The World Series of Bowling for The Professional Bowlers Association Players 50+

THE VILLAGES, Fla. - The World Series of Bowling concept has come to the PBA50 Tour. The Professional Bowlers Association has announced the first-ever Florida Blue Medicare PBA50 WSOB, slated for August 8-15 at Spanish Springs Lanes at The Villages, Fl.

The multi-faceted event will feature three PBA50 title tournaments on different Legend oil patterns (PBA Roth 42, PBA Ballard 34 and PBA Petraglia 46), plus the main event PBA50 Florida Blue Medicare National Championship as the focal point PBA50 major on PBA Holman 37.

A full field of 192 of the greatest bowlers more than 50 years of age is expected for the $224,000 PBA50 WSOB event, including many PBA Hall of Famers such as Walter Ray Williams Jr., Norm Duke, Pete Weber, Parker Bohn, Johnny Petraglia and Amleto Monacelli. PBA50 newcomers and Hall of Famers Chris Barnes and Jason Couch are also expected to compete.

FloBowling will have exclusive coverage of all rounds of the competition, including four different match play rounds and all of the finals.

Faced with the global pandemic threatening the cancellation of the entire 2020 PBA50 Tour, the PBA and longtime partner Larry Ducat at The Villages worked together to create this event, in the mold of the Go Bowling! PBA Tour WSOB and its multiple opportunities for players in one location with one entry fee, which celebrated its 11th year earlier in 2020.

As in the PBA WSOB, the PBA50 WSOB qualifying games in the PBA Mark Roth Championship, PBA Del Ballard Championship, and PBA Johnny Petraglia Championship will count towards the main event PBA National Championship.

Health and safety measures will be paramount at the event at The Villages, considering state and local guidelines. Among other things, there will be three squads of qualifying to ensure social distancing during play.

The rest of the previously scheduled 2020 PBA50 Tour has been canceled, meaning the following events: Johnny Petraglia BVL Open, Mooresville Open, Lubbock Sports Cup, Suncoast US Senior Open, Fountain Valley Open, River City Extreme Open, South Shore Open, Championship Lanes Classic, Spectrum Lanes Open, Jax 60 Open, and the PBA60 Dick Weber Classic.

The PBA expresses thanks to all the previously scheduled 2020 PBA50 Tour hosts and hopes to be back in 2021 to all the great partner venues.

One $750 entry fee enters each player into all four events. The PBA50 National Championship will have a first place prize of $15,000 and pay ratio of 1:3, plus eight Super Senior cash spots. The top 24 in each of the three Legend Pattern events plus four Super Senior will cash, with the winners of all three Legend Pattern events earning $3,500. Entry information is at pba.com.

Parker Bohn III Tops Qualifying For PBA Cheetah Championships

Defending Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) World Champion Parker Bohn III of Jackson, NJ, rolled a pair of 300 games Saturday on his way to earning the top qualifying position for the PBA Cheetah Championship finals at South Point Bowling Center while Colombia native Clara Guerrero became the third woman in PBA history to qualify for a nationally-televised stepladder final.

  

The Cheetah Championship is the first of five tournaments on the PBA World Series of Bowling V program which continues through Nov. 3.

 

Bohn, who won the 2012 World Championship during PBA World Series of Bowling IV, fired his 91st and 92nd career 300 games (one behind all-time leader Walter Ray Williams Jr., who has 93 perfect games in PBA competition) for a 14-game total of 3,503 pins and a 250.21 average. The 33-time PBA Tour champion won the top berth in the Cheetah stepladder finals by 49 pins over fellow PBA Hall of Famer and 37-time Tour champion Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO. Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, the 2013 U.S. Open champion, qualified third with 3,452 pins and Guerrero finished her climb from 10th place to claim the fourth berth in the finals with a 3,446 total.

 

Guerrero will join Kelly Kulick of Union, NJ, and Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, NY, as the third woman to reach the championship round of a PBA Tour event. Kulick went on to win the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions to become the only woman to capture a PBA National Tour title.

 

The Cheetah Championship finals will be conducted on Saturday, Nov. 2, on lanes installed in South Point’s Exhibition Hall B and will air on ESPN on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 1 p.m. ET.

 

Bohn, who started the semifinal round in fifth place, found his comfort zone and ran away from the field.

 

“I don’t have many issues with the Cheetah lane condition,” Bohn said. “My speed allowed me to play it comfortably. The lanes were a little tighter than they were in practice, but once I got my speed dialed in, the ball did what it was supposed to do.

 

“I’m very, very happy,” he added. “Now I get to bowl one game for the title, which is always a good thing. Even better, I’m way ahead of last year when I didn’t have one top 16 finish in any of the animal pattern events, but I still won the World Championship.”

 

Guerrero’s charge out of 10th place was a surprise to everyone but her. Earlier in the day, she became the second woman in the five-year history of PBA World Series competition to finish among the top 24 in the 238-player, male-dominated event. Kulick finished 15th in the 2010 Shark Championship, seventh in the 2011 Chameleon Championship and 21st in the 2012 Viper Championship. Guerrero also joined an elite group of women who have won a PBA Regional title when she won her first PBA Southwest Region title in Austin, Texas, last October.

 

“It would be very nice to win a title here, too,” she smiled. “I’d like to finish history the right way.”

 

Guerrero started her final seven-game round with a 189 game, an ominous total in the high-scoring Cheetah contest, but followed with games of 244, 289, 213, 267, 278 and 277 to complete her stunning rally.

