2021 United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters Tournament Update

Two legends just retired from regular competition on the National PBA Tour, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Pete Weber didn't bowl this event. I guess Norm Duke just wanted to remind everybody, he's BOWLING. Last game done for Norm today, he's +216 and leading. A and B block still to bowl.  

With the last block of 5 games happening for A and B Squads, the next hours will determine if C block bowlers that have completed their qualifying will benefit from players that are within the cut (around 28 under shown as -28), or bowlers outside the cut (more then 29 under) can create some magic.  

Bowlers within the cut might get too conservative, play too much to not lose, roll a qualifier killer score, even a 150 game, and drop out of the top 64. The players not yet within the cut line (currently –28), must make up for their under 200 games, with 200 plus games to expunge the red ink.  

A surprize just under the cut number. C block bowlers including Jason Belmonte, (Australia) and Jakob Buttruff (Tempe, AZ) tied at –30.  The World Number One, Belmonte waits for the field to shift around above and below him, hoping the cut drops a few pins to include him. Buttruff, as the last USBC Masters Champion is seeded into the top 64, so he is in.  

Other top players including: Osku Palermaa, (Finland) -33, AJ Chapman (Lewisville, TX) -46, Michael Tang (Pickerington, OH) -49, the Legends with double digit titles, Chris Barnes (Double Oak, TX), -51, and Tommy Jones (Simpsonville, SC) -56 even Chicago area member Gerald (Gerry) Marrs –62, right behind the Legends, will have an opportunity to move up in their last 5 games.  

Chicago area bowlers: Nick Kruml (Downer Grove), +129 in 7th, AJ Johnson  (Oswego) +116 in 11th, former Sandburg High School now Ambrose College bowler and amateur Cameron Crowe (Orland Park) +79 in 17th.  will most likely survive the round. 

A Pro that now lives in the area, Kris Prather (Romeoville) +84 is 15th and likely to move on also. Sean Rash (Montgomery) rolled his first block, but illness and an abundance of caution, to protect himself and the other competitors, withdrew with yet undetermined buy hopefully not COVID symptoms. 

A couple other Chicago area bowlers I recognized bubbling around 150th: Joe Lichner an amateur from Warrenville at 147th and –211 was a customer, as a high schooler, of my Revolutions-Wheaton store, inside the now defunct Wheaton Bowl. Matt Kuba (Tinley Park) is 151st and –216, I worked with the current pro early in his bowling career at Revolutions-Tinley Park, inside Centennial Lanes. 

Congratulations to all the bowlers testing themselves in one of the most challenging bowling events on the planet.  

Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Pete Weber Retired Today from PBA National Tour

Tampa, Fla.—Pete Weber and Walter Ray Williams Jr., two of the greatest players in PBA Tour history, announced their respective retirements today, following PBA Scorpion Championship best-of-five match play from the World Series of Bowling XII at AMF University Lanes.

Weber, a 37-time PBA Tour champion,
owns 10 major titles, tying him with Earl Anthony for second most in the history of the PBA. Weber, the 1980 PBA Rookie of the Year, is the only player to win the U.S. Open five times as well as the only player ever to win the Triple Crown (PBA World Championship, Tournament of Champions and U.S. Open) twice.

“It’s hard to grasp that I’m done on the National Tour,” said Weber, addressing his fellow competitors after he was eliminated. “In 41 years out here, it’s been awesome. I can still hit the pocket with you guys, but I can’t strike like you guys. It’s been an honor and a privilege to bowl each and every one of you out here.”

Williams holds the all-time record with 47 PBA Tour titles, eight majors among them. He’s been named the PBA Player of the Year a record seven times, the first in 1986 and the last in 2010, when he was 50 years old. Williams won at least one PBA Tour title in 17 consecutive seasons from 1993 to 2010.

“It was nice to have a good tournament at the end,” said Williams. “These young guys are very, very good. I gave it my all today, but I just happened to bowl somebody who bowled really well. Thanks, everybody, for all your support.”

Williams and Weber spent four decades competing against each other on the PBA Tour and rank first and fourth, respectively, in PBA Tour titles.

In their final event, both players qualified in the top 16 to advance to match play in the PBA Scorpion Championship. Both were eliminated, three games to two, by 2021 PBA World Champion Tom Daugherty, with Weber going out in the Round of 16 and Williams in the Round of 8.

