PBA Adding Prize Money - Three Tournament Championships Worth $100,000.00 in 2020

In major news out Friday, the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) has announced increased first-place prizes in nearly every upcoming PBA Tour event, improved cashing ratios and added more dual pattern events.

Among the most high-profile changes were to the PBA’s most prestigious majors – the PBA Tournament of Champions (TOC) and the PBA World Championship. Both of those events will now feature a $100,000 first-place prize.

In 2019, the TOC paid $50,000 for first, while the World Championship paid $60,000. The changes are part of an overall $400,000 increase in prize money year-over-year for the FOX portion of the PBA schedule, which begins in January. It's the first major announcement since Bowlero purchased the PBA earlier this year.

In addition to the two majors, the PBA Playoffs will also once again award a $100,000 first-place prize, giving the PBA at least three six-figure payouts in 2020. The PBA Players Championship, the third of the PBA’s owned majors, will pay $70,000 for first.

First-place prizes for the USBC Masters and U.S. Open, both controlled by the USBC, have not been announced. In 2019, those events paid $30,000 for first place.

All of the standard singles events will pay $30,000 for first with the exception of the animal pattern events at the World Series of Bowling, which will pay $25,000. Cashing ratios will improve from 1:4 to 1:3 for all events other than the WSOB animal patterns.

The PBA will also roll out more dual pattern events. In 2019, two patterns were used for the PBA Indianapolis Open and PBA Jonesboro Open, both won by Norm Duke.

In 2020, the PBA Hall of Fame Classic, PBA Oklahoma Open, and the PBA Doubles Championship will join the Indianapolis and Jonesboro events as dual pattern tournaments.

As for event formats, the PBA Doubles Championship will change slightly in 2020. Instead of qualifying through the attached singles event, qualifying will happen separately as teams to determine advancers into match play.

The four standard singles events will have similar formats with one minor exception. The Hall of Fame Classic and Oklahoma Open will have two squads for qualifying. Those events will feature 12 qualifying games and 16 games of round-robin match play to determine stepladder finalists.

The Jonesboro and Indianapolis events will have one squad for qualifying with 14 total qualifying games and 16 games of round-robin match play to determine the stepladder advancers.

Just like in 2019, all rounds of qualifying and match play leading up to the stepladder finals for the FOX events will be broadcast live on FloBowling. The stepladder finals will also be simulcast on FloBowling for international audiences.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of each of the 2020 FOX events:

PBA Hall of Fame Classic

Where: Arlington, Texas (International Training and Research Center)
When: Jan. 13-19
TV: Finals Sunday, Jan. 19, 1 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Digital: Qualifying, match play, FloBowling (Live)
Field: 56 (48 + 8 PTQ)
Format: 2 squads. 12 qualifying games (6 per day, per squad). Cut to top 16 for 16 games round robin match play. Top five advance to stepladder finals.
Conditions: Dual patterns throughout (Left lane: Weber 45, Right lane: Aulby 38)
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 3 event
Defending champion: Bill O'Neill
Prize fund, ratio: $110,000. 1 in 3 cash.
Top prizes: 1. $30,000, 2. $15,000, 3. $9,000, 4. $7,000, 5. $5,000

PBA Oklahoma Open

Where: Shawnee, Oklahoma (FireLake Bowling Center)
When: Jan. 20-26
TV: Sunday, Jan. 26, 2 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Digital: Qualifying, match play, FloBowling (Live)
Field: 88 (80 + 8 PTQ)
Format: 2 squads. 12 qualifying games (6 per day, per squad). Cut to top 16 for 16 games round robin match play. Top five advance to stepladder finals.
Conditions: Dual patterns throughout (Left lane: Dragon 45, Right lane: Wolf 32)
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 2 event
Defending champion: Jakob Butturff
Prize fund, ratio: $130,000. 1 in 3 cash.
Top prizes: 1. $30,000, 2. $15,000, 3. $9,000, 4. $7,000, 5. $5,000

PBA Jonesboro Open

Where: Jonesboro, Arkansas (Hijinx Lanes)
When: Jan. 27-Feb. 1
TV: Saturday, Feb. 1, 4:30 ET, FS1 (Live)
Digital: Qualifying, match play, FloBowling (Live)
Field: 60 (52 + 8 PTQ)
Format: 1 squad. 14 qualifying games (two 7 game blocks in one day). Cut to top 16 for 16 games round robin match play. Top five advance to stepladder finals.
Conditions: Dual patterns throughout (Left lane: Shark 48, Right lane: Viper 36)
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 2 event
Defending champion: Norm Duke
Prize fund, ratio: $120,000. 1 in 3 cash.
Top prizes: 1. $30,000, 2. $15,000, 3. $9,000, 4. $7,000, 5. $5,000

PBA Tournament of Champions

Where: Fairlawn, Ohio (AMF Riviera Lanes)
When: Feb. 3-9
TV: Sunday, Feb. 9, 5 p.m. ET, FOX (Live)
Digital: Qualifying, match play, FloBowling (Live)
Field: 76 (70 national champions + 6 regional champion PTQ)
Format: 1 squad. 18 qualifying games (3 game blocks). Cut to top 24 for 24 games round robin match play. Top five advance to stepladder finals.
Conditions: Johnson 40
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 1 event
Defending champion: Jason Belmonte
Prize fund, ratio: $283,000. 1 in 3 cash.
Top prizes: 1. $100,000, 2. $50,000, 3. $25,000, 4. $12,000, 5. $10,000

PBA Players Championship

Where: Columbus, Ohio (Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl)
When: Feb. 9-15
TV: Saturday, Feb. 15, 5:30 ET, FS1 (Live)
Digital: Qualifying, match play, FloBowling (Live)
Field: 92 (82 + 10 PTQ)
Format: 1 squad. 18 qualifying games (3 game blocks). Cut to top 24 for 24 games round robin match play. Top five advance to stepladder finals.
Conditions: Webb 38
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 1 event
Defending champion: Anthony Simonsen
Prize fund, ratio: $246,000. 1 in 3 cash
Top prizes: 1. $70,000, 2. $35,000, 3. $17,000, 4. $11,000, 5. $10,000

U.S. Open

Where: Lincoln, Nebraska (Sun Valley Lanes)
When: Feb. 16-23
TV: Sunday, Feb. 23, 1 p.m. ET, FOX (Live)
Digital: Qualifying, match play, FloBowling (Live)
Field: TBA
Format: TBA
Conditions: TBA
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 1 event
Defending champion: Francois Lavoie
Prize fund, ratio: TBA
Top prizes: TBA

