Ciminelli Jumps to #1 Seed for Sunday PBA One-A-Day Earl Anthony Memorial Finals

Looking for his first Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour title, Ryan Ciminelli
of Cheektowaga, NY, earned the top seed for Sunday’s stepladder finals of the PBA One A Day
Earl Anthony Memorial at Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl.

The 24-year-old Ciminelli earned the top seed with an 11-6-1 overall match play record and 32-game 
7,688 overall pinfall total Friday, topping PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., who
had an 11-7 match play record and 7,572 overall pinfall to earn the No 2 seed.

Ciminelli’s previous best Tour finishes were second in the 2009 Cheetah and Viper Championships 
and third in the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Masters. He’s gained a lot of
confidence after finishing 14th in last week’s PBA Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas.

“For whatever reason I haven’t matched up well with the conditions for a long time,” said Ciminelli.
“Things started to turn around at the Tournament of Champions where my physical game
was sharp and my mental game was locked in.

“If I can win it will take a big load off my shoulders. There’s a lot of pressure but I’m in the best
position to be in so hopefully the pins will fall my way this time.”

Weber, 48, will be trying for his 36th Tour title with his last title coming in the Lumber Liquidators
Marathon Open last April. He’s gotten off to a slow start this season with a best finish
of 17th in both the Brunswick Pro Bowling Cheetah Championship and GEICO Shark Championship.

“It may be hard to believe but I feel I’m bowling well but just not scoring well,” Weber said. “A lot of
times it comes down to the breaks you get. You can throw it good but not get the breaks but
when you do get the breaks you need to take advantage of them and I was able to do that.”

Competing in the opening stepladder match that will be televised Sunday on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. Eastern 
(11 a.m. Pacific) will be No. 3 seed Patrick Allen of Wesley Chapel, Fla., against No. 4 seed
Tommy Jones of Greenville, S.C. Both players will be trying for a 14th Tour title. Ironically, both
of their last wins came in the DyDo Japan Cup—Jones in 2010 and Allen in 2009.

Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
PBA One A Day Earl Anthony Memorial
Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl, Dublin, Calif., Jan. 28

Round of 16
(after 32 games, pinfall totals include match play bonus pins; top four advance to Sunday’s ESPN2
television finals)

1, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 11-6-1, 7,688.
2, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 11-7, 7,572.
3, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 13-4-1, 7,535.
4, Tommy Jones, Greenville, S.C., 11-7, 7,534.
5, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 14-4, 7,533, $4,000.
6, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 10-8, 7,517, $3,600.
7, Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 11-6-1, 7,436, $3,400.
8, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 12-6, 7,416, $3,200.
9, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 9-8-1, 7,356, $3,100.
10, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 12-6, 7,239, $3,000.
11, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 8-10, 7,221, $2,900.
12, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 9-9, 7,218, $2,800.
13, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 6-12, 7,209, $2,700.
14, Dave Wodka, Chatsworth, Calif., 10-8, 7,125, $2,700.
15, Stuart Williams, England, 7-11, 7,117, $2,500.
16, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 8-10, 7,094, $2,400.

Round of 32
(after 23 games, pinfall totals include match play bonus pins; top 16 advanced to Round of 16)

1, Tommy Jones, Greenville, S.C., 6-3, 5,492.
2, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 7-2, 5,399.
3, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 8-1, 5,369.
4, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 5-4, 5,359.
5, Dave Wodka, Chatsworth, Calif., 8-1-0, 5,349.
6, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 5-4-0, 5,325.
7, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 6-3, 5,318.
8, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 7-2, 5,304.
9, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 6-3, 5,302.
10, Stuart Williams, England, 5-4, 5,293.
11, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 4-5, 5,291.
12, Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 5-4, 5,268.
13, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 7-2, 5,252.
14, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 4-5, 5,223.
15, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 4-5, 5,208.
16, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 5-4, 5,141.
17, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 4-5, 5,133, $2,340.
18, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 5-4, 5,127, $2,200.
19, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 5-4, 5,086, $2,150.
20, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3-6, 5,081, $2,100.
21, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 4-5, 5,057, $2,050.
22, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 3-6, 5,035, $2,000.
23, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 4-5, 5,016, $1,950.
24, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3-6, 4,990, $1,900.
25, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 4-5, 4,981, $1,850.
26, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3-6, 4,956, $1,800.
27, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2-7, 4,949, $1,750.
28, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 4-5, 4,930, $1,700.
29, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 2-7, 4,910, $1,650.
30, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 3-6, 4,864, $1,600.
31, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 2-7, 4,857, $1,550.
32, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 1-8, 4,744, $1,400.
33, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 0-0, 3,005, $1,400, withdrew and 
was replaced by alternate Chris Warren.

Jones Holds Onto Lead at One-A-Day Earl Anthony Memorial

Tommy Jones of Greenville, SC, posted a 6-3 match play record and
averaged 224.6 to retain his lead after Friday’s first match play round 
in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) One A Day Earl Anthony 
Memorial at Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl.
 

The field has been cut from 32 players to 16 who will return this evening for 
another nine-game match play round that will determine the four players who will 
advance to the stepladder finals which will air live on ESPN2 Sunday at 2 p.m. 
Eastern/11 a.m. Pacific.
 

Jones, a 13-time Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titlist whose last title came in the DyDo Japan Cup that
concluded the 2009-10 season, had games of 215, 215, 198, 225, 215, 244, 237, 214 and 259 
winning his last four matches.
 

