PBA World Series Of Bowling Is Sold Out

As expected, the 2010 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) World Series
reached its capacity of 256 players on Sept. 28, with former PBA Exempt Tour
player Tony Reyes of San Bruno, Calif., claiming the final spot.

The next step is filling the spectator area at South Point Bowling Center in Las
Vegas with PBA fans to help kick off the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
season.

And during the first week of qualifying, you might find yourself seated next to
Susie Anthony. The wife of the late PBA superstar Earl Anthony has confirmed she intends to attend the entire first week of World Series action to visit with old friends and watch the competition.

Tickets for all sessions of the World Series, set for Oct. 24-Nov. 6 at South Point are now on sale on pba.com. For the practice sessions on Sunday, Oct. 24, and each of the “animal pattern” qualifying sessions Monday through Friday, Oct. 25-29, ticket prices are $10 for either the morning or afternoon/evening sessions, or $15 per day for “all day” passes.

For the Sunday, Oct. 31, practice session for the Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon,
Scorpion and Shark match play finalists, and for the five individual match play
rounds, including Monday’s Cheetah and Viper finals; Tuesday’s Chameleon and
Scorpion finals, and Wednesday’s Shark finals, are $15.

Tickets for the Cheetah, Viper and Chameleon TV finals at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and
3:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, will be $20 per session or $50 for the full day.
Tickets for the Scorpion, Shark and U.S.A. vs. The World finals on Saturday at
11 a.m., 3 and 5:30 p.m. also are $20 per session or $50 for the full day.

Players who are still hopeful of getting into the World Series field should get
their names on the waiting list as soon as possible. Any late withdrawals will
be filled on a first-come basis from the waiting list.

Track Signs Walter Ray Williams Jr.

One of the most renowned bowlers in history, Walter Ray Williams Jr., has inked a deal with Track bowling.

As of Sept. 1, 2010, the 47-time Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) titlist is a member of the Track professional bowling staff, joining Mike Fagan and Mitch Beasley.

“The company I represented last year did not offer to renew my contract at the end of the season,” Williams said. “I had heard some really good things about Track equipment last season and the equipment coming out of Ebonite International. You want to go to a company with good equipment so you can be competitive.”

At age 50, Williams said it is a surprise to him to be still competing at this level. “Way back when I first started on the tour, I never expected to be competing at 50,” he said. “I always figured I’d retire at 40; that was the age guys used to retire. But, when I hit 40, I kept on thinking ‘I still have two more years in me,’ and here I am.”

Williams was named PBA Player of the Year for the 2009-2010 season for the seventh time.

“To be Player of the Year at 50 is unbelievable,” he said. “I plan to continue on tour as long as I’m competitive and with Track, I believe I can continue to be competitive. I can make a little money at it and I enjoy it. I go out with the goal of winning. There is a lot of good competition out there; I respect the younger players and I like giving them fits.”

When asked, most of the players on tour would like to give Walter Ray Williams Jr. fits right back if they could choose.

“It’s a two-way street to have that target on your back,” Williams said. “To be the person everyone wants to bowl and to beat is flattering.”

Pan-American Bowling Confederation Women's Championships Doubles

After a frustrating singles performance at the 2010 Pan American Bowling Confederation Women’s Championships (PABCON), Team USA’s Shannon Pluhowsky was able to regroup and join singles bronze medalist Kelly Kulick in a record doubles effort Tuesday.
 
The accomplished lefthander shot 1400 for her six games, while Kulick contributed 1380 as they claimed the gold medal with a 2780 grand total at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino’s Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas NV.

The previous record was 2621 by Guatemala’s Zussie de Machon and Sofia Granda at the 2009 PABCON Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Pluhowsky and Kulick led by more than 100 pins after three games and battled
through a tricky transition and a few ball changes to increase the margin of
victory to 215 pins over their teammates, Shannon O’Keefe and Tennelle Milligan, who grabbed the silver medal with a 2565 total.


Canada’s Caroline Lagrange and Isabelle Rioux took home the bronze with 2562. Team USA’s Liz Johnson and Stefanie Nation finished seventh with 2461.

