Robert Smith of Pataskala, Ohio managed to overcome his emotions and his back pain to prove he is one of the most powerful bowlers on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour.
Smith was one of four players to advance to Sunday’s televised finals in the high-scoring Ultimate Scoring Championship. Bill O’ Neill, Mike Wolfe and Mike Scroggins will also be joining him in the finals, which will be taped on Sunday and will air on ESPN on Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. EST.
Smith, who is known for his striking power, was able to dominate on the Ultimate Scoring oil pattern, which paralleled a “house shot” lane condition typically found in most league bowling today. Smith, averaging 251.27 in match-play, defeated Sean Rash of Wichita, Kansas in the Round of 8, 4-1 (246-279, 249-244, 279-215, 246-215 and 215-207). Smith shot a 300 in the Round of 32, one of 18 perfect games shot during the tournament.
“With my style (higher rev rate), I usually strike a lot, so I knew I just had to make good shots,” he said. “I never got too excited or too mad, which is unusual for me. I never really had any expectations (about competing on this pattern). I am a notoriously bad bowler when lanes are easy but I got some breaks and I was real happy with what I did today.”
I’m just hoping that my back continues to hold out,” added Smith, who has been plagued with back problems for several years. “Without my legs it’s hard, because they give me my power and direction.”
Smith will face Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas who defeated Mike Edwards of Tulsa, Okla. 4-2 (247-300, 221-213, 228-268, 236-207, 248-225 and 247-239) to advance past the Round of 8.“
I just tried to make really good shots,” Scroggins said. “The first match, Mike (Edwards) shoots 300 at me and there’s nothing you can do about that. Fortunately my shot got pretty good and he started to move around a bit.”
Bill O’Neill of Levittown, Pa. also capitalized on the high-scoring condition, shooting 300 and 835 for the first three games in the Round of 32 and shooting 300 in the Round of 8 en route to a 4-0 (236-181, 236-215, 300-226 and 264-215) match play sweep over Parker Bohn III of Jackson, N.J. O’Neill averaged 254.88 in match play. Both Scroggins and O’Neill advanced to the televised finals of last Sunday’s Lake County Indiana Golden Anniversary Championship in Hammond, Ind.
O’Neill will face Mike Wolfe of New Albany, Ind. who advanced by defeating Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo. 4-1 (224-237, 256-241, 248-216, 216-173 and 205-202). Wolfe averaged 252.94 in match play.
“It’s hard not to feel good because the scoring pace is so high,” Wolfe said. “It’s a carry contest and hopefully you catch the breaks along the way. Hopefully we can put up some big numbers on Sunday for the fans.”
The Ultimate Scoring Championship, a new event introduced as part of the 50th anniversary celebration, spotlights the incredible scoring potential of the world’s greatest bowlers on a “house shot” lane condition that is found in most league bowling today. It is also the first event of the “Extreme Swing” which includes five “creative” format championships during the season. The four other events this season include the GEICO Plastic Ball Championship (Feb. 18-22), Etonic Marathon Championship (Feb. 23-March 1), Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator (March 2-8) and Go RVing Match Play Championship (March 18-22).
Ultimate Scoring Championship Format:The field bowled two 7-game qualifying blocks for a total of 14 games on Monday, Nov. 10 in which the top 32 players advanced. Bowlers making the cut returned on Tuesday morning, Nov. 11, competing in a single-elimination best 4-out-of-seven match play format in the Round of 32, Round of 16 and Round of 8. The final four advance to Sunday’s finals which will be taped and air on ESPN on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Round of 32
#32 Mike Edwards $4,200, Tulsa, Okla., def. #1 Patrick Allen $2,400, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 4-3 (217-288, 202-300, 215-246, 246-181, 248-191, 204-201, 257-231).
#2 Parker Bohn III $4,400, Jackson, N.J., def. #31 Michael Haugen Jr. $2,200, Carefree, Ariz., 4-2 (245-277, 268-267, 289-279, 246-210, 232-279, 300-256).
#3 Mike Wolfe $200, New Albany, Ind., def. #30 Steve Harman $2,200, Indianapolis, 4-0 (277-189, 245-210, 268-245, 300-206).
#4 Wes Malott $2,700, Argyle, Texas, def. #29 Dave D'Entremont $2,200, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 4-3 (257-244, 257-189, 215-299, 141-218, 231-246, 253-213, 239-205).
#28 Nathan Bohr $2,700, Wichita, Kan., def. #5 Steve Jaros $2,300, Yorkville, Ill., 4-3 (243-216, 225-216, 206-204, 211-225, 219-259, 194-233, 248-247).
#6 Gregg Zicha $2,700, Glen Ellyn, Ill., def. #27 Andrew Cain $2,200, Scottsdale, Ariz., 4-3 (213-202, 216-193, 227-279, 208-237, 238-227, 205-232, 248-235).
