 games of round-robin match play on Friday.

In addition to the TOC competition, the 2012 PBA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held on Saturday, April 14, when Jason Couch of Clermont, Fla. (the only player to win three consecutive TOC titles) and 11-time Senior Tour winner Gene Stus of Taylor, Mich., will be inducted.

While recent TOCs have provided many dramatic televised moments in PBA Tour history, other memorable moments include Don Johnson’s 299 game in 1970; Jack Biondolillo bowling the first televised 300 game in 1967; Mike Durbin becoming the event’s first three-time winner in 1984 and Couch becoming the first to win it in three consecutive seasons in 2002, just to name a few.

Comprehensive coverage of the Tournament of Champions will begin Monday and continue through Friday on pba.com’s exclusive Xtra Frame online bowling channel. To subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and look for the Xtra Frame logo.

HISTORY OF PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS WINNERS

1962     Joe Joseph                    
1965      Billy Hardwick              
1966      Wayne Zahn                
1967     Jim Stefanich                
1968     Dave Davis       
1969     Jim Godman                 
1970     Don Johnson                 
1971     Johnny Petraglia       
1972     Mike Durbin                  
1973     Jim Godman                 
1974     Earl Anthony                 
1975     Dave Davis                   
1976     Marshall Holman           
1977     Mike Berlin                   
1978     Earl Anthony                 
1979     George Pappas                      
1980     Wayne Webb
1981     Steve Cook                 
1982     Mike Durbin                  
1983     Joe Berardi                   
1984     Mike Durbin                  
1985     Mark Williams            
1986     Marshall Holman           
1987     Pete Weber
1988     Mark Williams
1989     Del Ballard Jr.               
1990     Dave Ferraro                
1991     David Ozio                    
1992     Marc McDowell 
1993     George Branham III      
1994     Norm Duke
1995     Mike Aulby                   
1996     Dave D’Entremont         
1997     John Gant                     
1998     Bryan Goebel
1999     Jason Couch
2000     Jason Couch
2002     Jason Couch
2003     Patrick Healey Jr.          
2005     Steve Jaros
2006     Chris Barnes
2007     Tommy Jones
2008     Michael Haugen Jr.
2009     Patrick Allen
2010     Kelly Kulick
2011     Mika Koivuniemi

2012 PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS SCHEDULE

Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, April 8-15 (all times Pacific)

Sunday, April 8

11 a.m. – Champions Field practice

3 p.m. – Elite Field and 2011-12 PBA Tour champions practice

Monday, April 9

10 a.m. – Champions Round, 7 qualifying games

5 p.m. – Champions Round, 7 qualifying games

  Top 2/3 of Champions field advance to Elite Round (pinfall totals dropped)

Tuesday, April 10

1 p.m. – Elite Round, A Squad, 7 qualifying games

5 p.m. – Elite Round, B Squad, 7 qualifying games

Wednesday, April 11

9 a.m. – Elite Round, B Squad, 7 qualifying games

1 p.m. – Elite Round, A Squad, 7 qualifying games

Top 1/4 of Elite Field (min. 53 players) advance to Cashers Round

6:30 p.m. – Cashers Round, 7 games

Top 25 advance to Round of 36 (pinfall totals dropped)

Thursday, April 12

11 a.m. – Round of 36, 9 qualifying games

6 p.m. – Round of 36, 9 qualifying games

    Top 18 players advance to round-robin match play

Friday, April 13

11 a.m. – Round-robin match play, 9 games

6 p.m. – Round-robin match play, 9 games

   Top 4 after 36 games advance to stepladder finals

Saturday, April 14

Pro-ams – 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

12:30 – 2 p.m. – autograph session

6 p.m. – PBA Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremonies

Sunday, April 15

10 a.m. – Top 4 stepladder finals, live on ESPN

Event: World Series of Bowling

Tournament: PBA Carmen Salvino Classic. Named after the PBA legend and Hall of Famer who won 17 PBA Tour titles.

Where: South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas

Finals Format: Four-player eliminator format with three one-game rounds. All four players bowl the opening game, with the lowest-scoring player after each game being eliminated. In the two rounds to follow, the same “low man out” format applies.

Television: ESPN (Sunday at 1 p.m. ET)

Colombian native Andres Gomez hopes to add his name to the list of World Series of Bowling international winners in the seventh of eight WSOB events.

Gomez, a veteran of four seasons of PBA Tour competition and still looking for his first title, earned top qualifier honors by averaging 249.44 over 16 games. He will face 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott; Ronnie Russell, also trying for his first title and Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte, who has already won two World Series of Bowling titles.

Gomez and Russell also have a chance to earn a berth in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions if either wins (Belmonte and Malott have already qualified for the Round of 36 as title winners).

PBA:39X60 Pre-game Show: (Free on PBA.com, PBA YouTube Channel) Tune into PBA.com’s Xtra Frame for interviews with the finalists as they give their insight into strategy and equipment selection. All World Series of Bowlling preview shows on Xtra Frame are available the Wednesday before each Sunday ESPN telecast for free.

PBA:39X60 Post-game Show: (Free on PBA.com, PBA YouTube Channel) Sunday 2:30 p.m. ET – Xtra Frame interviews the winning player and provides in-depth ball rep analysis of the winner’s equipment selection and ball preparation.

Social Networking on PBA Facebook/Twitter:  Follow PBA social networking through PBA on Facebook and Twitter for exclusive photos, videos and information, click the links on PBA.com to provide greater details and information on PBA players, tournaments and news.

To ‘like’ the PBA on Facebook, visit PBA.com homepage and click the Facebook icon.

To ‘follow’ the PBA on Twitter, click on the Twitter icon

To ’subscribe’ to PBA’s YouTube Channel, visit PBA.com and click on the Youtube icon

To ’subscribe’ to PBA.com’s Xtra Frame, online Bowling Channel click on the Xtra Frame logo

The finals of the seventh of eight events in the PBA World Series of Bowling, conducted at South Point Casino and Hotel, aired Sunday on ESPN.

Gomez, who began pursuing his dream of winning a PBA title 30 years ago as an 8-year-old living in Bogota, watching PBA Tour videotapes given to the family by American friends, finally added his coveted title after nearly 20 years of success in the international arena, individually and as a member of Colombia’s national bowling team.

“I had the experience in international tournaments, I had the experience in open tournaments, but I needed the experience with the PBA in order to win,” Gomez said. “It was going to take time.”

Gomez, who joined England’s Stuart Williams and Dom Barrett, and Scott Newell of Deland, Fla., on the current season’s first-time winners list, joined in the PBA in 2005. He bowled full-time for one season but then left touring life for three years before returning for the 2009-10 season. During the 2010 PBA World Series, he made his first PBA television appearance, finishing second in the Pepsi Viper Championship. Later in the season, he finished fourth in the PBA Tournament of Champions.

Winning the Salvino Classic title “means everything to me,” he said. “Since I was 8 years old, I watched tapes of Mike Aulby, Walter Ray (Williams Jr.), (Norm) Duke, Pete Weber…and then I’d go practice for six hours (at a four-lane bowling center in a Bogota country club managed by his father). To be able to come here and bowl with these same guys, most of whom are still bowling, means the world to me.”

Gomez came out firing, winning the first “eliminator” round with a 253 game. Malott posted a 250, Australia’s Jason Belmonte was third with a 247 and Ronnie Russell of Marion, Ind., was “low man out” with a 215 game.

As the lane conditions changed in round two, Malott rose to the top with a 227. Gomez struggled to a 189, but Belmonte ran into split problems, exiting the finals after a 162 game.

Gomez put his recently-found experience to good use in the title game, changing to a more aggressive ball and moving farther left on the lane. After converting a 10 pin for a spare in the first frame, he ran off a string of six strikes to build a 31-pin lead that Malott couldn’t overcome.

With his victory, Gomez became the first Colombian to win a PBA Tour title and he became the sixth international winner in seven PBA World Series of Bowling events. Although he has lived in Florida for nearly 15 years, where he attended Central Florida University and obtained a degree in business administration, Gomez remains the pride of his homeland.

“The international dominance at the World Series is tough to explain,” he said. “I don’t think anyone expected it. You saw great players like Duke and Weber and Sean Rash and (Chris) Barnes make TV shows. These guys are very, very good. But what happened in title matches is really hard to explain.

“I guess right now I’m just glad I’m Colombian, and not American. Maybe I would have lost.”

PBA World Series of Bowling telecasts on ESPN conclude with the Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship finals on Sunday, April 8, at 1 p.m. ET. Finalists are Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla.; Australia’s Jason Belmonte; Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, and Mike DeVaney of Murrieta, Calif.

Duke, who has won two titles during the 2011-12 season, will be trying for his 37th career PBA Tour title which would break a tie with Pete Weber and put him alone in third place on the all-time PBA titles list. Belmonte, a leading candidate for 2011-12 PBA Player of the Year honors, is trying for his third title of the season. Scroggins, an eight-time PBA Tour winner, is trying for his first title in two years. DeVaney is seeking his third career title and first since the 2009 PBA World Series of Bowling.

A free pre-finals preview will be webcast on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online bowling channel, beginning Wednesday afternoon and a post-event recap show will air on Xtra Frame immediately following the ESPN telecast. To subscribe, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

CARMEN SALVINO CLASSIC

South Point Exhibition Hall, Las Vegas, April 1

Round One (lowest score eliminated): Andres Gomez, Colombia, 253; Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 250; Jason Belmonte, Australia, 247; Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 215 ($4,000).

Round Two (lowest score eliminated): Malott 227, Gomez 189, Belmonte 162 ($4,500).

Championship: Gomez ($15,000) def. Malott ($7,500), 246-207.

Fagan leads the average and earnings lists. His 228.52 average for 163 games leads Rash (224.18) by more than four pins per game. Belmonte (223.92) is right behind Rash.

On the strength of his $50,000 first prize in the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters and runner-up finish in the U.S. Open, Fagan has banked $97,170 thus far, more than $10,000 ahead of Belmonte ($86,675). Weber is third with $82,460.

PBA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE GENERATES 178 NEW, RENEWED MEMBERS

The PBA’s new membership drive, unveiled in February to encourage new members to experience PBA competition, former members to return to the fold, young bowlers to expand their skills and allow bowlers from around the world to experience the benefits of PBA membership has added 178 new and renewed members to the organization’s membership roles.

The program introduced a low-cost PBA24 membership specifically designed for players ages 19-24, and an International membership granting specific PBA benefits, including the ability to win PBA Tour titles, to international players who bowl in PBA-WBT events.

For past members, the PBA offered a no-penalty renewal program through March 31. Reinstatement and/or initiation fees are being waived for those who restore full and standard memberships – a savings of $99 – and an amnesty program will waive up to three months of dues owed for 2010 and/or 2011. Players who rejoin by March 31 who have ever won a PBA Tour, Regional or Senior title also will be eligible to enter the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions.

To take advantage of the membership program, visit pba.com and click on the “Join PBA” link.

KOIVUNIEMI RETAINS WORLD BOWLING TOUR POINTS LEAD

Defending World Tenpin Bowling Association World Bowling Tour men’s champion Mika Koivuniemi retained his lead in the combined 2011-12 WBT points standings with his third-place finish in the Brunswick Euro Challenge in suburban Paris on March 25, but winner Mike Fagan advanced into second place, within 31 points of the lead, with the 50 points he earned.

Fellow PBA Tour star Chris Barnes is third on the composite two-year points list, 25 points ahead of Sean Rash. Two-handers Osku Palermaa of Finland and Jason Belmonte of Australia rank fifth and sixth, respectively. Points are awarded to the top 50 finishers in every World Bowling Tour-designated tournament. At the conclusion of the 2012 WBT series, the top three men and top three women will bowl for $20,000 first prizes each in the WBT Finals presented by the PBA, which will be held as part of the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling in Las Vegas.

On the women’s side, the top four players are all past or present PBA members – and all are former PBA Women’s Series champions. The points leader is 2011 WBT women’s champion Carolyn Dorin-Ballard followed by Liz Johnson, Missy Parkin and Kelly Kulick. Dorin-Ballard earned 50 points in the Euro Challenge, Johnson 30 and Parkin 14.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP: FUREY, CARLSON EARN TOC ELIGIBILITY WITH REGIONAL WINS

John Furey of East Windsor, N.J., defeated Noel Vega of Forest Hills, N.Y., 227-207, to win the PBA East Region Mount Greylock Open presented by Storm at Mount Greylock Bowl in North Adams, Mass., on Sunday, March 25. The win was Furey’s first PBA Regional title, which makes him eligible to enter the PBA Tournament of Champions. He also earned $2,500.

In Fayetteville, N.C., Frank Gallo Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., defeated Jeff Bellinger of Columbia, S.C., 236-181, to win the PBA South Region Fayetteville Senior Open at LaFayette Lanes Sunday. The win was Gallo’s second in PBA Regional competition and earned him a $1,600 prize.

Dave Axon of Bellevue, Neb., and Joel Carlson of Omaha each won one-day titles in joint PBA Midwest/Central Senior Regional action at Milan Lanes in Milan, Ill. Axon won Saturday’s Senior Chameleon Open, defeating Dale Traber of Cedarburg, Wis., 176-165, for the $1,000 top prize. Carlson won Sunday’s Senior Viper Open companion event, topping Chuck Schuette of Bettendorf, Iowa, 230-171, for $1,200 along with his first PBA Senior Regional title. By virtue of his win, Carlson also became eligible to enter the PBA Tournament of Champions April 8-15 at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas.

In addition to the Xtra Frame Tour Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer in Indianapolis, the weekend schedule includes the joint Midwest/Central Region Liberty Lanes Senior Open presented by Allstate Insurance in Carpentersville, Ill.; and the Northwest Region Pawn Brokers Cheetah Open and Pawn Brokers Senior Open at Bowl Arena in Fort Lewis, Wash.

Over the April 6-8 weekend, South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas will host the PBA West Region’s Member/Non –Member Doubles plus a West Region Non-Champions event. The PBA Southwest returns to action with a non-champions’ Del-Mar Lanes Etonic Challenge in Houston, Texas.

For complete PBA Regional schedules and entry information, visit pba.com, click on “Regional Tour” under the Schedules tab, and click on the link to the region of interest. For Teen Masters information, visit teenmastersbowling.com.

QUICK NOTES:

● Three memorable PBA Tour championships will air on ESPN Classic in April. The 68th U.S. Open, featuring Norm Duke’s dramatic win over Mika Koivuniemi, airs Friday, April 2 at 11:30 p.m. ET. The 2012 Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters won by Mike Fagan airs Friday, April 23, at 11 p.m. ET, and the 2011 Lumber Liquidators Dick Weber PBA Playoffs won by Dick Allen airs Friday, April 30, at 11 p.m. ET.

● The new Bridgestone Tire television commercial featuring PBA Tour champion Kelly Kulick is now airing. Watch for it…

● A memorial service for the late LaVerne Carter, who died on March 8, has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 25, at West Orlando Baptist Church in Ocoee, Fla. The service will be conducted during a travel day between the PBA Senior Sun Bowl presented by Storm in The Villages, Fla., and the start of the PBA Don Carter Memorial Open presented by Ebonite at Carter Family Bowl in Winter Garden, Fla.

Duke’s third victory of the 2010-11 season also put him into the thick of the PBA Player of the Year race with only the PBA Tournament of Champions remaining on the schedule. The TOC will be conducted April 9-15 at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas.

Duke put on a stunning performance Sunday, including his 836-766 victory over Bohn, a 32-time PBA Tour title and a fellow PBA Hall of Famer.

“If you would have told me this morning I would shoot 800 in the title match, I’d have said I was going to win the title,” Duke said, “but I wouldn’t have believed it.”

Just like he had done in three previous elimination rounds, Duke started his match against Bohn with nine strikes for a 289 game and a 60-pin lead with two games to go. It was too much for Bohn to overcome, even though he answered with games of 279 and 258 for his 766 series. Duke followed his 289 with games of 268 and 279.

“That was a match people are going to remember for awhile,” Bohn said.

Duke, a two-time PBA Player of the Year, will take his bid for a third honorary title into the Tournament of Champions, a tournament he last won in 1994.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve won the TOC, but I’d like to do something about that,” Duke said. “It’s a very, very difficult tournament to win, but I’ve been training hard and I live for the majors. I’m ready.”

Four other contenders in the PBA Player of the Year race – two-time 2011-12 title winners Jason Belmonte of Australia, Osku Palermaa of Finland and Mike Fagan of Dallas along with five-time U.S. Open champion Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo. – were eliminated earlier Sunday.

Duke’s march to the title match began in the Regional Championships round when he struck on 17 of his first 19 shots, racing away from Michael Haugen Jr. of Carefree, Ariz., to win the Southwest Region championship, 792-616.

In the Conference Championship round he defeated Bryon Smith of Roseburg, Ore., 751-657, and he advanced to the championship match with a 789 series in the semifinal round. Bohn won the second spot in the title match with a 632 series, edging Sweden’s Martin Larsen by 14 pins.

With his 37 career title, Duke broke a tie with Pete Weber for third on the PBA Tour titles list. Walter Ray Williams Jr. is the all-time leader with 47 titles and the late Earl Anthony is second with 43.

The PBA playoffs involved six groups of PBA Tour, Senior Tour and regional players bowling a series of elimination rounds. Champions from six Regional groups advanced through Regional and Conference Championship rounds leading up to the semifinals and championship rounds. All rounds of the final Xtra Frame Tour event of the season were webcast live on the PBA’s exclusive online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.

DICK WEBER PBA PLAYOFFS PRESENTED BY HAMMER
Woodland Bowl, Indianapolis, Sunday

CHAMPIONSHIP (three games)
Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla. ($20,000) def. Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J. ($10,000), 836-766.

SEMIFINAL ROUND (three games, top 2 of 3 advance to championship match)
1, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla. 789.
2, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 632.
3, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 618 ($5,000).

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (three games, players eliminated earned $2,500):

Eastern Conference Championship (winner advanced to semifinal round)
Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., def. Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 734-657.

Midwestern Conference Championship (winner advanced to semifinal round)
Martin Larsen, Sweden, def. Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 725-655.

Western Conference Championship (winner advanced to semifinal round)
Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., def. Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 751-657.

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (three games, players eliminated earned $1,700):

East Region (winner advanced to Eastern Conference Championship)
Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., def. Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 642-630.

South Region (winner advanced to Eastern Conference Championship)
Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., def. Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 697-690.

Central Region (winner advanced to Midwest Conference Championship)
Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, def. Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 624-575.

Midwest Region (winner advanced to Midwest Conference Championship)
Martin Larsen, Sweden, def. Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 748-669.

Southwest Region (winner advanced to Western Conference Championship)
Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., def. Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 792-616.

West/Northwest Region (winner advanced to Western Conference Championship)
Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., def. Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 750-694.

ROUND FOUR (after five games; players eliminated earned $1,400):

East Region (top 2 of 4 advanced to Regional Championships)
1, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,174.
2, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,156.
Did not advance:
3, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 1,130.
4, Rick Graham, Lancaster, Pa., 1,082.

South Region (top 2 of 4 advanced to Regional Championships)
1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 1,241.
2, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,150.
Did not advance:
3, Dom Barrett, England, 1,141.
4, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 1,101.

Central Region (top 2 of 4 advanced to Regional Championships)
1, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,239.
2, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 1,032.
Did not advance:
3, Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO, 1,029.
4, Jeff Zaffino, Warren, Pa., 1,019.

Midwest Region (top 2 of 4 advanced to Regional Championships)
1, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 1,214.
2, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 1,179.
Did not advance:
3, Mike Fagan, Dallas, Texas, 1,167.
4, Kevin Andes, Wichita, Kan., 1,009.

Southwest Region (top 2 of 4 advanced to Regional Championships)
1, Michael Haugen Jr, Carefree, Ariz., 1,236.
2, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 1,230.
Did not advance:
3, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1,140.
4, Mike Bailey, Frisco, Texas, 1,122.

West/Northwest Region (top 2 of 3 advanced to Regional Championships)
1, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,275.
2, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 1,249.
Did not advance:
3, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,084.

ROUND THREE (after five games; all players who failed to advance earned $1,200):

East Region (top 4 of 8 advanced to Round Four)
1, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,213.
2, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 1,191.
3, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,190.
4, Rick Graham, Lancaster, Pa., 1,179.
Did not advance:
5, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 1,138.
6, Jason Stadtler, Cherry Hill, N.J., 1,076.
7, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 1,070.
8, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 1,001.

South Region (top 4 of 8 advanced to Round Four)
1, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,249.
2, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 1,208.
3, Dom Barrett, England, 1,204.
4, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 1,187.
Did not advance:
5, Dan MacLelland, Saginaw, Mich., 1,145.
6, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,136.
7, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,129.
8, Christopher McSwain, Kings Mountain, N.C., 1,045.

Central Region (top 4 of 8 advanced to Round Four)
1, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 1,219.
2, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,210.
3, Jeff Zaffino, Warren, Pa., 1,186.
4, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 1,137.
Did not advance:
5, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 1,081.
6, Carleton Chambers, Detroit, 1,067.
7, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 1,052.
8, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 900.

Midwest Region (top 4 of 8 advanced to Round Four)
1, Mike Fagan, Dallas, Texas, 1,229.
2, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 1,197.
3, Kevin Andes, Wichita, Kan., 1,178.
4, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 1,170.
Did not advance:
5, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 1,149.
6, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,128.
7, Walter Ray Williams Jr, Ocala, Fla., 1,097.
8, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 1,032.

Southwest Region (top 4 of 8 advanced to Round Four)
1, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1,222.
2, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 1,201.
3, Michael Haugen Jr, Carefree, Ariz., 1,185.
4, Mike Bailey, Frisco, Texas, 1,159.
Did not advance:
5, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 1,124.
6, Rick Lawrence, Waxahachie, Texas, 1,078.
7, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,028.
8, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 983.

West/Northwest Region (top 3 of 6 advanced to Round Four)
1, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 1,117.
2, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,105.
3, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,074.
Did not advance:
4, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 1,063.
5, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,044.
6, Stuart Williams, England, 1,031.

The seventh of eight PBA World Series of Bowling finals will air Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Also this weekend, the PBA Tour’s competition points leaders will join the best players from the PBA’s seven regional programs and the 2011 PBA Senior Tour points list for the Xtra Frame Tour Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis. The PBA Playoffs will be covered live, exclusively by PBA’s online bowling channel, Xtra Frame, including all qualifying and elimination rounds Saturday and Sunday.

Gomez, a 38-year-old veteran of four seasons of PBA Tour competition, earned top qualifier honors for the Carmen Salvino Classic by averaging 249.44 over 16 games at South Point Bowling Center. He will face 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas; non-titlist Ronnie Russell of Marion, Ind., and Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte, who has already won two World Series of Bowling titles, in the four-player “eliminator” format finals.

Gomez, who now lives in the Miami area, came closest to victory during the 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling when he finished second in the Pepsi Viper Championship, losing to Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., 237-203, in the title match.

Malott won his seventh career PBA Tour title, and first in three years, when he teamed with Norm Duke to win the Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship earlier in the World Series. In the process of winning, Malott helped deny Russell his first PBA Tour title for the fourth time. Russell and Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., were top qualifiers in the doubles championship, but lost to Malott and PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., 193-167.

Belmonte, now a three-time PBA Tour winner, has already won the 2012 Chameleon Open and GEICO Shark Open titles.

Sunday’s ESPN eliminator-format finals will feature three one-game rounds. All four players bowl the opening game, with the lowest-scoring player after each game being eliminated. In the two rounds to follow, the same “low man out” format applies.

In the Salvino title match, the two surviving players will bowl for $15,000 and a PBA Tour title. Gomez and Russell also have a chance to earn a berth in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions if either wins (Belmonte and Malott have already qualified for the Round of 36 as title winners).

Malott and Russell will try for a second American title in World Series competition while Gomez and Belmonte will try to improve the international players’ domination in the World Series to six titles in seven events.

In the Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer, the winner (if he hasn’t previously won a title during the 2011-12 season), also will earn a TOC Round of 36 berth along with $20,000 and a PBA Tour title. Dick Allen of Columbia, S.C., is defending champion.

A Carmen Salvino Classic pre-event show will be webcast at no cost on pba.com’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel starting Wednesday, with a follow-up post-game show immediately following Sunday’s ESPN telecast. To subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo. The monthly subscription rate is $7.99; a full-year subscription is $64.99.

2012 XTRA FRAME DICK WEBER PBA PLAYOFFS PRESENTED BY HAMMER
Woodland Bowl, Indianapolis, March 30-April 1 (all times Eastern)

Friday, March 30
11 a.m. – A Squad (East, South, Central Region Groups) practice session
2 p.m. – B Squad (Midwest, Southwest, West/Northwest Groups) practice session
6 and 8:30 p.m. – Pro-am squads

Saturday, March 31
8 a.m. – Round One A Squad (East, South and Central Region groups of 25), 7 qualifying games
1 p.m. – Round One B Squad (Midwest, Southwest and West/Northwest groups of 25), 7 qualifying games
   Top 9 players from each of six Regional Groups plus one Regional points leader, one Senior Tour points leader and one PBA Tour points leader per group advance to Round Two
6 p.m. – Round Two (six Regional Groups, 12 players each), 5 games
   Top 7 players per Regional Group plus one PBA Tour points leader per group advance

Sunday, April 1
9 a.m. – Round Three (six Regional Groups, 8 players each), 5 games
   Top 4 players per Regional Group advance
Noon – Round Four (six Regional Groups, 4 players each), 5 games
   Top 2 players per Regional Group advance
3:30 p.m. – Regional Championships (two survivors from each Regional Group), 3 games, total pinfall
   Winner of each Regional Championship advances
5 p.m. – Conference Championships (East Region champion vs. South Region champion, Central Region champion vs. Midwest Region champion, Southwest Region champion vs. West/Northwest Region champion), 3 games, total pinfall
   Three winners advance to Semifinal Match
6:30 p.m. – Semifinal Match, three players, 3 games, total pinfall
   Two players with highest pinfall totals advance to Championship Match
8 p.m. – Championship, 3 games, total pinfall (if tied, match will be decided in one-ball sudden-death roll-off).

The 31-year-old 10-year PBA Tour veteran started the title match with nine strikes before losing his bid for a perfect game when he left a 10 pin on his first shot in the 10th frame.

The title was the second of seven PBA Tour titles that will be awarded at international events under a new alliance with the World Tenpin Bowling Association. The Brunswick Euro Challenge included a field of 399 competitors – 318 men and 81 women – from 35 countries.

Fagan, who won the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels United States Bowling Congress Masters in January and finished second in the U.S. Open in February, earned 15,000 Euros (US$19,998) along with his fourth career PBA Tour title. Fagan also earned a European Bowling Tour title. He previously had qualified for the PBA Tournament of Champions Round of 36 based on his USBC Masters victory.

Fagan advanced to the title match by eliminating Finnish native Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, Mich., 222-199, in the semifinal match.

With his victory, Fagan joins Australia’s Jason Belmonte, Finland’s Osku Palermaa and Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., as the fourth PBA Tour two-time winners for the 2011-12 season. There are four titles yet to be decided in the 2011-12 PBA Player of the Year race, including the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions.

PBA Tour competition resumes in the United States Saturday and Sunday with the Xtra Frame Tour Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis. All qualifying and elimination rounds in the PBA Playoffs will be webcast live, exclusively on the PBA’s online bowling channel, Xtra Frame. For subscription information, visit pba.com.

BRUNSWICK EURO  CHALLENGE
Plaza Saint Maximin, Saint Maximin, France, March 25

Final Standings:
1, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 501 (2 games), $19,998.
2, Joonas Jehkinen, Finland, 193 (1 game), $9,994.
3, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 199 (1 game), $6,663.

Stepladder Results:
Semifinal Match: Fagan def. Koivuniemi, 222-199.
Championship: Fagan def. Jehkinen, 279-193.

Final Match Play Standings (after 13 games, including match play bonus pins, each non-finalist earned $2,665):
1, Jehkinen, 5-2, 3,201.
2, Koivuniemi, 4-3, 3,119.
3, Fagan, 4-3, 3,094.
4, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3-4, 3,072.
5, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 2-5, 3,058.
6, Stuart Williams, England, 4-3, 3,010.
7, Dennis Eklund, Sweden, 4-3, 2,979.
8, John Wells, England, 2-5, 2,893.

Round Two Cashers (after 6 games, each earned $1,998) :
9, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,345, $1,998.
10, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 1,344, $1,998.
11, Adrian Ang, Malaysia, 1,336, $1,998.
12, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 1,330, $1,998.
13, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,308, $1,998.
14, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 1,293, $1,998.
15 (tie), Dominic Barrett, England, and Martin Larsen, Sweden, 1,288, $1,998.
17, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, 1,281, $1,998.
18, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,268, $1,998.
19, Anders Lousdal, Denmark, 1,241, $1,998.
20, Mike Quarry, England, 1,237, $1,998.
21, Michael Holzapfel, Germany, 1,224, $1,998.
22, Jesper Agerbo, Denmark, 1,223, $1,998.
23, Raymond Teece, England, 1,219, $1,998.
24, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 1,218, $1,998.
25, Birgit Pöppler, Germany, 1,214, $1,998.
26, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,202, $1,998.
27, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 1,192, $1,998.
28, Mathias Sarmadi, France, 1,126, $1,998.

Other PBA Tour Cashers (each earned $1,332):
37, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y.
40, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan.
44, Parker Bohn III, Freehold, N.J.
47, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela.
52, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill.

A large contingent of PBA Tour players are bowling in Paris. Mid-way through a 25-round qualifying system, 2011 USBC Masters champion Tom Hess was the early leader followed by Dino Castillo, Sean Rash and Tom Smallwood. Others among the leaders were Josh Blanchard, Liz Johnson, Dan MacLelland, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Parker Bohn III, Del Ballard Jr., Mike Fagan, Ildemaro Ruiz, Jake Peters, Chris Loschetter, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Nathan Bohr and Stuart Williams. A number of other PBA Tour players had yet to bowl qualifying, including Chris Barnes, who won the inaugural WTBA International Open on Wednesday, and Finland’s Osku Palermaa who won his third PBA Tour title in the Kuwait International Open on Monday.

Barnes defeated top qualifier Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., 245-188, Wednesday to win the International Open. The new WTBA World Bowling Tour event, which began with qualifying in Las Vegas in late January, concluded with a three-player stepladder final conducted as part of the Brunswick Euro Challenge. Because it began before the WTBA-PBA agreement went into effect, no PBA Tour title was awarded for the Inteernational Open.

Barnes earned $20,000 along with his title. Johnson, who received six handicap pins per game under WTBA rules for women who compete in otherwise all-male events, earned $10,000. Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., earned $8,000 after losing the opening match to Barnes, 267-231.

Palermaa won the Kuwait title when he defeated Smallwood, 267-232 and 268-226, in the title match. Because Smallwood was the top qualifier in Kuwait, Palermaa had to beat him twice for the victory.

Women bowling in the Brunswick Euro Challenge receive six “handicap” pins per game, a common practice in international competition where women bowl alongside men. Women who receive “bonus” pins are not eligible to win the PBA Tour title.

XTRA FRAME, YOUTUBE PROVIDE PREVIEW COVERAGE OF PBA DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP

The PBA, Xtra Frame and the PBA’s YouTube Channel are offering fans a unique opportunity to prepare for Sunday’s ESPN finals of the Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship.

First, fans can watch the Turbo Selection Show where the top 16 players from the WSOB Elite Players Championship are drafted to form doubles teams for the event, and see interviews with the newly formed teams. Then, the extended eight-team stepladder begins with matches only seen on Xtra Frame and the PBA YouTube Channel.

To view the Turbo Selection Show and preliminary matches on YouTube.com, enter “Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles” in the search box.

Will Sean Rash get his first PBA World Series of Bowling title after making every show to this point? Will the international team of Gomez/Larsen continue the WSOB streak of international champions? Will Duke or Weber add to their growing number of historically significant titles? Stay tuned.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP: WARREN WINS FIRST REGIONAL “ANIMAL PATTERN” TITLE

Chris Warren of Grants Pass, Ore., defeated top qualifier Bryon Smith of Roseburg, Ore., 246-223, to win the PBA’s inaugural Regional animal pattern championship, the Northwest Region DV8 Chameleon Open at Caveman Bowl in Grants Pass on Sunday.

The win was Warren’s a record seventh of the season in the PBA Northwest Region and the 34th Regional title of his career. He also earned $2,000 and a paid entry into the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling.

The DV8 Chameleon Open also included a Teen Masters qualifier. Makayla Douglas of Sandy, Ore., 17, qualified in the girls’ high school division with a score of 1,565 for 8 games. In the boys’ high school division, Ethen Johnson of Grants Pass, Ore., set the pace with a score of 1,425 for the 8 games. Both qualified for the Teen Masters national finals July 8-12 in Cleveland, Ohio.

In Hubbard, Ohio, Rhino Page of Dade City, Fla., defeated Ryan Ciminelli of Buffalo, N.Y., 257-234, to win the PBA Central/East Region Panera Bread Hubbard Open presented by Trumbull County Tourism Bureau & DV8 at Bell-Wick Bowl Sunday. The title was Page’s first of the year in the PBA Central Region and his third career PBA Regional title. He collected $2,600 as champion.

Sammy Ventura of Syracuse, N.Y., boosted his chances of earning PBA East Region Senior Player of the Year honors by defeating Dennis Erion of Binghamton, N.Y., 176-165, to win the PBA East Region Rossi Lanes Storm Senior Open at Rossi Lanes in Elmira, N.Y., on Sunday. Ventura earned $2,000 and became the first bowler to win two East Region senior titles this season.

Also Sunday, PBA Hall of Famer George Pappas of Charlotte, N.C., won his second senior regional title in a row, defeating Steve Lickliter of Beckley, W.Va., 224-178, to win the PBA South Region Franklin Senior Open at Franklin Bowling Center in Franklin, Va. The win was the 25th in Pappas’ career in regional competition. He earned $1,500.

PBA Regional activity over the March 23-25 weekend includes the Midwest/Central Region’s Milan Lanes Senior Viper Open presented by Allstate Insurance in Milan, Ill.; the South Region hosts the Fayetteville (N.C.) Senior Open at Fayetteville Lanes, and the East Region will conduct the Mount Greylock Open presented by Storm at Mount Greylock Bowl in North Adams, Mass.

The next Regional Animal Pattern Championships will be the Northwest Region Pawn Brokers Cheetah Open at Bowl Arena in Ft. Lewis, Wash., March 30-April 1, and the PBA East Region Rockaway Lanes Chameleon Open in Rockaway, N.J., April 27-29.

For complete PBA Regional schedules and entry information, visit pba.com, click on “Regional Tour” under the Schedules tab, and click on the link to the region of interest. For Teen Masters information, visit teenmastersbowling.com.

QUICK NOTES:

● Clermont, Fla., residents Jason Couch, Norm Duke and Randy Pedersen were honored at the monthly South Lake Chamber of Commerce breakfast recently. The three PBA Hall of Famers also participated in a panel discussion, answering questions for members of the Clermont area business community.

● Albert (Al) Gates, the brother of PBA Hall of Fame employee Rainy Stitzlien and a long-time PBA employee himself in Akron, Ohio, died March 11 in Orlando, Fla. He was 85. PBA competitors in the mid 1970s knew Gates as one of the hard-working volunteers during Tournament of Champions week where he worked the gate with Chuck Clemens during all the squads. Gates’ granddaughter Kat is one of the participants on this season’s cast on “Survivor” on CBS-TV. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at Billow Fairlawn Chapel in Fairlawn, Ohio.

● Who has been the PBA’s most active competitor over the past 12 months? PBA Senior Tour player Kenny Parks of Hammond, Ind., has bowled in 35 PBA Tour, Regional, Senior Regional and Senior Tour events. That’s three more than fellow Senior Tour competitor Dale Traber of Cedarburg, Wis.; and PBA Tour exempt players Tom Hess of Urbandale, Iowa, and Nathan Bohr of Wichita, Kan., who have each entered 32 PBA events.

The finals will be televised Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Russell, as the leading qualifier for the PBA Elite Players Championship, had first choice of partners in a special doubles championship draft involving the top 16 qualifiers for the event. The Turbo Doubles Selection Show is being webcast free on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel and on YouTube. Qualifying was based on 12 games bowled in the Carmen Salvino Classic and another 18 games in the PBA Elite Players Championship.

Russell immediately selected Rash as his partner after Rash dominated the PBA World Series of Bowling by making five consecutive television finals. As the top-qualifying team, Russell and Rash will each bowl five frames in the Baker format title contest against whichever powerhouse team survives the preliminary matches.

Russell and Rash’s opposition will come from a group including Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte, who has already won two World Series of Bowling titles, and his partner, five-time U.S. Open champion Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo.; 2009 U.S. Open winner Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., and 2011 USBC Masters champ Mike Fagan of Dallas; rising international stars Andres Gomez of Colombia and Martin Larsen of Sweden, or 35-time PBA Tour titlist Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., and 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas.

Belmonte and Weber emerged from a preliminary bowl-down round, which is airing exclusively on Xtra Frame, defeating Jason Couch and Mike DeVaney, 242-224, and Dan MacLelland and Ryan Ciminelli, 245-219, to reach to the ESPN finals. They will meet O’Neill and Fagan in Sunday’s opening match. The winner of that match will bowl Gomez and Larsen. That winner takes on Duke and Malott to decide the pairing for the title match.

The Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship is named in honor of two of the PBA’s most celebrated champions, and a tandem that won the PBA Doubles Championship three times in 13 tries and finished in the top five three additional times. Roth and Holman will be in the crowd for the finals.

The winning team members will earn PBA Tour titles and, if not already qualified, earn a berth in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions. Belmonte, Fagan, Weber and Duke have already clinched TOC Round of 36 berths as 2011-12 title winners.

Going into the PBA Doubles Championship finals, international players have swept all five previous World Series of Bowling titles, not including the WTBA World Bowling Tour men’s title won by native Finlander Mika Koivuniemi. Belmonte, Gomez and Larsen hope to keep the international trend alive.

A post-game show will be webcast on Xtra Frame immediately following Sunday’s ESPN telecast. To subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

The fourth and final event on the PBA’s inaugural Xtra Frame Tour will be webcast from start to finish, live on the PBA’s online bowling channel. Dick Allen of Columbia, S.C., is the defending champion.

Introduced in the spring of 2011, the Dick Weber PBA Playoffs involves the top 97 players on 2011-12 PBA Regional points lists representing the East, South, Central, Midwest, Southwest and combined West/Northwest Regions. The regional players will be joined by 66 PBA Tour players based on the current season’s national competition points list and the top 11 players from the 2011 PBA Senior Tour points list.

The points leader in each of the PBA’s seven regions, the top five Senior Tour players and PBA Tour players ranked 7-12 in points will bypass Saturday’s qualifying round, and will be seeded directly into the first elimination round Saturday night. PBA Tour players ranked 1-6 will also bypass qualifying, and receive a second “bye” for Round Two.

The top 12 PBA Tour players in points order are Jason Belmonte, Australia; Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill.; Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo.; Mike Fagan, Dallas; Osku Palermaa, Finland; Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas; Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y.; Dom Barrett, England; Stuart Williams, England; Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz.; Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., and Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela.

The 11 seeded PBA Senior Tour players in points order are Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska; Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla.; Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Township, Mich.; Tom Baker, King, N.C.; Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas; Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind.; Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis.; Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio; Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla.; Mike Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, and Kent Wagner, Bradenton, Fla.

The seven PBA Regional points leaders are Rick Graham, Lancaster, Pa., East Region; Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., South Region; Mason Brantley, Detroit; Central Region; Jason Wojnar, Chicago, Midwest Region; Chris Hibbitts, Fort Worth, Texas, Southwest Region; Ben Laughlin, Phoenix, West Region, and Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., Northwest Region.

Here’s how the 2012 PBA Playoffs will work:

● On Saturday, six Regional groups of 25 players each will bowl seven qualifying games in Round One. Nine from each group, plus three players who have earned byes, will advance to Round Two at 6 p.m. The top seven from Round Two plus the top-seeded PBA Tour players, advance to Sunday’s Round Three.

● On Sunday, four of eight will advance from Round Three and two of four will move on from Round Four to the Regional Championships round.

● Rounds Two, Three and Four will be five-game, total pinfall elimination rounds. The Regional and Conference Championships, semifinal and championship matches, will be three-game, total pinfall contests.

● At 3:30 p.m., two survivors per group will meet in the Regional Championship round. The six winners advance to the Conference Championships at 5 p.m. The Conference Championship pairings will be East vs. South, Central vs. Midwest, and Southwest vs. West/Northwest.

● The three Conference Champions will meet in the semifinal round at 6:30 p.m. with the top two players advancing to the championship match at 8 p.m.

● The winner will receive $20,000, a PBA Tour title and a berth in the Round of 36 for the PBA Tournament of Champions April 8-15 at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas.

The PBA has mailed invitations to all eligible players. As of March 15, entries will be open to alternate players to fill any vacancies.

The PBA Xtra Frame Tour was created as an extension of the traditional PBA Tour and included the Cheetah Open presented by Ebonite at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley, Calif., in January (won by Eugene McCune of Munster, Ind.); the Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 at Sequoia Bowl in Columbus, Ohio, in February (won by Scott Newell of Deland, Fla.), and the Detroit Open presented by Track at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., in mid-March (won by Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla.)

