Turbo Tech Collegiate Expo Deadline Looms

The Early Bird Registration Deadline for the Turbo 2n1 Grips "Turbo Tech Collegiate Expo" expires this Monday, April 30th.   Don't miss your chance to save $30 for this exciting event.

  

Again, registration includes 1 year paid subscription to the Bowlers Journal International, Sport Shirt,  Welcome Dinner, lunch both days, chance to meet brand experts from leading ball companies like Brunswick, Columbia 300, DV8, Ebonite, Hammer, Motiv, Storm, Track and 900 Global and demo the latest equipment. 

  

Registered students will get 2-full days of on-lane and classroom instruction with some the best coaches in the business including 2012 USBC Queens Champion, Diandra Asbaty.  

  

The Collegiate Expo wraps up with a Scholarship Tournament sponsored by Ebonite where college coaches from around the country will be on-site to watch and evaluate the competition.  For students traveling to the USBC Junior Championships immediately following the Collegiate Expo, you will get your chance to bowl on previous tournament patterns as well as WTBA patterns used by many collegiate tournaments.  Ebonite will  award $250 in scholarships to the leading male and female bowlers.

  

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the Collegiate Expo is the opportunity for students and parents to meet face to face with the collegiate coaches following the tournament competition. Students and parents will be able to gather information on various bowling programs and explore scholarship opportunities.  

  

The Turbo Tech Collegiate Expo is arguably one of the best opportunities for young bowling talent in America. The Expo brings together top manufacturers, professional bowlers, aspiring high school bowlers, parents, and top college coaches in an effort to showcase talent, teach practical bowling knowledge, and inform attendees about scholarship opportunities around the country.

Currently bowlers from Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Massachusetts are registered. Cost for the entire week is only $359 per student if registered before April 30. May 1st - May 31, 2012 registration $389 per student.  Registration is limited to ONLY 168 students and spots are filling up fast. For detailed information, schedules and registration forms, visit www.turbogrips.com or call 800 530-9878.

Sponsors include: 900 Global, Bowlers Journal International, Brunswick, Columbia 300, Dexter, DV8, Ebonite, Hammer, Innovative Bowling Products, Kegel, Michigan Junior Masters Association, Motiv, OnTheBall Bowling, Roto Grip, Storm, the Detroit Sports Commission, Track and USBC Metro Detroit Association.

PBA Summer Shootout Returns to Chicago

Four of the top 2012 PBA Chris Schenkel Player of the Year candidates—Jason Belmonte, Mike Fagan, Sean Rash and Pete Weber — are among the star-studded players who will return to upscale 10pin bowling lounge in downtown Chicago May 27-29 for the 6th annual PBA Summer Shootout. 

The made-for-TV event will once again feature a battle of bowling stars representing bowling ball manufacturers in a fast-paced PBA Summer Shootout series for telecast on ESPN. 

The PBA Summer Shootout weekend will get underway with a special pro-am event at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 27. Eight Eliminator Round tapings will be conducted Monday, starting at noon. On Tuesday, the final two Eliminator Rounds get started at 1 p.m., followed by the Eliminator Doubles Shootout and four Baker Doubles stepladder finals matches. 

The preliminary Shootout telecast schedule begins on ESPN Saturday, July 7 and continues Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15. ESPN2 will carry re-airs of Shootout telecasts on Sunday, July 8, Saturday, July 21, Saturday, July 28, Saturday, Aug. 4, and Sunday, Aug. 5. 

Telecast times will be announced at a later date. 

“It’s great to get to come back to downtown Chicago for Memorial Day weekend,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. “The city has a rich bowling history and last year's event had one of the best pro-ams I've ever seen in 10pin's cool surroundings with 20 of the top players in the world.” 

The 2012 installment of the PBA Tour’s post-season special will include the sport’s most accomplished players representing nine of the bowling industry’s best-known bowling ball franchises in a series of elimination and Baker doubles contests along with a pro-am event for Chicagoland grassroots league bowlers. 

Teams must include a minimum of two players and teams with more than two players on their roster may substitute at their discretion: Teams and players competing are: 

Storm: Jason Belmonte, Osku Palermaa and Pete Weber 

900 Global: Robert Smith, Missy Parkin and Brian Voss 

Roto Grip: Wes Malott, Brian Kretzer and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard 

DV8: Mike Machuga, Ronnie Russell and Brian Valenta 

Brunswick: Sean Rash, Ryan Ciminelli and Chris Loschetter 

Track: Mike Fagan and Mika Koivuniemi 

Columbia 300: Dan MacLelland and Chris Barnes 

Hammer: Mike Wolfe and Bill O’Neill 

Ebonite: Tommy Jones and Jason Couch 

The 2012 PBA Summer Shootout will get underway with one member of the nine ball-brand teams bowling in each of 10 “Eliminator Rounds.” 

In the Eliminator Rounds, each player will throw one shot, with the low score in each frame eliminated. In cases of ties, the players involved will bowl sudden-death until one survivor remains. 

“Make no mistake, while this event is guaranteed to be fun and exciting for fans to watch on site and as it plays out over the summer months on ESPN, the radical format means it will be a unique tightrope walk for players that will have them on edge fighting for survival from the first ball,” Clark said. 

“Players who represent the top bowling ball brands will be fighting for bragging rights and the prize money is significant, so it figures to be intense competition.” 

