Monday, March 30, 2009
Motiv Previews New GT-1
Belmonte Wins PBA Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
Australia’s Jason Belmonte became the first two-handed player in Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) history to win a PBA Tour title when he upset top qualifier Michael Fagan of Patchoque, N.Y., 215-201, to win The Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic at AMF Babylon Lanes Sunday.
Belmonte, making his PBA Tour singles television debut, won $25,000 and an exemption to bowl on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour during the 2009-10 season. He also joined Sweden’s Mats Karlsson, Venezuela’s Amleto Monacelli and Finland’s Mika Koivuniemi as the fourth international player to win a PBA Tour title.
“The PBA Tour is the ultimate bowling competition in the world,” said Belmonte.
“With all the media attention I have received, it’s now time for us to put the foot down on the gas and go mainstream; this is not just about me. There are many great stories and great athletes out here. It’s time all of us knock on all the doors of we can, the next one could be the ‘golden key’ door we are all looking for.”
The 25-year-old Australian has been a terror in international competition over the past few years, but had not experienced PBA competition until this season. In limited participation, he had finished in the top 15 four times with a best finish of 10th place in the season-opening PBA Tour PBA World Championship in Wichita, Kan.
“I was very nervous on those first two shots, I threw it where I looked at but then I realized I was looking at the wrong spot,” said Belmonte about his first shots on television. “I settled down after that.”
Belmonte developed his unusual style as a toddler growing up in his parents’ bowling center in New South Wales, Australia, bowling with bowling balls that were too heavy to throw with one hand. By inserting the middle two fingers of his right hand into the ball, and using his left hand to guide and spin the ball, he is able to generate hooking power very few one-handed players can match.
In the title match against one of the Tour’s premier power players, Belmonte bowled an error-free game, needing only a pair of doubles to build an advantage after Fagan opened in the first and fifth frames. Belmonte used an aggressive reactive bowling ball (Storm T-Road Solid) to play a deep inside angle on the left lane, and a hard plastic ball (Team Storm Clear/White) to play a straight, outside line on the right lane to combat the PBA’s Shark and Viper lane conditioning patterns used on the championship left and right lanes, respectively.
“I knew the lanes would break down faster,” said Belmonte. “If Mike had another game, he would have shot 240.”
In the opening match, Ritchie Allen of Columbia, SC, finished with eight strikes in a row to eliminate Robert Smith of Columbus, OH, 258-244. Bill O’Neill of Southampton, PA, overcame an open in the first frame with six strikes on his next seven shots to defeat Allen, 237-218.
Belmonte then slipped past O’Neill in the semifinal match, overcoming a spare/open start with eight strikes on his next nine attempts for a 245-236 victory. O’Neill’s hopes for his first PBA title ended when he left a solid 10 pin after striking on his first ball in the 10th frame.
“I threw mine great and couldn’t believe I left the ten,” said Belmonte after leaving a ringing tenpin on a solid pocket hit in the 7th frame. “When I saw Billy’s last shot go down, I thought ‘well that was fun, see you later’, but then his ten stood.”
Fagan earned $13,000 for second place, O’Neill $6,500 for third, Allen $5,500 for fourth and Smith $5,000 for fifth place.
The PBA Tour concludes its 50th anniversary season next week with the 66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open which gets underway Tuesday at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J. Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, is defending champion. ESPN will televise the 2-hour live finals on Sunday, April 5, at 1 p.m. Eastern.
LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
AMF Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, NY Final Standings
1, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 460 (two games), $25,000
Storm T-Road Solid, Team Storm Clear
2, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, NY, 201 (one game), $13,000
Brunswick Avalanche Slide, Brunswick Avalanche Solid
3, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, PA, 473 (two games), $6,500
Storm Rapid Fire, Storm T-Road Solid, Brunswick Rattler, Hammer The Sauce, USBC (Viz-a-ball)
4, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, SC, 476 (two games), $5,500
Hammer Vibe Blue, Hammer Vibe Green, Hammer The Sauce
5, Robert Smith, Columbus, OH, 244 (one game), $5,000
Belmonte, making his PBA Tour singles television debut, won $25,000 and an exemption to bowl on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour during the 2009-10 season. He also joined Sweden’s Mats Karlsson, Venezuela’s Amleto Monacelli and Finland’s Mika Koivuniemi as the fourth international player to win a PBA Tour title.
“The PBA Tour is the ultimate bowling competition in the world,” said Belmonte.
“With all the media attention I have received, it’s now time for us to put the foot down on the gas and go mainstream; this is not just about me. There are many great stories and great athletes out here. It’s time all of us knock on all the doors of we can, the next one could be the ‘golden key’ door we are all looking for.”
The 25-year-old Australian has been a terror in international competition over the past few years, but had not experienced PBA competition until this season. In limited participation, he had finished in the top 15 four times with a best finish of 10th place in the season-opening PBA Tour PBA World Championship in Wichita, Kan.
“I was very nervous on those first two shots, I threw it where I looked at but then I realized I was looking at the wrong spot,” said Belmonte about his first shots on television. “I settled down after that.”
Belmonte developed his unusual style as a toddler growing up in his parents’ bowling center in New South Wales, Australia, bowling with bowling balls that were too heavy to throw with one hand. By inserting the middle two fingers of his right hand into the ball, and using his left hand to guide and spin the ball, he is able to generate hooking power very few one-handed players can match.
In the title match against one of the Tour’s premier power players, Belmonte bowled an error-free game, needing only a pair of doubles to build an advantage after Fagan opened in the first and fifth frames. Belmonte used an aggressive reactive bowling ball (Storm T-Road Solid) to play a deep inside angle on the left lane, and a hard plastic ball (Team Storm Clear/White) to play a straight, outside line on the right lane to combat the PBA’s Shark and Viper lane conditioning patterns used on the championship left and right lanes, respectively.
“I knew the lanes would break down faster,” said Belmonte. “If Mike had another game, he would have shot 240.”
In the opening match, Ritchie Allen of Columbia, SC, finished with eight strikes in a row to eliminate Robert Smith of Columbus, OH, 258-244. Bill O’Neill of Southampton, PA, overcame an open in the first frame with six strikes on his next seven shots to defeat Allen, 237-218.
Belmonte then slipped past O’Neill in the semifinal match, overcoming a spare/open start with eight strikes on his next nine attempts for a 245-236 victory. O’Neill’s hopes for his first PBA title ended when he left a solid 10 pin after striking on his first ball in the 10th frame.
“I threw mine great and couldn’t believe I left the ten,” said Belmonte after leaving a ringing tenpin on a solid pocket hit in the 7th frame. “When I saw Billy’s last shot go down, I thought ‘well that was fun, see you later’, but then his ten stood.”
Fagan earned $13,000 for second place, O’Neill $6,500 for third, Allen $5,500 for fourth and Smith $5,000 for fifth place.
The PBA Tour concludes its 50th anniversary season next week with the 66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open which gets underway Tuesday at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J. Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, is defending champion. ESPN will televise the 2-hour live finals on Sunday, April 5, at 1 p.m. Eastern.
LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
AMF Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, NY Final Standings
1, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 460 (two games), $25,000
Storm T-Road Solid, Team Storm Clear
2, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, NY, 201 (one game), $13,000
Brunswick Avalanche Slide, Brunswick Avalanche Solid
3, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, PA, 473 (two games), $6,500
Storm Rapid Fire, Storm T-Road Solid, Brunswick Rattler, Hammer The Sauce, USBC (Viz-a-ball)
4, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, SC, 476 (two games), $5,500
Hammer Vibe Blue, Hammer Vibe Green, Hammer The Sauce
5, Robert Smith, Columbus, OH, 244 (one game), $5,000
Roto Grip Cell Pearl, Roto Grip Cell, Hammer Hot Sauce Pearl, Etonic (Viz-a-ball)
Saturday, March 28, 2009
PBA Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic Finals Set
Looking for his first Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)Tour singles title, Michael Fagan of Patchogue, NY, earned the No. 1 qualifying position for Sunday’s live ESPN-televised stepladder finals of the Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic at AMF Babylon Lanes.
As a result of earning the No. 2 qualifying position, Australian two-handed bowling sensation Jason Belmonte will make his Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour television debut in Sunday’s finals scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
After Friday’s Round of 16, the 28-year-old Fagan had a 7,624 overall pinfall and a 12-6 match play record, 53 pins ahead of Belmonte who finished with a 7,571 pinfall and 14-4 record. Belmonte had the tournament lead going into the final position round match against Fagan but lost the match to Fagan 212-185.
“I knew I was going have to do something special to compete with Jason but I was able to pull it out in the position round,” Fagan said. “I had the support of a lot of friends and family here tonight and was happy to give them a good show.”