Between the traditional PBA Tour and PBA Xtra Frame Tour events, Xtra Frame has provided its subscribers with more than 250 hours of exclusive online video-streaming programming during the season. The introduction of the exclusive events has resulted in 25 percent growth in online viewership.

Xtra Frame is a subscription-based service. The monthly subscription rate is $7.99; a full-year subscription costs $64.99. To subscribe, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

2012 XTRA FRAME DICK WEBER PBA PLAYOFFS PRESENTED BY HAMMER SCHEDULE
Woodland Bowl, Indianapolis, March 30-April 1 (all times Eastern)

Friday, March 30
11 a.m. – A Squad (East, South, Central Region Groups) practice session
2 p.m. – B Squad (Midwest, Southwest, West/Northwest Groups) practice session
6 and 8:30 p.m. – Pro-am squads

Saturday, March 31
8 a.m. – Round One A Squad (East, South and Central Region groups of 25), 7 qualifying games
11 a.m. – Round One B squad (Midwest, Southwest and West/Northwest groups of 25), 7 qualifying games
  Top 9 players from each of six Regional Groups plus one Regional points leader, one Senior Tour points leader and one PBA Tour points leader per group advance to Round Two
6 p.m. – Round Two (six Regional Groups, 12 players each), 5 games
  Top 7 players per Regional Group plus one PBA Tour points leader per group advance

Sunday, April 1
9 a.m. – Round Three (six Regional Groups, 8 players each), 5 games
  Top 4 players per Regional Group advance
Noon – Round Four (six Regional Groups, 4 players each), 5 games
  Top 2 players per Regional Group advance
3:30 p.m. – Regional Championships (two survivors from each Regional Group), 3 games, total pinfall
  Winner of each Regional Championship advances
5 p.m. – Conference Championships (East Region champion vs. South Region champion, Central Region champion vs. Midwest Region champion, Southwest Region champion vs. West/Northwest Region champion), 3 games, total pinfall
  Three winners advance to Semifinal Match
6:30 p.m. – Semifinal Match, three players, 3 games, total pinfall
  Two players with highest pinfall totals advance to Championship Match
8 p.m. – Championship, 3 games, total pinfall (if tied, match will be decided in one-ball sudden-death roll-off).

Two of the most visible highlights for Weber were a “Professional Bowling Highlights” segment by David Letterman in his “Late Show with David Letterman” monologue on March 1, and a special Sports Report on the “Stephen Colbert Report” on Comedy Central. “Chelsea Lately” and “The Soup” on the E! Network also ran clips. A column written by Jim Litke for Associated Press distribution resulted in coverage in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Sports Illustrated.com and dozens of other major newspapers, television stations and websites.

The five-time U.S. Open champion also sat down for a lengthy interview on the “Dan LeBatard is Highly Questionable” show on ESPN2, and the number of viewers who had watched the full post-game celebration on the PBA’s YouTube segment was approaching 600,000, but a number of other YouTube posts pushed that total significantly higher.

Other media highlights include Barnes’ appearance on ESPN’s Week’s Top 10 Plays following his 300 game in the GEICO Shark Open telecast. Not to be overlooked was a New York Times front sports page feature on 14-year-old Kamron Doyle’s performance as the youngest casher in U.S. Open history. Doyle also was featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd.”

XTRA FRAME TOUR HEADS TO MOTOR CITY FOR DETROIT OPEN PRESENTED BY TRACK

Don’t forget: the PBA Xtra Frame Tour Detroit Open presented by Track is set for is set for live online coverage Saturday and Sunday from Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., and the final Xtra Frame Tour event of the season, the Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer, is set for March 31-April 1 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis.

PBA fans can watch both live events for the monthly rate of $7.99. Visit pba.com (or xtraframe.tv) and sign up. The annual subscription price is $64.99.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP: AMATEUR TOPS WALTER RAY WILLIAMS JR. TO WIN IN PENSACOLA

Amateur Kristopher Prather of Milton, Fla., defeated the most successful bowler in Professional Bowlers Association history, 47-time PBA Tour champion Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., 268-258, to win the PBA South Region Pensacola Open at New Liberty Lanes in Pensacola, Fla., Sunday, March 4.

The victory was Prather’s first in PBA regional competition, but because he is an amateur, he doesn’t receive credit for a PBA title. The Wichita (Kan.) State University bowling team member earned $4,000 while Williams earned $2,100 as the runner-up in a field of 99 competitors.

In Muscatine, Iowa, Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., nipped Mike Steil of Wheeling, Ill., 248-247, to win the PBA Midwest/Central Region Plamor Lanes Open presented by Brunswick on Sunday, March 4. The title was Rash’s first of the year and the fifth PBA Regional title of his career. He also earned $2,500.

Bailey Palmer from Ottumwa, Iowa, was the first girl to earn a berth in the Teen Masters national finals, set for July in Cleveland, as part of a new Teen Masters qualifying program being held in conjunction with selected PBA Regional tournaments. Palmer had an eight-game total of 1,263 pins.

Zachery Fries from Davenport, Iowa, and Trevor Yanda from Waverly, Iowa, with score of 1,550 and 1,543, respectively, earned Teen Masters entries in the High School Boys’ division. Scores were recorded on the PBA’s Dick Weber lane conditioning pattern.

In Duncan, Okla., Casey Powell from Ennis, Texas., returned to PBA competition after a two-year absence due to work commitments and defeated PBA Tour champion Mike Edwards of Tulsa, Okla., 203-174, to win the inaugural PBA Southwest Region Duncan Etonic Open at Freedom Lanes Sunday. Powell eliminated reigning Southwest Region Bowler of the Year Chris Hibbitts II from Fort Worth, Texas, 181-179, to reach the title match while Edwards advanced thanks to a 212-193 win over Clint Dacy, Fort Worth, Texas, in their semifinal round match.

Kyle McKnight of Altus, Okla., won the first Southwest Region Teen Masters Boys High School Division qualifier with an eight-game total of 1,486 pins.

PBA Regional activity heats up over the next two weeks. Over the March 16-18 weekend, the PBA Central and East Regions will combine for the second annual Hubbard Open presented by DV8 at Bell Wick Bowl in Hubbard, Ohio; the West and Northwest Regions will host the DV8 Chameleon Open at Caveman Bowl in Grants Pass, Ore.; the South Region hosts the Franklin Senior Open presented by Track at Franklin Bowling Center in Franklin, Va.; and the East Region will conduct the Rossi Lanes/Storm Senior Open in Elmira, N.Y.

The March 23-25 weekend schedule includes the Midwest/Central Region’s Milan Lanes Senior Viper Open presented by Allstate Insurance in Milan, Ill.; the South Region hosts the Fayetteville (N.C.) Senior Open at Fayetteville Lanes, and the East Region will conduct the Mount Greylock Open presented by Storm at Mount Greylock Bowl in North Adams, Mass.

For complete PBA Regional schedules and entry information, visit pba.com, click on “Regional Tour” under the Schedules tab, and click on the link to the region of interest. For Teen Masters information, visit teenmastersbowling.com.

QUICK NOTES:

American PBA stars have turned the tables on their European counterparts after the international contingent’s dominant performance in the 2011 PBA World Series of Bowling. After the first three events on the 2012 European Bowling Tour calendar, Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., is the EBT points leader, 30 points ahead of Mike Fagan of Dallas. Mika Koivuniemi, now a dual citizen of the United States and Finland, is third. PBA Hall of Famer Brian Voss is fifth on the points list after victories in the Irish Open and, most recently, the Wroclaw Open in Wroclaw, Poland. Voss defeated Latvia’s Daniel Vezis for the title in Poland.

Sterner had a 2,194 nine-game pinfall with games of 214, 276, 259, 238, 258, 167, 269, 223 and 290 to lead the 24 players who advanced to Sunday’s head-to-head match play. Finishing second after qualifying was one-time Tour titlist Dave Wodka of Henderson, Nev., with a 2,183 pinfall, followed by rookie Josh Blanchard of Gilbert, Ariz., in third with 2,171.

Sterner’s best finish since competing on Tour in 2006 was seventh in the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Masters. His best finish this season was 12th in the Viper Open.

“My goal is to try and figure out what it takes to get to the next level,” said Sterner. “I’ve really been committed to making changes to my game, practicing five hours a day, five days a week.

“It’s just been a lot of concentration on my mechanics, specifically my arm swing and trying to free it up so that I can repeat shot after shot. Hopefully it’s starting to pay off.”

Leading Michigan bowlers were 2009 PBA World Championship winner Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, in a tie for fourth with Brian Himmler of Cincinnati with 2,143. Troy Stus, a two-time PBA Regional winner of South Lyon, is in sixth with 2,138.

Other players from Michigan making the top 24 were Jeffrey Roche of Dearborn, who rolled a 300 in his last game of qualifying to jump from 35th to 11th. Reigning PBA Player of the Year and Finland native Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, finished qualifying in a tie for 14th with three-time Tour winner Rhino Page of Dade City, Fla.; Justin O’Hara of Westland finished 16th, and Corey Miller of Grand Blanc tied for 17th with three-time Tour titlist Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa.

Detroit bowling fans showed their support of the event as evidenced by overflow crowds at Thunderbowl Lanes. The PBA Tour is making its first appearance here since the World Series of Bowling was conducted at Thunderbowl Lanes in the fall of 2009.

Sunday’s match play round begins at 9 a.m. ET and will determine the top four players who will advance to the stepladder finals which will get underway at 6 p.m. Sunday’s match play and stepladder finals will be streamed live on pba.com’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame.

PBA DETROIT OPEN PRESENTED BY TRACK 
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., Saturday

QUALIFYING RESULTS 

After 9 games. Top 24 advance to Sunday’s match play round.

1, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 2,194.
2, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 2,183.
3, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 2,171.
4 (tie), Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, and Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 2,143.
6, Troy Stus, South Lyon, Mich., 2,138.
7, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 2,126.
8, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 2,124.
9 (tie), Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., and Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 2,119.
11, Jeffrey Roche, Dearborn, Mich., 2,092.
12, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 2,090.
13, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 2,089.
14 (tie), Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, and Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 2,088.
16, Justin O’Hara, Westland, Mich., 2,066.
17 (tie), Corey Miller, Grand Blanc, Mich, and Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 2,064.
19, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 2,062.
20, Mike Williams II, Montgomery, Ala, 2,056.
21, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 2,055.
22, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 2,046.
23, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 2,045.
24, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 2,042.

Did not advance to match play
25, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 2,040, $900.
26, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 2,035, $890.
27, Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, 2,032, $880.
28, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 2,029, $870.
29, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 2,028, $860.
30 (tie), Steven Arehart, Chesapeake, Va., 2,025, and Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 2,025, $845.
32, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,024, $830.
33, Christopher Colosimo, Elkhorn, Wis, 2,022, $820.
34, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 2,020, $810.
35, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 2,018, $800.
36, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 2,016, $790.
37, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,999, $780.
38, Steve Rogers, Manteno, Ill., 1,996, $770.
39, Mark Gunthorpe, Mendon, Mich., 1,990, $760.
40 (tie), Gerald Marrs, Huntley, Ill., 1,989, and Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,989, $745.
42, Jeff Hicks, Allen Park, Mich, 1,987, $730.
43, Darren Alexander, Canada, 1,986, $720.
44, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 1,982, $710.
45, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 1,979, $700.
46, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 1,976, $700.
47, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 1,968, $700.
48 (tie), Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., and Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,967.
50, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,961.
51, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 1,958.
52, John Kelley, Sterling Hts., Mich., 1,957.
53, Ryan Mitter, St. Clair Shores, Mich., 1,956.
54, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,951.
55 (tie), Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.Va., and Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,948.
57, D.J. Archer, Port Arthur, Texas, 1,945.
58, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,939.
59, Abed Daher, Dearborn, Mich., 1,937.
60, Michael Chism, Redford, Mich., 1,935.
61 (tie), Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Conn Casey, Canada, 1,932.
63 (tie), Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., and Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 1,929.
65, Chris Kliczinski, Pinckney, Mich, 1,920.
66, Elliot Arnold, Wayne, Mich., 1,919.
67, Mason Brantley, Detroit, 1,918.
68, Bob Learn Jr., Macomb, Mich., 1,917.
69, Jason Lundquist, Groveport, Ohio, 1,916.
70, BJ Satkowski, Jackson, Mich, 1,910.
71, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,909.
72, Matthew Thornton, Montgomery, Ill., 1,908.
73, Daniel Ott, Marinette, Wis., 1,905.
74, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 1,903.
75, James Koss, Brighton, Mich., 1,901.
76, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 1,899.
77 (tie), Dan MacLelland, Canada, and Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 1,896.
79, Alan Pittman, Clarkston, Mich., 1,894.
80, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,887.
81, Mitchell Jabczenski, Novi, Mich., 1,882.
82 (tie), Carleton Chambers, Detroit, and Scott Timko, Center Line, Mich., 1,879.
84, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,878.
85, George Branham III, Indianapolis, 1,874.
86, Ryan VanHecke, Sterling Heights, Mich., 1,863.
87, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 1,851.
88, Michael Calhoun, Wyandotte, Mich., 1,840.
89, Mark Arnold, Wayne, Mich., 1,835.
90, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,829.
91, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Ecorse, Mich., 1,828.
92, Dave Bernhardt, Romeo, Mich., 1,826.
93, Matthew Curtis, Waverly, Tenn., 1,825.
94, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,821.
95 (tie), William Daniels, St. Clair Shores, Mich., 1,817, and Brian Makan, Akron, Ohio, 1,817.
97, Jason Dooley, Paw Paw, Mich., 1,814.
98, Paul Benedict, Wyandotte, Mich., 1,808.
99, Marcus Spigner, Belleville, Mich., 1,806.
100, Mark Milasinovich, Macomb, Mich., 1,799.
101, Kevin Kullman, Tinley Park, Ill, 1,797.
102, Rick Zakrajsek, Lorain, Ohio, 1,796.
103, Tyler Wilds, Three Rivers, Mich., 1,780.
104, Jeffrey Edwards, Sterling Heights, Mich., 1,778.
105 (tie) , Claudio Lopez, Berkley, Mich., and Conor Krause, Howell, Mich., 1,774.
107, Lonnie Jones, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1,769.
108, Shane DuFresne, Ortonville, Mich., 1,766.
109, Ryan Hughes, Howell, Mich., 1,763.
110, Scott Jones, Livonia, Mich., 1,762.
111 (tie), Ed Campbell, Berkley, Mich., and Philip Medley, Sterling Hts., Mich., 1,758.
113, Kenny Rogers, Redford Twp., Mich., 1,746.
114 (tie), Tommy Gollick, Oberlin, Pa., and Glenn Pilon, Farmington Hills, Mich., 1,742.
116, Patrick Kennedy, Chicago, 1,739.
117, George Juszczyk Jr., Dearborn Heights, Mich., 1,730.
118, Earon Vollmar, Toledo, Ohio, 1,729.
119, Joseph Clay, Taylor, Mich., 1,717.
120, Brian Crater, Hudson, Mich., 1,709.
121, Robert Weaver, Saginaw, Mich., 1,702.
122, Jeremiah Bryant, Romulus, Mich., 1,701.
123, Christopher Wiszowaty, Flushing, Mich., 1,693.
124, Thomas McEwen Jr., Holly, Mich., 1,688.
125, Deric Morris, Warner Robins, Ga., 1,682.
126, Brian Dimuzio, Eastpointe, Mich., 1,677.
127, Chris Ashworth, Gallatin, Tenn., 1,673.
128, Brad McNally, Freeland, Mich., 1,668.
129, Paul Farley, Sterling Heights, Mich., 1,650.
130, Kenny Skidmore, Indianapolis, 1,647.
131 (tie), Richard Barton Jr., Detroit, and Phillip Vallar, Southgate, Mich., 1,646.
133, James Sullivan, Michigan Center, Mich., 1,642.
134, Ed Cutter, Manassas Park, Va., 1,639.
135, Garrett Thierry, Taylor, Mich., 1,616.
136, Jonathan Russell, Rockwood, Tenn., 1,609.
137, Jason Stoops, Farmington Hills, Mich., 1,599.
138, Freddie Pope, West Winfield, N.Y., 1,572.
139, Stephen Owens, Fairfax, Va., 1,555.
140, Kevin Mack, Chesterfield, Mich., 1,535.
141, Nate Harris, Detroit, 1,491.
142, Ambrose Steffey Sr., Southgate, Mich., 1,463.

300 games – Dave Wodka, Scott Newell, Jeremiah Bryant, Chris Kliczinski, Jeff Roche

ALLEN PARK, Mich. –  PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke won the PBA Detroit Open presented by Track Sunday for his first win of the 2011-12 season and the 35^th of his career.

Duke, of Clermont, Fla., defeated reigning PBA Player of the Year and No. 1 seed Finland native Mika Koivuniemi, 266-217, in the championship match at Thunderbowl Lanes to win the $10,000 first prize pushing his career earnings over the $3 million mark.  Koivuniemi, who now makes his home in Hartland, Mich. was trying for his 10th career title.

Duke joins fellow Hall of Famers Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Pete Weber as the only players to earn more than $3 million and his 35 wins also moved him into fourth on the all-time career list for titles won.

Williams is PBA’s all-time career titles leader with 47 followed by Earl Anthony with 43 and Weber with 36. Williams also holds the all-time career earnings mark with $4.35 million followed by Weber with $3.52 million.

“At this point in my career I feel just blessed to be able to compete,” said the 47-year-old Duke. “It’s just so hard to win out here that at this point in my career I’m just blessed — that’s all I can say. I’m jealous of what the young guys can do so it makes it all the more special.”

Duke, the No. 2 seed, soundly defeated 2009 PBA World Championship winner Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Mich., in the semifinal match, 288-178, to advance to the championship match. Duke attributed his success to reducing the amount of practice he took before each match.

“Usually, everyone wants as much practice as they can get but for me that’s not always the case,” Duke said. “Sometimes you need the practice but other times you have to know when to get out of there.

“The guys with the big rev rates will just burn up the lane and I didn’t want to add to that. Fortunately, I was able to play outside on the lane where I like to play. I had to make a one-board adjustment in the first game but even in the championship match I had to make a three and a half board adjustment.”

In the opening stepladder match, Smallwood, who was trying for his second career title, defeated three-time Tour titlist Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., 245-214, to advance to the semifinal against Duke.

The Detroit Open was the third PBA Tour event streamed live exclusively on pba.com’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel. The next stop for the PBA Tour will be the Dick Weber Playoffs from Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis March 30-April 1 which will also be streamed live on Xtra Frame.

PBA DETROIT OPEN PRESENTED BY TRACK

Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., Sunday

FINAL STANDINGS:

1, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., two games, 554 pins, $10,000.

2, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, one game, 217 pins, $5,000.

3, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., two games, 423 pins, $3,200.

4, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., one game, 214 pins, $2,500.

PLAYOFF RESULTS:

Match One – Smallwood def. O’Neill, 245-214.

Semifinal match – Duke def. Smallwood, 288-178.

Championship match – Duke def. Koivuniemi, 266-217.

MATCH PLAY RESULTS

After 22 games, including match play records and total pinfall including bonus pins. Top four advanced to stepladder finals.

1, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 10-3, 5,629.
2, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 11-2, 5,598.
3, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 10-3, 5,499.
4, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 9-4, 5,484.
5, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 7-6, 5,373, $2,300.
6, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 5-7-1, 5,372, $2,000.
7, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 10-3, 5,299, $1,900.
8, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 6-6-1, 5,296, $1,800.
9, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 7-6, 5,264, $1,750.
10, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 8-5, 5,241, $1,700.
11, Jeffrey Roche, Dearborn, Mich., 6-7, 5,227, $1,750.
12, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 5-8, 5,209, $1,600.
13, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 4-9, 5,201, $1,550.
14, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 7-6, 5,200, $1,500.
15, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 4-9, 5,195, $1,450.
16, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 7-6, 5,147, $1,400.
17, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 8-5, 5,121, $1,350.
18, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 5-8, 5,117, $1,300.
19, Corey Miller, Grand Blanc, Mich., 6-7, 5,067, $1,275.
20, Troy Stus, South Lyon, Mich., 5-8, 5,023, $1,250.
21, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 4-9, 5,015, $1,225.
22, Mike Williams II, Montgomery, Ala., 4-9, 4,956, $1,200.
23, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 5-8, 4,940, $1,275.
24, Justin O’Hara, Westland, Mich., 2-11, 4,613, $1,150.

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – LaVerne Carter, the first wife of the late Professional Bowlers Association superstar Don Carter, died Thursday night of heart failure. She was 86.

The former LaVerne Thompson, who achieved stardom on her own in the formation years of professional women’s bowling, was a member of the United States Bowling Congress (1977) and Professional Women’s Bowling Association (1995) Halls of Fame. She earned the nickname “the Blonde Bombshell” for her colorful, high-kicking showmanship on the lanes.

Carter, who was born in Brentwood, Mo., developed her bowling talents as a teenager in Tucson, Ariz., and moved to Los Angeles in 1946 at age 21 where her popularity grew quickly because of her beauty and colorful antics on the lanes. She conducted a “Bowl with LaVerne” instructional program which was hosted by nearly 200 bowling centers across the nation over a span of seven years.

She proved her talents were more than showmanship in 1951 when she won the Women’s International Bowling Congress all-events title and finished second in singles. In 1974, her 716 series – the second highest in WIBC Championships history at the time – led her Kalicak International Construction team to the WIBC title.

In 1958, Carter teamed with Marion Ladewig to win the BPAA National Doubles title, and a year later they successfully defended their crown. But her crowning achievements came in 1964 when she won the BPAA Women’s All Star title and the PWBA Golden State Classic (one of her two PWBA titles) on her way to earning Woman Bowler of the Year honors.

She married Don Carter in 1953 and she had two children, son Jim (born in 1954 with Don) and daughter Cayce (born in 1950 with first husband Bill Haverly, a Los Angeles police investigator). And she became the “first lady” of the PBA when her husband played a pivotal role in the formation of the PBA in 1958 and was elected the organization’s first president. She and Don divorced in 1964, and LaVerne moved to Las Vegas where she lived until she moved to Florida to be closer to her children in 2005. Don Carter died on Jan. 6 in Miami at age 85.

A long-time member of the Brunswick Pro Staff, LaVerne Carter, like her former husband, was a charter member of the original Professional Women’s Bowling Association which was an outgrowth of the Chicago 700 Club and formally organized under the leadership of Georgia Veatch in 1960. In 1960, she also helped promote the sport by doing an exhibition tour for Ebonite in Japan.

LaVerne Carter’s impact on women’s bowling, however, was noted by author Andrew Hurley in his book, “Bowling Alleys.” He noted that women were fighting for their place in the sport in an era when bowling was considered a man’s sport. “Nothing was more threatening to men than the presence of the likes of LaVerne Haverly…and the way she has thrown pin-fans across the country into a tantrum.”

One of her most celebrated moments was a Chicago exhibition match against Ace Caulder, a noted Chicago bowler who proclaimed to the news media and fans, “No blonde or brunette or even a red-head is gonna beat a man of my stature; it’s still a man’s world.” LaVerne proceeded to beat him in six of seven one-game matches.

LaVerne Carter is survived by son Jim (Nancy) of Winter Garden, Fla.; daughter Cayce Carter of Winter Garden, Fla.; three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Services are pending.

In the Professional Bowlers Association’s first live event after the 69th U.S. Open, PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber will be looking to make it two in a row when the PBA Xtra Frame Tour visits Thunderbowl Lanes Friday through Sunday for the Detroit Open presented by Track.

The Xtra Frame Tour is a new series of four PBA Tour events which feature exclusive start-to-finish coverage on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel this season. Xtra Frame’s world-wide coverage of the third of four Xtra Frame events begins with the nine-game qualifying round, including two sessions at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 10. Coverage continues on Sunday when the top 24 players begin round-robin match play at 9 a.m. Following a second match play round at 1:30 p.m., the top four will bowl for the $10,000 first prize and a berth in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions in the stepladder finals at 6 p.m.

To subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit xtraframe.tv or pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo. Monthly subscriptions are available for $7.99 and full-year subscriptions cost $64.99.

Weber, who recently won a record fifth PBA U.S. Open title, will be among the field of approximately 100 players who will compete in the season’s third of four Xtra Frame Tour events.

Weber defeated United States Bowling Congress Masters winner Mike Fagan, 215-214, in the dramatic title match on Feb. 26 at Brunswick Zone-Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J., surpassing his father Dick Weber and Don Carter who had won the prestigious tournament four times.

The Detroit Open will also be a homecoming for two of the Tour’s top players – reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi and 2009 PBA World Championship winner Tom Smallwood.

Koivuniemi, a native of Finland, had a stellar 2010-11 season in which he who won the $250,000 first prize in the $1 million PBA Tournament of Champions, finished second in the 2011 U.S. Open, third in the Bayer USBC Masters and sixth in the PBA World Championship. He finished the season with $330,040 – the third-highest total in PBA Tour history. The 44-year-old right-hander was also the PBA Player of the Year in 2003-04.

Koivuniemi, who now lives in Hartland, Mich., and Venezuela’s Amleto Monacelli (1989 and 1990) are the only international players who have won PBA Player of the Year honors.

Smallwood, of Saginaw, gained nationwide media attention when he won the 2009 PBA World Championship for his first Tour title by defeating 2008-09 Player of the Year Wes Malott, 244-228, in the championship match. Having recently been laid off from his job at General Motors he decided it was time to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional bowler.

Another player hoping to make a breakthrough in the Detroit Open will be Windsor, Ontario, native and former Saginaw Valley State University collegiate star Dan MacLelland who hopes to become the first Canadian player to win a PBA Tour title.

When the PBA Tour last visited the Detroit area, it was for the five-week-long PBA World Series of Bowling in August 2009 which was also conducted at Thunderbowl.

For admission and pro-am entry information contact Thunderbowl at (313) 928-4688.

PBA Xtra Frame Tour Detroit Open presented by Track schedule

Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich. (all times Eastern)

FRIDAY, MARCH 9

Noon – A squad practice
2 p.m. - B Squad Practice
6 and 8 p.m. - Pro-am squads
SATURDAY, MARCH 10
9 a.m. - A Squad (9 qualifying games)
4 p.m. - B Squad (9 qualifying games)

Top 24 advance to match play on Sunday
SUNDAY, MARCH 11
9 a.m. – Top 24, 6 games round-robin match play
1:30 p.m. – Top 24, 7 games round-robin match play

Top four advance to stepladder finals

6 p.m. – Top four stepladder finals

After his perfect effort in the semifinal round, Barnes lost in the GEICO Shark Open title to Australia’s Jason Belmonte, 244-213, in a match that extended the international dominance in the PBA World Series of Bowling to five consecutive titles. The finals, conducted at South Point Casino and Hotel, aired Sunday on ESPN.

The title was Belmonte’s second in the World Series and the third of his PBA career.

The GEICO Shark Open, the fourth and final PBA “animal pattern” championships contested during the third annual PBA World Series of Bowling, almost got the best of Belmonte, who had struggled in the opening game of three previous elimination-format finals.

In the opening game of the “low man out” Shark finals, Barnes, who led the Shark field in qualifying, posted a 234. Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., making his fifth straight final, was next with a 205. Belmonte, with a double in the ninth and 10th frames, finished with a 190 to advance when Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, Mich., failed to double on his first shot in the 10th, leaving a 2-10 split which he failed to convert for a 172 game.

In game two, Barnes was untouchable on his way to winning a $10,000 perfect game bonus. Belmonte continued to search for strikes, but Rash left splits in the first, third, fifth and seventh frames. Despite converting three of the four, he couldn’t throw two strikes in a row and Belmonte survived their battle for the second berth in the title match, 215-182.

In the title match, Belmonte almost turned the tables on Barnes, finding his line to the pocket and running off a string of seven strikes to start the game. Barnes started with three strikes, but he then lost his carry. Barnes’ 7-10 split on a soft pocket hit in the seventh frame gave the two-handed Australian power player a 51-pin lead. Despite an open frame by Belmonte in his seventh, Barnes was too far behind to make up the difference.

“I would have liked to have thrown the 300 one game later, but I’ll still take it,” Barnes said. “I can’t blame the last game on a bad start. I got out of the gate okay. But Belmo made a ball change, and moved farther inside. My ball started (hooking) a little quicker.

“The killer shot for me was in the seventh frame. I made the hand position change I thought I needed to make, but all of a sudden my ball was hitting flat like everyone else who has bowled against Belmo, and I left that 7-10. I was pretty much dead at that point. He forced the action, which is what great bowlers do. That’s what happens in one-game matches.”

“When someone has just shot 300, you know the next game isn’t going to be low,” Belmonte said. “It probably won’t be 300, but you know it’s going to be good. As long as guys don’t shoot 300 at me in the title match and there’s still a way for me to get the win, they can bowl as many 300s as they want.”

Belmonte, who ended a three-year title drought by winning the Chameleon Open earlier in the World Series, said confidence was the key to getting back into the winner’s circle.

“My physical game is as sharp as it’s ever been,” he said. “If I do everything correct, the ball does the work for me. In the past, I was worried about what the ball was going to do rather than just making the shot and letting the ball do the work.

“When I’m bowling in normal competition, I’m always confident and I’m always ready to bowl strikes. But when you put me into the TV arena, my psyche changes and I can feel myself bowling differently,” he continued. “Today I felt like me. I felt great. I knew exactly where the ball was going. That’s how I was able to get out of that nervous frame of mind.”

Belmonte was at a loss to explain why the United States’ top stars had not yet won a World Series title, although he wasn’t totally surprised.

“In my opinion, the U.S. has by far the best bowlers in the world, but the world is catching up and I think the World Series of Bowling is proving it,” he said. “Stu Williams (England), Dom Barrett (England), Osku (Palermaa, Finland), Martin Larsen (Sweden), Andres Gomez (Colombia), Ildemaro Ruiz (Venezuela)…there are so many international players who have now gone past the amateur level.

“It has taken us time for us to learn the tricks of the trade, and to understand the lifestyle (on the PBA Tour) and how to deal with it. But we’re at the point where we can come out here and be successful.

“In the past, (the international players) haven’t really come to the U.S. a lot and the Americans haven’t come to us, but now the PBA Tour and the World Bowling Tour are causing that to happen. It’s a cool thing.”

PBA World Series of Bowling competition continues on ESPN on Sunday, March 25, at 2:30 p.m. ET with the Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship. Teams in the finals will include Belmonte bowling with PBA Hall of Famer and newly-crowned U.S. Open champion Pete Weber of St. Anne, Mo.; Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., with 2012 USBC Masters winner Mike Fagan of Dallas; international teammates Gomez and Larsen; PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., with Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, and top qualifiers Ronnie Russell of Marion, Ind., with Rash.

In the interim, PBA players will head to Detroit for the third Xtra Frame Tour event, the Detroit Open presented by Track, March 9-11 at Thunderbowl Lanes in suburban Allen Park. First prize will be $10,000 and a berth in the Round of 36 for the season-ending PBA Tournament of Champions. All qualifying and match play rounds of the Detroit Open Saturday and Sunday will be webcast live, exclusively on the PBA’s online bowling channel, Xtra Frame. To subscribe, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

PBA GEICO SHARK OPEN

South Point Exhibition Hall, Las Vegas

Round One (lowest score eliminated): Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 234; Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 205; Jason Belmonte, Australia, 190; Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 172 ($4,000).

Round Two (lowest score eliminated): Barnes 300, Belmonte 215, Rash 182 ($4,500).

Championship: Belmonte ($15,000) def. Barnes ($7,500), 243-213.

There was 14 year-old Kamron Doyle becoming the youngest player to ever make the cashers round. If you remember a few years back, Kamron first made bowling news by becoming the youngest player to ever cash in a PBA regional tournament. This young man has a maturity many his age don’t possess, and talent beyond his age. While he deserves all the credit in the world for what he did this past week, one could argue that Andrew Koff’s finishing within a missed spare of making the match play rounds of the Open at the age of 16 just a few years ago might be just as impressive. Both young men should inspire other young bowlers to pursue their dreams and put the effort behind developing their games for the highest levels of our sport.

The second big story during the qualifying rounds was Missy Parkin becoming the first woman to make the top 24 of this prestigious event. This wasn’t much of a surprise to me, however. Missy is no stranger to holding her own against the men on the PBA Tour. You may remember she was part of the 900 Global team during the Summer Series this past year. You may (or may not) know that she was actually this first woman to win a PBA regional event, doing this prior to Kelly Kulick’s Tournament of Champions victory. Missy deserves all the credit in the world though, as she was competing in arguably the most greuling event on tour.

The greatest part of this year’s Open? Easily Sunday’s TV finals. The finals of any U.S. Open are bound to be exciting, but when you add a little PDW to the mix, excitement goes to a whole other level! Pete Weber not only fought his way through to make it to the TV finals, he had to win from the 4th seed. His title match against Mike Fagan was an instant classic. Fagan is arguably the hottest bowler on the planet, but PDW put on a display that only further cemented his place on bowling’s version of Mount Rushmore. Whether or not you are a fan of PDW’s antics (I AM!), you simply can’t deny he is on the short list of the greatest bowlers of all time. While Walter Ray and Earl may both be slightly more “accomplished” players, PDW is the greatest in my eyes.

The statistics tell the story of what happened during the 69th U.S. Open at Brunswick Zone-Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J.:

● Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., was the qualifying leader, averaging 223.89 for the first 18 games.

● The entire field of 394 bowlers averaged a composite 185.16, 38.73 pins-per-game behind Shafer.

● The 46 PBA Tour exempt players in the field as a group averaged 204.10.

● The 205 PBA members – national and regional – as a group averaged 190.21.

● The 189 amateurs in the field averaged 179.69.

● 38 of the 46 PBA exempt players in the event cashed (finished among the top 98).

● Two of the eight women in the field (Missy Parkin and Kelly Kulick) cashed.

● Three of the 189 amateurs (Ron Nelson, Bridgeview, Ill.; USBC Team USA member John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., and Junior and Adult Team USA member Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash.) qualified for match play (top 24).

WEBER’S U.S. OPEN VICTORY WILL BE AN “INSTANT CLASSIC” ON ESPN CLASSIC

Pete Weber’s dramatic 215-214 victory over Mike Fagan to win a record fifth U.S. Open title Sunday at Brunswick Zone-Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J. – not to mention his nail-biter come-from-behind wins over Ryan Shafer and Jason Belmonte in his preliminary matches – is an “instant classic.” ESPN Classic will re-air the 69th U.S. Open telecast Monday, March 5, at 11:30 p.m. ET.

Other intriguing PBA Tour events that will re-air on ESPN Classic in the weeks ahead include the 2011 PBA World Championship (won by Chris Barnes) on Monday, March 19, at 11:30 p.m. ET and the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions (won by Mika Koivuniemi) on Monday, March 26, at 11:30 p.m. ET.

CHRIS PAUL ON PETE WEBER; PRESIDENT OBAMA ON CHRIS PAUL

Among the fans who witnessed Pete Weber’s emotional display in the wake of his historic U.S. Open victory was Los Angeles Clippers All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who has gotten to know Weber well during the past three Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational events where Weber has been a participant.

A post-U.S. Open column by Association Press columnist Jim Litke noted, “View the highlights for yourself on YouTube, as well as Weber’s choked-up, post-match tribute to his dad. By midday Tuesday, more than a half-million people already had, including NBA star and bowling aficionado Chris Paul.

“That’s him. I wasn’t expecting anything less,” said Paul, who hosts an annual celebrity pro-am tournament to benefit his CP3 Foundation and has known Weber for years. He saw how competitive Weber can be up close when his team dethroned Paul’s two-time defending champs this year. “He reacts that way because he’s excited,” Paul added, “and because he loves what he does.”

And speaking of Chris Paul: President Barack Obama is a Chris Paul fan. In friendly banter with grantland.com’s Bill Simmons this week, Simmons asked, “Is it true that you blocked the Chris Paul trade because you didn’t want him to go to the Lakers?”

President Obama laughed and said, “I love Chris Paul. He’s a great guy. He’s on my Presidential Fitness Council…”

KOIVUNIEMI, KULICK LEAD WORLD BOWLING TOUR STANDINGS AFTER U.S. OPEN

Mika Koivuniemi’s once overwhelming lead in the WTBA’s World Bowling Tour points list is shrinking, thanks to Mike Fagan’s second-place finish in the U.S. Open on the heels of his victory in the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters – both WBT events. And Kelly Kulick has claimed the lead in the women’s points race.

With his tie-for-34th finish in the U.S. Open, Koivuniemi added four points to his two-year composite total for 312 points. Fagan earned 40 for his runner-up finish, boosting his points total to 277. Third is Chris Barnes with 218 followed by Jason Belmonte at 176, Sean Rash at 170 and Dan MacLelland at 159.

Among the women in the U.S. Open, Kulick added 40 points to bring her total to 207. Missy Parkin, who recorded the highest finish ever by a women in the U.S. Open (21st), earned 50 points to move into second place on the WBT women’s list with 195 points. Liz Johnson, third among women in the U.S. Open, is third with 190 points followed by Carolyn Dorin-Ballard at 186, Sweden’s Sandra Andersson at 151 and Sweden’s Nina Flack at 135.

Next up on the new PBA-WTBA schedule is the 9th Kuwait International Open, March 15-19 at Cozmo Bowling Center, Kuwait City, Kuwait. The Kuwait Open will be the first event in the series to award a PBA Tour title in addition to WBT points.

Following the Kuwait Open is the Brunswick Euro Challenge in St. Maximin, France, March 16-25. The seventh event on the 2012 WBT schedule will be a PBA Tour title event. It also will host the stepladder finals of the WTBA International Open where No. 1 Liz Johnson, No. 2 Chris Barnes and No. 3 Walter Ray Williams Jr. – who qualified in Las Vegas following the Masters – will compete for the title.

NEXT UP FOR XTRA FRAME FANS: DETROIT OPEN PRESENTED BY TRACK

The PBA’s new Xtra Frame Tour, and its growing roster of exclusive programming on Xtra Frame, appears to be building momentum. During the month of February, thanks to exclusive live coverage of the Xtra Frame Tour Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 and the preliminary rounds of the U.S. Open, Xtra Frame added 865 new viewers, building its total audience to nearly 5,000 – its highest total ever.

The subscriber base is expected to continue growing with two exclusive Xtra Frame Tour events on the schedule in March.

The Xtra Frame Tour Detroit Open presented by Track is set for March 9-11 at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., and the final Xtra Frame Tour event of the season, the Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer, is set for March 31-April 1 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis.

PBA fans can watch both events for the monthly rate of $7.99 or they can watch a full year’s worth of PBA tournament action, interviews, product introductions, coaching tips and more for $64.99. To subscribe, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

The Detroit Open presented by Track will offer a $10,000 first prize, a PBA Tour title and an automatic berth in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions. The tournament will pay a total prize fund of $66,000, based on 130 entries. The entry fee is $350 for PBA members or $400 for non-members. To enter, go to pba.com, click on “PBA Tour” under the Schedules drop-down menu and look for PBA Detroit Open.

The nine-game qualifying round will be conducted in two sessions Saturday at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET. The top 24 will advance to round robin match play on Sunday. Following a six-game round at 9 a.m. and a seven-game round at 1:30 p.m., the top four will bowl in the stepladder finals at 6 p.m. All rounds will air live on Xtra Frame.

The Xtra Frame Dick Weber PBA Playoffs will feature 16 players from five PBA Regional programs (East, South, Central, Midwest and Southwest) and 17 from the West/Northwest combined, the top 66 players from the 2011-12 PBA Tour points list and the top 11 PBA Senior Tour players based on their 2011 points list. The field of 174 will bowl elimination rounds within their respective regional groups leading up to Regional, Conference and Championship rounds.

REMINDER: PAST PBA CHAMPIONS HAVE UNTIL APRIL 1 TO REGAIN TOC ELIGIBILITY

Reminder: PBA tournament winners at all levels who have not yet renewed their memberships have until April 1 to re-join and become eligible to bowl in the PBA Tournament of Champions under the recently-announced “no-penalty renewal program.” Reinstatement and/or initiation fees will be waived for those who restore full and standard memberships – a savings of $99 – and an amnesty program will waive up to three months of dues owed for 2010 and/or 2011.

Additional new membership opportunities are available. For complete details, visit pba.com and click on the “Join PBA” link in the upper right-hand corner.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP: FIRST TEEN MASTERS QUALIFIERS SET FOR THIS WEEKEND

The first in a series of Teen Masters qualifying tournaments to be held in conjunction with PBA Regional tournaments will take place this weekend. The Pla Mor Lanes Open presented by Brunswick will take place in Muscatine, Iowa, and the Etonic Open will be hosted by Freedom Lanes, Duncan, Okla., Friday through Sunday.

For entry and additional schedule information visit teenmastersbowling.com. There are four qualifying divisions: boys and girls 14 under, and boys and girls high school. Teen Masters competitors will not bowl on the same lanes with PBA Regional players, but will bowl on adjoining lanes and will compete on the same lane conditions as the regional players. The Teen Masters is scheduled for July 9-12 at Freeway Lanes Wickliffe in Cleveland, Ohio, with the grand finals returning to Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal in New York City Aug. 5-8.