In each Eliminator Round, players will earn points for their respective teams based upon how long they survive. The winner of each round will earn 12 points, second place eight points, third seven points, etc., down to one point for the first player eliminated (ninth place). 

There will be 10 Eliminator Rounds, each resulting in a half-hour show for delayed telecast on ESPN. At the conclusion of the 10 shows, teams will be seeded for the Summer Shootout finals based upon their points totals. The top four teams automatically advance to the Baker Doubles stepladder finals. 

Teams seeded five through nine will then bowl in an “Eliminator Doubles Shootout” with the winning team claiming the fifth spot in the stepladder finals). 

In the Eliminator Doubles Shootout, both members of each team will throw one shot and their scores will be combined for the frame. The low doubles score each frame will be eliminated until one team remains. 

The final four half-hour shows will feature Baker format matches where one member of each team will bowl five frames per game. The No. 5 team will take on Team No. 4 in the first show. The winner will take on Team No. 3 in the second match. The match two winner will bowl Team No. 2 in the semifinal contest, and the semifinal match winner will meet Team No. 1 for the title. 

Admission will be free for the entire weekend. For pro-am entry information, visit pba.com and look for the PBA Summer Shootout logo.

Rookie Boresch Wins Opening PBA Tour Event

This week will be one not soon forgotten for Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour rookie Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wis.

In his Senior Tour debut, Boresch defeated 2011 Senior Rookie of the Year Ricky Beck of Box Elder, S.D., 278-266, to win the PBA Senior Sun Bowl In The Villages presented by Storm Tuesday at Spanish Springs Lanes. Then, it’s on to Arlington, Texas, where Boresch will be inducted into the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame on Thursday.

“This is a dream week and kind of weird the way it’s all playing out,” said Boresch, who just turned 50 on April 19 to become eligible for the Senior Tour. “I can’t believe it’s happening all so fast.”

In the championship match Beck struck on the first nine shots but opened in the 10th allowing an opening for Boresch who was able to string his last eight strikes to clinch the win.

“If he strikes on the first ball in the 10th it’s over but when he didn’t, I thought to myself, well, here’s my chance,” Boresch said.

Boresch is known for his success in PBA regional competition where he has won 25 PBA regional titles. His top finishes on the PBA national tour are a fifth and two sixth-place finishes. He also owns three USBC Open Championships titles.

“I was really hoping to just make the cut and get my feet wet out here,” Boresch said. “I still feel I can be competitive at a high level but never thought I’d win right out of the box on the Senior Tour.”

The road to the championship match wasn’t easy for Boresch, just squeaking out a win in the Round of 8 against Tom Carter of Rockford, IL, 2-1 in the three-game match. He then faced four-time Senior Player of the Year and PBA Hall of Famer Tom Baker of King, NC in the semifinal, winning that single-game match, 238-227. Coincidentally, Baker, who was trying for his 10th Senior Tour title, will also be inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame on Thursday.

“Tom is such a great bowler and I had to remind myself to stay cool, Boresch said. “But I kept telling myself to keep my footwork slow and just enjoy the experience.”

In the other semifinal match Beck squeaked by Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr., 258-257, to advance to the championship match.

The next stop for the Senior Tour will be the PBA Senior Don Carter Memorial Open presented by Ebonite April 28-May 2 at Carter Family Bowl in Winter Garden, Fla.

PBA SENIOR SUN BOWL IN THE VILLAGES PRESENTED BY STORM
Spanish Springs Lanes, The Villages, Fla., Tuesday
Final Results
Championship Match
Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis. ($7,500) def. Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D. ($4,000), 278-266.

Semifinal Round (one-game matches, losers earn $2,700)
Beck def. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 258-257.
Boresch Jr. def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 238-227.

Round of 8 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, $1,700 each)
W.R. Willams def. Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 2-1.
Beck def. Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 2-0.
Boresch Jr. def. Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 2-1.
Baker def. Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 2-1.

Round of 16 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,300 each)
Mohr def. Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 3-2.
W.R. Williams def. Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 3-1.
Eagle def. Gary Hiday, Indianapolis, 3-1.
Beck def. Fred Kaczmarczyk, Martinez, Calif., 3-0.
Carter def. Peter Knopp, Germany, 3-1.
Boresch Jr. def. Randy Shewmake, Fort Worth, Texas, 3-0.
Kenny Parks def. Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 3-1.
Baker def. Joel Carlson, Omaha, Neb., 3-1.
Round of 24 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,150 each)
Learn def. Randy Robertson, Evansville, Ind., 3-2.
W.R. Williams def. Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 3-2.
Eagle def. Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 3-1.
Beck def. Paul McCordic, Sugarland, Texas, 3-2.
Knopp def. Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., 3-1.
Shewmake def. Amletto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3-2.
Sullins def. Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla., 3-2.
Carlson def. Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 3-2.
Round of 32 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,025 each)
Robertson def. Brodowski, Hyde Park, N.Y., 3-1.
W.R. Williams def. Emilio Mora, Defiance, Ohio 3-2.
Eagle def. Chuck Richardson, The Villages, Fla., 3-1.
McCordic def. Neff, Homosassa Springs, Fla., 3-1.
Knopp def. Keith Sharp, Orlando, 3-0.
Monacelli def. Dave Sill, Titusville, Fla., 3-2.
Wagner def. Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 3-2.
Traber def. Bruce Hall, Los Altos Hills, Calif., 3-2.

2012 USBC Queens Final Frame

Will Ron Mohr Dominate For 2012 Senior PBA Tour Season?