Belmonte, who has won several major international titles and is in his first year on the PBA Tour, has garnered much media attention this season and will make an appearance with PBA Player of the Year contender Wes Malott Saturday morning from 7-10 a.m. Eastern on Fox & Friends, the top-rated cable morning show on the Fox News Network.
“It’s nice to have the media attention and pressure finally turn into a reward,” said the 25 year-old Belmonte, whose hometown is Orange, Australia. “For America to see me bowl live has been my goal. I will let them make their own assessment of what I can do."
“The hardest thing about the stepladder will be sitting there watching the other guys get a feel for the lanes,” Belmonte added.
Fagan’s top finishes this year have been second and fourth place which both came in February.
Belmonte had 11th, 12th and 15th place finishes in February and posted a 10th place finish in the PBA World Championship which opened the season last October.
Rounding out the stepladder field will be No. 3 qualifier, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, PA; No. 4 qualifier, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, SC, and No. 5 qualifier, Robert Smith of Columbus, OH.
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
AMF Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, NY
Round of 16 Results After 32 Games
1, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 12-6, 7,624
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 14-4, 7,571
3, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 10-8, 7,448
4, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 10-8, 7,443
5, Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, 10-8, 7,401
6, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 13-5, 7,397, $4,000
7, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 11-7, 7,319, $3,700
8, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 9-9, 7,316, $3,400
9, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 8-10, 7,312, $3,200
10, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 9-9, 7,282, $3,000
11, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 9-9, 7,263, $2,800
12, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 9-8-1, 7,257, $2,700
13, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 7-10-1, 7,246, $2,650
14, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 8-10, 7,159, $2,600
15, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 8-10, 7,154, $2,550
16, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 9-9, 7,104, $2,500
As a result of earning the No. 2 qualifying position, Australian two-handed bowling sensation Jason Belmonte will make his Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour television debut in Sunday’s finals scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
After Friday’s Round of 16, the 28-year-old Fagan had a 7,624 overall pinfall and a 12-6 match play record, 53 pins ahead of Belmonte who finished with a 7,571 pinfall and 14-4 record. Belmonte had the tournament lead going into the final position round match against Fagan but lost the match to Fagan 212-185.
“I knew I was going have to do something special to compete with Jason but I was able to pull it out in the position round,” Fagan said. “I had the support of a lot of friends and family here tonight and was happy to give them a good show.”
Belmonte, who has won several major international titles and is in his first year on the PBA Tour, has garnered much media attention this season and will make an appearance with PBA Player of the Year contender Wes Malott Saturday morning from 7-10 a.m. Eastern on Fox & Friends, the top-rated cable morning show on the Fox News Network.
“It’s nice to have the media attention and pressure finally turn into a reward,” said the 25 year-old Belmonte, whose hometown is Orange, Australia. “For America to see me bowl live has been my goal. I will let them make their own assessment of what I can do."
“The hardest thing about the stepladder will be sitting there watching the other guys get a feel for the lanes,” Belmonte added.
Fagan’s top finishes this year have been second and fourth place which both came in February.
Belmonte had 11th, 12th and 15th place finishes in February and posted a 10th place finish in the PBA World Championship which opened the season last October.
Rounding out the stepladder field will be No. 3 qualifier, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, PA; No. 4 qualifier, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, SC, and No. 5 qualifier, Robert Smith of Columbus, OH.
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
AMF Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, NY
Round of 16 Results After 32 Games
1, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 12-6, 7,624
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 14-4, 7,571
3, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 10-8, 7,448
4, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 10-8, 7,443
5, Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, 10-8, 7,401
6, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 13-5, 7,397, $4,000
7, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 11-7, 7,319, $3,700
8, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 9-9, 7,316, $3,400
9, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 8-10, 7,312, $3,200
10, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 9-9, 7,282, $3,000
11, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 9-9, 7,263, $2,800
12, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 9-8-1, 7,257, $2,700
13, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 7-10-1, 7,246, $2,650
14, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 8-10, 7,159, $2,600
15, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 8-10, 7,154, $2,550
16, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 9-9, 7,104, $2,500
Barnes, Eoff 2008 Amateur Bowlers Of The Year
Lynda Barnes of Double Oak,
Barnes sealed her honor in early May with successive victories in United States Bowling Congress (USBC) events. She won the USBC Queens in Detroit on April 30 and 11 days later defeated Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) star Sean Rash, 258-237, to capture the inaugural Bowling's Clash of Champions, a USBC event, in Kansas City, MO.
Her other 2008 achievements included fifth- and ninth-place finishes in the USBC Women's Championships Classic Team and Singles events, respectively, in Detroit; bowling with the seventh-place team in the USBC Open Championships in Albuquerque, NM; placing 25th in the U.S. Women's Open in Romeoville, IL, and winning team gold and doubles silver medals as a member of Team USA in the Pan Am Confederation Women's Championships in Santiago, Chile.
Eoff, a former
He converted his national amateur championship title into an AMFQubica World Cup victory in
Friday, March 27, 2009
PBA Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
With a 3,296 14-game pinfall (235.43 average), Michael Fagan of Patchogue, NY, led Thursday’s Round of 64 in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic at AMF Babylon Lanes.
With recent second and fourth place finishes, Fagan is looking for his first Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour title and credited his performance to being able to adjust to the different lane condition patterns between the first and second qualifying blocks.
“In the first block on the shorter oil pattern I was able to throw a little harder with a cleaner release,” said the 28-year-old Fagan.
“The last seven games I was able to roll it a little heavier on the longer pattern and bowled a couple of good games late.”
Looking for his first television finals appearance, Australian two-handed player Jason Belmonte is in seventh place with a 3,127 pinfall (223.36 average).
The international bowling star had finishes of 11th, 12th and 15th on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour in the month of February and averaged 243 in Thursday’s second block.
“The longer lane condition seemed more suited to my game,” Belmonte said. “I found a good reaction and started stringing strikes.
“From here on out you’re going to need to come out warm in the first few games and whip the horse over the last nine games and get to the finish.”
Another area favorite, Rudy Kasimakis, originally from Long Island who now makes his home in Baldwyn, MS, is in 13th with a 3,106 pinfall (221.86 average).
The top 32 players advance to a nine-game modified round robin match play round today after which the field will be cut to the top 16 who will advance to another round of match play to determine the top five for the stepladder finals to be televised by ESPN live Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern.
The tournament features two of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s lane conditioning patterns: Viper and Shark for the first two qualifying rounds, respectively, and for match play the left lane will use the Shark condition and the right lane Viper.
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour 2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
AMF West Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, NY
Round of 64 Results After 14 Games
(Name, Hometown, Pinfall, Money for Non-Qualifiers)
1, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 3,296
2, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3,257
3, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,213
4, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 3,185
5, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,176
6, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 3,140
7, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3,127
8, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 3,120
9, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,117
10, Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 3,114
11, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 3,113
12, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 3,108
13, Rudy Kasimakis, Baldwyn, Miss., 3,106
14, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 3,102
15, Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 3,101
16, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,099
17, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 3,086
18, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 3,063
19, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,056
20, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,052
21, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,050
22, Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, 3,044
23, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,040
24, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 3,038
25, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 3,035
26, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 3,031
27, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 3,027
28, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,018
29, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 3,006
30, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 3,001
31, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 3,000
32, Joe Bailey, Pittsburgh, 2,995
33, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 2,993, $1,890
34, P.J. Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 2,990, $1,800
35, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 2,979, $1,800
36, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 2,969, $1,800
37, Jason Lundquist, Delaware Water Gap, Pa., 2,963, $1,800
38, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 2,960, $1,800
39, Jason Wojnar, Chicago, 2,956, $1,800
40, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 2,953, $1,800
41, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 2,932, $1,800
41, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,932, $1,800
43, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,929, $1,800
44, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 2,926, $1,800
45, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 2,922, $1,800
46, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 2,919, $1,800
47, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 2,912, $1,800
48, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 2,910, $1,800
49, Mike DeVaney, San Diego, 2,903, $1,800
50, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 2,895, $1,800
51, David Traber, Hebron, Ill., 2,893, $1,800
52, Craig Tuholski, Washougal, Wash., 2,889, $1,800
53, Andrew Cain, Scottsdale, Ariz., 2,869, $1,800
54, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 2,868, $1,800
55, Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan., 2,847, $1,800
56, Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 2,839, $1,800
57, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 2,827, $1,800
58, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 2,822, $1,800
59, Chester Rogers Jr., Milwaukie, Ore., 2,773, $1,800
60, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,764, $1,800
61, Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., 2,755, $1,800
62, Norm Ginsberg Jr., East Meadow, N.Y., 2,706, $1,800
63, Dale Aivaz Jr., Yonkers, N.Y., 2,679, $1,800
64, Terrance Reeves, Valrico, Fla., 2,652, $1,800
With recent second and fourth place finishes, Fagan is looking for his first Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour title and credited his performance to being able to adjust to the different lane condition patterns between the first and second qualifying blocks.
