Pete Weber Tops Matchplay of Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions

Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, defeated Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte in their final match Friday night, 226-183, to claim the top qualifying position for Sunday’s Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions stepladder finals at Woodland Bowl.

The 50-year-old Weber, who is trying for a record-tying 10th major title and a chance to complete the PBA’s Triple Crown for an unprecedented second time, traded leads with Belmonte throughout Friday’s competition before reclaiming the lead in the final game. Weber averaged 236.71 and won 15 of his 24 matches to finish with a 48-game total of 11,812 pins, topping Belmonte by 46 pins for first place.

Weber, who ranks fourth on the all-time PBA Tour titles list with 36, can tie the late Earl Anthony for most PBA major titles if he wins Sunday’s title match. Weber has won the U.S. Open a record five times and the PBA World Championship twice; those events are the other two legs in the PBA Triple Crown.

“When we’re done Sunday, I’ll talk about those things,” Weber said. “I thought I was pulling away from everyone, but all of a sudden, here comes Belmo. I would have been content with second, but I’m happy I only have to bowl one game Sunday.”

Weber credited his older brother Rich for identifying a minor fix in his timing, which made a big difference in the way he has bowled the past two months.

“(Rich) watches me bowl a lot and he never says anything if I’m bowling well,” Weber said. “He hasn’t said anything to me in a couple of months, so I must be doing things right.”

Belmonte, who won his sixth career title and first major title in the United States Bowling Congress Masters in February, had a 14-9-1 match play record and posted a 11,766 pinfall total.

Reigning PBA Player of the Year and defending Tournament of Champions winner Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL, qualified third with 11,661 pins. Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, SC, advanced from 12th place at the start of play Friday to qualify fourth, 25 pins ahead of Finland’s Osku Palermaa. Palermaa defeated Bill O’Neill of Langhorne, PA, in their final match, 198-194, to hold onto the fifth berth in Sunday’s finals.

The Tournament of Champions finals will air live on ESPN Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET. First prize is $50,000.

BARBASOL PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Woodland Bowl, Indianapolis, Friday

Final Match Play Standings (after 48 games, including match play bonus pins; top five advance to ESPN stepladder finals Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET)

1, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 15-9, 11,812.
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 14-9-1, 11,766.
3, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 15-9, 11,661.
4, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 16-7-1, 11,500.
5, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 12-11-1, 11,475.
6, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 14-10, 11,437, $8,000.
7, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 15-9, 11,320, $7,000.
8, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 13-9-2, 11,269, $6,500.
9, Stuart Williams, England, 13-11, 11,217, $6,000.
10, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 12-11-1, 11,204, $5,500.
11, Dom Barrett, England, 12-12, 11,180, $5,000.
12, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 12-12, 11,149, $4,800.
13, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 12-12, 11,116, $4,600.
14, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 11-13, 11,013, $4,400.
15, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 8-16, 10,998, $4,200.
16, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 13-11, 10,991, $4,000.
17, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 10-14, 10,977, $3,900.
18, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 10-14, 10,932, $3,800.
19, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 9-15, 10,856, $3,700.
20, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 12-12, 10,825, $3,600.
21, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 9-15, 10,778, $3,500.
22, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 9-14-1, 10,764, $3,400.
23, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 10-14, 10,694, $3,300.
24, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 8-15-1, 10,515, $3,200.

300 Game: Andres Gomez.


Belmonte Leads Weber by 7 For Lead of Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions

Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte, with a 279 final game, jumped into the lead as the Barbasol Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tournament of Champions (TOC) field headed into the final round of match play Friday at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis, IN.

Belmonte, who won his sixth career title and first major title in the United States Bowling Congress Masters in February, spent the fifth round in either second or third place before overtaking PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, by seven pins in the final game of the fifth round. Belmonte averaged 238.05 for 40 games, posting a modest 8-7-1 match play record and a 9,777 pinfall total.