 

“I was a little stiff from the layoff between the first and semifinal rounds, but then I got my rhythm and made better shots,” the former Wichita State University All-American said. “After the 189 start, I didn’t think I could make it, but after a couple of big games, I saw I had a chance and in the last couple of games, I really went for it. Things came my way. I finished strong. It was great.”

Guerrero, who has been a member of Colombia’s national bowling team since 1995 when she qualified at age 13, is now a U.S. citizen, married and living in Pflugerville, Texas.

 

Earlier Saturday, National Football League all-pro wide receiver Terrell Owens made his professional bowling PBA debut in the Cheetah Championship, and struggled to finish with a 1,178 total, a 168.29 average. But he said he wasn’t terribly disappointed.

 

“I got better as I bowled,” Owens said. “I had 194 my last game, which was decent, and I didn’t come in last.

 

“These are best bowlers in the world. By no means did I expect to come in here and crush the lanes,” Owens added. “Obviously I have a lot of learning to do. But tomorrow is another day and I can only get better.”

 

World Series competition continues Sunday with the Viper Championship presented by PBA Bowling Challenge. Qualifying squads will bowl seven games at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. PT, with the top 24 advancing to the seven-game semifinal round at 7:30 p.m. The final two animal pattern events – the Chameleon and Scorpion Championships – will be held on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

 

All qualifying rounds from the World Series are being covered live on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel, and via “live scoring” on pba.com. For daily, monthly or yearly subscriptions to Xtra Frame, click on the Xtra Frame link on the pba.com home page.

 

PBA CHEETAH CHAMPIONSHIP

South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Saturday

 

SEMIFINAL ROUND STANDINGS (after 14 games; top 4 advance to stepladder finals on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. PT for ESPN telecast on Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. ET)

1, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,503.
2, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,454.
3, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 3,452.
4, Clara Guerrero, Colombia, 3,446.

5, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 3,426, $4,000.
6, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 3,416, $3,500.
7, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 3,413, $3,000.
8, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 3,410, $2,500.
9, Mike Fagan, Ft. Worth, Texas, 3,390, $2,200.
10, Joe Findling, Mesquite, Texas, 3,351, $2,000.
11, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 3,350, $1,800.
12, Bryan Viator, Friendswood, Texas, 3,341, $1,700.
13, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 3,325, $1,650.
14, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 3,311, $1,600.
15, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 3,305, $1,550.
16, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 3,290, $1,500.
17 (tie), Dom Barrett, England, and Mike Moore, Oviedo, Fla., 3,256, $1,425.
19, Kevin Gallagher, Torrance, Calif., 3,226, $1,350.
20, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 3,207, $1,300.
21, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 3,184, $1,275.
22, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 3,171, $1,250.
23, Travis Anderson, Washington, Ill, 3,141, $1,225.
24, Jacob Heger, Spring, Texas, 3,004, $1,200.

 

300 Games (9): Bryon Smith, Lonnie Waliczek, Parker Bohn III (2), Anthony Colosimo, Tom Hess, Eugene McCune, Eric Forkel, Pete Weber.

FIRST ROUND STANDINGS (after 7 games; top 24 advance to semifinal round)1, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 1,780.
2, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 1,762.
3, Mike Fagan, Ft. Worth, Texas, 1,754.
4, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,752.
5, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,749.
6, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 1,744.
7, Kevin Gallagher, Torrance, Calif., 1,738.
8, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,732.
9, Mike Moore, Oviedo, Fla., 1,730.
10, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 1,728.
11, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 1,718.
12, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 1,711.
13, Clara Guerrero, Colombia, 1,689.
14 (tie), PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., and E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 1,688.
16 (tie), Joe Findling, Mesquite, Texas, and Jacob Heger, Spring, Texas, 1,686.
18, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 1,685.
19, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 1,684.
20, Dom Barrett, England, 1,681.
21, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 1,677.
22, Bryan Viator, Friendswood, Texas, 1,675.
23 (tie), Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., and Travis Anderson, Washington, Ill, 1,674.

Other cashers (after 7 games)
25, Fumihiro Yoshida, Japan, 1,670, $800.
26, Mik Stampe, Denmark, 1,667, $770.
27, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,665, $850.
28, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,663, $740.
29, Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Chatsworth, Calif., 1,662, $730.
30, Sean Lavery-Spahr, Denton, Texas, 1,659, $720.
31, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 1,657, $710.
32, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,656, $700.