“In the first block on the shorter oil pattern I was able to throw a little harder with a cleaner release,” said the 28-year-old Fagan.
“The last seven games I was able to roll it a little heavier on the longer pattern and bowled a couple of good games late.”
Looking for his first television finals appearance, Australian two-handed player Jason Belmonte is in seventh place with a 3,127 pinfall (223.36 average).
The international bowling star had finishes of 11th, 12th and 15th on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour in the month of February and averaged 243 in Thursday’s second block.
“The longer lane condition seemed more suited to my game,” Belmonte said. “I found a good reaction and started stringing strikes.
“From here on out you’re going to need to come out warm in the first few games and whip the horse over the last nine games and get to the finish.”
Another area favorite, Rudy Kasimakis, originally from Long Island who now makes his home in Baldwyn, MS, is in 13th with a 3,106 pinfall (221.86 average).
The top 32 players advance to a nine-game modified round robin match play round today after which the field will be cut to the top 16 who will advance to another round of match play to determine the top five for the stepladder finals to be televised by ESPN live Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern.
The tournament features two of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s lane conditioning patterns: Viper and Shark for the first two qualifying rounds, respectively, and for match play the left lane will use the Shark condition and the right lane Viper.
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour 2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
AMF West Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, NY
Round of 64 Results After 14 Games
(Name, Hometown, Pinfall, Money for Non-Qualifiers)
1, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 3,296
2, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3,257
3, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,213
4, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 3,185
5, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,176
6, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 3,140
7, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3,127
8, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 3,120
9, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,117
10, Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 3,114
11, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 3,113
12, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 3,108
13, Rudy Kasimakis, Baldwyn, Miss., 3,106
14, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 3,102
15, Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 3,101
16, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,099
17, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 3,086
18, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 3,063
19, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,056
20, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,052
21, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,050
22, Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, 3,044
23, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,040
24, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 3,038
25, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 3,035
26, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 3,031
27, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 3,027
28, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,018
29, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 3,006
30, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 3,001
31, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 3,000
32, Joe Bailey, Pittsburgh, 2,995
33, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 2,993, $1,890
34, P.J. Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 2,990, $1,800
35, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 2,979, $1,800
36, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 2,969, $1,800
37, Jason Lundquist, Delaware Water Gap, Pa., 2,963, $1,800
38, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 2,960, $1,800
39, Jason Wojnar, Chicago, 2,956, $1,800
40, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 2,953, $1,800
41, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 2,932, $1,800
41, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,932, $1,800
43, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,929, $1,800
44, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 2,926, $1,800
45, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 2,922, $1,800
46, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 2,919, $1,800
47, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 2,912, $1,800
48, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 2,910, $1,800
49, Mike DeVaney, San Diego, 2,903, $1,800
50, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 2,895, $1,800
51, David Traber, Hebron, Ill., 2,893, $1,800
52, Craig Tuholski, Washougal, Wash., 2,889, $1,800
53, Andrew Cain, Scottsdale, Ariz., 2,869, $1,800
54, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 2,868, $1,800
55, Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan., 2,847, $1,800
56, Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 2,839, $1,800
57, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 2,827, $1,800
58, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 2,822, $1,800
59, Chester Rogers Jr., Milwaukie, Ore., 2,773, $1,800
60, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,764, $1,800
61, Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., 2,755, $1,800
62, Norm Ginsberg Jr., East Meadow, N.Y., 2,706, $1,800
63, Dale Aivaz Jr., Yonkers, N.Y., 2,679, $1,800
64, Terrance Reeves, Valrico, Fla., 2,652, $1,800
JOHNSON, PETRAGLIA EARN BWAA'S HIGHEST HONORS
Bob Johnson of Chicago has been selected as winner of the 2009 Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA) Hall of Fame Award in recognition of his career of distinguished contributions to bowling journalism.
BWAA also has announced Johnny Petraglia of Jackson, NJ, has been selected by BWAA's membership as winner of the organization's 2009 Meritorious Service Award, honoring his years of off-the-lanes dedication to the sport.
Both award-winners will be recognized during the Columbia 300/BPAA/BWAA Awards Dinner at the Luxor in Las Vegas, NV, on Tuesday, June 23.
Johnson served a brief term as editor of the American Bowling Congress' (ABC) Bowling Magazine before returning home to his native California where got his start at age 15 helping Joe Lyou produce the weekly Pacific Bowler. After serving four years as editor of California Bowling News and terms as assistant executive director, executive director and president of Southern California Bowling Writers, he was founding editor of Bowling Industry International magazine, holding that position for five years. A long-time contributor to Bowlers Journal International, he returned to Chicago in 2000 as international editor and was promoted to editor in 2007.
Johnson ranks third all-time in the US Bowler national writing competition with 48 awards and he won another eight awards in the former Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) writing competition. Johnson also edits BJI's weekly eBowler electronic newsletter.
Petraglia, who will be inducted into the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in early May for his on-the-lanes performances, will be honored by BWAA for what he has done off the lanes.
For more than 30 years, Petraglia has mentored young PBA players as a long-time member of Brunswick Pro Staff and he fought for their rights as a two-term PBA president, when he helped heal wounds during its most turbulent era of lawsuits that threatened to fracture the organization.
In 1993, he served as coach and advisor to Michael J. Fox for his lead role in the bowling-themed movie, Greedy. He spoke on behalf of the sport as a member of the ABC Ambassadors staff. He created the Reichert Cup - a bowling version of golf's famous Ryder Cup - in honor of long-time Brunswick chief executive and Olympic Games advocate Jack Reichert.
After serving a tour of duty in Vietnam, he worked with a group called "Athletes for Very Important Patients," visiting VA hospitals with other prominent sports stars. He organized and still oversees a special pro-am event for paralyzed veterans and PBA stars in conjunction with the PBA's annual visit to North Brunswick, NJ. Since 2003, he has been a BVL "teaching pro" staffer, visiting VA centers and again helping hospitalized veterans.
Petraglia's little-known, behind-the-scenes dedication to veterans across America is even more impressive when you consider that he refuses to fly and travels everywhere by ground transportation.
Both award-winners will be recognized during the Columbia 300/BPAA/BWAA Awards Dinner at the Luxor in Las Vegas, NV, on Tuesday, June 23.
Johnson served a brief term as editor of the American Bowling Congress' (ABC) Bowling Magazine before returning home to his native California where got his start at age 15 helping Joe Lyou produce the weekly Pacific Bowler. After serving four years as editor of California Bowling News and terms as assistant executive director, executive director and president of Southern California Bowling Writers, he was founding editor of Bowling Industry International magazine, holding that position for five years. A long-time contributor to Bowlers Journal International, he returned to Chicago in 2000 as international editor and was promoted to editor in 2007.
Johnson ranks third all-time in the US Bowler national writing competition with 48 awards and he won another eight awards in the former Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) writing competition. Johnson also edits BJI's weekly eBowler electronic newsletter.
Petraglia, who will be inducted into the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in early May for his on-the-lanes performances, will be honored by BWAA for what he has done off the lanes.
For more than 30 years, Petraglia has mentored young PBA players as a long-time member of Brunswick Pro Staff and he fought for their rights as a two-term PBA president, when he helped heal wounds during its most turbulent era of lawsuits that threatened to fracture the organization.
In 1993, he served as coach and advisor to Michael J. Fox for his lead role in the bowling-themed movie, Greedy. He spoke on behalf of the sport as a member of the ABC Ambassadors staff. He created the Reichert Cup - a bowling version of golf's famous Ryder Cup - in honor of long-time Brunswick chief executive and Olympic Games advocate Jack Reichert.
After serving a tour of duty in Vietnam, he worked with a group called "Athletes for Very Important Patients," visiting VA hospitals with other prominent sports stars. He organized and still oversees a special pro-am event for paralyzed veterans and PBA stars in conjunction with the PBA's annual visit to North Brunswick, NJ. Since 2003, he has been a BVL "teaching pro" staffer, visiting VA centers and again helping hospitalized veterans.
Petraglia's little-known, behind-the-scenes dedication to veterans across America is even more impressive when you consider that he refuses to fly and travels everywhere by ground transportation.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
PBA Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
Australian two-handed bowling sensation Jason Belmonte is getting a lot of attention, but Long Island bowling purists are hoping one of their own will finally break through and win his first Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour title when the Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic officially gets underway Thursday at AMF West Babylon Lanes.
Belmonte, whose unusual two-handed delivery has led to a high level of success
in the international arena, qualified for the Round of 64 field by a single pin
during Wednesday’s Tour Qualifying Round (TQR), but long-time Long Islanders were cheering loudest for Rudy Kasimakis, who grew up honing his skills on the island. Kasimakis, a PBA touring player off-and-on throughout much of his adult life, now resides in Baldwyn, Miss., but he turned on his fabled “Rudy Revs” power game and bowled like a hometown favorite in posting a 1,560-pin total to easily make the Round of 64 cut.