PBA Indianapolis Open

Where: Indianapolis (Woodland Bowl)
When: Feb. 24-29
TV: Saturday, Feb. 29, 8:30 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Digital: Qualifying, match play, FloBowling (Live)
Field: 120 (no PTQ)
Format: 1 squad. Two blocks of 7 games qualifying (14 total). Cut to top 16 for 16 games round robin match play. Top five advance to stepladder finals.
Conditions: Dual patterns throughout (Left lane: Roth 42, Right lane: Holman 37)
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 2
Defending champion: Norm Duke
Prize fund, ratio: $152,000. 1 in 3 cash
Top prizes: 1. $30,000, 2. $15,000, 3. $10,000, 4. $8,000, 5. $7,000

PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship

Where: Indianapolis (Woodland Bowl)
When: Feb. 27-29
TV: Taped Saturday, Feb. 29, 4:30 ET. Airs Sunday, March 8, Noon ET, FS1 (taped)
Digital: Qualifying, match play, FloBowling (Live)
Field: 60 doubles teams
Format: 1 squad. Two blocks of 7 games (14 total, 28 games per team). Top 16 teams advance to 16 games of round robin match play using Baker system).
Conditions: Dual patterns throughout (Left lane: Roth 42, Right lane: Holman 37)
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 3
Defending champions: Sean Rash and Matt Ogle
Prize fund, ratio: $147,000. 1 in 3 teams cash.
Top prizes (per team): 1. $30,000, 2. $15,000, 3. $13,000, 4. $12,000, 5. $11,000

PBA World Series of Bowling

Where: Las Vegas (South Point Bowling Plaza)
When: March 6-18
TV: Five consecutive days (first four live), FS1 (Sunday, March 15 - Thursday, March 19). Times below.
Field: 120 (110 + 10 PTQ)
Total prize fund: $685,000
Events: PBA Cheetah, PBA Chameleon, PBA Scorpion, PBA World Championship, USA vs. World.
WSOB PBA Cheetah Championship
TV: Sunday, March 15, 1:30 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Format: One squad. 2 blocks of 5 games qualifying (10 games total). Top 16 advance to elimination match play bracket. Surviving four players advance to TV finals. TV finals all four bowl one seeding game, then stepladder.
Conditions: Cheetah 33.
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 3 event
Defending champion: Dick Allen
Prize fund, ratio: $79,000. 1 in 7.5 cash.
Top prizes: 1. $25,000, 2. $13,000, 3. $7,000, 4. $6,000

WSOB PBA Chameleon Championship

TV: Monday, March 16, 8 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Format: One squad. 2 blocks of 5 games qualifying (10 games total). Top 16 advance to elimination match-play bracket. Surviving four players advance to TV finals. TV finals all four bowl one seeding game, then stepladder.
Conditions: Chameleon 39.
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 3 event
Defending champion: Jason Belmonte
Prize fund, ratio: $79,000. 1 in 7.5 cash.
Top prizes: 1. $25,000, 2. $13,000, 3. $7,000, 4. $6,000

WSOB PBA Scorpion Championship

TV: Tuesday, March 17, 8 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Format: One squad. 2 blocks of 5 games qualifying (10 games total). Top 16 advance to elimination match-play bracket. Surviving four players advance to TV finals. TV finals all four bowl one seeding game, then stepladder.
Conditions: Scorpion 42
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 3 event
Defending champion: Kris Prather
Prize fund, ratio: $79,000. 1 in 7.5 cash.
Top prizes: 1. $25,000, 2. $13,000, 3. $7,000, 4. $6,000

WSOB PBA World Championship


TV: Wednesday, March 18, 8 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Format: 30 games qualifying (10 games each on Cheetah, Chameleon and Scorpion patterns). Top 40 advance to cashers round, X games on Anthony. Cut to top 24 for 24 games round-robin match play. Top five advance to stepladder finals.
Conditions: After cut to top 40, Anthony 43
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 1 event
Defending champion: Jason Belmonte
Prize fund, ratio: $385,000. 1 in 3 cash.
Top prizes: 1. $100,000, 2. $50,000, 3. $25,000, 4. $20,000, 5. $15,000

WSOB USA vs. The World

TV: Taped Wednesday, March 18, 1 pm PT. Airs next day Thursday, March 19, 8 p.m. ET, FS1 (taped)
Format: Team event. The Top 5 USA players and Top 5 international players after the first 30 games of WSOB qualifying form the teams.
Prize fund: $60,000 (Winning team: $40,000, losing team: $20,000)

USBC Masters

Where: Reno, Nevada (Grand Sierra Bowling Center)
When: March 23-29
TV: Sunday, March 29, 2:30 p.m. ET, FOX (Live)
Field: TBA
Format: TBA
Conditions: TBA
PBA Playoffs points: Tier 1 event
Defending Champion: Jakob Butturff
Prize fund, ratio: TBA
Top prizes: TBA

PBA Playoffs

Where: Round of 24 in Norco, California. Round of 16 in Lone Tree, Colorado. Round of 8, Euless, Texas, Final Four, North Brunswick, N.J..
When: Round of 24, April 6. Round of 16, April 20-21. Round of 8, May 10-11. Final Four, May 16-17.
TV: Monday, April 6, 7 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Monday, April 13, 9 p.m. ET, FS1 (Taped April 6)
Monday, April 20, 7 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Monday, April 20, 9 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Monday, April 27, 9 p.m. ET, FS1 (Taped April 21)
Monday, May 4, 9 p.m. ET, FS1 (Taped April 21)
Sunday, May 10, 2 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Monday, May 11, 9 p.m. ET, FS1 (Taped May 10)
Saturday, May 16, 2 p.m. ET, FOX (Live)
Sunday, May 17, 2 p.m. ET, FOX (Live)
Field: Top 24 in points from 2020 PBA on FOX season. All cash.
Format: Single elimination bracket. Top 8 seeds get byes into second round. First round one game matches, subsequent matches best of 2.
Conditions: Carter 39
Defending champion: Kris Prather
Prize fund: $320,000
Top prizes: 1. $100,000, 2. $50,000, 3. $25,000, 4. $25,000

PBA/PWBA Bowl Expo Cup

Where: Denver (Bowl Expo special lane construct)
When: July 5
TV: Sunday, July 5, 7 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Conditions: TBA
Prize fund: TBA

PBA Summer League

Where: Portland, Maine (Bayside Bowl)
When: July 19-23
TV (4 telecasts): Tuesday, July 21, 7 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Tuesday, July 21, 9 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Wednesday, July 22, 9 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Thursday, July 23, 9 p.m. ET, FS1 (Live)
Format: TBA. 10 teams. All players cash.
Conditions: Roth 42
Defending champions: Portland Lumberjacks
Prize fund: $360,000 (1, $60,000. 2, $50,000. 3, $35,000. 4, $35,000. 5, $25,000. 6, $25,000. 7, $25,000. 8, $25,000. 9, $20,000. 10, $20,000.)