Both Weber, 58, and Williams, 61, plan to continue competing on the PBA50 Tour and PBA Regional Tour.

Canada’s Graham Fach Leads Field into Friday’s Barbasol PBA Players Championship Final Match Play Rounds

by Bill Vint February 18, 2016 06:17

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Little-known Canadian Graham Fach, bowling in his second Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) tournament, led the field of 24 finalists into Friday’s final two rounds of match play in the Barbasol PBA Players Championship at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.

Fach, a 24-year-old left-hander who starred at Urbana (Ohio) University a year ago, lost his first three matches in Thursday night’s opening round of match play and momentarily dropped out of the lead. But he rebounded with four wins in his next five matches, rolling games of 269, 267, 245, 278 and 266 to regain first place by 49 pins over Anthony Pepe of Elmhurst, NY. Fach had 7,960 pins, Pepe 7,761. Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, NY, was third with 7,895 pins followed by Australia’s Sam Cooley with 7,863 pins. EJ Tackett of Huntington, IN, was fifth, 21 pins behind Cooley.

Among the players who are continuing to chase history are three PBA Hall of Famers: Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, who would become the second player in PBA history to complete the so-called “Super Slam” of major titles with a win in the Players Championship, Parker Bohn III of Jackson, NJ, who is trying to win back-to-back Players Championships, and Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Oxford, FL, who would improve upon his PBA-record 47 career titles with a win. Duke was in seventh place, Bohn in 10th and Williams 21st heading into Friday’s final two eight-game rounds of match play.

Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., who was trying for a PBA-record 11th major title, withdrew at the end of the third round due to a chronic hip injury. Weber was in ninth place at the time, only 78 pins out of fifth place.

But Fach (pronounced “faw”) remains the story with his consistent performance and unflappable attitude.

“I don’t want to look (at who’s behind me); I just want to keep doing what I’m doing,” he said. “There were fewer people today, so I had to deal with more transitions. I didn’t score as well today as I did in my first two rounds, but I’m learning to deal with (how the lane conditions change).

“I’m feeling real good; I’m trying not to think about games ahead,” he added. “Every time I think about TV, I kick myself and tell myself to focus. There are still 16 games with bonus pins to go.”

For now, Fach is happy to be finally realizing a lifelong dream.

“I’ve wanted to bowl our here ever since I was a kid,” he said. “I told myself I’d go pro at some point, but every time I thought about it, I found a reason not to. I finally decided to dive in.

“I’m getting lots of support – back home in Canada, at school, the Urbana high school bowling team. Not just bowlers, but people I’ve known throughout my life. It’s great,” he said.

The Barbasol PBA Players Championship continues Friday with the final two eight-game match play rounds at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday. After 48 games, the top five players will advance to the live ESPN stepladder finals Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

All preliminary rounds will be covered live, exclusively on PBA’s Xtra Frame online video-streaming service. For subscription information, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame link.

BARBASOL PBA PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 
Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl, Columbus, Ohio, Thursday

Fourth Round Standings (after 32 games, including match play bonus pins) 1, Graham Fach, Ontario, Canada, 4-4, 7,960.
2, Anthony Pepe, Elmhurst, N.Y., 5-3, 7,911.
3, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 6-2, 7,895.
4, Sam Cooley, Australia, 6-2, 7,863.
5, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 5-3, 7,712.
6, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 6-2, 7,688.
7, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 7-1, 7,683.
8, Patrick Allen, South Salem, N.Y., 5-3, 7,619.
9, Dave Wodka, Beavercreek, Ohio, 5-3, 7,611.
10, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 6-2, 7,609.
11, Jesper Svensson, Sweden, 4-4, 7,596.
12, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 4-4, 7,551.
13, D.J. Archer, Friendswood, Texas, 4-4, 7,534.
14, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 4-4, 7,533.
15, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3-5, 7,510.
16, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 4-4, 7,498.
17, John Szczerbinski, N. Tonawanda, N.Y., 3-5, 7,428.
18, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 2-6, 7,414.
19, x-Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 3-5, 7,363.
20, Dom Barrett, England, 2-6, 7,344.
21, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 2-6, 7,326.
22, Rhino Page, Orlando, Fla., 4-4, 7,318.
23, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Ecorse, Mich., 2-8, 7,310.
24, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 0-8, 7,233.

