Wolfe Leads First Phaze of The PBA Marathon Open

Mike Wolfe of New Albany, IN, averaged 259.78 for nine games to take the firstround lead in the Lumber Liquidators Marathon Open at AMF Country Club
Lanes Tuesday by seven pins over Sean Rash of Wichita, KS.  
Wolfe, a four-time Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titlist, missed the nine-game PBA scoring record of 2,367 pins set by Walter Ray Williams Jr. in Tucson, AZ, in 2004, by 29 pins, posting a 2,338 total on the PBA Cheetah lane condition – the first of seven different lane conditions that will be used in the Marathon Open.

“I just tried to make the ball not hook too much,” Wolfe said. “I try to keep my 
ball reaction down the lane as close to the same as possible, pair after pair. 
The guys who seem to get into trouble usually hook the ball too much.

“I tend to like the shorter oil patterns (like the Cheetah pattern),” he added. 
“I tend to throw the ball too hard at times, which means I need to completely 
change my thought pattern for tomorrow. My history on the Shark pattern (the 
longest oil pattern) is probably one of my worst because it takes me too long to 
figure out what’s going on. I’ve been working on that.”

The entire field of 133 will bowl nine additional games on the long-oil Shark 
condition Wednesday, after which the top 44 bowlers will advance to seven-game 
rounds on the Viper and Chameleon lane conditions on Thursday.

“I’ll get a couple different balls out of the bag, pay attention and try to stay 
in the hunt,” Wolfe said.

Rash, also a four-time PBA Tour winner, also averaged 259 in posting a 2,331 
pinfall total despite nursing a sore wrist that has plagued him for two months.

“I won here a couple of years ago on the Cheetah pattern, so knowing you’re 
coming into this building and bowling on the Cheetah as the first pattern, you 
have a lot of confidence,” Rash said. “When you throw lots of strikes, it’s a 
lot of fun. I didn’t have a single open the entire block.

“But there are five days and lots of bowling left. I’m probably safe to make 
first cut, maybe the second,” he added, “but after that? I just hope I’ll still 
be around, bowling on Sunday.”

Chris Barnes of Double Oak, TX, was third with a 2,311 total followed by 
Stevie Weber of Chalmette, LA, at 2,302 and Eddie VanDaniker Jr. of Essex, MD, 
with 2,279 pins.

The Marathon Open is the final event of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s 
regular season, and one of its most demanding events. Over the course of five 
days, the tournament leaders will bowl seven rounds, all on different lane 
conditioning patterns, to decide the top five players for the stepladder finals 
that will air Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. The tournament leader after 53 
games will select the lane condition to be used for the TV finals.
LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
LUMBER LIQUIDATORS MARATHON OPEN
AMF Country Club Lanes, Baltimore, Tuesday

FIRST ROUND (after 9 games, Cheetah lane condition)
1, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,338.
2, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 2,331.
3, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,311.
4, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 2,302.
5, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 2,279.
6, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 2,270.
7, (tie) Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., and Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 2,250.
9, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 2,237.
10, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 2,223.
10, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 2,223.
12, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 2,203.
13, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 2,200.
14, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 2,198.
15, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 2,187.
16, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 2,185.
17, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 2,174.
18, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 2,173.
19, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 2,160.
20, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 2,157.
21, Bob Hale, Louisville, Ky., 2,151.
22, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 2,144.
23, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,143.
24, Eddie Graham, Centerville, Ohio, 2,142.
25, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,141.
26, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 2,130.
27, Derek Sapp, Keokuk, Iowa, 2,125.
28, Ronnie Russell, Camby, Ind., 2,122.
29, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 2,121.
30, (tie) Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, and Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 2,119.
32, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 2,113.
33, (tie) Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., and Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 2,107.
35, David O'Sullivan, Orlando, Fla, 2,102.
36, Robert Eddy II, Saginaw, Mich., 2,101.
37, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 2,097.
38, D.J. Archer, Mineral Wells, Texas, 2,096, $100.
39, Ronnie Horton, Christiansburg, Va., 2,095.
40, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 2,091.
41, Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 2,089.
42, (tie) Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, and George Lambert IV, Canada, 2,077.
44, (tie) Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., and Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 2,074.
46, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 2,070.
47, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 2,066.
48, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 2,059.
49, PJ Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 2,051.
50, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 2,038.
51, John Nolen, Grand Blanc, Mich., 2,037.
52, William Barlow, Edgewood, Md., 2,034.
53, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 2,033.
54, (tie) Jason Couch, Clermont, FL; Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, MI, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, KS, 2,030.
57, Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, 2,028.
58, Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 2,025.
59, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 2,023.
60, (tie) Cassidy Schaub, Ashland, Ohio, and Thomas Wall III, Fayetteville, N.C., 2,020.
62, Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 2,018.
63, Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, Mich., 2,016.
64, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 2,011.
65, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2,007.
66, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 2,003.
67, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 2,001.
68, Michael Stocks, Leesburg, Va., 1,996.
69, Mike DeVaney, San Diego, 1,994.
70, Vic Marotto, Wallingford, Conn., 1,984.
71, Kevin Cartier, Beverly, N.J., 1,983.
72, Chris Hans, Richmond, Va., 1,978.
73, Gary Faulkner, Norfolk, Va., 1,975.
74, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,973.
75, Chris Forry, Bridgeport, Conn., 1,969.
76, (tie) Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., and Stuart Williams, England, 1,965.
78, (tie) Ryon Collins, Richmond, Va., and Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,961.
80, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,940.
81, John Di Santis, Wilmington, Del., 1,939.
82, Travis Celmer, Wernersville, Pa., 1,919.
83, John May, Lincolnton, N.C., 1,915.
84, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 1,902.
85, Kevin Pickett, Mechanicsville, Va, 1,899.
86, Joe Bailey, Doylestown, Ohio, 1,890.
87, David Knight, Folcroft, Pa., 1,888.
88, (tie) Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., and Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, N.Y, 1,886.
90, Tim Mack, Indianapolis, 1,883.
91, Mike McDonnell, Chesterfield, Va, 1,880.
92, (tie) Chris Paroly, Plainview, N.Y., and Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 1,873.
94, Jeremy Merriner, Winchester, Va., 1,871.
95, Shane Holbert, East Lansdowne, Pa., 1,859.
96, Stephen Haas, Enola, Pa., 1,854.
97, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,852.
98, Steven Black, Phoenix, 1,851.
99, Tim Pfeifer, Cranberry Twp., Pa., 1,844.
100, Philip Petersam, Baltimore, 1,834.
101, Stanley Lobodzinski, Edgewood, Md., 1,825.
102, Christopher Blackmore, Alexandria, Va., 1,824.
103, Jeff Keller, Chesapeake, Va., 1,823.
104, Alvin Horne Jr, Coram, N.Y., 1,820.
105, Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 1,801.
106, Howard Ridgeway, Cleveland, 1,798.
107, Larry Klick, Erie, Pa, 1,783.
108, Gregory Smith, Baltimore, 1,759.
109, Tom Lemanski, Hazlet, N.J., 1,738.
110, Kevin Brophy, Oakhurst, N.J., 1,734.
111, Wayne Bolin, Lumberton, N.C., 1,729.
112, (tie) Gary Mixon, Clinton, Md., and Hubert Register, Philadelphia, 1,704.
114, Matt Traina, Farmingdale, N.Y., 1,697.
115, Steven Arehart, Chesapeake, Va., 1,686.
116, Brian DiCicco, Agawam, Mass., 1,674.
117, Joshua Shriver, Winchester, Va., 1,667.
118, Robert Tracey, Sykesville, Md., 1,662.
119, Phillip Johnson, Nasville, N.C., 1,657.
120, Dave Jones Jr., Baltimore, 1,639.
121, Jeff Bragg, Linesville, Pa., 1,610.
122, Donald Messinese, Churchton, Md., 1,578.
123, Ralph Ehrlich, N.Massapequa, N.Y., 1,562.
124, David Reed, Shoreham, N.Y., 1,557.
125, Jack Nealon, Bowie, Md., 1,554.
126, Larry Martin, Pasadena, Md, 1,531.
127, Earl Langkam Jr, Toppa, Md, 1,508.
128, Mike Charney, Baltimore, 1,502.
129, J.J. Vece, Wallingford, Conn., 1,492.
130, Tommy Dean Garland, Sykesville, Md., 1,460.
131, David Zeitz, Philadelphia, 1,459.
132, Barry Wilson Jr., Landover, Md., 1,426.
133, Colin Jones, Glen Burnie, Md., 1,366.
   300 Games – Brad Angelo, Michael Machuga, Derek Sapp, Ryan Shafer, D.J. Archer.