World Series of Bowling V Around the Corner

Statistically speaking, the Jason Belmonte vs. Sean Rash rivalry will once again be the headline attraction as a sold-out field of 240 of the world’s top professional bowlers return to South Point Bowling Center this week for the start of PBA World Series of Bowling V.

 

PBA fans around the world are invited to purchase a low-cost “ticket” to watch all of the qualifying and match play action on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s exclusive online bowling channel (or track free live scoring free on pba.com). “Day Pass,” monthly and annual Xtra Frame subscriptions are available by visiting pba.com and clicking on the Xtra Frame link.

 

In addition to following the action as it happens, PBA fans are invited to participate in a new “U Pick the Finalists” contests which offers prizes for picking the ESPN finalists in each event. For more information about the contest, click here: http://www.pba.com/Resources/Contest

 

The World Series, which got its start in suburban Detroit in 2009, is a multi-event competition on a variety of challenging lane conditions, leading up to a full weekend of ESPN television finals Nov. 2-3. At stake will be five PBA Tour titles, including the final major championship of the 2012-13 season – the 2013 PBA World Championship.

 

Over the first four World Series, Belmonte and Rash have earned their roles as World Series headliners based upon their past performances in the event. Belmonte – a two-handed power player from Australia – is the earnings leader with a composite total of $191,190 in WSOB earnings, leads in ESPN television appearances (13) and is tied with Bill O’Neill of Langhorne, PA, with most WSOB titles won (three).

 

Rash, also regarded as one of the PBA Tour’s top power players, is right behind Belmonte in ESPN appearances (12), but has not yet won a WSOB title. He is the all-time WSOB average leader, scoring at a 223.19 pace for 475 games bowled, and in total pinfall (106,013 pins for 475 World Series games bowled). But he ranks “only” fourth in WSOB earnings ($135,140) due, in part, to the absence of any first-place prize money.

 

Despite their overall dominance, neither Belmonte nor Rash leads in any of the traditional animal pattern championships which are hallmarks of the World Series. The animal pattern competitions are bowled on unique lane conditions named after animals – and the combined qualifying scores for those animal pattern events has been used as the qualifier for players to advance into the PBA World Championship match play final rounds. Rash is the World Championship’s top qualifier over the past four years, averaging 232.21 for 192 games – just over four pins higher than Belmonte (228.01) for the same number of games.

 

In animal pattern events, several other players have had significant success, including O’Neill, who ranks third in TV appearances (8) and shares the titles lead with Belmonte (3). Finland’s two-handed star, Osku Palermaa; 37-time time PBA Tour champion Norm Duke of Clarmont, FL, and Scott Norton of Mission Viejo, CA, have each won two WSOB titles. Palermaa, Mike Fagan of Fort Worth, Texas, and Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, have made six TV finals.

 

There is also “international vs. United States” drama during the World Series. In 2011, international players won all seven singles titles contest; last year, U.S. players swept all five individual titles.

 

In animal pattern championships, the top two players in qualifying averages for each event, based upon a minimum of 40 games, are:

 

● Chameleon: Scott Norton 230.49; Jason Belmonte 225.38.

 

● Cheetah: Norm Duke 243.58, Eugene McCune 241.52.

 

● Scorpion: Dom Barrett 228.70, Jason Belmonte 222.87.

 

● Viper: Brad Angelo 222.60, Bill O’Neill 222.39.

 

The Cheetah Championship will lead off the WSOB V schedule on Saturday, Oct. 26, with seven qualifying games and an additional seven-game semifinal round for the top 24 qualifiers. The same format will apply for the Viper Championship on Oct. 27, the Chameleon Championship on Oct. 28 and the Scorpion Championship on Oct. 29. The top 24 players based upon 28 combined animal pattern qualifying games will advance to the PBA World Championship round robin match play on Oct. 30-31.

 

For each animal pattern event, the top four after 14 games advance to ESPN finals on Nov. 2 and for the World Championship, the top five after 52 qualifying and match play games advance to the ESPN finals on Nov. 3 – all in South Point’s Exhibition Hall B.

Bohn Climbs The Stepladder Wins PBA World Championship

Parker Bohn III of Jackson, NJ, completed one of the most impressive, if unlikely, victories in his hall of fame career, defeating four opponents including top qualifier Jason Belmonte of Australia, 254-227, to win the PBA World Championship at South Point Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV.

The concluding event of the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling IV, and the first major championship of the 2012-13 PBA Tour season, aired Sunday on ESPN.

Bohn, who had not won a title in more than four years, captured his 33rd PBA Tour title – and second major – with a stunning performance that began when he claimed the 24th and final position in match play by only three pins, followed by qualifying for the stepladder finals by only nine pins.

In the championship round, he defeated Canada’s Dan MacLelland, 226-218; Rhino Page of Dade City, FL, 200-170, and reigning PBA Player of the Year Sean Rash of suburban Chicago (Montgomery), IL, 278-231, to advance to the title match where he defeated Belmonte.

In winning the World Championship, Bohn became only the third ever to win a major championship after qualifying 24th for match play (Mike Aulby won the 1989 U.S. Open and Pete Weber won the 1991 U.S. Open after qualifying 24th), and the 15th overall to accomplish that feat. At age 49 years, 122 days he also became the second-oldest player ever to win the PBA World Championship (Tom Baker was 49 years, 192 days when he won in 2004).

“Dreams do come true if you wait long enough, I guess,” Bohn said. “It was a lot of destiny, a lot of things working in my favor.”

Bohn, who almost cancelled his plans to attend the World Series after Super Storm Sandy devastated his home state, began his miraculous title quest with seven strikes in his first nine frames en route to his victory over MacLelland. In the second match, he got help in overcoming a 10-pin deficit when Page missed a 7 pin spare attempt in the eighth frame and opened again in the ninth.