Failed to advance (after 24 games): 25, x-Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 5,637.
26, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 5,488, $1,650.
27, f-Shannon Pluhowsky, Dayton, Ohio, 5,486, $1,600.
28, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5,481, $1,550.
29, J.R. Raymond, Bay City, Mich., 5,464, $1,500.
30, Francois Lavoie, Wichita, Kan., 5,459, $1,450.
31, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 5,446, $1,400.
32, Anthony Simonsen, Princeton, Texas, 5,444, $1,350.
33, Dino Castillo, Highland Village, Texas, 5,379, $1,300.
34, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 5,374, $1,250.
35, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 5,341, $1,200.
36, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 5,333, $1,150.

x-Smallwood replaced Weber, who withdrew due to injury.

f-denotes female

300 Games: Ryan Ciminelli, Norm Duke, Anthony Pepe.

PBA 50 South Shore Open Lead by Harry Sullins in Round One

Hoping to end a streak of three seasons without a PBA50 Tour win, Harry Sullins of Chesterfield Township, Mich., averaged 249 to lead first round qualifying Tuesday in the PBA50 South Shore Open presented by DV8 at Olympia Lanes.

Sullins, whose last PBA50 Tour win came at Olympia Lanes in August of 2011,
bowled a 1,995 eight-game pinfall with games of 215, 258, 236, 244, 268, 277,
245 and 252 to lead two-time PBA Tour winner Jack Jurek of Lackawanna, N.Y., in second with a 1,988 pinfall.

“It’s been a while since I’ve hoisted a trophy in a tour event,” said Sullins,
who has won five PBA Tour titles and three PBA50 Tour titles. “I’ve done pretty
well at this center so I’d like nothing better than to end my winless streak
here.”

Sullins, has three top-five finishes this season including fourth-place finishes
in the Miller High Life Classic and Grants Pass Open, and a fifth-place finish
in last week’s Dayton Classic.

“My game is where I want it to be but the competition gets so tough in match
play,” Sullins said. “I’m working hard, just need to keep hammering away at it.”

Jurek, trying for his first PBA50 Tour win, is coming off a fourth-place finish
in the Dayton Classic and a second-place finish in the USBC Senior Masters in
his last two PBA50 tournaments.

Rounding out the top eight after the first round were Hall of Famers Parker Bohn
III, Jackson, N.J., 1,969; Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 1,953 and Amleto Monacelli,
Venezuela, 1,944, followed by John Chapman, Canada, 1,942; Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 1,927, and Hall of Famer Randy Pedersen, Orlando, Fla., 1,925.

Defending champion Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., who rolled the
round’s only 300 game, finished in ninth with 1,922.

The 77-player field will return Wednesday for another eight-game qualifying
round which will determine the top 24 players who will advance to Thursday’s
match play rounds. The championship rounds are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday.

The South Shore Open, which is the second to last tournament of the 2014 season, can be seen on PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame.  For subscription and schedule information click on the Xtra Frame logo on the pba.com homepage.

PBA50 SOUTH SHORE OPEN PRESENTED BY DV8
Tuesday’s first round results after eight games
At Olympia Lanes
Hammond, Ind.
a-Denotes amateur

1, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 1,995.
2, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,988.
3, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,969.
4, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 1,953.
5, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,944.
6, John Chapman, Canada, 1,942.
7, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 1,927.
8, Randy Pedersen, Orlando, Fla., 1,925.
9, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,922.
10, Brad Snell, Mount Prospect, Ill., 1,915.
11, a-Bob Markiewicz, San Diego, 1,913.
12, Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., 1,890.
13, Kevin Foley, Reno, Nev., 1,888.
14, Tracy Teeters, Salem, Ore., 1,886.
15, Ted Staikoff, Black Hawk, S.D., 1,874.
16, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 1,871.
17, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 1,864.
18, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 1,859.
19, Jeff Richgels, Madison, Wis., 1,856.
20, Bill Idzior, Crown Point, Ind., 1,851.
21, Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 1,838.
22, Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla., 1,837.
23, Leroy Johnson, Chicago, 1,830.
24, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 1,825.
25, Bob Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 1,824.
26, Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 1,822.
27, (tie) Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., and Don Breeden, Clive, Iowa, 1,814.
29, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,813.
30, George Lord, Lakeland, Fla., 1,800.
31, Mark Medler, Waterloo, Ind., 1,799.
32, Dale Eagle, Newport Beach, Calif., 1,797.
33, Rick Francis, Linden, Calif., 1,791.
34, Dave Bernhardt, Romeo, Mich., 1,787.
35, (tie) Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., and Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 1,782.
37, (tie) Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., and John Dudak, Orland Park, Ill., 1,777.
39, Tim Pierce, Portland, Ore., 1,774.
40, Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 1,767.
41, Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 1,762.
42, Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 1,753.
43, Darron Peters, Murrieta, Calif., 1,752.
44, Rick Thomas, Willowbrook, Ill., 1,751.
45, (tie) Christopher Keane, Cape Coral, Fla., and Galen Keas, Alda, Neb., 1,742.
47, Paul Mielens, Menomonie, Wis., 1,729.
48, Ken Waters, Kingsport, Tenn., 1,726.
49, Bill Neumann, Rensselaer, NY, 1,722.
50, Richard Hunt, Valparaiso, Ind., 1,718.
51, a-Mike Schmid, St. Paul, Minn., 1,704.
52, Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 1,695.
53, Patrick King, Yankton, S.D., 1,680.
54, (tie) Dean Billings, Rootstown, Ohio, and William Peters, Dayton, Ohio, 1,677
56, Steve Stein, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,668.
57, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 1,656.
58, Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 1,650.
59, Harv Pallas, Stevensville, Mich., 1,649.
60, Gary Kammes, Winfield, Ill., 1,647.
61, William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 1,646.
62, Brendan Bierch, Grafton, Mass., 1,635.
63, Robert Kicmal, LaGrange, Ill., 1,634.
64, Emilio Mora Sr., Defiance, Ohio, 1,630.
65, Terry Metzner, Kentwood, Mich., 1,619.
66, Lyle Zikes, Arlington Heights, Ill., 1,612.
67, Rich Wilkinson, Bennington, Neb., 1,602.
68, Lee Brosius, Ashburn, Va., 1,598.
69, Rick Woloszyn, Griffith, Ind., 1,597.
70, Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., 1,596.
71, Don Holmes, Itasca, Ill., 1,535.
72, Kevin Vostry, Bolingbrook, Ill., 1,507.
73, Larry Salvati, Canada, 1,502.
74, Peter Brainard, Tampa, Fla., 1,498.
75, Rich Kleinman, Reno, Nev., 1,410.
76, Allen Meskan, Addison, Ill., 1,401.
77, Larry Helton, Bolingbrook, Ill., 1,367.

300 Games - Walter Ray Williams Jr.

Bob Learn Overcomes a Strong Field to Win PBA50 Pasco County Suncoast Open Benefiting Wounded Warriors

Overcoming a back injury suffered in qualifying, Bob Learn Jr. of Erie, PA, won the
PBA50 Pasco County Suncoast Open Benefiting Wounded Warriors Wednesday at Lane Glo Bowl for his second career PBA50 Tour title.

In the first tournament of the 2013 PBA50 Tour (formerly Senior Tour) season, Learn defeated PBA Hall of Famer Wayne Webb of Columbus, Ohio, 226-206, in the championship match.

Learn, also a five-time PBA Tour winner, injured his back when he slipped slightly on his approach during the fourth frame of the first game of Tuesday’s second round of qualifying which caused a sprain in his lower back. He managed to struggle through the rest of the round but didn’t know how long he would last.

With the help of Gulf Coast Spinal Center, one of the tournament’s sponsors, Learn was able get treatment on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning to at least make an effort to bowl in Wednesday’s match play.

“I thought I might have to withdraw after a couple games in the second round of qualifying but I managed to struggle through it,” said the 51-year-old Learn. “The treatment helped to the point where I felt good enough to at least start match play but I had no idea how far I could go after that. The expectation was not to win but maybe make it through a match or two.

“I felt about 20 percent yesterday but felt about 80 percent today,” said Learn, who had to win five matches to get to the championship match.

“I was actually getting better as the day went on and was probably in my best shape when I had some of my toughest matches toward the end of the day.”

One of those matches was the semifinal where Learn defeated Hall of Famer and reigning PBA50 Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, FL, 229-216, to advance to the championship match.

Webb, who was trying to win his sixth PBA50 Tour title, defeated Tim Kauble of Marion, Ohio, in the other semifinal match, 245-206.