#26 Bill O'Neill $200, Southampton, Pa., def. #7 Craig Tuholski $2,200, Washougal, Wash., 4-2 (268-216, 267-257, 300-225, 211-227, 235-244, 267-237).
#8 Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, def. #25 Ken Simard $2,200, Greenville, S.C., 4-2 (218-214, 209-258, 233-257, 256-222, 236-211, 214-174).
#14 Billy Oatman $2,700, Chicago, def. #19 Chester Rogers Jr $2,200, Milwaukie, Ore, 4-2 (238-212, 220-228, 266-223, 247-237, 247-266, 190-165).
#23 Bill Rowe $2,700, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, def. #10 Todd Book $2,200, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 4-3 (212-181, 218-183, 199-206, 224-231, 200-234, 202-199, 278-182).
#11 Pete Weber $4,200, St. Ann, Mo., def. #22 Ken Abner $2,200, Cincinnati, 4-2 (216-208, 206-199, 233-192, 222-230, 231-236, 257-190).
#24 Joe Ciccone $2,700, Buffalo, N.Y., def. #9 Jason Sterner $2,200, McDonough, Ga., 4-3 (215-227, 224-202, 228-234, 200-227, 224-193, 226-221, 269-205).
#20 Sean Rash $4,200, Wichita, Kan, def. #13 Walter Ray Williams Jr. $2,200, Ocala, Fla., 4-1 (256-204, 258-247, 256-196, 221-227, 225-184).
#21 Robert Smith $100, Columbus, def. #12 Michael Fagan $2,200, Patchogue, N.Y., 4-2 (300-268, 204-232, 289-244, 248-205, 257-269, 280-238).
#15 Ritchie Allen $2,800, Columbia, S.C., def. #18 Jason Couch $2,200, Clermont, Fla., 4-3 (213-213, 247-183, 246-248, 268-247, 279-244, 235-290, 278-223).
#17 Jason Lundquist $2,700, Delaware Water Gap, Pa, def. #16 Danny Wiseman $2,200, Baltimore, 4-3 (216-289, 237-244, 279-226, 258-210, 190-223, 245-244, 277-216).
Round of 16
#21 Robert Smith ($100), Columbus, def. #28 Nathan Bohr ($2,700), Wichita, Kan., 4-0 (216-214, 203-202, 258-179, 279-234).
#2 Parker Bohn III ($4,400), Jackson, N.J., def. #15 Ritchie Allen ($2,800), Columbia, S.C., 4-1 (242-220, 237-225, 248-178, 193-227, 265-243).
#3 Mike Wolfe ($200), New Albany, Ind., def. #14 Billy Oatman ($2,700), Chicago, 4-3 (268-247, 257-247, 265-279, 238-289, 267-237, 234-258, 279-253).
#20 Sean Rash ($4,200), Wichita, Kan, def. #4 Wes Malott ($2,700), Argyle, Texas, 4-3 (223-202, 255-247, 188-241, 215-257, 244-235, 217-278, 222-205).
#32 Mike Edwards ($4,200), Tulsa, Okla., def. #17 Jason Lundquist ($2,700), Delaware Water Gap, Pa, 4-2 (226-217, 194-237, 244-236, 204-258, 242-227, 238-204).
#11 Pete Weber ($4,200), St. Ann, Mo., def. #6 Gregg Zicha ($2,700), Glen Ellyn, Ill., 4-2 (214-223, 219-259, 222-204, 214-197, 287-155, 277-258).
#26 Bill O'Neill ($200), Southampton, Pa., def. #23 Bill Rowe ($2,700), Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 4-2 (211-212, 255-178, 269-227, 226-265, 257-206, 276-245).
#8 Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, def. #24 Joe Ciccone ($2,700), Buffalo, N.Y., 4-3 (193-213, 178-254, 245-223, 232-243, 236-231, 267-205, 246-227).
Round of 8
#3 Mike Wolfe ($200), New Albany, Ind., def. #11 Pete Weber ($4,200), St. Ann, Mo., 4-1 (224-237, 256-241, 248-216, 216-173, 205-202).
#8 Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, def. #32 Mike Edwards ($4,200), Tulsa, Okla., 4-2 (247-300, 221-213, 228-268, 236-207, 248-225, 247-239).
#26 Bill O'Neill ($200), Southampton, Pa., def. #2 Parker Bohn III ($4,400), Jackson, N.J., 4-0 (236-181, 236-215, 300-226, 264-215).
#21 Robert Smith ($100), Columbus, def. #20 Sean Rash ($4,200), Wichita, Kan, 4-1 (246-279, 249-244, 279-215, 246-215, 215-207).
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