The veteran left-hander started the semifinal match against Rash with seven strikes and never trailed. In the title match, he struck on eight of his first 10 shots against Belmonte, but didn’t break away until Belmonte left 10 pins in the seventh and ninth frames.

“When I look at everything that’s gone on this week,” Bohn said, hesitating. “I looked at (my wife) Leslie the night before I left and said, you know, it’s a tossup over whether I even go. The only thankful grace at that point was we had our power back a couple of hours before I left."

“When I got here, I missed the first practice session, but lo and behold, I kept going throughout the week. I never made the top 16 in any of the events, but still found myself fortunate enough to sneak in to match play in 24th. I just kept plugging along."

“The only pin I threw away all week was on one fill ball, when I threw a 7 pin away. That’s the only pin I can remember throwing away the entire week. Every pin mattered. I only made the top 24 by three pins, and then I made the TV show by less than 10 pins as well.”

When he got to the ESPN finals, Bohn believes divine intervention came into play.

“I do believe my old friend (the late Tony Reyes) was looking down on me and letting me stand tall. The biggest key was going through the nose in the seventh frame against (Rash). A pin rolls out of nowhere and takes out the 4-7, and I get a strike. Usually whoever wins has one or two breaks and I’m here to tell you, I had my share of breaks today.”

Throughout the World Series, Bohn said he was bowling for more than himself.

“My wife and I have created a Striking Out Sandy fund. We’re trying to raise funds for kids who unfortunately lost everything,” Bohn said. “I know there are families that lost everything, but hopefully there will be other people who can take care of them. We had people who were donating money for every strike during qualifying. All of the money we’re raising is going to buy kids backpacks and things they need for school so they can hopefully put the past behind them."

“My heart always goes out to kids,” he added. “I’ve got five children myself and I want them to be able to live life as normally as they can. I had one guy compute all of the strikes I threw in qualifying and match play – 415 or 420 – and he put up $1 a pin himself. We had another guy who lives in upstate New York near my brother-in-law Doug Kent and his wife Chrissie who had a 25-foot trailer. He saw what we were doing on our website, and filled the trailer with clothes and supplies, and delivered it to our area.”

Information about the Striking Out Sandy program can be found of Bohn's Facebook page and parkerbohn.com. “It’ll be there for a long time to come, because I can’t tell you how much the people back east have gone through,” Bohn said. “It’s not going to get corrected by tomorrow.”

While the hardships friends and family faced were fresh on his mind, Bohn might have been the happiest he has ever been after winning a PBA title.

“I’m as happy as I can be,” he grinned. “Now I can say that I’m the world champion.”

ESPN’s coverage of the 2012-13 PBA Tour season continues next Sunday with the finals of the Round1 Japan Cup from Tokyo, Japan, at 3 p.m. ET. The all-new PBA League then makes its debut with a live two-hour ESPN telecast from Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, MI, at noon ET on Sunday, Jan. 27.

Rash Improves Lead at PBA World Championships

Reigning Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL, won five of his first eight matches Wednesday to retain his lead in the PBA World Championship Wednesday at South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, NV.

Rash, who entered the 24-game round-robin match play portion of the World Championship with a 64-pin lead over Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, SC, expanded his lead by only 14 pins after the first eight matches. The second round begins at 6 p.m. PT Wednesday and the final eight games, to determine the five players who will advance to Sunday’s ESPN stepladder finals, is set for 2 p.m. Thursday.

The PBA World Championships is the concluding event to the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling IV, and the PBA’s first major championship of the 2012-13 season. ESPN will air the finals on Sunday, Jan. 13.

Rash led with a 40-game total of 9,668 pins, including match play bonus pins. Jones had a 9,590 total. Canada’s Dan MacLelland was in third place at 9,577 followed by Australia’s Jason Belmonte at 9,539 and England’s Dom Barrett at 9,498. Defending champion Osku Palermaa of Finland was sixth, five pins behind Barrett.

Complete GEICO WSOB IV coverage is available on the “live scoring” feature on pba.com, or by watching the action live on Xtra Frame, PBA’s online bowling channel.

GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling competition continues Wednesday night with the second of three eight-game match play rounds, and concludes with the final round of match play at 2 p.m. PT Thursday.

PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Wednesday

Round Four (after 40 games, including match play bonus pins; top five will advance to PBA World Championship finals)

1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 5-3, 9,668.
2, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3-5, 9,590.
3, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 7-1, 9,577.
4, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3-5, 9,539.
5, Dom Barrett, England, 4-4, 9,498.
6, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 4-4, 9,493.
7, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 5-3, 9,469.
8, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 7-1, 9,468.
9, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 4-4, 9,437.
10, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2-6, 9,405.
11, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 4-4, 9,340.
12, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 5-2-1, 9,320.
13, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 6-2, 9,292.
14, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 5-3, 9,283.
15, Stuart Williams, England, 3-5, 9,262.
16, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 4-4, 9,238.
17 (tie), Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3-4-1, and Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 4-3-1, 9,221.
19, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 3-5, 9,151.
20, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 3-4-1, 9,141.
21, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 2-6, 9,118.
22, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2-6, 9,116.
23, Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., 4-4, 9,096.
24, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 2-6, 9,043.

300 Games: Dom Barrett, Tommy Jones.

England's Barret Leads PBA World Championship Qualifying

England’s Dom Barrett, a second-year Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) player, charged into the lead in the PBA World Championship Wednesday night at South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, NV behind a 237 average and a 10-6 match play record.

Barrett, who won his only PBA Tour title in the Scorpion Championship during the 2011 PBA World Series of Bowling, entered the PBA World Championship as the No. 7 qualifier after a disappointing finish in the Bowlers Journal Scorpion Championship a day earlier. Barrett was the leading qualifier in the Scorpion event, but slipped to sixth place in the semifinal round, missing the cut to the ESPN stepladder finals by seven pins.

Wednesday night, however, he advanced from fifth place into a six-pin lead over Australia’s Jason Belmonte, finishing with a 48-game total of 11,687 pins, including match play bonus pins. Barrett rolled games of 280, 247, 277, 268, 210, 247, 245 and 235, and needed every pin to hold off Belmonte, who finished with a 11,681 total. Rhino Page of Dade City, FL, was third at 11,658 followed by fourth-round leader Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL, at 11,597 and Canada’s Dan MacLelland at 11,506.