“The lanes broke down a little differently than I thought so I had to make some quick adjustments,” 
Jones said. “I was hoping to get off to a better start but I was able to hang in there early 
and finish strong. I’m going to drill up another ball for tonight’s round so I can pick it up quicker.”
 

Jones’ best finish this season was third in the PBA World Series of Bowling Pepsi Viper Championship.

In second after posting a 7-2 match play record is Ronnie Russell of Marion, IN, who is looking
for his first PBA Tour title, and coming all the way from 31st with the help of an 8-1 match
play record and a 237.2 block average is last week’s PBA Tournament of Champions winner Mika
Koivuniemi of Finland in third. PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber, looking for his 36th title, rounds out the top 
four.
 

Two 300s were bowled in today’s early match play round by Dave Wodka and Weber, both seen on pba.com’s
Xtra Frame video service. Click on the Xtra Frame logo on the pba.com home page for subscription info.

Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
PBA One A Day Earl Anthony Memorial
Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl, Dublin, Calif., Jan. 28

Round of 32
(after 23 games, pinfall totals include match play bonus pins; top 16 advanced to Round of 16)

1, Tommy Jones, Greenville, S.C., 6-3, 5,492.
2, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 7-2, 5,399.
3, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 8-1, 5,369.
4, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 5-4, 5,359.
5, Dave Wodka, Chatsworth, Calif., 8-1-0, 5,349.
6, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 5-4-0, 5,325.
7, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 6-3, 5,318.
8, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 7-2, 5,304.
9, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 6-3, 5,302.
10, Stuart Williams, England, 5-4, 5,293.
11, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 4-5, 5,291.
12, Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 5-4, 5,268.
13, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 7-2, 5,252.
14, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 4-5, 5,223.
15, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 4-5, 5,208.
16, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 5-4, 5,141.
17, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 4-5, 5,133, $2,340.
18, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 5-4, 5,127, $2,200.
19, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 5-4, 5,086, $2,150.
20, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3-6, 5,081, $2,100.
21, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 4-5, 5,057, $2,050.
22, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 3-6, 5,035, $2,000.
23, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 4-5, 5,016, $1,950.
24, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3-6, 4,990, $1,900.
25, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 4-5, 4,981, $1,850.
26, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3-6, 4,956, $1,800.
27, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2-7, 4,949, $1,750.
28, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 4-5, 4,930, $1,700.
29, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 2-7, 4,910, $1,650.
30, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 3-6, 4,864, $1,600.
31, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 2-7, 4,857, $1,550.
32, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 1-8, 4,744, $1,400.
33, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 0-0, 3,005, $1,400, withdrew and 
was replaced by alternate Chris Warren.

PBA Million Dollar Tournament of Champions A Big Hit

From ESPN SportsCenter to Sports Illustrated. From Jim Rome’s TV show
to Norman Chad’s syndicated column. Mainstream sports media heavyweights
have used time and space to re-tell the unforgettable story of the richest
tournament in Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) history, the $1 million PBA
Tournament of Champions (TOC), which concluded Saturday, Jan. 22, at Red Rock 
Lanes in Las Vegas.

Native Finlander Mika Koivuniemi won the biggest first prize in PBA history 
($250,000) when he defeated Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, MI, 269-207, for the 
title. The victory, and Koivuniemi’s remarkable, record-setting 299-100 
semifinal win over Tom Daugherty of Wesley Chapel, FL, was historic on a 
number of levels.

It marked the return of pro bowling to its longtime network home on ABC-TV after 
a 14-year absence, with the first-ever PBA telecast in high-definition garnering 
the largest audience of the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season 
(averaging more than 1.1 million viewers), plus a sold-out crowd including a 
“who’s who” of bowling industry leaders.

In the wake of the telecast, Koivuniemi’s near-perfect game was re-visited as 
one of the “Top Plays of the Weekend” on ESPN’s SportsCenter while Daugherty’s 
100 game made the show’s “Not Top 10 Plays of the Week.” Daugherty also was a 
guest on Scott Van Pelt’s ESPN Radio show, earned a mention in Sports 
Illustrated, The Jim Rome Show, a feature story on AOL’s FanHouse website among 
others. ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption and ESPN’s Around the Horn personalities 
debated the tournament, while SportsCenter ran highlights for three days across 
ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNews. Additionally, Norman Chad’s nationally-syndicated 
“Couch Slouch” column plus hundreds of daily newspapers, local radio stations 
and web sites all covered the PBA’s signature event.

The PBA also showed growth in its digital media coverage of the tournament week. 
Its pba.com live scoring and multifaceted coverage generated an average of more 
than 40,000 unique visits per day (up from an average of 25, 000 per day for the 
previous month) with a peak of 77,750 unique visits for the final round of match 
play on Friday night. In January - including the PBA World Championship a week 
earlier - pba.com had nearly 3.5 million page views, including 692,650 on 
Friday, Jan. 21, alone.

Additionally, 50 hours of live qualifying and match play round coverage of the 
TOC on pba.com’s “Xtra Frame” online video service resulted in a 15 percent 
increase in subscriptions from the start of the week. Dozens of critical games 
were webcast live on Xtra Frame including the final position round, but one of 
the key shots only Xtra Frame fans saw was a 7-10 split conversion by Andres 
Gomez that eventually helped him secure the fourth spot in the stepladder finals 
by 18 pins over Chris Barnes.

Grammy-nominated “Bowling for Soup” made a “halftime show” appearance to perform 
its new single “S-S-S-Saturday.” In the wake of their performance, band manager 
Mike Swinford wrote to fans on Facebook: “You guys were so excited to download 
our new song you broke our BandPage.”