Failed to cash33, Craig LeMond, Jasper, Ind., 1,655.
34, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,653.
35, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 1,649.
36 (tie), Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., and Todd Book, Russells Point, Ohio, 1,643.
38, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 1,640.
39, Kris Koeltzow, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 1,633.
40, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 1,632.
41 (tie), Anthony Pepe, Elmhurst, N.Y., and Gregory Thompson Jr., Dublin, Calif., 1,630.
43 (tie), Brad Miller, St. Charles, Mo., and Shawn Maldonado, Houston, 1,626.
45, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 1,621.
46, Kim Bolleby, Sweden, 1,617.
47, Paul Moor, England; William Keenan Jr., Orlando, FL, and Jake Peters, Decatur, IL, 1,609.
50, Jon VanHees, Charlestown, R.I., 1,608.
51 (tie), Stuart Williams, England, and Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,605.
53 (tie), Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., and Will Garber, Modesto, Calif.,
1,602. 55, Brian Nicodemus, Akron, Ind., 1,601.
56, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Japan, 1,600.
57 (tie), Luis Rovaina Jr., Venezuela; Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, and B.J. Moore III, Apex, N.C., 1,597.
60, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 1,594.
61, Craig Auerbach, Sunrise, Fla., 1,590.
62, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 1,588.
63 (tie), Mike Keily, Golden, Colo., and Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,585.
65, Patrick Girard, Canada, 1,584.
66, Tim Mack, Indianapolis, 1,583.
67 (tie), Ashley Warren, Australia, and Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 1,580.
69, Randy Pedersen, Clermont, Fla., 1,579.
70 (tie), Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, and Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,577.
72, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,576.
73, Pat Nolan, Japan, 1,575.
74, Dale Coleman, High Springs, Fla., 1,574.
75, Curtis Woods Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., 1,573.
76 (tie), Greg Ostrander, Freehold, N.J., and Timothy Tripp, Santa Clarita, Calif., 1,571.
78, Jeff Roche, Dearborn, Mich., 1,570.
79, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,568.
80, Mike Williams II, Montgomery, Ala., 1,567.
81, Stephen Pavlinko Jr., Sewell, N.J., 1,566.
82, Carsten Hansen, Denmark, 1,564.
83, Dan MacLelland, Canada; Julio Cesar Blancas, Mexico, and Tim Gillick, Milford, CT, 1,563.
86, Chad Pojas, Wahiawa, Hawaii, 1,561.
87, Manuel Otalora, Colombia, 1,560.
88, Eric Forkel, Henderson, Nev., 1,559.
89, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 1,558.
90, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,557.
91 (tie), D.J. Archer, Friendswood, Texas, and Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 1,556.
93, Brian LeClair, Albany, N.Y., 1,554.
94, Vinny D'Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,553.
95, David Knight Jr., Folcroft, Pa., 1,552.
96, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,551.
97, Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 1,548.
98 (tie), Anthony Colosimo, Pembroke Pines, Fla., and Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 1,547.
100, Andre Eubanks, Los Angeles, 1,546.
101 (tie), Myles Duty, Modesto, Calif., and Gary Faulkner Jr., Memphis, Tenn., 1,545.
103, Travis Celmer, Wernersville, Pa., 1,538.
104 (tie), Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., and Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, 1,537.
106 (tie), Hernan Ramirez, Venezuela, and Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 1,535.
108 (tie), Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., and Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 1,533.
110, Hadley Morgan, England, 1,530.
111 (tie), Calvin Sellers, Stratford, Conn., and James Wallace, Hicksville, N.Y., 1,526.
113, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,522.
114, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,521.
115 (tie), Tommy Berish, Cordova, Tenn., and Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,520.
117, Christopher Sloan, Ireland, 1,517.
118, Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.Va., 1,516.
119, Clint Land, Richmond, Texas, 1,515.
120 (tie), Lee Rathjen Jr., Naples, Fla., and Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,514.
122, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 1,512.
123, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 1,511.
124 (tie), Bob Markiewicz, San Diego, and Clarence White, Tracy, Calif., 1,510.
126 (tie), Douglas Yu, Canada, and Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 1,509.
128 (tie), Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., and Joonas Jehkinen, Finland, 1,508.
130, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 1,507.
131 (tie), Chris Cundiff, Lake Station, Ind., and Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Pasadena, Texas, 1,506.
133, Robert Lee, Japan, 1,505.
134, Gabriel Sanchez, Puerto Rico, 1,501.
135 (tie), Matt Villegas, Phoenix, and Austin Hunt, Kennewick, Wash., 1,500.
137 (tie), Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla.; Gary Haines, West Babylon, N.Y., and Mike Armstrong Jr., Battle Ground, Wash., 1,498.
140, Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., 1,497.
141, Jeremy Mooney, West Palm Beach, Fla., 1,496.
142, Alan Mojado, Pala, Calif., 1,494.
143, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,493.
144, Mike DeVaney, Winchester, Calif., 1,491.
145, Alejandro Reyna, Costa Rica, 1,490.
146, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 1,489.
147, T.P. Peterson, Evergreen Park, Ill., 1,482.
148 (tie), Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash.; Shota Kawazoe, Japan, and Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,480.
151, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 1,479.
152, John Furey, Freehold, N.J., 1,478.
153 (tie), Meen Woo Kim, Korea, and David Stouffer, Lehigh Acres, Fla., 1,476.
155, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,475.
156, Raymond Watts, Orange, Calif., 1,474.
157, Kelvin Wiggins, Rocky Mt., N.C., 1,472.
158, Gustavo Viramontes Jr., Mexico, 1,471.
159, Keith Laing, Culver City, Calif., 1,468.
160 (tie), Gary Baker, England, and Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,465.
162 (tie), Dustin Sherman, Petaluma, Calif., and Vladimir Sverchkov, Russia, 1,456.
164, Robert Piroozshad, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,455.
165 (tie), Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., and Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 1,454.
167 (tie), Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, and Chad Lusche, Arvada, Colo., 1,453.
169 (tie), Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., and Kevin Kullman, Tinley Park, Ill., 1,451.
171, Aaron Ramsden, Pleasant Valley, Mo., 1,446.
172, Matt Schermerhorn, El Segundo, Calif., 1,443.
173 (tie), Kevin Beers, Reinholds, Pa., and Sandra Andersson, Sweden, 1,440.
175, Mike Bailey, Allen, Texas, 1,439.
176, Shigeo Saitoh, Japan, 1,438.
177, Rob Shepherd, Sierra Vista, Ariz., 1,437.
178, Kalani Dilliner, Las Vegas, 1,436.
179, Miguel Lopez, Wichita, Kan., 1,435.
180, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,434.
181, Stephen Carter, Australia, 1,433.
182, Glenn Morgan, Carson City, Nev., 1,430.
183 (tie), James McCleland, Venice, Fla., and Junia Yoshida, Japan, 1,428.
185 (tie), Marek Talpa, Czech Republic, and Josh Lewis, Asheville, N.C., 1,427.
187, Giorgio Clinaz Jr., Venezuela, 1,422.
188, Scott Halvarson, Lakewood, Wash., 1,416.
189, Kyle Paxson, Orlando, Fla., 1,410.
190, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 1,407.
191 (tie), Matthew Graham, Emeryville, Calif., and Russ Hunt, Kennewick, Wash., 1,406.
193, Joseph Costanzo, Bethpage, N.Y., 1,405.
194, Matt Watson, Australia, 1,400.
195 (tie), Jonathan Sellers, Stratford, Conn., and Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 1,398.
197, Rameses Chambers, Kansas City, Mo., 1,387.
198, Hyun Bum Kim, Korea, 1,384.
199, Cameron Zacher, Australia, 1,381.
200, Mykhaylo Kalika, Ukraine, 1,378.
201, Frankie Mazzella, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,373.
202, Ryan Appel, Cinnaminson, N.J., 1,370.
203, Jonathan Hocsman, Argentina, 1,369.
204, Kenneth Bland Jr., Lorton, Va., 1,366.
205, Nick Morgan, Sacramento, Calif., 1,365.
206, Wesley Edwards, Blue Springs, Mo., 1,361.
207, J.T. "Action" Jackson, Sherman Oaks, CA, and Justin Bychkowski, Fairfield, CN., 1,360.
209, Justin Stevens, Aiea, Hawaii, 1,358.
210, Jay Hess, Ocoee, Fla., 1,356.
211, Patrick King, Yankton, S.D., 1,354.
212, Frank Guccione, Castle Rock, Colo., 1,353.
213, Adam Wilson, Reno, Nev., 1,343.
214, Jon King, Australia, 1,339.
215, Keith Bullock, Moscow Mill, Mo, 1,338.
216, Richard Lupo, St. Charles, Mo., 1,336.
217, Mark Milasinovich, Macomb, Mich., 1,335.
218, David Maycock, Bermuda, 1,331.
219, Jon Wheatley, Australia, 1,330.
220, Gerald Marrs, Huntley, Ill., 1,322.
221, Ariachizu Kamalu, Chicago, 1,312.
222, Chris Watson, Australia, 1,271.
223, Ken Truong, Canada, 1,262.
224 (tie), Scott Dull, Cresson, Texas, and Connor Pickford, Charlotte, N.C., 1,253.
226, Jason Miller, San Antonio, 1,234.
227, J.D. Sommers, San Jose, Calif., 1,221.
228, Steve Ford, Seaside, Ore., 1,218.
229, Dave Nebe, Richmond, Va., 1,209.
230, Ed Cutter, Manassas Park, Va., 1,208.
231, Armando Santacruz, Ecuador, 1,193.
232, Alvaro Infante, Venezuela, 1,185.
233, Terrell Owens, Studio City, Caif., 1,178.
234, Paul Nilsen Sr., Murrieta, Calif., 1,148.
235, Vijay Krishnamoorthy, Kennesaw, Ga., 1,132.

