PBA World Series of Bowling Update

Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., dominated the early-season Lumber Liquidators 
PBA Tour statistics at the conclusion of the five “animal pattern” events 
conducted during the PBA World Series of Bowling at South Point Bowling Center 
in Las Vegas.

O’Neill, who earned the top qualifying position for the PBA World Championship 
as the 60-game pinfall leader after five 12-game qualifying rounds on the PBA’s 
Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark lane conditioning patterns, is 
leading the World Series field in earnings with $25,090, average at 225.44 for 
101 games and “cashes” in all five animal pattern events. He also advanced to 
the match play finals in four of the five events and won his third career title 
in the Pepsi Viper Championship. For complete statistical leaders, visit pba.com 
and click on the “statistics” link under the Players tab (top 10 leaders are 
attached in a Word document).

O’Neill now must win one more game in the live PBA World Championship finals at 
South Point on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 16, to claim another $50,000 and the second 
major title of his career. Also qualifying for the unique three-day live finale 
of the PBA World Championship were No. 8 Jason Belmonte, Australia; No. 7 Wes 
Malott, Pflugerville, TX; No. 6 Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, AZ; No. 5 
Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, MI; No. 4 Chris Barnes, Double Oak, TX; No. 3 
Osku Palermaa, Finland, and No. 2 Sean Rash, who recently moved to Montgomery, 
IL.

Belmonte, Malott and Haugen will compete on the first live stepladder event 
which will air at 5 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2 on Friday, Jan. 14. Friday’s winner 
will join Koivuniemi and Barnes for Saturday’s live ESPN2 telecast at 9 p.m. 
Eastern. Saturday’s survivor will join Palmermaa, Rash and O’Neill for the 
championship finals on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m.