“It’s such a long format, I find myself slowing down in the middle, missing a few spares that I’m not proud of,” Belmonte said, “but I refocused and went back to my basics, made good shots and I was proud of the way I finished the round.
“I’m finishing every round strong, which gives me a lot of confidence heading into the final eight games,” he added. “I feel like I’ll be able to throw that big game if I need it.”

Weber, who is trying for a record-tying 10th major title and a chance to complete the PBA’s Triple Crown for an unprecedented second time, had a 10-6 match play record and 9,770 pins. Weber ranks fourth on the all-time PBA Tour titles list with 36, and his nine major titles is second only to the late Earl Anthony’s 10 major wins. He has won the U.S. Open a record five times and the PBA World Championship twice; those events are the other two legs in the PBA Triple Crown.

Finland’s Osku Palermaa, who led after four rounds, fell to third place with a 9,643 total followed by reigning PBA Player of the Year Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL, at 9,585 and Colombia’s Andres Gomez at 9,495.
The top five players after Friday night’s final eight-game match play round will advance to the ESPN stepladder finals on Sunday.

Friday’s final match play round (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, Friday

Round Five (after 40 games, including match play bonus pins)
1, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 8-7-1, 9,777.
2, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 10-6, 9,770.
3, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 8-7-1, 9,643.
4, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 8-8, 9,585.
5, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 10-6, 9,495.
6, Dom Barrett, England, 9-7, 9,448.
7, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 11-4-1, 9,415.
8, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 9-7, 9,385.
9, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 7-9, 9,363.
10, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 8-7-1, 9,350.
11, Stuart Williams, England, 8-8, 9,347.
12, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 8-8, 9,314.
13, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 8-8, 9,255.
14, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 7-9, 9,199.
15, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 10-6, 9,174.
16, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 8-8, 9,150.
17, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 7-9, 9,135.
18, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 8-8, 9,129.
19, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 7-9, 9,088.
20, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 7-9, 9,045.
21, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 6-9-1, 8,958.
22, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 5-11, 8,948.
23, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 6-9-1, 8,863.
24, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 6-10, 8,836.

300 Game: Andres Gomez.

Two Handers Blasting PBA Tournament Of Champions Qualifying

 Finland’s Osku Palermaa and Australia’s Jason Belmonte, the top two-handed bowlers in the world, led the field of 24 finalists into the opening round of match play in the Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions (TOC) Thursday at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis, IN.

Palermaa, a three-time PBA Tour champion and winner of the 2011 PBA World Championship, averaged 244.88 for his 24 qualifying games, finishing with a total of 5,877 pins to lead Belmonte by 146 pins. Belmonte, who entered the final qualifying round in eighth place, averaged 265.87 for his first seven games in round three before finishing with a 169 game, but he held onto second place with a 5,731 total, 15 pins ahead of Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO.

“I felt tired this morning, but I started well anyway,” Palermaa said. “I left a 7-10 split in my first frame and converted it, and that’s the way it started. To be honest, I’ve probably converted the 7-10 more times than I have bowled 300 games - and I have a few of those – but it was a good way to start the day.

“Scores were high today, but I made the right guesses,” Palermaa continued. “I felt like I bowled better physically yesterday, but I scored better today. Yesterday I made the right moves, but I didn’t make big enough moves. Today the moves were smaller, but I made them pair to pair and I stayed right on top of things.”

Weber, who is trying for a record-tying 10th major championship, had 5,716 pins for third place. He was followed by reigning PBA Player of the Year Sean Rash in fourth with a 5,599 total and Stuart Williams of England with 5,570 pins.

All-time PBA titles leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., kept his hopes for a 48th title alive, advancing to match play in 19th place. Williams needs to win the Tournament of Champions to become the eighth player to complete the PBA Triple Crown (Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open and PBA World Championship) and the third to complete the Grand Slam (Triple Crown plus USBC Masters).

The TOC continues Thursday night when the top 24 players bowl the first of three eight-game round of match play. The final two match play rounds will be held Friday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. After 48 games, the top five players will advance to Sunday’s live ESPN stepladder finals at 2:30 p.m. ET.