The telecast also brought the return of Nelson Burton Jr., the long-time color 
analyst for Pro Bowlers Tour telecasts on ABC, to the broadcast team.

The entire TOC production, including the PBA Hall of Fame ceremonies which 
capped the week, drew praise from PBA CEO and Commissioner Fred Schreyer.

“Today truly was a great day for the PBA and bowling,” Schreyer said. “I don’t 
know where this show ranks in the history of the PBA Tour, but I easily can say 
it was the greatest show I have been associated with in my 10 years with the 
organization. Everything was spectacular, including Tom Daugherty’s 100, and we 
should all feel proud about what we accomplished. We demonstrated to the 
industry, and our television audience, how good bowling can be.”

The telecast also was the first event in a new three-year relationship to air 
the TOC finals on ABC.

“We are happy with the start of a new Tournament of Champions tradition on 
Saturday on ABC, and encouraged by the increase in viewers over the course of 
the show,” said PBA COO and Deputy Commissioner Tom Clark, noting an increase of 
400,000 viewers from the first half hour to the pinnacle of 1.3 million viewers 
tuning in. “Moving extremely fast, we have already built an anxious audience for 
what will become appointment TV in coming years. The high-definition telecast 
produced stunning images and the electricity generated by the record-setting 
purse and packed Red Rock crowd created the perfect stage for the best players 
in the world.

“The biggest NFL games of the year were played on Sunday, but because of the 
moments only our sport can create, the PBA was right there in water cooler 
discussions along with the NFL on Monday morning,” Clark added. “This 
unforgettable event and the resulting media attention gave us a great deal to 
build on. We are already looking forward to next year’s TOC on ABC, just like 
everyone else.”

At the heart of the discussion in the wake of the tournament was the 299-100 
match. Daugherty, a 35-year-old pro shop operator and four-time PBA Regional 
champion, was making his first television appearance. Conversely, Koivuniemi, 
who now owns three PBA major titles, was making his 31st career Lumber 
Liquidators PBA Tour television appearance.

Daugherty, who had lead the field in average for 58 games (225.26), promptly 
left seven splits in 10 frames en route to his 100 game: the 2-8-10 in the 
first, 4-6-7-10 “big four” in the third, 4-6-7-9-10 “Greek church” in the fifth, 
4-6-10 in the sixth, 3-4-6-7-10 in the eighth, 2-10 in the ninth and another 
“big four” in the 10th. Daugherty’s 100 shattered the previous PBA record for 
lowest game on television, a 129 bowled by Steve Jaros in the 1992 Brunswick 
Memorial World Open finals in Lake Zurich, IL.

Meanwhile only a wobbling 10-pin left standing on his final ball prevented 
Koivuniemi from becoming the first PBA Tour player to roll two 300 games on 
national TV (his previous 300 came in 2003). The near perfect game reminded all 
bowling historians of the 299 bowled by Don Johnson at the 1970 Tournament of 
Champions.

Koivuniemi’s resulting 199-pin margin of victory over Daugherty is a PBA record 
that likely will never be broken.

Other notables from the finals:

● Daugherty finished third in the Tournament of Champions and earned $50,000 
(Smallwood’s second-place finish netted him $100,000). In his only full-time 
season as a Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour exempt player (2005-06), Daugherty 
earned $43,600 for the entire 20-tournament campaign.

● Koivuniemi, who has lived in Hartland, MI, since 2002, won $250,000. During 
the 2003-04 season, when he won two titles and was selected as PBA Player of the 
Year, he earned a personal-best $238,590.

● For his 100 game, Daugherty earned $500 per pin. Koivuniemi, for his 
three-game 792 series, earned “only” $315.65 per pin.

The next Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour event, the One A Day Earl Anthony Memorial 
at Earl Anthony's Dublin Bowl in Dublin, CA, will air live Sunday at 2 p.m. 
Eastern/11 a.m. Pacific on ESPN2.

Tommy Jones Takes The Lead at the PBA One-A-Day Earl Anthony Memorial

Tommy Jones of Greenville, SC, averaged 235 to take the lead after two rounds in
the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) One A Day Earl Anthony Memorial Thursday
at Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl.

Jones, a 13-time Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titlist, had a 3,290 14-game pinfall to hold a 
49-pin lead over PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber in second with 3,241.

Jones had a 1,645 seven-game pinfall in Thursday’s early round and followed that 
up with an identical pinfall in the second round on games of 198, 269, 235, 221, 299, 234 and 189.

“It’s quite a difference from bowling the Tournament of Champions last week which was about the worst
I’ve bowled in a tournament,” said Jones, who finished 91st in the Tournament of Champions.
“But that tournament is over and it’s time to move on and that’s the mindset you have to have.

“Going into match play tomorrow the lanes will play differently but if I can get off to a good start I like my chances.”

Jones won the DyDo Japan Cup to close out the 2009-10 season and his best finish 
this season was third in the Pepsi Viper Championship.

The field has been cut to 32 players for match play on Friday.  After match play concludes the four
players will be determined for the stepladder finals which will air live on ESPN2 Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern/11 a.m. Pacific.

Mika Koivuniemi, who won the Tournament of Champions and a record $250,000 first prize last week
for his ninth PBA Tour title and third major, finished the day in 31st just making the cut with a 2,994 pinfall.

Earl Anthony Memorial defending champion Anthony LaCaze failed to advance to match play after finishing 45th.

PBA.com’s Xtra Frame video service is providing live coverage of the Earl Anthony Memorial.  For Xtra Frame
subscription information click on the Xtra Frame logo on the homepage of pba.com.