For reigning Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Player of the Year Ron Mohr, his domination during the 2011 season will be a tough act to follow in 2012, but he’s up to the challenge. 

Mohr, of Eagle River, Alaska, will begin defense of his 2011 Senior Player of the Year title when the 2012 Senior Tour season begins April 21-24 with the Sun Bowl In The Villages presented by Storm at Spanish Spring Lanes. 

Mohr won a record-tying four titles in the 10 PBA Senior Tour events he entered in 2011, supported by a 67-30 record in his head-to-head matches and an equally impressive qualifying record. 

In 10 tournaments, Mohr was the leading qualifier twice, No. 2 twice and he qualified lower than seventh only one time. In what was probably his worst event in 2011, after finishing in 77th place after the first eight qualifying games in the Senior Decatur (Ill.) Open, Mohr moved up 53 places over the next eight games to make the cut to match play by four pins, qualifying 24th. 

“I’m really fighting the notion that it was a career year and can’t be repeated,” Mohr said. “But on the other hand it’s unrealistic to expect to have a year like that again.” 

In addition to his four titles – including his first major championship in the Senior U.S. Open – Mohr finished out of the top four only one time. He was second twice, third twice, fourth and had a 13-place finish in Decatur. The only tournament he didn’t enter was the USBC Senior Masters which he missed in order to attend a family wedding. 

“The real expectation is that over time things even out but I’ve kept a winning attitude and feel as well prepared if not better than last year going into this season,” he said. “Last year was something I never expected and I admit I had a lot of things go my way. I just need to keep that winning attitude and let everything else take care of itself.” 

Tom Baker (2006), Bob Glass (2001), Dale Eagle (1999) and Pete Couture (1998) also had four-title seasons, but only Baker’s was in a comparable number of events (nine). 

In 2006, Baker finished second, third, fifth, seventh and 24th in his other five events. Eagle won four times in a 15-tournament schedule while Glass and Couture won their titles in 14-event seasons. No one had a perfect 11-for-11 cashing record in 2011, but of the nine players who cashed in 10 events, Mohr, Baker, Peter Knopp and Henry Gonzalez were 10-for-10 while Walter Ray Williams Jr., Harry Sullins, Mike Henry, Kenny Parks and Eagle cashed in 10 of 11 events. 

The only statistical category where Mohr fell short was in scoring average which was led by Williams with a Senior Tour record 229.56 and Mohr finished second with 225.98. Defending champion Sullins of Chesterfield, Mich., defeated Williams, 248-239, to win last year’s Sun Bowl In The Villages for his second career Senior Tour title.

The Bowling Swing and Release

New Columbia Freeze Balls

Sean Rash Puts It All Together To Win PBA Tournament of Champions

Sean Rash now living in Suburban Chicago (Montgomery), IL, won the PBA Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes Sunday, ending a five-year, 14-tournament television drought with a 239-205 victory over Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, NY.

Rash, who hadn’t won a title since the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Masters, started the title match with four strikes and bowled an almost error-free game to win the $80,000 first prize and the fifth title of his career.

“This one ranks right up there with the most important titles I’ve ever won,” Rash said. “Your first title is always special, and so is your first major, but this tournament is special because everyone who bowls in it is a champion. The other guys in the finals are all great young players."

“The biggest thing is learning from your failures. I learned that a long time ago, and I’ve worked hard to overcome my mistakes,” the 29-year-old said. 

“The great thing about winning a title like this is we’re all family out here. Every other player wants the other guy to succeed. It really feels good.”

With his title, Rash also inserted himself into the PBA Player of the Year chase. He unofficially led the Tour in earnings, average and competition points while finishing in the top 10 in 11 of 14 tournaments.

Ciminelli had nothing but praise for Rash’s performance after eliminating two PBA Player of the Year candidates in his first two matches.

“I’m disappointed I didn’t win, but Sean bowled a great game. He earned it,” Ciminelli said. “Getting to the title match was another step in my career. I won by far the biggest check I’ve ever gotten ($40,000), I qualified for the Japan Cup and I’ll get to bowl in the PBA Summer Series, so it was a big week for me.

“And I think I handled the pressure well,” the 26-year-old left-hander said. “I usually beat myself up, but this week I’m proud of myself. There are going to be many, many more opportunities. I’m very young.”

In the semifinal match, Ciminelli missed a 7 pin in the first frame but raced away to a 257-223 victory over Australia’s Jason Belmonte, striking on nine of his next 10 shots. Belmonte couldn’t solve the right lane until the 10th frame and by then it was too late. Belmonte came into the finals with three victories during the 2011-12 PBA Tour season and was considered a leading contender in the PBA Player of the Year race.

In the opening match, Ciminelli defeated another Player of the Year contender, Mike Fagan of Dallas, 190-182, in a mistake-filled match. Fagan opened in three of his first five frames before rallying with a late turkey. 

Ciminelli also survived a pair of unconverted splits, throwing the first string of three strikes in the match to protect his slim lead and converting a 7 pin in the 10th frame to lock up the win. Fagan had won a pair of 2011-12 titles including the United States Bowling Congress Masters, one of the PBA Tour’s four major championships.

With Ciminelli’s loss, the PBA Tour completed its first season since 1962 without a left-handed title winner.

While the PBA Tour’s regular season ended with the Tournament of Champions, a special post-season PBA Summer Shootout is planned for Memorial Day weekend in Chicago. Details will be announced soon.

PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Sunday

FINAL STANDINGS

1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., one game, 239 pins, $80,000.

2, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., three games, 652 pins, $40,000.
3, Jason Belmonte, Australia, one game, 223 pins, $20,000.

4, Mike Fagan, Dallas, one game, 182 pins, $12,000.

STEPLADDER RESULTS

Match One: Ciminelli def. Fagan, 190-182.

Semifinal Match: Ciminelli def. Belmonte, 257-223.

Championship: Rash def. Ciminelli, 239-205.

Fagan Leads PBA Tournament of Champions Into Round of 18

Mike Fagan of Dallas made another statement in his bid to become Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Player of the Year, averaging 240.22 in building a 119-pin lead over defending champion Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, MI, after 18 qualifying games in the PBA Tournament of Champions Thursday at Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, NV.

Fagan finished Thursday’s Round of 36 qualifying with a total of 4,324 pins. Koivuniemi had a 4,205 pinfall total.

The 18 players who survived Thursday’s qualifying will bowl another 18 games of head-to-head match play Friday to decide the four players who will compete for the $80,000 first prize in the ESPN stepladder finals Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

The Tournament of Champions is the final event of the PBA Tour’s 2011-12 season.

Fagan, who had won only two titles in nine previous seasons as a PBA Tour player, is seeking his third title of the 2011-12 season, including his second major championship after winning the United States Bowling Congress Masters in January. He also finished second in the U.S. Open, another major, losing that title to Pete Weber by one pin in February, and the 31-year-old Long Island, NY, native won the Brunswick Euro Challenge in March for his fourth career PBA title.

Australia’s Jason Belmonte and Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, are the only players who have won three titles during the 2011-12 season. Finland’s Osku Palermaa has won twice. Belmonte and Palermaa remained in title contention. Duke finished 25th and missed the cut to match play.

Koivuniemi, who snuck into the Round of 36 by a single pin in a four-player roll-off at the close of Wednesday’s Elite Field round, bowled with Fagan throughout Thursday’s qualifying, advancing from third place to second during Thursday’s evening round while cutting Fagan’s early lead in half. Rhino Page of Dade City, FL, finished qualifying in third place with 4,172 pins followed by Belmonte in fourth place with 4,148 pins and Sean Rash of Suburban Chicago (Montgomery, IL), in fifth with a 4,124 total.

Bowling fans can follow the final 18 games of match play today through the PBA’s exclusive coverage on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online bowling channel; through live scoring on pba.com, and through the Professional Bowlers Association on Facebook and Twitter. Subscriptions to Xtra Frame are available on the pba.com home page.

PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Thursday

ROUND OF 36 STANDINGS (after 18 games; top 18 advance to Round of 36 match play finals on Friday):

1, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 4,324.
2, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 4,205.
3, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 4,172.
4, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 4,148.
5, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 4,124.
6, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 4,105.
7, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 4,093.
8, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 4,086.
9, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 4,044.
10, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 4,034.
11, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 4,027.
12, Robert Smith, Los Angeles, 4,016.
13, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 4,003.
14, Stuart Williams, England, 3,975.
15, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3,965.
16 (tie), Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., and Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 3,957.
18, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 3,953.

Failed to advance:
19, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 3,940, $5,500.
20, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 3,914, $5,200.
21, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 3,896, $5,000.
22, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,887, $4,900.
23, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 3,862, $4,800.
24, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 3,854, $4,700.
25 (tie), Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., and Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3,853, $4,550.
27, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 3,847, $4,400.
28, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 3,806, $4,300.
29 (tie), Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., and Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 3,805, $4,150
31, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 3,801, $4,000.
32, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,754, $3,900.
33, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 3,730, $3,800.
34, Dom Barrett, England, 3,687, $3,700.
35, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 3,646, $3,650.
36, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 3,539, $3,600.

300 Games: Osku Palermaa, Stuart Williams.

Mike Fagan Leads Round of 36 at PBA Tournament of Champions

Mike Fagan of Dallas continued to build his Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Player of the Year credentials, averaging 265 while racing into a 239-pin lead after the first nine qualifying games in the PBA Tournament of Champions (TOC) Round of 36 Thursday at Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, NV.

Fagan rolled games of 238, 299, 268, 258, 299, 201, 290, 269 and 264 for a total of 2,386 pins.

Fagan, who had won only two titles in nine previous seasons as a PBA Tour player, is seeking his third title of the 2011-12 season, including his second major championship after winning the United States Bowling Congress Masters in January. He also finished second in the U.S. Open, another major, losing the title to Pete Weber by one pin in February, and the 31-year-old Long Island, NY, native won the Kuwait International Open for his second PBA title of the season in March.

“I just felt comfortable today,” Fagan said. “My tempo’s good, my speed control is good, my ball reaction is good. It’s probably something that’s never happened to me like this before."

“Things are just clicking this year,” he added. “I’m getting smarter with equipment, adjusting faster. The difference between me and top players last year was probably one shot a game, and I’m fixing that."

“I know things aren’t over,” he continued. “I’m just going to try to keep doing the same things. I’ve learned in tournaments like this, when you have a good shot, you’d better take advantage because it might not be there the next round.”

Trailing Fagan was Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte, who had won three titles this season. Belmonte had 2,147 pins for nine games. Third was defending champion Mika Koivuniemi, who snuck into the Round of 36 Thursday night, claiming his spot by a single pin in a four-player roll-off for the 25th spot in the Elite Field.