In the final weekend of qualifying for the Xtra Frame Tour Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer, Jeff Zaffino of Warren, Pa., defeated David Williams Jr. of Omaha by 222 pins to win the PBA Central/Midwest Region Eastown Recreation Open presented by Hammer in Jasper, Ind., on Sunday, Feb. 26. Zaffino finished with an 11-1 match play record and 5,104 pins for 20 games, including match play bonus pins, to claim his 16th PBA Regional title and the $2,000 top prize.

Bryan Goebel of Shawnee, Kan., defeated Harry Sullins of Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 256-201, to win the PBA Midwest/Central Region Showtime Lanes Senior Open sponsored by Allstate Insurance at Showtime Lanes in Virden, Ill., Sunday. The Senior Regional title was the first for Goebel, a 10-year PBA Tour titlist who turned 50 in October. He also earned $1,500.

For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

QUICK NOTES:

Four-time PBA Tour titlist and Syracuse, N.Y., bowling legend Marty Piraino died on Feb. 28 after a short illness. He was 88. Piraino, a 5-foot-6 left-hander, won his first PBA title in 1963 when he defeated Dick Weber to win the Coca-Cola PBA Open in Warren, Ohio. He also finished third in the 1971 Firestone Tournament of Champions at age 47.

Piraino is survived by two children, daughter Mary Jean and son Jay. Funeral arrangements are pending at Farone & Son Funeral Home (faroneandson.com), 1500 Park St., Syracuse.

"Marty Piraino was a hero to anyone who grew up bowling in upstate New York,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark, a Syracuse native.”He was a great bowler and, more importantly, the greatest ambassador for the game to young bowlers that I ever knew." (Piraino hosted a youth bowling TV show in Syracuse for many years).

NASCAR star Carl Edwards was among those impressed by Pete Weber’s dramatic win in PBA’s 69th U.S. Open.

Edwards took in the U.S. Open ESPN telecast – which garnered a 25 percent increase in viewership over the 2011 U.S. Open telecast – during Sunday’s rainout of the Daytona 500.

Weber defeated Mike Fagan 215-214 in the title match last Sunday for a record fifth U.S. Open title at Brunswick Zone-Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J., surpassing his father Dick Weber and Don Carter who won the prestigious tournament four times.

"It was inspiring," Edwards told the Boston Globe. "He had to throw a strike, and he did, on his final throw. He won his fifth [U.S. Open] title. Pretty cool.’’

What Weber called “the biggest win of my career” also took the national media and PBA’s electronic communication platforms by storm as well.

Other media hits included extensive follow-up coverage by ESPN including air time on Around the Horn, Pardon the Interruption, SportsCenter (Weber’s win was No. 5 on SportsCenter’s top 10 plays of the week), ESPN News and an upcoming segment on ESPN’s “Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable” show.

Pardon the Interruption co-host Tony Kornheiser got a kick out of Weber’s new catch phrase of “Who do you think you are? I am!” during the telecast after throwing the winning shot.

ESPN Classic will rerun the historic 69th U.S. Open Monday, March 5 at 11:30 p.m. ET.  

In addition to comprehensive coverage by the Newark Star Ledger and New Jersey Press Media newspapers, Associated Press Stories ran in major newspapers across the country including the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsday, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and USA Today.

Video of Weber’s performance was also featured on AOL, CBS, Yahoo, FoxSports, Deadspin and Huffington Post sites among others.

Weber’s reaction after throwing a strike on the final ball to win has attracted more than 500,000 hits on YouTube in less than three days.

Online bowling channel Xtra Frame on pba.com received a 25 percent increase in subscriptions and pba.com traffic nearly doubled its highest traffic in the last six months.

Fagan will be joined in the championship round by Australia’s Jason Belmonte, Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., and four-time winner Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., arguably the most successful U.S. Open competitor in history, who advanced from 13th place to fourth during Saturday’s final two rounds.

The finals air live on ESPN at 3 p.m. Eastern.

Weber, a Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame, 35-time Tour titlist and one of only six to win the PBA Triple Crown of major championships, is the only player to win the modern U.S. Open four times. His late father, Dick Weber, and the late Don Carter, both won the BPAA All Star – the forerunner to the U.S. Open – four times.

Fagan, a 10-year PBA competitor, won his third career title in the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels United States Bowling Congress Masters in late January. He earned the top spot for the finals by overtaking Belmonte and Shafer during Saturday night’s final round of head-to-head match play, finishing with a 16-8 match play record and a 50-game total of 11,343 pins, including 30 bonus pins for each match won.

If he wins the U.S. Open, Fagan will be the first player since Norm Duke to win consecutive majors. In 2008, Duke won the PBA World Championship in February, the U.S. Open in March and a second PBA World Championship in October to become the only player ever to win three majors in a row.

Belmonte, a two-handed player who won his second career PBA Tour title in the PBA Chameleon Open earlier in the season, qualified second with a 14-9-1 match play record and 11,279 pins. He is looking for his first major title.

Shafer, who led the event from the second round until Saturday’s morning match play round, will be trying for his fifth career title and his first major after advancing to the TV finals in a PBA-record 13 previous major championships without a title. Shafer posted an 11-13 record with 11,095 total pins.

Weber, who turns 50 in August, clinched the final spot in the finals with a 14-10 match play record and 11,010 pins, beating Shafer in his final match of the night, 208-164, to top Rhino Page of Dade City, Fla., by 32 pins.

Missy Parkin of Lake Forest, Calif., the first woman ever to qualify for match play in the U.S. Open, finished 21st with a 9-14-1 match play record and 10,449 pins. Defending champion Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., finished 14th.

First prize is $60,000 and includes an automatic berth in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions.

69TH U.S. OPEN
Brunswick Zone-Carolier, North Brunswick, N.J., Saturday

FINAL MATCH PLAY STANDINGS (after 50 games, including match play bonus pins; top four advance to ESPN stepladder finals Sunday at 3 p.m. ET)
1, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 16-8, 11,343.
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 14-9-1, 11,279.
3, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 11-13, 11,095.
4, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 14-10, 11,010.
5, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 15-7-2, 10,978, $7,000.
6, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 16-8, 10,909, $6,000.
7, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 10-14, 10,864, $5,500.
8, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 15-9, 10,837, $5,000.
9, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 11-13, 10,835, $4,500.
10, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 14-10, 10,801, $4,200.
11, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 13-11, 10,777, $4,000.
12, John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 12-12, 10,769, $3,800.
13, Ron Nelson Jr., Bridgeview, Ill., 12-11-1, 10,760, $3,600.
14, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 13-11, 10,758, $3,500.
15, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 11-13, 10,680, $3,500.
16, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 10-14, 10,615, $3,300.
17, Rusty Thomsen, Morgan, N.J., 14-10, 10,566, $3,200.
18, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 12-12, 10,503, $3,100.
19, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 9-15, 10,498, $3,000.
20, P.J. Sonday, Luzerne, Pa., 11-13, 10,469, $2,900.
21, Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., 9-14-1, 10,449, $2,800.
22, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 8-16, 10,396, $2,700.
23, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 7-17, 10,254, $2,650.
24, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 8-15-1, 10,218, $2,600.

Weber, who came into the stepladder finals as the No. 4 qualifier, threw clutch shots in three matches to win, but none was more critical than his strike on his final ball in the title match. Needing at least a nine-count spare and strike to win, Weber threw a perfect pocket shot on his first ball, but left a 10 pin. After converting the spare, he threw an identical shot that carried for a strike.

In winning the title, Weber broke a tie with his late father, Professional Bowlers Association legend Dick Weber, and his father’s close friend, the late Don Carter, who each won the forerunner to the U.S. Open – the BPAA All Star – four times.

“Dad, I know you were watching,” Weber said as he looked up toward heaven after the win. “I know you’re proud, and I’m sorry I broke your record.

“This is my greatest title ever,” Weber said. “To win five U.S. Opens and pass Dick Weber and Don Carter says a lot, but I’ll never say I’m better than them. They paved the way for us to be here. It was an honor and a privilege to join them when I won my fourth U.S. Open, and it’s even more of an honor to be the first one to win five.

“This is the tournament I look forward to ever year,” he added. “I live for the U.S. Open because I know, no matter what, I have a chance to win.”

At age 49 years, 189 days, Weber became the oldest player ever to win the U.S. Open, breaking the record set by 46-year-old Norm Duke last year at Carolier. And he moved into second place on the PBA’s all-time major title-winners list with his ninth title, behind only Earl Anthony’s 10.

“That’s probably the calmest I’ve ever been needing to throw a shot to win,” he added. “Not to toot my own horn, but I think I’m prouder of myself than anyone else. I’ve always wanted to be the one to throw a strike to win.”

In advancing to the title match, Weber threw critical shots in two preliminary matches, coming from behind to defeat Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., 223-191, in the opening match and Australia’s Jason Belmonte, 225-213, in the semifinal contest.

“I threw strikes in the seventh, eighth and ninth in all three games and put pressure on those guys,” Weber said. “The way those guys performed was excellent. My hat’s off to them. They bowled amazing.”

Weber earned $60,000 and an automatic berth in the Round of 36 for the PBA Tournament of Champions in April. Fagan collected $30,500, Belmonte $15,000 and Shafer, who failed to win a title in his 14th television appearance in a major championship, earned $10,000.

The PBA Tour’s next televised event will be the finals of GEICO Shark Open which will air next Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. Finalists will be top qualifier Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas; Jason Belmonte, Australia; Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., and Mike Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich.

69TH U.S. OPEN
Brunswick Zone-Carolier, North Brunswick, N.J., Sunday

FINAL STANDINGS
1, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., three games, 663 pins, $60,000.
2, Mike Fagan, Dallas, one game, 214 pins, $30,500.
3, Jason Belmonte, Australia, one game 213 pins, $15,000.
4, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., one game 191 pins, $10,000.

PLAYOFF RESULTS
Match One – Weber def. Shafer, 223-191.
Match Two – Weber def. Belmonte, 225-213.
Championship – Weber def. Fagan, 215-214.

Not only did he cash, but the 5-foot-5, 105-pound eighth grader picked the most difficult tournament in the sport for his record-setting performance.

Doyle, who cashed in a PBA South Regional event in Canton, Ga., two years ago at age 12 (a record for non-national tour events) when he finished 30th, averaged 202 for his 18 qualifying games in the U.S. Open and advanced to Friday’s cashers round in 54th place out of a field of 394 amateur and professional bowlers from 12 countries.

Doyle will be among the top 98 players who will bowl eight more game Friday to determine the top 24 who will advance to match play rounds Friday evening and Saturday. The top four after 24 round robin match games will bowl in the live ESPN-televised stepladder finals Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern. At stake is a $60,000 first prize, a PBA major title and an automatic berth in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions.

Doyle, who turned 14 on Jan. 13, bowled all three qualifying rounds on the same pair of lanes with PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia of Jackson, N.J., a 14-time PBA Tour champion and one of only six players to ever complete the PBA Triple Crown. Petraglia, who turns 65 on March 3, beat Doyle by seven pins, but he had to out-score the teenager, 219-184, in the final game to do it.

“(Kamron) dumped the last game out of respect,” Petraglia laughed.

“I wasn’t thinking about beating him,” Doyle said matter-of-factly. “I was just trying to beat myself.”

“I have never had a pairing anything like this one, except the other way around,” Petraglia said. “When I bowled my first PBA event in Detroit in 1965, I got to cross with Ray Bluth (a hall of fame and member of the legendary Budweisers team), so this was a nice reversal. I remember in my first tournament, in the first frame, I left the bucket (3-5-6-9). I was so naïve. I knew Bluth, Don Carter and the whole Budweiser team were watching and I figured if I missed that spare, they’d all think I stink. But I made the spare.

“I think (Kamron) is going to be terrific,” Petraglia added. “I remember bowling with (35-time PBA Tour titlist and fellow Triple Crown winner) Pete Weber in a pro-am in St. Louis when he was maybe 15, and I see the same kind of swing, the same fiery attitude, the same attributes Pete had when he was a teenager.

“About the only physical criticism I can make, because he has such a nice natural game, is that Kamron doesn’t look down to see where he’s at when he steps onto the approach. It’s kind of a feel thing with him, but when you’re in an event this difficult, where you stand is magnified so much. He’ll fix that soon. His horizon is high.”

When Doyle was asked if he knew who he was paired with for qualifying, he immediately answered, “Yah, I know who he is. I know all of these guys.”

Doyle said he has been bowling ever since he experienced the game at a birthday party when he was 7. He immediately wanted his own ball and shoes, and said he has practiced an average of 50-60 games a week ever since. “Honest,” he said. “I kinda taught myself. I watched the pros on TV a lot. I got real serious about it when I was about 10.”

Surprisingly, he doesn’t come from a bowling family. His father, Sean Doyle, is a Nashville area orthodontist. Dad may not be a bowler, but Kamron isn’t lacking for mentors.

“Tommy Jones, Bill O’Neill, Chris Barnes, Mika Koivuniemi, Mike Fagan, they impress me the most,” the young Doyle said. “I’ve become good friends with all of them. Tommy Jones actually stayed at our house. He taught me a lot: take your time when you’re bowling bad, he helped with last two steps of my approach, how to stay down and get through the shot, all of that stuff.”

Mentally, he approaches the game like a polished veteran.

“People tell me I have a pretty good mental attitude which keeps me in the game,” he said. “That’s probably why I’m still in the cut. It’s kind of grown with me. I was real bad when I was young. But that’s something people have to learn. If you get mad and frustrated and miss a spare, that costs you 20 pins.”

The right mental approach is especially important in a tournament like the U.S. Open, which is notorious for its difficult scoring conditions.

“This is my first U.S. Open,” Doyle said. “I’ve been wanting to bowl it the last three years. I heard how tough it was from my ball driller, but I didn’t believe him. I do now. You have no idea how tough it is until you do it. It’s brutal. I found out in practice you couldn’t miss by a centimeter. The heads burn up. The ball hooks at your feet. The lanes are snot-tight in back. But the biggest lesson is you have to make your spares.”

After starting the tournament with a 150 game, Doyle has been in plus-200-average territory ever since. While his odds of moving up enough to make the match play finals are remote, he hasn’t thrown in the towel.

“Making the 24 cut would be pretty amazing,” he said. “I’ll have to go huge tomorrow. I’ll have to go 180 over (average more than 220 for eight games), but I can do it if I put my mind to it.”

Whatever money Doyle makes in bowling is deposited into his United States Bowling Congress SMART scholarship account. It was the advent of the SMART scholarship management program by the sport’s National Governing Body seven years ago that allowed bowlers under the age of 18 to compete in professional events without losing their amateur status. To date, Doyle said he has deposited about $22,000 in his SMART account, but he isn’t sure what college he’ll eventually attend, or exactly what he’ll study when the time comes.

“I don’t know what I want to do yet,” he said. “My dad’s an orthodontist, so maybe I’ll follow him. But if I’m good enough I may want to be a professional bowler.”

Shafer, a 25-year PBA Tour veteran who is hoping to end his record streak of 13 television finals in major championships without a title, averaged 233.89 for his 18 games, finishing with 4,030 pins to retain the lead by 10 pins over veteran PBA Regional competitor P.J. Sonday of Luzerne, Pa.

Sonday, whose national tour experience includes five previous U.S. Opens, had 4,020 pins. Sonday has cashed in four U.S. Opens, but has never made it into the match play field. In PBA Regional competition, he won his only title three years ago.

Mike Fagan of Dallas is in third place with 3,923 pins followed by a pair of amateurs - Ron Nelson Jr. of Bridgeview, Ill., at 3,919 and John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., at 3,893. Defending U.S. Open champion Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., made a big move up the leader board Thursday, finishing 11th with 3,818 pins.

Friday morning’s cashers round and the final three rounds of match play Friday night and Saturday will be webcast live on the PBA’s exclusive online bowling channel, Xtra Frame. To subscribe to Xtra Frame, click on the logo on the home page of pba.com.

69TH U.S. OPEN
Brunswick Zone-Carolier, North Brunswick, N.J., Thursday

THIRD ROUND (after 18 games; top 98 advance to Friday’s cashers round)

1, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 4,030.
2, P.J. Sonday, Luzerne, Pa., 4,020.
3, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 3,923.
4, Ron Nelson Jr., Bridgeview, Ill., 3,919.
5, John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 3,893.
6, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3,880.
7, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 3,869.
8, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,850.
9, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 3,825.
10, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 3,824.
11, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3,818.
12, Shannon Buchan, Waterloo, Iowa, 3,817.
13, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 3,808.
14, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 3,792.
15, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,788.
16, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 3,784.
17, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3,782.
18, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,776.
19, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 3,771.
20, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 3,763.
21, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 3,762.
22, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,753.
23 (tie), Storm DeVincent, Westford, Mass., and Osku Palermaa, Finland, 3,749.
25, Dom Barrett, England, 3,747.
26, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,742.
27, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 3,740.
28, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 3,734.
29, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 3,733.
30 (tie), Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., and Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 3,731.
32, Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., 3,721.
33, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 3,717.
34, Kimmo Lehtonen, Finland, 3,710.
35, Jon Van Hees, Charlestown, R.I., 3,708.
36 (tie), Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., and Rusty Thomsen, Morgan, N.J., 3,705.
38, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,694.
39, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 3,681.
40, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,676.
41, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 3,674.
42 (tie), Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., and Adam Chase, Seaford, N.Y., 3,672.
44, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 3,670.
45 (tie), Matthew O’Grady, South Amboy, N.J., and Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 3,665.
47, David Stouffer, Fort Myers, Fla., 3,659.
48 (tie), Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, and Carleton Chambers, Detroit, 3,653.
50, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 3,651.
51 (tie), John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., and Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3,647.
53, Michael Steil, Wheeling, Ill., 3,641.
54, Kamron Doyle, Brentwood, Tenn., 3,640.
55, Stephen Pavlinko, Sewell, N.J., 3,637.
56, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,636.
57, Juhani Tonteri, Finland, 3,629.
58, Daniel Farish, Louisville, Ky., 3,627.
59, William Guszczo, Orland Park, Ill., 3,626.
60, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 3,623.
61, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 3,620.
62 (tie), Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., and Steve Rogers, Manteno, Ill., 3,607.
64, Patrick Girard, Canada, 3,601.
65, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 3,600.
66, Paul Pinto, Philadelphia, 3,597.
67, Stephen Haas, Enola, Pa., 3,596.
68, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3,595.
69, Brandon Tarabek, Cleveland Hts., Ohio, 3,594.
70, Chad Roberts, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, 3,592.
71, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 3,591.
72, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 3,590.
73, Tony Ament, Monroe, N.J., 3,589.
74, Rob Gotterbarn, Garden City South, N.Y., 3,585.
75, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3,584.
76, Matt Taylor, Knightdale, N.C., 3,576.
77, James Wallace, Hicksville, N.Y., 3,575.
78, George Branham III, Indianapolis, 3,574.
79, David Kilts, New York, 3,570.
80, Mike Rose Jr., West Henrietta, N.Y., 3,569.
81, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 3,568.
82 (tie), Jeremy Boyer, Desloge, Mo.; Mike Dole, Chicago, and Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 3,567.
85, T.J. Schmidt, Osceola, Ind., 3,566.
86, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 3,562.
87, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 3,558.
88, Stuart Williams, England, 3,557.
89, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 3,556.
90, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,554.
91, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 3,552.
92, Alex Cavagnaro, Massapequa, N.Y., 3,548.
93, Sean Riccardi, Piscataway, N.J., 3,547.
94, Joe Goldstein Sr., Hayward, Calif., 3,544.
95, Billy Pautz, St. Peter, Minn., 3,538.
96 (tie), Dan Furman, Amsterdam, N.Y., and Kenneth Lane, Rosedale, Md., 3,535.
98, x-John Furey, East Windsor, N.J., 3,534.
x – Wiseman surrendered 98th place to Furey due to an injury.

DID NOT ADVANCE:

99, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 3,534.
100, Sean Rangel, Oskaloosa, Iowa, 3,533.
101, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 3,529.
102 (tie), Fero Williams, Fairfield, Ohio, and Andrew Burke, St. Clair Shores, Mich., 3,527.
104 (tie), Kasey Normandin, Canada, and Eddie Graham, Centerville, Ohio, 3,525.
106, Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 3,524.
107, Paul Bober, Morton Grove, Ill., 3,520.
108 (tie), Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., and Alex Aguiar, N. Dartmouth, Mass., 3,519.
110, Duane Kilts, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 3,514.
111, Dale Coleman, High Springs, Fla., 3,513.
112 (tie), Richard Rathjen Jr., Naples, Fla., and Paul Gibson, Brunswick, Ohio, 3,510.
114, Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.V., 3,508.
115, Tommy Dakouvanos, Belford, N.J., 3,506.
116, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 3,505.
117, David Simard, Canada, 3,504.
118, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 3,503.
119 (tie), Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, and Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,501.
121 (tie), Jason Freeman, Maple Shade, N.J., and Travis Celmer, Wernersville, Pa., 3,500.
123, Jeremy Hunt, Sikeston, Mo., 3,494.
124, James Fielder, Murray, Ky., 3,493.
125, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 3,492.
126, Ken Yokobosky, Fredon, N.J., 3,491.
127, Craig LeMond, Jasper, Ind., 3,489.
128, Robert Mockenhaupt, Rutherford, N.J., 3,488.
129, John Briggs, Warwick, N.Y., 3,482.
130, Frankie Calca, Elmont, N.Y., 3,481.
131, Anthony Colosimo, Pembroke Pines, Fla., 3,480.
132, Lanndyn Carnate, Glendale, Ariz., 3,479.
133 (tie), David Canady, Germany; Manuel Otalora, Colombia, and Wayne Porr, Hamburg, Pa., 3,472.
136, Ernest Lukacs Jr., Manville, N.J., 3,471.
137 (tie), Charles Anderson, Sloatsburg, N.Y., and Jimmy Cook, Indianapolis, 3,470.
139, Drew Balta, Swisher, Iowa, 3,468.
140 (tie), Scott Lavy, Troy, Mo., and Michael Markis, Hawley, Pa., 3,467.
142, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 3,464.
143, Greg Ostrander, Freehold, N.J., 3,460.
144, Marcelo Suartz, Brazil, 3,459.
145, Matt Gasn, Laurel, Md., 3,457.
146, Brad Kemp, Allentown, Pa., 3,455.
147, Chad Reiffer, Kentwood, Mich., 3,441.
148, Clint Dacy, Fort Worth, Texas, 3,438.
149, Jason Stadtler, Cherry Hill, N.J., 3,436.
150, Chris Lawson, Parker, Colo., 3,435.
151 (tie), Alexander Marx, Toms River, N.J., and Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 3,432.
153, Stephen Hardy, Manchester, N.H., 3,427.
154, Fran Luzzi, Port Jervis, N.Y., 3,426.
155, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 3,425.
156, Robert Butler Jr., Staten Island, N.Y., 3,424.
157, Corey Husted, Milwaukie, Ore., 3,422.
158, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,421.
159, Scott Santos, Quakertown, Pa., 3,416.
160 (tie), Jason Baker, Sharon Springs, N.Y., and Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., 3,414.
162, A.J. Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 3,410.
163, Jim Rogers, Brick, N.J., 3,408.
164, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 3,407.
165, B.J. Moore III, Apex, N.C., 3,406.
166, Bryan Paul, Brooklyn, N.Y., 3,405.
167 (tie), Sean Wilson, Hawthorn Woods, Ill., and Vinny D’Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,404.
169, Chris Kramer, Richlandtown, Pa., 3,401.
170, Aaron Williams, Pennsauken, N.J., 3,400.
171, Chad Hastings, Greenwood, Del., 3,397.
172 (tie), Kevin Brophy, Oakhurst, N.J., and Justin Bychkowski, Newtown, Conn., 3,392.
174, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 3,391.
175, Eric Vanderford, Brooklyn, N.Y., 3,387.
176, Sean McAuliffe, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,385.
177 (tie), Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, and Eric Cornog, Cherry Hill, N.J., 3,384.
179 (tie), Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., and Ray Struck, Orland Park, Ill., 3,381.
181, Glenn Smith, New York, 3,380.
182, Austin Boulds, Cereal Springs, Ill., 3,379.
183, Chris Deemer, Hamilton, N.J., 3,377.
184 (tie), Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, and PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 3,374.
186, Gary Faulkner, Memphis, Tenn., 3,373.
187, Russell Wiltsey, Hamilton, N.J., 3,366.
188, Logan Klinge, Dubuque, Iowa, 3,365.
189, Kenny Ryan, Ocean, N.J., 3,361.
190, Frank Guccione, Castle Rock, Colo., 3,346.
191, Ron Dixon, Boynton Beach, Fla., 3,341.
192, Michael Ahlquist, Sweden, 3,334.
193, Stephen Dieter, Bowmanstown, Pa., 3,329.
194, Tim West, Easton, Conn., 3,326.
195, John Brown, Dexter, Mo., 3,325.
196, Tyler Armour, Barre, Vt., 3,324.
197, Billy Bertuch III, Yonkers, N.Y., 3,319.
198 (tie), Wayne Bolin, Lumberton, N.C.; Chris Forry, Bridgeport, Conn., and Michael Fontenot, Hampton, Va., 3,316.
201, Michael Cimba, Monroeville, Pa., 3,314.
202 (tie), Tatu Lehtonen, Finland; Joseph Schuld, Farmingdale, N.J., and Shane Companion, Barre, Vt., 3,313.
205, Chris Thornhill, Salisbury, Md,, 3,310.
206, Michael Favor III, Bayville, N.J., 3,309.
207, Alain Bouchard, Canada, 3,307.
208, Ethan Gray, North East, Md., 3,306.
209, Deric Morris, Warner Robins, Ga., 3,300.
210 (tie), Billy Asbury, Odenton, Md.; Jaime Gonzalez, Colombia, and Ryan Branson, Bordentown, N.J., 3,299.
213, Walter Williams Jr., Lodi, N.J., 3,297.
214, Tim McAuliffe, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,295.
215, Connor Pickford, Charlotte, N.C., 3,294.
216, Todd Klinko, Oil City, Pa., 3,293.
217 (tie), Keith Goldberg, Yonkers, N.Y.; Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., and Christopher Blackmore, Fairfax, Va., 3,288.
220, Ron Hurt, Fairfax, Va., 3,287.
221 (tie), Brian Lake, Warren, Mich., and Anthony Colangelo, Helmetta, N.J., 3,285.
223, Patrick Donohoe Jr., Hampstead, N.H., 3,282.
224, Joshua Berry, Glasgow, Ky., 3,281.
225, David Knight Jr., Folcroft, Pa., 3,280.
226 (tie), Matt Russo, Millstone Township, N.J.; Vincent Balisky, Elmhurst, N.Y., and Adam Monks, Conway, S.C., 3,273.
229, Toney Nelson, North Branford, Conn., 3,272.
230 (tie), Ryan Friend, Staten Island, N.Y., and Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, N.Y., 3,269.
232 (tie), Frankie Mazzella, Staten Island, N.Y., and Mike Hastings, Millsboro, Del., 3,264.
234 (tie), Justin Sloan, Fair Lawn, N.J., and Edward Bienvenue, Edison, N.J., 3,259.
236, Chris Fisher, Brooklyn, N.Y., 3,258.
237 (tie), Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev.; John Conroy, Mahopac, N.Y., and Noel Pabilonia, Jersey City, N.J., 3,257.
240, Diante Fields, Mount Royal, N.J., 3,253.
241, Shane Holbert, Clifton Heights., Pa., 3,252.
242, George Kruse, Clifton, N.J., 3,246.
243, Joel Larche, Canada, 3,244.
244, Gregory Krumnow, Vickery, Ohio, 3,243.
245, Eric Page Sr., Templeton, Mass., 3,240.
246, Jason Wilt, San Diego, 3,238.
247, Michael Santonastaso, Lebanon, N.J., 3,235.
248, Frank Gray Jr., North East, Md., 3,224.
249 (tie), Chris Knappenberger, Slatington, Pa., and Lawrence King, Billerica, Mass., 3,223.
251, Melissa Kammerer, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,222.
252 (tie), Kirk Trahan, Houma, La.; Terry Krawec, Canada, and Chris Tomlinson, Franklin, Tenn., 3,218.
255 (tie), David Carroll, Carbondale, Pa., and Joe Krajkovich, North Brunswick, N.J., 3,217.
257 (tie), Richard Horsley, Morrisville, N.C., and Kevin Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3,214.
259 (tie), Devin Golden, Bethlehem, Pa., and Tony Johnson, Canton, Ohio, 3,213.
261, Cory Nichols, Hudson Falls, N.Y., 3,212.
262 (tie), Michael Dutkiewicz, Nicholson, Pa., and Mike Deckelman, Milford, Del., 3,210.
264, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 3,206.
265, Corey Kistner, Decatur, Ill., 3,205.
266, Mark McNear, Altamonte Springs, Fla., 3,198.
267, Michael Healy, Yonkers, N.Y., 3,196.
268 (tie), Greg Rottengen, Washington, N.J., and Jose Marte, Elmwood Park, N.J., 3,191.
270, Nicolas Forestier, France, 3,189.
271 (tie), Nicole Toto, Piscataway, N.J., and Dave Martorella, Meriden, Conn., 3,185.
273, Chico Santiago, Tuckahoe, N.Y., 3,184.
274, Steven Maruffi, Brooklyn, N.Y., 3,183.
275, Eddie Torres, Port Ewen, NY, 3,182.
276 (tie), Paul Lemond, Jasper, Ind., and Chris Blaison, Newburgh, N.Y., 3,181.
278, Jack Pieraccini, Pittsfield, Mass., 3,180.
279 (tie), Daniel Gassera, Port Charlotte, Fla., and Rob Sperling, Livingston, N.J., 3,178.
281, Robert Fusik III, Hamilton, N.J., 3,172.
282, Michelle Arrington, Philadelphia, 3,170.
283, Taylor Swartz, Windsor, N.Y., 3,167.
284, Tim Panek, Randolph, N.J., 3,166.
285, Ron Glick, Morganville, N.J., 3,165.
286, Steven Arehart, Chesapeake, Va., 3,163.
287, Daniel Dunleavy, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,159.
288 (tie), Greg Stahora, West Hazelton, Pa., and Raymond Johnston Jr., Leonardtown, Md., 3,157.
290, Philip Karl, Jackson, Ohio, 3,156.
291, David Rosengarten, Gardendale, Ala., 3,153.
292, Frank Bellavia Jr., Niagara Falls, N.Y., 3,151.
293, Keith DeCambra, Quincy, Mass., 3,148.
294, Cedric Anthor, France, 3,142.
295, Sylvain Brisson, Canada, 3,137.
296, Bernard Vandermeersch, France, 3,133.
297 (tie), Brian DiCicco, Agawam, Mass., and Douglas Tonucci, Waldorf, Md., 3,127.
299, Joseph Auger, Newburgh, N.Y., 3,126.
300, Stephen Habel, Dubuque, Iowa, 3,124.
301, Cyril Assie, France, 3,122.
302, Jimmy Clark, Corinna, Maine, 3,120.
303, Brian Sulzbach, Levittown, N.Y., 3,118.
304, Thomas McLane, Lusby, Md., 3,116.
305, Leon Platt, Summerville, S.C., 3,115.
306, Art Swain Jr., Philadelphia, 3,111.
307, Bryan Eaton, Wyoming, Mich., 3,107.
308, Kevin Cartier, Beverly, N.J., 3,106.
309, Larry Del Vecchio, Chalfont, Pa., 3,103.
310 (tie), Richard Page II, Hillsborough, N.J., and Brian Crater, Hudson, Mich., 3,100.
312, Marty Kirsten Jr., Greentown, Pa., 3,098.
313, Thomas Grunwald, Astoria, N.Y., 3,096.
314, Gary Smalling, Johnson City, Tenn., 3,091.
315, Jason Phillips, Greenwood, Ind., 3,089.
316 (tie), Michael Ciardulli Jr., Valley Stream, N.Y., and Scott Salem, Oradell, N.J., 3,088.
318 (tie), Gregory Matera, Staten Island, N.Y., and Pierre-Luc Larouche, Canada, 3,085.
320, Christopher Lee, Brooklyn, N.Y., 3,082.
321, Jim Dilyard, Burbank, Ohio, 3,081.
322, Charles Harris, Macungie, Pa., 3,078.
323, Robert Wade, Winter Springs, Fla., 3,075.
324, Maverick Mackovic, Oak Ridge, N.C., 3,070.
325 (tie), Yves Crouzat, France, and David Perry, Fairfield, Maine, 3,066.
327, Richard Ayers, Union, N.J., 3,064.
328, Gaetano Sereno, Ridgewood, N.Y., 3,062.
329 (tie), Mike Carmean, Georgetown, Del., and John Touhey, Miamisburg, Ohio, 3,061.
331, Ryan Funk, Midlothian, Ill., 3,059.
332, Ken Karamichael, Somerset, N.J., 3,058.
333, Jonathan Sellers, Stratford, Conn., 3,054.
334, Al Giolat, Florissant, Mo., 3,052.
335, Brandon Robertson, Clinton, Conn., 3,048.
336, Michael McCord, Bayonne, N.J., 3,042.
337, Bradley Branam, Bloomington, Ind., 3,035.
338, Mark Cornelius, Peru, Ind., 3,034.
339, Andrew Wojcik, Doylestown, Pa., 3,032.
340 (tie), Sun Kim, Flushing, N.Y., and Michael Robey, Morrisville, Pa., 3,030.
342, Ralph Ehrlich, N.Massapequa, N.Y., 3,026.
343, Chris Boyd, Brick, N.J., 3,025.
344, Jerry Bohlman, Milton, Fla., 3,011.
345, Christopher Keane, New City, N.Y., 2,998.
346, Michael LoBianco, Brick, N.J., 2,994.
347, Chris Helton, Fountain, Colo., 2,990.
348, Joaquim Fernandes, France, 2,986.
349 (tie), Michael Sucena, Philadelphia, and Armando Santacruz, Ecuador, 2,979.
351, David Zeitz, Philadelphia, 2,976.
352, M. Humphrey, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 2,974.
353, Robert Brownie, Richmond, Va., 2,971.
354, Chris Liotta, Dix Hills, N.Y., 2,966.
355, Shaun English, Lebanon, Pa., 2,963.
356, Matt Vancil, Dexter, Mo., 2,955.
357, Brandon Boyer, Hudson Falls, N.Y., 2,952.
358, Steven Landry, Oakville, Conn., 2,944.
359, Joel Eyssen, Manville, N.J., 2,941.
360, Emmanuel Rigas, Trenton, N.J., 2,929.
361, Kevin Dziuba, Howell, N.J., 2,925.
362, Jean Marie Gaudin, France, 2,918.
363, Jason Lowery, Baltimore, 2,917.
364, Joseph Truchan Jr., Ringwood, N.J., 2,915.
365, Sylvie LaLancette, Canada, 2,905.
366, Amanda Warren, Naperville, Ill., 2,904.
367, Jonathan Glattstein, North Bergen, N.J., 2,860.
368, Anssi Valtonen, Finland, 2,845.
369, Domenico Curra, Mahopac, N.Y., 2,843.
370, Greg Eskow, Syosset, N.Y., 2,836.
371, Steve Wilstein, Boston, 2,808.
372, Chris Riolo, Springfield, N.J., 2,780.
373, Beau Geier, Watertown, S.D., 2,774.
374, Thomas VanGorden, Hamilton, N.J., 2,772.
375, Giovanny Jimenez, Plainsboro, N.J., 2,755.
376, Christopher Gillette, Scotia, N.Y., 2,753.
377, Michael Shaw, Maple Shade, N.J., 2,735.
378, J. Marc Rougelin, France, 2,714.
379, Minh-Duc Le, France, 2,710.
380, Mike Gossman, Emmaus, Pa., 2,705.
381, Shane Cunningham, Claryville, N.Y., 2,693.
382, Joseph Gentile, Huntington Station, N.Y., 2,607.
383, Kevin Junice, Old Bridge, N.J., 2,518.
384, Roy Cadoo Jr., Matawan, N.J., 2,454.
385, Aaron Knoll, Plainview, N.Y., 2,441.

Youth bowlers are allowed to bowl in PBA competition provided they have submitted signed parental consent agreements. Bowlers who wish to protect their amateur eligibility are required to designate any prize money earned will be deposited in their United States Bowling Congress SMART scholarship accounts. Youth bowlers also are allowed to bowl as adults if they make that designation.

The U.S. Open field included 14-year-olds Kamron Doyle of Brentwood, Tenn., and Maverick Mackovic of Oak Ridge, N.C.; 15-year-olds Daniel Gassera of Port Charlotte, Fla.; Aaron Knoll of Plainview, N.Y.; Kenny Ryan of Ocean, N.J., and Matt Russo of Millstone Township, N.J.; 16-year-olds Brandon Boyer of Hudson Falls, N.Y.; and Tatu Lehtonen and Anssi Valtonen of Finland; and 17-year-olds Douglas Tonucci of Waldorf, Md., and Diante Fields of Mount Royal, N.J.

COLUMBUS XTRA FRAME TOUR EVENT RAISES MORE THAN $30,000 FOR CHARITY

Thanks to the charitable efforts associated with the Xtra Frame Tour Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 at Sequoia Pro Bowl in Columbus, more than $30,000 was raised to benefit juvenile diabetes research and the Nationwide Children’s Hospital of Columbus. Including this year’s donations, four recent PBA events at Sequioa Pro Bowl have generated more than $140,000 for charity in memory of the late PBA Hall of Famer, Don Johnson.

Donations were raised through a number of activities including a “Carni-bowl” kick-off event which featured silent and live auctions, plus a charity match featuring several PBA players.

Fundraising continued throughout the tournament and included a donation from Sequoia Pro Bowl of $5 per pro-am bowler and a 50/50 Super Raffle that collected $8,700. Columbus and Cincinnati youth also were major contributors with eight youth bowlers raising over $500 each to become honorary “Pro’s for the Day” during the Friday pro-am. Youth bowlers raised $7,700. Taylor Knox, a Central Ohio USBC youth bowler from Westerville, was the top youth for the second year in a row, collecting $2,640 by going to bowling centers during league sessions and asking bowlers to support the cause. 

To cap off the giving, Columbus auto dealer and title sponsor of this year’s PBA tournament, Ricart Ford, agreed to donate $100 per strike thrown by the PBA players during the championship match. Rick Ricart was on hand and cheered from the stands as each of 15 strikes was thrown, resulting in the final donation of $1,500.

MARCH 2 IS EARLY ENTRY DEADLINE FOR XTRA FRAME DETROIT OPEN

Friday, March 2, is the early entry deadline for the Xtra Frame Tour Detroit Open presented by Track, set for March 9-11 at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. The Detroit Open is the third of four PBA Tour events being conducted during the 2011-12 season that are webcast exclusively, start to finish, on the PBA’s online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.

The Detroit Open presented by Track will offer a $10,000 first prize, a PBA Tour title and an automatic berth in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions. The tournament will pay a total prize fund of $66,000, based on 130 entries. The entry fee is $350 for PBA members or $400 for non-members. To enter, go to pba.com, click on “PBA Tour” under the Schedules drop-down menu and look for PBA Detroit Open.

The nine-game qualifying round will be conducted in two sessions Saturday at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET. The top 24 will advance to round robin match play on Sunday. Following a six-game round at 9 a.m. and a seven-game round at 1:30 p.m., the top four will bowl in the stepladder finals at 6 p.m. All rounds will air live on Xtra Frame.

To subscribe to Xtra Frame ($7.99 per month or $64.99 for a full year), visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

PAST PBA CHAMPIONS HAVE UNTIL APRIL 1 TO REGAIN TOC ELIGIBILITY

The PBA recently announced a no-penalty, amnesty program to encourage past members to rejoin. The no-penalty renewal program expires March 31. Reinstatement and/or initiation fees will be waived for those who restore full and standard memberships – a savings of $99 – and an amnesty program will waive up to three months of dues owed for 2010 and/or 2011.

For players who have won a PBA Tour, Regional or Senior title at any point in their careers, the PBA has extended the membership renewal deadline to April 1 for eligibility to enter the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions.

Additional new membership opportunities are available. For complete details, visit pba.com and click on the “Join PBA” link in the upper right-hand corner.

PAPPAS WINS 24TH REGIONAL TITLE IN SPARTANBURG

PBA Hall of Famer George Pappas of Charlotte, N.C., defeated Dennis Lane of Kingsport, Tenn., 248-238, to win the PBA South Region’s Dave Edwards Toyota Spartanburg Senior Open presented by Etonic at Paradise Lanes in Spartanburg, S.C., on Sunday, Feb. 19. The title was Pappas’ 24th in PBA Regional competition. He also earned $1,700.

Next Sunday (Feb. 26) is the deadline for PBA Regional players to earn points for the Xtra Frame Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer. Events on this weekend’s regional calendar include the PBA Central/Midwest Region Eastown Recreation Center Open presented by Hammer, Feb. 24-26, in Jasper, Ind., and the PBA Midwest/Central Region Showtime Lanes Senior Open sponsored by Allstate Insurance, Feb. 24-26, in Virden, Ill.

The Xtra Frame Dick Weber PBA Playoffs is set for March 30-April 1 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis. Sixteen players from six PBA Regional programs (East, South, Central, Midwest, Southwest and West/Northwest) will qualify for the playoffs along with the top 66 players on the 2011-12 PBA Tour points list and the top 11 PBA Senior Tour players based on their 2011 points list. The field of 156 will meet in Indianapolis to bowl elimination rounds within their respective regional groups leading up to Regional, Conference and Championship rounds.