All 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, Thursday

Round Three (after 24 qualifying games; top 24 advance to round robin match play)

1, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 5,877.
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 5,731.
3, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 5,716.
4, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 5,599.
5, Stuart Williams, England, 5,570.
6, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 5,556.
7, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 5,552.
8, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 5,522.
9, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 5,493.
10, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 5,478.
11, Dom Barrett, England, 5,449.
12, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5,446.
13, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 5,443.
14, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 5,424.
15, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 5,403.
16, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 5,401.
17, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 5,394.
18, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 5,393.
19, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 5,368.
20, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 5,344.
21, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 5,334.
22, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 5,322.
23, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 5,320.
24, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 5,317.

Other Cashers (after 24 games):

25, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 5,315, $2,800.
26, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 5,313, $2,700.
27, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 5,299, $2,600.
28, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 5,291, $2,500.
29, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 5,290, $2,400.
30, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 5,268, $2,350.
31, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 5,262, $2,300.
32, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 5,260, $2,250.
33, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 5,257, $2,200.
34, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 5,251, $2,150.
35, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 5,247, $2,200.
36, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 5,245, $2,050.
37, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 5,237, $2,000.
38 (tie), Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, and Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 5,220, $1,925.
40, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 5,215, $1,850.
41, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 5,201, $1,800.
42, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 5,175, $1,750.
43, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 5,133, $1,700.
44, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 5,097, $1,650.
45, John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 5,079, $1,600.
46, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 5,071, $1,550.
47, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 5,064, $1,500.
48, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 5,063, $1,450.
49, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 5,056, $1,400.
50, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 5,019, $1,400.
51, George Branham III, Indianapolis, 4,857, $1,400.
52, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, withdrew, $1,400.
53, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, withdrew, $1,400.

300 Games: Jason Belmonte.

Pete Weber Moves Ito the Lead at Barbasol PBATournament of Champions

Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, in his bid to tie the late Earl Anthony for the most Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) major titles won, charged into the second round lead in the Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions (TOC) Wednesday night at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis, IN.

Weber, at age 50, averaged 242.19 including the only 300 game in the second round to finish with a 16-game total of 3,875 pins. With eight more qualifying games remaining Thursday before the cut to the top 24 for round-robin match play, the PBA Hall of Famer, Weber held a 41-pin lead over reigning PBA Player of the Year Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL.

Weber, a 36-time PBA Tour titlist, ranks fourth on the all-time PBA Tour titles list behind Walter Ray Williams Jr. (47), Earl Anthony (43) and Norm Duke (37). He is trying for his 10th major championship to equal Anthony’s record and his 37th overall title to tie Duke for third place on the career titles list. He won two of his major titles – the 1991 U.S. Open and 1992 Touring Players Championship – at Woodland Bowl.

“I kinda like it here. I have always enjoyed bowling here,” Weber said. “Winning this one would let me complete the Triple Crown for the second time (he has won the other two legs of the Triple Crown multiple times; the U.S. Open a record five times and the PBA World Championship twice).”

No player has ever won all three PBA Triple Crown events twice.

“I’ve bowled well all year, but something was missing,” Weber added. “My brother Rich straightened it out. It was just a smidgeon in my timing, but it worked. I just feel a lot more confident, and when you have a good reaction and good carry, it just loosens the swing up that much more.”

History is on the line, but Weber isn’t concerned about it.

“I don’t think about the majors. That’s the least thing I worry about,” he said. “It’s not Sunday. I’m thinking about making the top 24 first, and then if I make it to the TV show on Sunday, I’ll think about winning. Not now.”

Rash, with 3,834 pins, was followed by Osku Palermaa of Finland with a 3,825 total; first-round leader Scott Norton of Mission Viejo, CA, in fourth place with 3,812 and Stuart Williams of England in fifth place with 3,757 pins.