Jim Tomek Jr. of Camp Hill, Pa., led the TQR field of 96 non-exempt players,
posting a 1,572 total for his seven games. Kasimakis was 12 pins behind. Also
advancing were PBA members: P.J. Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 1,537; Jason Wojnar,
Chicago, 1,523; 2009 USBC Masters winner John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 1,520;
Norm Ginsberg Jr., East Meadow, N.Y., 1,512, Belmonte and Brian Ziesig of
Levittown, N.Y., 1,509, who tied for the seventh and eighth PBA berths in the
Round of 64. The TQR qualifiers will advance along with PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia of Jackson, N.J., who is bowling in the tournament at the PBA’s
invitation (commissioner's exemption), and Dale Aivaz Jr. of Yonkers, N.Y., who rolled a 1,492 total to top the amateur bowlers in the TQR.
The 64-player Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic field will bowl two
seven-game qualifying rounds Thursday on the PBA’s Viper and Shark lane
conditioning patterns, respectively, before the field is cut to 32 for match
play competition on Friday. After nine match games Friday morning, the top 16
will bowl another nine games Friday evening to determine the top four who will
compete for the title in the ESPN-televised finals on Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
AMF West Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, N.Y.
Wednesday, March 25
PBA TOUR QUALIFYING ROUND
Top eight PBA members and one amateur advance to the Round of 64.
a-indicates amateur
1, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 1,573
2, Rudy Kasimakis, Baldwyn, Miss., 1,560
3, P.J. Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 1,537
4, Jason Wojnar, Chicago, 1,523
5, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 1,520
6, Norm Ginsberg Jr., East Meadow, N.Y., 1,512
7, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 1,509
Jason Belmonte, Australia, 1,509
9, Alex Cavagnaro, N. Massapequa, N.Y., 1,508, $1,000
10, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,505, $800
11, James Wallace, Hicksville, N.Y., 1,498, $700
12, a-Dale Aivaz Jr., Yonkers, N.Y., 1,492
13, Vinny D'Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,488, $600
14, Matthew O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J., 1,480, $475
14, Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, 1,480, $475
16, Kevin Bandrowski, Speonk, N.Y., 1,473, $400
17, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 1,465, $380
18, Adam Chase, Seaford, N.Y., 1,463, $360
19, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 1,458, $350
20, Amanda Fagan, Oakdale, N.Y., 1,456, $340
21, Michael Dioguardo, Patchogue, N.Y., 1,452, $330
22, Matthew Brockett, Clinton, Conn, 1,446, $320
23, Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, N.Y, 1,445, $310
24, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,443, $300
25, Ray Edwards, Middle Island, N.Y., 1,435
Damon Brown, Amityville, N.Y., 1,435
27, Darryl McDuffie, Floral Park, N.Y., 1,418
28, Bill Beck, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., 1,417
29, Chun Bae, Cedarhurst, N.Y., 1,413
30, Thomas Bragg, Baiting Hollow, N.Y., 1,411
31, Stephen Gregg, Yaphank, N.Y., 1,408
32, Alex Medveditskov, Russia, 1,406
33, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 1,405
34, Paul Molnar, Commack, N.Y., 1,398
35, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,393
36, Steven Silverman, W. Babylon, N.Y., 1,385
Robert Jette, Lisbon, Conn., 1,385
38, George Lambert IV, Canada, 1,382
39, Joseph Giampapa, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,381
Anthony Phillips, Elmont, N.Y., 1,381
41, Bill Holota, Bolton, Conn., 1,378
42, Sean McAuliffe, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,374
43, Timothy West, Easton, Conn., 1,373
44, Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 1,370
45, Eric Porter, Traverse City, Mich., 1,369
46, Frank Villardi, East Yaphank, N.Y., 1,367
47, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 1,349
48, Robert Volk, Ridge, N.Y., 1,344
49, Chris Paroly, Plainview, N.Y., 1,341
50, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,338
Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,338
52, Jay Marine, Selden, N.Y., 1,337
53, Brandon Robertson, Clinton, Conn., 1,336
54, David Sulzer, Holbrook, N.Y., 1,329
55, Chris Liotta, Dix Hills, N.Y., 1,323
56, Christopher Lucchese, Fresh Meadow, N.Y., 1,319
57, Robert Romeo, Amherst, N.Y., 1,306
58, Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 1,303
59, Douglas Sass, Nottingham, Md., 1,301
60, Chris Forry, Bridgeport, Conn., 1,300
61, Bryan Paul, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,291
62, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,287
63, Frank Gallo Jr., Cape Carteret, N.C., 1,284
64, Jack Nealon, Bowie, Md., 1,282
65, Octavius Manning, Central Islip, N.Y., 1,270
66, Matt Traina, Farmingdale, N.Y., 1,268
67, Peter Bruss, Farmingville, N.Y., 1,264
68, Shawn Harris, Queens, N.Y., 1,260
69, Joe Biscardi, Wantagh, N.Y., 1,256
70, Andrew Mangiapahella, East Islip, N.Y., 1,255
71, Steve Bova, Massapequa, N.Y., 1,250
72, Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 1,248
73, Walt Taormina, Oak Ridge, N.J., 1,245
74, Mark Cise, Summit, N.J., 1,232
75, Joseph Truchan Jr., Ringwood, N.J., 1,228
76, Derek James, Wyandanch, N.Y., 1,227
77, Anthony Lupo, Bethpage, N.Y., 1,221
78, Joey Serrapica, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,217
79, Paul Smith, Clinton, Conn., 1,199
80, Ralph Ehrlich, N. Massapequa, N.Y., 1,196
81, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,179
82, Brian DiCicco, Agawam, Mass, 1,165
83, Mark Fordin, Oceanside, N.Y., 1,162
84, Joseph Parrinello, Syosset, N.Y., 1,160
85, Bob Andretta Jr, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,157
86, Joseph Giammarino, Deer Park, N.Y., 1,151
87, Noel Rivera, Pt. Jefferson Station, N.Y., 1,145
88, Jim Rogers, Brick, N.J., 1,141
89, Matthew Denmark, Deer Park, N.Y., 1,128
90, John Catapane, North Babylon, N.Y., 1,111
91, Hal Murray, North Babylon, N.Y., 1,098
92, Roy Cadoo Jr, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,095
93, Michael Benzinger, Flushing, N.Y., 1,053
94, Christopher Illescas, South Richmond Hills, N.Y., 1,010
95, Bobby Alescio, Schenectady, N.Y., 967
96, Razor Chisolm, Brooklyn, N.Y., 963
Belmonte, whose unusual two-handed delivery has led to a high level of success
in the international arena, qualified for the Round of 64 field by a single pin
during Wednesday’s Tour Qualifying Round (TQR), but long-time Long Islanders were cheering loudest for Rudy Kasimakis, who grew up honing his skills on the island. Kasimakis, a PBA touring player off-and-on throughout much of his adult life, now resides in Baldwyn, Miss., but he turned on his fabled “Rudy Revs” power game and bowled like a hometown favorite in posting a 1,560-pin total to easily make the Round of 64 cut.
Jim Tomek Jr. of Camp Hill, Pa., led the TQR field of 96 non-exempt players,
posting a 1,572 total for his seven games. Kasimakis was 12 pins behind. Also
advancing were PBA members: P.J. Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 1,537; Jason Wojnar,
Chicago, 1,523; 2009 USBC Masters winner John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 1,520;
Norm Ginsberg Jr., East Meadow, N.Y., 1,512, Belmonte and Brian Ziesig of
Levittown, N.Y., 1,509, who tied for the seventh and eighth PBA berths in the
Round of 64. The TQR qualifiers will advance along with PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia of Jackson, N.J., who is bowling in the tournament at the PBA’s
invitation (commissioner's exemption), and Dale Aivaz Jr. of Yonkers, N.Y., who rolled a 1,492 total to top the amateur bowlers in the TQR.
The 64-player Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic field will bowl two
seven-game qualifying rounds Thursday on the PBA’s Viper and Shark lane
conditioning patterns, respectively, before the field is cut to 32 for match
play competition on Friday. After nine match games Friday morning, the top 16
will bowl another nine games Friday evening to determine the top four who will
compete for the title in the ESPN-televised finals on Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
AMF West Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, N.Y.