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.

Will International Stars have the Impact They Did in 2011 at The WSOB

During the Professional Bowlers Association’s World Series of Bowling III at South Point Casino and Hotel in 2011, international bowlers stunned their American hosts by winning seven of eight titles awarded.

A year earlier, Finland’s Osku Palermaa and Korea’s Yong-Jin Gu made WSOB history as the first international players to win WSOB events in a foreshadowing of things to come.

While the World Series of Bowling is not a team event, the fourth annual edition will resume Nov. 2-11 as a multi-event international competition that will showcase 66 of the most talented players from around the world. WSOB IV will feature players from a record 17 countries (Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, England, Mexico, Sweden, Germany, Korea, Venezuela, Colombia, Finland, Canada, the U.S. plus first-time participants Costa Rica, Iceland, The Philippines and Saudi Arabia). Sweden and Korea are both sending the largest contingents they’ve ever sent to the World Series.

Whether team scores are kept or not, WSOB IV is going to be a matter of pride for America’s best players who hope to prevent another spanking by their international competitors.

“We had our chances to win titles and didn't get it done last year,” said reigning PBA Player of the Year Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL, who led U.S. players with a record six television appearances during WSOB III, but failed to win a title.“With the format on TV last year, the best player didn't win every time, so to say. I do think the international players can repeat their performances, but it’s a new year and new things can and will happen. As much as I travel worldwide, the players around the world are, for sure, very good, but I would take our USA players any day when it comes down to it.”

The most prominent international players in last year’s World Series, however, see no reason why they can’t repeat, led by Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte who won three WSOB III titles in 2011.

“I can’t see why we can’t dominate again,” Belmonte said. “The international contingent has only become stronger since the last WSOB. With the formats as short as they are for most of the events, it's possible for anything to happen.”