PBA ONE A DAY EARL ANTHONY MEMORIAL
Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl, Dublin, Calif., Jan. 27

SECOND ROUND (after 14 games)
Top 32 advance to Friday’s match play

1, Tommy Jones, Greenville, S.C., 3,290.
2, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,241.
3, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 3,224.
4, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 3,213.
5, (tie) Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., and Stuart Williams, England, 3,166.
7, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 3,164.
8, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 3,163.
9, Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 3,153.
10, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 3,142.
11, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 3,120.
12, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3,112.
13, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,101.
14, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3,100.
15, (tie) Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., and Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 3,065.
17, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 3,062.
18, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 3,060.
19, (tie) Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., and Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 3,054.
21, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 3,051.
22, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 3,040.
23, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 3,035.
24, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3,034.
25, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3,017.
26, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 3,014.
27, (tie) Dave Wodka, Chatsworth, Calif., and Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 3,013.
29, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 3,005.
30, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 2,998.
31, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 2,994.
32, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 2,990.

Failed to advance
33, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 2,986, $1,300.
34, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 2,972, $1,300.
35, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2,956, $1,300.
36, (tie) Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., and Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 2,954, $1,250.
38, (tie) Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., and Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 2,951, $1,200.
40, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 2,943, $1,200.
41, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,925, $1,200.
42, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,924, $1,200.
43, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 2,913, $1,200.
44, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 2,909, $1,200.
45, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 2,883, $1,200.
46, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 2,882, $1,200.
47, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 2,875, $1,200.
48, Matt Freiberg, Simpsonville, S.C., 2,862, $1,200.
49, Dennis Acma, San Ramon, Calif., 2,858, $1,200.
50, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 2,855, $1,200.
51, Curtis Woods Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., 2,811, $1,200.
52, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 2,805, $1,200.
53, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 2,796, $1,200.
54, Jon Brandon, Santa Clarita, Calif., 2,790, $1,200.
55, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 2,783, $1,000.
56, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 2,770, $1,000.
57, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 2,768, $1,000.
58, Jeff Frankos, Daly City, Calif., 2,767, $1,000.
59, Brett Spangler, New Castle, Ind., 2,765, $1,000.
60, Ron Case, Oakley, Calif., 2,737, $1,000.
61, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 2,734, $1,000.
62, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 2,728, $1,000.
63, Dave Arnold, Dublin, Calif., 2,673, $1,000.
64, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 2,646, $1,000.

Scroggins Leads First Round of One-A-Day EarL Anthony Memorial

Eight-time Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titlist Mike Scroggins of Amarillo,
Texas, leads the 64-player field in the PBA One A Day Earl Anthony Memorial 
at Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl after the first Round of 64 block Thursday with a 1,677
seven-game pinfall (239.57 average).  He had games of 290, 259, 200, 213, 209, 269 and 237.
 

Scroggins, who had been in a bit of a slump since the PBA World Series of 
Bowling last November, felt his game returning to form after last week’s PBA 
Tournament of Champions where he finished 19th.
 

“Making match play last week at the Tournament of Champions was a good 
confidence builder,” said Scroggins.  “During the World Series I think I bowled the minimum number of games you could bowl

—didn’t make the top 16 in any of the events.
 

“Sometimes I get into a phase where my timing isn’t where it should be and that 
was the case in the World Series, but I think I have that corrected now and I’m feeling much more comfortable.”
 

Mika Koivuniemi, who won the Tournament of Champions and a record $250,000 first 
prize last week for his ninth PBA Tour title, finished the first block in 21st with a 1,528 pinfall (218.28 average).
 

He’s hoping to keep the momentum going after winning the T of C for his third major.
 

“When you’re bowling good, you’re bowling good,” Koivuniemi said. “When I won my 
first tournament (2000 USBC Masters) I made the show the next week so hopefully 
I can do that this week.  It’s easier to keep bowling good than having to start bowling good.”
 

Earl Anthony Memorial defending champion Anthony LaCaze will have some work to do to advance to match play currently
sitting in 56th place.
 

The entire field will bowl another seven-game round later this afternoon after which the field will be cut to the
top 32 players who will advance to Friday’s match play. After match play has concluded the four players will be determined 
for the stepladder finals which will air live on ESPN2 Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern/11 a.m. Pacific.

 
PBA ONE A DAY EARL ANTHONY MEMORIAL
Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl, Dublin, Calif., Jan. 27

FIRST ROUND (after seven games)
1, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1,677.
2, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 1,650.
3, Tommy Jones, Greenville, S.C., 1,645.
4, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 1,613.
5, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 1,604.
6, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 1,591.
7, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 1,572.
8, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 1,560.
9, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 1,556.
10, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 1,553.
11, (tie) Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 1,547.
13, Stuart Williams, England, 1,546.
14, (tie) Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., and Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 1,544.
16, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,538.
17, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 1,537.
18, Dave Wodka, Chatsworth, Calif., 1,535.
19, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,532.
20, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,530.
21, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 1,528.
22, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 1,524.
23, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 1,522.
24, Matt Freiberg, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,520.
25, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,517.
26, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 1,513.
27, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 1,511.
28, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,499.
29, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 1,494.
30, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 1,491.
30, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 1,491.
32, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,472.
33, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 1,467.
34, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,460.
35, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 1,455.
36, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,447.
37, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,445.
38, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 1,443.
39, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 1,441.
40, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 1,438.
41, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,435.
42, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 1,434.
43, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 1,428.
44, Jeff Frankos, Daly City, Calif., 1,416.
45, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,415.
46, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 1,413.
47, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,410.
48, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 1,405.
49, Brett Spangler, New Castle, Ind., 1,404.
50, Dennis Acma, San Ramon, Calif., 1,401.
51, (tie) Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., and Curtis Woods Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., 1,397.
53, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,390.
54, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,381.
55, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,380.
56, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 1,368.
57, (tie) Ron Case, Oakley, Calif., and Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,362.
59, (tie) Dave Arnold, Dublin, Calif., and  Jon Brandon, Santa Clarita, Calif., 1,346.
61, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 1,340.
62, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 1,334.
63, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,328.
64, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 1,300.