Wednesday, March 25
PBA TOUR QUALIFYING ROUND
Top eight PBA members and one amateur advance to the Round of 64.
a-indicates amateur
1, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 1,573
2, Rudy Kasimakis, Baldwyn, Miss., 1,560
3, P.J. Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 1,537
4, Jason Wojnar, Chicago, 1,523
5, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 1,520
6, Norm Ginsberg Jr., East Meadow, N.Y., 1,512
7, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 1,509
Jason Belmonte, Australia, 1,509
9, Alex Cavagnaro, N. Massapequa, N.Y., 1,508, $1,000
10, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,505, $800
11, James Wallace, Hicksville, N.Y., 1,498, $700
12, a-Dale Aivaz Jr., Yonkers, N.Y., 1,492
13, Vinny D'Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,488, $600
14, Matthew O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J., 1,480, $475
14, Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, 1,480, $475
16, Kevin Bandrowski, Speonk, N.Y., 1,473, $400
17, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 1,465, $380
18, Adam Chase, Seaford, N.Y., 1,463, $360
19, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 1,458, $350
20, Amanda Fagan, Oakdale, N.Y., 1,456, $340
21, Michael Dioguardo, Patchogue, N.Y., 1,452, $330
22, Matthew Brockett, Clinton, Conn, 1,446, $320
23, Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, N.Y, 1,445, $310
24, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,443, $300
25, Ray Edwards, Middle Island, N.Y., 1,435
Damon Brown, Amityville, N.Y., 1,435
27, Darryl McDuffie, Floral Park, N.Y., 1,418
28, Bill Beck, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., 1,417
29, Chun Bae, Cedarhurst, N.Y., 1,413
30, Thomas Bragg, Baiting Hollow, N.Y., 1,411
31, Stephen Gregg, Yaphank, N.Y., 1,408
32, Alex Medveditskov, Russia, 1,406
33, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 1,405
34, Paul Molnar, Commack, N.Y., 1,398
35, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,393
36, Steven Silverman, W. Babylon, N.Y., 1,385
Robert Jette, Lisbon, Conn., 1,385
38, George Lambert IV, Canada, 1,382
39, Joseph Giampapa, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,381
Anthony Phillips, Elmont, N.Y., 1,381
41, Bill Holota, Bolton, Conn., 1,378
42, Sean McAuliffe, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,374
43, Timothy West, Easton, Conn., 1,373
44, Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 1,370
45, Eric Porter, Traverse City, Mich., 1,369
46, Frank Villardi, East Yaphank, N.Y., 1,367
47, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 1,349
48, Robert Volk, Ridge, N.Y., 1,344
49, Chris Paroly, Plainview, N.Y., 1,341
50, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,338
Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,338
52, Jay Marine, Selden, N.Y., 1,337
53, Brandon Robertson, Clinton, Conn., 1,336
54, David Sulzer, Holbrook, N.Y., 1,329
55, Chris Liotta, Dix Hills, N.Y., 1,323
56, Christopher Lucchese, Fresh Meadow, N.Y., 1,319
57, Robert Romeo, Amherst, N.Y., 1,306
58, Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 1,303
59, Douglas Sass, Nottingham, Md., 1,301
60, Chris Forry, Bridgeport, Conn., 1,300
61, Bryan Paul, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,291
62, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,287
63, Frank Gallo Jr., Cape Carteret, N.C., 1,284
64, Jack Nealon, Bowie, Md., 1,282
65, Octavius Manning, Central Islip, N.Y., 1,270
66, Matt Traina, Farmingdale, N.Y., 1,268
67, Peter Bruss, Farmingville, N.Y., 1,264
68, Shawn Harris, Queens, N.Y., 1,260
69, Joe Biscardi, Wantagh, N.Y., 1,256
70, Andrew Mangiapahella, East Islip, N.Y., 1,255
71, Steve Bova, Massapequa, N.Y., 1,250
72, Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 1,248
73, Walt Taormina, Oak Ridge, N.J., 1,245
74, Mark Cise, Summit, N.J., 1,232
75, Joseph Truchan Jr., Ringwood, N.J., 1,228
76, Derek James, Wyandanch, N.Y., 1,227
77, Anthony Lupo, Bethpage, N.Y., 1,221
78, Joey Serrapica, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,217
79, Paul Smith, Clinton, Conn., 1,199
80, Ralph Ehrlich, N. Massapequa, N.Y., 1,196
81, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,179
82, Brian DiCicco, Agawam, Mass, 1,165
83, Mark Fordin, Oceanside, N.Y., 1,162
84, Joseph Parrinello, Syosset, N.Y., 1,160
85, Bob Andretta Jr, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,157
86, Joseph Giammarino, Deer Park, N.Y., 1,151
87, Noel Rivera, Pt. Jefferson Station, N.Y., 1,145
88, Jim Rogers, Brick, N.J., 1,141
89, Matthew Denmark, Deer Park, N.Y., 1,128
90, John Catapane, North Babylon, N.Y., 1,111
91, Hal Murray, North Babylon, N.Y., 1,098
92, Roy Cadoo Jr, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,095
93, Michael Benzinger, Flushing, N.Y., 1,053
94, Christopher Illescas, South Richmond Hills, N.Y., 1,010
95, Bobby Alescio, Schenectady, N.Y., 967
96, Razor Chisolm, Brooklyn, N.Y., 963
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Aussie Belmonte VS The Big Nasty in The Big Apple
Belmonte will take on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour’s current Player of the Year points leader Wes Malott (aka The Big Nasty) of Pflugerville, Texas in a match to preview the upcoming Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open on an outdoor lane provided by Storm Bowling Products, Inc.
The event is free and open to the public from 7 a.m. to noon Eastern at the Fox Plaza, 1211 Avenue of the Americas in New York City.
With his season-opening appearance on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour at the PBA World Championship in October, the two-handed Aussie sensation lapped the field in qualifying then finished in 10th place, launching a media blitz for pro bowling.
A cover story profiling Belmonte graced the front page of the Wall Street Journal on Feb. 5 and he has since been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Denver Post, Boston Globe, ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine in addition to appearances on ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today program.
Belmonte will be featured in an upcoming edition of ESPN’s TV magazine E-60 and will make an appearance on Saturday from 7-10 a.m. Eastern on Fox & Friends, the top-rated cable morning show on the Fox News Network.
In a busy February tour across the United States, Belmonte added a 15th place finish at the Denny’s Dick Weber Open in Fountain Valley Calif., earned a 12th place check at the GEICO Plastic Ball Championship in Wheat Ridge, Colo. and an 11th place finish at the Etonic Marathon Open in Indianapolis. And, presently Belmonte is in Fifth Place after six games in the Tour Qualifying Round (TQR) of the PBA Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic being held in West Babylon NY.
“I am very excited about the American media (coverage) being generated by my first year on the PBA Tour”, said Belmonte. “With Wes Malott stirring up conversations on ESPN’s Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption plus my involvement, professional bowling is getting more mainstream opportunities and we are creating a buzz."
The Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
As the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour’s 2008-09 season
heads down the homestretch, Australia's Jason Belmonte heads the list of competitors bowling
Wednesday in the PBA Tour Qualifying Round (TQR) at The Bowling Foundation Long Island
Classic. The PBA Tour comes to AMF Babylon Lanes in West Babylon, NY. March 25-29 and
will play a pivotal role in the season points race and Player of the Year honors.
In 2008, 12-time Lumber Liquidator PBA Tour champion Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, SC,
defeated Hall of Famer Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO, 257-191, to win the GEICO Classic held at
AMF Babylon Lanes.
Jones and Weber, along with a star-studded field including a number of competitors recently
named to the list of the 50 greatest players in PBA history as part of its 50th anniversary
celebration will be among the field of 64. Players on that list who will compete are all-time PBA
Tour titles leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. (45 wins), Parker Bohn III, back-to-back Don Johnson
Buckeye State Eliminator and Go RVing Match Play Championship winner Chris Barnes, and
Player of the Year contenders Wes Malott, Norm Duke and 2009 H & R Block Tournament of
Champions winner Patrick Allen.
The format will consist of 14 games of qualifying with a cut to the top 32 for nine-game modified
round robin match play. The field will then be cut to the top 16 for another round of match play to
determine the top five for the stepladder finals to be televised by ESPN at 2 p.m. Eastern.
The tournament will feature two of the PBA’s lane conditioning patterns: Viper
and Shark for the first two qualifying rounds, respectively, and for match play
the left lane will use the Shark condition and the right lane Viper.
The Bowling Foundation partners with bowling organizations as the PBA, Bowling
Proprietor’s Association of America (BPAA), Bowling Proprietors International and
United States Bowling Congress (USBC) to serve as the central and premier charitable
arm of bowling, the industry and its partners worldwide to become a philanthropic leader toward
social change.
"We are honored to be a part of this event,” said Troy Greisen, The Bowling
Foundation’s Executive Director. “Just as the PBA showcases some of the world's
greatest bowlers, The Bowling Foundation supports some of the most important
charitable causes. Our partnership with the PBA is yet another way we can show
that bowling cares."
Tickets and pro-am entries are still being accepted for this event and information can be obtained
by visiting pba.com or by calling AMF Babylon Lanes at (631) 661-6600.
