Who Gets the ESPY For Best Bowler?

Reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi; PBA’s newest triple crown
winner Chris Barnes along with Bill O’Neill, and Jason Belmonte have been
nominated for ESPN’s  “Best Bowler ESPY” for 2011.

ESPN recently announced nominees in 33 categories and fan voting is now underway 
through 11:59 p.m. ET on July 9 at espn.com/espys. To vote, click on the “click 
to get started” tab on the ESPYs homepage, then click on the “vote by category” 
tab and scroll down the list to locate the “Best Bowler” category.  Click on the 
image of the player to vote.

The winners will be announced during the 18th annual ESPYs, live on ESPN at 9 
p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 13 from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

Koivuniemi had a career season in 2010-11 winning the PBA Tournament of 
Champions for his ninth career title and third major while also finishing second 
in the Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open.  He earned $330,040 becoming only the 
fourth player in PBA history to earn more than $300,000 in a season.

Barnes won the PBA World Championship to become the sixth player to win PBA’s 
Triple Crown. The 13-time PBA Tour titlist also finished second in the inaugural 
Dick Weber Playoffs.

O’Neill won his third career title in the Pepsi Viper Championship and finished 
second to Barnes in the PBA World Championship.

Belmonte, the only player with a two-handed delivery to win a Lumber Liquidators 
PBA Tour title, had seven top 10 finishes in 2010-11 including finishing third 
twice.

ESPY BEST BOWLER AWARD WINNERS
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