The TOC continues Thursday with the final eight-game qualifying round at 10 a.m. The top 24 players based on 24-game pinfall totals will then advance to an eight-game round-robin match play round at 5 p.m. The final two eight-game match play rounds will be held Friday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. After 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 Two (after 16 qualifying games)

1, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,875.
2, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3,834.
3, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 3,825.
4, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 3,812.
5, Stuart Williams, England, 3,757.
6 (tie), Dom Barrett, England, and Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3,703.
8, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3,701.
9, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 3,676.
10, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,675.
11, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 3,671.
12, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 3,668.
13, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 3,651.
14, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3,648.
15, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 3,644.
16, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 3,639.
17, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 3,631.
18 (tie), Andres Gomez, Colombia, and Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 3,617.
20, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 3,606.
21, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,602.
22 (tie), Mike Fagan, Dallas, and Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,588.
24, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,586.
25, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 3,564.
26 (tie), Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, and Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,551.
28, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 3,541.
29 (tie), Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., and Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 3,537.
31, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 3,534.
32, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 3,521.
33, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 3,516.
34 (tie), Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., and Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 3,504.
36, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3,500.
37, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 3,496.
38, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 3,469.
39, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 3,466.
40, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 3,465.
41, John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 3,455.
42, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,450.
43, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 3,438.
44, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 3,436.
45 (tie), Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, and Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 3,419.
47, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,415.
48, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,401.
49, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 3,367.
50, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 3,361.
51, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,345.
52, George Branham III, Indianapolis, 3,247.
53, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, withdrew, injury.

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

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.

Scott Norton Wins Earl Anthony PBA Players Championship

Scott Norton of Mission Viejo, CA, defeated reigning Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year Sean Rash of suburban Chicago (Montgomery), IL, 219-191, to win the Earl Anthony PBA Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes for his third career title and second of the 2012-13 season.

The Anthony PBA Players Championship finals aired Sunday on ESPN.

Back-to-back unconverted 4-9 and 4-6-7 splits in the fifth and sixth frames put Rash in a 35-pin hole. He rebounded with a string of three strikes, but Norton continued to fill frames to maintain the lead. When Rash failed to strike in the 10th, Norton only needed seven pins in his 10th frame and the California left-hander threw three strikes to seal the victory.

“I knew Earl Anthony when I was a kid. My mother (women’s professional hall of famer Virginia Norton) bowled on tour at about the same time, so I got to know him,” Norton said. “To win the tournament named in his honor is really special.

“I thought it was a lot to get one title in a year, let alone two,” Norton added. “I don’t even have the words. I knew I was throwing the ball well. I knew I was in a good place mentally. Last year I knew what it took to win, but this year, I just decided I’m out here because I love to bowl and compete, and for no other reason.”

Norton was frustrated that he was unable to put the match away early, given opportunities by Rash, but he said he has new-found confidence that he can ultimately get the job done.

“Every time (Rash) gave me an opening, I couldn’t close the door,” he said, “but I have a little more determination now than I’ve had in the past. Every time I’m on that big stage, I know what I need to do.”

Norton, a practicing attorney when he isn’t bowling on Tour, knows it’s very early to start thinking about the PBA Player of the Year race, but moving into a tie with Mika Koivuniemi as the only two-time winners so far in 2012-13 at least puts him in the conversations.

“If I win POY that’s great,” he said. “That’s everyone’s goal, but I can only do what I can do and the rest isn’t up to me.”

PBA competition resumes with the Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions and PBA League Elias Cup finals Wednesday-Sunday at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis. The two-hour, five-player Tournament of Champions stepladder finals will air live on ESPN next Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Ronnie Russel Wins First Title in Germany Qualifies for TOC

After 10 years and 142 tournaments, Indianapolis area native Ronnie Russell captured his first Professional Bowlers Association Tour title Sunday, earning a berth in the Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions which gets underway Wednesday at Woodland Bowl in his home town.