PBA Player of the Year Race Still Up For Grabs

Walter Ray Williams Jr. finished third in the GEICO 

Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship Sunday, losing 

a 255-237 decision to eventual champion Brian Ziesig,

but it earned Williams four points in the 2009-10 

PBA Player of the Year race, creating a tie with Bill 

O’Neill heading into the Lumber Liquidators 
Marathon Open, the final regular-season event this 

week in Baltimore.

The Player of the Year race may come down to who makes the stepladder finals 
field Sunday in Baltimore. At stake are 16, 8, 4, 2 and 1 points, respectively, 
for the top five finishers. Heading into the Baltimore finale, Williams and 
O’Neill each had 56 Player of the Year points. Mike Scroggins was still in the 
race in third place with 48 points. Chris Barnes and Tom Smallwood were fourth 
and fifth with 32 and 29 points, respectively, but both were mathematically 
eliminated from contention in West Babylon.

If there is a tie for first place at the conclusion of the Lumber Liquidators 
Marathon Open, the player with the most Harry Smith Point Leader points 

will win the title. A three-way tie is possible if Williams and O’Neill both fail to 

make the finals, and Scroggins finishes second. If the tiebreaker comes into play, 
Williams is currently the overall points leader with 214,981. O’Neill is second 
with 201,519 and Scroggins is fifth with 173,546.

Sunday’s ESPN stepladder finals of the Marathon Open will air at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Storm Adds Three New Balls in April

Storm adds a new entry level product the Tropical Heat. The new products are covered in Reactor™ Pearl coverstock, colors: Orange/Purple (Fragrance- Creamsicle) Red/Blue (Raspberry), Black/Silver (Coco-rum Banana). The coverstock exception will be the Black/Siver, it will have a Reactor Hybrid cover. Ball Finish is 1500-grit Polished. Churning within the new Tropical HEAT will be the Turbine™ Core weight block, found now in the Fast, Furious and Natural balls.  The Turbine core by the numbers: 15# 2.55 - Radius of Gyration (RG), Differential RG - .038.

Belmonte Top Seed in PBA GEICO Plastic Ball Championships

Australian two-hander Jason Belmonte earned the top seed for Sunday’s
stepladder finals of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) GEICO Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship Friday at AMF Babylon Lanes. 

The 2008-09 Rookie of the Year had a 10-8 match play record and 32-game 8,081 overall pinfall total to edge out amateur Brian Ziesig of Levittown, NY, for the top spot. Ziesig, a former Tour player, qualified second for the finals with a 12-6 match play record and 8,070 pinfall. 

The unique Plastic Ball Championship requires all players to use two specially-
made Mark Roth plastic bowling balls incorporating 1970s-era technology.
Sunday’s finals will be telecast by ESPN at 2 p.m. Eastern. 

Belmonte bowled three 300s and two 299 games in the tournament. He bowled
one 300 Friday in addition to the 299s in which he left a 4 pin on the final shot
of the first one and an 8 pin on the final shot of the second. 

The record for most 300s in a PBA Tour event by an individual is four held by three bowlers—Dave D’Entremont, John Bauerle Jr. and Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr., who qualified as the No. 3 seed for Sunday’s finals. 

“The 300 game in the first game really surprised me but the rest of the block went as I expected,” said Belmonte of Friday’s second nine-game match play block. “I had to hang in there as the block went on but then I started to get stronger toward the end like I usually do.” 

Belmonte, who has two second-place finishes this season, won The Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic at AMF Babylon Bowl last season to become the first two-hander to win a Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour title. 

“I love this place and apparently it loves me,” Belmonte added. “Being the top seed is where I want to be.” 

The 35-year-old Ziesig, who earned his way into the field through Wednesday’s tour qualifying round, bowled on Tour in the 1998, ‘99 and 2000 seasons with a best finish of 10th. 

“I’ve really prepared for this tournament by practicing the last four weeks with plastic equipment which probably is a little bit of an advantage over the other guys because they haven’t had that opportunity,” Ziesig said. “I’ve had tremendous support from the hometown fans so even with all that preparation
it’s way more than I could have imagined.” 

Williams, PBA’s all-time leader in career Tour titles, will be trying for his 48th title and third of the season having won the season opening Motor City Open and the United States Bowling Congress Masters in February. 

With one tournament remaining after the Plastic Ball Championship Williams is making a run at a record seventh Player of the Year honor. 

Competing in the opening stepladder match will be No. 4 seed Wayne Garber of Modesto, CA, trying for his first title against No. 5 seed and two-time Tour titlist Michael Machuga of Erie, PA. Garber finished second in the Pepsi Red, White and Blue Classic presented by USBC earlier this season. 

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR GEICO MARK ROTH PLASTIC BALL CHAMPIONSHIP 
AMF Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, NY, March 26  

FOURTH ROUND 

(After 32 games, includes match play record and bonus pins. Top five players advance to Sunday’s stepladder finals) 
1, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 10-8, 8,081. 
2, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 12-6, 8,070. 
3, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 9-9, 7,944. 
4, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 11-6-1, 7,912. 
5, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 9-9, 7,825. 
6, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 12-6, 7,818, $4,500. 
7, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 12-6, 7,800, $4,300. 
8, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 10-8, 7,777, $4,100. 
9, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 9-9, 7,701, $3,900. 

10, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 10-8, 7,628, $3,700. 
11, Johnny Petraglia Jr., Youngstown, Ohio, 10-8, 7,622, $3,600. 
12, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 7-11, 7,559, $3,500. 
13, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 11-7, 7,533, $3,400. 
14, Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, 8-10, 7,513, $3,400. 
15, Ronnie Russell, Camby, Ind., 7-10-1, 7,506, $3,300. 
16, Alex Cavagnaro, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 4-14, 7,334, $3,100.