Woman amateur standout Lucy Sandelin of Tampa, who qualified third, was eliminated in the Round of 16, losing to Mike Dias of Lafayette, CO, 3 games to 1.

The United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer was making a bid to become the first woman to win a PBA50 Tour tournament.

The next stop for the PBA50 Tour will be The Villages, FL, for the PBA50 Sun Bowl In The Villages presented by Hammer April 20-23.

Scott Norton Blisters First Round of the Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions

Scott Norton of Mission Viejo, CA, threw back-to-back games of 300 and 296, and averaged 252.25 for eight games to take the first round lead in the Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions (TOC) lead Wednesday at Woodland Bowl, in Indianapolis, IN.

Norton, who is trying for his third title of the 2012-13 season, and his first major win, said “my pin carry today was ridiculous. It wasn’t a case of the conditions favoring left-handers. It was a matter of, if I hit the 1-2 pocket, I got a strike. It didn’t matter if I was high in the pocket, light or whatever, the pins fell.

“But if you’re going to win out here, you have to have days like that. Lord knows I’ve had enough of the other kind.”

Norton finished the opening round of qualifying with a total of 2,018 pins for a 37-pin lead over the all-time PBA Tour titles leader, Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, FL. Williams, a 47-time titlist, has never won the TOC. If he can win this week, he’ll become the eighth player in PBA history to complete the “Triple Crown” (TOC, U.S. Open and PBA World Championship), and the third ever to complete the “Grand Slam” (Triple Crown plus USBC Masters).

Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, was in third place with 9,159 pins followed by Osku Palermaa of Finland with a 1,940 total and Dick Allen of Columbia, SC, in fifth place with 1,932 pins.

The 2013 TOC continues with the second of three eight-round qualifying squads today at 5 p.m. ET. After a third eight-game qualifying round Thursday at 10 a.m., the top 24 players based on 24-game pinfall totals will advance to round-robin match play. Match play rounds will be held Thursday at 5 p.m., and Friday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. After a total of 48 games, the top five players will advance to Sunday’s live ESPN stepladder finals at 2:30 p.m. ET.

All qualifying and match play rounds of the Tournament of Champions (and the PBA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Saturday night) will be covered live, exclusively on PBA’s online bowling channel, Xtra Frame. For subscription information, visit pba.com.

BARBASOL PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Woodland Bowl, Indianapolis, Wednesday

Round One (after 8 qualifying games)

1, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 2,018.
2, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,981.
3, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 1,959.
4, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 1,940.
5, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,932.
6, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 1,918.
7, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 1,891.
8, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,884.
9, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,881.
10, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 1,876.
11, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,875.
12, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 1,874.
13 (tie), Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., and Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 1,867.
15, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 1,847.
16, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,838.
17 (tie), Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., and Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,837.
19, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 1,836.
20, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,829.
21 (tie), Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., and Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,820.
23, Dom Barrett, England, 1,812.
24, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 1,811.
25, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 1,808.
26, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 1,807.
27, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 1,788.
28, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 1,787.
29, Stuart Williams, England, 1,786.
30, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 1,783.
31, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,777.
32, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 1,774.
33, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 1,771.
34, John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 1,770.
35, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,768.
36, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 1,758.
37, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 1,756.
38, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,755.
39, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,746.
40, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,745.
41, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 1,743.
42 (tie), Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, and Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,726.
44 (tie), George Branham III, Indianapolis, and Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 1,712.
46, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,703.
47, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,699.
48, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,692.
49, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 1,673.
50, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 1,654.
51, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 1,645.
52, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 1,642.
53, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, withdrew, injury.

300 Games: Mike Scroggins, Scott Norton, Scott Newell.

Eight Players Still Alive In Winners Bracket at USBC Masters

Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III from nearby Jackson, NJ, leads a group of eight players who made it through three rounds of matches undefeated Friday at the 2013 United States Bowling Congress Masters.

The 33-time Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) winner and 2001 Masters champion lives just 45 minutes from Brunswick Zone Carolier and used that home-town feel to go 3-0 in the opening rounds of the double-elimination match-play bracket.

A total of 16 players remain in the bracket with eight players undefeated and eight players in the elimination bracket. Another series of matches Saturday will determine the five players who will advance to the live ESPN finals on Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern.

