Barbasol to Sponsor 2019 PBA Tour Finals in Las Vega

CHICAGO – Barbasol will be the titled sponsor of the 2019 Barbasol PBA Tour Finals, presented by Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Professional Bowlers Association CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark announced today.

The PBA’s partnership with Barbasol, which began in 2013, will include 10 hours of live coverage on CBS Sports Network July 20 and 21 from Red Rock Bowling Center, one of the nation’s premier bowling facilities and a preferred vacation destination for bowling fans. In addition to its title sponsorship of the PBA Tour Finals, Barbasol will renew its sponsorship of a special “Close Shave of the Day” highlight in each segment of the Tour Finals.

“We are very proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the PBA,” said Tim McNamara, Vice President of Marketing at Perio, Inc. “Barbasol’s rich legacy of sports sponsorships and strong American heritage are a great fit with the PBA and its loyal fan base. We are looking forward to this year’s Tour Finals in exciting Las Vegas.”

The 2019 edition of the Barbasol PBA Tour Finals will feature the top eight players based on competition points compiled during the 2018 and 2019 Go Bowling! PBA Tour seasons ending with the USBC Masters on April 1. Fans can follow the points race by visiting this link on pba.com after each tournament: https://www.pba.com/SeasonStats/PointsList/132?list=5.

“The PBA has been very proud of its partnership with Barbasol and we are excited to renew it in association with our PBA Tour Finals on CBS Sports Network,” Clark said. “If traditions hold true, the eventual champion will end up with a Barbasol shaving cream pie to the face.”

Heading into the PBA World Series of Bowling X, defending PBA Tour Finals champion Jason Belmonte of Australia was the leader on the two-year points list with 36,020 points. The other players in the top eight included Anthony Simonsen, Little Elm, Texas (34,109); 2017 Tour Finals winner EJ Tackett, Bluffton, Ind. (33,732); 2018 PBA Player of the Year Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich. (28,258); Jakob Butturff, Tempe, Ariz. (27,082); Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash. (26,462); Kris Prather, Plainfield, Ill. (25,951), and Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill. (24,586). Bill O'Neill of Langhorne, Pa. (23,432), and England’s Stuart Williams (23,291) were in ninth and 10th place, respectively.

 by Bill Vint  |  Monday, March 11, 2:33 PM

Barbasol Unveils Ultimate PBA Prize Package Sweepstakes

Barbasol Shaving Cream, title sponsor of the 2016 Barbasol PBA Players

Championship, is offering PBA fans a unique opportunity to win the Ultimate PBA Prize Package Sweepstakes beginning today and running through March 5. The Grand Prize winner will receive a 15-minute video call from a current PBA star, a bowling pin autographed by PBA Tour bowler, a replica PBA jersey customized with the winner’s name and a Barbasol prize pack.

Fans 13 and older should visit www.barbasol.com/PBA and follow the links and instructions for sweepstakes entry and for Official Rules. Fans also can connect to the sweepstakes by following the Barbasol Ultimate PBA Prize Package Sweepstakes link on pba.com and on PBA’s social media outlets.

The Ultimate PBA Prize Pack Sweepstakes is being held in conjunction with the Barbasol PBA Players Championship at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl in Columbus, Ohio, beginning Feb. 15 and concluding with live ESPN television coverage on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m. ET. A major championship on the 2016 PBA Tour schedule, the Barbasol PBA Players Championship will feature a 48-game qualifying and match play format, and a five-player stepladder final with a $40,000 first prize. All of the preliminary rounds of Players Championship week will be covered live, exclusively on PBA’s Xtra Frame online video-streaming service.

The Barbasol PBA Players Championship, open exclusively to PBA members, will get underway on Monday, Feb. 15, with practice and a celebrity pro-am. Eight-game qualifying rounds will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by an eight-game cashers round on Thursday, and three eight-game round-robin match play rounds Thursday and Friday. Additional pro-am squads that provide an opportunity for Ohio grassroots adult, youth and senior league bowlers to bowl alongside the pros will be conducted on Saturday, leading up to Sunday’s live ESPN finals.

"We're so pleased that Barbasol is offering this sweepstakes for PBA fans,” said PBA CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark. "2016 is the PBA’s Year of the Fan and this sweepstakes ties in perfectly with that theme.”

Barbasol, the Official Shaving Cream of the PBA, is also a sponsor of the PBA League’s Motown Muscle which will be in action in April as part of the PBA Maine Event in Portland, Maine.

by Jerry Schneider January 15, 2016 03:34

Weber Crushes Belmonte in PBA Tournament of Champions Finals

Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, wrote another chapter in bowling history Sunday when he defeated Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte, 224-179, to win the Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis, IN.

The victory made Weber the first player to complete the PBA Triple Crown for a second time and tied bowling legend Earl Anthony for most major PBA titles with 10.

Weber, who was considered one of the professional tour’s power players when he won his first PBA Tournament of Champions with his unique high back swing back in 1978, is now 50 – the oldest player ever to win the TOC – and affectionately called “Gramps” by his younger opponents.