Four of Team USA's representatives - Liz Johnson, Kelly Kulick, Shannon O'Keefe and Shannon Pluhowsky - all have enjoyed success at the PABCON Championships, while Tennelle Milligan and Stefanie Nation are competeing in the event for the first time.

Competition is being streamed live at bowl.com.

Pan-American Bowling Confederation Women's Championships Live

PABCON World Championships Live on bowl.com.

Guess Who's Bowling the TOC

Long-time Professional Bowlers Association Director of Player Services Larry Lichstein, at age 61, has set aside his grievances, re-joined the PBA and is considering dusting off his bowling shoes to enter the $1 million PBA Tournament of Champions next January in Las Vegas.

There is much more to this story.

Anyone who has followed the PBA Tour over the past 40-or-so years knows Larry Lichstein is the guy who once drove the big semi and drilled bowling balls for PBA Tour players for years. They also know Lichstein was (and is) out-spoken, opinionated and extremely passionate about the sport, and the PBA.

Some also know that on Feb. 6, 2006 (“exactly 35 years to the day after I won my only PBA Tour title in San Jose, Calif.”), the PBA Hall of Famer for meritorious service wrote his resignation letter to the PBA, and walked away.

“I was extremely upset with several decisions the new owners had made and I

decided I didn’t want to be a member anymore,” the Fort Meyers, FL, pro shop

owner said.

Fast-forward to January 2009, when the PBA celebrated its 50th anniversary with an unforgettable gala in Las Vegas – at the very same Red Rock Resort that will host the 2011 Tournament of Champions and PBA Hall of Fame ceremonies. The gala was unlike any event ever held in bowling. Almost all of the living competitors among those selected as the “50 Greatest Players in PBA History” were on hand. It might have been the most impressive gathering of bowling talent ever assembled in one room.

“I had strong inclinations not to go to that dinner,” Lichstein admitted, “but

the reason I wanted to go was that I was asked to be one of the voters, and those top 50 were not only my idols, but guys I bowled against and serviced as player rep for years. I knew if I missed that dinner, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.

“And I’ll tell you, it was the most wonderful three days I’ve ever spent in my

life. (PBA Commissioner) Fred Schreyer was exceptionally warm to me. So was (PBA Vice President and Director, PBA Tour) Kirk (von Krueger), and (Deputy

Commissioner) Tom Clark, and other PBA officials. I felt very comfortable. After the way I was treated at the 50th gala, considering the fact that I know many PBA execs knew how dissatisfied I was, well, I changed my mind.

“When the plans for the new Tournament of Champions were announced, I started thinking about it. I’m no longer a bowler; now I’m a bowling fan. But I bowled pretty good in April, and I started thinking, if I practice three or four times a week, I can still throw the ball pretty good for an old man. So I thought, if I go to the TOC, my only goal will be to not finish last.

“So now I’ve re-upped my membership. Do I really want to go? I’m still 50-50,”

Lichstein continued. “It’ll mean I have to commit to a lot of practice - 50

games or so a week. I have to get myself in bowling shape. I figure, after about 30 days, the pain I’m going to go through should ease up.

“I have a lot to think about before I decide. I don’t want to look like a 61-year- old over-the-hill has-been, but I’ve taken the first step.

“I haven’t bowled in a PBA national tour singles event for 37 years. In fact,

the last Tour event I bowled in was the 1973 Tournament of Champions. The only events I’ve bowled since then have been a few senior regionals, and a couple of PBA Senior Tour events. The last PBA event of any kind I bowled was 10 years ago, so if I enter the TOC, it will be my last PBA event. I don’t think I’ll ever bowl another one.

“But on the other hand, if they keep the same format, and I’m home and bored…It’s a nice trip to Vegas. Who knows?

“I feel very confident I’d have to do everything perfect and stumble onto a

condition that’s understandable to me to even have a chance, but on the other

hand, I’m an innovator,” he continued. “Maybe I could have a meeting with all my has-been friends and come up with a side bet. Put down $100 a head. I’m thinking I can beat Ernie Schlegel, no problem. (Dave) Soutar is old and brittle. That would be fun.”

