Jerseys, Balls Among PBA League Auction Items

From the BJI weekly eBowler Newsletter

A special PBA League auction has begun on pba.com, featuring a variety of autographed merchandise donated by PBA League members. Proceeds from the auction, which ends on March 26, will benefit NBA star Chris Paul’s CP3 Foundation.
The online auction brings to a close competition among PBA League teams that began during the PBA World Series of Bowling V at the South Point complex in Las Vegas last November. A special Skills Challenge pitted the eight team captains against each other in a series of unique bowling events, with the winner earning the right to name the charity that would benefit from the auction. Jason Belmonte, the captain of the L.A. X team owned by Paul, won the challenge, and he selected Paul’s charity as the benefactor.

Established in 2005, the Los Angeles Clippers’ all-star point guard’s CP3 Foundation provides funding for activities ranging from a scholarship program to food drives to recreational support programs for children in under-served communities. For more information about the CP3 Foundation, click here.

Bowling fans are asked to visit pba.com to check out the merchandise available, and then submit bids via email to bids@pba.com.

Included in the auction are a number of bowling balls and game-worn jerseys belonging to PBA League franchise players Belmonte, Pete Weber, Norm Duke, Sean Rash, Mike Fagan, Bill O’Neill, Osku Palermaa and Chris Barnes. Other items were donated by PBA Hall of Famers Amleto Monacelli, Parker Bohn III, Walter Ray Williams Jr., and other PBA League competitors, including established PBA champions and stars of the future.

Dave Wodka Leads Lucas Oil PBA Bear Open in Milwaukee Going Into Matchplay

Dave Wodka of Henderson, NV, emerged at the top of the qualifying pile after six lead changes in the final six games in the Lucas Oil PBA Bear Open Monday at AMF Bowlero, averaging 223.5 to lead the field of 24 players who advanced to Tuesday’s match play rounds.

Wodka, 42, is trying for his first title since he won the 1999 Greater Detroit Open for his only PBA Tour win. He finished qualifying in front of a packed house at AMF Bowlero with a 10-game total of 2,235 pins on a demanding lane condition, rolling games of 229, 210, 216, 206 and 246 Monday night to take a 27–pin lead over Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas.

Qualifying third was PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, with 2,000 pins followed by 2013 Intercollegiate Singles Champion Aaron Lorincz of Belleville, MI, with a 2,195 total and Mike Fagan of Dallas with 2,184 pins.

“I really had only one bad game,” Wodka said. “I finished the first round with a 176. After that, I came in with a game plan of doing nothing other than making one good shot at a time. I know you’re always supposed to do that, but I really focused on that, and I only had two opens in the second block. Both of those were in the same game, but I still bailed out a 205 and that’s just as important when scores are like they were as anything.”

Wodka would love to end his 14-year winless drought, but isn’t getting ahead of himself.

“It’s been a lot of years (since I won), but there are a lot of games left,” he said. “It’s going to be a long day (Tuesday) and winning matches is going to be of utmost importance. Getting those 30 bonus pins for winning matches when the scores are as low as they are will be huge.”

The Bear Open is being contested on a flat 40-foot oiling pattern which is similar to the U.S. Open lane condition, considered the most challenging scoring environment on the PBA Tour schedule. The Bear Open is the third of four events that compose the GEICO PBA Summer Swing presented by Lucas Oil, and it was the final qualifying event for the Milwaukee Open which begins Wednesday at AMF Bowlero.

The top 28 qualifiers based on total pinfall after 30 qualifying games from the Badger, Wolf and Bear “animal pattern” events advance to the five-game Milwaukee Open cashers which will be contested on the Bear pattern at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Based on 35 games, the top 24 will then advance to three eight-game match play rounds at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday (Bear pattern), and 11 a.m. (Wolf pattern) and 5:30 p.m. (Badger pattern) on Thursday. There will be no competition on Friday.

Leading the Milwaukee Open qualifiers was Bill O’Neill of Langhorne, Pa., who averaged 229.1 for a 30-game total of 6,873 pins. Surviving the cut in 28th place was reigning PBA Player of the Year Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., who qualified 27th. The 28th and final berth in the Milwaukee Open went to Andrew Graff of Las Vegas by seven pins over Brett Cunningham of Clay, N.Y.