The final eight games of match play to determine the five players who will advance to Sunday’s ESPN stepladder finals begins at for 2 p.m. PT on Thursday.

The PBA World Championships is the concluding event to the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling IV, and the PBA’s first major championship of the 2012-13 season. ESPN will air the finals on Sunday, Jan. 13.

“When I played the finals of the Scorpion, I couldn’t get my ball through the pins,” Barrett said. “I left a lot of corner pins, but today the condition was more like what I’m used to seeing in Europe and I was able to get the corner pins out.

“I actually thought I bowled quite well in the Scorpion semifinal round, but I just couldn’t get my ball to match up. I made the adjustments today and they worked.

“Bowling here on the PBA Tour the last year, I’ve learned so much,” the three-time World Bowling Writers Bowler of the Year added. “It’s really a steep learning curve, but it’s also really special when you see the results of your hard work pay off.

“My game plan worked well today. I’m just going to try to keep striking. I know these other guys are coming after me. They’re going to bowl well, so I need to bowl well, too.”

GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling competition concludes with the final round of match play at 2 p.m. PT Thursday. Complete coverage of the final round will be available on the “live scoring” feature on pba.com, or by watching the action live on Xtra Frame, PBA’s online bowling channel.

PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Wednesday

Round Five (after 48 games, including match play bonus pins; top five after 56 games will advance to PBA World Championship finals)

 

1, Dom Barrett, England, 10-6, 11,687.
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 8-8, 11,681.
3, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 11-5, 11,658.
4, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 10-6, 11,597.
5, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 11-5, 11,506.
6, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 6-10, 11,503.
7, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 11-5, 11,452.
8, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 8-8, 11,448.
9, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 9-6-1, 11,422.
10, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 8-8, 11,408.
11, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 10-5-1, 11,403.
12, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 10-6, 11,390.
13, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 10-6, 11,330.
14, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 10-6, 11,327.
15, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 9-6-1, 11,275.
16, Stuart Williams, England, 6-10, 11,272.
17, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 8-8, 11,265.
18, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 6-10, 11,224.
19, Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., 8-8, 11,101.
20, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 5-11, 11,062.
21, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 5-10-1, 11,015.
22, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 5-11, 10,871.
23, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3-12-1, 10,861.
24, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 2-13-1, 10,855.

300 Games: Dom Barrett, Tommy Jones, Pete Weber.

Two Handers Land Top Spots for PBA Bowlers Journal Scorpions Championships

Two-handed power players Osku Palermaa of Finland and Jason Belmonte of Australia claimed the top two qualifying berths in GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling IV Bowlers Journal Scorpion Championship at South Point Bowling Center Tuesday night in Las Vegas, NV.

Palermaa, the defending PBA World Champion, fired games of 244, 259, 236, 222, 204 and 226 in the six-game semifinal round to finish with a 14-game total of 3,295 pins, nipping Belmonte by two pins for the top spot. Belmonte, who led the Chameleon Championship field on Monday, was trying for back-to-back No. 1 stepladder berths.

Rounding out the Scorpion stepladder finals field will be Jason Sterner of McDonough, GA, with a 3,262 total, and Tom Daugherty of Wesley Chapel, FL, who generates power by throwing the ball without using his thumb, with 3,261 pins.

Sterner and Daugherty are trying for their first PBA Tour title. Daugherty will be making his first television appearance since rolling a PBA-record low 100 game during the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions finals.

The Scorpion ESPN stepladder finals will take place on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. in a special arena setting in South Point’s Exhibition Hall area. The finals will air on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 6.

“When I got here a week ago, I kind of tore my right bicep a little during practice,” Palermaa said. “By Thursday, I didn’t know if I could make a spare at all (he shoots at spares one-handed, using his right arm), but it’s better. It’s stiff and sore, but I can bowl.

“I started the World Series with the wrong ball, and dug myself a hole,” he added. “I got that fixed, and yesterday I wasn’t even mad when I missed the (Chameleon Championship) cut by five pins. If I had to bowl another eight games in the semifinals yesterday, I don’t know if I could have bowled today at all.

“Today I decided to bowl hard and straight to spare my arm. Now I only have one more game to bowl on Sunday for the Scorpion title, but tomorrow (the start of PBA World Championship match play) means more. I have 24 more games, so I will just have to make the best of it.”

The Scorpion Championship qualifying round earlier Tuesday was the final qualifying leg for the PBA World Championship. Combined eight-game qualifying round scores from the Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon and Scorpion Championships determined the 24 players who will advance to three eight-game World Championship match play rounds Wednesday and Thursday.

Based on 32 qualifying games, Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL, won World Championship top qualifier honors, averaging 239.44 for a 7,662 pinfall total. Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, SC, was second with 7,598 followed by Belmonte at 7,544; Chris Loschetter of Avon, Ohio, at 7,522 and Dan MacLelland of Canada at 7,504.

Complete GEICO WSOB IV coverage is available on the “live scoring” feature on pba.com, or by watching the action live on Xtra Frame, PBA’s online bowling channel.

GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling competition continues Wednesday with the first two of three eight-game match play rounds in the PBA World Championship at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. The final round of match play is scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m.