The PBA Regional schedule for March 2-4 includes the Midwest/Central Region Plamor Lanes Open presented by Brunswick in Muscatine, Iowa; the South Region New Liberty Lanes Open in Pensacola, Fla., and the Southwest Region Duncan Etonic Open at Freedom Lanes in Duncan, Okla.

For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Feb. 18, 2012) –  Left-handers Rhino Page of Dade City, Fla., and Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., averaged 244 to lead qualifying Saturday in the Professional Bowlers Association Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 at Sequoia Pro Bowl.

Both players had a 2,199 nine-game pinfall with Ciminelli bowling games of 220, 246, 257, 219, 289, 204, 256, 245 and 263 and Page games of 225, 266, 280, 236, 259, 280, 226, 227 and 200.

“This is not normally a shot I would do real well on,” Ciminelli said. “The key for me is to take advantage of the condition right off the bat where there is a good hook spot right around the 6-8 board. But then you really have to pay attention to the motion of the ball to keep pace with the changing conditions throughout the block and I was able to stay ahead of the transitions.”

Ciminelli is trying for his second career PBA Tour title having won his first title in last season’s Earl Anthony Memorial Open in Dublin, Calif. This season his best finish was 10^th in the PBA World Championship.

Page, a three-time Tour champion, with his last win coming in the 2009 PBA Viper Championship, has a best finish of 17^th which also came in the PBA World Championship.

“I’ve been practicing a lot and really working on my mental game,” Page said. “I’m working on not getting so emotional and eliminate the ups and downs. This is the first time in a long time that I’ve really felt as prepared as I should be going into a tournament.”

Ciminelli and Page topped 22 other players who advanced to Sunday’s match play round which will determine the four finalists for Sunday evening’s stepladder finals which will get underway at 6 p.m. ET. Rounding out the top five in Saturday’s qualifying were PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber, 2,083; and Dom Barrett and Patrick Dombrowski both with 2,077.

The Ricart Ford Open is the second PBA Tour event of the season to be streamed live exclusively on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel. Two more Xtra Frame events are scheduled during the remainder of the season. Xtra Frame subscription information is available by visiting pba.com.

PBA RICART FORD OPEN PRESENTED BY COLUMBIA 300 
Sequoia Pro Bowl, Columbus, Ohio, Saturday

QUALIFYING RESULTS 

After 9 games, top 24 advance to Sunday’s match play

1 (tie), Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla. and Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 2,199.
3, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 2,083.
4 (tie) Dom Barrett, England and Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, 2,077.
6, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 2,064.
7, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 2,056.
8, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 2,055.
9, Jason Lundquist, Groveport, Ohio, 2,049.
10, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 2,035.
11, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 2,019.
12, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,015.
13, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 2,012.
14, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 2,011.
15, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 2,002.
16, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 1,992.
17, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,987.
18, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 1,983.
19, Chuck Tompkins, New Albany, Ohio, 1,968.
20 (tie), Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, and Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,966.
22, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 1,961.
23, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,953.
24, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 1,951.

Did not advance
25 (tie), Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 1,950 and John Furey, East Windsor, N.J., 1,950, $840.
27, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,933, $820.
28 (tie), Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich. and Art Oliver Jr., Hamilton, Ont. Canada, 1,932, $805.
30, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,924, $790.
31 (tie), Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., and Jonathan Russell, Rockwood, Tenn., 1,923, $775.
33, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 1,905, $760.
34, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 1,904, $750.
35, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,903.
36, Stuart Williams, England, 1,901.
37, Ed Carter, Akron, Ohio, 1,896.
38, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 1,895.
39, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,893.
40 (tie), Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind. and Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,891.
42, Cassidy Schaub, Ashland, Ohio, 1,883.
43, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,879.
44 (tie), Kyle Jones, Groveport, Ohio and Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 1,877.
46, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,869.
47, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,867.
48, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 1,861.
49, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 1,860.
50, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,858.
51 (tie), Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas and Eddie Graham, Centerville, Ohio, 1,857.
53, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 1,850.
54, Greg VanGundy, Canal Winchester, Ohio, 1,845.
55, Steve Rogers, Manteno, Ill., 1,838.
56, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 1,833.
57, Rick Zakrajsek, Lorain, Ohio, 1,830.
58, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1,820.
59, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,817.
60, Adam Monks, Conway, S.C., 1,816.
61, Michael Ahlquist, Sweden, 1,810.
62, Chad Roberts, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, 1,808.
63, Jerry Kessler, Englewood, Ohio, 1,795.
64, Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 1,791.
65, Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 1,790.
66, Kevin Leach, Columbus, Ohio, 1,787.
67, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 1,780.
68, Jason Flaugh, Avilla, Ind., 1,774.
69, Mason Brantley, Detroit, 1,760.
70, Stephen Haas, Enola, Pa., 1,759.
71, Brian Fite, Grayson, Ky., 1,757.
72, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,747.
73, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,742.
74, Timothy Miller, Bowling Green, Ky., 1,735.
75, Kirby Allen, Ironton, Ohio, 1,727.
76, Ellis Breeden, Hilliard, Ohio, 1,724.
77, Carleton Chambers, Detroit, 1,717.
78 (tie), Josh Stephens, Leavenworth, Kan. And Robert Gatas, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,716.
80, Carl See, Warrensburg, Mo., 1,715.
81, Larry Cross, Richardson, Texas, 1,712.
82, Charles McClellan, Grandview Hts., Ohio, 1,711.
83, David Harold II, Canal Winchester, Ohio, 1,709.
84, Ernest Lukacs, Manville, N.J., 1,706.
85, Christine Bator, Warren, Mich., 1,705.
86, Aaron Gall, New Castle, Pa., 1,704.
87, Ernest Lukacs Jr., Manville, N.J., 1,702.
88, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 1,688.
89, Fred Augustin, Burlington, Ky., 1,682.
90, Dustin Baker, Melbourne, Ky, 1,672.
91, Paul Gibson, Brunswick, Ohio, 1,669.
92, Joshua Lewis, Asheville, N.C., 1,647.
93, Robert Wade, Winter Springs, Fla., 1,645.
94, Steven Kammerman, Cincinnati, 1,638.
95, Tim Wingate, Ft. Wayne, Ind., 1,618.
96, Jason Schaub, Polk, Ohio, 1,567.
97, Jason Phillips, Greenwood, Ind., 1,559.
98, Thomas Parker III, Columbus, 1,553.
99, Sean Johnson, Moundsville, W.Va., 1,542.
100, Diego Lopez, Colombia, 1,537.
101, Scott Karnes, Columbus, Ohio, 1,531.
102, Phillip Collins, Columbus, Ohio, 675.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite rolling a gutter ball on his first shot of the opening stepladder match, Scott Newell of Deland, Fla., quickly regained his composure to win three consecutive matches for the PBA Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 title Sunday at Sequoia Pro Bowl.

The 28-year-old Newell won his first Tour title by defeating tournament leader and one-time Tour winner Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., 247-245, in a title match that went down to the 10^th frame. Leaving the tricky 2-8 on the first ball of the 10^th frame, Newell was able to make the spare and then strike on the final ball for the victory.

“I may have looked composed on the outside but I was shaking on the inside,” said Newell who owns three regional tour titles and a best previous Tour finish of 12th. “I just had to take a deep breath and remind myself to stay focused and do what I do best.”

In the semi-final match, Newell survived another nail biter when he defeated three-time Tour titlist Rhino Page of Dade City, Fla., 238-237. In that match he had to convert a 10-pin on the final shot to secure the win.

“You try to prepare yourself the best you can for pressure situations but you never know how you’re going to perform until those situations present themselves,” Newell said. “A lot of people say you have the ability and you can get it done but it’s just a great relief when you finally do.”

In the first frame of the opening stepladder match against Dom Barrett of England, Newell threw the gutter ball after it hit his ankle which he admitted was a sign of his nervousness. He regained his composure enough to then make the spare and went on to defeat Barrett 255-202.

“It was just a matter of getting too quick with my feet and my timing was off,” Newell said. “It was probably good that I made that mistake right away because I could then put it behind me and get on with the rest of the match.”

Barrett was trying for his second Tour title after winning the PBA Scorpion Open which, ironically, was aired on an ESPN taped-delayed telecast earlier in the day.

The Ricart Ford Open was the second PBA Tour event streamed live exclusively on pba.com’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel. Two more Xtra Frame events are scheduled during the remainder of the season.

The next stop for the PBA Tour will be the 69^th U.S. Open—the third major of the season— from Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J., Feb. 20-26. .

PBA RICART FORD OPEN PRESENTED BY COLUMBIA 300

Sequoia Pro Bowl, Columbus, Ohio, Sunday

FINAL STANDINGS:

1, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., three games, 740 pins, $10,000

2, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., one game, 245 pins, $5,000

3, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., one game, 237 pins, $3,000

4, Dom Barrett, England, one game, 202 pins, $2,500

PLAYOFF RESULTS:

Match One – Newell def. Barrett, 255-202

Semifinal match – Newell def. Page, 238-237

Championship match – Newell def. Ciminelli, 247-245

MATCH PLAY RESULTS

After 22 games, including match play records and total pinfall including bonus pins. Top four advanced to stepladder finals.

1, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 7-6, 5,569.
2, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 11-2, 5,527.
3, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 10-3, 5,343.
4, Dom Barrett, England, 8-5, 5,302.
5, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 8-5, 5,260, $2,200.
6, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 9-4, 5,215, $1,950.
6, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 9-4, 5,215, $1,950.
8, Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, 6-7, 5,196, $1,800.
9, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 9-4, 5,152, $1,750.
10, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 5-8, 5,145, $1,700.
11, Jason Lundquist, Groveport, Ohio, 6-7, 5,105, $1,650.
12, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 5-8, 5,089, $1,600.
13, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 5-8, 5,054, $1,550.
14, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 6-7, 5,051, $1,500.
15, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 6-7, 5,040, $1,450.
16, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 7-6, 5,038, $1,400.
17, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 5-7-1, 5,018, $1,350.
18, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 7-6, 5,012, $1,300.
19, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 6-7, 4,939, $1,275.
20, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 5-8, 4,936, $1,250.
21, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 5-7-1, 4,794, $1,225.
22, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 4-8-1, 4,793, $1,200.
23, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 3-9-1, 4,670, $1,175.
24, Chuck Tompkins, New Albany, Ohio, 2-11, 4,406, $1,150.

Event: World Series of Bowling

Tournament: The Scorpion Open is the third of four PBA “animal pattern” championships conducted during the World Series of Bowling.

Where: South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas

Eliminator Format: Four finalists will bowl a one-game match. The player with the lowest score will be eliminated. The three survivors will bowl another game, with the low man ousted. The two finalists will then bowl a final game for the title.

Television: ESPN (Sunday at 3 p.m. ET)

Making up the four-player eliminator field will be England’s Dom Barrett; Dave Wodka of Henderson, Nev., who won his only PBA Tour title in the 1999 Greater Detroit Open; Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., who qualified for the ESPN finals in a record six PBA World Series of Bowling events, and 13-time PBA Tour titlist Patrick Allen of Baltimore, who is seeking his first title in two years.

Barrett earned the top qualifier position for the Scorpion finals by averaging 233.14 over 14 qualifying games, posting a 3,264 pinfall total. Wodka finished 17 pins behind, followed by Rash and Allen.

Barrett, who qualified for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions by winning a PBA West Regional title in Reno, Nev., just before the World Series of Bowling, hopes to join fellow British competitor Stuart Williams as the second English player to win a PBA Tour title. Williams won his first PBA Tour title in the Bayer Viper Open.

Barrett also hopes to become the fourth straight international player to win a World Series of Bowling title. Rash, a four-time PBA Tour champion, is trying for his first title since the 2007 USBC Masters.

Last Season: Yong-Jin Gu of South Korea upset four straight opponents at the South Point Bowling Center, including top qualifier Jun-Yung Kim, 236-224, in the all-South Korea championship match, to become the first South Korean ever to win a PBA Tour event.

PBA:39X60 Pre-game Show: (Free on PBA.com, PBA YouTube Channel) Tune into PBA.com’s Xtra Frame for interviews with the finalists as they give their insight into strategy and equipment selection. All World Series preview shows on Xtra Frame will be available the Wednesday before each Sunday ESPN telecast for free.

PBA:39X60 Post-game Show: (Free on PBA.com, PBA YouTube Channel) Sunday 4:30 p.m. ET – Xtra Frame interviews the winning player and provides in-depth ball rep analysis of the winner’s equipment selection and ball preparation.

Social Networking on PBA Facebook/Twitter:   Follow PBA social networking through PBA on Facebook and Twitter for exclusive photos, videos and information, click the links on PBA.com to provide greater details and information on PBA players, tournaments and news.

To ‘like’ the Professional Bowlers Association on Facebook, visit PBA.com and click the Facebook icon.

To ‘follow’ the PBA on Twitter, visit PBA.com and click on the Twitter icon.

To ’subscribe’ to PBA’s YouTube Channel, visit PBA.com and click on the YouTube icon.

To ’subscribe’ to PBA.com’s Xtra Frame, online Bowling Channel click on the Xtra Frame.

Sixteen-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour titlist Jason Couch and 11-time PBA Senior Tour winner Gene Stus have been elected to the PBA Hall of Fame.

The 42-year-old Couch is the only player in Tour history to win three consecutive PBA Tournament of Champions titles, an event many players consider one of the most demanding to win because a player must win a PBA title to be eligible to compete.

In addition to his Tournament of Champions titles, which came in 1999, 2000 and 2002, Couch won a fourth Tour major in the 1993 PBA Touring Players Championship.

Couch, who makes his home in Clermont, Fla., began his Tour career in 1992 when he earned Rookie of the Year honors. His first title would come the next season in Windsor Locks, Conn.

“I’m a firm believer in setting goals along the way in your career, working hard at achieving those milestones and hopefully you’ll be rewarded with a great honor like being elected to the PBA Hall of Fame,” Couch said. “I went out and did my best and when I achieved one milestone, continued to work hard and went on to the next one.”

Couch’s career path was probably a foregone conclusion as the son of parents who owned a Florida bowling center.

“Bowling on Tour has been a dream of mine since I was four years old watching PBA Tour telecasts on ABC on Saturday afternoons,” said Couch. “Growing up in a bowling center certainly helped, but it took the right combination of hard work and desire.”

Throughout his 20-year Tour career, Couch had a string of winning at least one title in six straight seasons (1998-2004) and he won multiple titles in five seasons. Still active on Tour, he has more than $1.6 million in career earnings and was ranked 24th among PBA’s 50 greatest players in history as part of the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2009.

As a competitive bowler for most of his adult life, the 71-year-old Stus had always wondered how he might have done on the PBA Tour. But the opportunity to compete in Tour competition didn’t present itself until he was able to retired from General Motors after 32 years at the age of 50 and became a regular on the Senior Tour.

Stus’ 11 Senior Tour titles rank fourth on the all-time list behind fellow Hall of Famers John Handegard with 14 titles, and Gary Dickinson and Dale Eagle each with 12.

In 1992, Stus, who currently resides in Taylor, Mich., earned Senior Player of the Year honors thanks in part to winning two titles. In July of that year he became the first Senior Tour player to bowl a 300 game on national television, defeating Don Gilman, 300-188, in the Pacific Cal Bowl Senior Open in Lakewood, Calif.

“It was an honor to bowl with bowling’s greats who I admired my whole life and I always wondered how I would measure up,” said Stus, who had 50 top-five finishes in 173 Senior Tour events. “When I was able to retire at 50, I started to get back to bowling seriously and found I still had the touch.

“Bowling on the Senior Tour was a lot more than achieving the dream of bowling with the greats of the game,” he added. “Just to be around them and to remember all the fun we had on and off the lanes for those years was an experience I’ll never forget.”

Couch and Stus will be inducted during ceremonies at Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, Saturday, April 14. Additional details regarding the Hall of Fame ceremonies will be released at a later date.

Xtra Frame’s coverage will continue through the final round of match play on Saturday, Feb. 25, including the position round of match play when the four players who will advance to Sunday’s stepladder finals, televised live on ESPN at 3 p.m. ET, will be decided.

Xtra Frame’s schedule includes eight-game qualifying rounds Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday starting at 8 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. each day. Fridays’ coverage will include the cashers’ round at 9 a.m. and the first eight games of match play at 6 p.m. Saturday’s match play coverage begins at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. All times are Eastern.

U.S. Open coverage followed the Xtra Frame Tour Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 from Sequoia Pro Bowl in Columbus, Ohio, which will be webcast live in its entirety on Xtra Frame Saturday and Sunday.

PBA fans around the world can follow all of the Ricart Ford Open and U.S. Open coverage for the $7.99 monthly rate. A full-year subscription costs $64.99. In addition to live coverage, subscribers have access to a complete library of previous telecasts, coaching segments, new product discussions and much more. To subscribe, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

FEBRUARY 26 IS FINAL QUALIFYING DATE FOR XTRA FRAME DICK WEBER PBA PLAYOFFS

The deadline for PBA Regional players to earn points for the Xtra Frame Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer is closing in. Remaining qualifying events leading up to the February 26 deadline include the PBA South Region Dave Edwards Spartanburg Senior Open presented by Etonic, Feb. 17-19, at Paradise Lanes in Spartanburg, S.C.; and the PBA Central/Midwest Region Eastown Recreation Center Open presented by Hammer, Feb. 24-26, in Jasper, Ind., and the PBA Midwest/Central Region Showtime Lanes Senior Open sponsored by Allstate Insurance, Feb. 24-26, in Virden, Ill.

The Xtra Frame Dick Weber PBA Playoffs is set for March 30-April 1 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis. Fifteen players from six PBA Regional programs (East, South, Central, Midwest, Southwest and West/Northwest) will qualify for the playoffs along with the top 66 players on the 2011-12 PBA Tour points list and the top 11 PBA Senior Tour players based on their 2011 points list. The field of 156 will meet in Indianapolis to bowl elimination rounds within their respective regional groups leading up to Regional, Conference and Championship rounds.

The PBA Regional schedule for March 2-4 includes the Midwest/Central Region Plamor Lanes Open presented by Brunswick in Muscatine, Iowa; the South Region New Liberty Lanes Open in Pensacola, Fla., and the Southwest Region Duncan Etonic Open at Freedom Lanes in Duncan, Okla.

For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

TOMMY JONES WINS WBT INTERNATIONAL BOWLING CHAMPIONSHIP IN JAPAN

Tommy Jones is beginning to love bowling in Japan. Jones, who won his 13th and most recent PBA Tour title in the 2010 Japan Cup, claimed the $77,500 first prize in the 2012 International Bowling Championship supported by DHC Hakata Star Lanes in Hakata, Japan, Saturday, Feb. 11, defeating fellow PBA Tour star Mika Koivuniemi, 290-204, in the title match.

The International Bowling Championship was the fourth stop of the World Tenpin Bowling Association’s 2012 World Bowling Tour. Koivuniemi, who earned $38,500, defeated South Korea’s Choi Bok-Eum, 226-211, to advance to the title match after Choi eliminated Malaysia’s Zulmazran Zulkifli, 241-198.

Zulkifli won the opening six-man shootout match, nationally-televised in Japan and just missing a $125,000 perfect game bonus, when he fired a 298 game to eliminate Mike Fagan (267), Dan MacLelland (248), Chris Barnes (224), Park Kyung-Sin and Shota Kawazoe (182). Other PBA Tour players among the 24 finalists were Scott Norton, 10th; Bill O’Neill, 14th; Sean Rash, 18th, and Patrick Allen, 22nd.

Jones, Koivuniemi, O’Neill and Rash were among PBA Tour players who earned invitations to participate in the event based upon their performances during the 2010-11 PBA Tour season. Barnes, Allen and Malott were invited based on their top three finishes in the Masters event during the 2010 WTBA World Men’s Championships.

In the companion women’s event, Cherie Tan of Singapore won the $77,500 first prize, defeating Malaysia’s Dayang Khairuniza, 218-179. Tan ousted South Korea’s Jeon Eun-Hee in the semifinal match after Jeon eliminated PBA member Missy Parkin, 224-206. Parkin won the women’s shootout match, rolling a 267 game to eliminate Wendy Macpherson (246), Maki Nakano (218), Zandra Aziela (212), Mari Kimura (208) and Carol Gianotti (183). Past and present PBA members among the women’s finalists were Diandra Asbaty, 13th; Kelly Kulick, 15th, and Shannon Pluhowsky, 22nd.

The WBT points leaders after the DHC Japan event, based on cumulative points earned in 2011 and 2012, include: Mika Koivuniemi, 308; Mike Fagan, 237; Chris Barnes, 195; Sean Rash, 162, and Tommy Jones, 144. Women’s points leaders are: Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, 186; Kelly Kulick, 167; Liz Johnson, 155; Sandra Andersson, Sweden, 151, and Missy Parkin, 145. The top three in each division following the 2012 Australian Masters will advance to the WBT Finals presented by the PBA as part of the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling in Las Vegas in November.

XTRA FRAME TOUR’S NEXT STOP: DETROIT

The third of four exclusive Xtra Frame Tour events, the Detroit Open presented by Track, is set for Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., March 11-12. At stake is a $10,000 first prize, a PBA Tour title and an automatic berth in the Round of 36 in the PBA Tournament of Champions April 8-15 at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas.

The Xtra Frame Detroit Open will be webcast live, exclusively on the PBA’s online bowling channel to an international audience beginning with Saturday’s qualifying squads at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET. All of Sunday’s match play competition will be webcast with squads at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. leading up to the four-player stepladder finals at 6 p.m. Full-year and monthly subscriptions to Xtra Frame are available on pba.com.

UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL FROM AN XTRA FRAME FAN

It’s one man’s opinion, but an Internet blogger named Steve writes: “Any serious bowler who wants to get better and can afford $7.95 a month or $65 a year for Xtra Frame is crazy not to subscribe and start soaking up like a thirsty sponge the incredible information offered. And if you do subscribe and miss events like what I just described, you can always catch them in the archives and go over them as many times as you wish to learn everything you can and want to learn from them.”

QUICK NOTES:

Veteran PBA Senior Tour competitor Robert McDonald of Addison, Ill., died on Feb. 5 after a lengthy battle with pulmonary lung disease. He was 71. McDonald bowled in 112 PBA Senior Tour events, and almost as many PBA Senior Regional tournaments. In his first tournament as a PBA member, McDonald finished third in the 1993 ABC Senior Masters. He never won a national title, but he won four senior regional titles during a career which after he turned 50. He is survived by his companion, Joyce Hardy; six children, 22 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Two highly-visible and long-time personalities in the background at PBA Tour events have new roles. Storm Products Inc. has promoted long-time PBA Tour Consultant Chris Schlemer to a new position as Marketing Manager for Roto Grip, and the company has hired PBA Hall of Famer Del Ballard Jr. to fill Schlemer’s role as PBA Tour Consultant.

March 1 is the “early bird” enrollment deadline for a new three-day, world-class Brunswick Bowling Camp hosted by Sean Rash and the entire Brunswick/DV8 pro staff. The event will be held at Brunswick Zone XL in Romeoville, Ill., July 6-8. PBA Tour players who will be involved in the camp include PBA Hall of Famers Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Parker Bohn III, high-rev players Rash, Tom Smallwood and Ronnie Russell, two-hander Brian Valenta, left-hander Ryan Ciminelli, and PBA Tour veterans Mike Machuga and Chris Loschetter. The early enrollment fee is $1,200 ($1,300 after March 1). For more information, contact Rash at seanrashfan@gmail.com or visit parkerbohn.com.

PBA Hall of Famers Nelson Burton Jr., Johnny Petraglia and Walter Ray Williams Jr. will be on hand for the 28th annual Frank Bacom Memorial Strike-A-Thon, a benefit for the Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, Sunday, March 18 at Brookfield Lanes in Brookfield, Conn. Burton, who has participated in all 28 fundraisers, has helped raise more than $200,000 for the hospice. For more information, contact Frank Acri with the Danbury News Times (frankacri@sbcglobal.net, cell phone: 203-733-7956).

PBA professional and Team USA member Tommy Jones captured the title in the International Bowling Championship 2012 supported by DHC Saturday in Hakata, Japan, earning the 6 million Yen (approx. $77,500) top prize.

In the men’s title match, top seeded Jones, who has won three of his 13 PBA titles in Japan, flew past reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 290-204, to wrap up the title. On the women’s side, No. 2 seed Cherie Tan defeated women’s top seed Dayang Khairuniza, Malaysia, 218-179, for the biggest payday in her career.

The TV Finals started on Friday evening with a shootout match between players ranked fourth to 9th after the semifinals to determine the No. 4 seed for the stepladder finals.

Zulmazran Zulkifli of Malaysia who took the ninth and last place for the men’s shoot-out match, almost rolled the first 300 game of the tournament, firing a 298 game to defeat #5 Mike Fagan, United States (267), #4 Dan MacLelland, Canada (248), #6 Chris Barnes, United States (224), #7 Park Kyung-Sin, Korea (214) and #8 Shota Kawazoe, Japan (182).

In the opening match of the stepladder finals, Zulkifli fell to No. 3 seed, Choi Bok-Eum of Korea, 241-198. Zulkifli struck on six of his first eight shots but suffered two open frames. Bok-Eum bowled a clean game including a four-bagger and a three-bagger to put the match away well before the final frame.

In the semifinal match it was current World Bowling Tour point ranking leader Koivuniemi, who bowled a clean game to defeat the Korean lefty, 226-211, to advance to the title match. Heading into the final frame, Bok-Eum held a 17-pin lead behind seven strikes and two open frames. Koivuniemi struck out in the 9th and 10th frame to force Bok-Eum to strike on his first ball in the last frame. When the Korean failed to strike, the match was over.

Koivuniemi pocketed 3 million Yen for second place. Bok-Eum received 1.5 million Yen for third and Zulkifli walked away with 800.000 Yen for fourth place.

The International Bowling Championship 2012 supported by DHC was the fourth stop of the 2012 World Bowling Tour and offered a total prize fund of 30 million Yen or more than 380,000 U.S. Dollars.

Men and women competed in separate divisions. Each division consisted of 84 players - 45 local bowlers (15 each from three pre-qualifying tournament), the top 16 of the international trials (Feb. 7 and 8), as well as 23 seeded and invited players.

All 84 men and 84 women bowled nine games of qualifying divided into three blocks of three games. Based on the nine-game total, the top 24 men and the top 24 women advanced to the semifinals.

Those 24 bowled another two three-game blocks on Friday with the pinfall from the qualifying being carried forward. The top 9 men and the top 9 women with the highest 15-game total qualified for the TV Finals.

The top three in each division advanced straight to the TV stepladder finals on Saturday, while bowlers seeded fourth to ninth determined the No. 4 seed for the stepladder in a single-game shoot-out match.

In the TV stepladder finals, which were broadcasted nationwide by NHK Global Media Services, Inc., were staged on specially constructed lanes in Diamond Hall on the second floor of the building.

The prize money for each division was the same, with the men’s and women’s winner each taking 6 million Yen or more than $77,000, with $38,500 and $19,250 going to the second and third place finishers, respectively.

Men’s Division - TV Finals

Championship Round:
1. Tommy Jones, United States, 6.000.000 JPY
2. Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 3.000.000 JPY
3. Choi Bok-Eum, Korea, 1.500.000 JPY
4. Zulmazran Zulkifli, Malaysia, 800.000 JPY

Playoff Results:
Shoot-out to determine the No. 4 seed for the stepladder finals:
#9 Zulkifli (298) def. #5 Fagan (267), #4 Maclelland (248), #6 Barnes (224), #7 Kyung-Sin (214) and #8 Kawazoe (182)
First Match: No. 3 Choi def. No. 4 Zulkifli, 241-198
Second Match: No. 2 Koivuniemi def. Choi, 226-211
Championship: No. 1 Jones def. Koivuniemi, 290-204.

Women’s Division - TV Finals

Championship Round:
1. Cherie Tan, Singapore, 6.000.000 JPY
2. Dayang Khairuniza, Malaysia, 3.000.000 JPY
3. Jeon Eun-Hee, Korea, 1.500.000 JPY
4. Missy Parkin, United States, 800.000 JPY

Playoff Results:
Shoot-out to determine the No. 4 seed for the stepladder finals:
#5 Parkin (267) def. #6 Macpherson (246), #9 Nakano (218), #7 Aziela (212), #8 Kimura (208) and #4 Gianotti (183)
First Match: No. 3 Jeon def. No. 4 Parkin, 224-206
Second Match: No. 2 Chan def Jeon, 235-189
Championship: Tan def. No. 1 Khairuniza, 218-179.

And while their stories are similar in many aspects, they remain worlds apart as competitors and bowling stylists.

For starters, Belmonte grew up in Orange, New South Wales, Australia. Born on July 29, 1983, he’s the older of the two by 112 days. “Belmo” is 5-foot-10 and weighs 185 pounds. Palermaa, who also is 28, was born on Nov. 18, 1983 and grew up in Espoo, Finland. He is 6-foot and weighs 200 pounds.

“It’s pretty weird how our stories are the same, and we’re the same age,” said Palermaa. “We just happened to live, one here and the other on the other side of the globe. The only difference is (Belmo’s) father owned a bowling center and mine worked at one.”

Both naturally migrated to the two-handed technique as tots, far too young to be able to pick up a bowling ball and throw it with one hand. So they independently learned to roll the ball using two hands. Neither had mentors teaching them the technique because it just wasn’t the way you were supposed to bowl. But for them, it worked.

And even though they both engage both hands in their delivery, they don’t thing they bowl the same, at all.

“We actually throw the ball quite a bit different,” Palermaa said, “but there are similarities as well. I guess I’m a little more powerful. I have a little more speed and more revs. I’ve been working on getting the revs down and I think he has been, also. I’m also working on slowing my speed. With the bowling balls we have now, it’s not an advantage to have 500, 600 revs.”

Belmonte agrees.

“Just like one-handed bowlers, no two two-handers will throw the ball alike,” he said. “It’s kind of frustrating to put us all into one category, that we throw the ball the same, because we’re different people, we’re different bowlers.

“Osku has his skills and I have mine. It’s like saying Pete Weber and Walter Ray throw the ball the same because they throw the ball one-handed. It’s a really ridiculous comment. And what about Brian Valenta (another two-handed PBA Tour player who lives in Lockport, Ill.)? I could keep going. Of every two-hander I’ve ever seen, no one throws the ball like me, and I don’t throw it like them, and I’ve never seen two who are alike.

“It’s just another style,” Belmonte said, “and you put your own spin on it – your own touch, your own personality. Unless there are two people who are identical in every way, shape and form, then perhaps they could bowl the same. But as far as I know there are no two bowlers who are alike.

“There are a lot of things (Osku and I) have in common. Our rev rates are high, our ball speeds are high. But Osku’s tilt on the ball, his hand position, his feet are a lot different than mine. I can’t quite throw it a million miles an hour like he can, but we also share a lot of traits.

“We have really quick steps, we’re both very much over the ball at the release point, our follow-throughs are very close, right in front of our faces. There are a lot of similarities, but we’re a world apart, too.”

The bottom line for Belmonte is, he no longer feels like an oddity. He and Palermaa and a handful of others have provide the two-handed style is a legitimate, effective way to bowl, and it appears there are a growing number of young people who are embracing the high-revolution, pin-scattering technique as their way of playing the game.

“Seven or eight years ago, you didn’t see a single person bowling two-handed. Now you see Osku, and Brian Valenta, and Cassidy Schaub, and others. I get all kinds of e-mails from people who want to learn how to do it. It’s really an inspiration.”

Belmonte and Palermaa will meet in a PBA Tour televised contest for the third time when ESPN airs the finals of the Chameleon Open Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. In their two previous meetings, Palermaa has won both times, defeating Belmonte, 182-176, in the 2010 GEICO Shark Championship semifinal match and 10-6 in a one-ball rolloff after they tied at 203-203 in round one of the PBA World Championship elimination finals, knocking Belmonte out of title contention in that event.

● The PBA’s January ESPN ratings for the Petraglia Division finals of the PBA World Championship followed by the PBA World Championship finals both exceeded audience records for PBA World Series of Bowling telecasts, only to be topped by the live finals of the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters telecast on January 29, which reached an audience of 1.1 million viewers – the largest in two years.

● During the USBC Masters, PBA and World Tenpin Bowling Association leaders put their heads together and formed an historic alliance that will create the first true global bowling tour, awarding PBA Tour titles at a series of World Bowling Tour tournaments in 2012. At the close of the year, the top three men and top three women in WBT points will bowl for increased prize funds in the WBT Finals presented by the PBA during the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling in Las Vegas.

● Bowlers from around the world can start planning for the 2012-13 season, which will get underway with the fourth annual PBA World Series of Bowling Nov. 2-11 at South Point Casino, Hotel and Bowling Center. The 2012 World Series will feature four “animal pattern” championships, the PBA World Championship and the WTBA World Bowling Tour men’s and women’s finals presented by the PBA. Details will be forthcoming.

● The PBA has reached agreement with Killer B Promotions to conduct a series of Teen Masters qualifying tournaments in conjunction with PBA Regional events across the country in the months ahead. The Teen Masters finals will be conducted in Cleveland, Ohio, in July.

● The inaugural Xtra Frame Tour Cheetah Open presented by Ebonite, the first PBA Tour event broadcast exclusively over the Internet, drew a field of 143 players to Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley, Calif. Eugene McCune successfully defended his Cheetah Open title.

● The PBA unveiled a new membership program that included a low-cost PBA24 membership package exclusively designed for young bowlers just entering the PBA ranks, a new International membership to grant specific privileges to international players who want to experience PBA competition, internationally and within the U.S., and a membership renewal program that provides amnesty for back dues while waiving initiation fees for many former members.

● The Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational, which aired on ESPN in front of the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, also introduced “Sheets” as a new corporate sponsor. Sheets is a new fast-absorbing energy strip.

● The celebrity aspect of the Chris Paul event creates staggering media exposure for the PBA. As a group, celebrity participants Paul, Michael Strahan, Ciara, Jesse Williams, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Hart, Blake Griffin, Reggie Bush, Drew Carey, Mindless Behavior, the L.A. Clippers and the NBA have a combined total of more than 100 million Twitter and Facebook followers. Sports Illustrated’s website, si.com, has posted a special “Athletes in the Bowling Alley” photo gallery using photos from this year’s (and earlier) events, and Kevin Hart and PBA West Region competitor J.T. (Action) Jackson, a Los Angeles-based actor, made a brief appearance on “TMZ” to discuss bowling as a sport (you can easily links to the si.com gallery and TMZ clip by clicking on the “In the News” tab on pba.com).

PBA TOUR STARS SHINE IN WTBA EVENTS FOLLOWING USBC MASTERS

Immediately following the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters at Sunset Station in Las Vegas, Liz Johnson, Chris Barnes and Walter Ray Williams Jr. earned berths in the stepladder finals of the inaugural World Tenpin Bowling Association International Open, which will be held in conjunction with the Brunswick Euro Challenge in suburban Paris in March.
The WBTA International Open, the first tournament exclusively owned and operated by the WTBA, was part of a special three-event “bonus” series held at Sunset Station. Johnson, a two-time PBA Women’s Series titlist and 12-time Professional Women’s Bowling Association winner, took advantage of the six handicap pins per game awarded to women in many WTBA events to lead all qualifiers with a 1,418 total. Barnes was second with 1,367 pins and Williams qualified third, four pins behind Barnes.

The inaugural WTBA International Open drew a field of 132 players (123 men and nine women), including 36 PBA Tour exempt players. Other top PBA Tour finishers included Mika Koivuniemi, fourth for $6,000; Pete Weber, fifth for $4,500; Cheetah Open winner Eugene McCune, sixth for $3,000; Stuart Williams, eighth for $2,000, Masters champion Mike Fagan, ninth for $1,500, and PBA South Region competitor Scott Newell, 10th for $1,500.

Former PBA exempt player DJ Archer averaged over 240 in the qualifying rounds of the USBC Masters, WTBA International Open and the International Mini to win the $10,000 top prize for combined pinfall for 20 game in all three events. Chris Barnes was second with 4,766 pins for $5,000 with Mike Fagan was third with 4,727 pins for $2,500.

Canadian citizen Dan MacLelland earned $30,000 as International Mini champion. As the Gold Division representative, MacLelland bowled against the Silver and Bronze Division representatives in the finals, posting a 203 to top Darrin Remiticado, Stockton, Calif., who had a 187 game including handicap for $15,000, and Willie Wells, Herriman, Utah, who rolled a 182 with handicap for a $10,000 prize.

Ildemaro Ruiz and Mika Koivuniemi each won $2,000 by reaching round five in the gold division while Chris Barnes, Martin Larsen and Mike Fagan each earned $1,500 by advancing to round four.

XTRA FRAME TOUR HEADS TO COLUMBUS, OHIO

The second of four Xtra Frame Tour events, the Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300, is set for Sequoia Pro Bowl in Columbus, Ohio, Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 16-19. At stakes is a $10,000 first prize, a PBA Tour title, an automatic berth in the Round of 36 for the PBA Tournament of Champions, and valuable points for players trying to qualify for both the Dick Weber PBA Playoffs and the 2012 Japan Cup.

The tournament will not only feature a specifically created 45-foot lane conditioning pattern named in honor of the late PBA Hall of Famer Don Johnson, a long-time Columbus resident, but also will include a Thursday night fundraiser in Johnson’s honor to benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital of Columbus and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The Xtra Frame Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 will be webcast live, exclusively on the PBA’s online bowling channel, Xtra Frame, beginning with Saturday’s qualifying squads at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET. All of Sunday’s match play competition will be webcast with squads at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. leading up to the four-player stepladder finals at 6 p.m. Full-year and monthly subscriptions to Xtra Frame are available on pba.com.

GREG THOMPSON WINS WEST REGION TITLE IN SUTTER CREEK

Greg Thompson Jr. of Dublin, Calif., posted a 9-3 match play record and a 20-game total of 4,957 pins to win the PBA West Region Jackson Rancheria Classic on Sunday, Feb. 5, at Gold Country Lanes in Sutter Creek, Calif. Thompson, who earned $2,400, defeated Robby Porter of Rancho Cordova, Calif., by 118 pins for his second PBA Regional title.

The Sutter Creek tournament again included a fundraising effort to benefit the people of Haiti who are still recovering from the devastating earthquake that rocked their nation in 2010. One of the survivors of the earthquake is 8-year-old Claire Bryditzki, the adopted daughter of Scott and Debbie Bryditzki of Auburn, Calif., who are actively involved in the fundraising effort.

In other PBA Regional activity, Marc Lineberry of Camanche, Iowa, defeated Dave Doane of Buffalo, Iowa, 201-179, to win the joint PBA Midwest/Central Region Sparetime Lanes Senior Open sponsored by Allstate Insurance in Decatur, Ill., on Sunday. The title was Lineberry’s sixth in PBA Regional competition. He also earned $1,600.

In Houston, Texas, Carlos Gonzalez from Houston defeated fellow amateur Steve Wright of Cypress, Texas, 209-206, to win the second annual PBA Southwest Region Carol “Stormin” Norman Pro Shop U Can Bowl 2 Houston Open at Del-Mar Lanes. Because Gonzalez isn’t a PBA member, he doesn’t receive credit for a PBA title.

This weekend’s calendar includes the inaugural Regional Players Doubles Championship presented by Hammer Feb. 10-12 at The Orleans in Las Vegas. The field will be limited to 70 teams on a first-come basis. For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

QUICK NOTES:

PBA Tour member Dan MacLelland , Windsor, Ontario, has been named Canada’s 2011 Male Bowler of the Year. MacLelland was the men’s gold medalist at the Canadian National Championships and won the Masters gold medal in the 2011 Pan American Games.

But on the bowling lanes in Sunday’s ESPN telecast of the Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational presented by Sheets Brand from Lucky Strike LA Live, Paul gave Griffin an unwanted “assist” that helped Griffin’s team win the trios event and end Paul’s two-year hold on the trophy.

The fourth annual Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational presented by Sheets Brand, a fundraiser to benefit Paul’s CP3 Foundation, featured PBA stars Pete Weber, Jason Belmonte, Wes Malott and Ryan Shafer along with several of Paul’s celebrity friends from the worlds of sports and entertainment.

In this year’s event, an expanded roster of celebrities got the competition underway with a special one-ball, low-man-out Super Shootout. Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush was the first player eliminated, followed by Grammy Award-winning recording artist Ciara, former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, comedian Kevin Hart, Entourage actor Jerry Ferrara and Griffin. In the final showdown frame between Paul and Grey’s Anatomy actor Jesse Williams, Williams threw back-to-back strikes for the victory.

The celebrities then teamed up with the PBA stars for the Baker format trios event, with the PBA player throwing shots in the first, fourth, seventh and 10th frames, and the celebrities filling out the other frames. In the opening round, Belmonte, Hart and Paul routed Shafer, Ciara and Strahan, 178-90, while Weber, Ferrara and Griffin eliminated Malott, Williams and Bush, 154-131.