When fellow lefty Johnny Petraglia heard about Lichstein’s “maybe” plans, the

Hall of Famer from Jackson, NJ, was totally in favor of him bowling in Las

Vegas – and bringing friends. “There are a lot of guys who said they aren’t

going who should reconsider. Life is all about experiences. The TOC is not

something you should pass up.

“If you were a five-handicap golfer and got a chance to play in the U.S. Open,

you would jump at the chance to play,” Petraglia added. “Bowlers should be like that, too.”

The 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, with its record $1 million prize fund and $250,000 first prize, is open to all active PBA members who have won any PBA title (PBA Tour, PBA Senior Tour, PBA Regional or PBA Women’s Series).

The signature event of the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season will be held Jan. 16-22 at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas.

All players eligible and wishing to enter must be full PBA members as of Oct. 1.The entry fee for all Tournament of Champions competitors will be $750 if paid by Dec. 15 ($1,000 after Dec. 15). To enter, look for the Tournament of

Champions entry link when you log on to pba.com as a PBA member.

"Shaq Vs" Takes on Justin Bieber, Bowling

Track New Release To Debut Live on PBA's Xtra Frame

Track bowling and the Professional Bowlers Association have teamed up for an innovative introduction of a revolutionary new high performance ball. 

Known for doing the unheard of, in 2008 Track released its UpRising ball in an exclusive party in the Kingpin Suite at The Palms in Las Vegas. In 2009, the company introduced a new naming system that identified the ball’s specifications and performance capabilities on the ball. 

“We aren’t hiding behind cutesy names,” Track Brand Manager Paul Figliomeni said when the new naming system was announced. “Instead we are going to put what the ball does, how it performs on the side of the ball for the world to see.” 

On Oct. 14, 2010, at 8 p.m. (Eastern), Track will take bowling ball introductions to the next level when it will debut its newest high performance bowling ball in a live demonstration online via the PBA’s Xtra Frame Web casting service on pba.com. Xtra Frame hosts Mike Jakubowski and “The Bowling Doctor,” Jeff Mark, along with Figliomeni, will introduce the new ball on the program, which can be accessed via the PBA’s official Web site. 

While Xtra Frame is ordinarily a paid membership site, Track has made special arrangements for viewers to watch the program free of charge from Oct. 14-17, simply by logging in to xtraframe.pba.com as username: TrackBowling, password: vip. 

The Track ball demonstration show will feature several bowlers, including several Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour players, bowling on a variety of lane conditions to highlight the performance capabilities and versatility of the ball. Track Research and Development engineers will also be on hand to explain the technical aspects of the ball and to explore ideal drilling layouts. Live questions will be taken from the Track Facebook and Twitter pages, and the PBA Facebook page as well. 

During the program, consumers will be invited to enter a special drawing through the Track Website to win one of several new Track HP bowling balls. A new ball will be given away every weekday for 10 weeks after the worldwide release date on Nov. 11, 2010. 

“We are very excited about this ball and this ball release,” Figliomeni said. “Track bowling has never done anything this extreme and to our knowledge nothing like this has ever been done before in our industry. This ball is unique, and we needed a unique way to introduce it; Xtra Frame is a great way to do that.”

Women's US Open

Walter Ray Williams Jr. Named Senior Rookie of The Year

Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. added another milestone to his illustrious career by earning the 2010 PBA Senior Rookie of the Year award. Robert Harvey of Boise, Idaho was selected the Senior Tour’s Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award winner. 

Williams, the 50-year-old Senior Tour rookie who earned a record seventh PBA Player of the Year honor earlier in the year, got the news of his award at home in Ocala, FL, where he is recuperating from recent hernia surgery. 

As a rookie on the Senior Tour, Williams won the PBA Senior Miller High Life Classic in Mooresville, NC, in his Senior Tour debut. He also finished second to 2010 Senior Player of the Year Wayne Webb in the United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters and had back-to-back third-place finishes in the PBA Senior Lake County Indiana and Senior Pepsi Opens. 

Williams, the PBA Tour’s all-time leader in wins with 47 titles, challenged for Senior Player of the Year going into the final tournament of the season and would have been the first to earn both honors in the same year, but Webb’s victory eliminated any chance for that honor. 