Former PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, wasn’t surprised by how well the international bowlers performed a year ago, but doesn’t expect a repeat.

“I’m sure there will be more attention paid to that (U.S. vs. international) aspect this year, but we already knew the international players were very good,” the 14-time PBA Tour titlist said. “Now everyone else does, too. That being said, I think the U.S. players as a whole were disappointed in last year's performance and will be looking to improve on it this year.”

Will the international players repeat their domination this year? “No,” Barnes said emphatically.

Finland’s Osku Palermaa, who became the first international player to win the PBA World Championship during last year’s WSOB, disagrees.

“Of course (we can repeat),” Palermaa said. “Obviously after it happened last year it can happen again, but I don't think we will be as dominant. There are so many good players from both sides, you never know.”

Mike Fagan of Dallas, TX who had a career-year during the 2011-12 season, plans to do his best to prevent last year’s results.

“I don't know if the play of the international players is promoting American pride, but it certainly was a wake-up call,” Fagan said. “The rest of the world has some great players and a good number of tournaments to sharpen their skills. The international players are certainly going to be a force for many years to come.

“But I would find it difficult for the Americans to get completely shut out again at the WSOB,” he said. “I’m going to try my best to not let that happen.”

“Anything is possible in bowling, but I have a hard time believing that something like last year will happen again,” fellow Finn Mika Koivuniemi said, stopping short of discounting another powerhouse performance by the record international contingent. “Everyone now knows that many international players can win in the World Series.”

England’s Stuart Williams, who won his first PBA Tour title in last year’s WSOB, noted, “Obviously it’s going to be nearly impossible for the international players to win all the titles again because there are so many more U.S. players. But I still expect a strong showing, especially from the European contingent.”

PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, doesn’t see the World Series as a global confrontation.

“This is not a team competition, nor is it an ‘us against them’ event,” Duke said. “It’s all about individual pride. I bowl for my family's living and that’s plenty of motivation for me. I’m trying to win bowling tournaments against everyone on earth.”

World Series IV will feature five PBA Tour title events – the Alka Seltzer Plus Cold Cheetah Championship, Viper Championship, Chameleon Championship, Bowlers Journal PBA Scorpion Championship and the PBA World Championship (the season’s first major). It will generate more than 100 hours of live coverage on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel and the first six ESPN telecasts of the season (including the Bayer Advanced Aspirin WBT Men’s and Women’s Finals presented by the PBA) on Sundays at 1 p.m. ET from Dec. 9 through Jan. 13.

WSOB IV also is the launching pad for a new set of goals by all players, including the 2012-13 PBA Player of the Year race.

“My goals are simple,” Rash said. “I want to give myself chances at making TV shows, win titles, win majors, win Player of the Year and keep learning. Every time we shoe it up, the game is changing.”

Barnes said, “My goals include winning the USBC Masters to complete the Grand Slam and winning a second Player of the Year title. To accomplish this, I think I need to win at least one of the WSOB events, maybe two.”

Fagan wants to improve upon last year. “It’s never easy to win on the PBA Tour, so my goals are to give myself a chance in every event and be prepared for anything,” he said. “If I give myself many chances, hopefully I can cash in on a few. It’s also important, because the World Series formats are short, to come out of the gates strong and not look back.”

Duke has his eye on a third PBA Player of the Year award. He won in 1994 and 2000. “I want to have a shot at Player of the Year. It’s a lofty goal and usually requires a victory in at least one of the majors,” he said, “so all of my preparation and decision-making is with this goal in mind. It’s a plan that has served me well throughout the years.”

Belmonte’s goals are understated: “I just want to bowl to the best of my ability. If I bowl each frame and focus on the process, then I trust the results I want will follow.”

Palermaa would settle for another year like last year: “I had a pretty good year last year, winning my first major at the WSOB, so I'll try and repeat that. Bowling at the same place for multiple events at the start of the year gives you a chance of doing good, so I'll try and get a good start and just keep the momentum going.”

Koivuniemi is one win away from completing the PBA’s “Grand Slam.” “My big goal is to win the PBA World Championship and get that fourth major to complete the grand slam,” Koivuniemi said.

Williams just wants to be consistent in a good way. “I don’t have any particular goals, just to try and continue learning and improving my performances,” he said. “I think the key to the World Series in general is to stay positive on the days when you are struggling because it’s such a long format for the World Championship. Hopefully there won’t be too many times when I’m struggling.”

PBA Offers Enhanced Programming On-Line

Looking to capitalize on an historic field and compelling action expected at the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling Nov. 2-11, the PBA is partnering with Powerhouse, the official locker room supplier of the PBA, to provide an enhanced programming coverage schedule on the PBA's Online Bowing Channel Xtra Frame.
Xtra Frame will provide fans with more than 80 hours of live coverage of all
World Series of Bowling qualifying and match play rounds of the four animal
pattern championships – Alka Seltzer Plus Cold Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon, Bowlers Journal Scorpion – and the PBA World Championship.  Coverage begins Friday Nov. 2 at 9 p.m. ET with a free GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling preview show available at http://www.pba.com.  In addition, Xtra Frame will carry exclusive live coverage of the PBA League Draft Lottery on Friday Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. ET and the PBA League Draft on Friday Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. ET.  A detailed Xtra Frame coverage schedule can be found at http://www.pba.com/Live/.