Five-player stepladder finals for the Badger, Wolf, Bear and Milwaukee Opens, plus the GEICO Summer King of the Swing special event, will be taped over two days by the CBS Sports Network Saturday and Sunday at AMF Bowlero for airing on five consecutive Tuesdays at 7 p.m. ET beginning June 11.

The GEICO Summer King of the Swing will include the four Summer Swing event champions plus the next highest points leader who hasn’t won a title. Those five will compete in a $25,000 stepladder final for a $10,000 first prize, concluding the summer series on June 2.

LUCAS OIL PBA BEAR OPEN

AMF West, Milwaukee, Wis., May 27

FINAL QUALIFYING STANDINGS (after 10 games, top 24 advance to round robin match play Tuesday at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. CT)

LUCAS OIL PBA MILWAUKEE OPEN STANDINGS

1, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 2,235.
2, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,208.
3, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 2,200.
4, Aaron Lorincz, Belleville, Mich., 2,195.
5, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 2,184.
6, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 2,169.
7, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 2,167.
8, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 2,165.
9, Jon VanHees, Charlestown, R.I., 2,155.
10, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 2,149.
11, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 2,148.
12, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,146.
13, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 2,129.
14, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 2,117.
15, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 2,109.
16, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 2,100.
17, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 2,099.
18, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 2,098.
19, Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.Va., 2,095.
20, Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 2,090.
21, Patrick Girard, Canada, 2,086.
22, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 2,085.
23, Dom Barrett, England, 2,082.
24, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 2,075.

Failed to advance:
25, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 2,068, $600.
26, Kenneth Kempf, Appleton, Wis., 2,059.
27, Mike Dole, Loves Park, Ill., 2,056.
28, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 2,052.
29, William Guszczo, Orland Park, Ill., 2,040.
30, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 2,037.
31, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 2,032.
32, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 2,031.
33, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 2,024.
34, Andrew DeCaluwe, Mt. Prospect, Ill., 2,022.
35, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 2,017.
36, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,016.
37, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 2,014.
38 (tie), Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., and Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 2,013.
40, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 2,010.
41, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 2,005.
42, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 2,000.
43, Bill Monce, Waukesha, Wis., 1,997.
44, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 1,991.
45, Christopher Glaz, Elmwood Park, Ill., 1,989.
46, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 1,985.
47, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 1,983.
48, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,980.
49, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 1,979.
50 (tie), Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga.; Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., and Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 1,978.
53, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,972.
54, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,970.
55, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,968.
56, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,959.
57, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 1,954.
58, Shannon Buchan, Waterloo, Iowa, 1,953.
59, T.P. Peterson, Evergreen Park, Ill., 1,951.
60, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 1,947.
61, Joseph Tomassoni, Iron Mountain, Mich., 1,939.
62, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 1,935.
63, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 1,934.
64, Greg Thomas, Oak Creek, Wis., 1,931.
65, Julio Cesar Blancas, Mexico, 1,902.
66, Justin Bychkowski, Fairfield, Conn., 1,899.
67, Chris Cundiff, Lake Station, Ind., 1,891.
68, Aaron Ramsden, Pleasant Valley, Mo., 1,889.
69, Matt Beyer, Manawa, Wis., 1,879.