“It seems a little odd to win a Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year award in the same year but I had a great time bowling on the Senior Tour,” Williams said. “I was shooting for Player of the Year but Wayne bowled very well and he was able to clinch that award in the last tournament of the
season. 

“I enjoyed meeting the new guys and bowling against some of the others I had bowled against in the past, but I can tell you that there are plenty of good players on the Senior Tour.” 

Williams discovered he had a hernia at the Senior Pepsi Open in Decatur in August but was able to finish the season before heading home to have it checked out. 

“I woke up one morning and noticed a slight bump; otherwise I wouldn’t have known it was there. There was no pain and it didn’t really affect my bowling,” Williams said. 

“I had it checked out when I got back home and the doctor said ‘yeah, it’s a hernia.’ 

“Fortunately we were able to schedule the surgery so I’ll be ready for the World Series of Bowling (which begins the PBA Tour season Oct. 24 in Las Vegas). I need to stay away from heavy lifting for the next three weeks or so but I should be ready to continue a normal schedule a week or so prior to the start of the season.” 

Harvey, currently a pro shop owner and instructor, lost the lease on his 16-lane bowling center earlier this year which opened up his schedule to bowl full time on the Senior Tour. 

“It’s a great honor,” said the 54-year-old Harvey after receiving news of the Sportsmanship award.
 
“It was a year that started good and got even better as it went on. “As fate would have it with the center closing, it was an opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade. To be able to win this award after being a member for only four years is something that I wouldn’t have expected.” 

Harvey had best finishes of sixth in the PBA Senior HP Lanes Open and seventh in the USBC Senior Masters and finished 10th in Senior Tour points. 

Harvey, who has competed on the Senior Tour since 2006, owns his only title in the Illinois State BPA Ladies and Legends with Kelly Kulick in 2008. He is also getting ready to compete in the PBA World Series of Bowling next month. 

Both the Senior Rookie of the Year and Sportsmanship Awards were voted on by Senior Tour players.

BPAA Tops 4,000 Members Again

The Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA), announced that it  surpassed the 4,000 membership mark. Fluctuation in member centers has the organization at 4,000 member bowling centers once again. Jason Oskerson, from Kee Lanes in Kiester, MN was officially recognized as the 4,000th member to the join the organization. 

Youth Education Services (YES) Fund Created

In a groundbreaking agreement, leaders of the nation’s largest bowling manufacturers will partner with the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA) and the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) to create a new funding source dedicated to youth bowling development and marketing.

The new Youth Education Services (YES) Fund is a joint initiative of BPAA, USBC and The Bowling Foundation. Many of the leading brands in bowling, including Brunswick, Columbia 300, Ebonite, 900 Global, Hammer, QubicaAMF, Roto Grip, Storm and Track, have agreed to significant contributions to the YES Fund totaling more than $250,000.

“This is an unprecedented statement about the level of unity being created in the bowling industry through the International Bowling Campus,” BPAA Executive Director Steve Johnson said. “This is about more than one organization or company; bowling is the brand and seeing such a strong commitment to the future of our sport from these great partners is truly exciting.”

An initial focus for the YES Fund project will be development of a new mainstream sports model for bowlers 12 years old and younger. This will involve testing new team-based structures for competition along with the development of training and recruitment programs to attract volunteer coaches.

“This project demonstrates the high level of commitment proprietors and manufacturers have toward growing bowling as a sport,” USBC Executive Director Stu Upson said. “The goals of the YES Fund completely align with USBC’s vision and will only strengthen our organization.”

Programs initiated through the YES Fund will be led by BPAA Director of Youth Chad Murphy and supported with staff from USBC and BPAA. Soon, there will be additional opportunities for more partners to join the program.

“The partnerships that have been created unite the industry in a single cause – the betterment of youth bowling. The commitment by the leaders of bowling to join together in this effort will strengthen the sport today and for generations to come,” Murphy said. “We are thrilled to have many top bowling brands on board and expect more industry partners will soon follow.”

The concept of the YES Fund was introduced at an inaugural youth bowling summit last month at the International Bowling Campus. During the summit, executives from some of the industry’s leading brands heard a detailed presentation about the project and all in attendance quickly agreed to contribute to the fund. Plans call for initial testing of pilot programs related to the YES Fund later this year.