The multi-event international competition will showcase a full field of 240 of
the world’s greatest players representing a record 17 countries. The final
rounds of each event will be conducted in South Point’s Exhibition Hall complex
Nov. 10 and 11 on two specially-installed lanes and taped by ESPN for airing
beginning with the Bayer Advanced Aspirin World Bowling Tour finals Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. ET.

Xtra Frame will produce PBA:39X60 pregame and postgame shows for each
ESPN-televised final round including the Bayer Advanced Aspirin World Bowling Tour finals. Xtra Frame subscribers will get an inside look at strategies and equipment selection during warmup sessions pregame and exclusive interviews with players postgame.

To further prepare for World Series of Bowling coverage fans can still join the
PBA Super Fan Club (deadline Nov. 1) which provides a package of benefits
including Xtra Frame subscription for the expanded 2012-13 season, exclusive
communications from PBA, and PBA merchandise for $99.99. Additional Super Fan Club purchase information can be obtained by visitinghttp://pbasuperfan.eventbrite.com/#>

“Getting this PBA Super Fan package is the easiest, clearest, best way fans can support the PBA”, said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark.  “This is the PBA fan’s chance to truly be a part of the PBA.”

Powerhouse will add former TEAM USA member and collegiate bowling standout Ashly Galante as Xtra Frame on-air sideline reporter who will team with play-by-play announcer Mike Jakubowski, with producers Jason Thomas and Mike Flanagan to call the action during the GEICO World Series of Bowling at South Point Bowling Center.

“We are thrilled to have Ashly Galante represent Ebonite’s Powerhouse Brand, she is a great personality and an outstanding bowler”, said Jim Cormier, Ebonite’s Vice President of Marketing. “Ashly brings a wealth of experience as a world class competitor, her knowledge will add that perspective to Xtra Frame’s productions.”

Galante was a member of Team USA in 2007 and was a member of the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships winning women’s team in 2008 (Pikeville College), earning Most Valuable Player honors and 2010 (Webber International University). She was also the Teen Masters girl’s winner in 2007 and finished seventh in the 2009 USBC Queens.

Fans can also get prepped for this season’s World Series of Bowling by visiting PBA’s Youtube channel for a special WSOB highlight series,  http://www.youtube.com/user/PBAProBowlersAssn?feature=watch 
Fans can also keep abreast of the action through live scoring of qualifying and
match play rounds on http://www.pba.com.

Professional Bowlers Association Announces Expanded Schedule

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) has been super-sized.

The upcoming 55th annual PBA Tour season will be longer. The number of titles up for grabs will be greater. The fields will be larger. Even the length of many TV shows will be increased. 

PBA Commissioner Tom Clark made the announcement Tuesday that the PBA’s historic 2012-13 campaign will run from November's PBA World Series of Bowling IV at South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas through December 2013 and include up to 40 opportunities for players to win PBA Tour titles. 

"This season will be big," Clark said. "Every year the greatest players in the world produce unforgettable moments in their quest for PBA titles, but the PBA and its fans wanted more. The stage is now set."

The PBA schedule will include two World Series of Bowling, five major championships, new Winter and Summer Swing open events with multiple titles at stake, and an estimated 15 World Bowling Tour stops that will award PBA Tour titles if won by PBA members and PBA International members.

Approximately 50 hours of action will be televised nationally during the season. Additionally, the PBA's online bowling channel Xtra Frame plans more than 200 hours of live coverage.

Clark said the 14-month season will also mean a move towards a regular calendar-year PBA season starting in January, 2014. 

Significant highlights from the 2012-13 schedule include:

● The United States Bowling Congress Masters will be held at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick, NJ, in February, the PBA Tournament of Champions will be hosted by long-time PBA host Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis in March, and the 70th U.S. Open will be held at a site to be announced in July 2013.

● The new PBA Winter Swing will be contested in January at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, MI, host of WSOB I. In addition to four national titles including a revamped PBA Players Championship, the Winter Swing will introduce a significant new format to be announced.

● Ten of the scheduled nationally-televised shows have been increased from 90 minutes to two hours, which means the USBC Masters and PBA Tournament of Champions, among others, will feature five-player stepladder finals instead of four.

● All World Series event finals will return to stepladder formats.

● The PBA Tournament of Champions will return to a traditional limited-field invitational event.

● The World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA)’s World Bowling Tour points list – based on cumulative totals over a span of two years - will determine the finalists for the men's and women's WBT Finals presented by the PBA which will be held at both WSOB IV and WSOB V.

Also to be announced will be the annual PBA Chris Paul Celebrity Invitational.

Future news releases will also detail the full ESPN and Xtra Frame coverage slates. Additional updates will be posted on pba.com. Also follow the PBA on Twitter @pbatour and on its Facebook page Professional Bowlers Association (PBA).  To subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com.

2012-13 PBA TOUR SCHEDULE

(Tentative: certain elements subject to change; PBA Tour and PBA International members only are eligible to win PBA Tour titles in World Bowling Tour events. Additional WBT events are expected to be added later.)

Nov. 2-11 - PBA World Series of Bowling IV, South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas  Men’s and Women’s World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA; Cheetah Championship; Viper Championship; Chameleon Championship; Scorpion Championship; PBA World Championship (major). WBT Women’s Final also will be included, but is not a PBA Tour title event. (Open to all PBA members).

Nov. 29-Dec. 1 - Round One's International Japan Cup, Japan (invitational).

