Malott Wins PBA All Regions South Point Open

Six-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour winner Wes Malott of Pflugerville, TX, defeated rookie Josh Blanchard of Gilbert, AZ, 266-214, to win the PBA All Regions South Point Open Saturday at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas, NV.

Malott, the 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year, collected his 14th career PBA Regional title and a $4,000 prize. Blanchard, who has been a PBA member for just over a week, earned $2,200.

Malott defeated Chris Hayden of Las Vegas, 268-228, and Blanchard eliminated Mike Fagan of Dallas, 251-224, in the semifinal round to set up the championship match.

The All Regions South Point Open is the first of two PBA Regional events taking place over the weekend. Qualifying in the PBA West Region’s Member/Non-Member Doubles will take place Saturday afternoon with the top 16 teams advancing to single-elimination match play Sunday morning. PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel will cover the qualifying and match play rounds.

PBA Tour action resumes in the PBA World Series of Bowling with the Carmen Salvino Classic on Monday.

PBA ALL REGIONS SOUTH POINT OPEN

South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Nev., Nov. 12

Championship: Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas ($4,000) def. Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz. ($2,200), 266-214.

Semifinal Round (losers earned $1,200):

Blanchard def. Mike Fagan, Dallas, 251-224.

Malott def. Chris Hayden, Las Vegas, 268-228.

Round of 8 (best of three games, losers earned $1,000 each):

Malott def. Martin Larsen, Sweden, 2-0.

Hayden def. Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 2-0.

Fagan def. David Haynes, Las Vegas, 2-0.

Blanchard def. Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 2-1.

Round of 16 (best of five games, losers earned $800):

Malott def. Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3-2.

Larsen def. John Szczerbinski, N. Tonawanda, N.Y., 3-2.

Hayden def. Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 3-1.

Warren def. Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 3-1.

Haynes def. Brandon Mathews, Santa Maria, Calif., 3-2.

Fagan def. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3-2.

Blanchard def. Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 3-1.

Sterner def. Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3-0.