Russell, a 33-year-old right-hander, defeated Sweden’s James Gruffman, 224-210, to win the Brunswick Euro Challenge (BEC) at Dream Bowl Palace. The tournament is part of the World Tenpin Bowling Association-PBA International Tour. It was the final event leading into the PBA Tournament of Champions.


 

Russell jumped out to an early lead in the title match, starting with three strikes, but the tall Swedish left-hander fought his way back. Russell got a big break when Gruffman left the 4-6-10 split late in the game. With a strike on his first ball in the 10th frame, Russell locked up the title.

With his win, Russell became eligible to compete in the PBA Tournament of Champions for the first time, eliminating Cincinnati’s Brian Himmler, who held the 48th and final berth among eligible PBA Tour champions. The Barbasol PBA TOC features an exclusive field of the 48 most recent PBA Tour champions along with any past TOC champions who elect to enter. The tournament will conclude next Sunday with a five-player stepladder final airing live on ESPN at 2:30 p.m. ET.

 

The Brunswick Euro Challenge is the fourth tournament on the 2013 European Bowling Tour schedule and one of only two "Platinum" events this season, the EBT's highest tournament category. The BEC is also the seventh stop of the World Bowling Tour and the second of three WBT events in Europe in 2013.

For the first time in 10 years of BEC competition, Europe's richest tournament will be contested at Europe's biggest bowling center, 52-lane Dream-Bowl Palace in Unterföhring near Munich, Germany.

The 106.000 Euro tournament, which runs from March 19-24, offers a 15.000 Euro top prize and a PBA International title if won by a PBA member.

MOTIV To Release The Urethane Tank

MOTIV to introduce a urethane ball called the Tank. The new entry is a Green Camo Ballistix™ Solid Urethane finished with 2000 grit with White Neomark labeling. Wrapped inside the Tank is the Gear™core. World Wide Release Date: April  24, 2013.  RG: #15/2.48 DIFF: #15/.034

2013 Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions

The Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions (TOC) 48th edition returns to the city where the classic was born in 1962. 

The TOC, which represents the Tour’s elite because it requires a PBA Tour title to be eligible to compete, will be conducted March 26-31 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis. 

The five-player, two-hour stepladder finals will be telecast live on ESPN at 2:30 p.m. ET on March 31.

PBA Tournament of Champions originated in Indianapolis in 1962: 51 years later, the TOC returns to the city where it began. Established to showcase those Tour players who were PBA Tour champions, the first event was conducted at Play Bowl and offered an “unheard of” $50,000 prize fund. 

Joe Joseph won the inaugural event with a two-game 480 pinfall total, followed by Billy Golembiewski, 416, and Hall of Famer Carmen Salvino third with 409 in the two-game elimination final. 

Joseph won a $15,000 first prize. Indianapolis has hosted all of PBA’s most prestigious events: The Tournament of Champions completes the “triple crown” for Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis as the home to PBA major championships. It hosted the U.S Open (2010, 1996, 1991, 1990) Denny’s PBA World Championship in (2008 and 2006) PBA Touring Players Championship (1992, 1993, 1994). 

Indianapolis also hosted the USBC Masters in the Indiana Convention Center (1974) in addition to the first Tournament of Champions. 

PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber’s last major title came in his memorable one-pin victory over Mike Fagan (215-214) for a record fifth PBA U.S. Open win in February 2012. Weber will be trying for his 10th major title which would put him in a tie with the late Earl Anthony for the most major titles won. 

Walter Ray Williams Jr. has accomplished nearly everything there is to accomplish in professional bowling except winning the Tournament of Champions. A TOC title would make the all-time titles leader (47) the third player in history to complete the PBA “Grand Slam” (titles in the Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open, PBA World Championship and USBC Masters). 

Mike Aulby and Norm Duke are the only players who have completed the Grand Slam.  

Reigning PBA Player of the Year Sean Rash hopes to become only the second player to defend a TOC title. Rash defeated Ryan Ciminelli in the championship match in 2012, 239-205, to win his fifth career title and second major. Only Hall of Famer Jason Couch has successfully defended a TOC title with an unprecedented three consecutive titles in 1999, 2000 and 2002. 