70, Brian Gunn, Chicago, 1,875.
71, Jonathan Russell, Rockwood, Tenn., 1,874.
72, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 1,863.
73, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 1,858.
74, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 1,857.
75, Erik Gulbrandson, Superior, Wis., 1,854.
76, Paul Moor, England, 1,849.
77, Stephen Pavlinko Jr., Sewell, N.J., 1,836.
78, Gary Exner Jr., Racine, Wis., 1,822.
79, Kenneth Bland Jr., Lorton, Va., 1,808.
80, Scott Radtke, Milwaukee, 1,808.
81, Jacob Rubach, West Bend, Wis., 1,788.
82, Michael Zylius, Highland Park, Ill., 1,786.
83, Riley Smith, Kenosha, Wis., 1,784.
84, Van McNeil, West Allis, Wis., 1,766.
85, Dale Renken, St. Jacob, Ill., 1,759.
86, Quinton Bohlen, Decorah, Iowa, 1,740.
87, Andrew Glass, Racine, Wis., 1,738.
88, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,737.
89, Sam Figarino, Sussex, Wis., 1,726.
90, Brad Miller, St. Charles, Mo., 1,711.
91, Zack Carter, Chicago, 1,710.
92, Scott Weber, La Salle, Ill., 1,704.
93, Nick Kruml, Downers Grove, Ill., 1,699.
94, Armando Santacruz, Ecuador, 1,683.
95, Brandon Gronwoldt, LeRoy, Minn., 1,647.
96, Ron Williams, Austin, Texas, 1,635.
97, Lindell Woolard, Tallahassee, Fla., 1,614.
98, Ralleigh Grandberry III, Maryland Hts., Mo., 1,524.

FINAL QUALIFYING STANDINGS (after 30 games in Badger, Wolf and Bear Opens; top 28 advance to cashers round on Wednesday, May 28, at AMF Bowlero)

1, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 6,873.
2, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 6,829.
3, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 6,812.
4, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 6,752.
5, Aaron Lorincz, Belleville, Mich., 6,738.
6, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 6,710.
7, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 6,709.
8, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 6,705.
9, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 6,693.
10, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 6,626.
11, Jon VanHees, Charlestown, R.I., 6,612.
12, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 6,608.
13, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 6,604.
14, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 6,602.
15 (tie), Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., and Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 6,583.
17, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 6,578.
18, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 6,544.
19, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 6,537.
20, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 6,534.
21, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 6,531.
22, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 6,528.
23 (tie), Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., and Patrick Girard, Canada, 6,513.
25, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 6,509.
26, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 6,472.
27, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 6,452.
28, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 6,428.

Failed to advance:29, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 6,421.
30, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 6,412.
31, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 6,407.
32 (tie), Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., and Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 6,400.
34, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 6,398.
35, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 6,389.
36, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 6,364.
37, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 6,353.
38, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 6,351.
39, William Guszczo, Orland Park, Ill., 6,331.
40, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 6,328.
41, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 6,327.
42, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 6,320.
43, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 6,316.
44, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 6,302.
45, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 6,297.
46, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 6,286.
47, Dom Barrett, England, 6,267.
48, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 6,246.
49, Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.Va., 6,232.
50, Mike Dole, Loves Park, Ill., 6,231.
51, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 6,202.
52, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 6,173.
53, Kenneth Kempf, Appleton, Wis., 6,167.
54, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 6,164.
55, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 6,125.
56, T.P. Peterson, Evergreen Park, Ill., 6,070.
57 (tie), Greg Thomas, Oak Creek, Wis., and Paul Moor, England, 6,057.
59, Julio Cesar Blancas, Mexico, 6,030.
60, Brad Miller, St. Charles, Mo., 6,019.
61, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 5,989.
62, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 988.
63, Brian Gunn, Chicago, 5,982.
64, Christopher Glaz, Elmwood Park, Ill, 5,947.
65, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 5,936.
66, Andrew DeCaluwe, Mt. Prospect, Ill., 5,901.
67, Erik Gulbrandson, Superior, Wis., 5,876.
68, Quinton Bohlen, Decorah, Iowa, 5,837.
69, Aaron Ramsden, Pleasant Valley, Mo., 5,798.
70, Gary Exner Jr., Racine, Wis., 5,767.
71, Chris Cundiff, Lake Station, Ind., 5,764.
72, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 5,756.
73, Justin Bychkowski, Fairfield, Conn., 5,678.
74, Kenneth Bland Jr., Lorton, Va., 5,674.
75, Dale Renken, St. Jacob, Ill., 5,639.
76, Stephen Pavlinko Jr., Sewell, N.J., 5,614.
77, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 5,563.
78, Armando Santacruz, Ecuador, 5,481.
79, Matt Beyer, Manawa, Wis., 5,467.
80, Jonathan Russell, Rockwood, Tenn., 5,397.
81, Van McNeil, West Allis, Wis., 5,222.
82, Lindell Woolard, Tallahassee, Fla., 5,062.
83, Ralleigh Grandberry III, Maryland, Hts., Mo., 4,995.
84, Brandon Gronwoldt, LeRoy, Minn., 4,898.