THIRD ROUND

(After 23 games, includes match play record, total pins including bonus. Top 16 advanced to 

Friday's final match play round)

1, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 5-4, 5,725.
2, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 6-3, 5,691.
3, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3-6, 5,611.
4, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 7-2, 5,592.
5, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 5-4, 5,551.
6, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 4-4-1, 5,543.
7, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 6-3, 5,483.
8, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 6-3, 5,468.
9, Johnny Petraglia Jr., Youngstown, Ohio, 6-3, 5,464.
10, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 4-5, 5,438.
11, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 6-3, 5,418.
12, Ronnie Russell, Camby, Ind., 4-4-1, 5,416.
13, Alex Cavagnaro, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 3-6, 5,406.
14, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 3-6, 5,397.
15, Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, 5-4, 5,383.
16, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 6-3, 5,374.
17, Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, Mich., 6-3, 5,370, $2,890.
18, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 6-3, 5,349, $2,700.
19, Cassidy Schaub, Ashland, Ohio, 6-3, 5,345, $2,600.
20, (tie) Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 4-5, and Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3-6, 5,333, $2,450.
22, John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 4-5, 5,310, $2,300.
23, (tie) J. Sterner, McDonough, GA, 5-4, and R. Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, NY, 2-7, 5,308, $2,225.
25, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 3-5-1, 5,302, $2,150.
26, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 6-3, 5,272, $2,100.
27, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 2-7, 5,267, $2,050.
28, Derek Sapp, Keokuk, Iowa, 4-5, 5,233, $2,000.
29, (tie) Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, TX, 4-4-1, and Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, KS, 4-5, 5,232, $1,925.
31, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 0-9, 5,174, $1,950.
32, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 4-5 5,116, $1,800.
 

300 games – Ronnie Russell, Jason Belmonte (3), Patrick Allen, Robert Smith

Belmonte Leads PBA Plastic Ball Championships

Powered by two 300 games and averaging 240.4, Australian two-hander Jason Belmonte led after two qualifying rounds Thursday in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) GEICO Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championships.

Belmonte, the 2008-09 PBA Rookie of the Year, had a 3,366
14-game pinfall total to hold a 27-pin lead over the Lumber
Liquidators PBA Tour’s all-time career titlist Walter Ray Williams Jr.,
in second with 3,339.

The field of 64 was cut to the top
32 players who will advance to match play beginning Friday morning. For this tournament all players
are required to use two specially- made Mark Roth plastic bowling balls incorporating 1970s-era
technology.

Belmonte became the first two-handed bowler to win a Tour event when he won
The Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic at AMF Babylon Lanes last season.

Belmonte’s 300 games were the first he’s bowled with plastic equipment and each
came in the sixth game of both seven-game blocks Thursday.

“This is a different tournament but matching up well with the center means a lot
regardless,” said the 26-year-old Belmonte. In both blocks (Thursday) I started
out slow and was feeling more comfortable towards the end but I would never have
expected to throw two 300 games, especially with plastic equipment.”

The 50-year-old Williams, who owns 47 Tour titles, is looking for his third
title of the season having won the season-opening Motor City Open and his second
United States Bowling Congress Masters title in February. He is currently second
in the Player of the Year Race four points behind Bill O’Neill.

“I had a nice reaction all day and really didn’t change much of anything,”
Williams said. “For me it played like a track shot from the old lacquer days.”

PBA Hall of Famer and 14-time Tour titlist Johnny Petraglia and his son Johnny
Jr. qualified seventh and 26th respectively, the first time the pair have made a
cut together.

“I wish they were all plastic ball tournaments,” said the 63-year-old Petraglia
Sr. “Bowling in a tournament with my son and named after Mark Roth – it doesn’t
get much better than that.”

After a tie for the 32nd and final cut position, Chris Loschetter defeated Steve
Harmann in a one-game roll-off 223-213 to advance.

In addition to using equipment that emphasizes a player’s ability to make
adjustments without being able to rely on the technology built into today’s more
advanced balls, requiring all players to use the same type of equipment also
equalizes the playing field.

After Friday morning’s match play round the field will be cut to 16 for another
match play round Friday evening which will determine the top five who will
advance to Sunday’s finals to be telecast live on ESPN at 2 p.m. Eastern.

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
GEICO MARK ROTH PLASTIC BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
AMF Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, N.Y., March 25

SECOND ROUND
(After 14 games, top 32 players advance to match play)

1, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3,366.
2, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,339.
3, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 3,320.
4, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 3,293.
5, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 3,241.
6, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,228.
7, John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 3,218.
8, Alex Cavagnaro, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 3,215.
9, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 3,213.
10, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3,208.
11, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,206.
12, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,204.
13, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,197.
14, (tie)  Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., and  Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, Mich., 3,152.
16, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 3,151.
17, Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, 3,144.
18, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 3,139.
19, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 3,125.
20, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 3,120.
21, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 3,119.
22, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 3,112.
23, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 3,111.
24, Ronnie Russell, Camby, Ind., 3,108.
25, Derek Sapp, Keokuk, Iowa, 3,100.
26, Johnny Petraglia Jr., Youngstown, Ohio, 3,093.
27, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3,077.
28, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 3,059.
29, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,058.
30, Cassidy Schaub, Ashland, Ohio, 3,043.
31, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,040.
32, (tie) Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, and Steve Harman, Indianapolis,  3,035.
Loschetter def. Harman, 223-213, in one-game roll-off to advance to match play
34, (tie) Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, and Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 3,027.
36, Stuart Williams, England, 3,022.
37, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 3,005.
38, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 3,000.
39, Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, 2,999.
40, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 2,997.
41, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 2,969.
42, (tie) Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., and  Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 2,963.
44, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 2,950.
45, George Lambert IV, Canada, 2,936.
46, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 2,934.
47, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 2,929.
48, PJ Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 2,922.
49, Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., 2,914.
50, Brad Kemp, Allentown, Pa., 2,909.
51, John May, Lincolnton, N.C., 2,905.
52, Tim Mack, Indianapolis, 2,876.
53, John Nolen, Grand Blanc, Mich., 2,868.
54, Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 2,853.
55, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 2,852.
56, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 2,845.
57, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,844.
58, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 2,841.
59, Mike DeVaney, San Diego, 2,840.
60, (tie) Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., and Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 2,827.
62, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 2,825.
63, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 2,681.
64, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., WD

300 games – Jason Belmonte (2)

PBA Marathon Open

The 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is heading
to Baltimore March 30-April 4 where the Lumber
Liquidators Marathon Open, arguably the most
demanding tournament on the schedule, will close the
Tour’s regular season in dramatic fashion.

At stake, beyond the title and $25,000 first prize, are
points which may decide the Chris Schenkel PBA Player 
of the Year race and points which may determine which players will receive
exemptions to bowl during the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season.
With two events left on the schedule, U.S. Open champ Bill O’Neill of
Southampton, PA; USBC Masters winner Walter Ray Williams Jr., and fellow two-
time 2009-10 title winner Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, were in a close battle
for the Player of the Year points title.

It will also be the last chance for one of the PBA Tour’s biggest stars to win a
2009-10 title. Heading into the GEICO Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship in
West Babylon, NY, this week, reigning Marathon Open champion and PBA Player
of the Year Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas; 2008-09 Player of the Year Chris
Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, and Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, were
among the stars who have yet to win this season. Recent Players of the Year 
Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, SC; Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, FL, and Mika
Koivuniemi, Hartland, MI, also were looking for their first title of the season.

The Marathon Open is an extremely difficult event because it will require the field
to bowl on seven different lane conditioning patterns during the course of the
event. On Tuesday, March 30, and Wednesday, March 31, the full field will bowl
nine games each day on the Shark and Cheetah oiling patterns, respectively.

After 18 games, the top one-third of the field will bowl seven-game rounds
Thursday on both the Viper and Chameleon lane conditions. After 32 games, the
top 32 will bowl seven games on the Scorpion pattern Friday morning, and another
eight players will be trimmed from the field. The top 24 will return for a seven-
game round on the Earl Anthony lane condition Friday evening.

After 46 games, the 16 survivors will meet for a final seven-game round on the
Dick Weber lane condition Saturday morning. Pinfall totals after 53 games will
then determine the five players who will advance to the live ESPN stepladder
finals at 1 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. The top qualifier will earn the privilege of
deciding which of the seven lane conditions will be used for the TV finals.