In the championship match, Belmonte, Hart and Paul trailed Weber, Ferrara and Griffin by only one pin after seven frames. Hart and Paul converted eight-count spares in the eighth and ninth frames, respectively, but consecutive strikes by Ferrara and Griffin set up a dramatic finish. Belmonte’s double in the 10th frame forced Weber to strike on his first shot to lock up the 187-180 victory.

“Blake (Griffin) set me up for the 10th frame when he threw the best shot of the entire night,” Weber said. “It was kind of neat of him to do that. I don’t think Chris (Paul) enjoyed it, but I’m sure Blake enjoyed it a whole lot.

“For someone who doesn’t bowl a lot, Blake understands the object of the game,” Weber added. “He hit the headpin almost every time he threw the ball, and then he made his spares.”

“Normally it comes down to the pro needing to strike to win, but in this case it was up to the celebrities,” Belmonte said. “Chris and Kevin did their jobs on my team by getting spares, but unfortunately Jerry and Blake got strikes on the other team. Kevin made lots of comments about the odds of that ever happening. It was very funny. I didn’t expect both of them to strike, but they both stepped up and did their jobs.

“I doubled to force Pete to strike and then he did what he does best, which is strike when he has to strike.”

If Paul would have struck in the ninth frame, the outcome might have been different.

“Chris is a competitor. They all are,” Belmonte added. “He doesn’t like losing, whether it’s basketball or bowling, or anything else. He was a good sport about it, but I know it killed him to tell the other guys they did well.”

“Michael Strahan was great,” said Shafer, who bowled with the former NFL star, “and he doesn’t like to lose. But I don’t think anyone doesn’t like to lose as much as Chris Paul. He really doesn’t like to lose.

“It was a great time for all of us,” Shafer added, “and I gained a lot of respect for Chris Paul because he had to play host, he had to do the PBA thing, the charity thing, the Sheets Brand thing, and bowl. He did all of them and he did a great job.”

The PBA Tour’s next telecast will be the finals of the Chameleon Open Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. The finalists will be Belmonte, Finland’s Osku Palermaa, Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., and Venezuela’s Ildemaro Ruiz. A free preview of the finals will be webcast on pba.com’s Xtra Frame starting Wednesday.

The nation’s top youth bowlers will have the opportunity to compete on Professional Bowlers Association lane conditions and rub elbows with the greats in the game when Teen Masters qualifiers will be conducted in conjunction with selected PBA Regional tournaments in 2012.

PBA has entered into an agreement with Killer ‘B’ Promotions to conduct 18 Teen Masters qualifiers at PBA Regional events beginning in March through the end of May. The Teen Masters qualifiers will be conducted on lanes designated for Teen Masters competition.

The Teen Masters, America’s longest running national championship event for youth bowlers, has featured challenging lane conditions since its beginning in 1997. “Our slogan has always been ‘Bring Your Spare Game!’ Our partnership with the PBA strengthens the opportunity for America’s top high school competitors to test their bowling skills and mental fortitude in a demanding environment,” said Teen Masters founder, Gary Beck.

“This is a great program because it will provide youth bowlers with additional topflight competitive bowling opportunities through the setting of PBA competition,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. “The goal is to grow competitive bowling among youth bowlers who love the sport and this is a great vehicle in which to do it.”

Many Teen Masters champions have gone on to advance to the top levels of the sport. On the boys side, Mike Fagan, the 1997 champion, and Ryan Ciminelli, the 2004 champion, have both become national PBA champions. On the girls side, Brittni Hamilton, the 2006 champion, and Danielle McEwan, the 2009 champion, have both claimed NCAA titles and membership on Team USA.

Teen Masters will also conduct a regular schedule of stand-alone qualifiers that youth bowlers can enter to earn spots for the National Championships. All qualifying events will determine invitations for the Teen Masters National Championships which will be conducted July 8-12 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Teen Masters conducted a landmark national championship event in 2011 that culminated with the Grand Championships being conducted on a specially-constructed lane in New York’s Grand Central Terminal where Zack Hattori of Las Vegas earned a record $64,000 scholarship.

The Teen Masters consists of four youth divisions: Boys High School, Boys Under 14, Girls High School, and Girls Under 14.

Entries are now being taken for Teen Masters qualifiers. For entry and additional schedule information visit http://www.teenmastersbowling.com/.

PBA Regional schedule that will include Teen Masters qualifiers

Midwest

March 2-4 – Pla Mor Lanes Open Presented by Brunswick, Muscatine, Iowa

March 30-April 1 – Liberty Lanes Senior Open Presented by Chuck Suda Allstate, Carpentersville, Ill.

May 18-20 – Stars & Strikes Open Presented by Ebonite, Scott AFB, Ill.

Central

April 20-22 – Grove City Open, AMF Stardust Lanes, Grove City, Ohio

May 18-20 – Baldo Campana Senior Open, Rebman Recreation, Lorain, Ohio

Southwest

March 2-4 – Etonic Open, Freedom Lanes, Duncan, Okla.

April 13-15 – Shawnee Firelake Bowling Center/Flintco Open, Shawnee, Okla.

May 18-20 – Fort Sill Open, Twin Oaks Lanes, Fort Sill, Okla.

Northwest

March 16-18 – DV8 Open, Caveman Bowl, Grants Pass, Ore.

March 30-April 1 – Tacoma Dodge Open Presented by Pawn Brokers, Paradise Bowl, Tacoma, Wash.

April 20-22 – Hawaii Storm Open, Hickam AFB, Honolulu

West

April 6-8 – Non-member Doubles Presented by Storm, South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas

April 27-29 – Earl Anthony Memorial Classic, Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl, Dublin, Calif.

East

March 23-25 – Mt. Greylock Bowl Open, North Adams, Mass.

April 5 – Kingpin Lanes Open Presented by Brunswick, Rome, N.Y.

South

March 23-25 – Fayetteville Senior Open, Lafayette Lanes, Fayetteville, N.C.

May 10-12 – Canton Open Presented by Columbia 300, Cherokee Lanes, Canton, Ga.

May 24-26 – Wild Magnolia Senior Open, Presented by Track, Sport Lanes, Martinsville, Va.

The new membership campaign introduces a new low-cost PBA24 membership specifically designed for players ages 19-24, and a new PBA International membership to grant specific PBA benefits, including the ability to win PBA Tour titles, to international players who bowl in PBA-WBT events.

“The PBA24 program is designed to make membership significantly more accessible to a vital group of talented young bowlers who have decided they are not going to bowl in college or exhausted their collegiate eligibility, and are looking for the next challenge to expand their skills,” said PBA CEO Geoff Reiss. “There is no better place to do that than in PBA competition.”

In addition to the competitive challenges, membership in the PBA includes financial advances including discounted lineage fees for practice at hundreds of bowling centers across the nation that support the PBA, discounts on the latest in bowling equipment provided by PBA’s Registered Product Companies, instructional opportunities, a membership newsletter and a number of other privileges.

“From a purely economic standpoint, PBA membership provides a wide range of benefits that vastly out-weigh the cost of membership dues,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark.

For past members, the PBA is offering a no-penalty renewal program through March 31. Reinstatement and/or initiation fees will be waived for those who restore full and standard memberships – a savings of $99 – and an amnesty program will waive up to three months of dues owed for 2010 and/or 2011. Players who rejoin by March 1 who have won a PBA Tour, Regional or Senior title at any point in their careers will be eligible to enter the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions.

New members and players who rejoin will be eligible for the new Regional Players Doubles Championship presented by Hammer (Feb. 10-12 at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas), and to receive invitations for the 2013 Dick Weber PBA Playoffs. And they will be eligible for all PBA Tour events during the 2012-13 season when the PBA returns to an open entry (non-exempt) policy for all tournaments.

The new PBA24 membership costs only $49 and includes all Standard Membership benefits plus a $50 discount off the entry fee for the player’s first PBA Regional tournament. Players must have a 200 or higher average for at least 36 games in the current league season, or a 190 or higher average in a PBA Experience or USBC Sport league, or in USBC-certified collegiate competition.

The PBA International membership costs $99 and is designed to allow international bowlers who compete in World Bowling Tour events to earn PBA titles, and to make those players eligible to bowl in the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling. International members also will be allowed to enter up to three PBA Regionals and one non-WBT PBA Tour event in the U.S. other than a World Series event.

Players who apply for PBA International membership must be members-in-good-standing in their home country’s WTBA federation. A player who wins a PBA-WBT co-branded event must upgrade to full or standard membership in order to bowl future PBA events.

The PBA also has introduced a referral program whereby existing PBA members will earn a $50 discount on a PBA Regional entry for every PBA24 member who enrolls and designates the player as his/her “sponsor.”

To join, click on the “Join PBA” link in the upper right-hand corner on pba.com’s home page.

Tournament: Alka Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters. The second of four PBA Tour majors during the 2011-12 season.

Where: Sunset Station Strike Zone, Henderson, Nev.

Purse: $250,000 prize fund. First prize: $50,000

Format: Four-player stepladder finals

Television: ESPN (live Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET)

A field of more than 300 of the world’s top PBA professionals and amateur bowlers will be narrowed to the top four players who will advance to the stepladder finals of the 2012 Alka Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters which will be telecast live on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday from Sunset Station Strike Zone in Las Vegas.

After an emotional victory in the 2011 United States Bowling Congress Masters, Tom Hess of Urbandale, Iowa, will be trying to become the first player in four decades to win back-to-back titles in one of professional bowling’s most prestigious match play events. In 2011 he defeated Jack Jurek in the championship match, 225-214, for his first Tour title.

The challenging format featured 15 games of qualifying with the top 64 players advancing to the grueling double-elimination, three-game match play rounds.

The Masters has been a breakthrough event for amateurs and professionals like Hess. But the list of Masters champion also reads like a “who’s who” of bowling, among them are: Earl Anthony (1977, 1984), Mike Aulby (1989, 1995, 1998), Ernie Schlegel (1996), Don Carter (1961), Ray Bluth (1959), Billy Welu (1964, 1965), Dick Hoover (1956, 1957), Harry Smith (1958), Norm Duke (1993), Buzz Fazio (1955), Billy Golembiewski (1960, 1962), Danny Wiseman (2004), Sean Rash (2007), Doug Kent (2002, 2007), Mike Scroggins (2005), Parker Bohn III (2001), and Walter Ray Williams Jr. (2004, 2010).

The Masters began as a Clinic and Double Elimination Tournament at the 1951 ABC Tournament in St. Paul, Minn. with a field of 32 players. Eight of the nation’s top stars were invited and matched against eight of the best bowlers from St. Paul, eight from Minneapolis and eight others from other cities in Minnesota. Lee Jouglard of Detroit won the 1951 “Eliminations,” defeating Joe Wilman of Chicago.

PBA:39X60 Post-game Show: (Free on PBA.com, PBA YouTube Channel) Sunday 2 p.m. ET – Xtra Frame interviews the winning player and provides in-depth ball rep analysis of the winner’s equipment selection and ball preparation.

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Doyle, a brain tumor survivor, got his chance to bowl with Rash through the Make A Wish Foundation. He spent more than an hour on the lanes with Rash on Jan. 28 at Sunset Station’s Strike Zone Bowling Center.

“When (Rash) first came on tour, he became my favorite,” Doyle said. “I love watching him. I want to be like him.”

Doyle, a 10th grader who carries a 208 average in his youth league, said Rash gave him some great tips about keeping good balance and working on his follow-through. Following his lesson, Doyle promptly threw six strikes in a row before leaving a solid 7 pin to end his streak.

“One thing athletes do great is give back,” Rash said. “I enjoy opportunities like this. When I was young and asked pros for help, they were always willing.

“It’s very touching to work with these kids, to see what they have to fight through. They battle through things that are life-threatening, but in reality, they’re human beings just like you and me, and that’s what matters most.”

Rash previously befriended 10-year-old Danny McCarty of Las Vegas, a victim of “brittle bone disease,” during the PBA World Series of Bowling.

CHRIS PAUL CELEBRITY INVITATIONAL “RED CARPET INTERVIEWS” NOW ONLINE

Red carpet interviews with PBA and celebrity participants in Sunday’s Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational presented by Sheets Brand can be viewed on PBA Youtube page, including a Chris Paul interview by Xtra Frame’s Jackie Bowling (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vtpxoc5TeA).

Additional interviews feature Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush, Entourage actor Jerry Ferrara, former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, teenage musical group Mindless Behavior, “The Price is Right” host Drew Carey, Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin, and PBA stars Jason Belmonte, Pete Weber, Ryan Shafer and Wes Malott. The Chris Paul special event airs just in front of the Super Bowl Sunday on ESPN, starting at 4 p.m. ET.

NEW LANE PATTERN TO HONOR DON JOHNSON AT XTRA FRAME COLUMBUS EVENT

A new Don Johnson lane conditioning pattern will be specifically created for the PBA’s Xtra Frame Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300, scheduled for Feb. 16-19 at Sequoia Pro Bowl in Columbus, Ohio. The Don Johnson pattern joins family of lane conditioning patterns the PBA has created in honor of some of its hall of fame superstars, including Earl Anthony, Dick Weber and Carmen Salvino, among others.

“The 45-foot pattern possesses excellent scoring potential if played correctly,” said PBA Deputy Commissioner Kirk Von Krueger. “Shot-making combined with choosing the correct angle of attack are both critical to success. Using too much ball surface or playing too deep could inhibit the scoring pace.”

The Xtra Frame Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 is the second of four PBA Tour events that will be webcast live, exclusively on the PBA’s online bowling channel, Xtra Frame. Full-year and monthly subscriptions to Xtra Frame are available on pba.com.

BOWER, TOMEK TEAM UP TO WIN CENTRAL REGION OVER/UNDER DOUBLES TITLE

Darryl Bower of Middletown, Pa. and partner Jim Tomek Jr. defeated Dick Gran of Hartville, Ohio and Bob Learn Jr. of Macomb, Mich., 2-1, in a best-of three-game match to win the PBA Central Region’s Legend Lanes Over/Under Doubles Classic at Legend Lanes in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Sunday.

Teams in the event were required to include one bowler age 50 or older, and one bowler under the age of 50. The title was Bower’s and Tomek’s first of the year in the PBA Central Region. It also was Bower’s 16th career PBA Regional title and Tomek’s eighth. They also split a $4,000 first prize.

Bower and Tomek won the first game against Gran and Learn, 422-400, lost the second game, 512-456, but claimed the title in the final game, 501-461.

On the Feb. 3-5 calendar are the PBA Southwest Region’s Carol “Stormin’” Norman Pro Shop U Can Bowl 2 Del Mar Lanes Open in Houston, Texas; the joint Midwest/Central Region Sparetime Lanes Senior Open presented by Allstate Insurance in Decatur, Ill., and the PBA West Region Jackson Rancheria Classic at Gold Country Lanes in Sutter Creek, Calif.

February’s schedule also includes a new Regional Players Doubles Championship presented by Hammer Feb. 10-12 at The Orleans in Las Vegas. The field will be limited to 70 teams on a first-come basis. For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

QUICK NOTES:

Veteran announcer Gary Thorne made a successful PBA Tour debut as play-by-play announcer for Sunday’s ESPN telecast of the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters, which drew the largest audience of the 2011-12 season – more than one million viewers. Thorne, who covers Major League Baseball and college football for ESPN, also is the television play-by-play voice of the Baltimore Orioles and is a renowned for his National Hockey League broadcast coverage. He replaces Rob Stone, who has taken a new position with the Fox Sports Network.

PBA Hall of Famer Brian Voss won the Columbia 300 Irish Open Tenpin Bowling Championships at Leisureplex Stillorgan in Dublin, Ireland, on Jan. 22, topping a 122-player field with a 27-game total of 6,582 pins, including match play bonus pins. Steve Kay of England finished second, 182 pins behind

Scott Salem, better known as “Scott the Engineer” to Howard Stern fans, will return to PBA competition during the 69th U.S. Open at Brunswick Zone-Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J., Feb. 20-26, and Howard TV will be on hand to cover all of Salem’s activities. Salem, an avid scratch league bowler in New Jersey, made his debut in PBA Tour competition during the 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling, generating extensive media coverage on Stern’s Sirius Radio broadcasts as well as on Howard TV.

LOS ANGELES – A “super bowl” of another kind will be televised Feb. 5 when four-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul hosts the fourth annual Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational Presented by Sheets™ Brand Sunday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Paul, who joined the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of the 2011-12 season, hosted the fundraiser which is fast-becoming a tradition during the PBA Tour season at Lucky Strike LA Live and will benefit charities supported by his CP3 Foundation.

The list of celebrities competing in the made-for-TV event include Reggie Bush (former USC star, Super Bowl winner and Miami Dolphins running back), Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers forward and reigning NBA Dunk Contest champ), Michael Strahan (NFL great, Super Bowl winner and Fox NFL Sunday analyst), Jerry Ferrara (from HBO’s Entourage), Jesse Williams (of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy), Grammy award-winning recording star Ciara, and comedian Kevin Hart.

The PBA Tour has an all-star lineup led by PBA Hall of Famer and 35-time Tour titlist Pete Weber; Jason Belmonte of Australia, one of only two players in Tour history to win a Tour title with a unique two-handed delivery; six-time Tour winner Wes Malott, and four-time winner Ryan Shafer. Storm Bowling Products is once again the official bowling equipment sponsor for the event.

The telecast includes the Celebrity Super Shootout featuring all eight celebrities bowling a one-ball eliminator competition where the bowler with the lowest pinfall is eliminated. This year’s Celebrity Invitational uses a trios Baker format where a pro is part of a team with two celebrities and the pro bowls the first, fourth, seventh and 10th frames.

Making up the trios teams are: Belmonte, Hart and Paul; Shafer, Ciara and Strahan; Weber, Ferrara and Griffin, and Malott, Williams and Bush. In the opening match, Team Belmonte faces team Shafer and in the second match Team Weber faces Team Malott with the winners facing off in the final.

The show will also feature chart-topping teen sensation Mindless Behavior who will perform music from their current hit CD, “#1 Girl,” one of the biggest selling debuts from a new artist in 2011. The group gained popularity touring with Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson, and the Backstreet Boys. Their new single "Girls Talkin’ Bout" is climbing the radio charts now.

Paul, an accomplished bowler, founded his CP3 Foundation in 2005 as a tribute to his late grandfather, Nathaniel Jones, and the Winston-Salem, N.C., community where he grew up. The foundation has provided funding for activities ranging from a scholarship program to food drives to recreational support programs for children in under-served communities in both Winston-Salem and New Orleans.

Paul and Belmonte have won back-to-back titles in the special event. Other celebrity bowlers who have participated in previous events include fellow NBA stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant and Rudy Gay; NFL stars Hines Ward, LaMarr Woodley, Jack Del Rio and Bush, and hip-hop stars Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Lil Wayne and Nelly.

Barnes went 6-0 in the double-elimination match-play bracket at Sunset Station’s Strike Zone Bowling Center and is now one more victory away from claiming his first career Masters title. The finals will be broadcast live on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday.

Barnes earned the top seed by virtue of an 806-743 victory over Mike Fagan of Dallas. Fagan, who was previously unbeaten, is the No. 2 seed for the finals. Rounding out the telecast is No. 3 seed Dan MacLelland of Canada and No. 4 seed Bryon Smith of Roseburg, Ore.

"Things definitely fell my way today," said Barnes, who finished as the runner-up to Walter Ray Williams Jr. at 2004 and 2010 Masters. "This is where I wanted to be at the start of the week. After having Walter Ray fire a 268 and a 290 at me when I was the top seed previously, I feel like this time it’s my turn. I’m a big believer that everything evens out, and I’m a long way from being even."

A victory by Barnes would make him the third Professional Bowlers Association Grand Slam winner in history, joining bowling greats Mike Aulby and Norm Duke. The Grand Slam is made up of the four majors on the PBA Tour - the USBC Masters, PBA Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open and the PBA National/World Championship.

"Winning this event is definitely a bucket list item for me," Barnes said. "This tournament is the most important one on my career list right now."

Fagan plowed through five consecutive opponents before running into Barnes in the final match to determine the top seed for the TV show. He said he was just happy that match happened when it did.

"I feel good, and I’m just happy that match with Chris came at the end and not earlier in the bracket," said Fagan, who will be seeking his first major title. "I’m just trying to play my game and not worry about any of my competitors. That’s the frame of mind I need to keep for the TV show."

As for MacLelland, he knew getting to the championship would be a grind after winning his first match and then dropping into the losers bracket. He had to win seven matches in the losers bracket, including a 746-690 victory over Chris Warren of Grants Pass, Ore., that locked up a spot on the telecast.

"My body isn’t quite what it used to be, and I knew it was going to be a grind coming into today," said MacLelland, who was a three-time collegiate bowler of the year at Saginaw Valley State. "I kept telling myself that I could do it, and I basically willed myself to the show."

Smith made the finals by overcoming a 29-pin deficit heading into the final game, rallying for a 660-625 victory against Chris Loschetter of Avon, Ohio. It’s the first time Smith has made a TV appearance since 2004 and his lone professional title came at the 2003 USBC Masters.

"My heart rate went up a couple times today, and when I was down in that last game my heart rate went up again," Smith said. "Come Sunday, I’m sure there will be some nerves. When this isn’t something you do on a regular basis anymore, it can be a bit more nerve wrecking."

The week began with 305 of the best players in the world vying for a piece of the $250,000 prize fund and $50,000 first-place prize.

2012 ALKA SELTZER PLUS LIQUID GELS USBC MASTERS
At Sunset Station Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.
Friday’s results
 
MATCH PLAY
Double elimination, three-game matches decided by total pinfall
 
ROUND 2 WINNERS BRACKET
Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., def. Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 669-630.
Mike Fagan, Dallas, def. Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 639-572.
Jon Van Hees, Charlestown, R.I., def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 676-664.
Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., def. Stuart Williams, England, 663-620.
Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, def. Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 788-622.
Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., def. Keith Odette, Waipahu, Hawaii, 637-594.
Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, def. Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 686-651.
Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., def. Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 693-688.
 
ROUND 3 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $1,900)
Dan MacLelland, Canada, def. Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 675-613.
Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., def. Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 680-666.
PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., def. Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 770-656.
Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., def. Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 721-626.
Shigeo Saitoh, Japan, def. Eric Espinda, Albuquerque, N.M., 621-586.
Steven McCracken, Parker, Colo., def. Bill Crane III, Mishawaka, Ind., 678-579.
John Szczerbinski, N. Tonawanda, N.Y., def. Paul Ashby, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 711-581.
Jason Belmonte, Australia, def. Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 750-645.
 
ROUND 4 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $2,300)
MacLelland def. Baker, 737-735.
S. Williams def. Jones, 682-567.
Wolfe def. Haggerty, 706-623.
O’Neill def. Shafer, 730-684.
Jurek def. Saitoh, 744-557.
McCracken def. Russell, 678-604.
Odette def. Szczerbinski, 613-574.
Belmonte def. Pilon, 749-625.
 
ROUND 5 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $2,900)
MacLelland def. S. Williams, 707-612.
O’Neill def. Wolfe, 682-638.
McCracken def. Jurek, 650-617.
Belmonte def. Odette, 751-677.
 
ROUND 3 WINNERS BRACKET
Fagan def. Smith, 777-685.
Warren def. Van Hees, 720-631.
Barnes def. Bohr, 692-665.
Loschetter def. Parkin, 784-605.
 
ROUND 6 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $3,700)
MacLelland def. Parkin, 763-606.
Bohr def. O’Neill, 728-566.
Van Hees def. McCracken, 595-541.
Smith def. Belmonte, 628-616.
 
ROUND 7 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $5,000)
MacLelland def. Bohr, 718-673.
Smith def. Van Hees, 703-602.
 
ROUND 4 WINNERS BRACKET
Fagan def. Smith, 756-585.
Barnes def. Loschetter, 673-669.
 
ROUND 5 WINNERS BRACKET
(Winner is top seed for ESPN stepladder finals; loser is No. 2)
Barnes def. Fagan, 806-743.
 
ROUND 8 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $7,000; winners advance to stepladder finals as No. 3 and No. 3 seeds)
MacLelland def. Warren, 746-690.
Smith def. Loschetter, 660-625.

HENDERSON, Nev. - Venezuela’s Amleto Monacelli took the lead after the first round of qualifying Tuesday at the 2012 Alka Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels United States Bowling Congress Masters by averaging 247.8 over the opening five games.

Monacelli, a 19-time PBA champion, fired 1,239 in the opening round to lead a field of 305 of the top bowlers in the country vying for a piece of the $250,000 prize fund at Sunset Station’s Strike Zone Bowling Center. The finals of the event will be broadcast live on ESPN on Jan. 29 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

Fueled by a 298 finish, Monacelli, 50, surged into the lead in the final game of the day. He began the opening round with games of 255, 226, 215 and 245. Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, sits in second with 1,225.

"This morning when I was working out something came to my mind that I wanted to change in my game today," said Monacelli, who will be inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame this April. "I wanted to accelerate a little more toward the release. That’s something I thought had been hurting me a little bit."

Another key to Monacelli’s success Tuesday was his ability to maintain a strong mental game, which is another area he has spent time working on lately.

"I’ve been working really hard to get my mental game back," said Monacelli, whose last PBA title came nearly seven years ago when he won the PBA Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Open in 2005. "I have to keep my mind clean without thoughts of the past or future. I also am trying to keep my wishes and desires out of my body, and that has helped keep my anxiety down a lot."

Rick Steelsmith of Wichita, Kan., rounded out the top three with 1,206, while Alex Aguiar of North Dartmouth, Mass., was the high non-professional in the field in fourth place with 1,179.

After struggling in the Masters in the past, Aguiar was pleased to get off to a stellar start at the event. He’s never made the cut at the Masters and put himself in good position to do so with Tuesday’s opening round total.

"This tournament has been a disaster for me in the past," said Aguiar, who won a PBA member/non-member doubles event in January with USBC Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III. "This is one of those tournaments where things haven’t gone very well for me. It’s very satisfying to come out and not have to press to knock down pins in the second round that you didn’t get in the first round."

All 305 players will return Wednesday for five additional games of qualifying before the field is cut to the top 77 for five final games of qualifying Thursday morning. The top 63 players plus defending champion Tom Hess of Urbandale, Iowa, will move on to the double-elimination match-play bracket Thursday afternoon.

The USBC Masters is a major on the PBA Tour, and the champion of the event will earn $50,000 for first place. The final four players who survive bracket play will advance to the nationally televised championship round.

2012 USBC MASTERS
At Sunset Station’s Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.
Tuesday’s Results
QUALIFYING - ROUND 1
(Five games)

1, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,239.
2, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,225.
3, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 1,206.
4, Alex Aguiar, N. Dartmouth, Mass., 1,179.
5, Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, 1,150.
6, Stuart Williams, England, 1,149.
7, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 1,146.
8, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 1,145.
9, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 1,140.
10, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 1,136.
10, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,136.
12, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 1,133.
13, Kris Koeltzow, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 1,132.
14, Keith Odette, Waipahu, Hawaii, 1,130.
14, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,130.
16, Christian Jensen, Wichita, Kan., 1,128.
17, Jason Duran, Arvada, Colo., 1,127.
17, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,127.
19, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,125.
20, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 1,120.
20, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,120.
22, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,119.
23, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 1,113.
23, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 1,113.
25, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,111.
26, Jon Van Hees, Charlestown, R.I., 1,110.
27, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 1,109.
27, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 1,109.
29, Vernon Peterson, Lake Wales, Fla., 1,108.
30, Jason Barnhouse, Maple Grove, Minn., 1,105.
31, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 1,104.
31, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 1,104.
33, Steven Badovinac, Parker, Colo., 1,103.
34, Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., 1,102.
35, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 1,101.
35, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 1,101.
37, George Brooks, Loveland, Colo., 1,099.
37, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 1,099.
39, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 1,098.
40, Kyle Barnes, Smyrna, Tenn., 1,096.
40, D.J. Archer, Port Arthur, Texas, 1,096.
42, Daniel Verdecchia, Lawrenceville, Ga., 1,095.
42, Siu Hong Wu, Hong Kong, 1,095.
44, Jessica Baker, Wichita, Kan., 1,092.
44, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,092.
46, Jeff Piroozshad, Coral Springs, Fla., 1,091.
47, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,089.
47, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 1,089.
47, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 1,089.
50, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,088.
51, Mathew Jones, Phoenix, 1,085.
52, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,084.
53, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,082.
53, Joe Salvemini, Oroville, Calif., 1,082.
55, Raul Rosales, El Monte, Calif., 1,080.
56, John Slavich IV, Schaumburg, Ill., 1,079.
57, Jason Wojnar, Chicago, 1,078.
58, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,074.
59, Shigeo Saito, Japan, 1,072.
60, James Edwards, Columbus, Miss., 1,071.
60, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,071.
60, Chris Hayden, Las Vegas, 1,071.
63, Erik Vermilyea, Mansfield, Texas, 1,069.
64, Jarrett Mizo, Honolulu, 1,067.
65, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,066.
65, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 1,066.
65, Matt McNiel, Chanhassen, Minn., 1,066.
68, Jason Poli, West Des Moines, Iowa, 1,063.
69, Manuel Otalora, Colombia, 1,057.
69, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 1,057.
71, Michael Herring, Altamonte Springs, Fla., 1,055.
72, Chad Pojas, Wahiawa, Hawaii, 1,051.
72, Nikita Koshelev, Russia, 1,051.
74, Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,050.
74, Gary Faulkner, Memphis, Tenn., 1,050.
74, Joseph Yockman, Kapolei, Hawaii, 1,050.
77, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 1,048.
78, Steven McCracken, Parker, Colo., 1,046.
79, Cameron Smith, Glendale, Ariz., 1,045.
79, Stephen Pavlinko, Sewell, N.J., 1,045.
81, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,044.
81, Michael Biederman, Post Falls, Idaho, 1,044.
83, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,043.
83, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 1,043.
85, Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 1,042.
86, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 1,040.
87, Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., 1,037.
88, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 1,036.
89, Tim Penner, Wichita, Kan., 1,035.
89, Adam Ishman, Las Vegas, 1,035.
91, Lucas Legnani, Argentina, 1,034.
92, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,033.
92, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 1,033.
92, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,033.
95, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,032.
96, Paul Ashby, Middleburg Hts., Ohio, 1,031.
96, Eric Forkel, Henderson, Nev., 1,031.
98, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 1,028.
98, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 1,028.
100, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 1,027.
100, Warren Crawford, McKinleyville, Calif., 1,027.
100, Ken Duffield, Madison, Wis., 1,027.
103, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 1,026.
104, Richard Mitchell, East Berlin, Pa., 1,024.
104, Tom Anderson, Bonney Lake, Wash., 1,024.
104, Kevin Mikalouski, Hebron, Ind., 1,024.
107, Marc Clyburn, Pittsburg, Calif., 1,023.
107, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 1,023.
109, Justin Ledwig, Floresville, Texas, 1,022.
109, Robert Gotchall, Lincoln, Neb., 1,022.
111, Alan Frederick, Las Vegas, 1,021.
112, Neil Makison, Boiling Springs, S.C., 1,020.
113, Jeremy Sonnenfeld, Sioux Falls, S.D., 1,019.
114, Frank Guccione, Castle Rock, Colo., 1,018.
114, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 1,018.
116, Tyler Wilds, Three Rivers, Mich., 1,017.
116, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 1,017.
118, Anthony Pepe, Elmhurst, N.Y., 1,016.
118, Robert Klann, San Antonio, Texas, 1,016.
118, Rob Rice, Sunnyside, Wash., 1,016.
118, Dennis Horan Jr., Oakley, Calif., 1,016.
118, Matthew O’Grady, South Amboy, N.J., 1,016.
123, Caleb Nakata, Loomis, Calif., 1,015.
123, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,015.
123, Scott Shiira, Honolulu, 1,015.
123, Jerry Pruitt, Omaha, Neb., 1,015.
123, J.T. Jackson, Sherman Oaks, Calif., 1,015.
128, J,R, Martino, McMurray, Pa., 1,014.
128, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 1,014.
130, George Gohagan III, Roswell, Ga., 1,013.
131, Mike Danielson, Portland, Ore., 1,012.
131, Ricky Schissler, Henderson, Colo., 1,012.
131, Paul Moor, England, 1,012.
131, Peter Spreadbury, Oak Forest, Ill., 1,012.
131, Aaron Ramsden, Pleasant Valley, Mo., 1,012.
136, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 1,011.
136, Dom Barrett, England, 1,011.
136, Lloyd Burleson, San Diego, 1,011.
139, Thomas Parker, Columbus, Ohio, 1,010.
140, Kevin Duncan, Mexico, Mo., 1,009.
141, Carl Labayan, Long Beach, Calif., 1,008.
141, Bill Crane III, Mishawaka, Ind., 1,008.
143, Eric Schacht, North St. Paul, Minn., 1,007.
143, Jeremy Wood, Bountiful, Utah, 1,007.
145, Eric Martinez, San Antonio, Texas, 1,006.
146, Gerald Marrs, Huntley, Ill., 1,005.
146, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Japan, 1,005.
148, Tony Biondi, Orlando, Fla., 1,004.
148, James Grago III, Rome, N.Y., 1,004.
150, Darwin Wimer, Mesquite, Nev., 1,002.
150, Michael Vasquez, Longmont, Colo., 1,002.
152, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 1,001.
152, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,001.
154, Mike Albert, Florence, S.C., 1,000.
154, Kyle King, Glendale, Ariz., 1,000.
156, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 999.
157, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 998.
158, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 997.
159, Evan Nash, Kennewick, Wash., 995.
160, Chad Newman, Richardson, Texas, 994.
160, Brian Skidmore, Albuquerque, NM, 994.
162, Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., 992.
162, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 992.
164, L. Carnate, Glendale, Ariz, 991.
164, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 991.
166, Shannon Buchan, Waterloo, Iowa, 989.
166, Bryson Rogers, Durham, N.C., 989.
166, Jacqui Reese, Roseto, Pa., 989.
169, Chad Vendeville, Euless, Texas, 988.
169, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 988.
171, Victor Torres, Elephant Butte, N.M., 987.
171, Robert Piroozshad, Brooklyn, N.Y., 987.
171, Anthony Thompson, Redding, Calif., 987.
174, Mike Bailey, Frisco, Texas, 986.
174, Gabriel Yanes, Corpus Christi, Texas, 986.
174, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 986.
177, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 982.
177, J.R. Raymond, Bay City, Mich., 982.
177, Mark Clark, Naperville, Ill., 982.
180, Takashi Kudoh, Japan, 981.
181, Daniel Hannagan, Mt. Juliet, Tenn., 980.
182, George Burruss, Gurley, Ala., 979.
182, Tish Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo., 979.
184, Artavius Clark, Oxen Hill, Md., 978.
184, Fred Mattson, University Place, Wash., 978.
184, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 978.
187, Joseph Ramsdell III, Skowhegan, Maine, 975.
188, John DeBenedetta Jr., Las Vegas, 974.
189, Jason Lee Hummell, Hermiston, Ore., 970.
190, Justin Pisarski, Pittsburgh, 969.
190, Tom Sorce, Blasdell, N.Y., 969.
192, Rob Edwards, Vancouver, Wash., 967.
192, Dustin Ochoa, San Antonio, Texas, 967.
194, George Branham III, Indianapolis, 966.
195, Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 964.
196, Kelvin Wiggins, Rocky Mt., N.C., 963.
196, Sam Maccarone, Glassboro, N.J., 963.
196, Eric Espinda, Albuquerque, N.M., 963.
199, Billy Bundza, Tucson, Ariz, 962.
200, Robert McBride, Plano, Texas, 961.
200, Cassandra Leuthold, Black Hawk, S.D., 961.
202, Brandon Kraye, LaHabra, Calif., 960.
202, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 960.
202, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 960.
205, Stephen Haas, Enola, Pa., 959.
205, George Koufakis, Orlando, Fla., 959.
205, Tim Ursillo, Spring Valley, Calif., 959.
208, David Oulman, Medford, Minn., 958.
209, Aric Nagel, Scottsdale, Ariz., 957.
210, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 956.
211, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 954.
212, Curt Schmidt, Algonquin, Ill., 952.
212, Rob Shepherd, Sierra Vista, Ariz., 952.
214, John West, Milwaukie, Ore., 951.
214, Christopher Ziesig, Hicksville, N.Y., 951.
216, Jeffrey Alan Darden, Helena, Ala., 950.
216, Mark Tarkington, Elizabeth City, N.C., 950.
218, Mitch Sacks, Jersey City, N.J., 948.
218, Billy Langford, Lone Grove, Okla., 948.
220, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 946.
221, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 944.
222, Miguel Rosales, Anaheim, Calif., 942.
222, Mike Kanada, Camarillo, Calif., 942.
222, Shinichiro Tamai, Japan, 942.
222, Elysia Current, Ephrata, Pa., 942.
226, Michael Hamilton, Miami, 941.
227, Naoyuki Iguchi, Japan, 940.
227, Rick Kouri, Castle Rock, Colo., 940.
227, Donald Barry Jr., Omaha, Neb., 940.
230, John Conroy, Mahopac, N.Y., 939.
231, Travis Celmer, Wernersville, Pa., 938.
232, Rob Herman, Las Vegas, 937.
232, Kyle Taylor, Loveland, Colo., 937.
234, Chris Viale, Westfield, Mass., 935.
234, Adam Miller, Charlotte, N.C., 935.
234, Riand Poblete, Lynnwood, Wash., 935.
237, Warren Blankenship, Ardmore, Okla., 933.
238, John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 932.
239, Joseph Nereu, New Bedford, Mass., 929.
240, Dee Dee Jeffery, Newport, Ark., 927.
241, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 925.
242, Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 923.
242, Corey Husted, Milwaukie, Ore., 923.
244, Lowell Huber, Westminster, Calif., 921.
245, Eric Tseng, Hong Kong, 920.
246, Martin Haberstich, Henderson, Nev., 919.
246, Robert Miller, Bishop, Calif., 919.
248, Don Allen III, , 918.
249, Justin Stevens, Aiea, Hawaii, 917.
249, Michael Monyak, Las Vegas, 917.
251, Ryan Losli, Portland, Ore., 914.
252, Don Wright, Casper, Wy., 913.
253, Jack Zuniga, Tulsa, Okla., 911.
254, Larry Lanehart, Eagle River, Alaska, 909.
255, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 908.
256, Tracy Teeters, Beaverton, Ore., 905.
257, Ralph Solan, Harvest, Ala., 904.
258, Kenneth Bland Jr., Germany, 903.
259, James Delacerda, Natchitoches, La., 902.
260, James Peryea, Mooers, N.Y., 900.
261, Rick Rucker, Rock Falls, Ill., 899.
261, Scott Peterson, Oceanside, Calif., 899.
263, Robert Lee, Japan, 898.
264, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 897.
264, Nicholas Amrein, Hillsboro, Ore., 897.
266, David Taylor, Largo, Fla., 896.
266, Michael Teahl, Las Vegas, 896.
268, Daniel Du, Tinley Park, Ill, 895.
269, Scott Brown, Lehi, Utah, 894.
270, Stoney Burke Jr., Rio Rancho, N.M., 893.
271, Michael Mullin, Congers, N.Y., 891.
272, Adam Allen, Spokane, Wash., 889.
273, Philip Layral, Fairbanks, Alaska, 886.
274, John Reed, Pueblo, Colo., 884.
275, Kevin Cook, Casper, Wyo., 882.
276, Derek Swanson, Las Vegas, 881.
277, Harold Hill Jr., San Diego, 878.
277, David Labinski, Milwaukee, 878.
279, Thomas Wolf, Bismarck, N.D., 876.
280, Daniel Struzynski, Dunkirk, N.Y., 875.
281, Devin Bidwell, Simi Valley, Calif., 872.
281, Steven Smith, San Diego, 872.
283, Toshiyuki Kaneko, Japan, 868.
284, Riley Dempsey, Avondale, Ariz., 864.
285, Camerson Potts, Hicksville, N.Y., 862.
286, Brandi Wolfe, Tempe, Ariz., 861.
287, Chris Helton, Fountain, Colo., 855.
288, Daniel Miyamoto, Mililani, Hawaii, 848.
289, William Bell, Roy, Utah, 847.
290, John Schriner, Middletown, Md., 846.
291, Cody Reichenberger, Sarasota, Fla., 840.
292, Chris Hook, Mira Loma, Calif., 837.
293, Chad Lusche, Arvada, Colo., 833.
294, Justin Lynn, St. Charles, Mo., 827.
295, Shane Gillmore, Mayflower, Ark., 825.
296, Dale Lee Lookabaugh, New Kensington, Pa., 822.
297, Robert Danevich, Gilbert, Ariz., 818.
297, Richard Lista, Colorado Springs, Colo., 818.
299, Sean Terry, Chino, Calif., 788.
300, Nicole Ellison, Chatsworth, Calif., 787.
301, Gary Smalling, Johnson City, Tenn., 785.
302, Raymond Gaunt, LaPuente, Calif., 775.
303, Dave Terwilliger, Gilbert, Ariz., 774.
304, Dru Schott, Grants, N.M., 684.
305, William Williams, Stafford, Va., 676.

Barnes went 6-0 in the double-elimination match-play bracket at Sunset Station’s Strike Zone Bowling Center and is now one more victory away from claiming his first career Masters title. The finals will be broadcast live on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday.