PBA BOWLERS JOURNAL SCORPION CHAMPIONSHIP South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Tuesday
SEMIFINAL ROUND (after 14 games; top four advance to stepladder finals Sunday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. PT)
1, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 3,295.
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3,293.
3, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 3,262.
4, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,261.
Other Semifinal Round Cashers (after 14 games): 5, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 3,257, $4,000.
6, Dom Barrett, England, 3,254, $3,600.
7, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,246, $3,300.
8, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 3,201, $3,000.
9, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,189, $2,700.
10, Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., 3,179, $2,500.
11, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,177, $2,300.
12, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 3,176, $2,100.
13, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3,135, $2,000.
14, Matt Ramshaw, Longview, Wash., 3,106, $1,900.
15, Kris Koeltzow, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 3,078, $1,800.
16, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 3,050, $1,700.
Other Qualifying Round Cashers (after 8 games):
17, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 1,842, $1,000.
18, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,836, $970.
19, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 1,830, $940.
20, Mikael Kanold, Sweden, 1,828, $920.
21, Paul Koehler, Stuart, Fla., 1,824, $900.
22, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 1,823, $890.
23, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1,816, $880.
24, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 1,815, $870.
25, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,814, $860.
26, Stuart Williams, England, 1,808, $850.
27 (tie), Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., and Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 1,803, $835.
29, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill.; Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., and Connor Pickford, Charlotte, N.C., 1,798, $810.
32, Dennis Eklund, Sweden, 1,797, $790.
33, D.J. Archer, Port Arthur, Texas, 1,796, $780.
34, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 1,795, $770.
35, Chris Hans, Rocky Mount, N.C., 1,791, $760.
36, Magnus Johnson Jr., Sweden, 1,787, $750.
Failed to Cash:
37, Patrick Girard, Canada, 1,786.
38 (tie), David Haynes, Las Vegas, and Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 1,784.
40, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 1,782.
41, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,780.
42 (tie), Frederik Ohrgaard, Denmark, and Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,779.
44, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 1,778.
45, Craig LeMond, Jasper, Ind., 1,777.
46, Brad Miller, St. Charles, Mo., 1,772.
47, Dustin Ochoa, Cibilo, Texas, 1,763.
48, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 1,762.
49, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,761.
50, Aaron Lorincz, Belleville, Mich., 1,749.
51, Mattias Olsson, Sweden, 1,748.
52 (tie), Thomas Ault Jr., Portland, Ore., and Greg Ostrander, Freehold, N.J., 1,747.
54, Jimmy Mortensen, Denmark, 1,746.
55 (tie), Eric Forkel, Henderson, Nev., and Jon VanHees, Charlestown, R.I., 1,745.
57, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,740.
58 (tie), Shawn Lee, Centennial, Colo., and Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,738.
60, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,736.
61, Ernest Lukacs Jr., Manville, N.J., 1,734.
62 (tie), Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Chatsworth, Calif.; Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., and Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 1,733.
65 (tie), Jason Stadtler, Cherry Hill, N.J., and Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,732.
67 (tie), Daniel Falconi, Mexico, and Martin Larsen, Sweden, 1,731.
69, Evan Nash, Kennewick, Wash., 1,727.
70, Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo., 1,726.
71, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 1,723.
72, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 1,720.
73 (tie), Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y.; Mike Fagan, Dallas, and Jim Pratt, Glendale, AZ, 1,719.
76, Kim Bolleby, Sweden, 1,716.
77, Carlos Cottone, Venezuela, 1,712.
78, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 1,710.
79, Mik Stampe, Denmark, 1,709.
80, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,708.
81 (tie), Jeff Frankos, Daly City, Calif., and Nam Yi Jo, Korea, 1,707.
83, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 1,704.
84 (tie), Justin Bychkowski, Fairfield, Conn.; Hafthor Hardarson, Iceland, and Jin Han Kim, Korea, 1,702.
87 (tie), Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, and Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,699.
89 (tie), Shannon Pluhowsky, Dayton, Ohio, and Ji Hyun Cha, Korea, 1,697.
91, Peter Hellstrom, Sweden, 1,694.
92 (tie), Bryan Viator, Friendswood, Texas, and Gregory Thompson Jr., Dublin, Calif., 1,688.
94, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 1,685.
95, Hyun Bum Kim, Korea, 1,684.
96 (tie), Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., and Matt Taylor, Knightdale, N.C., 1,678.
98, Justin Stevens, Aiea, Hawaii, 1,677.
99 (tie), Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., and Jeff Roche, Dearborn, Mich., 1,674.
99, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 1,674.
102 (tie), Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan.; Craig Auerbach, Sunrise, Fla.; Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, and Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 1,670.
106, Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 1,668.
107 (tie), Mike Williams II, Montgomery, Ala., and Johan Hellden, Sweden, 1,667.
109, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,666.
110 (tie), Perttu Jussila, Finland, and Kelvin Wiggins, Rocky Mt., N.C., 1,665.
112, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 1,661.
113, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,659.
114, Kyle Martinez, Broken Arrow, Okla., 1,657.
115, Robert Piroozshad, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,656.
116 (tie), John Cicero, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 1,654.
118, Erik Andersin, Sweden, 1,653.
119, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 1,649.
120, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 1,648.
121, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,647.
122 (tie), Brandon Novak, Chillicothe, Ohio, and Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,644.
124 (tie), Allen Blansette, Napa, Calif., and Mike Bailey, Allen, Texas, 1,642.
126, Yousif Falah, Bahrain, 1,639.
127, Patrick King, Yankton, S.D., 1,637.
128, Kasey Normandin, Canada, 1,636.
129, Yeo Jin Yoon, Korea, 1,635.
130, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 1,634.
131 (tie), Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, and Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, 1,632.
133, Greg Knolton, Bartlett, Tenn., 1,631.
134, Myles Duty, Modesto, Calif., 1,630.
135 (tie), Ben Davis, Ashland, Ky., and Aaron Ramsden, Pleasant Valley, Mo., 1,628.
137, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,627.
138, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,626.
139, Robert McBride, Plano, Texas, 1,625.
140, Alejandro Reyna, Costa Rica, 1,623.
141, Adam Monks, Conway, S.C., 1,622.
142, Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., 1,621.
143, Helen Johnsson, Sweden, 1,620.
144, Chris Cundiff, Lake Station, Ind., 1,618.
145, Tyler Jensen, Ft. Worth, Texas, 1,612.
146, Travis Celmer, Wernersville, Pa., 1,609.
147, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,608.
148, Chad Pojas, Wahiawa, Hawaii, 1,607.
149, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 1,605.
150, Tommy Martin, Olive Branch, Miss., 1,604.
151, Giorgio Clinaz Jr., Venezuela, 1,603.
152, Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.V., 1,597.
153, Fawaz Abdulla, Bahrain, 1,596.
154, Kim Ojala, Sweden, 1,595.
155, Carsten Hansen, Denmark, 1,593.
156, Mathias Arup, Sweden, 1,591.
157 (tie), Travis Anderson, Washington, Ill.; Paul Nilsen Sr., Murrieta, Calif., and Manuel Mrosek, Germany, 1,589.
160, Tim Mack, Indianapolis, 1,587.
161, Scott Halvarson, Lakewood, Wash., 1,585.
162 (tie), John Furey, East Windsor, N.J., and Philip Medley, Washington, Mich., 1,584.
164, Ted Sidehamer Jr., Newport News, Va., 1,583.
165 (tie), MahdI Assad, Bahrain, and Kevin Brophy, Oakhurst, N.J., 1,581.
167, Masood Saberi, Bahrain, 1,579.
168 (tie), Nathan Urrutia, Banning, Calif., and Erik Gulbrandson, Superior, Wis., 1,577.
170, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 1,576.
171, Mohammed AlSaud, Saudi Arabia, 1,569.
172, Andrew Frawley, Australia, 1,564.
173 (tie), Glenn Morgan, Carson City, Nev., and Jason Miller, Portland, Ore., 1,562.
175, Brett Cooper, Newburyport, Mass., 1,560.
176, Lee Rucker, Fort Myers, Fla., 1,559.
177 (tie), Jacob Heger, Houston, and David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 1,558.
179, Rohn Morton, Vancouver, Wash., 1,553.
180, Mike Armstrong Jr., Battle Ground, Wash., 1,550.
181 (tie), Isaac Amkie, Mexico, and Michael Smith, Centenniel, Colo., 1,548.
183, Kevin Henderson, Albany, Ore, 1,545.
184, Gustavo Salinas, Mexico, 1,544.
185, Chris Groom, Lancaster, Calif., 1,541.
186 (tie), Kyle Leiffer, Weed, Calif., and Michael Menard, Canada, 1,537.
188 (tie), Doug Scheidig, Royersford, Pa.; Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., and Julio Cesar Blancas, Mexico, 1,536.
191, Kevin Gallagher, Torrance, Calif., 1,534.
192, Wes Newman, Panama City, Fla, 1,525.
193, Ahmed Saad Alhadyan, Saudi Arabia, 1,518.
194, Mohamed Sultan, Bahrain, 1,513.
195, Roberto Silva, Mexico, 1,511.
196, Frank Guccione, Castle Rock, Colo., 1,509.
197, Hernan Ramirez, Venezuela, 1,507.
198, Patrick Bohm, Sweden, 1,505.
199, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,504.
200, William Guszczo, Orland Park, Ill., 1,502.
201, Kevin Morillo, Venezuela, 1,501.
202, Eduardo Yzcaray Jr., Venezuela, 1,498.
203, Jeff Evans, Supply, N.C., 1,496.
204, Rob Gotterbarn Jr., Garden City South, N.Y., 1,495.
205, Dale Renken, St. Jacob, Ill., 1,494.
206, Kenneth Bland Jr., Germany, 1,491.
207, Chad Vendeville, Arlington, Texas, 1,490.
208, Mohamed Al Jahrami, Bahrain, 1,489.
209, Adam James, Redmond, Wash., 1,488.
210, Meen Woo Kim, Korea, 1,487.
211, J.T. Jackson, Sherman Oaks, Calif., 1,485.
212, Hyun Suk Kim, Korea, 1,479.
213, Thomas Biniek Jr., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 1,476.
214, John Perry, Nuevo, Calif., 1,466.
215, Sean Daniels, Aloha, Ore., 1,465.
216, Steven Arehart, Chesapeake, Va., 1,463.
217, Wayne Stellick, Aurora, Colo., 1,459.
218, Richard Rezendes, Cumberland, R.I., 1,458.
219 (tie), Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., and James Hobson, Converse, Texas, 1,456.
221, Hameed Taqi, Bahrain, 1,448.
222, Glen Nakagawa, Highland Village, Texas, 1,419.
223, Josh Lewis, Asheville, N.C., 1,415.
224, Chris Ashworth, Gallatin, Tenn., 1,409.
225, Steve Ford, Seaside, Ore., 1,405.
226, Troy Behanna, Pasadena, Texas, 1,404.
227, Branden Lee, Chicago, 1,397.
228, Chris DosSantos, Fairhaven, Mass., 1,391.
229, Tim Arnold, Las Vegas, 1,384.
230, Dave Gillson, Phoenix, 1,378.
231, Paolo Joquico, Philippines, 1,373.
232, Kirk Sauro, Dearborn Heights, Mich., 1,367.
233, Shawn St. Andre, Garden Grove, Calif., 1,361.
234, Josh Willis, Orleans, Ind., 1,360.
235, Jamar Lee, Livermore, Calif., 1,247.
236, Gradie Merritt-Foster, Park Forest, Ill., 1,242.
237, Hakim AlSaud, Saudi Arabia, 1,070.
238, Diego Lopez, Colombia, 472.