He won his second TOC title to go along with five U.S. Open titles and two PBA World Championships. He also owns a PBA Touring Players Championship for his other major. His win Sunday was his 37th, tying him for third place on the PBA all-time titles list with Norm Duke, behind Walter Ray Williams Jr. (47) and Anthony (43).

“I don’t know what it is,” Weber said. “I get up for the majors, but there’s one eluding me and the Weber family – the USBC Masters. I really want that one, and I’m not done yet. I’m not slowing down. I have no plans to retire.”

Weber won Sunday with three doubles, four spares and help from Belmonte, who left the 4-10 split three times – failing to convert it twice.

“I woke up today and said my dream would be to bowl Pete and win by a pin,” Belmonte said. “I got half of it right. I bowled Pete, but I lost by 60.

“Pete is the most talented bowler the world has ever seen, and may ever see,” Belmonte added. “To bowl him in the finals and see him break records like he has broken is really special. If I could achieve half of what he has done by the time my career is over, I’ll be ecstatic.”

Belmonte eliminated defending champion Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL, 229-171, in the semifinal match. Belmonte started with five strikes while Rash threw only one strike in his first six frames. When Belmonte left the 1-2-4-6-10 in the eighth frame and failed to convert, he gave Rash a glimmer of hope, but Rash was unable to close the gap.

In the second match, Rash followed a first-frame spare with five strikes to build a 34-pin lead over Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, SC, after Jones left and failed to convert the 3-4-6-7-10 split in his second frame. Despite striking on eight of his last nine shots, Jones was unable to overcome his early mistake against Rash’s error-free game.

Jones started the stepladder finals with a 217-189 victory over Finland’s two-handed star, Osku Palermaa. Jones had a double in the second and third frames which gave him the lead and Palermaa, unable to double the entire game, couldn’t catch up.

The PBA Tour’s winter season ends next Sunday (April 7) when the finals of the Elias Cup, the concluding event of the inaugural PBA League season, airs on ESPN at 1 p.m. ET. The New York City WTT KingPins, owned by women’s sports legend Billie Jean King, is the top-qualifying team for the finals. Other finalists include the Motown Muscle, owned by former Pittsburgh Steelers star Jerome Bettis; the BROOKLYN STyLES, owned by Grey’s Anatomy actor Jesse Williams, and the Dallas Strikers, owned by former NFL great Terrell Owens.

BARBASOL PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Woodland Bowl, Indianapolis, Sunday

Final Standings

1, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., $50,000.

2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, $25,000.

3, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., $15,000.

4, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., $12,000.

5, Osku Palermaa, Finland, $10,000.

Stepladder Results

Match One: Jones def. Palermaa, 217-189.

Match Two: Rash def. Jones, 247-233.

Semifinal Match: Belmonte def. Rash, 229-171.

Championship: Weber def. Belmonte, 224-179.

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.

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.

Barbasol Title Sponsor for the PBA Tournament of Champions

Barbasol, a men’s shaving product with a heritage as rich and enduring as the Professional Bowlers Association itself, has been retained as titled sponsor for the Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions which will be held in the city where Barbasol was invented – Indianapolis.

The Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions is scheduled for March 27-31 at Woodland Bowl, and will conclude with a two-hour live stepladder final on ESPN on Sunday, March 31, at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Barbasol, invented by MIT professor Frank Shields in 1919, was the first men’s shaving cream that did not have to be worked into a lather by hand. Since its introduction, Barbasol has gone through many refinements and versions, but remains one of the world’s most popular shaving creams, easily identified by its red-and-white striped can – designed to mimic a barber’s pole.

“We are very excited and proud to continue our partnership with the PBA,” said Dustin Abels, Vice President-Business Development. “Barbasol’s rich legacy of sports sponsorships and strong American heritage are a great fit with the PBA and its loyal fan base.”

Owned by Dublin, Ohio-based Perio, Inc., Barbasol has been involved in sponsorships with the Professional Golf Association, National Basketball Association, and Major League Soccer, as well as numerous movie and television placements. During its formative years, product spokesmen included baseball legends Babe Ruth, Rogers Hornsby and Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne.

“Barbasol’s longevity and rich history align perfectly with the traditions and history of the PBA Tournament of Champions,” said PBA CEO Geoff Reiss. “The fact that the product was created in Indianapolis, a city that has hosted dozens of major PBA championships, makes this new partnership even more special.”

The Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions will return to its traditional roots this year, featuring an elite field of 48 PBA Tour champions (plus any past TOC champions who elect to participate).

The 2013 Tournament of Champions will get underway on Wednesday, March 27, with two eight-game qualifying rounds. After a third eight-game round on Thursday, the top 24 players will advance to eight-game match play rounds Thursday evening and Friday. The top five after 48 games advance to Sunday’s ESPN finals.

A pro-am program and the PBA Hall of Fame induction dinner, honoring newly-elected hall of famers Doug Kent and Danny Wiseman, will highlight Saturday’s schedule.

PBA’s exclusive online bowling channel, Xtra Frame, will provide live coverage of all activities leading up to the ESPN finals. For Xtra Frame subscription information, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame link.