Malott won the 2009 Marathon Open in Indianapolis, defeating hometown favorite
Ronnie Russell, 248-194, for the title. That victory provided Malott with the
points he ultimately needed to win 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year honors.

Rhino Page of Dade City, FL, will return to Baltimore with fond memories of his
2008 PBA Shark Championship title. Page defeated Malott for that victory.

Baltimore area bowling fans are not only invited to watch the competition, but
participate in the pre-tournament pro-am Sunday and Monday as well. Amateur men,
women, senior and youth bowlers can bowl with the stars of the PBA Tour on
Saturday. For pro-am and ticket information, contact AMF Country Club Lanes.

Brian LeClair Leads Qualifying Round for PBA GEICO Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championships

With the help of a 300 game, Brian LeClair of Athens, NY, led a field of 10 players
who advanced out of the Professional Bowlers Association’s Tour Qualifying
Round Wednesday completing the field of 64 for the GEICO Mark Roth Plastic
Ball Championship which gets underway with the first round Thursday at AMF
Babylon Lanes.

LeClair averaged 240.7 to finish the seven-game qualifying round with a 1,685
pinfall total, 90 pins ahead of Bobby Hall II of Landover, MD, in second with 1,595.
All 71 players in the qualifier were required to use PBA-approved plastic balls.

Also advancing were Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, NY, 1,588; Johnny Petraglia
Jr., Youngstown, OH, 1,584; Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, NY, 1,573; Dave
D’Entremont, Middleburg Heights, OH, 1,572; Jesse Buss, Wichita, KS, 1,570;
Alex Cavagnaro, Lindenhurst, NY, 1,568; amateur Brian Ziesig, Levittown, NY,
1,551, and Brad Kemp, Allentown, PA, 1,542.

Beginning with Thursday’s first Round of 64, all players will be required to use
identical special Mark Roth custom-designed plastic balls manufactured by
OntheBallBowling.com. These will be the only balls they will be able to use
throughout the tournament.

With all players having to rely on 1970s-era technology, the playing field is
equalized and there is less reliance on today’s high-powered equipment.

After Thursday’s second Round of 64, the field will be cut to 32 players who will
advance to a match play round Friday morning which cuts the field to the top 16.
Friday evening’s match play round will determine the top five who will advance to
Sunday’s finals to be telecast live on ESPN at 2 p.m. Eastern.

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
GEICO MARK ROTH PLASTIC BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
AMF Babylon Lanes, West Babylon, NY, March 24

PBA TOUR QUALIFYING ROUND
(After 7 games, top 10 advance to Round of 64)

1, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 1,685.
2, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 1,595.
3, Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 1,588.
4, Johnny Petraglia Jr., Youngstown, Ohio, 1,584.
5, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,573.
6, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 1,572.
7, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 1,570.
8, Alex Cavagnaro, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,568.
9, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 1,551.
10, Brad Kemp, Allentown, Pa., 1,542.
11, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 1,539, $1,000.
12, John Lewis, Chester, N.Y., 1,538, $700.
13, Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 1,536, $500.
14, Steven Black, Phoenix, 1,534, $400.
15, Bryan Paul, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,533, $350.
16, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,522, $320.
17, Rudy Kasimakis, Baldwyn, Miss., 1,516, $300.
18, Tommy Gollick, Oberlin, Pa., 1,513.
19, Frankie Calca, Elmont, N.Y., 1,504.
20, Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 1,494.
21, Vinny D'Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,487.
22, Joseph Gentile, Melville, N.Y., 1,484.
23, James Wallace, Hicksville, N.Y., 1,479.
24, David O'Sullivan, Orlando, Fla., 1,473.
25, Alexander Marsillo, West Babylon, N.Y., 1,461.
26, Alex Martin, Coram, N.Y., 1,448.
27, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,444.
28, Michael Dioguardo, Patchogue, N.Y., 1,442.
29, (tie) Robert Volk, Ridge, N.Y., and Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, N.Y, 1,439.
31, D.J. Archer, Mineral Wells, Texas, 1,435.
32, Kerry Fulford, Brownwood, Texas, 1,429.
33, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 1,426.
34, Joe Novara, East Patchogue, N.Y., 1,425.
35, (tie) J.J. Vece, Wallingford, Conn., and Michael Vella, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,421.
37, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,417.
38, Kevin Bandrowski, Lancaster, Pa., 1,415.
39, Jim Rogers, Brick, N.J., 1,409.
40, Michael Houtz, Myerstown, Pa., 1,406.
41, Vic Marotto, Wallingford, Conn., 1,404.
42, (tie) John Knieriemen, Islip Terrace, N.Y., and Michael Sopper, Schaumburg, Ill., 1,399.
44, Howard Ridgeway, Cleveland, 1,389.
45, (tie) Chris Blaison, Newburgh, N.Y., and Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 1,386.
47, Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., 1,385.
48, Bob Andretta Jr., New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,375.
49, Mark Heller Jr., Allentown, Pa., 1,369.
50, Norm Ginsberg Jr., Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y., 1,350.
51, (tie) Gaetano Sereno, Ridgewood, N.Y., and Brian Dailey, West Hempstead, N.Y., 1,340.
53, Steven Raifer, Farmingdale, N.Y., 1,333.
54, Chris Lucchese, Fresh Meadow, N.Y., 1,325.
55, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,323.
56, (tie) Robert Eddy II, Saginaw, Mich., and Chris Larsen, Norwich, Conn., 1,316.
58, Scott Santos, Ledyard, Conn., 1,308.
59, Gennaro Fiorentino, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,295.
60, Jonathan Wilhelm, Middltown, N.Y., 1,276.
61, Chris Liotta, Dix Hills, N.Y., 1,256.
62, Ralph Ehrlich, North Massapequa, N.Y., 1,238.
63, Jack Nealon, Bowie, Md., 1,209.
64, Brian DiCicco, Agawam, Mass., 1,207.
65, Andrew Mangiapahella, East Islip, N.Y., 1,202.
66, Sun Kim, Flushing, N.Y., 1,174.
67, William Beesch, New York, 1,150.
68, Gary Elferis, Flushing, N.Y., 1,140.
69, Jason Berry, West Islip, N.Y., 1,139.
70, Matthew Denmark, Deer Park, N.Y., 1,138.
71, Amir Abtahi, Franklin Lake, N.J., 1,094.

Expanded Plans For PBA 2010-2011

Expanding upon its preview of the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season, the Professional Bowlers Association announced Wednesday it will integrate its 2010 World Series of Bowling into a five-stage PBA World Championship, creating a multi-faceted showcase of bowling to launch the PBA Tour’s 52nd season.

The road to the World Championship will begin at the PBA Regional Players Championship which returns to Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., May 28-31. The RPC will be the first step in providing aspiring professional bowlers with unique opportunities to participate in the revamped PBA World Series of Bowling and PBA World Championship, plus earn a shot at the $250,000 first prize in the $1 million PBA Tournament of Champions.

For Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour exempt players, the season will tentatively begin Oct. 25-Nov. 7 in Las Vegas with a redesigned PBA World Series of Bowling and PBA World Championship which will be similar in concept to the Tour de
France bicycling championship. The World Series will consist of daily “stages” in a bigger race because overall performance in five one-day “animal pattern” tournaments (Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark lane conditions) will
lead to the overall grand prize – the PBA World Championship.

The World Series of Bowling will consist of daily fields of 96 players and each event will pay a $10,000 first prize, with $1,000 for 32nd place (last-to-cash). Each “stage” also will produce its own television final which will be taped at
the conclusion of the series.

