Bowling Notes

Recently-retired PBA Tour titlists Robert Smith, now living in Hong Kong, and Patrick Healey Jr., who resides in Kuwait, are still bowling on a limited basis in the international arena. Smith won the 8th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge in The Philippines, defeating George Frilingos of Australia, 243-228, for the US$23,000 first prize on Feb. 19 while Healey lost a 213-177 decision to Shaker Al Hassan of the United Arab Emirates in the title match of the Dubai International Open on Feb. 26.

With the arrival of his first child, PBA exempt player Ritchie Allen of Columbia, SC, has changed his bowling name to Dick Allen. Wife Sarah Allen brought Piper Bailey Allen into the world on March 3. Allen said, “Now that I’m a dad, I need to have a dad name.”

With his $80,000 first prize in the Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open, Norm Duke improved his PBA career earnings to $2,979,519, leaving him a little more than $20,000 away from joining Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Pete Weber as the third player in history to exceed the $3 million mark in career earnings.

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR STARS DOMINANT IN U.S. OPEN. How good are the best of the best in Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour competition? During the 18 qualifying games in the 68th Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour, the 53 Exempt Tour players in the field averaged a composite 207.49, led by qualifying leader Bill O’Neill’s 227.44 average. For the same 18 games, the 167 amateurs in the field averaged 184.71.

Out of the 95 cashers, 41 of the 52 Exempt Tour players earned checks (78.84 percent) while only 21 of the 167 amateurs made money (12.57%). One of the nine women in the field (Kelly Kulick, an Exempt Tour player) cashed.