Third major of 2012-13 season. There have been two different winners in the two previous majors this season. Parker Bohn III in the PBA World Championship and Jason Belmonte in the USBC Masters. (The U.S. Open will be conducted in Columbus, Ohio, in July). 

Kelly Kulick of Union, NJ, made sports history in 2010 by becoming the first woman ever to win a PBA Tour event. Kulick defeated top qualifier Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, 265-195, in the title match after defeating two-time PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi in the semifinal round, 227-223. Her best finish since her historic win has been seventh. 

Indianapolis natives Mike Aulby and George Branham III made their mark in Tournament of Champions history. In 1993, George Branham III – the first African-American to win a PBA Tour title – also became the first African-American to win a "major" title at the 29th TOC at Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn, Ohio. After leading qualifying, Branham defeated third-seeded Parker Bohn III, 227-214. 

While not bowling this year, in 1995, PBA Hall of Famer Mike Aulby of Carmel, IN, won the Brunswick World Tournament of Champions at Harper College Fieldhouse in Palatine, IL, in front of 3,030 fans to complete the PBA’s Triple Crown (TOC, U.S. Open and PBA National/World Championship) as well as the Grand Slam (Triple Crown plus USBC Masters). Aulby defeated leading qualifier Bob Spaulding, 237-232, for the $60,000 first prize and a 20-foot Bayliner boat, motor and trailer package from Brunswick. 

14 Past TOC champions entered are Sean Rash (2012), Mika Koivuniemi (2011) Kelly Kulick (2010), Patrick Allen (2009), Chris Barnes (2006), Jason Couch (1999, 2000 and 2002), Mark Williams (1985 and 1988), Wayne Webb (1980), Norm Duke (1994), Bryan Goebel (1998), Michael Haugen Jr. (2008), Steve Jaros (2005), Tommy Jones (2007), and Pete Weber (1987). 

PBA Hall of Famers in TOC field include: Parker Bohn III, Norm Duke, Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Amleto Monacelli, Johnny Petraglia, Jason Couch, Wayne Webb, Mark Williams, Doug Kent and Danny Wiseman. 

Kent and Wiseman will be inducted during the 2013 PBA Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday night, March 30, at the Indianapolis Marriott North. 

Six countries are represented in the TOC field – Australia, Colombia, England, Finland, Venezuela and the U.S. 

PBA League Elias Cup finals to complete TOC week. The top four teams will determine the winner of the historic first season of the five-player team PBA League competition concludes TOC Week at Woodland Bowl. Teams will bowl a Baker format stepladder final round on Sunday, March 31 at 6 p.m. ET which will be aired on ESPN at Sunday, April 7 at 1 p.m. ET.

PBA Summer Swing Will Air on CBS Sports

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and CBS Sports Network have entered into a multi-year television agreement that features a series of five telecasts originating from the new GEICO PBA Summer Swing in Milwaukee in June.

The agreement, announced Tuesday by PBA CEO Geoff Reiss and Dan Weinberg, Senior Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports Network, includes five two-hour telecasts featuring stepladder finalists from four PBA Summer Swing events, and concludes with a GEICO PBA Summer King of the Swing special event featuring the top five competition points leaders from the Summer Swing events.

Summer Swing telecasts debut Tuesday, June 11 (7:00 PM, ET) on CBS Sports Network and continue for five consecutive Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, ET.

“We're thrilled at how committed CBS Sports Network is to the PBA and we're looking forward to their telecasts of the debut of the Summer Swing,” Reiss said. “The PBA's long-term success is predicated on developing great partnerships and we're looking forward to working with everyone at CBS Sports Network to grow both the PBA and the Network.” 

”We’re excited to partner with the PBA and showcase the world’s best bowlers,” Weinberg said. “The PBA has a storied history and an established fan base and we’re pleased to add it to our extensive lineup of event programming.”