300 Games: PJ Haggerty, Jon VanHees.

PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
FINAL QUALIFYING STANDINGS (after 32 games; top 24 advance to PBA World Championship round robin match play) 1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 7,662.
2, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 7,598.
3, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 7,544.
4, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 7,522.
5, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 7,504.
6, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 7,471.
7, Dom Barrett, England, 7,465.
8, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 7,449.
9, Stuart Williams, England, 7,404.
10, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 7,392.
11, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 7,378.
12, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 7,361.
13, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 7,331.
14, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 7,327.
15, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 7,315.
16, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 7,305.
17, Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., 7,286.
18, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 7,272.
19, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 7,254.
20, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 7,253.
21, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 7,238.
22, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 7,236.
23, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 7,232.
24, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 7,225.
Other Cashers (after 32 games): 25, Craig LeMond, Jasper, Ind., 7,222, $2,400.
26, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 7,210, $2,350.
27, D.J. Archer, Port Arthur, Texas, 7,208, $2,300.
28, Jeff Frankos, Daly City, Calif., 7,204, $2,350.
29, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 7,188, $2,200.
30, Mik Stampe, Denmark, 7,184, $2,150.
31, Johan Hellden, Sweden, 7,166, $2,200.
32 (tie), Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., and Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, FL, 7,162, $2,025.
34, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 7,149, $1,950.
35 (tie), Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, and Patrick Girard, Canada, 7,138, $1,875.
37, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Chatsworth, Calif., 7,130, $1,800.
38, Dennis Eklund, Sweden, 7,126, $1,750.
39, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 7,124, $1,800.
40, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 7,122, $1,650.
41, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 7,114, $1,600.
42, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 7,107, $1,550.
43, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 7,104, $1,500.
44 (tie), Randy Weiss, Columbia, SC; Norm Duke, Clermont, FL, and Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, MI, 7,099, $1,460.
47, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 7,098, $1,420.
48, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 7,095, $1,400.
49, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 7,092, $1,380.
50, Jesse Buss, Belevidere, Ill., 7,088, $1,460.
51 (tie), Paul Koehler, Stuart, Fla., and Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo., 7,078, $1,330.
53, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 7,076, $1,300.
54, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 7,070, $1,280.
55, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 7,068, $1,260.
56, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 7,061, $1,240.
57, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 7,047, $1,220.
58, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 7,046, $1,200.
59, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 7,043, $1,180.
60, Matt Ramshaw, Longview, Wash., 7,041, $1,160.