Wodka Leads PBA TQR for One A Day Earl Anthony Memorial Tournament

Dave Wodka of Chatsworth, CA, repeated as top qualifier in the Tour 
Qualifying Round (TQR) of the One A Day PBA Earl Anthony 
Memorial Wednesday at Earl Anthony's Dublin Bowl, averaging 225.14 for seven 
games to pace the 13 players who will advance to the tournament's Round of 64 on 
Thursday.

Wodka, a former Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour exempt player who won his only PBA 
Tour title in the 1999 Greater Detroit Open, finished the seven-game TQR with a 
1,576 total, 41 pins ahead of Jon Brandon of Santa Clarita, CA. The 13 
players who advanced out of the TQR will join 50 members of the Lumber 
Liquidators PBA Tour and Wayne Garber of Modesto, CA, who was granted a PBA 
Commissioner's Exemption for the event, for 14 qualifying games Thursday.

After leading the TQR last year, Wodka finished in 56th place. He hopes to 
improve this year.

"I'm hoping to have a little better showing this year," he said. "I'd like to 
make the match play cut (top 32 after Thursday's qualifying round) and go from 
there.

"I bowled really well in the PBA Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas last week, 
except for the first round," he added. "I did the same thing in the World Series 
of Bowling early in the season. I made the wrong ball choices and adjustments, 
and couldn't recover.

"I'd absolutely love to win another title. It's possible, but I just have to 
bowl better physically and mentally. You can't ever give away pins to these 
guys."

Competition continues Thursday with two seven-game Round of 64 rounds beginning 
at 10 a.m. The field will then be cut to 32 players for match play on Friday.  
After match play has concluded the four players will be determined for the 
stepladder finals which will air live on ESPN2 Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern/11 a.m. 
Pacific.


PBA Tour Qualifying Round

1, Dave Wodka, Chatsworth, Calif., 1,576.
2, Jon Brandon, Santa Clarita, Calif., 1,535.
3, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 1,520.
4, Ron Case, Oakley, Calif., 1,513.
5, (tie) Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Dennis Acma, San Ramon, Calif., 1,507.
7, Curtis Woods Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., 1,505.
8, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 1,503.
9, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,490.
10, (tie) Jeff Frankos, Daly City, Calif., and Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 1,471.
12, (tie) Matt Freiberg, Simpsonville, S.C., and Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 1,455.
 

Did not advance:
14, (tie) Greg Thomspon Jr., Dublin, Calif., and Dennis Horan Jr., Temecula, Calif., 1,437, $700.
16, Marvin Hale, Roswell, Ga., 1,419, $500.
17, Josh Blanchard, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 1,418, $400.
18, Rick Francis, Linden, Calif., 1,417, $350.
19, Nick Morgan, Sacramento, Calif., 1,416, $300.
20, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 1,415.
21, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,413.
22, Austin Kircher, Orangevale, Calif., 1,400.
23, Jerry Johnson Jr., Las Vegas, 1,398.
24, (tie) Mark McCreary, Livermore, Calif., and PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 1,396.
26, Lindsey Wong, Sunnyvale, Calif., 1,393.
27, Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,383.
28, Joe Salvemini, Henderson, Nev., 1,377.
29, Steven Black, Phoenix, AZ, 1,373.
30, Kevin Beber, Albany, Calif., 1,371.
31, Dave Houck, Castro Valley, Calif., 1,370.
32, David Doyle, Pacifica, Calif., 1,369.
33, Noah Berger, Berkeley, Calif., 1,368.
34, (tie) Chris Pitts, Fresno, Calif., and Andrew Mortensen, Tulsa, Okla., 1,363.
36, Chris Hillman, Fremont, Calif., 1,362.
37, Larry Wheeler Jr., Benicia, Calif., 1,360.
38, Scott Boyle, Salida, Calif, 1,359.
39, Garrett Richardson, Martinez, Calif., 1,358.
40, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,318.
41, Aaron Pawloski, Brentwood, Calif., 1,316.
42, Richard Torres, Antioch, Calif., 1,308.
43, Jim Woodard, Benicia, Calif., 1,303.
44, Ivan Yee, San Francisco, 1,302.
45, (tie) Daryn Young, Danville, Calif., and Randall Harmon, San Jose, Calif., 1,299.
47, Kenneth Daily, San Leandro. Calif., 1,294.
48, Kioni Sodaria, Stockton, Calif., 1,292.
49, Barry Richards, Lodi, Calif., 1,291.
50, Joseph Leon-Guerrero, Guam, 1,287.
51, Dave Moore, Hickman, Calif., 1,280.
52, Sal Bruno, Antioch, Calif., 1,279.
53, Sam Carter, Ben Lomond, Calif., 1,269.
54, Ramon Estrada, San Diego, 1,267.
55, Courtney Miller, Charleston, S.C., 1,250.
56, Timothy Nelson, Antioch, Calif., 1,236.
57, John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 1,225.
58, (tie) Clark Walmer, Brentwood, Calif., and David Johns Jr., Brentwood, Calif., 1,219.
60, Shawn Amatori, San Francisco, Calif, 1,211.
61, Scott Chistensen, Ripon, Calif., 1,200.
62, Wilie Thomas IV, Richmond, Calif., 1,198.
63, Jeffery Mendonca, Atwater, Calif., 1,189.
64, Eddy Perez Sr., Richmond, Calif., 1,173.
65, Shane Nash, Houston, 1,164.
66, Ross Larsen, Riverside, Calif., 1,160.
67, Joe Branco, Hilmar, Calif., 1,153.
68, Joshua Lewis, Stanford, Calif., 1,146.
69, Chris Bennett, Antioch, Calif., 1,126.
70, Derryck Mertz, French Camp, Calif., 1,123.
71, Joel Dyson, Milpitas, Calif., 1,103.
72, Chris Kraft, Ceres, Calif., 1,090.
73, Nicole Ellison, Chatsworth, Calif., 1,087.
74, Terry Ferguson, Sunnyvale, Calif., 1,071.
75, Joe Monastiero, Livermore, Calif., 1,003.