Dec. 4-8 - WBT Dubai Open, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (open field).

Dec. 9-15 - WBT Qatar Open, Doha, Qatar (open field). 

Jan. 4-13 – WBT Brunswick BallMaster Open, Helsinki, Finland (open field). 

Jan. 15-19 - WBT International Bowling Championship, Nagoya, Japan (open field). 

Jan. 19-28 - PBA Winter Swing, Thunderbowl, Allen Park, MI.          Carmen Salvino Classic; Mark Roth Classic; Don Carter Classic; PBA Players Championship (open to all PBA members).

Feb. 18-24 - United States Bowling Congress Masters, Brunswick Zone Carolier, North Brunswick, N.J. (major championship; open field).

March 3-9 - WBT Bahrain Open, Oman, Bahrain (open field).

March 13-17 - WBT Kuwait Open, Kuwait City, Kuwait (open field).

March 15-24 - WBT Brunswick EuroChallenge, St. Maximim, France (open field).

March 26-31 - PBA Tournament of Champions, Woodland Bowl, Indianapolis (major championship; invitational). 

May 20-27 – PBA Summer Swing, site to be announced

Four PBA Tour titles to be announced (open to all PBA members).

July 21-28 - 70th U.S. Open, to be announced (major championship; open field).

Aug. 31-Sept. 4 - WBT Las Vegas International Open, site to be announced, Las Vegas (open field; follows WTBA World Championships).

Sept. 24-30 - WBT Thailand Open, Bangkok, Thailand (open field).

TBA - WBT Vienna Open, Vienna, Austria (open field).

Oct. 21-26 - WBT Australian Masters, Sydney, Australia (open field).

Nov. 1-10, 2013 - PBA World Series of Bowling V, Las Vegas

Men’s and Women’s World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA; four PBA “pattern championships”; PBA World Championship (major). WBT Women’s Final also will be included, but is not a PBA Tour title event. (Open to all PBA members).

Nov. 27-30, 2013 - Round One's International Japan Cup, Japan (invitational).

Palermaa First Finalist For PBA World Championships

Finland’s Osku Palermaa took a big step forward in his quest to win his second Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) title, advancing to the finals of the PBA World Championship by eliminating PBA Tour veteran Jack Jurek of Lackawanna, NY, and England’s Stuart Williams and Dom Barrett in the Don Carter Division finals that aired Sunday on ESPN. 

Palermaa, Europe’s premier two-handed bowling star, won the first of four PBA World Championship elimination rounds at South Point Hotel Exhibition Hall in Las Vegas, NV, with a 223-188 victory over Barrett in the final game of the Carter finals. The divisional finals consist of three one-game rounds, starting with four players, and eliminating the lowest-scoring player after each game with the surviving player advancing to the PBA World Championship finals on Jan. 15.

In the opening game, Barrett led the group with a 257 game, Williams followed with a 215, Palermaa posted a 187 and Jurek was the first man eliminated with a 169. Back-to-back unconverted splits in the second and third frames contributed to Jurek’s early exit.

Barrett again led the group in the second game with a 201, Palermaa was second with a 188 and Williams was eliminated with a 170 game. In game three, three splits which he failed to convert doomed Barrett’s bid to advance to the World Championship final round.

The Carter finals were conducted on the PBA’s Viper lane condition, selected by Williams as the highest qualifier in the field of four.

Palermaa, who won his first PBA Tour title in the GEICO Shark Championship during the 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling, will join the winners of the Billy Hardwick, Johnny Petraglia and Mike Aulby Division finals in the PBA World Championship finals on Jan. 15 on ESPN. The PBA World Championship offers a $50,000 first prize and the first major title of the 2011-12 PBA Tour season.

“It was difficult today,” Palermaa said. “We didn’t make the lane condition easy. The key was to try to bowl a clean game, because no one was going to strike a lot.”

Palermaa, one of 52 international players who represented 16 countries in the World Series of Bowling, said his international experience was a big help in Las Vegas.

“We bowl on everything in all different kinds of environments,” Palermaa said of his world-wide experience. “We have to be good on all kinds of conditions or we don’t get a paycheck.

“I’ve been battling a flu-like virus for almost two months,” he added. “I’m feeling better, but if I can bowl like this in the finals, maybe I’ll want to be sick again.”

The Billy Hardwick Division finalists will be the next World Championship group to bowl. Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, MI, who won the 2009 PBA World Championship for his only PBA Tour title, is the top qualifier in the Hardwick group and selected the Scorpion pattern as the lane condition for the second eliminator round. Other Hardwick Division players will be Venezuela’s Ildemaro Ruiz, Colombia’s Andres Gomez, and four-time PBA Tour titlist Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, NY. Ruiz, who is making his PBA television debut, and Gomez are both seeking their first PBA Tour titles.

The Hardwick Division finals air Sunday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. A special pre-game show will be webcast beginning Wednesday on pba.com’s Xtra Frame and a post-game Xtra Frame interview with the winner will immediately follow Sunday’s telecast.


PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DON CARTER DIVISION FINALSSouth Point Exhibition Hall, Las Vegas

Round One (lowest score eliminated): Dom Barrett, England, 257; Stuart Williams, England, 215; Osku Palermaa, Finland, 187; Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 169 ($4,000).

Round Two (lowest score eliminated): Barrett 201, Palermaa 188, Williams 170 ($4,500).