PBA World Championships Sunday

Last Leg of the PBA World Championship Field Decided Sunday

Australia’s two-handed star, Jason Belmonte, leads the field of four players in Sunday’s Mike Aulby Division finals, the fourth and final elimination round leading into the PBA World Championship finals. The Aulby round will air in high-definition on ESPN Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

 

The Aulby Division winner will join Finland’s Osku Palermaa; Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, NY, and Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL, in the World Championship finals on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 1 p.m. ET. At stake will be a $50,000 first prize, the Earl Anthony Trophy and the PBA Tour’s first major title of the 2011-12 season.

All competition will be conducted on a pair of lanes specially installed in an exhibit hall at South Point Hotel and Casino.

Belmonte, 28, hasn’t won a title since his first PBA Tour victory in the 2009 Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic propelled him to 2009-09 PBA Rookie of the Year honors. During the 40-game qualifying portion of the PBA World Championship, he finished third behind Rash and Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, MI, averaging 226.18 for five rounds on five different lane conditions. He will be joined in the Aulby elimination round by Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio; rookie Josh Blanchard of Gilbert, AZ, and Mike Fagan of Dallas, TX.

Kretzer won his only PBA Tour title in the 2010 Go RVing Match Play Championship. Fagan is a two-time title winner. His most recent victory was in the 2010 One A Day Dick Weber Open. Blanchard, a former Wichita State University star, joined the PBA in October and won a PBA West Region Non-Champions tournament in Reno, NV, in his first appearance as a member. Sunday’s telecast will be his PBA Tour television debut.

In the Aulby eliminator event, all four players will bowl a one-game match with the lowest scoring player eliminated. The three survivors will bowl a second game, again with the low man knocked out. The two finalists will bowl a final game to determine who will advance to the World Championship finals.

The four World Championship divisional finals have been named for PBA superstars who excelled in the event during their careers. Palermaa won the Don Carter Division berth, Shafer the Billy Hardwick Division title and Rash topped the Johnny Petraglia Division. The championship trophy is named in honor of Anthony, the only player ever to win the event six times.

A preview of the Aulby Division finals will be webcast on pba.com’s Xtra Frame beginning Wednesday, and a post-game show will be presented on Xtra Frame immediately following Sunday’s ESPN finals.

Rash Advances to PBA World Championship Finals

Sean Rash, now living in Suburban Chicago (Montgomery) IL, the runaway qualifying leader in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) World Championship preliminary rounds, advanced to the Jan. 15 final round with a victory in the Johnny Petraglia Division finals that aired Sunday on ESPN.

Rash, who won his only major title in the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Masters, defeated PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, 246-222, to capture the third of four berths in the World Championship finals at South Point Hotel Exhibition Hall.

The divisional finals consist of three one-game rounds, starting with four players. The lowest-scoring player after each game is eliminated.

Rash will join Finland’s Osku Palermaa, winner of the Don Carter Division; Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, NY, winner of the Billy Hardwick Division, and the winner of next Sunday’s Mike Aulby Division finals in the World Championship finals on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 1 p.m. ET. The PBA World Championship offers a $50,000 first prize and the first major title of the 2011-12 PBA Tour season.

Rash, a four-time PBA Tour winner who is trying to end a four-year title slump, survived a high-scoring opening game led by Weber’s 279. Left-hander Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, NY, was second with a 267 and Rash posted a 257. Nathan Bohr of Wichita, KS, rolled a respectable 236 in his PBA television debut, but was eliminated.

Rash took command in game two, starting with nine strikes before leaving the 6-10 on his first shot in the 10th frame and finishing with a 278 game. Weber was right behind, starting with eight strikes on his way to a 268. Ciminelli was ousted after rolling a 219 game.

In the final game, Weber lost the strike pocket for four frames, allowing Rash to jump into a 34-pin lead after five frames, and he never let the 35-time PBA Tour titlist back into the match.

“I think we broke down the lanes extremely well,” Rash said. “Ciminelli was all by himself on the left side. Nathan played a little right of where Pete and I were playing. We were in the track area and just chased the transition to the left. Pete’s got a phenomenal ball roll. He can do things the rest of us can’t. But I got into a little groove and my confidence got higher and higher.”

Rash said beating Weber was a “special thing” because of a bond the two have developed ever since Rash arrived on the scene.

“Pete and I have been friends since I came out on tour,” he said. “A lot of people figure I’m the new bad-(boy), the role Pete played for 25-or-so years. He has given me a lot of great advice, to be who I am, not worry about what people think and not try to change. When I’m on the lanes I’m by myself. The only people I care about are my wife and family. But to beat Pete is a special thing.”

Rash also will head into the PBA World Championship finals with a dark cloud hanging over his head. He has not won a title in his last eight television appearances.

“I’ve had some mental issues over the years. Everyone knows that,” he said. “I’ve had some things come up bowling-wise, family-wise that get in the way of the sport sometimes. And some personal things. Physically, I bowled well for several years, but I remember Chris Barnes made 12 shows in a row and never won. Look at Amleto (Monacelli) and Walter (Ray Williams Jr.) and they had years between titles. Chris Barnes told me a long time ago – and Parker Bohn the same thing – that you have to put yourself in position to win. No one remembers who bowled Friday night in the Round of 32. You remember the guys who got to TV on Sunday and had a chance to win. And now I’m in position to win again.”

Rash also noted he was inspired during the Petraglia round by the presence of new-found friend Dan McCarty, an 8-year-old who was born with a medical condition commonly called “brittle bone disease.” Rash met the youngster during a “Best Buddies” gathering in Las Vegas prior to the PBA World Series of Bowling, struck up a friendship and invited McCarty to attend the television show.

“It was a thrill to have Danny at the show,” Rash said. “When you realize what that kid’s been through, what he lives with his entire life, he’s such an inspiration.”

The Petraglia finals were conducted on the PBA’s Scorpion lane condition, selected by Rash as the high qualifier.

The Mike Aulby Division finalists will be the final group to bowl, on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. Australia’s Jason Belmonte is top qualifier for that group which also includes Brian Kretzer of Dayton, OH; PBA Tour rookie Josh Blanchard of Gilbert, AZ, and Mike Fagan of Dallas, TX.

Special pre-game shows for each World Series of Bowling telecast will be webcast beginning on the Wednesday preceding the ESPN finals on pba.com’s Xtra Frame and a post-game Xtra Frame interview with the winners will immediately follow the Sunday telecasts.