The PBA Tour’s regular season concludes next week at the 66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open
from March 29 to April 5 at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, NJ.
PBA BOWLING FOUNDATION LONG ISLAND CLASSIC
AMF Babylon Lanes – West Babylon, NY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25
9 a.m. - Lumber Liquidators PBA TQR (7 games total pins)
4:30 p.m. - Exempt Player Practice
THURSDAY, MARCH 26
10 a.m. - Round of 64 (7 games on Viper)
5 p.m. - Round of 64 (7 games on Shark)
Cut to top 32 players
FRIDAY, MARCH 27
11 a.m. - Match Play Round 1 (9 games, cut to top 16 players)
6 p.m. - Match Play Round 2 (9 games, top 5 advance to ESPN finals)
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
PBA Pro-Am Events and Fan Day
Pro-Am Times: 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m.
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
2 p.m. (Eastern) Live ESPN Television Finals
Solaris Requiem from Seismic Bowling
The Solaris Requiem features the same core as the original Solaris, the "Trailblazer" core, wrapped in the "AVC+ solid reactive" Red / Dark Purple coverstock with a factory finish at 4000 with Abralon. RG: 2.48, Differential: 0.048. Target Lane Condition - Long/Heavy Oil.If you have questions regarding the Solaris Requiem please email: enquiries@seismicbowling.com. Check out the link to a short ball reaction video on youtube.com. The release date for the Solaris Requiem will be April 15th.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Barnes Wins Go Rving Match Play Championships
Reigning Lumber Liquidators PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes fought his way back into
contention to repeat with an impressive three-game 722-693 victory over Walter Ray Williams Jr.
in the title match of the Go RVing Match Play Championship at Norwich Bowling and Entertainment
Center Sunday.
Barnes, the No. 3 seed in the PBA’s “March Madness” match play elimination tournament, used the
three-game, total pinfall format to his advantage in winning his 12th career title and back-to-back
titles for the first time in his career. Two weeks earlier, Barnes won the Don Johnson Buckeye State
Eliminator in Columbus, Ohio.
Barnes, who has been notorious for making critical mistakes in a number of past TV losses, had the
luxury of three games to make up for an error this time, and that’s exactly what he did.
Williams and Barnes both flirted with perfection in the first two games, but unforced errors by both
players kept the contest up in the air going into the decisive third game.
The No. 5 seeded Williams, the PBA’s all-time titles leader with 45, looked like he was going to run
away with the match early. Williams, who has been the victim of three perfect games on TV without
ever bowling one himself, started the match with nine strikes. But when he left a 7 pin on his first
shot in the 10th frame and missed the spare, he gave Barnes hope, finishing with 267 to Barnes’ 241.
Instead of a possible 59-pin lead, Williams led by only 26 pins.
“Brain fart,” the 49-year-old Williams said of his uncharacteristic missed spare. “That’s what happens
when you get old.”
Barnes quickly erased his deficit in game two, starting with nine strikes himself. With back-to-back
splits and open frames, Williams struggled to a 192. But Barnes returned Williams favor, leaving a
4-10 split to end his perfect-game bid. Despite that error, Barnes finished with 266 and took a 48-pin
lead into the third game.
“It was the same bad shot I made when I left the Big Four in the first game,” Barnes said. “But in
general, the move I made worked, so I was pleased.”
Williams threw a couple more strikes than Barnes in game three, but it was basically a contest of
staying out of trouble. Working on three strikes, Williams left a 4 pin in the seventh frame that took
away the momentum he needed to overcome Barnes’ lead. Williams won the third game, 234-215, but
he was still 29 pins short.
“Chris bowled a lot better than I did,” Williams said. “If it had been a best of three match, I win, but
that’s not the way it went today.”
“Three games was a big deal for me. It gave me a chance to win,” Barnes said. “Normally, I leave the
Big Four in game one and I’m out.
“The right lane was troublesome for both of us,” he continued. “I was just able to put together a
bigger string on that lane than Walter Ray was, but it was getting to be a problem. Fortunately, we
ran out of frames before I ran out of pins.”
Barnes, who won $25,000, surged into third place in the Player of the Year points race behind Wes
Malott and Norm Duke, and he still has a mathematical chance to pass both and retain his Player of
the Year title.
“Things seem to be going my way right now,” the Double Oak, Texas, resident said. “The U.S. Open is
the toughest tournament of all to win. I will need that to happen to have a chance.”
The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s next stop is the Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic at
AMF West Babylon Lanes in West Babylon, N.Y., Wednesday through Sunday.
GO RVING MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center, Norwich, Conn. Championship (three games, total pinfall)
Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas ($25,000) def. Walter Ray Williams Jr. ($13,000), 772-693
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Go RVing Match Play Championship
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)’s all-time win leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. and
reigning PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes are among four surviving players after Friday’s
elimination rounds in the Go RVing Match Play Championship at Norwich Bowling and Entertainment
Center.
In a showdown between two of the PBA’s all-time greats, Williams, of Ocala, Fla., defeated Norm
Duke of Clermont, Fla., 4-0, in the best-of-seven games Round of 8 match. Williams, who entered
the eliminations as the No. 5 seed is PBA’s all-time win leader with 45 Tour victories and No. 4 seed
Duke ranks tied for fifth all-time with 32 victories.
In three other Round of 8 matches Friday, Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, defeated Andrew Cain of
Scottsdale, Ariz., 4-0, Mike Wolfe of New Albany, Ind., defeated Billy Oatman of Chicago, 4-0, and
Chris Loschetter of Avon, Ohio, defeated Brad Angelo of Lockport, N.Y., 4-2.
Williams, Barnes, Loschetter and Wolfe will now enter the semifinals which will take place on Saturday
beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern with coverage on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online video service. The live
ESPN-final match for the Go RVing Match Play Championship will be conducted Sunday at 1 p.m.
Eastern. Both the semifinals and the live ESPN finals will feature three-game total pinfall matches.
The final leg of the PBA Tour’s five-event “Extreme Swing” also involves the pressure of earning
points to qualify for the GEICO PBA Team Shootout hosted by Six Flags, scheduled for June in
Jackson, N.J. The top eight in Extreme Swing points will earn spots in that special event.
The winner earns a first prize of $25,000 and a one-year exemption on the Lumber
Liquidators PBA Tour.
Go RVing Match Play Championship
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center – Norwich, Conn.
Round of 8 – Losers Eliminated, Earnings
#5 Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., def. #4 Norm Duke ($4,100), Clermont, Fla., 4-0
#16 Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, def. #8 Brad Angelo ($4,100), Lockport, N.Y., 4-2
#23 Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., def. #15 Billy Oatman ($4,200), Chicago, 4-0
#3 Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, def. #11 Andrew Cain ($4,100), Scottsdale, Ariz., 4-0
Friday, March 20, 2009
USBC Women's Championships
Back to bowling's Mecca in 2009: The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Women's Championships kicks off on March 28 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.
More than 8,200 teams of women from around the country will shoe up with their friends and teammates for competition in singles, doubles, team and all-events.
This is the last year the tournament will be conducted with five divisions, as the tournament moves to a new tournament structure in 2010 in El Paso, Texas. The 2010 Women's Championships will move to a handicap format and a new three-division structure. The event will also be held for the first time in a custom-built arena setting. For more information on these exciting changes, please click here.
2009 Intercollegiate Team Championships
Sectional qualifiers for the 2009 Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC) and 2009 Intercollegiate 
Singles Championships were held in four separate locations this past weekend: Allentown, Penn., Chattanooga, Tenn., Fairview Heights, Ill. and Las Vegas, Nev.
Qualifying for the ITC on the men's side: Pikeville, Rochester Institute of Technology, Webber International, Robert Morris (Pa.), Saginaw Valley, Robert Morris (Illinois), Purdue, Vincennes, Wichita State, Newman, Nebraska-Lincoln, Calumet, Lindenwood, Fresno State, Arizona State and North Dakota State.
Qualifying on the women's side: Maryland-Eastern Shore, Pikeville, Penn State, Erie Community College, Central Florida, Bellarmine, Robert Morris (Illinois), Ball State, Wichita State, Wright State, Newman, Calumet, McKendree, Lindenwood, Fresno State and Martin Methodist.
Bowl.com is your home for post-season college bowling. Log on for up-to-the-minute scoring during the ITC on April 15-18, and see if your favorite team will take home the Helmer Cup.
Go RVing Match Play Championships
The top four seeds survived the Round of 64 eliminations Thursday in the
Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Go RVing Match Play Championship
at Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center.
No. 1 seed and 2008-09 Player of the Year front-runner Wes Malott of
Pflugerville, Texas defeated Alex Aquiar of Dartmouth, Mass., 4-1 in the best-of-
seven game Round of 64 match. Malott is looking for his fourth win of the
2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season.