“When you look at the 16 players who are left, regardless of whom you bowl, all of these guys know what they are doing and know their ball motion well,” said Bohn, who defeated Matt McNiel of Prior Lake, MN, 700-688, in the third round. “There are no easy matches left.”

Bohn will take on two-hander Jason Belmonte of Australia in the winners bracket Saturday morning. Other winners bracket matches include top qualifier Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, against Manuel Otalora of Colombia; John Janawicz of Winter Haven, FL, vs. Stuart Williams of England; and Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio, vs. Mike Machuga of Erie, PA.

Janawicz, a four-time Team USA member, and Otalora, a member of the Colombian national team, are the only non-professional bowlers left in the winners bracket.

“You always have to have confidence you can win, but these guys are the best in the world,” said Janawicz, who blew past Mike Edwards of Tulsa, OK, 692-555, in his third match. “I have tremendous respect for the guys who do this for a living. It just feels good to be able to come in and compete alongside them.”

Defending champion Mike Fagan of Dallas was eliminated Friday after losing his first two matches. He lost to Malott in the opening round, 770-695, and then fell to Martin Larsen of Sweden, 749-718.

Among the players still alive in the elimination portion of the bracket is Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, who would join Norm Duke and Mike Aulby as the only players to complete the PBA’s Grand Slam with a victory this week. The Grand Slam is made up of the four majors on the PBA Tour - the USBC Masters, PBA Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open and the PBA National/World Championship.

Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, FL, who also is still alive in the elimination bracket, has a chance to join Aulby as only the second player to win three Masters titles.

The Masters, which features a total prize fund of $325,000 including a $50,000 first prize, is a major event on the PBA Tour and is part of the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Bowling Tour for the third consecutive season.

All rounds of the Masters are being covered live on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online bowling channel. For subscription information, visit pba.com.

For more information on the Masters, including live scoring, visit BOWL.com/Masters.

 

UNITED STATES BOWLING CONGRESS MASTERS

Brunswick Zone Carolier, North Brunswick, N.Y., Friday

(Three games total pinfall, double-elimination match play)

OPENING ROUND

(1) Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, def. (64) Mike Fagan, Dallas, 770-675.

(33) Allen Rice II, Salem, Ala., def. (32) Martin Larsen, Sweden, 737-683.

(48) Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., def. (17) Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 642-595.
(49) John Brockland, St. Charles, Mo., def. (16) John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 739-678.
(9) Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., def. (56) Gary Faulkner, Norfolk, Va., 710-623.
(41) Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, def. (24) Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, 755-607.
(40) Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., def. (25) Craig LeMond, Jasper, Ind., 636-576.
(57) Manuel Otalora, Colombia, def. (8) Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 723-719.

(60) Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., def. (5) Brian LeClair, Albany, N.Y., 703-666.
(28) John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., def. (37) Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 610-565.

(21) Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., def. (44) Matt Gasn, Laurel, Md., 695-611.

(53) Michael Markis, Tafton, Pa., def. (12) Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 715-640.

(13) Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., def. (52) Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 728-562.

(20) D.J. Archer, Friendswood, Texas, def. (45) Timothy Foy Jr., Salisbury, Md., 651-599.

(29) Stuart Williams, England, def. (36) Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 628-626.

(4) Mike Moore, Orlando, Fla., def. (61) Adam Chase, Seaford, N.Y., 644-634.

(3) Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., def. (62) Tetsuya Kobayashi, Japan, 666-621.

(30) Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., def. (35) Andres Gomez, Colombia, 615-535.

(46) Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., def. (19) Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 731-718.

(14) Matt McNiel, Prior Lake, Minn., def. (51) Devin Golden, Coopersburg, Pa., 630-609.

(11) Dan MacLelland, Canada, def. (54) Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 782-638.

(22) Jason Belmonte, Australia, def. (43) Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 674-646.

(27) Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., def. (38) Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 699-694.

(59) Daniel Dunleavy, Staten Island, N.Y., def. (6) Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 719-682.

(58) Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, def. (7) Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 669-608.

(26) Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., def. (39) Jeff Kubasak, Staten Island, N.Y., 651-585.

(42) Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., def. (23) Jon VanHees, Charlestown, R.I., 690-604.

(10) Osku Palermaa, Finland, def. (55) Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Chatsworth, Calif., 666-656.

(50) Tyson Branagan, Bedford, Texas, def. (15) Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 696-685.