“Brunswick is proud to be a part of the YES Fund industry initiative. It is great to see all the companies make an investment into the future of our industry as we work together to create a more positive experience for our youth bowlers.” – Brian Graham, Brunswick Consumer Products

“The brands of Ebonite International are proud to be contributing participants in the new YES Fund. In our view, the YES Fund program is the best possible approach to garnering industry involvement in developing programs that can ensure the future of our sport…America’s youth.” – Bob Reid, Ebonite International

“We at 900 Global are proud to be involved in a new and refreshing approach to build interest and education within youth bowling. After hearing the presentation and plan for the YES Fund, we were very excited and felt it was vital for us to be a part of something that will build on the future of our sport.” – Dave Smart, 900 Global

“QubicaAMF believes that the development of youth bowling is one of the keys to the long term health of our industry and that we are excited to be a founding partner of the YES Fund program.” – John Walker, QubicaAMF

“It was a real easy decision for Storm to make to be a part of the YES Fund program. We were very impressed by the way BPAA and USBC came together with this initiative and we realize the future of bowling is with the kids.” – Dave Symes, Storm Products

PBA Unveils The Dick Weber PBA Playoffs

The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour will reward 180 PBA exempt layers and PBA Regional competitors for their performances during the 2010-11 season with seeded positions into a new end-of-season Dick Weber PBA Playoffs, scheduled for March 8-13 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis.
 

The inaugural PBA Playoffs will feature five preliminary elimination rounds leading up to three “television elimination round” shows which will narrow the field to six players for the final telecast of the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season on Sunday, April 17, when the PBA Playoffs championship will be decided.

“The PBA staff, players, news media and other interested parties have talked a 
great deal over the past two or three years about the need for a special event 
to conclude our national tour season,” said PBA CEO and Commissioner Fred 
Schreyer. “After a great deal of discussion, we arrived at the PBA Playoffs 
concept. We think it’s going to become one of the most exciting and most 
anticipated events on tour.”

The PBA Playoffs, borrowing a chapter from end-of-season championship playoff 
series in virtually every other sport, will provide a showdown for 108 of the 
nation’s top regional players along with 72 players from the Lumber Liquidators 
PBA Tour. The better every player bowls during the season will determine his/her 
seeding position at Playoffs time.

The new PBA Playoffs format will include six unique elimination “pods,” each 
featuring 18 top PBA Regional players based upon competition points accumulated 
between Oct. 1, 2009, and Nov. 30, 2010. The PBA’s East, South, Central, 
Southwest, Midwest and combined West/Northwest each will be assigned to a pod.

Each Regional pod also will include seeded PBA Tour players based upon their 
2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour competition points rankings, with 
higher-ranking Tour players earning bye rounds based upon their standings on the 
points list. The seeding of PBA Tour players into the pods will be based 
exclusively on points, and will have no bearing on the region where they live. 
The seeded Tour players will be added to pods by random drawing at a later date.

Track Adds Track-tion to the 7 Series

Track's 715T is the first "T" (Track-tion) ball released in the 7 series; designed to be a stronger version of the popular 505T. The designers set out to make a more aggressive product by using an all-new “UMP GEN4T” coverstock in striking Red/Yellow/Blue colors, finished with 500/1000/2000 Abralon®. This cover has a larger footprint on the lane to help carve through the head oil. The Asymmetrical “Catback” core found in the 7 series features RG of 2.52 and Diff. of .052 in #15. World Wide Release Date 10/7/10.

O'Neil Named Kegel August Bowler of the Month

Bill O'Neill of Southampton, Pa., has been named the August 2010 Kegel Bowler of the Month by the Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA).

Nicknamed "The Real Deal," the 28-year-old O'Neill captured singles and all-events crowns at the 2010 World Tenpin Bowling Association's (WTBA) Men's World Championships in Munich/Unterföhring, Germany. 

After qualifying fourth in the singles competition, O'Neill defeated top-seeded Dominic Barrett, England, 187-170 before downing Bok-Eum Choi, Korea, 244-202, for the singles gold medal. O'Neill averaged 222 over 24 games in winning the all-events gold medal.