The Professional Bowler's League Will Draft Friday

 

Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of Famer Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, won the No. 1 pick in the first PBA League Draft Lottery Friday among the eight Franchise Players who will draft teammates for the inaugural PBA League.

The PBA League makes its debut in suburban Detroit in January. The first PBA League Draft will be held Friday at 10 a.m. PT at South Point Bowling Center and will be webcast live on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel.

The lottery to determine draft order involved the top eight players from 2011-12 PBA Tour points. Those eight will select four additional players (plus a supplemental player) to fill out their teams for the PBA League. As of the deadline Friday, 141 PBA members declared themselves eligible for the draft.

Based on the lottery, Duke, who finished sixth in points last season, will get the first pick next Friday. He’ll be followed, in draft order, by:

2) Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO (fourth in 2011-12 points);

3) Bill O’Neill, Langhorne, PA (seventh in 2011-12 points);

4) Jason Belmonte, Australia (second in 2011-12 points);

5) Mike Fagan, Dallas, TX (third in 2011-12 points);

6) Sean Rash, Montgomery, IL (first in 2011-12 points);

7) Chris Barnes, Double Oak, TX (eighth in 2011-12 points);

8) Osku Palermaa, Finland (fifth in 2011-12 points).

Sean Rash Choosen "Best Bowler" Awarded the ESPY

Sean Rash followed up his 2011-12 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year crown by receiving the 2012 “Best Bowler” ESPY Award during the 20th Annual ESPY Awards ceremony at the Nokia Theatre Wednesday evening.

Rash became the fans’ choice in the bowling category thanks to a 2011-12 Tour season in which the 29-year-old right-hander won the season-ending PBA Tournament of Champions for his only title, but had six championship round finishes, including third place in the PBA World Championship. Qualifying for a record five consecutive TV finals during the World Series of Bowling helped the Alaska native dominate PBA Tour stats where he finished first in average, points and earnings.  His Tournament of Champions win was the fifth Tour title of his career.

“This is very special because it’s an award voted on by the fans—bowling fans
and sports fans,” said Rash, who now makes his home in the Chicago suburb of
Montgomery, IL.  “The fans are why we do what we do—they’re why I get up in the morning.

“Winning the Tournament of Champions, Player of the Year, getting married (to wife Sara) and winning the ESPY has made it just an unbelievable year,” Rash added. “Even though I had a frustrating start to the season, I had a lot of support from my family, fans, friends and Brunswick and without them I couldn’t have done it.”

Joining Rash at the ceremonies were fellow ESPY candidates Jason Belmonte and Mike Fagan who also were finalists for the PBA Player of the Year crown which was announced on pba.com’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel in May.

During the 2011-12 season Belmonte, who won the ESPY in 2011, won three titles and had seven top five finishes. Fagan qualified for TV shows in all four majors winning the USBC Masters, finished second in the U.S. Open, fourth in the Tournament of Champions and 12th in the PBA World Championship. He also won an international PBA Tour title.

ESPY Award candidates are selected by ESPN staff for a variety of sports
categories and special moments in athletic competition. Winners are determined
by fan voting through espn.com.

BEST BOWLER ESPY AWARD WINNERS
2012 – Sean Rash
2011 – Jason Belmonte
2010 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2009 – Norm Duke
2008 – Norm Duke
2007 – Norm Duke
2006 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2005 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2004 – Pete Weber
2003 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2002 – Pete Weber
2001 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
2000 – Parker Bohn III
1999 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
1998 – Walter Ray Williams Jr.
1997 – Bob Learn Jr.
1996 – Mike Aulby
1995 – Norm Duke
1994 – Norm Duke

Rash Named PBA Player of the Year

Sean Rash now living in suburban Chicago (Montgomery, IL), was named as 2011-12 Professional Bowlers Association Chris Schenkel Player of the Year Monday, concluding one of the most competitive Player of the Year contests in years.