While the format for the animal pattern stages has not been finalized, the fields will include players who have earned exemptions for the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour through 2009-10 points and titles won during the 2009-10 season or before (for major championships), the top seven finishers in the 2009 PBA Regional Players Invitational and 20 players who qualify in an optional “World Series Trials” portion of the Regional Players Championship.

Another 15 players will qualify in a second World Series Trials event which will be conducted in Las Vegas. There will be daily “Tour Qualifying Rounds” prior to each daily event for a minimum of five spots and a handful of players will receive Commissioner’s Exemptions to complete the fields of 96.

Overall performance is critical because total pinfall for all five events will determine the standings for the 2010 PBA World Championship. The top 32 in overall pinfall will cash, but the top eight will remain in contention for the $50,000 first prize, a major title and a multi-year PBA Tour exemption by advancing to a unique three-day PBA World Championship stepladder final that will air live on ESPN’s family of stations at a time to be announced.

For hundreds of bowlers chasing the same dream that PBA World Champion Tom Smallwood and PBA Tournament of Champions winner Kelly Kulick realized during the 2009-10 season, it all gets started in suburban Detroit at the same center where the inaugural PBA World Series of Bowling took place last August. The initial World Series drew more than 700 bowlers from 14 nations into an unprecedented showcase for the sport.

The winner of the 2010 Regional Players Championship – which is open exclusively to non-exempt PBA members - will win a projected $8,000. As one of the PBA’s two Regional major titles, the winner also will receive a paid entry into the
richest PBA Tournament of Champions in history, a $1 million event with a record $250,000 first prize. The RPC entry fee is $295.

RPC competitors who elect to pay an additional $500 entry fee will bowl for 20 exemptions into the World Series of Bowling. There will be no PBA Tour Trials this season. Instead, the new PBA World Series Trials will be based on total pinfall for the 16 qualifying games in the RPC. The top 20 World Series Trials players will be exempt for all PBA World Series events with no additional entry fees.

Bowling Morns the Passing of Bill Bunetta

Famed bowler and Instructor, Bill Bunetta passed away, March 21, in Fresno, Calif., of heart failure. He was 90.

Mr. Bunetta, a charter member of the Professional Bowlers Association and a USBC Hall of Famer, was one of bowling's most respected instructors as well as a talented competitor on the lanes. He was a member of three different teams that won five ABC (now USBC) Open Championships between 1949 and 1955. In 1995, at age 76, he became the oldest bowler in history to roll back-to-back 300 games.

Off the lanes Mr. Bunetta was best known for his innovative coaching techniques and years of conducting clinics and exhibitions. He was often sought out by many young professionals for coaching assistance.

IBPSIA's Lighthouse Award is named for Mr. Bunetta. The award is given annually to a qualified Person or business that is currently or has been active in the bowling industry, made significant contributions to Pro Shop Industry and has been involved in bowler retention and development.

Allen and Krestzer Face Off Sunday

Patrick Allen, a 13-time Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) title winner from Wesley Chapel, FL, and Brian Kretzer of Dayton, OH, a non-title winner, advanced to Sunday’s Go RVing Match Play Championship title match at Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center Saturday.

Allen, who entered the “March Madness” style 64-player bracket
elimination tournament as the No. 21 seeded player, defeated No. 57
Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, NY, 601-530, in their three-game,
total pinfall semifinal round match Saturday night.

Kretzer, the No. 27 seed, rallied from a 22-pin deficit to eliminate No.
50 Kent, 625-581, settting up a battle of one-time nationally-
recognized “action players” for the $25,000 top prize. The three-game, total pinfall match will be 
televised on ESPN at 1 p.m. Eastern

The Match Play Championship was the first event of the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
season to use a different lane condition on each lane. The left lane on each pair used a long-oil 
Shark pattern while the right lane used a shorter Cheetah lane condition. Allen won the first PBA 
Tour event ever to use the dual-pattern system in Reno, NV, in 2009.

But Saturday night, Allen and Ciminelli – both left-handers – struggled to solve the Cheetah lane. In
the opening game, Allen converted single-pin spares on four of his first shots on the Cheetah lane, but
Ciminelli failed to mark in any of his five frames on the right lane. Allen won the opening game, 188-128,
and was never seriously challenged even though he didn’t throw back-to-back strikes until the 10th
frame of his second game.

“Patrick figured it out a game ahead of me,” Ciminelli said. “That’s why he is who he is. You can’t give
a guy like that 60 pins and expect to beat him.”

“The right (Cheetah) lane played differently that it did all week,” Allen said. “But I finally used my
brain, moved left with a different ball, and I was able to hold him off. I’ll have an open mind about
what the lanes may be like tomorrow.”

In the second semifinal match, between a pair of right-handers, both managed the Cheetah lane, but
had issues with the Shark until Kretzer solved it.

“I figured something out at the end of the first game, and I was able to take a big lead in the second,”
Kretzer said. “He didn’t have a very good look on that lane, and even though I had some problems
getting out of my own way in the last game, I was able to hang on.”

Kent won the opener, 211-189, but Kretzer struck on seven of his first eight shots in the second for a
230-178 win, taking a 30-pin lead into the final game. Kent threw three strikes in a row late in the
game, but missed the headpin on the Shark lane in the 10th frame and opened to end his comeback
hopes.

“I’ve been on both sides of the coin,” Kent said. “He made the shots. I didn’t. When he figured out
the left lane, I knew I was in trouble.”

“It’s going to be fun on Sunday,” Kretzer said. “Patrick isn’t going to give it to me. We’ve been going
at each other since we were kids. We’ll see who figures it out.”

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
GO RVING MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center, Norwich, Conn., Saturday, March 20

Semifinal Round (three games, total pinfall; losers eliminated, each earned $7,000; winners advance
to the three-game, total pinfall title match on ESPN Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern)
#21 Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., def. #57 Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 601-530.
#27 Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, def. #50 Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 625-581.

The PBA's Cinderella Tournament?

Upsets are no surprise when “March Madness” sweeps the nation, but the NCAA
basketball realm has never seen anything like the parade of upsets that hit the
Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)’s Go RVing Match Play Championship 
Thursday and Friday at Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center in Connecticut.

Patterned after the NCAA basketball brackets, the Go
RVing Match Play Championship seeded 64 of the
world’s top bowlers into a single-elimination match play
competition, and after two days of best-of-seven-game
competition, not a single player seeded among the top
20 was still alive in the competition.

After Friday night’s Round of 8, No. 21 seed Patrick Allen
of Wesley Chapel, FL; No. 27 Brian Kretzer of Dayton,
OH; No. 50 Doug Kent of Newark, NY, and No. 57 Ryan Ciminelli of
Cheektowaga, NY, were still in the chase for the $25,000 top prize, which will be
decided in a three-game, total pinfall match televised on ESPN Sunday at 1 p.m.
Eastern

The two finalists will be decided tonight in three-game matches pitting Allen
against Ciminelli in a battle of left-handers, and Kent against Kretzer in a duel of
right-handers. Allen, 39, is a 13-time PBA Tour titlist. Kent, 43, has won 10
titles. Kretzer, 43, and Ciminelli, 24, have yet to win a PBA title.

Ciminelli, who advanced out of the Tour Qualifying Round (TQR) to make it into
the tournament as the No. 57 seed, eliminated No. 17 Jason Couch of Clermont,
FL – the highest remaining seed - in Friday’s Round of 8, 4-2.

Earlier in the day, No. 2 seed Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., was the last top 10
seed to survive, but his bid for a third title this season ended in a 4-1 loss to
Kent in the Round of 16. O’Neill’s 239-237 win in the third of their five games was
the one of only two games Kent lost in the first four rounds of competition in the
dual lane condition contest (the left lane on each pair of lanes was conditioned
with the PBA Shark pattern and the right lane used the Cheetah pattern).