USBC Open, Women’s Deadlines Extended

Tournament season is right around the corner, and it’s not too late to be part of the action at the 2011 USBC Women’s and Open Championships.

The entry deadline for the Women’s Championships has been extended to March 1, while USBC Open Championships competitors now have until March 4 to submit their entries.

The 2011 Open Championships will begin its 122-day run on March 4. Bowlers from all 50 states and several foreign countries will converge on the 78-lane National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., before the tournament concludes on July 3.

The Women’s Championships will return to New York state for the first time since 1996 and settle into Syracuse’s Oncenter Complex, where 48 specially-constructed lanes and custom-built, state-of-the-art scoreboards will await more than 30,000 bowlers. The event gets underway April 7 and will run for 88 days, also concluding on July 3.

The Women’s Championships received a makeover in 2010 and now features three average-based divisions that use a 100-percent handicap format.

Kelly Kulick, Norm Duke and Bill Vint Honored

Windy City Bowling newspaper publisher and veteran bowling writer Bill Vint was the recipient of the World Bowling Writers’ Gosta Zellen Golden Quill Award for excellence in bowling journalism.

The honor was announced after the PBA's Tournament of Champions event, during the Hall of Fame Dinner. 

Also presented during the ceremonies, the Bowlers Journal Person of the Year Award, Glenn Allison Hero Award and World Bowling Writers’ International Bowler of the Year Award to 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions winner Kelly Kulick.

Norm Duke was presented with his Glenn Allison Hero Award for winning a record three consecutive PBA major tournaments over the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.

Major Mika Wins PBA Tournament of Champions

Finnish native Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, MI, defeated top qualifier Tom
Smallwood of Saginaw, MI, 269-207, Saturday to win the $250,000 first prize
in the $1 million Professional Bowlers Association Tournament of Champions 
at Red Rock Lanes.

After rolling a 299 game against Tom Daugherty of Wesley Chapel, FL, in the 
semifinal match, Koivuniemi threw another 10 strikes on 12 tries against 
Smallwood to become the first international player ever to win the PBA’s 
signature tournament.

“I can’t even say what this title means right now,” Koivuniemi said. “It was my 
third major and I have nine titles now. I hope I can win a few more and secure a 
spot in the hall of fame. And my oldest daughter is starting college next year, 
so the money will help.

“It helped to get past my first match,” he added. “I haven’t had a lot of breaks 
on TV lately. Even after I shot the 299, I held myself back and stayed focused. 
It would have been nice to shoot 300, but it’s more important to win the title.”

Koivuniemi earned the nickname “Major Mika” after winning the 2000 United States 
Bowling Congress Masters and the 2001 U.S. Open – both major championships - for 
his first two PBA titles after a highly successful international career where he 
won titles in 15 different countries.

“Mika bowled great. He won,” said Smallwood, who earned $100,000 as runner-up. 
“He out-bowled all of us. He had a great look at the lane condition and he made 
the shots. And winning $100,000 can make you a good loser.”

In the semifinal match, Koivuniemi came within a wobbling 10 pin of becoming the 
first player in PBA history to shoot two nationally-televised 300 games. The 
42-year-old right-hander rolled a perfect game against Jason Couch of Clermont, 
FL, in Windsor Locks, CT, in 2003.

Koivuniemi easily defeated Daugherty, 299-100, because Daugherty’s television 
debut was a disaster. The 35-year-old Floridian left seven difficult – if not 
unmakeable – splits in rolling the lowest nationally-televised game in PBA 
history. Daugherty converted two pins after leaving the 4-6-7-10 split in the 
10th frame to shoot an even 100, erasing the 129 bowled by Steve Jaros in Lake 
Zurich, IL, in 1992. Despite his record low score, Daugherty took home $50,000 
for third place. Possibly the biggest payday for the lowest score ever.

“I destroyed Jaros’ record,” Daugherty grinned. “I would have been more upset if 
I’d shot 260 and lost. I really wasn’t nervous. I just threw the wrong ball and 
made some bad shots. Once I was down 50 pins and threw another split, I was just 
trying to get out of Mika’s way.

“But I still had the most fun I’ve ever had in my life this week, including 
today. I’d rather shoot 100 today than earlier in the week. I made $500 a pin 
today. That’s more than Mika made, pin for pin.”

Koivuniemi began his march to the title with a 224-220 win over Columbia's Andres

Gomez in the opening match when Gomez failed to double in the 10th frame.