The GEICO PBA Summer Swing is a new series of PBA Tour events which will be contested on three new “animal pattern” lane conditions that will debut in Milwaukee. The qualifying segments of the PBA Badger Open, PBA Wolf Open and PBA Bear Open will be hosted by three different Milwaukee area bowling centers (AMF Waukesha, AMF West and AMF Bowlero) between May 19-30. The cumulative pinfall totals from the three animal pattern events will qualify players for the Milwaukee Open, the fourth event in the series, and the GEICO PBA Summer King of the Swing will feature the top five points leaders based on the four previous events.

The Badger Open finals will air on June 11, the Wolf Open on June 18, the Bear Open on June 25, the Milwaukee Open on July 2 and the GEICO PBA Summer King of the Swing on July 9. All will be two-hour, five-player stepladder finals.

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900 Global Introduces The Rip It In April

The new 900 Global Rip It in Emerald Green and Silver is a S55 coverstock of polished reactive pearl surrounding the symmetric Hula core. Best suited for medium to medium-light oil volumes. RG – 2.570, RG Differential .045. Look for the new 900 Global Rip It April 1^st.

AMF300 Reveals The King Cobra

AMF300’s new King Cobra features F55 coverstock, milder than the Cobra SE’s F74. Complimenting the new milder cover is a denser, lower RG “lightbulb” (RG 2.46 and RG Diff of .030) shaped symmetric core, the new core density nearly doubles the RG Differential and increases flare potential. In the Black/Red King Cobra, a 4,000 grit Abralon finish is used. Look for the new AMF300 King Cobra March 4^th.

 

Sterner Defeats Malott in PBA Don Carter Classic

Jason Sterner of McDonough, GA, who had never finished higher than seventh place in a Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour event before the 2012-13 season, won his first PBA Tour title in the Don Carter Classic with a nearly-perfect 299-235 victory over top qualifier Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, at Thunderbowl Lanes in Michigan.

The Don Carter Classic and PBA League Carter team finals aired Sunday on ESPN.

 

Sterner, who lost a 199-177 decision to eventual champion Tom Daugherty in his only previous PBA television appearance in the Bowlers Journal Scorpion Championship during the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling earlier in the season, lost his chance at the 23rd nationally-televised 300 game in PBA history when he left a solid 10 pin on his final shot.

He also lost a bid to join Bob Benoit of Topeka, KS, as only the second player to win his first PBA Tour title with a 300 game. Benoit won the 1988 Quaker State Open in Grand Prairie, Texas, for his first title in his first PBA television appearance.

“The biggest thing I learned from my first show was getting rid of the nerves, and to trust your decisions,” Sterner said. “It’s a little added pressure to bowl on TV, but once you get comfortable, and trust your decisions, it’s a lot easier.

“I felt very confident,” he added. “I had the right ball, I knew what moves I needed to make and it was just a matter of going through my routine and believing in it. After the first couple of shots, I could see how the lanes were changing, and it just came easy. It was definitely a great feeling.

“When I realized the match was done, I realized I had a shot at 300, and the pins just kept falling,” Sterner continued. “I don’t think I’ve ever bowled that good of a game under pressure, ever.

“The last shot, I liked. I thought it was a great shot, but at that point I was so ready to celebrate the win, the 300 game wasn’t even important.”

With his first title, Sterner also earned his first opportunity to compete in the Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions, March 26-31 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis.

 

The Don Carter Classic was the third of four PBA Tour events held during the PBA Detroit Winter Swing. The Earl Anthony PBA Players Championship will conclude the Winter Swing on ESPN on Sunday, March 24 at 3 p.m. ET when top qualifier Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL, meets challenger Scott Norton of Mission Viejo, CA. The telecast also will include the PBA League Earl Anthony round, the final qualifying round heading into the Elias Cup finals. The Anthony PBA League round qualifiers are Terrell Owens’ Dallas Strikers, Chris Paul’s L.A. X, Jerome Bettis’ Motown Muscle and a fourth team that will advance from the Clash eliminator round.