“I’m 16-2 and I can’t explain it, but at this point, it doesn’t mean a thing,” 
said Kent, who has bowled part-time during the 2009-10 season. “Win or lose, I’m 
still going to retire at the end of the season. I want to win; there’s nothing 
better than winning, but I’ve worked hard for 20 years to get to the point where 
I can retire.

“I haven’t felt any pressure the past couple of years,” Kent continued. “I’ve been
bowling well, but I don’t have the revolution rate these young kids have. The
power players are dominating today and I can’t strike with them. My 200s don’t
keep up with their 240s.”

The Round of 32 Friday morning claimed three top 10 seeds. No. 37 Nathan Bohr
of Wichita, KS, toppled No. 5 Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, TX, 4-2; Kretzer 
eliminated No. 6 Jason Belmonte of Australia, 4-2, and No. 39 Stuart Williams of 
England bounced No. 7 Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, SC, 4-1.

“I’ve been bowling good for a month,” said Kretzer, who finished second in the 
Etonic Don Johnson Eliminator two weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio. “I had been 
working on things that weren’t working, so I went home and looked at tapes of 
what I was going when I was bowling well as an amateur, and went back to what
I was doing then.”

Allen, who has been bothered by a knee injury all season, said he advanced 
“because I had a couple of gifts given to me. There were a couple of situations 
where my opponents didn’t perform when they needed to, and in this format, 
that’s huge. I kept battling and found ways to win.”

Ciminelli, a streaky player who is trying for his fourth TV appearance of the 
season, admitted he has been able to capitalize on situations that favor his game.

“When there’s nothing on the left side of the lane, these guys will eat your lunch,”
he said. “I’m not good enough to compete with them, so I have to jump on 
situations when I get a favorable look. I’m working hard at trying to slow down so
I can get my ball to react on the Shark pattern. So far this week I’ve been able to
do that, so I must be progressing.”

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
GO RVING MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center, Norwich, Conn., Friday, March 19

ROUND OF 8 (best of 7 games, losers eliminated, each earned $4,600; winners 
advance to Saturday’s three-game total pinfall semifinal round)
#21 Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., def. #20 Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 4-2.
#57 Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., def. #17 Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 4-1.
#50 Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., def. #39 Stuart Williams, England, 4-1.
#27 Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, def. #30 Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 4-2.

ROUND OF 16 (best of 7 games, losers eliminated, each earned $3,300)
#57 Ciminelli def. #56 Tom Baker, King, N.C., 4-2.
#21 P. Allen def. #37 Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 4-0.
#20 Loschetter def. #36 Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 4-1.
#27 Kretzer def. #54 Cassidy Schaub, Ashland, Ohio, 4-3.
#30 Harman def. #46 Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 4-3.
#17 Couch def. #32 Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 4-0.
#50 Kent def. #2 Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 4-1.
#39 S. Williams def. #42 PJ Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 4-2.

ROUND OF 32 (best of 7 games; losers eliminated, each earned $2,500)
#32 Voss def. #64 Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, N.Y, 4-2.
#17 Couch def. #16 Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 4-3.
#56 Baker def. #24 Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 4-2.
#57 Ciminelli def. #40 Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, 4-3.
#37 Bohr def. #5 Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 4-2.
#21 P. Allen def. #12 Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 4-3.
#20 Loschetter def. #13 Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 4-2.
#36 R. Allen def. #61 Alex Aguiar, Dartmouth, Mass., 4-2.
#2 O'Neill def. #34 Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 4-2.
#50 Kent def. #18 Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 4-0.
#42 Haggerty def. #55 Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 4-0.
#39 S. Williams def. #7 Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 4-1.
#27 Kretzer def. #6 Jason Belmonte, Australia, 4-2.
#54 Schaub def. #22 Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 4-2.
#46 Book def. #51 George Lambert IV, Canada, 4-2.
#30 Harman def. #62 Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 4-2.
  300 games: Mike Scroggins.

Tough Day for PBA Top Seeds

Top-seeded Walter Ray Williams Jr., defending champion Chris Barnes and
reigning Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour Player of the Year Wes Malott were
upset victims as the Go RVing Match Play Championship got underway Thursday
at Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center.

Among the top four seeds in the PBA Tour’s version of “March Madness,” only No.
2 Bill O’Neill of Southampton, PA, survived the opening round. And O’Neill needed
a double in the 10th frame of game seven to complete a come-from-behind, 4-3
win over No. 63 seed David O’Sullivan of Orlando, FL, in their best-of-seven-
game match.

Williams, a two-time winner this season and the PBA Tour’s 2009-10 points leader
from Ocala, FL, was knocked out of the 64-player single-elimination bracket
competition by No. 64 seed Justin Warhol of Sound Beach, NY, 4-1. Malott, the
No. 3 seed, was eliminated by No. 62 seed Ryan Abel of Bel Aire, KS, while
Barnes, the No. 4 seed from Double Oak, Texas, lost a 4-1 decision to No. 61
Alex Aguiar of Dartmouth, MA.

“I had nothing at the start, but I made a couple of moves and suddenly I couldn’t
miss the pocket,” said the 31-year-old Warhol, a bowling pro shop operator on
Long Island. After advancing out of the Tour Qualifying Round Wednesday to win
a spot in the Round of 64, he had laughingly said he planned to show up Thursday,
bowl four games against Williams, pack up and head for home.

“I was trying to be modest and not say anything crazy,” Warhol said after his
win. “I knew who I was bowling. Walter Ray is the top-ranked bowler in the world.
But anything can happen in a seven-game match. I got matched up with the
lane conditions and he didn’t. The more comfortable I got, the more I felt like
I could win.”

After losing the first game to Williams, 205-168, Warhol won the next four, 234-
194, 198-191, 194-177 and 254-175, to eliminate the 50-year-old, 47-time PBA 
Tour champion.

Aguiar, a 30-year-old amateur, was equally dominant in ousting the tournament’s
defending champion. Aguiar won the first game, 214-191; lost the second to
Barnes, 238-213; and won the final three games, 279-231, 268-214 and 254-213.

“It wasn’t a surprise to me,” Aguiar grinned afterward. “I’m just happy to beat
one of the best players in the world. I felt good this morning. I got matched up
early and everything fell into place.

“I have no fear of bowling anyone,” he added. “It’s just a game. You win some,
you lose some. There’s no sense having fear. I’ve had some mild success here in
Norwich before. I’ve made it into the top 64 all three years I’ve bowled here. I
just don’t have the ability to bowl on tour full-time because I have a wife and
little one at home.”

Abel, a 26-year-old former collegiate bowler, jumped into a 3-0 lead over
Malott, but the Pflugerville, Texas, favorite rallied to win the next two games
before Abel put the match away, 245-228, in game six.

“I made it interesting,” Abel said. “My focus was just making good shots and not
worrying about him. I try not to watch what my opponent is doing. But it was
fun.

“I wasn’t worried,” Abel said of Malott’s rally. “I knew I had a good look. It
was just getting the left lane (Shark lane condition) figured out. I had no
problem on the right lane (Cheetah pattern).”

In other significant Round of 64 upsets, No. 50 Doug Kent of Newark, NY,
eliminated No. 15 Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, 4-0; No. 54 Cassidy Schaub of
Polk, Ohio, toppled No. 11 Mike Fagan of Patchogue, NY; No. 57 Ryan Ciminelli
of Cheektowaga, NY, swept No. 8 Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, MI, 4-0; and No.
56 Tom Baker, a four-time PBA Senior Tour Player of the Year from King, NC,
bounced No. 9 Rhino Page of Dade City, FL, 4-2.