Barnes earned the top seed by virtue of an 806-743 victory over Mike Fagan of Dallas. Fagan, who was previously unbeaten, is the No. 2 seed for the finals. Rounding out the telecast is No. 3 seed Dan MacLelland of Canada and No. 4 seed Bryon Smith of Roseburg, Ore.

"Things definitely fell my way today," said Barnes, who finished as the runner-up to Walter Ray Williams Jr. at 2004 and 2010 Masters. "This is where I wanted to be at the start of the week. After having Walter Ray fire a 268 and a 290 at me when I was the top seed previously, I feel like this time it’s my turn. I’m a big believer that everything evens out, and I’m a long way from being even."

A victory by Barnes would make him the third Professional Bowlers Association Grand Slam winner in history, joining bowling greats Mike Aulby and Norm Duke. The Grand Slam is made up of the four majors on the PBA Tour - the USBC Masters, PBA Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open and the PBA National/World Championship.

"Winning this event is definitely a bucket list item for me," Barnes said. "This tournament is the most important one on my career list right now."

Fagan plowed through five consecutive opponents before running into Barnes in the final match to determine the top seed for the TV show. He said he was just happy that match happened when it did.

"I feel good, and I’m just happy that match with Chris came at the end and not earlier in the bracket," said Fagan, who will be seeking his first major title. "I’m just trying to play my game and not worry about any of my competitors. That’s the frame of mind I need to keep for the TV show."

As for MacLelland, he knew getting to the championship would be a grind after winning his first match and then dropping into the losers bracket. He had to win seven matches in the losers bracket, including a 746-690 victory over Chris Warren of Grants Pass, Ore., that locked up a spot on the telecast.

"My body isn’t quite what it used to be, and I knew it was going to be a grind coming into today," said MacLelland, who was a three-time collegiate bowler of the year at Saginaw Valley State. "I kept telling myself that I could do it, and I basically willed myself to the show."

Smith made the finals by overcoming a 29-pin deficit heading into the final game, rallying for a 660-625 victory against Chris Loschetter of Avon, Ohio. It’s the first time Smith has made a TV appearance since 2004 and his lone professional title came at the 2003 USBC Masters.

"My heart rate went up a couple times today, and when I was down in that last game my heart rate went up again," Smith said. "Come Sunday, I’m sure there will be some nerves. When this isn’t something you do on a regular basis anymore, it can be a bit more nerve wrecking."

The week began with 305 of the best players in the world vying for a piece of the $250,000 prize fund and $50,000 first-place prize.

2012 ALKA SELTZER PLUS LIQUID GELS USBC MASTERS
At Sunset Station Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.
Friday’s results
 
MATCH PLAY
Double elimination, three-game matches decided by total pinfall
 
ROUND 2 WINNERS BRACKET
Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., def. Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 669-630.
Mike Fagan, Dallas, def. Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 639-572.
Jon Van Hees, Charlestown, R.I., def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 676-664.
Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., def. Stuart Williams, England, 663-620.
Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, def. Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 788-622.
Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., def. Keith Odette, Waipahu, Hawaii, 637-594.
Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, def. Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 686-651.
Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., def. Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 693-688.
 
ROUND 3 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $1,900)
Dan MacLelland, Canada, def. Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 675-613.
Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., def. Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 680-666.
PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., def. Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 770-656.
Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., def. Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 721-626.
Shigeo Saitoh, Japan, def. Eric Espinda, Albuquerque, N.M., 621-586.
Steven McCracken, Parker, Colo., def. Bill Crane III, Mishawaka, Ind., 678-579.
John Szczerbinski, N. Tonawanda, N.Y., def. Paul Ashby, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 711-581.
Jason Belmonte, Australia, def. Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 750-645.
 
ROUND 4 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $2,300)
MacLelland def. Baker, 737-735.
S. Williams def. Jones, 682-567.
Wolfe def. Haggerty, 706-623.
O’Neill def. Shafer, 730-684.
Jurek def. Saitoh, 744-557.
McCracken def. Russell, 678-604.
Odette def. Szczerbinski, 613-574.
Belmonte def. Pilon, 749-625.
 
ROUND 5 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $2,900)
MacLelland def. S. Williams, 707-612.
O’Neill def. Wolfe, 682-638.
McCracken def. Jurek, 650-617.
Belmonte def. Odette, 751-677.
 
ROUND 3 WINNERS BRACKET
Fagan def. Smith, 777-685.
Warren def. Van Hees, 720-631.
Barnes def. Bohr, 692-665.
Loschetter def. Parkin, 784-605.
 
ROUND 6 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $3,700)
MacLelland def. Parkin, 763-606.
Bohr def. O’Neill, 728-566.
Van Hees def. McCracken, 595-541.
Smith def. Belmonte, 628-616.
 
ROUND 7 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $5,000)
MacLelland def. Bohr, 718-673.
Smith def. Van Hees, 703-602.
 
ROUND 4 WINNERS BRACKET
Fagan def. Smith, 756-585.
Barnes def. Loschetter, 673-669.
 
ROUND 5 WINNERS BRACKET
(Winner is top seed for ESPN stepladder finals; loser is No. 2)
Barnes def. Fagan, 806-743.
 
ROUND 8 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $7,000; winners advance to stepladder finals as No. 3 and No. 3 seeds)
MacLelland def. Warren, 746-690.
Smith def. Loschetter, 660-625.

HENDERSON, Nev. - Rick Steelsmith of Wichita, Kan., earned high-qualifier honors Thursday after 15 games at the 2012 Alka Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels United States Bowling Congress Masters.

The 1987 Masters champion finished qualifying with 3,505, an average of 233.6, and will face defending champion and No. 64 seed Tom Hess of Urbandale, Iowa, in the opening round of the double-elimination match-play bracket at Sunset Station’s Strike Zone Bowling Center.

Steelsmith, who earned $1,000 for being the top qualifier, finished 76 pins ahead of second-place finisher Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas. Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, finished third with 3,424.

The top 63 players from the final qualifying standings advanced to match play. Two-time champion Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., earned the final spot with 3,148, an average of 209.8.

Match play begins at 4 p.m. Pacific on Thursday with three rounds of matches on the schedule. By the end of the day, only 32 players will remain in the field and stay alive heading into Friday’s match-play rounds.
The week began with 305 of the best players in the world vying for a piece of the $250,000 prize fund. The Masters will conclude Sunday with the nationally televised stepladder finals at 12:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

2012 USBC MASTERS
At Sunset Station’s Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev., Thursday’s Results
QUALIFYING - ROUND 3 (15 games)
1, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 3,505.
2, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 3,429.
3, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,424.
4, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3,382.
4, D.J. Archer, Port Arthur, Texas, 3,382.
6, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3,376.
6, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,376.
8, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 3,375.
9, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 3,372.
9, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 3,372.
11, Alex Aguiar, N. Dartmouth, Mass., 3,361.
12, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,354.
13, Stuart Williams, England, 3,344.
14, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 3,335.
15, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 3,313.
16, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 3,311.
17, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3,300.
18, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 3,293.
18, Steven Badovinac, Parker, Colo., 3,293.
20, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 3,286.
20, Jon Van Hees, Charlestown, R.I., 3,286.
22, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 3,279.
23, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 3,276.
24, Eric Espinda, Albuquerque, N.M., 3,271.
25, Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, 3,265.
26, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 3,257.
27, Keith Odette, Waipahu, Hawaii, 3,254.
28, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 3,253.
29, Matt McNiel, Chanhassen, Minn., 3,252.
30, Kris Koeltzow, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 3,249.
31, Siu Hong Wu, Hong Kong, 3,246.
32, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 3,241.
33, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3,237.
34, Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., 3,222.
35, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 3,219.
35, Shigeo Saito, Japan, 3,219.
37, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,213.
38, John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 3,210.
39, Paul Ashby, Middleburg Hts., Ohio, 3,206.
40, Steven McCracken, Parker, Colo., 3,203.
41, Mike Danielson, Portland, Ore., 3,192.
42, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 3,189.
43, Robert Gotchall, Lincoln, Neb., 3,188.
44, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,187.
45, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 3,184.
46, Bill Crane III, Mishawaka, Ind., 3,180.
47, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 3,179.
47, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,179.
49, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 3,175.
50, Mathew Jones, Phoenix, 3,174.
50, Jason Duran, Arvada, Colo., 3,174.
52, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 3,171.
53, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 3,169.
54, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 3,166.
55, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 3,165.
56, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,163.
57, Vernon Peterson, Lake Wales, Fla., 3,162.
58, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 3,157.
59, Kyle Barnes, Smyrna, Tenn., 3,154.
60, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 3,149.
60, John Slavich IV, Schaumburg, Ill., 3,149.
60, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3,149.
63, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,148.

DID NOT ADVANCE
64, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 3,138, $1,200.
65, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 3,137, $1,100.
66, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 3,136, $1,100.
67, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,132, $1,100.
68, Jeff Piroozshad, Coral Springs, Fla., 3,131, $1,100.
69, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 3,121, $1,050.
70, Eric Forkel, Henderson, Nev., 3,114, $1,050.
71, Michael Herring, Altamonte Springs, Fla., 3,105, $1,033.
71, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,105, $1,033.
71, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 3,105, $1,033.
74, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 3,099, $1,000.
75, Jason Barnhouse, Maple Grove, Minn., 3,087, $1,000.
76, Cameron Smith, Glendale, Ariz., 3,038, $1,000.
77, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 3,028, $1,000.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — Throwing his traditional rocket to the pocket, Eugene McCune of Munster, Ind., successfully defended his PBA Cheetah Open presented by Ebonite title Sunday at Fountain Bowl.

McCune, who was the top qualifier for the stepladder finals, defeated PBA Hall of Famer and 35-time Tour titlist Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., 245-229, in the championship match for his third career win.

“Anytime I can play outside on the lane and throw it hard it plays in my favor,” said McCune who estimated he was throwing the ball at a little over 20 miles per hour. “It’s old school and that’s where I feel most comfortable.”

McCune won his second career title last season when, as tournament leader, he defeated Norm Duke, 238-237, to win the Cheetah Championship. It was during the match play round of that event that McCune broke the PBA nine-game scoring record with a 2,468 pinfall (274.22 average). In this year’s Cheetah Open, conducted on PBA’s Cheetah lane conditioning pattern, he averaged 253 for the tournament.

“When I bowl on this condition there’s a little pressure because I know I need to take advantage of it,” he added. “I was a little worried after the first two frames of the tournament when I had open frames but I went to a different ball and made a couple of other adjustments and got back on track.”

McCune was the first player to successfully defend a Tour title since Chris Barnes won back-to-back events in Columbus, Ohio, in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.

The landmark Cheetah Open was the first PBA Tour event streamed live exclusively on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel. Three more Xtra Frame events are scheduled during the remainder of the season.

“It was going to be a good match because he’s one of the best on this pattern and I match up real well in this house,” said Weber, who was trying for his 36^th Tour title. “It was a good match for a while until I had a couple bad shots.”

Weber defeated fellow Hall of Famer Duke in the opening stepladder match, 237-226, to advance to the semi-final against Josh Blanchard of Gilbert, Ariz., who was rebounding after his fall on the approach during the PBA World Championship Mike Aulby Division Final telecast on ESPN two weeks ago. Weber defeated Blanchard in the semifinal 248-165.

PBA CHEETAH OPEN PRESENTED BY EBONITE

Fountain Bowl, Fountain Valley, Calif., Sunday

FINAL STANDINGS:

1, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., one game, 245 pins, $10,000

2, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., three games, 714 pins, $5,000

3, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., one game, 165 pins, $3,000

4, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., one game, 226, $2,500

PLAYOFF RESULTS:

Match One – Weber def. Duke, 237-226

Semifinal match – Weber def. Blanchard, 248-165

Championship match – McCune def. Weber, 245-229

MATCH PLAY RESULTS

After 22 games, including match play records and bonus pins. Top four advanced to stepladder finals

1, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 8-5, 5,814.
2, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 10-3, 5,809.
3, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 7-6, 5,806.
4, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 7-6, 5,692.
5, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 9-4, 5,684, $2,300.
6, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 6-7, 5,651, $2,100.
7, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 6-7, 5,641, $2,100.
8, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 7-6, 5,620, $1,800.
9, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 6-7, 5,606, $1,750.
10, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 8-5, 5,602, $1,800.
11, Stuart Williams, England, 8-5, 5,596, $1,650.
12, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 8-5, 5,592, $1,800.
13, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 5-8, 5,554, $1,550.
14, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 3-10, 5,535, $1,700.
15, a-Shigeo Saitoh, Japan, 8-5, 5,515, $1,450.
16, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 5-8, 5,475, $1,600.
17, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 6-7, 5,424, $1,550.
18, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 8-5, 5,417, $1,300.
19, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 4-9, 5,364, $1,275.
20, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 5-8, 5,338, $1,238.
20, a-Lowell Huber, Westminster, CA, 7-6, 5,338, $1,238.
22, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 6-7, 5,313, $1,300.
23, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 6-7, 5,259, $1,175.
24, a-Takashi Kudoh, Japan, 3-10, 5,147, $1,150.

a = amateur

300 games

Danny Wiseman (2), Bill O’Neill (2), Jesse Buss (2), Norm Duke, Michael Haugen Jr., Martin Larsen

ARLINGTON, Texas - After an emotional victory at the 2011 United States Bowling Congress Masters, Tom Hess of Urbandale, Iowa, thinks the key to his chances of successfully defending his title is keeping those emotions in check.

Hess was tearful and exuberant after defeating Jack Jurek of Lackawanna, N.Y., 225-214, to win last year’s title at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. When the 2012 Masters begins Tuesday at Sunset Station’s Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas, Hess will have around 300 bowlers looking to dethrone him.

“I’m ready to try and defend, and hopefully I can find the same kind of magic that I found last year,” said Hess, whose victory last year was his first title on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. “The key is to keep my emotions a little more level. I don’t want to have the big peaks and valleys in the short matches.”

Though his goal is to keep his emotions in check, Hess knows that when they announce him as the reigning champion before his first squad that he’s likely to get a little teary-eyed once again.

“I can imagine when they go through and announce the previous winners of the Masters at the start of the first squad, that is going to be a pretty emotional moment and take me back to the day when I won last year,” Hess said. “It was a childhood dream of mine to win on the PBA Tour. I never thought it would take until I was 41 to get that done, and to win was an amazing accomplishment.”

It has been more than four decades since anyone has repeated as champion at the Masters. It’s only been done twice and Billy Welu was the last to do it in 1965. So Hess knows history won’t be on his side as he takes to the lanes next week.

“Do I think I can do it? Absolutely,” Hess said. “But that stat right there just goes to show how hard it is to win back-to-back. If I go out and perform like I know I can perform, I like my chances.”

All participants will bowl two five-game blocks of qualifying Jan. 24 and 25 before the first cut is made to the top 25 percent of the field. After another five games the morning of Jan. 26, the top 63 bowlers will join Hess in match play, which continues until the top four bowlers are determined for the TV finals. The stepladder finals will take place at 12:30 p.m. Eastern on Jan. 29 and will be broadcast live on ESPN.

The Masters, which is one of four majors on the PBA Tour, also is a part of the World Bowling Tour organized by the World Tenpin Bowling Association. For more information on the Masters, visit BOWL.com/masters.

The Bayer Viper Open is the first of four PBA “animal pattern” championships conducted during the PBA World Series of Bowling at South Point Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas. ESPN will air the finals at 3 p.m. ET (noon PT).

The Cheetah Open is the first of four Xtra Frame Tour events that will be covered live, exclusively on the PBA’s online bowling channel. Sunday’s coverage from Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley, Calif., begins with a six-game round of head-to-head match play for the top 24 qualifiers at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) followed by a seven-game match play round at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT). The top four will advance to the Cheetah Open stepladder finals at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT).

Mike Fagan of Dallas, a two-time PBA Tour champion, will head the field of four for the eliminator-format finals of the Viper Open. Fagan averaged 242.36 for 14 qualifying games to advance to the finals. He’ll bowl against England’s Stuart Williams, Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., and Ildemaro Ruiz of Venezuela for the Viper title.

Eliminator-format finals feature three one-game rounds. All four players bowl the opening game, with the lowest-scoring player after each game being eliminated. Fagan, 31, is a nine-year PBA Tour veteran who won his last title in the 2010 One A Day Dick Weber Open, held at Fountain Bowl. Rash, 28, is a four-time PBA Tour winner who is seeking his first title since the 2007 USBC Masters. Williams and Ruiz are making their second PBA television appearances. Neither has won a PBA Tour title.

The Xtra Frame Tour Cheetah Open presented by Ebonite gets underway on Saturday with nine qualifying games that will reduce the estimated field of 150 players to 24 for Sunday’s head-to-head match play competition. Saturday’s qualifying rounds also will be webcast live on Xtra Frame.

Eugene McCune of Munster, Ind., won the 2010 Cheetah Open during the PBA World Series of Bowling at South Point Lanes in Las Vegas, nipping Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., 238-237, in the title match. But Fagan won the last event hosted by Fountain Bowl, defeating Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., 241-213, for the title.

The winners of both events Sunday will earn berths in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions, April 8-15, at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas.

To watch the Cheetah Open, bowling fans must subscribe to Xtra Frame. One-month subscriptions are available for $7.99 and full-year subscriptions are $64.99. To sign up, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

Event: PBA World Series of Bowling

Tournament: PBA World Championship Finals

Where: South Point Hotel Exhibition Hall, Las Vegas

Purse: $542,120, winner’s share: $50,000 and Earl Anthony trophy

Eliminator Format: Four finalists will bowl a one-game match. The player with the lowest score will be eliminated. The three survivors will bowl another game, with the low man ousted. The two finalists will then bowl in the championship match.

Each finalist won a Division final to advance to Championship.

Television: ESPN (Sunday at 1 p.m. ET)

Finland’s Osku Palermaa and Australia’s Jason Belmonte, two-handed players of almost the same age who developed their unique styles half a world apart, will join 25-year PBA Tour veteran Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., and 29-year-old Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., in the battle for the $50,000 first prize and a major title.

Palermaa, won his only PBA Tour title in the GEICO Shark Championship during the 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling. Palermaa, who defeated Stuart Williams, Dom Barrett and Jack Jurek to win the Don Carter Division berth, is trying for his first major title.

Belmonte hasn’t won a title since his first PBA Tour victory in the 2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic. He also is looking for his first major title after rolling a 300 game on his way to winning the Mike Aulby Division over Brian Kretzer, Josh Blanchard and Mike Fagan.

Shafer is a four-time PBA Tour title winner who wants to end his record streak of 12 consecutive top five finishes in PBA majors without a title. Shafer eliminated Andres Gomez, Ildemaro Ruiz and Tom Smallwood in the Billy Hardwick Division.

Rash is the only finalist who has won a major (the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Masters), but he hasn’t won a title in eight television appearances since then. Rash dominated the 40 qualifying games leading into the World Championship elimination rounds, averaging 234 on five different PBA lane conditions. As the top qualifier in the finals field, he has selected the Scorpion lane oiling pattern, the same pattern he selected for the Johnny Petraglia Division when he eliminated Pete Weber, Ryan Ciminelli and Nathan Bohr.

Last Season: Chris Barnes captured his 13th PBA Tour title and became the sixth player in PBA history to earn a lifetime Triple Crown (victories in PBA World Championship, U.S. Open and PBA Tournament of Champions) by defeating Bill O’Neill, 267-237, at South Point Bowling Center on Jan. 16, 2011.

PBA:39X60 Pre-game Show: (Free on PBA.com, PBA YouTube Channel) Tune into PBA.com’s Xtra Frame for interviews with the finalists as they give their insight into strategy and equipment selection.

PBA:39X60 Post-game Show: (Free on PBA.com, PBA YouTube Channel) Sunday 2:30 p.m. ET – Xtra Frame interviews the winning player and provides in-depth ball rep analysis of the winner’s equipment selection and ball preparation.

Xtra Frame Coverage: Exclusive individual PBA World Championship qualifying rounds of the Bayer Viper Open (8 games), Chameleon Open (8 games), Scorpion Open (8 games), GEICO Shark Open (8 games) and World Championship Cashers Qualifying (8 games) are available at www.xtraframe.tv

Social Networking on PBA Facebook/Twitter: Follow PBA Tour Commissioner Tom Clark “tweets” live during ESPN telecasts.  Follow PBA social networking through PBA on Facebook and Twitter for exclusive photos, videos and information, click the links to PBA.com provide greater details and information on PBA players, tournaments and news.

E-mail: Get on the PBA E-mail list to receive news, alerts and offers directly to your inbox.

To ‘like’ the Professional Bowlers Association on Facebook, visit PBA.com and click the Facebook icon.

To ‘follow’ the PBA on Twitter, visit PBA.com and click on the Twitter icon.

To ’subscribe’ to PBA’s YouTube Channel, visit PBA.com and click on the YouTube icon.

To ’subscribe’ to PBA.com’s Xtra Frame, online Bowling Channel click on the Xtra Frame logo on the PBA homepage.

Sixteen PBA Tour players, based upon competition points at the close of the current season, will earn automatic berths in a field that will include top Japan and Korean PBA competitors, and international amateurs. An additional four PBA players will receive special invitations from the host organization.

“We could not be more pleased with this renewed partnership with the Japan PBA and look forward to bringing fresh energy to one of bowling’s pinnacle events worldwide,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. “Our players will be excited for the opportunity to compete, participating sponsors will gain great value from their association and the resulting action on the lanes will undoubtedly thrill fans once again.”

"We are very happy with the return of the Japan Cup, in a new way,” said Japan PBA President Ritsuko Nakayama.

The 2012 Japan Cup will be held Nov. 29-Dec. 2 in Tokyo, with preliminary qualifying at Minami-Suna Bowling Center followed by additional qualifying, match play and television finals at Shinagawa Princess Hotel Bowling Center.

The tournament will offer a total of just over $285,000 in prize money, including a $78,000 first prize and a PBA Tour title. Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C., is defending champion.

The Japan Cup originated as the Japan Gold Cup in 1968. The late PBA Hall of Famer Don Johnson won the inaugural event. In the 25 years that PBA players have been invited to the event, it has been won 23 times by PBA pros and twice by Japan PBA players. Walter Ray Williams Jr. is the only player who has competed in all 25 Japan Cup tournaments.

Considering how well Rash and Belmonte had bowled in the World Series, a lot of folks (including me) were expecting nothing but a final featuring the two newly minted rivals, but Shafer and Osku had other plans. As you saw in the Pre-game warmup for the show, the bowlers were striking at will on the Rash-chosen Scorpion oil pattern and many people (including Storm/Roto-Grip ball rep Chris Schlemmer) expected a high-scoring affair, but the lane oil had other plans for that as well.

MATCH 1

Fans who might have been hoping for an all two-hander final had their hopes dashed in the opening match. Rash and Shafer zoomed out to games of 245 and 236, leaving the slow-starting two-handers behind to duel for the third and final spot in the next round. Coming down the stretch, Belmonte - who started hot and then suffered through some mid-game transition and a couple of poor shots - seemed to get it together heading into the final two frames. But he slammed a very familiar-looking stone 7 (a carbon copy of the one he left to lose the Plastic Ball Championship in 2009) in the 9th and finished with a 203. Osku, needing a double to advance or strike nine-spare to tie was forced to the second option when his second shot in the 10th left a pesky 10-pin. Luckily, Osku throws it 30 mph on his spare attempts because the only thing that looked like it could’ve knocked that 10-pin over on his spare shot was the wind as the ball blew by the 10-pin. After paramedics came in to defribrillate Osku’s heart (just kidding, but mine definitely would have stopped) Belmonte and the burly Finn went to a one-ball sudden death roll-off.

Belmonte elected to lead off and left the bucket on a shot that sailed wide on him. Needing just 7 or better, Osku packed a strike and joined the others in the next match. According to Belmonte’s Facebook page, the loss was “bitterly disappointing” and was really a big missed opportunity, considering the conventional wisdom that he gets tougher to beat in the eliminator format the longer he stays on the show. But the rest of the players heeded Randy and Chris Barnes’ advice and got him out of there early.

MATCH 2

The second match of the day was a virtual dead heat all the way into the 9th, as all three players fought transition that was seeing their balls hook too early in the front and not enough on the back part of the lane. Rash looked like he might have it figured out until a wicked 7-10 split jumped up in his 9th frame and doomed him to a 193 score. After the miss, Osku caught a double for 217 and Shafer, looking to join Palermaa in the final, finally got the break he’s been waiting for in 50 long TV appearances, rolling the 2-pin in consecutive shots in the 9th and 10th for 222 to secure his spot in the title match.

It was a cruel ending for Rash, after his complete domination of the qualifying rounds and really a pretty good game here in the finals. His consolation is that he has five more appearances over the rest of the World Series telecasts and clearly, the respect of his fellow competitors for what he was able to accomplish at South Point.

MATCH 3

As is often the case on these eliminator-format telecasts (and is also true in any show where more than one two-hander makes the finals), the longer it goes, the more the conditions favor the two-handed player. The reasons are detailed in this blog, and, using that logic, one would assume that Osku would have the advantage over Shafer heading into the final, due to the former’s ability to generate the revs necessary to get left of the front-lane burn and around the back-end oil. But Shafer definitely has a few tricks up his sleeve, especially one that his fellow players refer to as “Voodoo roll” that allows the crafty veteran to stay right longer than most other players, thanks to his unique release.

But as the game progressed, it was clear that both players would need to make adjustments in order to combat the rapidly-changing environment, and heading into the 8th frame, both players were pacing sub-200 scores. Shafer made a good move (a ball change coupled with a move to the left) to give himself a chance to strike, but couldn’t figure out the carry part of the equation, leaving flat-10s in the 8th and 9th to give Palermaa the opening he needed. After sniffing around all game, Osku found something late and put together a double in the 9th and 10th to shut out Shafer with a score of 203.

And just like that, Osku Palermaa became the second player from Finland - and the first two-hander - to win a PBA major title. The win was a huge boost for Palermaa, and caps off a great stretch in both his professional and private life that has seen him welcome a daughter into the world and now cash his biggest PBA check. And for those of you who think Palermaa lacks a little something in the personality department, check out this post-show interview and his cheeky, confident smile and sense of humor. It may be a little on the dry side, but it is definitely there.

Well, the year’s first major is now in the books, but that doesn’t mean there is not a huge amount of PBA-related things going on in the near future. The animal pattern finals now begin on ESPN, starting with the Bayer Viper Open next Sunday at 3pm ET (note the time change). Also airing Saturday and Sunday on Xtra Frame is the first-ever Xtra Frame Tour event - where a National title will be contested and awarded entirely on your online bowling channel. Don’t miss a moment of the action and subscribe to Xtra Frame now (for just $7.99 a month or get a day pass for just $3.99) to see the champion crowned at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley, California!

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LOS ANGELES – Four time NBA All-Star Chris Paul has a new team and a new home, and he will once again join forces with the Professional Bowlers Association to host the Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational presented by Sheets™ Brand to benefit charities supported by his CP3 Foundation.

Paul, who joined the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of the 2011-12 season, will host the fourth annual fundraiser at Lucky Strike LA Live (800 W. Olympic Blvd., across from the Staples Center) on Thursday, Jan. 12, from 7-10 p.m. PT. Red carpet and pre-show activities will begin at 6:30 p.m.

“The Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational (presented by Sheets™ Brand) is a focal point and one of the highlights of the year for the CP3 Foundation,” said Paul. “We’d like to thank the PBA, Lucky Strike LA Live, ESPN, event sponsors Sheets™ Brand and Storm Bowling Products, and all the participants for making what is becoming an annual tradition for the CP3 Foundation and its charities. It’ll be a lot of fun and I expect to defend my title.”

To date, the following celebrities confirmed to participate include Paul, Reggie Bush (former USC star, Super Bowl winner and Miami Dolphins running back), Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers forward and reigning NBA Dunk Contest champ), Michael Strahan (NFL great, Super Bowl winner and Fox NFL Sunday analyst), Jesse Williams (of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy) and comedian Kevin Hart. The made-for-television event which will be taped for broadcast by ESPN on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, at 4 p.m. ET, just ahead of the Super Bowl telecast.

Chart-topping teen sensation Mindless Behavior will perform music from their current hit CD, “#1 Girl,” one of the biggest selling debuts from a new artist in 2011. The group gained popularity touring with Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson, and the Backstreet Boys and create a frenzy wherever they go. Their new single "Girls Talkin Bout" is climbing the radio charts now.

The PBA Tour will also have an all-star lineup led by PBA Hall of Famer and 35-time Tour titlist Pete Weber; Jason Belmonte of Australia, one of only two players in Tour history to win a Tour title with a unique two-handed delivery; six-time Tour winner Wes Malott, and four-time winner Ryan Shafer. Storm Bowling Products will once again be the official bowling equipment sponsor for the event.

The event is open to the public and information for purchasing tickets may be obtained by calling Lucky Strike LA Live at 213.542.4886 or emailing jennifer.itagaki@bowlluckystrike.com. Ticket prices are $75, $125 and $225.

Paul, an accomplished bowler who often refers to bowling as his second-favorite sport, founded his CP3 Foundation in 2005 as a tribute to his late grandfather, Nathaniel Jones, and the Winston-Salem, N.C., community where he grew up. The foundation provides funding for activities ranging from a scholarship program to food drives to recreational support programs for children in under-served communities in both Winston-Salem and New Orleans.

“The Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational has grown to be one of our most anticipated events every year,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. “Chris and his fellow superstar friends love bowling with our stars and the PBA is proud to partner with the Paul family on behalf of the CP3 Foundation, which continues to brighten kids’ lives.”

Paul and Belmonte have won back-to-back titles in the special event. Celebrity bowlers who have participated in previous events include fellow NBA stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant and Rudy Gay; NFL stars Hines Ward, LaMarr Woodley, Jack Del Rio and Bush, and hip-hop stars Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Lil Wayne and Nelly.

A 300 game by Jason Belmonte! A tight finish between Mike Fagan and Brian Kretzer for the last spot in the title match. And a harrowing fall by rookie Josh Blanchard made this week’s show by far the most talked-about telecast of the season.

Let’s get right to the action because this group was fighting for the last of four spots (Osku Palermaa, Ryan Shafer and Sean Rash nailed down the first three) in the PBA World Championship finals next week on ESPN. Our opening match, unlike the scorefests we’ve seen the last two weeks, illustrated the difficulty of the Shark oil pattern (Belmonte’s choice), with no one really looking 100% comfortable and two players (Belmonte and Blanchard) looking very lost indeed.

Blanchard began to unravel after flagging a 7-pin in the 2nd, following that miss up with two more open frames to give the rest of the guys a chance to breathe. Belmonte gave Blanchard hope however, as he struggled for the opening five frames, only holding on to an 18-pin advantage at the halfway point. Fagan was able to stay out of trouble throughout the match, while Kretzer, who likes to play well left with slow speed, seemed to have the best look of the finalists early.

As the match wore on, Belmonte settled down and began to hammer the pocket. Two rock-solid 9-pins after a double kept him from pulling away from Blanchard, but the young, recently graduated collegiate star just couldn’t find it. When he left the 2-10 in the 9th, any outside chance he might have had went by the wayside, but on the spare attempt things went from bad to worse for poor Josh.

Throwing a brand-new spare ball, Blanchard hung up in the thumb - and I’m talking HUNG UP - as in, it didn’t come off his hand. The momentum of the ball carried Blanchard awkwardly out onto the lane surface, where he then slipped and fell right on his keyster between the right edge of the lane and the right gutter. Like a gentleman, Belmonte went out to check if he was OK - he was - but the real damage was undoubtedly more to Blanchard’s ego.

I can tell you that the moment was just as scary live as it was on tape - and equally as shocking. I wish I could say that I’ve never seen anything like this before - but I have. I did it myself during a PBA regional event. Of course, when I did it no one was there with a video camera (let alone ten HD ESPN cameras) and it didn’t end up on youtube or yahoo’s home page or Sportscenter.

One fan wondered on Facebook why the PBA didn’t edit out the moment from the telecast to spare Josh the ignominy. My feeling on that is that Josh will make many more shows in the future and will experience a lot of success in the sport. Omitting it would have robbed Josh of the ability to gain new fans, plus what will be the satisfaction of redeeming himself the next time he finds himself under the TV lights.

The show went on in Match 2, and Randy and Chris Barnes’ astute observation that Jason Belmonte would start to get comfortable the longer he stayed on the show began to come true in a big way. Belmonte (and really everyone through the first half of the game) started to get lined in and the strikes began to mount. Both Fagan and Kretzer slowed down in the latter part of the match, but Belmonte continued to strike, staying perfect heading into the 10th. He threw three great shots there to cap off an astounding display of accuracy and power that saw him become the 21st player in PBA history to roll a 300 game on television (and a $10,000 bonus).

It was probably also the only time in PBA history that a televised match was not decided after the first player to finish shot 300. That’s because Fagan and Kretzer were still close heading into the 10th. Kretzer finished first and had a chance to close out the match with 9 pins on his fill ball. He threw a rocket at the pocket that bounced off the headpin like Rodney Dangerfield’s shot in this Miller Lite commercial (look for a cameo from the late, great Don Carter) and left a pocket 8-10. Fagan needed three strikes to tie. So what does he do? HE MAKES A BALL CHANGE!

That’s right folks. A ball change. (A move that Chris Barnes said he liked and I also happened to agree). Fagan guessed right and struck on the first one, but the second shot hooked a bit high for a 4-pin, giving Kretzer a 231-220 win and the chance to get slaughtered by - oops, I mean - to bowl against, Belmonte.

Although Belmonte did begin to lose his reaction in the middle and then again towards the end of the final match, Kretzer seemed to be the one suffering from a “300 hangover” as he never was able to figure anything out in the title match. Belmonte’s quick start buried Kretzer early and, by the time things started to get really interesting for Belmonte, he just needed to stay clean in the 9th and 10th to lock up the match. He did so, winning 196-179, and now we have an unbelievably great final four for next week’s competition for the first major of the PBA season.

See you all next week!

PS - And if you’re also upset that a guy falling down got more coverage in the national media than a guy throwing a 300 on TV with two freaking hands, then feel free to vent your frustrations in the direction of those responsible!

For more from The Bowling Guy, follow him on Facebook here.

Belmonte, who won his only PBA Tour title in the 2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic, followed his game-two perfect effort with a less-than-perfect 196-179 victory over Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio, to capture the final berth in the World Championship finals at South Point Hotel Exhibition Hall.

Each of the divisional elimination contests consist of three one-game rounds, starting with four players. The lowest-scoring player after each game is eliminated.

In Sunday’s ESPN telecast, Belmonte was fortunate to survive the opening game. Kretzer’s 231 led the opening round. Mike Fagan of Dallas was second with a 194, Belmonte struggled through a pair of open frames for a 188, but PBA rookie Josh Blanchard of Gilbert, Ariz., had even more problems in his PBA television debut, posting a 139 game to get eliminated.

Belmonte righted his ship in game two, however, earning a $10,000 bonus for his perfect game. Kretzer’s second consecutive 231 game was enough to eliminate Fagan, who started with five strikes but failed to convert the 3-6-10 in the ninth frame and finished with a 220.

Belmonte maintained his poise into the final game, striking on four of his first five shots. He failed to convert the 5-10 and 6-7-10 splits in the eighth and ninth frames, but by that time, Kretzer’s inability to string strikes proved to be his downfall.

“The struggle was to forget about the 300 because you have one more game to bowl,” Belmonte said. “You kinda want those games as your last game, not second-to-last, but I was so thrilled it was difficult to put it behind me and work on the next game. I actually thought about it in the second frame. It just popped into my head and I threw a really bad shot. But the next three or four frames were OK, so I kind of loosened up.

“Then the lanes started playing tricks with me, but Brian was having troubles as well. I was fortunate he didn’t find the look that would allow him to strike. If that game had gone on another four or five frames, I don’t know what would have happened.”

Belmonte will join Finland’s Osku Palermaa, winner of the Don Carter Division; Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., winner of the Billy Hardwick Division, and Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., winner of the Johnny Petraglia Division in the World Championship finals on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 1 p.m. ET. At stake will be a $50,000 first prize, the first major title of the 2011-12 PBA Tour season, and a berth in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions.

The Aulby finals were conducted on the PBA’s Shark lane condition, selected by Belmonte as the high qualifier in his group.

A special World Championship pre-game show will be webcast on the Wednesday on pba.com’s Xtra Frame and a post-game Xtra Frame interview with the winners will immediately follow the Sunday telecast.

PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

MIKE AULBY DIVISION FINALS

South Point Exhibition Hall, Las Vegas

Round One (lowest score eliminated): Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 231; Mike Fagan, Dallas, 194; Jason Belmonte, Australia, 188; Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 139 ($4,000).

Round Two (lowest score eliminated): Belmonte 300, Kretzer 231, Fagan 220 ($4,500).

Championship (winner advances to PBA World Championship finals): Belmonte def. Kretzer ($5,000), 196-179.

SEATTLE – The Professional Bowlers Association has announced that veteran ESPN sportscaster Gary Thorne will replace Rob Stone as ESPN’s play-by-play voice for the three remaining PBA Tour majors during the 2011-12 season.

Stone, the originator of the famous “hambone” for four strikes in a row and other bowling colloquialisms to describe the action on the lanes, will be leaving ESPN to join FOX Sports primarily as lead studio host for FOX’s soccer coverage.

Thorne is currently a play-by-play announcer for ESPN, working Major League Baseball and College football. He is also the television play-by-play voice of the Baltimore Orioles and is best known for his work on ESPN’s coverage of the NHL.

Thorne will do play-by-play for the three remaining PBA majors beginning with the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels United States Bowling Congress Masters later this month in Las Vegas, continuing with the U.S. Open in February and the Tournament of Champions in April. Stone will continue to work the remaining World Series of Bowling ESPN-taped telecasts this season and will also do play-by-play for Thursday’s taping of the Chris Paul Celebrity PBA Invitational presented by Sheets™ Brand in Los Angeles.

PBA Hall of Famer Randy Pedersen will remain as ESPN PBA Tour color analyst.

“My time with the PBA Tour has been an absolute and unexpected blast,” said Stone. “There have been so many memories and friendships over the last five years that it’s a grueling effort to call it quits with PBA and ESPN. I will really miss everyone.”

“We are glad to have Rob continue to call the remainder of the World Series of Bowling events this year and wish him well in his new position with FOX," said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. "Over the past five years Rob has provided the soundtrack for some of the greatest moments in PBA Tour history and we are thankful for the passionate approach he took to the position.

“We are very fortunate to have, and look forward to working with, Gary for the rest of this season’s majors,” Clark added.

The Aulby Division winner will join Finland’s Osku Palermaa; Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., and Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., in the World Championship finals on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 1 p.m. ET. At stake will be a $50,000 first prize, the Earl Anthony Trophy and the PBA Tour’s first major title of the 2011-12 season.

All competition will be conducted on a pair of lanes specially installed in an exhibit hall at South Point Hotel and Casino.

Belmonte, 28, hasn’t won a title since his first PBA Tour victory in the 2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic propelled him to 2009-09 PBA Rookie of the Year honors. During the 40-game qualifying portion of the PBA World Championship, he finished third behind Rash and Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Mich., averaging 226.18 for five rounds on five different lane conditions. He will be joined in the Aulby elimination round by Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio; rookie Josh Blanchard of Gilbert, Ariz., and Mike Fagan of Dallas.

Kretzer won his only PBA Tour title in the 2010 Go RVing Match Play Championship. Fagan is a two-time title winner. His most recent victory was in the 2010 One A Day Dick Weber Open. Blanchard, a former Wichita State University star, joined the PBA in October and won a PBA West Region Non-Champions tournament in Reno, Nev., in his first appearance as a member. Sunday’s telecast will be his PBA Tour television debut.

In the Aulby eliminator event, all four players will bowl a one-game match with the lowest scoring player eliminated. The three survivors will bowl a second game, again with the low man knocked out. The two finalists will bowl a final game to determine who will advance to the World Championship finals.

The four World Championship divisional finals have been named for PBA superstars who excelled in the event during their careers. Palermaa won the Don Carter Division berth, Shafer the Billy Hardwick Division title and Rash topped the Johnny Petraglia Division. The championship trophy is named in honor of Anthony, the only player ever to win the event six times.

A preview of the Aulby Division finals will be webcast on pba.com’s Xtra Frame beginning Wednesday, and a post-game show will be presented on Xtra Frame immediately following Sunday’s ESPN finals.

Carter rocketed to fame during bowling’s so-called golden era of team bowling in the 1950s, but at that same time he was a dominant figure in the emerging world of sports television. He is widely remembered as a member of fabled Budweisers of St. Louis, but most of the world got to know him through his appearances on television shows like Jackpot Bowling, Make That Spare, Championship Bowling and numerous others. He also traveled the world making appearances for Brunswick and Budweiser.

In great part due to his high standing among his fellow competitors, Carter became a leading force in the formation of the PBA in 1958. After appearing on an Akron, Ohio, radio program hosted by attorney Eddie Elias where he talked about the importance of building a professional bowling tour similar to what golf had created, Carter and his fellow Budweisers’ teammates (Dick Weber, Ray Bluth, Tom Hennessey and Pat Patterson) convinced a group of other players to pledge $50 each to back Elias’ plan and get the PBA off the ground.

The PBA was launched in 1959 with three tournaments, but only three years later it had a schedule of 32 events and Carter was one of its stars, eventually winning seven PBA titles including six major championships.