This marks the third Kegel Bowler of the Month award O'Neill has won the in the last 12 months, adding to his September 2009 and February 2010 awards.

Others capturing votes were Chris Barnes, winner of the Masters gold medal at the WTBA Men's World Championships, Wayne Webb, winner of the PBA Senior Jackson Open and 2010 PBA Senior Player of the Year, and Tom Baker, winner of the PBA Senior Pepsi Open.

Hammer is Steppin Out with Swagga

In a limited edition ball introduction, in co-operation with The National Bowling Association (TNBA) , the new Hammer Swagga is a Black/Red/Carmel “Level 2” reactive cover (used currently on the Plague) finished to 2000 (in three steps – 800/1000/2000) surrounding the Black Widow “Gas Mask” core. Core numbers for a #15 ball: RG – 2.50 and RG Differential - .060. A donation to the TNBA will be made by Hammer for each Swagga sold. Expect the Swagga on October 5th, 2010.

Storm Announces Two New Balls for October

The Storm Anarchy builds around the “Origin” (Invasion) core and wraps it up with a “R3X Pearl reactive” coverstock, colored Golden Wheat/Plum/Ultra Violet finished to 1500 and polish. Aromatherapy Focus is the fragrance. The “Origin” core provides RG of 2.48 and Diff. of .054. 

 

The Reign Supreme features the C.A.M. core with a “R2S” Hybrid Reactive cover in Purple/Ruby, finished to 1500 grit and polished. The Reign’s CAM core provides RG of 2.57 and Differential of .048 in #15. Lava Spice is the fragrance. World Wide Release Date is October 20^th, 2010.

The New Ebonite Mission 2.0

The Ebonite Mission 2.0, new addition to their high performance line, looks to be an orange pearl cover finished to 2000 (800-1000-2000), using a cover called "XL1250" wrapping the original Mission core. Radius of Gyration (RG) is 2.48. Check out the Goofy Commercial for this ball.

The Million Dollar PBA Tournament of Champions

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is gearing up for the richest tournament in professional bowling history, the $1 million PBA Tournament of
Champions, and for the first time is creating an opportunity for any player who has ever won a PBA title to take a shot at the record $250,000 first prize.

The rewards for bowling well will be unprecedented in PBA history. The payoffs 
for making the four-player stepladder final on Saturday, Jan. 22, will be 
$250,000 to win, $100,000 for second, $60,000 for third and $40,000 for fourth 
place. Based upon a starting field of 216, last-to-cash will be $2,500 for 54th 
place.

The PBA Tournament of Champions will be conducted Jan. 16-22 at Red Rock 
Lanes in Las Vegas, Nev., and it will feature an all-new format featuring a
“Champions field” to determine the players who will advance to the “Elite field.” 

The “Elite field” will be composed of: 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour 
exempt players; any player who was listed among the “50 Greatest Players in PBA 
History” during the PBA Tour’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2009; any PBA 
Hall of Famer; any player who has won five or more PBA Tour titles; any player 
who has won a PBA major championship; the 2010 PBA Senior U.S. Open and USBC 
Senior Masters champions, and the 2010 PBA Regional Players Championship and 
Regional Players Invitational winners.

All other PBA title winners, up to a maximum of 180, will make up the 
“Champions” field. The Champions field will include players who have won four or 
fewer PBA Tour titles or a PBA regional, PBA Women’s Series, PBA Senior Tour or 
PBA Senior Regional title as of Jan. 9, 2011. Titles won by players who were not 
members at that time are not eligible.

The first key step, however, is that all players eligible and wishing to enter must 
be full-fledged PBA members as of Oct. 1.

The entry fee for all Tournament of Champions competitors will be $750 if paid 
by Dec. 15 ($1,000 after Dec. 15). To enter, look for the Tournament of 
Champions entry link when you log on to pba.com as a PBA member.

Concluding the week will be the PBA Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday, Jan. 22. 
Details on that event will be announced soon.