Among favorites advancing were No. 5 seed Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, TX, a
4-1 winner of No. 60 Matt O’Grady of South Amboy, NJ; No. 6 Jason Belmonte of
Australia, 4-1 over No. 59 Anthony LaCaze of Melrose Park, IL, and No. 7 Tommy
Jones of Simpsonville, SC, defeated No. 58 Jesse Buss of Wichita, KS, 4-1.

Thursday’s winners will continue competition in Friday’s best-of-seven-game
Rounds of 32, 16 and 8. The four survivors will be paired for three-game, total
pinfall matches Saturday evening to determine the two finalists who will square
off for the $25,000 top prize in Sunday’s three-game finale on ESPN at 1 p.m.
Eastern.

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
GO RVING MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center, Norwich, Conn., March 18

ROUND OF 64 (Best of 7 games; losers eliminated, each earned $1,400)
#64 Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, NY, def. #1 Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, FL 4-1.
#32 Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., def. #33 Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 4-2.
#17 Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., def. #48 Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 4-2.
#16 Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., def. #49 Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 4-0.
#56 Tom Baker, King, N.C., def. #9 Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 4-2.
#24 Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., def. #41 Tim Mack, Indianapolis, 4-2.
#40 Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, def. #25 Ronnie Russell, Camby, Ind., 4-3.
#57 Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, NY, def. #8 Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, MI, 4-0.
#5 Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, TX, def. #60 Matthew O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J.,4-1.
#37 Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., def. #28 Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 4-2.
#21 Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., def. #44 Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, 4-2.
#12 Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., def. #53 Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, Mich., 4-1.
#13 Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., def. #52 John Nolen, Grand Blanc, Mich., 4-2.
#20 Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, def. #45 John May, Lincolnton, N.C., 4-1.
#36 Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., def. #29 Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 4-3.
#61 Alex Aguiar, Dartmouth, Mass., def. #4 Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 4-1.
#2 Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., def. #63 David O'Sullivan, Orlando, Fla, 4-3.
#34 Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., def. #31 Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 4-3.
#18 Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., def. #47 Derek Sapp, Keokuk, Iowa, 4-0.
#50 Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., def. #15 Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 4-0.
#55 Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., def. #10 Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., default.
#42 PJ Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., def. #23 Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 4-2.
#39 Stuart Williams, England, def. #26 Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 4-1.
#7 Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., def. #58 Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 4-1.
#6 Jason Belmonte, Australia, def. #59 Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 4-1.
#27 Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, def. #28 Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., 4-0.
#22 Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., def. #43 Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 4-1.
#54 Cassidy Schaub, Ashland, Ohio, def. #11 Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 4-2.
#51 George Lambert IV, Canada, def. #14 Mike DeVaney, San Diego, default.
#46 Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, def. #19 Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 4-2.
#30 Steve Harman, Indianapolis, def. #35 Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 4-2.
#62 Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., def. #3 Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 4-2.

ROUND OF 32 PAIRINGS (Friday, 9 a.m.)
#64 Warhol vs. #32 Voss.
#17 Couch vs. #16 Shafer.
#56 Baker vs. #24 Weber.
#40 Smith vs. #57 Ciminelli.
#5 Scroggins vs. #37 Bohr.
#21 P. Allen vs. #12 Rash.
#13 Jurek vs. #20 Loschetter.
#35 R. Allen vs. #61 Aguiar.
#2 O’Neill vs. #34 Wolfe.
#18 Koivuniemi vs. #50 Kent.
#55 Van Daniker vs. #42 Haggerty.
#39 S. Williams vs. #7 Jones.
#6 Belmonte vs. #27 Kretzer.
#22 Jaros vs. #54 Schaub.
#51 Lambert vs. #46 Book.
#30 Harman vs. #62 Abel.

PBA Announces Plans For 2011

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) laid out general plans for the 2010-
2011 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season Wednesday in a meeting with the
Exempt Tour players in Norwich, CN, site of this week’s Go RVing PBA Match Play
Championship.

"The Professional Bowlers Association has weathered the most difficult economic
year for professional sports of all kinds that most of us have ever seen,” said PBA
Tour Commissioner and CEO Fred Schreyer, “and we are continuing to reshape
the future of professional bowling by introducing new concepts that are both
necessary and exciting."

Highlights of the announcements made by Schreyer and Deputy Commissioner and
COO Tom Clark included:

● The PBA Tour’s signature event, the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions,
will feature a record $1 million prize fund and a $250,000 first prize, the richest
in professional bowling history. Different eligibility rules will open the event
to any PBA title winner, including players who have won National, Regional,
Senior and Women’s Series titles. The Tournament of Champions will air on 
ESPN on Jan. 23, 2011. The 2010 Tournament of Champions, which was won by
Kelly Kulick in history-making fashion, produced the highest audience ratings for
the PBA in five years.

● The 2010-11 ESPN television schedule will include 23 original PBA programs,
beginning in late November and running through April.

● Lumber Liquidators has affirmed its commitment as the PBA Tour’s title
sponsor through September 2011. Lumber Liquidators has been the title sponsor
since the beginning of the 2008-09 PBA Tour season.

● The PBA World Series of Bowling (WSOB) will return, producing
nine separate TV shows and culminating with the PBA World
Championship. In a story that captured the imagination of the
sports world, the 2009 PBA World Championship was won by
Michigan’s Tom Smallwood. A United States vs. the World special
competition will also emanate from the WSOB. Last year’s
inaugural PBA World Series of Bowling had participation from 700
different professionals from 14 different nations.

● For the first time in PBA history, select events will feature three consecutive
days of live television (Friday, Saturday, Sunday time slots on ESPN’s family of
networks). The PBA World Championship and the U.S. Open will both be
telecast in this groundbreaking presentation. Previously, only the final
championship round of any PBA Tour event has been telecast.

● The USBC Masters will again round out the list of four major championships
and will be aired live from Reno’s National Bowling Stadium.

● For the first time in PBA history, live telecasts will air on ESPN in high definition.

● A new PBA Playoffs will conclude the season with a six-week series of shows.
The elimination series will have its own separate prize fund and be a key
decider in the PBA Player of the Year race.

● The Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational returns for the third consecutive year.
The event, which benefits New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul’s CP3
Foundation, features pro bowler/celebrity doubles teams. LeBron James, Ludacris,
Dwyane Wade and Hines Ward are among celebrities who have competed the past
two years.

● A new “Xtra Frame Tour” will bring the PBA Tour players to at least five
different locations across the nation for competitions that will be “broadcast”
exclusively on pba.com’s Xtra Frame video-streaming service, but will not air on
network television. The non-televised events will be conducted using a format
similar to that used on the PBA Senior Tour. Since its introduction during the
World Series of Bowling, Xtra Frame has grown consistently, more than doubling
its subscriber base since August 2009.

Further information with more specifics on prize funds, tournament formats,
event locations, qualifying tournaments, competition dates and TV schedules will
be released soon.

PBA Chairman Peter's Support Ending, What Does The Future Hold For the Professional Bowlers Association?

In their online newsletter "eBowler", check out "Bowlers Journal International" (BJI)’s exclusive on PBA Chairman Chris Peters. Peters’ decided not to participate in future funding rounds for the organization. A more detailed report will appear in the April edition of Bowlers Journal.

Ciminelli Tops Qualifing Round Readies for Matchplay

Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, NY, led a field eighty players, 8 of which advanced out of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)’s Tour Qualifying Round (TQR) Wednesday and completed the field of 64 for the Go RVing Match Play Championship which gets underway Thursday at Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center, Norwich, CT.