Competition for the TOC title and the $80,000 first prize continues Thursday night with nine more qualifying games. After 18 games, the field will be cut to the top 18 who will advance to two nine-game rounds of head-to-head match play on Friday. The top four players after 36 games of qualifying and match play will advance to the ESPN stepladder finals Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Bowling fans can follow Round of 36 progress through the PBA’s exclusive coverage on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online bowling channel; through live scoring on pba.com, and through the Professional Bowlers Association on Facebook and Twitter. Subscriptions to Xtra Frame are available on the pba.com home page.

PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Thursday

ROUND OF 36 STANDINGS (after 9 of 18 games; top 18 advance to Round of 36 match play finals on Friday):

1, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 2,386.
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 2,147.
3, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 2,121.
4, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 2,116.
5, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 2,113.
6, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 2,079.
7 (tie), Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., and Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 2,078.
9, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 2,058.
10, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,044.
11, Robert Smith, Los Angeles, 2,043.
12, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 2,041.
13, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 2,019.
14, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 2,011.
15, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 2,007.
16 (tie), Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., and Andres Gomez, Colombia, 2,004.
18, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,997.
19, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 1,990.
20, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,987.
21, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,947.
22, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 1,946.
23, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 1,945.
24, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,935.
25, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,923.
26, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 1,919.
27, Stuart Williams, England, 1,901.
28, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 1,899.
29, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,897.
30, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,883.
31, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 1,882.
32, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 1,860.
33, Dom Barrett, England, 1,837.
34, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,830.
35, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,805.
36, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 1,791.

300 Game: Osku Palermaa.

Rash Leads 24 Into TOC Championship Round

Sean Rash of west suburban Chicago (Montgomery, IL), completed the Elite Field qualifying portion of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)Tournament of Champions (TOC) Wednesday at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas, NV with a 20-game total of 4,845 pins, leading a group of 25 players who will join 11 current-season title winners for the final dash toward Sunday’s live ESPN stepladder finals starting Thursday morning.

Competition for the TOC title and the $80,000 first prize starts fresh Thursday with two nine-game qualifying rounds. After Thursday’s 18 games, the top 18 will advance to two nine-game rounds of head-to-head match play on Friday. The top four players after 36 games will advance to the finals Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Rash, a four-time PBA Tour title winner, averaged 242.25 to finish 43 pins ahead of 2011 TOC runner-up Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, MI.

Leading the group of Elite Field qualifiers was no more meaningful than finishing 25th as far as Rash was concerned, other than giving him an opportunity to get his game fine-tuned for the 36-game dash to the finals.

“My tempo is what I’ve worked on all year and that’s what I worked on,” Rash said. “Leading right now doesn’t matter. There’s no added prize money, no points. We drop pins and start over. The goal was just to survive these two days.

“Tomorrow is when the tournament starts. It’ll be a lot different tournament tomorrow - different players, a different level of talent, different approach.”

The final five games in the Elite Field resulted in an intense battle for the final spots. With one game to go, nine players were within 33 pins of the 25th spot. After 20 games, four players wound up tied for 24th place, resulting in a one-game roll-off with two of the four advancing. In the roll-off, Eddie VanDaniker of Essex, MD (256) and defending champion Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, MI, with a strike on his final ball in the 10th frame (226), advanced. Kelly Kulick of Union, NJ, who became the first woman ever to win a PBA Tour title in the 2010 Tournament of Champions, lost by a pin to Koivuniemi with a 225. Jim Pratt of Glendale, AZ (213) also was eliminated.

Joining the Round of 36 field Thursday are three-time 2011-12 titlists Jason Belmonte of Australia and Norm Duke of Clermont, FL; U.S. Open champ Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO; two-time winners Osku Palermaa of Finland and Mike Fagan of Dallas, TX; England’s Stuart Williams and Dom Barrett; Colombia’s Andres Gomez; Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas; Eugene McCune of Munster, IN, and Scott Newell of Deland, FL.

Two of the longest-running streaks of television appearances in PBA history ended Wednesday night when PBA Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, FL, missed the cut to the Round of 36, assuring that his PBA record streak of 26 consecutive years of TV appearances has ended. Steve Jaros of Yorkville, IL, also saw his streak of 20 consecutive years with at least one television final come to an end.

Bowling fans can follow progress in the Tournament of Champions through the PBA’s exclusive coverage on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online bowling channel; through live scoring on pba.com, and through the Professional Bowlers Association on Facebook and Twitter. Subscriptions to Xtra Frame are available on the pba.com home page.

PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Wednesday

ELITE FIELD STANDINGS (after 20 games; top 25 advance to Round of 36):

1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 4,845.
2, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 4,802.
3, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 4,784.
4, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 4,766.
5, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 4,691.
6, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 4,688.
7, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 4,662.
8, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 4,660.
9, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 4,631.
10, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 4,614.
11, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 4,600.
12, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 4,599.
13 (tie), Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., and Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 4,595.
15, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 4,593.
16, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 4,569.
17, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 4,567.
18, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 4,555.
19, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 4,543.
20, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 4,524.
21, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 4,521.
22, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 4,512.
23, Robert Smith, Hong Kong, 4,510.
24 (tie), x-Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., and y- Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 4,509.

  x-VanDaniker (256) and y-Koivuniemi (226) won a one-game roll-off over Kulick (225) and Pratt (213) to advance to the Round of 36.