Carter won two of the seven PBA Tour events conducted in 1960 including the PBA National Championship. His other major wins were four BPAA All-Star titles (the forerunner of the PBA U.S. Open) and the 1961 American Bowling Congress Masters. He also won a record five World Invitational titles – a grueling 100-game marathon – and he won four ABC Tournament titles.

The St. Louis native first experienced the sport at age 13.

“We were very poor but my mother managed to give me one game of bowling for my 13th birthday,” Carter said in an article written by the late Hall of Fame bowling writer and long-time friend Dick Evans. “That was the biggest birthday present of my life. I enjoyed that one game so much that when one of my teachers started a bowling club after school, I signed up. Then I started setting pins so I could bowl and practice for free.”

It was at that early age that he also developed his unique, unorthodox bowling style, using a bent elbow and a deep knee bend to almost push the ball down the lane. Carter later said his technique evolved because he started bowling with balls that had very large finger holes, and that’s the only way he could hold onto the ball.

Carter also was a good athlete in other sports, including baseball. After serving a tour of duty in the United States Navy during World War II in the South Pacific, Carter signed a minor league baseball contract with the Philadelphia Athletics organization as pitcher-infielder. But after a year he returned to St. Louis and took a job at Golden Eagle Lanes where he began taking up the sport seriously.

His bowling career gained momentum in 1951 when he was invited to bowl on the Pfeifer Beer team in Detroit. Then his long-time St. Louis bowling friends, including Bluth, Hennessey and Whitey Harris, convinced Anheuser-Busch to sponsor their team. With the brewery’s financial backing secured, the group lured Carter back to town and their Budweiser team became arguably the most famous bowling team in history. A great deal of the team’s fame came after it recorded a 3,858 five-player team series in 1958, a record that stood until 1994.

At the height of his fame, Carter was as recognizable among American sports heroes as Mickey Mantle, Johnny Unitas and Arnold Palmer. And he accomplished something none of those sports legends had ever done when he became the first athlete in American sports history to sign a $1 million sports marketing endorsement contract with bowling ball manufacturer Ebonite in 1964.

Carter received virtually every honor available within the sport. He was voted Bowler of the Year six times (1953, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1960 and 1962). He served as the PBA’s first president. He was inducted into the ABC Hall of Fame in 1970, alongside his close friend and teammate Dick Weber, and he was a charter member of the PBA Hall of Fame in 1975, also joined by Weber, Bluth, Carmen Salvino, Harry Smith and Billy Welu.

Carter was selected as the Greatest Bowler of All-time in a 1970 Bowling Magazine poll, ranked second in Bowling Magazine’s “20 Greatest Bowlers of the 20th Century” poll in 2000, and he was voted the 11th greatest PBA player of all-time as part of the organization’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2009.

Because of deteriorating knee injuries, Carter retired from PBA competition in 1972 and settled in Miami, Fla., with wife and fellow hall of fame bowler Paula Sperber where he owned a chain of bowling centers bearing his name.

Because he hated to fly, and didn’t like public speaking, Carter rarely ventured far from home in retirement, although he did regain widespread public exposure in the 1980s when he appeared in a series of Miller Lite commercials featuring retired sports stars.

Carter is survived by his wife, Paula; son Jim (Nancy) of Winter Garden, Fla.; daughter Caycee Carter of Winter Garden, Fla.; adopted son John Carter, Miami; three grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Details regarding memorial services are pending.

Tributes to Carter began to arrive almost immediately:

TOM CLARK, PBA COMMISSIONER:

“It is impossible to put into words what Don Carter meant to the PBA and sport of bowling. There is no way to fill the void left by his passing. Our deepest sympathies to his wife Paula and his family. He was a pioneer, a champion and will never be forgotten."

RAY BLUTH, BUDWEISERS’ TEAMMATE AND FELLOW HALL OF FAMER:

“It’s a sad day. You’re never really prepared, and when you think of how many guys we had on our team over the years, I’m the only original and Bill (Lillard), who joined later, are the only ones left.

“Don was the greatest bowler of his era. There was no one like him. Don was the star of the (Budweisers). He was our leadoff man. He wasn’t too gung-ho about that role, but he kept getting strikes and so did the rest of us, so he stayed there. It was just a great experience bowling with Don.”

BILL LILLARD, BUDWEISERS’ TEAMMATE AND FELLOW HALL OF FAMER:

“He’ll be missed. He was a great guy; he was hard to get to know, but once you did, he was your friend forever. They always ask who was the best bowler ever. There wasn’t much difference between some of the top guys, but Don beat me relentlessly, so in my eyes, he was the greatest ever.”

CARMEN SALVINO, FELLOW PBA HALL OF FAME CHARTER MEMBER:

“Don was one of the greatest bowlers who ever lived, but he had some other things that made him great. He was a great athlete. He won two 100-game tournaments in one year and I don’t know how many other bowlers could take that kind of punishment. And he had the ability to focus better than anyone I’ve ever seen.

“On the lanes, he was in his own world, but off the lanes, he was a true gentleman. I had a lot of respect for him, as a bowler and as a man.”

CHUCK PEZZANO, PBA HALL OF FAME BOWLING WRITER AND HISTORIAN: 

“I believe he was the greatest bowler that ever lived. He was a master of any condition, great in the clutch and great coming from behind. He had all the attributes of a great athlete. He was there to bowl and to win. I often thought that if I could build a robot of the perfect bowler, I would take most of the parts from Don Carter.

“He wasn’t really emotional, but I never saw him so emotional as when he was honored as one of PBA’s 50 greatest players. One thing that many people didn’t know was that he was very compassionate and helped a lot of people who might have fallen on hard times during his career.”

NELSON (BO) BURTON JR., PBA HALL OF FAMER AND LONG-TIME TELEVISION ANNOUNCER

"Don was probably the greatest practicer our sport has ever seen. He was very strong, an excellent athlete. Carter had an aura about him. When he walked into the bowling center it was like, ‘He’s here.’"

Australia’s two-handed star, Jason Belmonte, leads the field of four players in Sunday’s Mike Aulby Division finals. He will be joined in the Aulby elimination round by Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio; rookie Josh Blanchard of Gilbert, Ariz., and Mike Fagan of Dallas.

Belmonte hasn’t won a title since his first PBA Tour victory in the 2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic propelled him to 2009-09 PBA Rookie of the Year honors. Kretzer won his only PBA Tour title in the 2010 Go RVing Match Play Championship. Fagan is a two-time title winner. His most recent victory was in the 2010 One A Day Dick Weber Open. Blanchard, a former Wichita State University star, joined the PBA in October and won a PBA West Region Non-Champions tournament in Reno, Nev., in his first appearance as a member. Sunday’s telecast will be his PBA Tour television debut.

The Aulby Division winner will join Finland’s Osku Palermaa, Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., and Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., in the World Championship finals on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.

In Sunday’s division finals, all four players will bowl a one-game match. The player with the lowest score will be eliminated. The three survivors will bowl another game, with the low man knocked out. The two finalists will bowl a final game, with the survivor advancing to the World Championship finals.

The Mike Aulby finals is named after the PBA Hall of Famer, 29-time PBA Tour champion and winner of the 1979 and 1985 PBA National Championships.

Three easy steps to enhance your PBA World Championship telecast experience:

1. Free Xtra Frame Mike Aulby finals preview show (now available on pba.com’s Xtra Frame) - Tune into pba.com’s Xtra Frame for interviews with the finalists as they give their insight into strategy and equipment selection. All World Championship preview shows on Xtra Frame are available the Wednesday before each Sunday ESPN telecast for free.

2. Sunday, 1 p.m. ET – ESPN telecast of the Mike Aulby Division final from South Point in Las Vegas.

3. Sunday 2:30 p.m. ET – Xtra Frame post-tournament show interviews the winning player and provides in-depth ball rep analysis of the winner’s equipment selection and ball preparation. (Xtra subscription information is available on the pba.com Xtra Frame page.)

Bowling fans can provide their feedback on World Championship telecasts through PBA’s social networking platforms on Facebook and Twitter.

And rumor has it the Bridgestone spot may be included in the Super Bowl advertising lineup.

“It’s an ad campaign for Bridgestone tires that relates the performance of their products to different sports, and they use athletes to get their message across,” Kulick said. “I’m very excited to be asked to represent the PBA and bowling in the campaign.”

Bridgestone has prepared a series of teaser ads, including a 60-second “Press Conference” introduction that debuted during Monday’s Bridgestone National Hockey League Winter Classic telecast from Philadelphia. (A link to the introductory commercial is available on pba.com under the “In The News” tab).

While the debut “Press Conference” commercial only includes a unique bowling ball that appears to be made of Bridgestone tire material, and a “cameo” head shot of Kulick, “There’s more to come,” she said.

RASH HOSTS 17TH “STARS OF FUTURE” YOUTH EVENT

Sean Rash was 13 years old when he decided to host his first scratch bowling tournament for Alaska’s most accomplished youth bowlers. On Dec. 27, he returned to Jewel Lake Bowl in Anchorage to assist with the 17th edition of the Sean Rash Stars of the Future tournament.

Rash is one of a growing number of PBA Tour stars who are giving back to the sport by hosting youth scholarship tournaments to encourage young bowlers to continue their growth within the sport.

While Rash won his own event six times, 10 other teens have captured the title over the years, including Jacques Kaune who topped a field of 26 Alaskan youth bowlers to win this year’s event. For his efforts, Kaune earned $950 in scholarship money plus a paid entry into the USBC’s 2012 North Pointe Junior Gold National Championships courtesy of Rash’s parents, Gene and Diana Rash.

For the 2011 event, $2,600 in scholarship money raised the event’s overall total to more than $24,000 in scholarship awards. It also has become a tradition to provide each tournament entrant with a gift, frequently donated by Rash’s fellow PBA and/or former Team USA competitors.

LIMITED REGIONAL SCHEDULE RESUMES IN JANUARY FOR SENIORS

A limited schedule for PBA Regional activity resumes for Midwest and Central senior players in January and early February, including the T-Byrd Lanes Senior Open in Rochelle, Ill., Jan. 6-8; the Lynwood Bowl Senior Open in Lynwood, Ill., Jan. 20-22, and the Sparetime Lanes Senior Open, Feb. 3-5, in Decatur, Ill. All three events are sponsored by Allstate Insurance.

The PBA Central Region also will conduct the Legend Lanes Regular/Senior Doubles Classic in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Jan. 27-29.

February’s highlight for non-senior players will be the new Regional Players Doubles Championship presented by Hammer Feb. 10-12 at The Orleans in Las Vegas. For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

XTRA FRAME FREE PRE-GAME SHOW NOW FEATURES MIKE AULBY DIVISION FINALS

Xtra Frame, PBA’s official online bowling channel, continues its free pre- and post-game shows this week with the PBA World Championship Mike Aulby Division finals, beginning with a pre-game introduction that is currently available on pba.com.

Pre-game shows for all PBA Tour events will be online on Wednesday afternoon preceding each Sunday telecast. A post-game show, featuring an interview with the tournament champion(s) and a discussion of equipment used during the finals, will be posted immediately after the telecast.

Xtra Frame subscribers also can access the archives within Xtra Frame for a recap of the individual tournaments leading up to the Sunday telecasts. For information on how to subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

PBA Tour star Sean Rash, the Brunswick Corporation, Best Buddies Nevada and PBA, provided eight-year-old Dan McCarty of Las Vegas with the thrill of a lifetime when he rolled out the ceremonial first ball prior to the start of Sunday’s Johnny Petraglia Division Finals of the PBA World Championship telecast on ESPN.

Dan’s story is a special one as he lives with a disease called osteogenisis imperfecta also known as brittle bone disease which requires that he be confined to a wheelchair.

Prior to the start of the World Series of Bowling, Rash, a four-time Tour winner, participated in a Brunswick photo shoot where ‘Best Buddies’ were invited to attend.

Rash and McCarty hit it off right from the start and it wasn’t long before an invitation to attend the Petraglia Division finals was extended by Brunswick and PBA for McCarty to be part of the pre-tournament festivities.

Being confined to a wheelchair didn’t prevent McCarty, who was wearing one of Rash’s signature yellow Brunswick shirts, from rolling out the first ball with a little help from Rash and ESPN PBA Tour color analyst Randy Pedersen.

“Danny and I were just sitting there chatting and I said, hey, do you want to bowl?,” Rash said, “He asked if he’d be allowed to do it and I said I didn’t know why not, so we got a ball and threw a few shots. The next thing I knew his parents asked if he could come to the show, and I told them I had no problem with that. When you look at what that kid’s been through, he’s such an inspiration.”

McCarty must have been an inspiration indeed as Rash won the Petraglia Division finals advancing to the World Championship finals on Jan. 15.

In addition to rolling the ceremonial first ball, McCarty and his family were treated to a limousine ride from their home to the South Point Hotel and Resort, given VIP front-row box seating, access to the Brunswick media lounge, dinner at the South Point plus and autographed Sean Rash jersey, Brunswick Viz-A-Ball and an opportunity to meet the entire Brunswick/DV8 Pro Staff.

Best Buddies is a non-profit organization whose mission is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-on-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For more information on Best Buddies, visit their website at www.bestbuddies.org.

Rash, who won his only major title in the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Masters, defeated PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., 246-222, to capture the third of four berths in the World Championship finals at South Point Hotel Exhibition Hall.

The divisional finals consist of three one-game rounds, starting with four players. The lowest-scoring player after each game is eliminated.

Rash will join Finland’s Osku Palermaa, winner of the Don Carter Division; Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., winner of the Billy Hardwick Division, and the winner of next Sunday’s Mike Aulby Division finals in the World Championship finals on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 1 p.m. ET. The PBA World Championship offers a $50,000 first prize and the first major title of the 2011-12 PBA Tour season.

Rash, a four-time PBA Tour winner who is trying to end a four-year title slump, survived a high-scoring opening game led by Weber’s 279. Left-hander Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., was second with a 267 and Rash posted a 257. Nathan Bohr of Wichita, Kan., rolled a respectable 236 in his PBA television debut, but was eliminated.

Rash took command in game two, starting with nine strikes before leaving the 6-10 on his first shot in the 10th frame and finishing with a 278 game. Weber was right behind, starting with eight strikes on his way to a 268. Ciminelli was ousted after rolling a 219 game.

In the final game, Weber lost the strike pocket for four frames, allowing Rash to jump into a 34-pin lead after five frames, and he never let the 35-time PBA Tour titlist back into the match.

“I think we broke down the lanes extremely well,” Rash said. “Ciminelli was all by himself on the left side. Nathan played a little right of where Pete and I were playing. We were in the track area and just chased the transition to the left. Pete’s got a phenomenal ball roll. He can do things the rest of us can’t. But I got into a little groove and my confidence got higher and higher.”

Rash said beating Weber was a “special thing” because of a bond the two have developed ever since Rash arrived on the scene.

“Pete and I have been friends since I came out on tour,” he said. “A lot of people figure I’m the new bad-(boy), the role Pete played for 25-or-so years. He has given me a lot of great advice, to be who I am, not worry about what people think and not try to change. When I’m on the lanes I’m by myself. The only people I care about are my wife and family. But to beat Pete is a special thing.”

Rash also will head into the PBA World Championship finals with a dark cloud hanging over his head. He has not won a title in his last eight television appearances.

“I’ve had some mental issues over the years. Everyone knows that,” he said. “I’ve had some things come up bowling-wise, family-wise that get in the way of the sport sometimes. And some personal things. Physically, I bowled well for several years, but I remember Chris Barnes made 12 shows in a row and never won. Look at Amleto (Monacelli) and Walter (Ray Williams Jr.) and they had years between titles. Chris Barnes told me a long time ago – and Parker Bohn the same thing – that you have to put yourself in position to win. No one remembers who bowled Friday night in the Round of 32. You remember the guys who got to TV on Sunday and had a chance to win. And now I’m in position to win again.”

Rash also noted he was inspired during the Petraglia round by the presence of new-found friend Dan McCarty, an 8-year-old who was born with a medical condition commonly called “brittle bone disease.” Rash met the youngster during a “Best Buddies” gathering in Las Vegas prior to the PBA World Series of Bowling, struck up a friendship and invited McCarty to attend the television show.

“It was a thrill to have Danny at the show,” Rash said. “When you realize what that kid’s been through, what he lives with his entire life, he’s such an inspiration.”

The Petraglia finals were conducted on the PBA’s Scorpion lane condition, selected by Rash as the high qualifier.

The Mike Aulby Division finalists will be the final group to bowl, on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. Australia’s Jason Belmonte is top qualifier for that group which also includes Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio; PBA Tour rookie Josh Blanchard of Gilbert, Ariz., and Mike Fagan of Dallas.

Special pre-game shows for each World Series of Bowling telecast will be webcast beginning on the Wednesday preceding the ESPN finals on pba.com’s Xtra Frame and a post-game Xtra Frame interview with the winners will immediately follow the Sunday telecasts.

PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

JOHNNY PETRAGLIA DIVISION FINALS

South Point Exhibition Hall, Las Vegas

Round One (lowest score eliminated): Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 279; Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 267; Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 257; Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 236 ($4,000).

Round Two (lowest score eliminated): Rash 278, Weber 268, Ciminelli 219 ($4,500).

Championship (winner advances to PBA World Championship finals): Rash def. Weber ($5,000), 246-222.

The Petraglia Division is the third of four eliminator rounds that will reduce a field of 16 PBA World Championship finalists down to four for the Sunday, Jan. 15, showdown for the $50,000 first prize, the Earl Anthony Trophy and the PBA Tour’s first major title of the 2011-12 season.

All World Championship competition will be conducted on a pair of lanes specially installed in an exhibit hall at South Point Hotel and Casino.

Rash, 29, dominated the 40-game qualifying portion of the PBA World Championship, averaging 234.03 on five different lane conditions and topping No. 2 qualifier Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Mich., by 296 pins. As the top qualifier in the Petraglia Division, Rash has selected the PBA’s Scorpion lane condition as the scoring environment for Sunday’s round. Rash’s competition will include PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo.; third-year player Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., and non-titlist Nathan Bohr of Wichita, Kan., who will be making his PBA television debut. The Petraglia Division is the only group in the World Championship elimination rounds without an international player.

Rash is a four-time PBA Tour champion, but he has not won a title since the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Masters. Ciminelli won his only title in the 2011 One A Day Earl Anthony Memorial. Weber, on the other hand, is a 35-time PBA Tour title-winner with eight majors. The rest of the PBA World Championship field has won a combined 17 titles including two majors.

In the eliminator round, all four players will bowl a one-game match. The player with the lowest score will be eliminated. The three survivors will bowl another game, with the low man knocked out. The two finalists will bowl a final game with the survivor advancing to the World Championship finals.

The four World Championship divisional finals have been named for PBA superstars who excelled in the event during their careers. Finland’s Osku Palermaa won the Don Carter Division berth and Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., captured the Billy Hardwick Division title. The Mike Aulby Division finals will conclude the preliminary rounds on ESPN on Jan. 8. Aulby Division competitors will be Jason Belmonte, Australia; Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio; Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., and Mike Fagan, Dallas.

The PBA World Championship trophy is named in honor of Anthony, the only player ever to win the event six times.

A preview of the Petraglia Division finals will be webcast on pba.com’s Xtra Frame beginning Wednesday, and a post-game show will be presented on Xtra Frame immediately following Sunday’s ESPN finals.

SEATTLE  – Ricart Ford in Columbus, Ohio, will be the title sponsor of the Professional Bowlers Association’s Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300, Feb. 17-19 at Sequoia Lanes in Columbus. The tournament will be the third of four PBA Tour Xtra Frame tournaments on the 2011-12 PBA Tour schedule.

The tournament will be webcast live, exclusively on pba.com’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel, from start to finish.

The newly-created Xtra Frame Tour will also include the Cheetah Open presented by Ebonite, Jan. 21-22, in Fountain Valley, Calif.; the Detroit Open presented by Track, March 11-12, in Allen Park, Mich., and the Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer, March 31-April 1, in Indianapolis. PBA Tour titles and berths in the Round of 36 for the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions will be awarded in all four events.

The PBA Ricart Ford Open will also offer a $10,000 first prize. The tournament is open to all comers with a $350 entry fee for PBA members and a $400 fee for non-members. It will pay a prize fund of $66,000 based on a field of 130, with one in three players cashing.

Kicking off the tournament weekend on Feb. 16 will be the fourth annual Don Johnson Memorial team fundraising event benefiting juvenile diabetes research and the Nationwide Children’s Hospital of Columbus which has raised over $110,000 in the three previous years. The tournament will also feature a lineup of pro-ams on Feb. 17. Additional information regarding these special events will be released as further details become available.

Thanks to the extensive live online coverage of Xtra Frame Tour events, PBA fans will be able to witness the pressures and drama of a complete PBA Tour event from qualifying through match play, concluding with the stepladder finals.

Xtra Frame also will provide live coverage of the preliminary rounds of the Tour’s three major championships: the USBC Masters, Jan. 23-29, in Las Vegas; the U.S. Open, Feb. 20-26 in North Brunswick, N.J., and the PBA Tournament of Champions, April 8-15, in Las Vegas.

Xtra Frame is available for a $7.99 monthly or 12-month subscription rate of $64.99 which includes year-round coverage of PBA activities, including PBA Tour, Senior Tour and selected PBA Regional events. The full-year package provides subscribers with hundreds of player and industry leader interviews, new product introductions, coaching tips and human interest features, and access to Xtra Frame’s huge archive of past PBA events plus much more.

To sign up for Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo. Xtra Frame’s 2011-12 programming schedule includes:

2011-12 XTRA FRAME LIVE PBA TOUR SCHEDULE

Jan. 21 - PBA Xtra Frame Tour Cheetah Open presented by Ebonite (qualifying)
Jan. 22 - PBA Xtra Frame Tour Cheetah Open presented by Ebonite (match play, finals)
Jan. 24 - USBC Masters (qualifying)
Jan. 25 - USBC Masters (qualifying)
Jan. 26 - USBC Masters (cashers Round, match play)
Jan. 27 - USBC Masters (match play)
Feb. 17 - PBA Xtra Frame Tour Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 (qualifying)
Feb. 18 - PBA Xtra Frame Tour Ricart Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 (match play, finals)
Feb. 21 - 69th U.S. Open (qualifying)
Feb. 22 - 69th U.S. Open (qualifying)
Feb. 23 - 69th U.S. Open (qualifying)
Feb. 24 - 69th U.S. Open (cashers round, match play)
Feb. 25 - 69th U.S. Open (match play)
March 9 - PBA Xtra Frame Tour Detroit Open presented by Hammer (qualifying)
March 10 - PBA Xtra Frame Tour Detroit Open presented by Hammer (match play, finals)
March 31 - PBA Xtra Frame Tour PBA Dick Weber Playoffs presented by Track (qualifying)
April 1 - PBA Xtra Frame Tour Dick Weber Playoffs presented by Track (eliminator rounds, regional finals, conference finals)
April 9 - PBA Tournament of Champions (Champions rounds)
April 10 - PBA Tournament of Champions (Elite qualifying)
April 11 - PBA Tournament of Champions (Elite qualifying, cashers round)
April 12 - PBA Tournament of Champions (Round of 36)
April 13 - PBA Tournament of Champions (match play)

The second All-In Showdown of the season follows the inaugural event held during the PBA World Series of Bowling, where Tommy Jones topped a field of eight players, including Sean Rash in the final two-game match of the BowlersDeals.com All-In Showdown, 446-426, for a $45,000 payoff.

The new Xtra Frame Tour Cheetah Open presented by Ebonite is set for Jan. 20-22, starting with practice and pro-ams on Friday plus the renewal of the All-In Showdown at 2:30 p.m. PT. The All-In Showdown, along with Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s match play rounds, will be webcast live, exclusively on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel (for subscription details, visit pba.com).

Instead of the WSOB “survival” format where half of the field advanced in each round, the Fountain Valley Showdown will feature two-game, head-to-head elimination matches. Opponents and lane assignments will be decided by blind draw. Competition will be conducted on the PBA’s Cheetah pattern.

The Fountain Valley version of the All-In Showdown will be slightly different than the World Series version: while the entry fee remains $5,000 and the winner will take the full prize fund, entries will be accepted in blocks of two, four or a maximum of eight to ensure there will be no “bye” rounds. Example: if three players enter, the third player will be placed on standby until a fourth entry is paid. If there are four entries, entries no. 5, 6 and 7 will be on standby until a capacity field of eight is achieved.

Players can enter the Xtra Frame Tour Cheetah Open on pba.com. Players can enter the All-In Showdown by calling Barb Wilt at the PBA office (206-654-6025). Entries will be accepted on a first-come basis.

XTRA FRAME FREE PRE-GAME SHOW TO FEATURE JOHNNY PETRAGLIA DIVISION FINALS

Xtra Frame, PBA’s official online bowling channel, continues its free pre- and post-game shows next week with the PBA World Championship Johnny Petraglia Division finals, beginning with a pre-game introduction that will debut on Wednesday on pba.com. The Petraglia Division, the third of four elimination rounds leading up to the January 15 PBA World Championship finals on ESPN, features top qualifier Sean Rash, PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber, third-year Tour player and one-time titlist Ryan Ciminelli and journeyman Nathan Bohr who is making his PBA TV debut.

Pre-game shows for all PBA Tour events will be online on Wednesday afternoon preceding each Sunday telecast. A post-game show, featuring an interview with the tournament champion(s) and a discussion of equipment used during the finals, will be posted immediately after the telecast.

Xtra Frame subscribers also can access the archives within Xtra Frame for a recap of the individual tournaments leading up to the Sunday telecasts. For information on how to subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

LORD & LORD CLAIM PBA SOUTH REGION DOUBLES TITLE

George Lord of Lakeland, Fla., and his son James Lord of Ft. Mill, S.C., swept PBA Hall of Famer Tom Baker, King, N.C., and 13-time PBA Tour titlist Patrick Allen, Baltimore, in the best-of-three-game title match Sunday at Wayne Lanes in Waynesboro, Va., to win the PBA South Region Decker Appraisal Service Doubles presented by Hammer.

The Lords won the first doubles games, 447-373, and put the title away with a 459-396 victory in game two. The win was George Lord’s second in senior regional competition and the first for his son, who also became eligible to enter the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions. The Lords earned $3,200 as a team while the team of Baker and Allen earned $2,000. In a teary acceptance speech both father and son acknowledged how much it meant to win a PBA title together. 

Regional competition will resume in January. For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

LAS VEGAS – Four-time Professional Bowlers Association title winner Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., earned another chance to win his first major title on Jan. 15 after advancing to the finals of the PBA World Championship in the Billy Hardwick Division finals that aired Sunday on ESPN.

Shafer, who has made a PBA-record 12 championship round appearances in major tournaments without a title, defeated Andres Gomez of Colombia, 191-177, to win the second of four PBA World Championship elimination rounds at South Point Hotel Exhibition Hall. The divisional finals consist of three one-game rounds, starting with four players, and eliminating the lowest-scoring player after each game.

Shafer will join Finland’s Osku Palermaa, winner of the Don Carter Division, and the winners of the Johnny Petraglia and Mike Aulby Division finals in the World Championship finals on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 1 p.m. ET. The PBA World Championship offers a $50,000 first prize and the first major title of the 2011-12 PBA Tour season.

Shafer, who is celebrating his 25th season as a PBA Tour competitor, established command in the opening game, recovering from a missed split conversion in the second frame to reel off nine consecutive strikes for a 267 game. Venezuela’s Ildemaro Ruiz, making his PBA television debut, was second with a 258 followed by Gomez with a 222. The group’s top qualifier, 2009 PBA World Champion Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Mich., was eliminated with a 194 game after failing to convert 4-7-9 and 4-9 splits in the sixth and eighth frames, respectively.

Gomez led the group in game two, starting with five strikes on his way to a 219. Shafer was next with a 207 and Ruiz was eliminated after posting a 180.

Shafer jumped out to a 29-pin lead after four frames in the final game, but failed to convert the 3-6-10 in the fifth frame and the 3-6-7-10 split in the ninth. While Gomez had his own problems as the lane conditions deteriorated, he still had a chance to win after Shafer opened in the ninth frame. Needing two strikes and eight pins in the 10th frame to lock Shafer out, he left the 2-8-10 split. Needing only seven pins to clinch the win.

“I threw that shot in the ninth frame as good as I could possibly throw it,” Shafer said, “but I just didn’t move far enough right.

“I thought I had blown another one. I’ve had some bad breaks in majors when I bowled pretty good and guys I bowled against bowled better, but I’ve blown a few, too. You just don’t want to make that your history, your reputation.

“I usually don’t get excited and show up my opponent,” Shafer said of his emotional display after his 10th frame strike, “but that one meant a lot to me. Andres is a great guy, and he made a great shot in the 10th, too. I know he can make a great shot when he needs to make one, but it just didn’t work. I definitely got a second life, but I got to the finals and now we’ll see what happens next.”

The Hardwick finals were conducted on the PBA’s Scorpion lane condition, selected by Smallwood as the highest qualifier in the Hardwick field.

The Johnny Petraglia Division finalists will be the next group to bowl, on New Year’s Day at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., who led all World Championship qualifiers by 296 pins, has selected the Scorpion pattern as the lane condition for this elimination round. Other Petraglia Division players will be PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo.; left-hander Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Nathan Bohr of Wichita, Kan. Weber, who has won 35 PBA Tour titles including eight majors, has won more titles and more majors than the rest of the 15 World Championship finalists combined (17 titles, two majors). Bohr, the only non-titlist in the group, will make his PBA television debut.

The Petraglia Division finals air on Sunday, New Year’s Day, at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Mike Aulby Division finals, completing the preliminary elimination rounds, will air on Jan. 8, also at 1 p.m. ET. Special pre-game shows will be webcast beginning on the Wednesday preceding the ESPN finals on pba.com’s Xtra Frame and a post-game Xtra Frame interview with the winners will immediately follow the Sunday telecasts.

PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BILLY HARDWICK DIVISION FINALS

South Point Exhibition Hall, Las Vegas

Round One (lowest score eliminated): Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 267; Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 258; Andres Gomez, Colombia, 222; Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 194 ($4,000).

Round Two (lowest score eliminated): Gomez 219, Shafer 207, Ruiz 180 ($4,500).

Championship (winner advances to PBA World Championship finals): Shafer def. Gomez ($5,000), 191-177.

The PBA Hardwick Division, which will air at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN, is the second of four eliminator rounds that will eventually trim the PBA World Championship field of 16 finalists down to four for the Sunday, Jan. 15, battle for the $50,000 first prize, the Earl Anthony Trophy and the PBA Tour’s first major title of the 2011-12 season.

Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Mich., who won his only PBA Tour title in the 2009 PBA World Championship, heads the field of four players who will do battle this week. Joining him in the Hardwick final from the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas will be Venezuela’s Ildemaro Ruiz, Colombia’s Andres Gomez and 25-year PBA Tour veteran Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y.

Smallwood became an instant hero among America’s blue-collar work force when he defeated former PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott for the 2009 PBA World Championship. Smallwood, who had lost his job with General Motors, had decided to pursue his dream to become a professional bowler and stunned the bowling world with his upset victory in Wichita, Kan. Last season, he won $100,000 as runner-up to Mika Kovuniemi in the PBA Tournament of Champions.

Both South American players are trying for their first PBA Tour titles. Ruiz, is making his PBA television debut and Shafer is trying for his fifth Tour title.

In Sunday’s divisional finals, all four players will bowl a one-game match. The player with the lowest score will be eliminated. The three survivors will bowl another game, with the low man knocked out. The two finalists will bowl a final game, with the survivor advancing to the World Championship finals.

The Billy Hardwick finals are named after the PBA Hall of Famer and two-time PBA Player of the Year who won 18 Tour titles including the 1963 PBA National Championship and 1965 PBA Tournament of Champions.

Three easy steps to enhance your PBA World Championship telecast experience:

1. Free Xtra Frame Billy Hardwick finals preview show (now available on pba.com’s Xtra Frame) - Tune into pba.com’s Xtra Frame for interviews with the finalists as they give their insight into strategy and equipment selection. All World Championship preview shows on Xtra Frame are available the Wednesday before each Sunday ESPN telecast for free.

2. Sunday, 1 p.m. ET – ESPN telecast of Billy Hardwick Division final from South Point in Las Vegas.

3. Sunday 2:30 p.m. ET – Xtra Frame post-tournament show interviews the winning player and provides in-depth ball rep analysis of the winner’s equipment selection and ball preparation. (Xtra subscription information is available on the pba.com Xtra Frame page.)

I know Ryan Shafer hasn’t always been the fan’s most popular player over the course of his now 27-year PBA career, but let me tell you something that may change your mind. Shafer is one of the most popular players in the locker room (he won the Steve Nagy Award for sportsmanship a few years back) and he selflessly donates a huge chunk of his time to the cause of curing Juvenile Diabetes (he’s suffered from the disease since his late teens). He’s probably gotten more ink for that than any of his four PBA wins and countless other high finishes. The bottom line is that this guy has survived making a living on Tour (not an easy thing to do) for almost three decades when you know his intelligence (he was class valedictorian in high school and was accepted to attend Cornell University) offered him an almost limitless array of other, more lucrative career options. He is an excellent bowler and probably even deserves to be in the PBA Hall of Fame in spite of his shortage of the qualifying number of victories. As Randy Pedersen correctly says, “Ryan is the best player in history with only four wins.”

When the finals of the PBA World Championship airs on January 15, Ryan Shafer will be in it, joining Osku Palermaa and two other finalists (click here for the schedule for the upcoming two shows - remember we are off next week for X-mas) for a chance to win the season’s first major. If I were you, I’d say Ryan Shafer would make a very worthy player to root for.

Happy Holidays!

In addition to the new ESPN spots, you can find a wide variety of additional PBA video clips on PBA’s YouTube page.

The new ESPN spots include a “How To” advice clip (in 15- and 30-second versions), and clips on Majors, Majors’ Strategies and one devoted to Jason Belmonte’s two-handed style.

"We’re proud of these spots, which accentuate virtues of our sport and the PBA through the words of some of our greatest stars," said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark.

NINE PBA STARS TO HELP HOST BRUNSWICK BOWLING CAMP

Four-time PBA Tour champion Sean Rash has assembled the entire Brunswick and DV8 Pro Staff for a three-day, world-class Brunswick Bowling Camp at Brunswick Zone XL in Romeoville, Ill., July 6-8.

“The idea is to use everyone on our staff – nine exceptional players who do everything the game has ever seen – so we’ll be able to do multiple things throughout the camp,” Rash said. “We have high-rev players, a two-hander, a left-hander, strokers, PBA hall of famers, you name it.”

The Brunswick/DV8 staffers who have joined forces to host the unique camp include PBA Hall of Famers Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Parker Bohn III, high-rev players Rash, Tom Smallwood and Ronnie Russell, two-hander Brian Valenta, left-hander Ryan Ciminelli, and PBA Tour veterans Mike Machuga and Chris Loschetter.

The camp will include three “9 to 5” days of intense instruction and analysis, including videotaping, classroom discussion, hands-on experience with lane conditions, bowling equipment analysis, and discussions on tournament preparations and mental attitudes. The $1,200 tuition fee ($1,300 after March 1) will include four new bowling balls (two Brunswick, two DV8), two shirts, breakfast and lunch each day, a coaching manual, videotaping and tickets to a Chicago White Sox game.

“We’re looking for anyone and everyone, from those who average 120 to players who average 210 and want to learn what it takes to reach the PBA level,” Rash said. “Age doesn’t matter.”

For more information, send Rash an e-mail message at seanrashfan@gmail.com or visit parkerbohn.com.

TURBO ANNOUNCES TRIBUTE TO LATE PBA SENIOR TOUR COMPETITOR MEL WOLF

Turbo Bowling Accessories has arranged with the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame in Arlington, Texas, to set up a tribute account to purchase a commemorative brick in the name of PBA Senior Tour player and tournament organizer Mel Wolf who lost his battle with cancer on Dec. 6.

The total amount of contributions will determine the size of the brick honoring Wolf. The brick will be installed in the walkway to the front entrance of the IBM/HF. For details on the commemorative brick program, visit bowlingmuseum.com and select “Support.” Donations may be sent through PayPal (also located on the website) or mailed directly to: IBM/HF, 621 Six Flags Drive, Arlington, TX  76011.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend and fellow Senior Tour member Mel Wolf,” said Turbo Bowling Accessories CEO Dave Bernhardt. “Mel was a sincere and gracious man who truly loved the sport of bowling. He will be missed by all.”

A tax-deductible receipt will be sent to the donor and an acknowledgement letter will be sent to the family listing those friends and relatives who make donations. The brick will be installed next spring and a picture can be sent to anyone requesting it.

XTRA FRAME PRE-GAME SHOW NOW FEATURES BILLY HARDWICK DIVISION FINALS

Xtra Frame, PBA’s official online bowling channel, continues its free pre- and post-game shows this week with the PBA World Championship Billy Hardwick Division finals, beginning with a pre-game introduction that is currently available on pba.com.

Pre-game shows for all PBA Tour events will be online on Wednesday afternoon preceding each Sunday telecast. A post-game show, featuring an interview with the tournament champion(s) and a discussion of equipment used during the finals, will be posted immediately after the telecast.

Xtra Frame subscribers also can access the archives within Xtra Frame for a recap of the individual tournaments leading up to the Sunday telecasts. For information on how to subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

SMITH, MOHR, FOLEY WIN PBA SANDS REGENCY TRI-REGIONAL TITLES IN RENO

Bryon Smith of Roseburg, Ore.; Ron Mohr, a newly-relocated Las Vegas resident, and amateur Patrick Foley of Sparks, Nev., were title winners in a PBA Sands Regency Tri-Regional tripleheader at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., over the Dec. 11 weekend.

Smith posted a 10-1-1 match play record and a 24-game total of 5,950 pins on Sunday to win the standard PBA Sands Regency Tri Regional presented by Ebonite. Smith, who earned $2,000, defeated Eddie VanDaniker Jr., of Essex, Mass., by 105 pins.

In the companion Senior Open, Mohr, a former resident of Eagle River, Alaska, went 11-1 and knocked down 5,838 total pins for 24 games to top Rob Cline of Spokane, Wash., for his third West Region Senior Regional title and $1,500. Cline had 5,722 pins, 116 behind Mohr.

On Friday, Foley defeated Wayne Stellick of Aurora, Colo., 214-173, to win the PBA West Region Non-Champions event. Foley, as a non-member, will not receive credit for a PBA title, but he did earn $1,400.

The final pre-holiday season regional event will be the PBA South Region’s Waynesboro (Va.) Regular/Senior Doubles presented by Hammer at Wayne’s Lanes, Dec. 16-18.

Regional competition will then take a holiday break before resuming in January. For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

The road to the World Championship title, as we saw in this week’s edition, is sure to be marked with as many bumps, bruises, shocking reversals of fortune, laughs and tears as it will fallen pins.

This week’s show served as the finals of the “Don Carter Division”, which is one of four pods made up of the 16 PBA World Championship qualifiers. The players who made the shows (this one and the next three) qualified through 32 games in the four animal pattern events during week 1 of the PBA World Series of Bowling, then an additional 8-game round to make a total of 40.

This show featured four finalists, led by #4 qualifier Stuart Williams (who had choice of lane pattern by virtue of his high seeding - he picked the 37-foot Viper), and followed by two-hander Osku Palermaa, Dom Barrett and Jack Jurek. Jurek was the lone American on the telecast, and also the lone stroker, which proved to be a big disadvantage once the show got underway. Remember, with the eliminator format in play the goal for the finalists every game is not to be the low man on the totem pole.

Barrett “dom”-inated game 1, shooting a stellar 257, followed by fellow Englishman Williams with 215. Palermaa and Jurek both struggled with transition, each grinding it out for survival. Jurek suffered two early opens, and then was never able to put together a string of strikes, resulting in a 169, while Palermaa kept his head above water to eke by with a 187. But the highlight of the match had to be two tear-”jurek”-ing interviews with Gentleman Jack. Grab a tissue and watch below, if you dare:

Anyone who suffers from a blatant lack of respect for the players who toil on the PBA Tour need look no further than this interview to understand the reason why these individuals do what they do. I’ve never heard any ad exec so emotionally involved in his work so as to render him speechless for almost an entire minute trying to talk about it. Jurek graphically illustrates here in an incredibly real fashion that the gratification of winning and being considered the best at something trumps any monetary compensation - and that in itself warrants more respect than any multi-million-dollar-earning, ne’er-do-well, never-won-a-thing NBA or NFL player should ever deserve from us. But alas, I digress.

Game/Match/Round #2 moved on without our beloved American hero, and this time it was Williams who struggled with his ball reaction. Falling behind Palermaa (Barrett again set the pace, this time with a 201 score) Williams valiantly fought to stay alive after running into carry problems due to being forced further left because of the transition. His sarcastic utterance of the word, “DONE!” after making a last-ditch move that resulted in a through-the-nose 6-10 leave punctuated the droll Englishman’s run in this year’s World Championship, as Williams came up short to Osku 188-170. But the fun that Beef Stu brings to the ESPN telecasts is something you’ll surely want to watch for when he surfaces again in the Bayer Viper Open finals coming up on Sunday, January 22.