(47) Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., def. (18) Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 655-632.

(31) Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., def. (34) Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 697-596.

(63) Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., def. (2) Todd Book, Russells Point, Ohio, 710-641.

WINNERS BRACKET ROUND ONE

Malott def. Rice, 732-668.

Brockland def. Bohr, 684-676.

Norton def. Scroggins, 729-591.

Otalora def. D. Kent, 643-598.

Janawicz def. D. Allen, 670-627.

Edwards def. Mackis, 645-547.

Daugherty def. Archer, 700-687.

S. Williams def. Chase, 832-709.

Bohn def. Weber, 725-651.

McNiel def. Haugen, 731-661.

Belmonte def. MacLelland, 749-711.

W.R. Williams def. Dunleavy, 601-585.

Kretzer def. Shafer, 622-618.

P. Allen def. Palermaa, 658-621.

Branagan def. Vanderhoef, 695-669.

Machuga def. McCune, 642-618.

ELIMINATION BRACKET ROUND ONE

(Losers eliminated, earn $1,700)

Larsen def. Fagan, 749-718.

Barnes def. LeMond, 655-616.

Sterner def. Szczerbinski, 671-626.

Bigelow def. Faulkner, 611-582.

M. Kent def. LeClair, 631-563.

Jones def. Moore, 718-682.

Ciminelli def. Gasn, 727-562.

Russell def. Foy, 688-650.

Gomez def. Kobayahsi, 700-569.

Koivuniemi def. Castillo, 721-701.

Blanchard def. Golden, 777-563.

Loschetter def. Ziesig, 626-590.

Page def. Kubasak, 656-560.

Book def. Ruiz, 736-609.

VanHees def. VanDaniker, 769-685.

Rash def. Newell, 709-643.

ELIMINATION BRACKET ROUND TWO

(Losers eliminated, earn $2,000)

Haugen def. Larsen, 684-678.

Barnes def. MacLelland, 730-677.

Sterner def. Weber, 683-591.

Bigelow def. Dunleavy, 643-578.

Palermaa def. M. Kent, 688-682.

Jones def. Vanderhoef, 747-608.

Ciminelli def. Shafer, 720-664.

Russell def. McCune, 758-652.

Gomez def. Bohr, 703-614.

Koivuniemi def. Scroggins, 658-577.

Rice def. Blanchard, 709-669.

D. Kent def. Loschetter, 671-657.

Page def. Markis, 665-664.

Archer def. Book, 732-622.

VanHees def. D. Allen, 698-677.

Rash def. Chase, 781-562.

WINNERS BRACKET ROUND TWO

Malott def. Brockland, 741-636.

Otalora def. Norton, 639-618.

Janawicz def. Edwards, 692-555.

S. Williams def. Daugherty, 682-647.

Bohn def. McNiel, 700-688.

Belmonte def. W.R. Williams, 761-685.

Kretzer def. P. Allen, 646-618.

Machuga def. Branagan, 532-531.

ELIMINATION BRACKET ROUND THREE

(Losers eliminated, earn $2,400)

Barnes def. Haugen, 696-594.

Sterner def. Bigelow, 603-592.

Jones def. Palermaa, 647-590.

Ciminelli def. Russell, 712-611.

Koivuniemi def. Gomez, 620-609.

D. Kent def. Rice, 698-695.

Archer def. Page, 740-681.

Rash def. VanHees, 694-644.

ELIMINATION BRACKET ROUND FOUR

(Losers eliminated, earn $2,800)

Barnes def. Edwards, 678-597.

Daugherty def. Sterner, 702-604,

Jones def. Brockland, 677-640.

Ciminelli def. Norton, 630-557.

Koivuniemi def. Branagan, 783-523.

P. Allen def. D. Kent, 733-602.

W.R. Williams def. Archer, 764-563.

McNiel def. Rash, 693-643.

SATURDAY’S PAIRINGS (9 a.m. Eastern)

WINNERS BRACKET, ROUND THREE

Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas vs. Manuel Otalora, Colombia.

John Janawicz, Lake Wales, Fla. def. Stuart Williams, England.

Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., vs. Jason Belmonte, Australia.

Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, vs. Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa.

ELIMINATION BRACKET, ROUND FIVE

Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, vs. Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla.

Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., vs. Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y.

Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., vs. Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla.

Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., vs. Matt McNiel, Prior Lake, Minn.