Ciminelli, who has already advanced to the television finals three times during
the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season, averaged 226.57 to finish
the seven-game qualifying round with a  1,586 pinfall total, 22 pins ahead of
Jesse Buss of Wichita, KS. Also advancing to complete the new PBA Bracket 
Battle field of 64 were Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, IL; Matt O’Grady, South
Amboy, NJ; Alexa Aguiar, Dartmouth, MA; Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, KS; David
O’Sullivan, Orlando, FL, and Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, NY.

Similar to the NCAA basketball championships’ play-in round, the eight TQR
players will face an uphill battle as the Go RVing Match Play Championship enters
its best-of-seven-game, single-elimination match play Round of 64 Thursday.
Wednesday’s qualifiers will be seeded into the Go RVing bracket against the top
eight Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour players on the 2009-10 Harry Smith Point 
Leader Award list:

Warhol, the No. 8 TQR qualifier, will be seeded 64th and paired against No. 1
seed Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, FL, a two-time title winner this season.

No. 7 qualifier O’Sullivan is the No. 63 seed will bowl U.S. Open champion and
No. 2 seed Bill O’Neill of Southampton, PA.

No. 6 Abel will inherit the 62 seed and will face No. 3 Wes Malott of Pflugerville,
TX.

No. 5 Aguiar will be seeded 61st and will bowl defending champion Chris Barnes
of Double Oak, TX, the No. 4 overall seed.

No. 4 O’Grady is the No. 60 seed and is paired against two-time 2009-10 winner
and No. 5 seed Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, TX.

No. 3 LaCaze, who won the Earl Anthony Memorial in January, is seeded 59th
and will meet Australia’s two-handed star, Jason Belmonte, the No. 6 seed.

No. 2 Buss will bowl No. 7 seed Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, SC.

Ciminelli, as the top TQR qualifier, becomes the 57th seed and will be matched
up with No. 8 Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, MI.

Two seeded players withdrew prior to the start of the event. San Diego’s Mike
DeVaney stayed home as he and wife Carrie await the imminent arrival of their
second child, and Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., is still nursing a back injury
suffered in Columbus, Ohio. Because of their withdrawals, Eddie Van Daniker Jr.
of Essex, MD. (Weber’s first-round opponent), and Canadian George Lambert IV
(DeVaney’s pairing) were granted byes and automatically advance to the Round of
32.

With the complete field in place, bowling fans have until the start of Round of
64 matches Thursday at 11 a.m. Eastern to complete their PBA Bracket Battle
forms, which are available at no cost on the PBA’s official website, pba.com.
The PBA Bracket Battle, like the NCAA basketball brackets played by millions of
Americans, give PBA fans a chance to play along during the Go RVing Match Play 
Championship by picking the winner of each match throughout the tournament.
Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the tournament on Sunday.

Thursday’s winners will continue competition in Friday’s best-of-seven-game
Rounds of 32, 16 and 8. The four remaining survivors will be matched up for
three-game, total pinfall matches Saturday evening to determine the two
finalists who will square off for the $25,000 top prize in Sunday’s three-game
finale on ESPN at 1 p.m. Eastern.

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
GO RVING MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center, Norwich, Conn., March 17

PBA TOUR QUALIFYING ROUND
(After 7 games, top 8 advance to Round of 64)
1, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,586.
2, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 1,564.
3, (tie) Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., and Matthew O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J., 1,544.
5, Alex Aguiar, Dartmouth, Mass., 1,520.
6, Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 1,518.
7, David O'Sullivan, Orlando, Fla, 1,514.
8, Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, N.Y, 1,500.
9, Stephen Haas, Enola, Pa., 1,496, $1,000.
10, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,491, $800.
11, Chris Viale, Westfield, Mass., 1,486, $600.
12, Don Lango Jr., New Britian, Conn., 1,483, $500.
13, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 1,481, $400.
14, Edward Roberts, Braintree, Mass., 1,474, $380.
15, Todd Lathrop, Colchester, Conn., 1,468, $460.
16, (tie) Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., and Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,465, $335.
18, Scott Santos, Ledyard, Conn., 1,458, $320.
19, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,457, $310.
20, Stephen Fiume, Fiskdale, Mass., 1,450, $300.
21, Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 1,449.
22, Christopher Colella, Templeton, Mass., 1,430.
23, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,427.
24, (tie) Mike Danielson, Portland, Ore., and Jason Utter, Stevensville, Mich., 1,423.
26, Jonathan Van Hees, Charlestown, R.I., 1,411.
27, Michael Markis, Hawley, Pa, 1,402.
28, Chris Forry, Bridgeport, Conn., 1,398.
29, Sean McAuliffe, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,397.
30, (tie) Bill Holota, Bolton, Conn., and Tony Reynaud, Harwinton, Conn., 1,396.
32, Paul Pinto, Philadelphia, 1,390.
33, Vinny D'Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,379.
34, Jeff Kubasak, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,376.
35, Billy Trudell, Coventry, R.I., 1,367.
36, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,366.
37, Vic Marotto, Wallingford, Conn., 1,361.
38, Robert Eddy II, Saginaw, Mich., 1,355.
39, Geoff Wetzler, Tolland, Conn., 1,349.
40, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 1,346.
41, Chris Larsen, Norwich, Conn, 1,345.
42, Michael Tessier Jr., Woonsocket, R.I., 1,344.
43, Brandon Robertson, Clinton, Conn., 1,342.
44, Matthew Janas, Central Falls, R.I., 1,329.
45, Alex Cavagnaro, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,315.
46, Jason Payne, Niles, Mich., 1,311.
47, Joshua Shriver, Winchester, Va., 1,304.
48, Steven Black, Phoenix, 1,278.
49, Dan Furman, Amsterdam, N.Y., 1,272.
50, Bill DeHaas Jr., Andover, N.J., 1,270.
51, (tie) Jack Nealon, Bowie, Md., and Brian DiCicco, Agawam, Mass., 1,264.
53, Ryan Evans, Acton, Mass., 1,248.
54, Country Alfonso, Wallingford, Conn, 1,246.
55, Lydell Hickey, Bristol, Conn., 1,245.
56, Justin Feldman, Bradford, Pa., 1,241.
57, Justin Arnold, Groton, Conn, 1,235.
58, Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 1,203.
59, Craig Kleinman, North Windham, Conn., 1,200.
60, Ralph Ehrlich, North Massapequa, N.Y., 1,196.
61, Francis Mazzella, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,188.
62, Jason Mahon, East Haven, Conn., 1,187.
63, Joseph Truchan Jr., Ringwood, N.J., 1,178.
64, Steven Landry, Oakville, Conn., 1,176.
65, Christopher Sevick, Norwich, Conn, 1,165.
66, Jaime Tessier, Woonsocket, R.I., 1,164.
67, Robert Jette, Lisbon, Conn., 1,158.
68, Matthew Stewart, Niles, Mich., 1,157.
69, Neil Binder, Shelton, Conn., 1,152.
70, Jason Spanjers, Hamden, Conn., 1,135.
71, Larry Tryon, Peabody, Mass, 1,129.
72, Larry Wentz III, Bristol, Conn., 1,110.
73, Bryan Martinson, Lakeland, Fla., 1,096.
74, Brandon Joseph, Glastonbury, Conn., 1,079.
75, John Schaffer, Greentown, Pa., 1,070.
76, Aaron Graves, Danbury, Conn., 1,067.
77, Dominick Curra, Bedford Hills, N.Y., 1,065.
78, Vincent Carbone, Medford, N.Y., 1,061.
79, Andrew Nosar, Manassas, Va., 1,033.
80, Thomas Durand, West Haven, Conn., withdrew