Did not advance:

26 (tie), Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., and Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., 4,509.

28 (tie), Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., and Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 4,501.
30, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 4,497.
31 (tie), D.J. Archer, Port Arthur, Texas, and Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 4,486.
33, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 4,483.
34, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 4,480.
35, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 4,463.
36, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 4,458.
37, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 4,452.
38, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 4,444.
39, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 4,430.
40, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 4,416.
41, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 4,405.
42, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 4,399.
43, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 4,395.
44, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 4,390.
45, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 4,386.
46, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 4,379.
47, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 4,361.
48, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 4,360.
49, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 4,349.
50, Bryan Alpert, Northridge, Calif., 4,343.
51, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 4,341.
52, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 4,340.
53, Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 4,336.
54, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 4,292.
55, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 4,285.
56, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 4,284.
57, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 4,269.
58, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 4,268.
59, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 4,251.
60, Chris Hayden, Las Vegas, 4,250.
61, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 4,246.
62, Eric Forkel, Henderson, Nev., 4,243.
63, Tyler Jensen, Ft. Worth, Texas, 4,219.
64, Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, 4,209.
65, Mike Bailey, Frisco, Texas, 4,205.
66, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 4,201.
67, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 4,187.
68, Michael Steil, Wheeling, Ill., 4,182.
69, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 4,166.
70, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 4,156.
71, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 4,146.
72, Jason Poli, West Des Moines, Iowa, 4,132.
73, Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., 4,118.
74, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 4,113.
75, Joe Salvemini, Henderson, Nev., 4,067.
76, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 4,003.
77, Carmen Salvino, Schaumburg, Ill., 3,791.

300 Games: PJ Haggerty, Dick Allen, Dan MacLelland.

Rash Tops TOC Elite Field Round 2

Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL, averaged 243.6 Tuesday to take a two–pin lead over Nathan Bohr of Wichita, KS, after two rounds of Elite Field qualifying in the Professional Bowling Association's (PBA) Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas, NV.

Rash, a four-time PBA Tour title winner who is trying to win his first title since the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Masters, posted a 10-game total of 2,436 pins to lead the field of 77 Elite Field players. Bohr, who is seeking his first PBA Tour title, for a total of 2,434 pins. 

The Elite Field consists of 77 players – 21 who survived Monday’s 14-game Champions Field qualifying and 56 PBA Tour title winners and exempt players. The Elite Field will bowl 10 more games Wednesday to determine the 25 who will join 11 current season title winners for the Round of 36 on Thursday and Friday. The top four players at the end of the 36-game Round of 36 will advance to the ESPN stepladder finals Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Rash has had the best year of his seven-year career with 10 top-10 finishes, seven television finals and three second-place finishes in 13 events. But he is still trying to end a streak of 14 consecutive television appearances without a title.

After 20 games, defending TOC champion Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, MI, was 24th and 2010 winner Kelly Kulick of Union, NJ, the only woman ever to win a PBA Tour title, was tied for 33rd. Champions Field top qualifier Tom Daugherty of Wesley Chapel, FL, had one of the three 300 games rolled Tuesday to advance from 48th place to 14th.

"The scoring pace seems to be pretty high, but that really doesn't matter," Bohr said. "I like to play on whatever (condition) is out there.

“I'm coming into this tournament feeling pretty good. I'd have to say that I'm bowling better than average,” Bohr said. “I had good finishes in the (USBC) Masters (seventh) and the PBA World Championship (14th) earlier in the season.”

The Masters and PBA World Championship, like the Tournament of Champions, are major championships in PBA competition and they represent Bohr’s two highest finishes of the season.

"Going forward I plan to just start from scratch and not get caught up on what happened the last block,” Bohr said.

Bowling fans can follow progress in the Tournament of Champions through the PBA’s exclusive coverage on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online bowling channel; through live scoring on pba.com, and through the Professional Bowlers Association on Facebook and Twitter. Subscriptions to Xtra Frame are available on the pba.com home page.

PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Tuesday

ELITE FIELD STANDINGS (after 10 of 20 games; top 25 advance to Round of 36):

1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 2,436.
2, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 2,434.
3, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 2,426.
4, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 2,401.
5, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 2,374.
6, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 2,373.
7, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 2,367.
8, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,356.
9, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 2,355.
10, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 2,342.
11, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2,340.
12, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 2,330.
13, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 2,329.
14, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 2,322.
15, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 2,312.
16, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 2,309.
17, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 2,307.
18, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 2,303.
19, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 2,302.
20 (tie), Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 2,301.
22, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 2,296.
23, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 2,285.
24, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 2,277.
25, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 2,271.
26, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 2,263.
27, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 2,262.
28, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 2,255.
29, Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., 2,243.
30, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 2,239.
31, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 2,232.
32, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 2,224.
33 (tie), Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., and Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 2,222.
35, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 2,218.
36, Robert Smith, Hong Kong, 2,214.
37, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 2,207.
38, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 2,201.
39, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 2,197.
40, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 2,195.
41, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 2,193.
42, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 2,186.
43 (tie), Michael Steil, Wheeling, Ill., and Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 2,185.
45, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 2,173.
46, D.J. Archer, Port Arthur, Texas, 2,169.
47, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 2,167.
48, Eric Forkel, Henderson, Nev., 2,163.
49, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 2,162.
50, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 2,160.
51 (tie), Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., and Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,156.
53 (tie), Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, and Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 2,153.
55, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 2,147.
56, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,143.
57, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 2,139.
58, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 2,138.
59 (tie), Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., and Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,136.
61, Tyler Jensen, Ft. Worth, Texas, 2,135.
62, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 2,132.
63, Mike Bailey, Frisco, Texas, 2,113.
64, Bryan Alpert, Northridge, Calif., 2,111.
65, Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 2,098.
66, Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., 2,093.
67, Chris Hayden, Las Vegas, 2,085.
68, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 2,079.
69, Jason Poli, West Des Moines, Iowa, 2,074.
70, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 2,070.
71, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 2,067.
72, Joe Salvemini, Henderson, Nev., 2,046.
73, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 2,028.
74, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 2,027.
75, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 2,021.
76, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 1,998.
77, Carmen Salvino, Schaumburg, Ill., 1,942.

