Rash Leads The PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championships

Four-time Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour
champion Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., averaged 236.14 to lead after two rounds
in the PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship Thursday at AMF Thruway Lanes.

The Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, which requires players to use identical 
“throwback” polyester (plastic) ball technology, is named in honor of the PBA 
Hall of Famer who dominated the plastic ball era in the 1970s.

The concept behind the plastic ball tournament is to put a premium on knowledge 
of changing lane conditions, subtle adjustments in hand positions and delivery 
techniques, and other skills rather than relying on advanced bowling ball 
technology.

Rash had a 3,306 14-game pinfall total and leads 15-time Tour titlist Jason 
Couch of Clermont, FL, in second with 3,275. After a 1,689 seven-game pinfall 
in Thursday’s first round, Rash followed it up with 1,617 in the second round on 
games of 227, 266, 193, 226, 259, 227 and 219.

The field of 64 has been cut to 32 players who advance to Friday morning’s match 
play round which cuts the field to the top 16. Friday evening’s match play round 
will determine the top four who will advance to Sunday’s finals to be telecast 
live on ESPN at 1 p.m. Eastern.

“This is the one tournament of the year where we’re all on the same playing 
field,” Rash said. “You need to have a lot of things going for you right from 
the start – the ball has to feel good in your hand, you need to be lined up and 
fill frames.

“When you’re in the lead everyone’s gunning for you. A lot of guys bowled well 
that second block, especially Jason (Couch). Moving into match play the emphasis 
is going to be winning matches and if I can get off to a strong start like I did 
in the first two rounds I’ll be in good shape.”

Couch came from 16th in the first round up to second with a 1,742 pinfall (248.8 
average) in the second round.

“I grew up in the plastic ball era so I know how you have to adjust with this 
equipment,” Couch said. “I’ve done well in this event the past two years so I’m 
hopeful my good fortune will continue.”

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR MARK ROTH PLASTIC BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
AMF Thruway Lanes, Cheektowaga, NY, March 3

ROUND 2 QUALIFYING
(After 14 games. Top 32 advance to Friday’s match play)

1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3,306.
2, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 3,275.
3, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 3,201.
4, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,197.
5, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,144.
6, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3,123.
7, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 3,121.
8, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 3,101.
9, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,091.
10, (tie) Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., and Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3,084.
12, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 3,082.
13, (tie) Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa.,3,081.
15, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,069.
16, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 3,050.
17, (tie) John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., and Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,048.
19, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 3,040.
20, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 3,023.
21, Tommy Gollick, Oberlin, Pa., 3,021.
22, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 3,016.
23, Tommy Jones, Greenville, S.C., 3,012.
24, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 3,001.
25, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 2,993.
26, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 2,975.
27, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 2,974.
28, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 2,970.
29, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 2,962.
30, Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 2,960.
31, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 2,957.
32, Mike Rose Jr, West Henrietta, N.Y., 2,946.

Failed to advance
33, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,926, $1,300.
34, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 2,923, $1,300.
35, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 2,912, $1,300.
36, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 2,895, $1,300.
37, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 2,883, $1,200.
38, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2,882, $1,200.
39, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 2,871, $1,200.
39, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 2,871, $1,200.
41, (tie) Andres Gomez, Colombia, 2,867, and Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 2,867, $1,200.
43, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 2,860, $1,200.
44, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 2,858, $1,200.
45, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 2,852, $1,200.
46, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 2,842, $1,200.
47, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 2,832, $1,200.
48, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,831, $1,200.
49, Stuart Williams, England, 2,826, $1,200.
50, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 2,809, $1,200.
51, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 2,803, $1,200.
52, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,795, $1,200.
53, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 2,770, $1,200.
54, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 2,738, $1,200.
55, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 2,733, $1,000.
56, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 2,732, $1,000.
57, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 2,721, $1,000.
58, Johnny Petraglia Jr., Jackson, N.J., 2,719, $1,000.
59, Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., 2,715, $1,000.
60, Jeff Zaffino, Warren, Pa., 2,707, $1,000.
61, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 2,690, $1,000.
62, Bob Learn Jr., Macomb, Mich., 2,662, $1,000.
63, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 2,235, $1,000.
64, Matthew O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J., 990, $1,000.