The final match featured the two players who Williams believes to be Europe’s best - Barrett and Palermaa. After leading the first two rounds, the havoc Palermaa’s rev rate causes to the oil pattern finally began to catch up with Barrett’s ball reaction in the 7th frame, causing him to go high. As this happened, Palermaa finally started to get comfortable, and a late string of strikes propelled him to a 223-188 win, and one of four spots in the PBA World Championship finals on January 15.

I enjoyed Barrett’s interview during the final match, in which he regaled us with a few stories about Palermaa’s uncanny ability to see numbers (he compared him to Rain Man and Neo from The Matrix in a span of 20 seconds) and showed a side of his personality that he obviously conceals out on the lanes. We’ll get to see Barrett again for the Chameleon Open finals on February 12.

Palermaa was his usual steely, stoic self which makes you wonder if he is really comfortable under the TV lights. He seemed comfortable in his post-match interview with Randy Pedersen, and admitted that even though he doesn’t necessarily love the eliminator format, that it surely helped him to advance while he was struggling to figure out the lanes. We’ll have to see what happens in the finals on January 15, because you’d have to believe that if it takes him two games to warm up there, he’ll likely be out of the tournament.

Well, that’s it for this week. Remember, we still have three more Division finals to determine the three players who will take on Palermaa for the World Championship title, starting with next week’s Hardwick Division, which features #2 seed Tom Smallwood, Venezuelan newcomer Ildemaro Ruiz, Colombia’s Andres Gomez and Ryan Shafer. Be prepared for even more emotion next week!

PS - I thought adding Chris Barnes to the booth to banter with Randy and add even more technical insight into the show made things even more interesting. I’m looking forward to watching how those two progress over the next several shows.

The Hardwick Division is the second of four eliminator rounds that will trim the PBA World Championship field of 16 finalists down to four for a Sunday, Jan. 15, battle for the $50,000 first prize, the Earl Anthony Trophy and the PBA Tour’s first major title of the 2011-12 season.

All World Championship competition will be conducted on a pair of lanes specially installed in an exhibit hall at South Point Hotel and Casino.

Smallwood, 34, became an instant hero among America’s blue-collar work force when he defeated former PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott for the 2009 PBA World Championship. Smallwood, who had lost his job with General Motors, had decided to pursue his dream to become a professional bowler and stunned the bowling world with his upset victory in Wichita, Kan. Last season, he won $100,000 as runner-up to Mika Kovuniemi in the PBA Tournament of Champions.

Now Smallwood is back in position to try for another major title as the top qualifier in the Hardwick Division. He earned his place in the Hardwick group as the No. 2 qualifier over 40 games of World Championship qualifying on five different lane conditions, averaging 226.63 to finish 296 pins behind leader Sean Rash. As top qualifier in his group, Smallwood has selected the PBA’s Scorpion lane conditioning pattern for Sunday’s event when he will face Venezuela’s Ildemaro Ruiz, Colombia’s Andres Gomez and 25-year PBA Tour veteran Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., in a battle for a berth in the World Championship finals.

Both South American players are trying for their first PBA Tour titles. Ruiz, who is making his PBA television debut, qualified for the elimination rounds in seventh place. Gomez was 10th and Shafer tied for 14th. No international player has ever won the PBA World Championship.

In Sunday’s eliminator round, all four players will bowl a one-game match. The player with the lowest score will be eliminated. The three survivors will bowl another game, with the low man knocked out. The two finalists will bowl a final game, with the survivor advancing to the World Championship finals.

The four World Championship divisional finals have been named for PBA superstars who excelled in the event during their careers. Finland’s Osku Palermaa has already won the Don Carter Division berth. The Johnny Petraglia and Mike Aulby Division finals, which will air on ESPN on Jan. 1 and Jan. 8, respectively, will complete the divisional elimination rounds. The championship trophy is named in honor of Anthony, the only player ever to win the event six times.

A special preview of the Hardwick Division finals will be webcast on pba.com’s Xtra Frame beginning Wednesday, and a post-game show will be presented on Xtra Frame Sunday immediately following the ESPN finals.

Event: PBA World Series of Bowling

Tournament: PBA World Championship – Don Carter Division Finals (First of four divisional final rounds)

Where: South Point Hotel and Casino Convention Center (Arena installation) in Las Vegas, Nev.

Purse: $542,120, winner’s share: $50,000

Eliminator Format: Four finalists will bowl a one-game match. The player with the lowest score will be eliminated. The three survivors will bowl another game, with the low man ousted. The two finalists will then bowl a final game, with the survivor advancing to the PBA World Championship finals.

Final Round: Four division winners meet Jan. 15 in final eliminator round to determine champion.

Television: ESPN (Sunday 1 p.m. ET)

An international finals field will include two-time PBA Tour titlist Jack Jurek of Lackawana, N.Y., Dom Barrett and Stuart Williams of England, trying for their first Tour title and Finnish two-handed player Osku Palermaa trying for his second title.

Jurek, a 48-year-old 25-year veteran of PBA Tour competition, will take on England’s Stuart Williams and Dom Barrett, and two-handed Finnish star Osku Palermaa, in the first divisional final, named in honor of legendary PBA star and former World Champion Don Carter. None of the four have won a PBA major title. Both British players are trying for their first PBA Tour titles. Palermaa won his only PBA Tour title in the 2010 Shark Championship.

Last Week: Finland’s Mika Koivuniemi, reigning PBA Player of the Year, won the inaugural GEICO World Bowling Tour presented by the PBA men’s championship.  Koivuniemi defeated Sean Rash 237-224.  Carolyn Dorin-Ballard defeated Sweden’s Sandra Andersson 207-162 in the women’s final.  Koivuniemi and Dorin-Ballard each earned $10,000.

Last Season: Chris Barnes captured his 13th PBA Tour title and became the sixth player in PBA history to earn a lifetime Triple Crown (victories in PBA World Championship, U.S. Open and PBA Tournament of Champions) by defeating Bill O’Neill 267-237 at South Point Bowling Center on Jan. 16, 2011.

PBA:39X60 Pregame Show: (Free on PBA.com, PBA YouTube Channel) Tune into pba.com’s Xtra Frame for interviews with the finalists as they give their insight into strategy and equipment selection. All World Championship preview shows on Xtra Frame will be available the Wednesday before each Sunday ESPN telecast for free.

PBA:39X60 Postgame Show: (Free on PBA.com, PBA YouTube Channel) Sunday 2:30 p.m. ET – Xtra Frame interviews the winning player and provides in-depth ball rep analysis of the winner’s equipment selection and ball preparation.

Xtra Frame Coverage: Exclusive individual PBA World Championship qualifying rounds of the Bayer Viper Open (8 games), Chameleon Open (8 games), Scorpion Open (8 games), GEICO Shark Open (8 games) and World Championship Cashers Qualifying (8 games) are available at www.xtraframe.tv

Social Networking on PBA Facebook/Twitter: Follow PBA Tour Commissioner Tom Clark ‘tweets’ live during ESPN telecasts.  Follow PBA social networking through PBA on Facebook and Twitter for exclusive photos, videos and information, click the links to PBA.com provide greater details and information on PBA players, tournaments and news.

Interact directly with the stars of the PBA Tour, ESPN Announcers Rob Stone and Randy Pedersen and Xtra Frame personalities Mike J “Laneside” Jakubowski, Jason “The Bowling Guy” Thomas and the PowerHouse’s Jackie “Bowling” Marinkovich.  Communicate via the Xtra Frame chat feature or directly in one-on-one conversations.

E-mail: Get on the PBA e-mail list to receive news, alerts and offers directly to your inbox.

To ‘like’ the Professional Bowlers Association on Facebook, visit PBA.com and click the Facebook icon,

To ‘follow’ the PBA on Twitter, visit PBA.com and click on the Twitter icon or visit:                          www.twitter.com and search for @PBATour

To ’subscribe’ to PBA’s YouTube Channel, visit PBA.com and click on the YouTube icon or visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/PBAProBowlersAssn

To ’subscribe’ to PBA.com’s Xtra Frame, online Bowling Channel visit www.xtraframe.tv

To ’subscribe’ to PBA’s E-mail list visit: www.pba.com and enter your e-mail address on the right rail.

The Don Carter Division is the first of four eliminator rounds that will trim the PBA World Championship field of 16 finalists down to four for a Sunday, Jan. 15, battle for the $50,000 first prize, the Earl Anthony Trophy and the PBA Tour’s first major title of the 2011-12 season.

All World Championship competition will be conducted on a pair of lanes specially installed in an exhibit hall at South Point Hotel and Casino.

Jurek, a 48-year-old 25-year veteran of PBA Tour competition, will take on England’s Stuart Williams and Dom Barrett, and two-handed Finnish star Osku Palermaa, in the first divisional final, named in honor of legendary PBA star and former World Champion Don Carter. None of the four have won a PBA major title. Both British players are trying for their first PBA Tour titles. Palermaa won his only PBA Tour title in the 2010 Shark Championship.

No international player has ever won the PBA World Championship.

In Sunday’s eliminator round, all four players will bowl a one-game match. The player with the lowest score will be eliminated. The three survivors will bowl another game, with the low man ousted. The two finalists will then bowl a final game, with the survivor advancing to the PBA World Championship finals.

Williams is the leading qualifier in the Don Carter group after posting a 40-game total of 9,023 pins during the PBA’s third annual World Series of Bowling at South Point Bowling Center, averaging 225.58 over five rounds of qualifying on five different lane conditions. As top qualifier, Williams earned the right to select the lane condition for Sunday’s ESPN telecast, and he selected the Viper pattern. Among the 16 World Championship finalists, Williams qualified fourth, Palermaa fifth, Barrett 12th and Jurek 13th.

The other three World Championship divisional finals are also named for PBA superstars who excelled in the event during their careers – Billy Hardwick, Johnny Petraglia and Mike Aulby – and the championship trophy is named in honor of Anthony, the only player ever to win the event six times.

A special preview of the Carter Division finals will be webcast on pba.com’s Xtra Frame beginning Wednesday, and a post-game show will be presented on Xtra Frame Sunday immediately following the ESPN finals.

The USBC Masters (Sunday, Jan. 29 at 12:30 p.m. ET), the 69th U.S. Open (Sunday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. ET) and the season-ending PBA Tournament of Champions (Sunday, April 15 at 1 p.m. ET) will not only air in HD on ESPN, but will be available to online viewers who have high-speed Internet or video subscription from an affiliated provider.

The programming also will be accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE. Complete PBA coverage will also be available via WatchESPN online and on mobile and tablets devices for fans of an affiliated provider.

BELMONTE TOPS JONES TO WIN QUBICA/AMF WORLD CUP

Jason Belmonte gave Australia its first QubicaAMF World Cup men’s title on Wednesday, Dec. 7, defeating 13-time PBA Tour winner Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C., 2-1, in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the best-of-three-game title match of the 47th World Cup.

After Jones won the first game, 279-259, Belmonte rallied to win the next two games, 247-216 and 259-236, for the title. Belmonte’s three-game 765 series in the title match was a World Cup record, one pin higher than the mark set by Norway’s Petter Hansen in 2004. Jones, Team USA’s male representative in the annual event, was top qualifier.

Aumi Guerra of the Dominican Republic became the second woman to win back-to-back World Cups, defeating another former World Cup champion and two-time PBA Women’s Series titlist Diandra Asbaty of Chicago, 266-201, 214-227, 202-199.

ENTRIES NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2012 PBA TOUR EVENTS

Entries are now being accepted for the 2012 portion of the current PBA Tour season. The entry form for 2012 events is available on pba.com under the “schedule” tab. Players can click on the individual tournament they are interested in entering. Members can also access the on-line system from that link as well.

Bowlers wishing to enter the USBC Masters should contact the USBC director (Brian Whitman at 800-514-2695, Ext. 8251) or visit bowl.com and enter under the “tournaments” tab.

XTRA FRAME TO AIR FREE PRE-, POST-GAME SHOWS STARTING WITH WBT FINALS

Xtra Frame, PBA’s official online bowling channel, will air free pre- and post-game shows for all 2011-12 PBA Tour finals, beginning Wednesday with a pre-game introduction to Sunday’s telecast of the Don Carter Division finals in the PBA World Championships series of telecasts.

Pre-game shows will be online on Wednesday afternoon preceding each Sunday telecast. A post-game show, featuring an interview with the tournament champion(s) and a discussion of equipment used during the finals, will be posted immediately after the telecast.

Xtra Frame subscribers also can access the archives within Xtra Frame for a recap of the individual tournaments leading up to the Sunday telecasts. For information on how to subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

DAUGHERTY WINS SECOND STRAIGHT PBA SOUTH REGION TITLE

Tom Daugherty of Wesley Chapel, Fla., defeated Scott Newell of Deland, Fla., 223-213, to win the PBA South Region Surfside Beach Open at Surfside Bowl on Sunday, Dec. 4, for his sixth career PBA Regional title and second in a row. Daugherty, who earned $2,700, also won in Jacksonville, Fla., in October in his last regional appearance.

The final pre-holiday season regional event will be the PBA South Region’s Waynesboro (Va.) Regular/Senior Doubles presented by Hammer at Wayne’s Lanes, Dec. 16-18. Regional competition around the country7 will resume in January.

For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

QUICK NOTES:

Correction: England’s Dom Barrett defeated Mika Koivuniemi to win the Qatar Open, not the Dubai Open as noted in last week’s Spare Shots.

Reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi made a holiday season visit to Houghton, Mich., where he visited the Mine Shaft bowling center to announce the formation of the Mika Koivuniemi Youth Scholarship Fund. The Hartland, Mich., resident participated in a pro-am, silent auction and bowling clinic, with all proceeds going to Koivuniemi’s new scholarship program.

Out of the 315 players, 124 players (39.4%) cashed in at least one event. Money from sponsorships, host fees and other revenue sources other than entry fees accounted for nearly $800,000 of the overall prize fund. The $800 entry fee for the PBA World Championship generated a return of at least $10,000 for 31 players while 15 bowlers earned more than $20,000.

The following 30 players earned a spot in at least one of 14 ESPN/WSOB nationally-televised shows beginning Sunday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. Eastern.  In addition to the prize fund, players can earn additional incentives for each television appearance based on individual sponsor agreements.

Those who made one TV appearance were: Patrick Allen, Sandra Andersson, Chris Barnes, Josh Blanchard, Nathan Bohr, Ryan Ciminelli, Mike DeVaney, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Nina Flack, Jack Jurek, Brian Kretzer, Martin Larsen, Bill O’Neill, Mike Scroggins, Ryan Shafer, Tom Smallwood, Dave Wodka.

Those who made two appearances were: Dom Barrett, Norm Duke, Mika Koivuniemi, Wes Malott, Osku Palermaa, Ronnie Russell, Pete Weber and Stuart Williams.

Mike Fagan, Andres Gomez and Ildemaro Ruiz each appeared on three telecasts. Jason Belmonte and Sean Rash each made seven TV appearances, easily breaking the previous WSOB record of three shows.

XTRA FRAME TO AIR FREE PRE-, POST-GAME SHOWS STARTING WITH WBT FINALS

Xtra Frame, PBA’s official online bowling channel, will air free pre- and post-game shows for all 2011-12 PBA Tour finals, beginning today with a pre-game introduction to Sunday’s telecast of the GEICO World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA.

Pre-game shows will be online on Wednesday afternoon preceding each Sunday telecast. A post-game show, featuring an interview with the tournament champion(s) and a discussion of equipment used during the finals, will be posted immediately after the telecast.

Xtra Frame subscribers also can access the archives within Xtra Frame for a recap of the individual tournaments leading up to the Sunday telecasts. For information on how to subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

AUSTRALIAN COUPLE TRAVELS 8,000 MILES TO ATTEND WORLD SERIES OF BOWLING

Chris and Shirley Robinson of Brisbane, Australia, win the prize for most miles traveled to attend the PBA World Series of Bowling after making the nearly 8,000-mile trek to Las Vegas. The Robinsons (shown above with national hero Jason Belmonte) follow the PBA religiously on Xtra Frame, starting years ago when it was known as Strike Pass. Based on information they gathered on Xtra Frame, they flew halfway around the world and attended the World Series for its entire two-plus-week schedule.

“We both had a fantastic time,” Chris Robinson said, “and we’re hoping to make the trip again next year.”

DEREK WILLIAMS UP-ENDS HALL OF FAME BROTHER FOR SOUTHWEST REGIONAL WIN

Derek Williams of Groves, Texas, lost only three matches Sunday – two of them to his PBA Hall of Fame brother Mark Williams - but won the other nine to easily win the 10th annual PBA Southwest Region Beaumont Open at Crossroads Bowling Center in Beaumont, Texas.

Derek Williams also won the 2009 Beaumont event and finished second last year in the center owned by his older brother. Derek finished the event with a 25-game total of 5,712, including match play bonus pins, to claim the $2,500 first prize by 51 pins over Mark.

This weekend’s schedule includes the PBA South Regional Surfside Open at Surfside Lanes in Surfside Beach, S.C. The only event on the Dec. 9-11 calendar is Sands Regency and Ebonite-sponsored tripleheader at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, including the Sands Regency Non-Champions Tournament, Tri-Regional Sands Regency Senior Open and Tri-Regional Sands Regency Open - all presented by Ebonite.

The final pre-holiday season regional event will be the PBA South Regional Waynesboro (Va.) Regular/Senior Doubles presented by Hammer at Wayne’s Lanes, Dec. 16-18. Regional competition will then resume in early January.

With the Feb. 26 deadline looming, all PBA Regional competitors continue to compile qualifying points toward the 2012 Dick Weber PBA Playoffs. The top 16 points leaders in the PBA’s East, South, Central, Midwest, Southwest and combined West/Northwest Regions will earn berths in the new Xtra Frame Tour event which will be held March 30-April 1 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis.

All first-time PBA Regional title winners also become eligible for the season-ending PBA Tournament of Champions.

For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

QUICK NOTES:

Following their successful appearances in the PBA World Series of Bowling, several of the world’s top players flew to Qatar, where England’s Dom Barrett defeated top seed Mika Koivuniemi, 460-441, in the two-game title match of the Qatar Open on Tuesday, Nov. 29. The Qatar Open was the final stop on the 2011 European Bowling Tour. Sean Rash finished third, Mike Fagan fourth, Osku Palermaa fifth and Chris Barnes seventh.

PBA Hall of Famer Brian Voss finished fourth in the sixth annual English Open on Nov. 20 in Nuneaton, England. England’s Steve Thornton won the event.

Coming off of the turbo-charged fireworks they generated at the GEICO PBA Team Shootout this summer, Sean Rash and Jason Belmonte conveniently qualified in the numbers 2 and 3 positions for the World Bowling Tour finals, pitting them against one another for the opening match of the 2011-2012 PBA Tour season on ESPN. The winner would face reigning PBA Player of the Year (and world dominator!) Mika Koivunieimi for the first WBT title ever.

A little background on the event: the WBT is a new partnership between the PBA and the World Tenpin Bowling Association that conducts a number of worldwide events (this edition comprised eight events in seven different countries - next year’s will expand to 12). The top three men and women (based on points earned through each event) qualified for this season-opening telecast to bowl for the title.

And now back to the drama…

After doing a great job of recapping the events that led to the budding rivalry between Belmonte and Rash, the match took on an air of tension that may have even overpowered the action itself - for a few frames at least. (This also happened the first couple of times Belmonte and Rash were paired together in the WSOB animal pattern finals - you can watch those on Xtra Frame here).

Both players had little trouble hitting the pocket early, but Belmonte was the first to flinch in the 3rd frame, when he flagged a 10-pin spare. He then made a poor shot in the 5th (I didn’t think it was that bad actually, but he went over to his ball rep after the frame and said it was bad - I personally think it was also an issue of the oil starting to carry down) for a 2-8-10.

Rash also started to see the oil carrydown begin to play havoc with his pin carry, leaving an assortment of 10-pin leaves to allow Belmonte to stay in the match. Once Belmonte shook off the nerves, he started striking to give himself a late chance to win. After Rash failed to shut him out in the 10th, Belmonte could step up and throw two strikes to advance. He liked the shot - even though he said he got it “a hair” inside of target - but that hair altered the ball’s entry angle just enough to cause a ringing 10-pin, allowing Rash to advance 214-204.

The post-mortem on the match was that, even in defeat, Belmonte looked very comfortable under the TV lights and, despite what he probably felt was a poor performance, he seemed happy with the shots he threw when the match was on the line. His growing confidence will be something to watch for during his many upcoming WSOB TV appearances over the next few months.

The title match saw more of the same (struggling with carrydown and pin carry, that is) early for Rash, while Mika gaffed by missing the 3-6-10 in the 2nd frame. Both players soon figured out the keys to striking, however (for Rash it was a slight move left, softer speed and a little more tilt to get the ball to curve more sharply on the backend) and the match was anyone’s heading into the 9th frame.

It was there that Rash suffered a missed spare of his own, flagging a 10-pin at the worst possible time to give Mika the edge heading into the 10th. Rash regrouped nicely in the 10th to throw a turkey for 224, but all Mika needed to do was fill 9 pins in the 10th for the win. He got it and took home the trophy, posting a 237 final score.

Much had been made about Mika’s strategy during the pre-show warm-up (which was designed to take the middle part of the lane away from his two high-rev opponents and force them to play the outside line) and, in the end, it paid off. As for the “ethics” of the strategy, well, it may have been as much about gamesmanship than anything else. I’m not sure Rash or Belmo could even have effectively played inside of 15 on the 45-foot Mexico City oil pattern, even if they’d wanted to - but the strategy definitely put the guys off and gave Mika the edge he was looking for.

Major Mika fans can look for Mika again in the finals of the GEICO Shark Open on Sunday, March 4 (although you could possibly see him before then on one of the live major finals in January or February as well).

The next hour of bowling was dedicated to the ladies finals, which pitted Sweden’s Nina Flack and Sandra Andersson against one another for the right to face the demonstrative Carolyn Dorin-Ballard for the title.

The ladies had much of the same issues with carrydown as the men, only worse. In fact, haven’t seen that many 10-pins since, well, the last time I bowled league! In the opening match, Nina Flack was welcomed to TV with a blower 7-10, followed by a 4-6-7 for two open frames. Andersson, on the other hand, kept the ball in the pocket and made her spares, posting a 190-160 win.

The final was virtually a carbon copy of the opening match, except this time with Dorin-Ballard playing Andersson’s role. She kept the ball in play, made her spares and caught a late double to easily win the match 207-162. CDB’s relentlessness was capped off by a huge show of emotion after throwing the title-clinching shot, clearly a response to savoring victory on bowling’s biggest stage - an opportunity that has become more and more scarce for women in the past several years. But giving the women an opportunity to showcase their talents is just another reason why the World Bowling Tour is such an exciting concept for the future. I personally look forward to many more (and hopefully even some Xtra Frame coverage!) in the years to come.

Now that the TV schedule is officially underway, our focus moves to the season’s first major, the PBA World Championship. With five telecasts over the next six weeks (there will be a week off for “X”-mas - which is what bowlers should call it!) PBA fans will have the opportunity to see 16 different players (from six different countries, not including whatever planet Pete Weber is from - because clearly the way he is bowling at the age of 49 is not human) vie for the big title, with the winner to receive $50K. Here is a link to the match-ups for those upcoming telecasts.

For more from “The Bowling Guy,” check out his new Facebook page here.

Earlier this week, I posted an article on how the players typically “groom” the lanes prior to the start of the telecasts during their 15 minutes of warm-up on the TV pair.

Within that article, I stated that there are two schools of thought concerning strategy: 1) set the lanes up for yourself or 2) take away a competitor’s favorite part of the lane and make it a “shot-making” contest. I also said that certain players (most specifically Jason Belmonte) have such an advantage in the power department, that if the lanes end up breaking down a certain way, he will have an overwhelming advantage by the time the show reaches the final match.

Well, in our very first telecast you have an example of a player (Mika Koivuniemi) using strategy #2 to try and take that option away from Belmonte. Here is how he did it:

What Mika did during his warm-up time was to throw an extremely sanded bowling ball (diagram #2) in the middle part of the lane (where Belmonte typically prefers to lay his ball down) to burn a swath out of the middle part of the oil pattern. He alternated this by throwing an inordinate number of shots with his plastic spare ball to pull a large volume of oil down the lane (plastic balls carry more oil down than reactive because the oil does not absorb into the cover nearly as much) in the right half of the pattern (diagram #3).

By the time he was finished, the only option to play the lanes that could yield any kind of mistake area was the extreme outside part of the lane (diagram #4). Belmonte and Rash quickly realized what Mika was up to during the warm-up (and, from my sources, were none too pleased about it) and immediately started to play right in order to build a spot for themselves on the outside.

Ironically, this actually caused some concern in the Team Ebonite camp, who then fretted over how Mika’s look might be from outside after two monster rev rates torched the outside part of the lane for a full game plus practice. Their game plan? Mika would loft it and stay right.

Did the strategy pay off for Mika? Watch the telecast this Sunday at 1pm ET on ESPN to find out. The Women’s WBT finals featuring Nina Flack, Sandra Andersson and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard air immediately afterward.

For more from “The Bowling Guy,” check out his new Facebook page here.

The men’s field will feature reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi, a resident of Hartland, Mich., who returned to his native Finland to win the Brunswick Ballmaster Open and take a lead in the WBT points race that he never gave up. The World Tenpin Bowling Association’s inaugural World Bowling Tour series included stops in France, Kuwait, Thailand, Korea and Australia, plus the U.S. Open and United States Bowling Congress Masters.

In Sunday’s WBT men’s final, Koivuniemi will meet the winner of a one-game match between No. 2 qualifier Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., and No. 3 Jason Belmonte of Australia. Rash and Belmonte made news over the summer after a confrontation over distractions Belmonte allegedly made with his plastic water bottle during the PBA’s GEICO Team Shootout series in Chicago.

In the one-hour women’s finals which immediately follows the men’s finals on ESPN, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, a PBA Women’s Series champion and 20-time Professional Women’s Bowling Association title winner, will meet the winner of a match between veteran Swedish star Nina Flack and her Team Sweden teammate, 20-year-old Sandra Andersson.

The winner in each division will receive $10,000. Second place will pay $6,000 and third will receive $4,000.

The GEICO World Bowling Tour Finals are the first shows in an 18-event PBA Tour series that will air on Sundays on ESPN, concluding with the live PBA Tournament of Champions telecast from Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas on April 15. In addition to the ESPN telecasts, the PBA will produce four Xtra Frame Tour events which will be webcast exclusively on the PBA’s online bowling channel.

Xtra Frame also will air a World Bowling Tour Finals pre-game show starting Wednesday and will immediately follow the ESPN telecast with a post-game show. To subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

CLICK FOR FULL 2011-2012 TV SCHEDULE

Just like American Idol does for singing, the annual process of determining who is the world’s next big star on the lanes is what the PBA on ESPN is all about. Except in bowling, there’s definitely an “X” Factor that takes on an entirely different meaning!

For those of you who may have forgotten where we left our heroes after the hot and heavy GEICO PBA Team Shootout last summer, here is a quick refresher:

REFRESHER #1
Jason Belmonte and Sean Rash did not like each other very much. (See the link above.)

REFRESHER #2
Mika Koivuniemi was the best bowler in the world - but Jason Belmonte won the Best Bowler ESPY award.

REFRESHER #3
The World Series of Bowling was to again kick off the season with a number of new changes, including:

1) Four animal pattern championships (instead of five).
2) A new PBA World Championship format, where 16 players (instead of just qualified for TV.
3) Three all-new TV events: The Carmen Salvino Classic, The Mark Roth/Marshall Holman Doubles Championship and the Pepsi Elite Players Championship.
4) 14 ESPN shows that will air throughout the season (i.e. not consecutively as they were last year - see TV schedule link above).

Xtra Frame covered all of the action (and I mean ALL - I’ve still got the bags under my eyes to prove it!) leading up to the TV tapings, so if you’ve got a few weeks to kill (literally), feel free to start watching the archived coverage here. In the meantime, let’s reveal the aforementioned WSOB storylines to watch for over the next few months.

RASH vs BELMONTE
After firing off a number of salvoes at one another in Chicago last summer and over the next several weeks, apparently all these guys did during the off-season was work on their bowling games so they could beat the hell out of each other on the lanes once the Tour started up again.

After dominating the animal pattern qualifying rounds so completely that they were paired together in the numbers one and two positions for the Round of 16 three times, these two archrivals had to spend a lot more time in one another’s company than they might have otherwise planned. Can you say, “awkward?”

After a silly flap over a scorecard issue during the Chameleon Open, Hat-monte and Mc Rash finally decided to settle their differences and agreed to move on, putting their animosity for one another aside to focus on bigger and better things. But their bowling was so darn stellar that what originally started as a rivalry that every true bowling fan hoped (but no doubt never thought would happen) would materialize on the lanes, actually did for once!

Rash and Belmonte both qualified for eight out of a possible 10 shows (and Rash missed one more by just six pins to who else? Belmonte!). I think the only one they missed was the WBT Women’s Finals - because neither had the right, uh, equipment. (Yes, I agree that was a completely tasteless joke but I couldn’t resist).

But the point I’m trying to make here is this: if you were looking forward to seeing Belmonte and Rash bowl one another after their intense incident last summer and never thought it would happen, you should be thrilled to know that you were dead wrong and will now get a chance to see them go head-to-head more times this season than you can shake a stick at (starting with this Sunday’s World Bowling Tour Finals telecast).

USA vs THE WORLD
Although this made-for-TV event was not on the docket for this year’s batch of WSOB shows, it was definitely a huge theme at this year’s event. With an even larger contingent coming to Las Vegas from outside the United States, the internationals not only proved that they belonged, but actually made the case that the best bowling talent in the world may actually reside outside of the New World.

Heading into TV, the international players accounted for 23 of a possible 48 TV spots for all of the singles events. Considering they made up about a quarter of the field, this suggests that the ones who were there, were awfully good players. In fact, no less an assessor of bowling field strength than Chris Barnes even said that this was easily one of the strongest fields he’s ever bowled against. And he’s bowled against some pretty good ones.

POWER vs FINESSE
When the great Mark Roth ushered in the power game three decades ago, most bowling experts thought it was a mere matter of time before ultra-power players were utterly dominating the sport. Thanks to reactive resin bowling balls however, finesse players received a long stay of execution and have been able to not only compete, but dominate the sport until recently.

Last year’s World Series clearly showed that power players now possess a distinct advantage because there is simply no way around what they do to the lanes, especially when the tournaments progress longer and longer over a greater number of games. This year, the balance shifted even more in the favor of the power players, with bowlers like Sean Rash, Jason Belmonte, Osku Palermaa and Dom Barrett dominating the standings throughout the tournaments.

And for those of you who feel that these power players are sacrificing accuracy in pursuit of a few measly messengers, simply take a gander at the CATS numbers for Jason Belmonte during one of his TV performances. This guy is like Earl Anthony throwing it 21 mph with a 580 rpm rev rate! The pins (and his less-manly opponents) have no chance!

CLOSING THOUGHT AND A VIDEO PEEK!
The 14 WSOB shows that will air on ESPN over the next few months were filled with intense rivalries, perfect games (yes, plural), clutch split conversions, energetic crowds in a fabulous arena setup and went a very long way toward establishing who the best bowlers in the world are at this moment in time. If you choose not to watch them (and by the way, all of the telecasts this year will be presented in HD), you’re guaranteed to miss out on something special.

And even if you know the results, remember this: if you weren’t there, you didn’t see anything. But if you’re still not excited, then maybe this promo I put together from footage I shot during the shows might change your mind:

Russell, a 31-year-old right-hander, averaged 243.13 over 30 games to top Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, by 144 pins for the top qualifying position. Russell has three second-place finishes in nine years of PBA Tour competition. Russell finished with 7,294 pins. Malott, a six-time PBA Tour champion and 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year, had 7,150 pins.

“It’s not as easy as it looks,” Russell said. “You still have to keep grinding it out. I’m actually not throwing the ball much better than I have since the start, but the lane conditions are matching up better with my game which gets you into a comfort level. Everyone goes through it.

“I have to watch going into the next round that I don’t get too comfortable because with the pins being dropped, you’re basically starting over and it’s easy to lose that edge.”

The top 16 players in the Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship field advance to the Eliminator Round Wednesday afternoon where they will compete for four spots in the Elite Players Championship finals. Mike DeVaney of Murrieta, Calif., grabbed the 16th position by a single pin over Eugene McCune of Munster, Ind., and Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C.

The qualifying order is also important because the same 16 players will compose the field for the Lumber Liquidators Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship which will be contested on Sunday as part of a four-day PBA World Series of Bowling television extravaganza at South Point.

Russell will be the first player to select a doubles partner from among the remaining 15 during a special doubles selection session Thursday afternoon. After Russell selects his partner, the next highest qualifier will select a partner. That process will continue until the field of eight doubles teams has been determined. The doubles competition will be conducted Sunday afternoon as part of the World Series of Bowling’s weekend television package.

Beginning Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Pacific, the PBA will produce the first of 14 television shows for delayed telecast on ESPN in a special arena in South Point’s Exhibit Hall A. Admission is free for all of the shows.

PEPSI PBA ELITE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Nov. 16

Final Qualifying Standings (after 30 games; top 16 advance to Eliminator Round and to Lumber Liquidators Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship)

1, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 7,294.
2, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 7,150.
3, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 7,134.
4, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 7,069.
5, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 7,039.
6, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., 6,976.
7, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 6,942.
8, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 6,917.
9, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 6,903.
10, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 6,896.
11, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 6,889.
12, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 6,863.
13, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 6,829.
14, Dan MacLelland, Saginaw, Mich., 6,796.
15, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 6,776.
16, Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 6,760.

Did not advance:
17 (tie), Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., and Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 6,759, $2,490.
19, Patrick Allen, Baltimore, 6,756, $2,460.
20, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 6,746, $2,440.
21, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 6,745, $2,420.
22, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 6,727, $2,400.
23, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 6,719, $2,390.
24, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 6,717, $2,380.
25, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 6,688, $2,370.
26, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 6,671, $2,360.
27, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 6,655, $2,350.
28, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 6,631, $2,340.
29, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 6,616, $2,330.
30, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 6,605, $2,320.
31, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 6,550, $2,410.
32, Tyler Jensen, Ft. Worth, Texas, 6,483, $2,300.

Pepsi PBA Players Championship Eliminator Round pairings

(Three rounds, two games per round, lowest scoring player eliminated each round, winner of each group advances to ESPN finals)

Group A: Ronnie Russell, Sean Rash, Pete Weber, Mike DeVaney

Group B: Wes Malott, Ryan Ciminelli, Jason Couch, Mike Scroggins

Group C: Andres Gomez, Bill O’Neill, Norm Duke, Dan MacLelland

Group D: Mike Fagan, Martin Larsen, Jason Belmonte, Dick Allen

The third annual PBA World Series of Bowling is in the books and beginning Sunday, Dec. 4, ESPN will provide millions of bowling fans with nationally-televised coverage of the PBA Tour during the 2011-12 season.

The PBA Tour’s new television season, which includes 18 Sunday telecasts, will begin with a “doubleheader” on Dec. 4 with the men’s and women’s World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA airing in back-to-back one-hour segments. The PBA-ESPN season will conclude with the live finals of the PBA Tournament of Champions from Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15.

Supplementing the ESPN telecasts, pba.com’s exclusive Xtra Frame online bowling channel will provide pre-and post-tournament coverage as well as start-to-finish coverage of four new Xtra Frame Tour tournaments during the season.

For Xtra Frame subscription information click on the Xtra Frame logo on the pba.com homepage.

2011-12 ESPN AND XTRA FRAME PBA TOUR SCHEDULE (all times Eastern)

Dec. 4, 1 p.m. – GEICO World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA (men), Las Vegas.

Dec. 4, 2 p.m. – GEICO World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA (women), Las Vegas.

Dec. 11, 1 p.m. – WSOB PBA World Championship, Carter Division, Las Vegas.

Dec. 18, 1 p.m. – WSOB PBA World Championship, Hardwick Division, Las Vegas.

Jan. 1, 1 p.m. – WSOB PBA World Championship, Petraglia Division, Las Vegas.

Jan. 8, 1 p.m. – WSOB PBA World Championship, Aulby Division, Las Vegas.

Jan. 15, 1 p.m. – WSOB PBA World Championship finals, Las Vegas.

Jan. 21-22 – Xtra Frame coverage of Cheetah Open presented by Ebonite, Fountain Valley, Calif.

Jan. 22, 3 p.m. – WSOB Bayer Viper Open, Las Vegas.

Jan. 29, 12:30 p.m. – USBC Masters, Las Vegas.

Feb. 5, 4 p.m. – Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational, New Orleans.

Feb. 12, 3 p.m. – WSOB Chameleon Open, Las Vegas.

Feb. 18-19 – Xtra Frame coverage of Don Johnson Memorial Open presented by Columbia 300, Columbus, Ohio

Feb. 19, 3 p.m. – WSOB Scorpion Open, Las Vegas.

Feb. 26, 3 p.m. – 69th U.S. Open, North Brunswick, N.J.

March 4, 3 p.m. – WSOB GEICO Shark Open, Las Vegas.

March 10-11 – Xtra Frame coverage of Detroit Open presented by Track

March 25, 2:30 p.m. – WSOB Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship, Las Vegas.

March 31-April 1 – Xtra Frame coverage of Dick Weber PBA Playoffs presented by Hammer, Indianapolis

April 1, 1 p.m. – WSOB Carmen Salvino Classic, Las Vegas.

April 8, 1 p.m. – WSOB Pepsi PBA Exempt Players Championship, Las Vegas.

April 15, 1 p.m. – PBA Tournament of Champions, Las Vegas.

As we continued through the second week the scores remained very high, scores I could never maintain even on a house shot. I wonder if this has gotten too easy for the pros, especially with the advancement of ball technology. Should the PBA find a way to lower the scores? Personally I prefer lower scores and I don’t think that will mean less exciting bowling - in fact, it might make it more exciting.

At any rate, now it’s time to get down to business, the best of the best on ESPN. I think the finals will be something special to watch, and with the arena setting it should be spectacular. I know I’ll be watching, I hope you do to. Enjoy!

Weber, one of the PBA’s six Triple Crown winners, won a pair of PBA National Championships in Toledo, Ohio (in 1989 and 1998) before the event’s name was changed.

● Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson paid a brief visit to the PBA World Series of Bowling Monday, but he and his party left when he learned there were no lanes available for open bowling.

● The final number of individuals who cashed in at least one WSOB event was 123 (38.92 percent of the total field of 316 players).

● WSOB players had their skills tested over seven different lane conditioning patterns over the multiple events: Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion, Shark, PBA World Championship, Carmen Salvino and Earl Anthony (used for the PBA Elite Players Championship). The World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA will use a World Tenpin Bowling Association pattern – the Mexico City pattern. The two PBA regional events held as part of the WSOB used the Salvino and Viper patterns, and the PBA Doubles Championship will be contested on the Earl Anthony pattern.

● After four rounds of qualifying in the Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship, there have been 22 300 games bowled by 22 different players during the World Series. By lane conditioning pattern, there were four perfect games bowled on the Chameleon pattern, five on the Scorpion, two on the Shark, nine on the Carmen Salvino and two on the Earl Anthony. The only patterns without a 300 were the Viper and PBA World Championship.

XTRA FRAME TO COVER WEDNESDAY’S ELITE PLAYERS ELIMINATION ROUNDS LIVE

The more than 150 hours of live Xtra Frame coverage of PBA World Series of Bowling action wraps up Wednesday when the PBA’s exclusive online bowling channel coverage the final qualifying round of the Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) followed by the Eliminator Round of 16 at 5:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. PT).

The Eliminator Round will involve four groups of four players each, based on 30 games bowled in the Carmen Salvino Classic and Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship. In the eliminator format, all four players per group will bowl two games, with the lowest-scoring player eliminated. In game two, the low score among the three survivors will be knocked out. The two remaining players per group will bowl two more games with the winner advancing to the Elite Players Championship finals which will be conducted at 5:30 p.m. PT for delayed telecast on ESPN.

To subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com. Special one-day rates are available exclusively during the WSOB for $3.99. A full-year subscription to Xtra Frame is also available for $64.99.

PBA fans also can follow the action from the World Series of Bowling on PBA’s Facebook page and through Twitter.

22 DIFFERENT PLAYERS QUALIFY FOR ESPN TELECASTS

Sean Rash has dominated the television landscape of the 2011 WSOB, qualifying for the first five ESPN telecasts before missing a sixth straight show by only six pins. But with the TV finals fields still to be determined for the Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship and Lumber Liquidators Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship, Rash is one of 22 different players who have qualified for a TV show.

The World Series television production schedule begins with the men’s and women’s World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. PT.

WSOB finals begin on Friday with the Bayer Viper Open finals at 1 p.m., Chameleon Open finals at 3 p.m., Scorpion Open finals at 6 p.m. and GEICO Shark Open finals at 8 p.m.

Saturday is PBA World Championship day, with four division finals and the championship round, all beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The 2011 PBA World Series of Bowling concludes on Sunday with the Lumber Liquidators Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles preliminary round at 10 a.m., doubles finals at noon, Carmen Salvino Classic finals at 3:30 p.m. and the Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship at 5:30 p.m.

All television finals are open to the public with no admission fee.