Both players showed early jitters – Koivuniemi leaving a pocket 7-10 split on his

first shot and Gomez missing a 7 pin in his second frame – but both recovered with

strings of strikes. Gomez used his string of five in a row to take the lead heading into
the ninth frame, but made his biggest mistake, leaving and missing the 3-4-6-7
split to hand the lead back to the Finnish native.

Koivuniemi had a chance to lock up the match with a strike on his first shot in 
the 10th frame, but left a 10 pin to give Gomez a chance. Gomez earned $40,000 
for his fourth place finish.

The first prize and total prize fund were the richest in bowling history. The 
finals, which aired in high-definition for the first time in PBA history, 
returned to ABC for the first time in 14 years.

The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s next event is the One A Day Earl Anthony 
Memorial which begins Wednesday at Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl in Dublin, CA.

Virtual Gravity Nano Added By Storm Products

The new Orange/ Navy/ Cobalt Virtual Gravity Nano is intended to create a similar yet stronger ball motion than the previous Virtual Gravity, built specifically for heavy oil. 

The “Shape-Lock HD” (High Density) motor will power the Nano as it did the Virtual Gravity. Storm is calling the new “NRG™” (Nano Reactive Genesis) cover for the Nano “A breakthrough in coverstock technology.” 

The Nano is finished to 4000-grit Abralon. Radius of Gyration: 15#-2.48,  RG Differential: 15#-.052. Look for the new Storm Virtual Gravity Nano March 1st.

PBA TOC Final Match

Smallwood Surges to the Top Spot at The TOC

Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, MI, who captured 
the hearts of thousands of unemployed American workers a year ago, re-lived his 
fairytale journey Friday by advancing to the finals of the $1 million 
Professional Bowlers Association Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes.

Just over a year ago, Smallwood was one of thousands of Michigan auto workers 
who were laid off by General Motors. He decided to try his luck in professional 
bowling, earned an exemption to bowl the full season on the Lumber Liquidators 
PBA Tour, and converted that opportunity into a victory in the 2009 PBA World 
Championship.

Smallwood’s first PBA Tour title earned him a $50,000 prize and a guarantee of 
two more years as a full-time professional bowler, but the 32-year-old 
right-hander’s remarkable performance in Friday’s match play rounds gave him an 
opportunity to dwarf last year’s accomplishment.

Smallwood is one win away from a PBA-record $250,000 first prize in Saturday’s 
live stepladder finals on ABC at 2:30 p.m. Eastern (11:30 a.m. Pacific).

Also advancing to Saturday’s finals are Tom Daugherty of Wesley Chapel, FL; 
Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, MI, and Andres Gomez, a Colombian citizen who 
lives in Weston, FL. Daugherty is a four-time PBA Regional title winner. 
Koivuniemi, a native of Finland, owns eight PBA Tour titles including two major 
championships. Gomez is trying for his first PBA Tour title.

Smallwood finished the 58-game qualifying portion of the tournament with a 19-5 
match play record and 13,606 total pins, including match play bonus pins, to top 
Daugherty’s 13,545 total by 61 pins. Koivuniemi finished with 13,424 pins and 
Gomez with a 13,376 total to claim the fourth position by 18 pins over Chris 
Barnes of Double Oak, TX, who won last Sunday’s PBA World Championship.

In addition to the $250,000 first prize, Saturday’s other prizes are $100,000 
for second place, $50,000 for third and $40,000 for fourth.

After entering match play Thursday night in 16th place, 435 pins behind 
qualifying leader Dan MacLelland, Smallwood lost his first two matches, won the 
next five and lost his final first-round match to move up to 13th place. Friday 
afternoon, he swept all eight opponents to advance to sixth place, seven pins 
out of the stepladder field.

“The breaks started going my way today,” Smallwood said. “It seemed like when my 
opponent stepped up in the 10th needing a strike, he missed. Or I’d get the 
strike I needed.”

Smallwood’s run of good fortune continued into the final round. He won his ninth 
straight match when Daugherty failed to double in the 10th frame, and No. 10 
when Parker Bohn III opened in his 10th frame. He made it 11 in a row by 
throwing a 298 game at Norm Duke, taking the tournament lead for the first time.

Smallwood won his 12th straight match thanks in part to Bill O’Neill’s three 
consecutive splits, and he threw strikes on nine of his first 10 shots to cruise 
to victory No. 13 in a row over Mike Edwards. Australian two-handed star Jason 
Belmonte finally ended Smallwood’s streak, 249-224, but he came right back, 
securing his position in Saturday’s finals by defeating Finland’s Osku Palermaa, 
264-214. Smallwood finished the night with a 258-236 loss to Daugherty that 
didn’t impact his standing.

While Smallwood hasn’t won a title since his PBA World Championship, “I’m not 
disappointed with the way things have been going,” he said. “You just try to 
make the show every week and give yourself a chance.”

Nor has Smallwood thought much about the magnitude of winning the Tournament of 
Champions. “I’ve never thrown a ball in the first frame of a tournament worrying 
about whether first prize is $10,000 or $250,000,” he said. “It doesn’t make any 
difference. The thing I’ve learned over the past year is that great bowlers know 
they are going to throw a great shot when they need one. A good bowler has 
doubts. I’m still a good bowler, not a great one.”

Saturday’s PBA Tournament of Champions finals will return to ABC Television for 
the first time in 14 years. The PBA Tour has been televised live on ESPN since 
1980. 