Rash, who made a record five-consecutive television finals during the 2011 PBA World Series of Bowling and concluded his season with a victory in the PBA Tournament of Champions, was elected over a field of 11 eligible candidates in balloting conducted among his fellow PBA Tour competitors and veteran members of the bowling news media.

In the end, Rash received 29.04 percent of the Player of the Year votes, Australia’s Jason Belmonte 26.61 percent and Mike Fagan of Dallas, TX 18.32 percent in the closest voting contest in years. Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, received 11.89 percent and Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, 10.23 percent to round out the top five vote-getters.

The announcement was made live on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel as a special kickoff to the made-for-television PBA Summer Shootout special event at 10pin bowling lounge in Chicago.

During the 2011-12 PBA Tour season, Rash, a 29-year-old right-hander, won the season-ending PBA Tournament of Champions (TOC) for his only title, but had six championship round finishes, including third place in the PBA World Championship. Qualifying for a record five consecutive TV finals during the World Series of Bowling helped the Alaska native dominate PBA Tour stats where he finish first in average, points and earnings.

“We all had great seasons, but I think winning the TOC put a stamp on it,” Rash said. “I’m a stats guy. When I voted in the past, I voted by the numbers. They don’t lie. If one of those guys had won the TOC, he would have got my vote.

“I felt a big sign of relief,” he said of the moment PBA Commissioner Tom Clark announced his win. “It meant a lot to have the waiting finally over.

“Jason and Mike and I have bowled in 15 different countries during the past year. We travel around the world to stay sharp,” Rash added. “You take a lot of satisfaction after all of the travel, the practice, the sacrifices you make. We’ve made each other better.”

Belmonte, a 28-year-old two-handed player, won three titles, had championship round finishes, finished third in average and second in both points and earnings. Belmonte also finished third in the U.S. Open and Tournament of Champions, fourth in the PBA World Championship and ninth in the USBC Masters.

Fagan, a 31-year-old right-hander, won the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters for his first major title and he won the Brunswick Euro Challenge in Paris, France. The Long Island, NY, native had three additional championship round finishes including second place in the U.S. Open and fourth place in the Tournament of Champions. Statistically, he was second in average, and third in points and earnings.

Also contending in the Player of the Year race were Weber, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, and Duke, three-time winner during the 2011-12 season.

The Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award is named in honor of the late hall of fame announcer who served as the voice of the PBA on ABC Television for 36 years.

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.

PBA Tour Players Stand Out at US OPEN

With few exceptions, you can ask every player who bowled in the 2012 U.S. Open how difficult the challenge was, and they’ll likely tell you “you have no idea how tough it is until you do it.”

The statistics tell the story of what happened during the 69th U.S. Open at Brunswick Zone-Carolier in North Brunswick, NJ:

● Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, NY, was the qualifying leader, averaging 223.89 for the first 18 games.

● The entire field of 394 bowlers averaged a composite 185.16, 38.73 pins-per-game behind Shafer.

● The 46 PBA Tour exempt players in the field as a group averaged 204.10.

● The 205 PBA members – national and regional – as a group averaged 190.21.

● The 189 amateurs in the field averaged 179.69.

● 38 of the 46 PBA exempt players in the event cashed (finished among the top 98).

● Two of the eight women in the field (Missy Parkin and Kelly Kulick) cashed.

● Three of the 189 amateurs (Ron Nelson, Bridgeview, IL; USBC Team USA member John Janawicz, Winter Haven, FL, and Junior Team USA member Marshall Kent, Yakima, WA.) qualified for match play (top 24).

Pete Weber’s dramatic 215-214 victory over Mike Fagan to win a record fifth U.S. Open title Sunday not to mention his nail-biter come-from-behind wins over Ryan Shafer and Jason Belmonte in his preliminary matches – is an “instant classic.” ESPN Classic will re-air the 69th U.S. Open telecast Monday, March 5, at 11:30 p.m. ET.

Other intriguing PBA Tour events that will re-air on ESPN Classic in the weeks ahead include the 2011 PBA World Championship (won by Chris Barnes) on Monday, March 19, at 11:30 p.m. ET and the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions (won by Mika Koivuniemi) on Monday, March 26, at 11:30 p.m. ET.