Looking for his first career title, No. 2 seed Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa.,
No. 3 seed and reigning PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes of Double Oak,
Texas, and No. 4 seed, PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla.., all
advanced to the Round of 32 by winning their matches 4-1.
Like the NCAA Basketball Tournament, the Go RVing Match Play Championship
incorporates a win-or-go-home bracket elimination format that started with 64
competitors. Rounds of 32, 16 and 8 will be conducted on Friday.
The semifinals will take place on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern with
coverage on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online video service. The live ESPN-final
match for the Go RVing Match Play Championship will be conducted Sunday at 1
p.m. Eastern. Both the semifinals and the live ESPN finals will feature
three-game total pinfall matches.
The final leg of the PBA Tour’s five-event “Extreme Swing” also involves the
pressure of earning points to qualify for the GEICO PBA Team Shootout hosted
by Six Flags, scheduled for June in Jackson, N.J. The top eight in Extreme Swing
points will earn spots in that special event.
The Go RVing Match Play Championship is part of the PBA’s 50th Anniversary
season “Extreme Swing,” which also includes the Ultimate Scoring Championship,
GEICO Plastic Ball Championship, Etonic Marathon Open, and the Don Johnson
Buckeye State Eliminator. The creative format events are meant to test the
greatest bowlers in the world in different areas of the game, provide television
audiences with a fresh look while providing education on pertinent aspects of
the game.
Go RVing Match Play Championship
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center – Norwich, Conn.
Round of 64 – Best of 7 Games, Losers Eliminated Earn $1,800
#1 Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, def. #64 Alex Aguiar, Dartmouth, Mass., 4-1
#2 Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., def. #63 Scott Santos, Ledyard, Conn., 4-1
#3 Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, def. #62 Joe Biscardi, Wantagh, N.Y., 4-1
#4 Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., def. #61 Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 4-1
#5 Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., def. #60 Vinny D'Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 4-3
#7 Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, def. #58 Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N..Y., 4-0
#8 Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., def. #57 Terrance Reeves, Valrico, Fla., 4-1
#9 Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., def. #56 David Traber, Hebron, Ill., 4-1
#10 Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., def. #55 Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 4-1
#12 Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., def. #53 Chester Rogers Jr., Milwaukie, Ore., 4-1
#13 Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., def. #52 Jason Lundquist, Delaware Water Gap, Pa, 4-1
#14 Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., def. #51 Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., 4-2
#16 Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, def. #49 Craig Tuholski, Washougal, Wash., 4-1
#17 Mike DeVaney, San Diego, def. #48 Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 4-1
#19 Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., def. #46 Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 4-3
#20 Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., def. #45 Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 4-1
#21 Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, def. #44 Tom Baker, King, N.C., 4-1
#22 Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., def. #43 Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 4-3
#24 Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan., def. #41 Joe Bailey, Pittsburgh, 4-1
#26 Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, def. #39 Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 4-2
#27 Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, def. #38 Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 4-3
#28 Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, def. #37 Ken Abner, Cincinnati, 4-1
#29 Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., def. #36 Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 4-3
#32 Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., def. #33 Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, 4-2
#34 Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., def. #31 Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 4-2
#35 Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., def. #30 Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 4-3
#40 Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., def. #25 Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 4-3
#42 Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., def. #23 Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 4-2
#47 Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, def. #18 Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 4-2
#50 Billy Oatman, Chicago, def. #15 Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 4-3
#59 Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., def. #6 Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 4-2
#54 Andrew Cain, Scottsdale, Ariz., def. #11 Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 4-1
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Go RVing Match Play Championship Field Set
In a tournament featuring an NCAA Basketball Tournament-style bracket competition, the field of 64 has been set for the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Go RVing Match Play Championship at Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center.
Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., topped 69 entrants in Wednesday’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round (TQR) with a 1,590 seven-game pinfall (227.14 average). He will face No. 7 seed Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, in Thursday’s Round of 64.
Like the NCAA Tournament, the Go RVing Match Play Championship will pit 64
contestants in a win-or-go-home bracket elimination competition. Fans of the
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour can see the seedings and follow the bracket action on PBA.com. There’s also an opportunity for fans to enter their bracket picks to win an autographed PBA bowling pin autographed by the ESPN telecast
finalists.
Other bowlers moving on to the Round of 64 bracket are: Joe Biscardi, Wantagh,
N.Y., 1,562; Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 1,551; non-member qualifier Alex
Aguiar, Dartmouth, Mass., 1,545; Vinny D’Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y.,
1,519; Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 1,509 and Scott Santos, Ledyard, Conn.,
1,486. Former Professional Woman's Bowling Association (PWBA) star Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, NY, tied for 15th in the TQR. As the top non-member qualifier Aguiar will be seeded 64th and face No. 1 seed Wes Malott in Thursday’s Round of 64.
Already seeded into the field for the “best-of-seven games” eliminations were
the 36 players who have earned their rankings based upon the 2008-09 Lumber
Liquidators PBA Tour points standings. The remaining competitors, including the
top TQR finishers, are now seeded based upon their ranking on the season points standings list.
After today's (Thursday) Round of 64, Rounds of 32, 16 and 8 will be conducted on Friday.
The semifinals will take place on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern with
coverage on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online video service. The live ESPN-final
match for the Go RVing Match Play Championship will be conducted Sunday March 22 at 1 p.m. Eastern. Both the semifinals and the live ESPN finals will feature three-game total pins matches.
Go RVing Match Play Championship
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center – Norwich, Conn.
PBA Tour Qualifying Round (TQR) Results (7 games)
*Indicates top non-member advancing to Round of 64
1, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,590
2, Joe Biscardi, Wantagh, N.Y., 1,562
3, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 1,551
4, *Alex Aguiar, Dartmouth, Mass., 1,545
5, Vinny D'Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,519
6, Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 1,509
7, Scott Santos, Ledyard, Conn., 1,486
8, Lindsay Baker, Amherst, N.Y., 1,475, $900
9, Wayne Hedges, Plantsville, Conn., 1,472, $550
10, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,464, $390
11, Russell Michaud, Hudson, N.H., 1,462, $350
12, Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 1,459, $207
12, Alex Medveditskov, Russia, 1,459, $207
14, David Simard, Canada, 1,458
15, PJ Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 1,448
15, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,448
17, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,446
18, Mike Centrone, Carmel, N.Y., 1,444
19, George Lambert IV, Canada, 1,436
20, Evan Rachbuch, E. Windsor, N.J., 1,431
21, Curtis Foss, Medina, N.Y., 1,430
22, Bill Holota, Bolton, Conn., 1,423
23, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,412
24, Chris Forry, Bridgeport, Conn., 1,411
25, Steve Wagoner, Broadalbin, N.Y., 1,406
26, Keith Laing, Oakdale, Conn., 1,405
27, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 1,403
28, Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, Fla., 1,395
29, Dan Furman, Amsterdam, N.Y., 1,382
30, Brandon Robertson, Clinton, Conn., 1,378
31, Chris Larsen, Norwich, Conn., 1,376
32, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 1,374
33, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 1,373
34, Christopher Colella, Templeton, Mass., 1,367
35, Timothy West, Easton, Conn., 1,351
36, Jason Mahon, East Haven, Conn., 1,349
37, Matthew O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J., 1,345
38, Charles Anderson, Sloatsburg, N.Y., 1,338
39, Chris Ewen, Norwich, N.Y., 1,333
40, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,330
41, Thomas Durand, West Haven, Conn., 1,326
42, Jonathan Van Hees, Newport, R.I., 1,323
43, Skip Candler, Norwich, Conn., 1,304
44, Keith DeCambra, Quincy, Mass., 1,298
45, Robert Jette, Lisbon, Conn., 1,294
46, Dale Aivaz Jr., Yonkers, N.Y., 1,290
47, Bryan Martinson, Lakeland, Fla., 1,287
47, Eric Stangle, Ballston Spa, N.Y., 1,287
49, Skip Odiorne, Windsor Locks, Conn., 1,284
50, Michael Blakeney, Havertown, Pa., 1,280
51, Neil Binder, Shelton, Conn., 1,279
52, Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 1,275
53, Mark Cise, Summit, N.J., 1,267
54, Ernie Bourque, Acushnet, Mass., 1,266
55, Brandon Joseph, Glastonbury, Conn., 1,260
56, Michael Markis, Hawley, Pa, 1,257
57, Jeff Bochese, Preston, Conn., 1,256
58, Bryan Easterbrooks, Lyndonville, Vt., 1,245
59, Christopher Sevick, Norwich, Conn., 1,225
60, Aaron Graves, Danbury, Conn., 1,220
61, Paul Christopher, Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,214
62, Gregory Green, Westerly, R.I., 1,210
63, Jack Nealon, Bowie, Md., 1,178
64, Ralph Ehrlich, N. Massapequa, N.Y., 1,170
65, Brian DiCicco, Agawam, Mass., 1,163
66, Larry Wentz III, Bristol, Conn., 1,149
67, Billy Trudell, Coventry, R.I., 1,139
68, Roy Cadoo Jr., Staten Island, N.Y., 1,078
69, David Thomas, Hadley, Mass., 1,077
Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., topped 69 entrants in Wednesday’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round (TQR) with a 1,590 seven-game pinfall (227.14 average). He will face No. 7 seed Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, in Thursday’s Round of 64.