300 Games: Michael Machuga, Tom Hess, Tom Daugherty.

Daugherty Leads Champions Field at PBA Tournament of Champions

Tom Daugherty of Wesley Chapel, FL, who set one of the most infamous records in Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) history during the nationally-televised finals of the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, led the advance from the Champions Field to the Elite Field of the Tournament of Champions (TOC) Monday at Red Rock Lanes.

Daugherty, who bowled the lowest televised game in PBA history – a 100 game in a 299-100 loss to eventual champion Mika Koivuniemi in the 2011 semifinal match – averaged 244.07 for 14 games Monday finishing with a total of 3,417 pins to lead the 21 players who advanced to the start of Elite Field qualifying Tuesday. Daugherty, who throws the ball without using his thumb, won the Champions Field round by 179 pins over fellow “thumbless” player Jim Pratt of Glendale, AZ.

The Champions Field consisted of players who have won a PBA Regional, Senior Tour or Women’s Series title. Daugherty qualified for the TOC as a PBA South Region title winner. Players in the Elite Field include PBA Tour title winners and 2011-12 PBA Tour exempt players.

Still ahead of Daugherty if he hopes to return to the championship round are 20 games of Elite Field qualifying and the “Round of 36” games which will decide the four players who will compete for $80,000 and the PBA Tour’s most prestigious title live on ESPN Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

“I’m doing fine as long as there are no TV lights,” Daugherty said with a smile.

In order to return to Sunday’s television stage, Daugherty will have to duplicate a similar path he took last year when he worked his way through a 74-game gauntlet to reach the television stage for the first time in his career. This year, he’ll have to battle through 70 games.

“This center has nothing to do with the way I’m bowling,” Daugherty said. “It’s the lane condition. My ball reads this pattern right. I bowled on the same pattern back home and won two regionals.

“The number of games catches up as the week goes by,” he continued. “I finished third last year – that’s pretty good. I’d take third again this year.”

Daugherty said the last thing he thinks about is the 100 game he bowled in last year’s finals.

“That 100 game was the best thing that ever happened to me. I have no problem with it,” he said. “No one would remember me if I hadn’t bowled that game. No one remembers Tom Smallwood and he finished second last year.”

The 21-player Champions Field survivors will be joined by 56 PBA Tour title winners and exempt players for the start of Elite Field qualifying Tuesday. All Elite Field players will bowl two five-game qualifying rounds Tuesday and another pair of five-game rounds Wednesday, with the top 25 advancing to the Round of 36 along with 11 current season title winners.

PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Monday

CHAMPIONS FIELD STANDINGS 

(after 14 games; top 21 advance to Elite Field):

1, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,417.
2, Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., 3,238.
3, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 3,219.
4, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 3,202.
5, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 3,106.
6, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 3,102.
7, D.J. Archer, Port Arthur, Texas, 3,091.
8, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 3,086.
9, Michael Steil, Wheeling, Ill., 3,084.
10, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 3,057.
11, Mike Bailey, Frisco, Texas, 3,049.
12, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 3,042.
13, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 3,041.
14, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 3,031.
15, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 3,021.
16, Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., 3,018.
17, Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, 3,007.
18, Jason Poli, West Des Moines, Iowa, 2,966.
19, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 2,963.
20, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 2,946.
21, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 2,919.
Did not advance:

22, Tony Rodriguez Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 2,914.
23, Gregory Thompson Jr., Dublin, Calif., 2,909.
24, David O'Sullivan, Sanford, Fla., 2,905.
25, John Furey, East Windsor, N.J., 2,894.
26, Kevin Gallagher, Torrance, Calif., 2,878.
27, J.T. Jackson, Sherman Oaks, Calif., 2,835.
28, Mark London, Gonzales, Texas, 2,769.
29, Frank Gallo Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 2,768.
30, Corey Husted, Milwaukie, Ore., 2,763.
31, Thomas Patton Jr., Olathe, Kan., 2,730.
32, Joseph Greco, Jacksonville Beach, Fla., 2,693.

300 Game: Mike Bailey.

Belmonte Wins Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship

Australia’s Jason Belmonte won his third Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour title of the 2011-12 season, and the fourth of his career, when he defeated Mike DeVaney of Murrieta, CA, 255-238, to win the Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship at South Point Casino and Hotel.

The finals of the eighth and final event in the PBA World Series of Bowling aired Sunday on ESPN.

The victory tied Belmonte with PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke for current season titles as the PBA Tour heads into its final event of the 2011-12 season, the PBA Tournament of Champions, which gets underway Monday at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas. The TOC, the fourth major championship of the season, offers an $80,000 first prize. The finals will air live on ESPN Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Belmonte, whose only PBA Tour title prior to this season was in the 2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Open, wrapped up a stunning PBA World Series of Bowling performance with his Elite Players Championship. He won titles in three of his six WSOB television finals, plus he had a third-place finish in the World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA which kicked off the World Series.