46TH PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Nev., Friday, Jan. 21

FINAL MATCH PLAY STANDINGS (after 58 games, including won-lost records and match 
play bonus pins; top four advance to stepladder finals live on ABC Saturday at 
2:30 p.m. Eastern/11:30 a.m. Pacific)
1, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 19-5, 13,606.
2, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 16-8, 13,545.
3, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 13-11, 13,424.
4, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 15-9, 13,376.
5, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 14-10, 13,358, $35,000.
6, Dan MacLelland, Saginaw, Mich., 11-13, 13,347, $30,000.
7, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 11-13, 13,314, $26,000.
8, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 14-10, 13,212, $24,000.
9, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 11-13, 13,175, $23,000.
10, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 10-14, 13,144, $22,000.
11, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 12-12, 13,140, $21,000.
12, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 10-14, 13,092, $20,100.
13, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 11-12-1, 13,053, $19,000.
14, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 12-12, 12,969, $18,000.
15, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 14-10, 12,949, $17,000.
16, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 10-14, 12,879, $16,000.
17, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 15-9, 12,855, $15,100.
18, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 11-12-1, 12,854, $14,000.
19, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 7-17, 12,748, $13,000.
20, Robert Smith, Hong Kong, 12-12, 12,686, $12,000.
21, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 10-14, 12,614, $11,000.
22, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 10-14, 12,543, $10,000.
23, Tyler Jensen, Ft. Worth, Texas, 8-16, 12,535, $9,000.
24, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 11-13, 12,483, $8,000.

300 Game: Doug Kent

PBA Tournament of Champions Down to Final Matchs

Former collegiate bowling star Dan MacLelland of Saginaw, MI, carried a 94–pin
lead into Friday night’s final round of match play in the $1 million Professional
Bowlers Association (PBA) Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes, but the
biggest move during Friday’s early round was made by fellow Saginaw resident Tom
Smallwood who advanced from 13th place to sixth.

MacLelland, who took the lead at the end of qualifying Thursday afternoon and 
has remained in front ever since, finished with an 8-8 match play record and a 
50-pin total of 11,620 pins. Smallwood, the fairytale story of the 2009-10 
Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season, swept all eight matches Friday afternoon to 
close to within seven pins of advancing to Saturday’s final four.

The top four players after Friday night’s eight-game match play round will 
compete for the PBA-record $250,000 first prize in Saturday’s live stepladder 
finals on ABC at 2:30 p.m. Eastern (11:30 a.m. Pacific).

Tom Daugherty of Wesley Chapel, FL, was in second place with 11,526 pins 
followed by Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, MI, at 11,511 and Chris Barnes of 
Double Oak, TX, at 11,499. Barnes, who is trying to win back-to-back PBA 
major titles, won the PBA World Championship last Sunday. Colombia’s Andres 
Gomez was five pins behind Barnes and two pins ahead of Smallwood. Finland’s 
Osku Palermaa and Bill O’Neill of Southampton, PA – Sunday’s PBA World 
Championship runner-up – also were within striking distance of the top four 
spots.

“I thought I threw the ball better today than I did yesterday,” MacLelland said. 
“My scores might not show it, but my timing and the way I threw the ball was 
better. I’m happy with the results.

“I’m definitely (feeling the pressure),” the three-time Saginaw Valley State 
University collegiate All-American said. “When you’re trying to maintain a 
100-pin lead over second and you see guys getting close, you start to feel it a 
little in the arm swing.”

Smallwood is the former General Motors auto worker who won last season’s PBA 
World Championship just months after being laid off during the economic 
downturn. He needs to finish in the top four Friday night for a chance to win 
his second career PBA Tour title.

“The breaks started going my way today,” Smallwood said. “It seemed like when my 
opponent stepped up in the 10th needing a strike, he missed. Or I’d get the 
strike I needed. The lanes felt pretty good to me all day. All week when I 
played a deeper angle and I didn’t feel like I could strike. I played farther 
right today and it felt much better.”

While Smallwood has only advanced to the television finals one time since his 
fairytale victory, he isn’t disappointed or concerned about being in position to 
bowl for a $250,000 prize.

“I’m not disappointed with the way things have been going,” he said. “You just 
try to make the show every week and give yourself a chance. I’ve never thrown a 
strike first frame worrying about whether first prize is $10,000 or $250,000. It 
doesn’t make any difference.

“The thing I’ve learned is that great bowlers know they are going to throw a 
great shot when they need one. A good bowler has doubts. I’m still a good 
bowler, not a great one.”

46TH PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Nev., Friday, Jan. 21

EIGHTH ROUND (after 50 games, including won-lost records and match play bonus 
pins)
1, Dan MacLelland, Saginaw, Mich., 8-8, 11,620.
2, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 10-6, 11,526.
3, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 10-6, 11,511.
4, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 9-7, 11,499.
5, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 10-6, 11,494.
6, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 13-3, 11,492.
7, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 9-7, 11,476.
8, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 8-8, 11,463.
9, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 10-6, 11,360.
10, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 6-10, 11,287.
11, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 8-7-1, 11,219.
12, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 7-9, 11,175.
13, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 8-8, 11,128.
14, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 8-8, 11,124.
15, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 11-5, 11,111, $100.
16, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 4-12, 11,089, $100.
17, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 9-7, 11,081.
18, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 6-10, 11,019.
19, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 4-12, 10,992.
20, Robert Smith, Hong Kong, 7-9, 10,958.
21, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 7-8-1, 10,951.
22, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 7-9, 10,873.
23, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 8-8, 10,838.
24, Tyler Jensen, Ft. Worth, Texas, 4-12, 10,751.