Like the NCAA Tournament, the Go RVing Match Play Championship will pit 64
contestants in a win-or-go-home bracket elimination competition. Fans of the
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour can see the seedings and follow the bracket action on PBA.com. There’s also an opportunity for fans to enter their bracket picks to win an autographed PBA bowling pin autographed by the ESPN telecast
finalists.
Other bowlers moving on to the Round of 64 bracket are: Joe Biscardi, Wantagh,
N.Y., 1,562; Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 1,551; non-member qualifier Alex
Aguiar, Dartmouth, Mass., 1,545; Vinny D’Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y.,
1,519; Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 1,509 and Scott Santos, Ledyard, Conn.,
1,486. Former Professional Woman's Bowling Association (PWBA) star Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, NY, tied for 15th in the TQR. As the top non-member qualifier Aguiar will be seeded 64th and face No. 1 seed Wes Malott in Thursday’s Round of 64.
Already seeded into the field for the “best-of-seven games” eliminations were
the 36 players who have earned their rankings based upon the 2008-09 Lumber
Liquidators PBA Tour points standings. The remaining competitors, including the
top TQR finishers, are now seeded based upon their ranking on the season points standings list.
After today's (Thursday) Round of 64, Rounds of 32, 16 and 8 will be conducted on Friday.
The semifinals will take place on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern with
coverage on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online video service. The live ESPN-final
match for the Go RVing Match Play Championship will be conducted Sunday March 22 at 1 p.m. Eastern. Both the semifinals and the live ESPN finals will feature three-game total pins matches.
Go RVing Match Play Championship
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center – Norwich, Conn.
PBA Tour Qualifying Round (TQR) Results (7 games)
*Indicates top non-member advancing to Round of 64
1, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,590
2, Joe Biscardi, Wantagh, N.Y., 1,562
3, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 1,551
4, *Alex Aguiar, Dartmouth, Mass., 1,545
5, Vinny D'Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,519
6, Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 1,509
7, Scott Santos, Ledyard, Conn., 1,486
8, Lindsay Baker, Amherst, N.Y., 1,475, $900
9, Wayne Hedges, Plantsville, Conn., 1,472, $550
10, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,464, $390
11, Russell Michaud, Hudson, N.H., 1,462, $350
12, Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 1,459, $207
12, Alex Medveditskov, Russia, 1,459, $207
14, David Simard, Canada, 1,458
15, PJ Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 1,448
15, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,448
17, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,446
18, Mike Centrone, Carmel, N.Y., 1,444
19, George Lambert IV, Canada, 1,436
20, Evan Rachbuch, E. Windsor, N.J., 1,431
21, Curtis Foss, Medina, N.Y., 1,430
22, Bill Holota, Bolton, Conn., 1,423
23, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,412
24, Chris Forry, Bridgeport, Conn., 1,411
25, Steve Wagoner, Broadalbin, N.Y., 1,406
26, Keith Laing, Oakdale, Conn., 1,405
27, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 1,403
28, Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, Fla., 1,395
29, Dan Furman, Amsterdam, N.Y., 1,382
30, Brandon Robertson, Clinton, Conn., 1,378
31, Chris Larsen, Norwich, Conn., 1,376
32, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 1,374
33, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 1,373
34, Christopher Colella, Templeton, Mass., 1,367
35, Timothy West, Easton, Conn., 1,351
36, Jason Mahon, East Haven, Conn., 1,349
37, Matthew O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J., 1,345
38, Charles Anderson, Sloatsburg, N.Y., 1,338
39, Chris Ewen, Norwich, N.Y., 1,333
40, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,330
41, Thomas Durand, West Haven, Conn., 1,326
42, Jonathan Van Hees, Newport, R.I., 1,323
43, Skip Candler, Norwich, Conn., 1,304
44, Keith DeCambra, Quincy, Mass., 1,298
45, Robert Jette, Lisbon, Conn., 1,294
46, Dale Aivaz Jr., Yonkers, N.Y., 1,290
47, Bryan Martinson, Lakeland, Fla., 1,287
47, Eric Stangle, Ballston Spa, N.Y., 1,287
49, Skip Odiorne, Windsor Locks, Conn., 1,284
50, Michael Blakeney, Havertown, Pa., 1,280
51, Neil Binder, Shelton, Conn., 1,279
52, Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 1,275
53, Mark Cise, Summit, N.J., 1,267
54, Ernie Bourque, Acushnet, Mass., 1,266
55, Brandon Joseph, Glastonbury, Conn., 1,260
56, Michael Markis, Hawley, Pa, 1,257
57, Jeff Bochese, Preston, Conn., 1,256
58, Bryan Easterbrooks, Lyndonville, Vt., 1,245
59, Christopher Sevick, Norwich, Conn., 1,225
60, Aaron Graves, Danbury, Conn., 1,220
61, Paul Christopher, Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,214
62, Gregory Green, Westerly, R.I., 1,210
63, Jack Nealon, Bowie, Md., 1,178
64, Ralph Ehrlich, N. Massapequa, N.Y., 1,170
65, Brian DiCicco, Agawam, Mass., 1,163
66, Larry Wentz III, Bristol, Conn., 1,149
67, Billy Trudell, Coventry, R.I., 1,139
68, Roy Cadoo Jr., Staten Island, N.Y., 1,078
69, David Thomas, Hadley, Mass., 1,077
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Light Bowling Balls and Potential Effect
High tech balls don't have much inside when you get down below 14lbs (sometimes making them too costly for the effect they can provide). In a recent question from a customer about performance in a desired lighter ball, I addressed the dilemma of a light version of an expensive hign end ball.
If you want performance in the core, lighter balls don't give you much, I think, because the manufacturers expect the player is smaller in stature (woman, or kid, or older bowler) and the speed the ball is thrown (typically slower in lighter balls) needs to get a minimal amount of skid down the lane. A strong core in a 12 lb ball might get it hooking too much or too early when only thrown 10, 12, 14 mph.
Follow this link to specific info about the core in all the Twisted Fury balls down to 12lbs (look at the bottom of page 2 for examples of all the core shapes). The shape in 13 and 12 isn't bad.
The web link shows the cores in all the weights of the Twisted Fury. While the 14lb core is different than the 12lb version, the majority of effect is from the additional two pounds of ball weight impacting your ball speed, amount of rotation and consistency.
How you use a bowling ball provides most of the effect (you impart lift - rev rate, turn -axis tilt, rotation - axis rotation). I expect if you threw a 12lb Power Groove, 12 lb Avalanche, 12 lb Twisted Fury (and you'd find similar results from other manufacturers, I don't want to single out Brunswick), you would find a very similar reaction. So, is the expense for the higher end ball worth the money? When evaluating a lighter high end ball, look closely at the light products from the manufacturer and ask your bowling shop operator if another product can provide more benefits. I have found similar cores are available in significantly less expensive products.
Of course, the player will dictate what a ball can do. So, if you can't hit a golf ball, a $500 driver, won't help. If you can't throw a bowling ball, the most expensive one won't do much more than a basic one (no matter what the weight).
If you want performance in the core, lighter balls don't give you much, I think, because the manufacturers expect the player is smaller in stature (woman, or kid, or older bowler) and the speed the ball is thrown (typically slower in lighter balls) needs to get a minimal amount of skid down the lane. A strong core in a 12 lb ball might get it hooking too much or too early when only thrown 10, 12, 14 mph.
Follow this link to specific info about the core in all the Twisted Fury balls down to 12lbs (look at the bottom of page 2 for examples of all the core shapes). The shape in 13 and 12 isn't bad.
The web link shows the cores in all the weights of the Twisted Fury. While the 14lb core is different than the 12lb version, the majority of effect is from the additional two pounds of ball weight impacting your ball speed, amount of rotation and consistency.
How you use a bowling ball provides most of the effect (you impart lift - rev rate, turn -axis tilt, rotation - axis rotation). I expect if you threw a 12lb Power Groove, 12 lb Avalanche, 12 lb Twisted Fury (and you'd find similar results from other manufacturers, I don't want to single out Brunswick), you would find a very similar reaction. So, is the expense for the higher end ball worth the money? When evaluating a lighter high end ball, look closely at the light products from the manufacturer and ask your bowling shop operator if another product can provide more benefits. I have found similar cores are available in significantly less expensive products.
Of course, the player will dictate what a ball can do. So, if you can't hit a golf ball, a $500 driver, won't help. If you can't throw a bowling ball, the most expensive one won't do much more than a basic one (no matter what the weight).