As he had done in previous World Series eliminator-format events, the Australian two-handed star got off to a modest start in the Elite Players Championship. DeVaney, a two-time PBA Tour title winner, led the four-player opening match with a 257 game. Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, was second with a 247. Belmonte was third with a 237. Duke’s hopes for his 38th career title, and fourth of the 2011-12 season, ended when he left a 7-10 split followed by a “big four” 4-6-7-10 split in the eighth and ninth frames, respectively, bowing out of the competition with a 222.

DeVaney again led the three survivors in game two with a 234. After finishing with a 205, Belmonte got a break when Scroggins, needing a strike in the 10th frame to advance, left the 4-6-7-8-10 “Greek Church” and opened for a 190.

If there was one player in the field who wasn’t concerned about Belmonte’s dominating performance in the World Series, it was DeVaney.

"I won't be watching Belmo. (His two-handed technique) doesn’t impress me,” DeVaney said before the match. “I’m not interested. I don't care. I throw it the right way. I put my thumb in there the way I was taught and how everybody should throw it."

In a classic title-match battle, Belmonte and DeVaney both pounded the pocket, but DeVaney left an 8 pin in the fifth frame, a 9 pin in the seventh and a 10 pin on his first ball in the 10th, and Belmonte capitalized with a late string of five strikes to take charge of the contest.

“Anyone who wins has a little luck go their way,” Belmonte said, “but to win three times during the World Series, I had a lot of luck go my way. Osku (Palermaa) missed a 10 pin (allowing Belmonte to reach the Chameleon Open title match)…Chris Barnes shooting 300 (in the second game, not the title match of the GEICO Shark Open)…Scroggins opening in the 10th…a lot of things really fell into place.

“I’m just overwhelmed right now."

“That second game might be the best 205 game I ever bowled,” he continued, referring to seven single pins he left standing during that game. “The pins were brutal to knock over. I didn’t know how I was going to double. But in the final game, I got the pins to fall.

“My expectation coming into the World Series was just to bowl well, and if I bowled great, to make a TV show,” Belmonte added. “To come home with a title was the ultimate dream, but to have exceeded that three times over? There’s no way I would have predicted it. I’m seriously overwhelmed.”

Competition in the Tournament of Champions gets underway with Champions Field qualifying on Monday. Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online bowling channel, will webcast all of the preliminary qualifying and match play rounds beginning with the Champions Field and continuing through Friday night’s Round of 36 match play finals when the four stepladder finalists will be decided. To subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

PEPSI PBA ELITE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

South Point Exhibition Hall, Las Vegas, April 8

Round One (lowest score eliminated): Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 257; Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 247; Jason Belmonte, Australia, 237; Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 222 ($10,000).

Round Two (lowest score eliminated): DeVaney 234, Belmonte 205, Scroggins 190 ($11,000).

Championship: Belmonte ($35,000) def. DeVaney ($18,000), 255-238.

Storm Adds 4 Balls in May

Storm announces four new additions to their product line. The Manic™ and Fringe™ will be the newest additions to the Hot™ line and follow the popular Frantic™, one of the hottest balls on the market today! 

Storm will also be releasing a new Tropical Heat and Tropical Breeze. Whether you are looking for an all-around ball for a beginner or a lighter oil ball for a higher caliber bowler, these balls are sure to fit the bill.

All four balls will be available on May 8, 2012.

The intent of the new Storm Manic and Storm Fringe is to design two more options to enhance and broaden the Hot™ Line, one with an earlier break point than the Frantic and another with a later break point.

For the new Manic, they were looking to enhance the midlane reaction. CATS testing showed an earlier breakpoint of more than two feet so Storm achieved their goal. The 4000-grit finish combined with the solid R2S™ mixture created this enhanced midlane, perfect for those with higher ball speed.

On the converse, the new Fringe is all about the backend. The straight pearl blend combined with the factory polished 1500 finish depletes energy at a slower rate, allowing for more entry angle and a wider pocket! 

Looking at the power plant, you’ll find the reputable N.O.S. ™ core which embodies true dynamic integrity. This higher volume core is a proven winner around the globe, with bowlers loving the predictable motion across a variety of lane conditions. 

So, Storm explains “we gave you the option of choosing your best fit. If your speed dominates your rev rate, you’ll love the Manic. But if you’re the type of player who can’t seem to get too much backend, look for the Fringe to be your ball.”

Storm is cranking up the “HEAT” again with the introduction of the new Tropical Heat™- Black/Purple.

This line of bowling balls raises the standard in performance at a value price. The power behind the Tropical Heat™ is the highly-successful Turbine™ core. This mid-RG and mid-differential core boasts a tighter spin radius for quick revving mid-lane and enhanced entry angle to the pocket.

With a 4000-grit finish, the Black/Purple’s Reactor™ hybrid coverstock is a complement to the Tropical™ Line.

 

The new Storm Tropical Breeze Black/Cherry’s hybrid veneer blend is highly polished just like the others in this series. It can be sanded to create a stronger reaction. 

The Camber™ Core’s inverted light bulb shape powers this new color option, too. It provides ample predictability and control, a must for bowlers with slower speeds or those bowling on dry lane conditions.