The entire Tournament of Champions will be covered live on pba.com’s Xtra Frame 
video streaming service. To subscribe, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

In The PBA Midwest Region

2007 USBC Masters champion Sean Rash of Wichita, Kan., earned his third career PBA Regional title and $2,500 Sunday in the PBA Midwest Region Premier Bowling and Entertainment Center Open in Pleasant Hill, Iowa. Rash won the 20-game, total pinfall event by 68 pins over Mike Steil of Wheeling, IL. Former exempt player Derek Sapp of Keokuk, Iowa, finished third. PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., and fellow exempt player Steve Jaros of Yorkville, IL, finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

Bobby Johnson of Chillicothe, Ohio, won the joint PBA Central/Midwest

BowlingGift.com Senior Open at Georgetown Bowl in Fort Wayne, IN, when he

defeated John Deloney of Troy, IL, 200-179, for his first Senior Regional

title of the year and the second of his career. He also earned $1,700.

Dexter Signs as Sponsor of Women's US Open

Dexter Bowling committed to be a promotional sponsor of the prestigious 2011 Bowling's U.S. Women's Open. As part of the agreement, Dexter captures the bowling shoe product line exclusivity for all marketing aspects of the historic event and the qualifiers leading up the finals.

The 2011 Bowling's U.S. Women's Open, sponsored by the Brands of Ebonite International, is open to all female youth and adult bowlers in the United States and their international counterparts. The June 30, 2011 finals will be hosted on-site at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas (home of Super Bowl XLV). The event, scheduled to air on is expected to draw one of the largest live viewing audiences in the history of the sport.

Dexter, the number one bowling shoe in the world, plans to use the new relationship to further its position of strength in women's sports. "The Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) and Ebonite have created an exciting, world-class event at a world-class facility," said Bud Clapsaddle, V.P. Dexter Bowling. "We are excited to present our premier product line alongside the finest female bowlers in the world." 

"We are proud to have Dexter aligned with the 2011 U.S. Women's Open and all marketing associated with this new, revitalized event," said Steve Johnson, executive director of the BPAA. "As a true category leader, Dexter recognizes the surging popularity of bowling among women and the significant value behind the national and grassroots promotion plans."

NCAA Bowling Coaches Meet at ITC

Coaches from 25 NCAA bowling programs visited the International Training and Research Center over the weekend to learn from Team USA coaches how to improve player performance.

The inaugural National Tenpin Coaches Association NCAA Coaches Forum brought together 33 head coaches and assistant coaches from across the country. Training included equipment analysis and management, lane maintenance pattern analysis and competition management.

Among the representatives were coaches from perennial NCAA bowling powers Vanderbilt, Maryland Eastern Shore, Central Missouri and reigning NCAA champions Fairleigh Dickinson.

Dexter Extends Its Sponsorship of High School All-American Team

Dexter Bowling and the United States Bowling Congress have agreed on a partnership that will keep Dexter as the exclusive title sponsor of the USBC High School All-American Team.

The three-year agreement also includes Dexter's sponsorship of the USBC Coach/Player Luncheon at the Intercollegiate Team Championships. Dexter has been the official sponsor of the USBC High School All-American Team since 2005-06.

"Dexter has been a big supporter of high school and youth bowling, and it is great that we can continue our relationship with them in the coming years," USBC Executive Director Stu Upson said.

"Being named to the Dexter All-American Team is one of the most prestigious honors a high school bowler can achieve and the recognition of these bowlers is because of the commitment Dexter has made to this program."

Each year, five male and five female USBC High School members are selected for the Dexter/USBC High School All-American Team. Each All-American receives a $1,000 scholarship.

"We look forward to continuing our relationship with USBC to promote high school and collegiate bowling," Dexter Shoe Company Vice President Bud Clapsaddle said. "It is important to recognize the many young bowlers who are not only great ambassadors for the sport but also make important contributions to their communities."

Coaches or team administrators nominate eligible contenders for the Dexter/USBC High School All-American Team. Selection to the team is based on bowling accomplishments, academic achievement, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and community involvement, and submitted essays and resumes. Minimum requirements include a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and at least one letter of recommendation.

The Dexter/USBC All-American Team awards are presented at the USBC Junior Gold Championships in July.

Dexter Bowling also will sponsor the USBC Coach/Player Luncheon at the ITC. The ITC is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season, bringing together the top 16 men's and top 16 women's teams in the country to compete for national titles.