Championship (winner advances to PBA World Championship finals): Palermaa def. Barrett ($5,000), 223-188.

Professional Bowling Returns to ESPN

Field/Partners Set for PBA Mark Roth-Marshall Holman Doubles Championships

Ronnie Russell of Marion, IN, who is trying for his first Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour title, secured help Thursday from the hottest player in the PBA World Series of Bowling, selecting Sean Rash of suburban Chicago (Montgomery), IL, as his partner for Sunday’s Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship finals.

Russell, the top qualifier in the PBA Elite Players Championship, earned the right to pick his partner from among the 15 other top qualifiers in the Elite Players field during a special “doubles draft” session Thursday at the special bowling arena that will host the finals at South Point Casino and Hotel. During previous World Series events, Rash had qualified for a record five consecutive ESPN finals.

Selecting second in the draft, conducted by PBA Commissioner Tom Clark and tournament co-namesake Mark Roth, Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, picked PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, for his partner. The other teams are veteran international players Andres Gomez, Colombia, and Martin Larsen, Sweden; long-time friends Mike Fagan, Dallas, TX and Bill O’Neill, Southampton, PA; second-year Tour players Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, NY, and Dan MacLelland, Saginaw, MI; PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO, and Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte; Jason Couch, Clermont, FL, and Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, CA; and Dick Allen, Columbia, SC, and Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas.

In addition to splitting a $15,000 first prize, the doubles champions will earn PBA Tour titles and berths in the Round of 36 for the season-ending PBA Tournament of Champions.

The selection of the doubles teams completed the lineup for the World Series of Bowling television finals, all of which will be conducted on a special two-lane installation at South Point. The PBA will publish results after each tape-delayed telecast airs. The PBA Tour’s season on ESPN begins Sunday, Dec. 4, with back-to-back one-hour telecasts of the GEICO World Bowling Tour men’s and women’s finals, starting at 1 p.m. ET.

2011 PBA WORLD SERIES OF BOWLING TV LINEUP

South Point Exhibition Hall A, Las Vegas, Nov. 17-20

(All competition will be taped for delayed telecast on ESPN; results will be published by the PBA after each tape-delayed telecast airs)

  

THURSDAY, NOV. 17, 5:30 p.m. – GEICO World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA: Men’s Stepladder Finals – Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, MI; Sean Rash, Montgomery, IL; Jason Belmonte, Australia. (ESPN telecast Sunday, Dec. 4, 1 p.m. Eastern). 

Women’s Stepladder Finals – Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas; Nina Flack, Sweden; Sandra Andersson, Sweden. (ESPN telecast Sunday, Dec. 4, 2 p.m. Eastern).

FRIDAY, NOV. 18, 1 p.m. - Bayer Viper Open Finals (four players, three one-game elimination matches): Mike Fagan, Dallas; Stuart Williams, England; Sean Rash, Montgomery, IL; Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela. (ESPN telecast Sunday, Jan. 22, 3 p.m. Eastern).

FRIDAY, NOV. 18, 3 p.m. - Chameleon Open Finals (four players, three one-game elimination matches): Jason Belmonte, Australia; Osku Palermaa, Finland; Sean Rash, Montgomery, IL; Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela. (ESPN telecast Sunday, Feb. 12, 3 p.m. Eastern).

FRIDAY, NOV. 18, 6 p.m. - Scorpion Open Finals (four players, three one-game elimination matches): Dom Barrett, England; Dave Wodka, Henderson, NV; Sean Rash, Montgomery, IL; Patrick Allen, Baltimore. (ESPN telecast Sunday, Feb. 19, 3 p.m. Eastern).

FRIDAY, NOV. 18, 8 p.m. – GEICO Shark Open Finals (four players, three one-game elimination matches): Chris Barnes, Double Oak, TX; Jason Belmonte, Australia; Sean Rash, Montgomery, IL; Finland's Mika Koivuniemi, now living in Hartland, MI. (ESPN telecast Sunday, March 4, 3 p.m. Eastern).

         SATURDAY, NOV. 19, 10:30 a.m. – PBA World Championship Don Carter Division Finals (four players, three one-game elimination matches): Stuart Williams, England; Osku Palermaa, Finland; Dom Barrett, England; Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, NY. (ESPN telecast Sunday, Dec. 11, 1 p.m. Eastern).

         SATURDAY, NOV. 19, 12:30 p.m. – PBA World Championship Billy Hardwick Division Finals (four players, three one-game elimination matches):

Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, MI; Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela; Andres Gomez, Colombia; Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, NY. (ESPN telecast Sunday, Dec. 18, 1 p.m. Eastern).

         SATURDAY, NOV. 19, 3:30 p.m. – PBA World Championship Johnny Petraglia Division Finals (four players, three one-game elimination matches):

Sean Rash, Montgomery, IL; Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO; Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, NY; Nathan Bohr, Wichita, KS. (ESPN telecast Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. Eastern).

         SATURDAY, NOV. 19, 5:30 p.m. – PBA World Championship Mike Aulby Division Finals (four players, three one-game elimination matches):

Jason Belmonte, Australia; Brian Kretzer, Dayton, OH; Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, AZ; Mike Fagan, Dallas, TX. (ESPN telecast Sunday, Jan. 8, 1 p.m. Eastern).

         SATURDAY, NOV. 19, 7:30 p.m. - PBA World Championship Eliminator Finals (four players, three one-game elimination matches): Carter, Hardwick, Petraglia, Aulby winners. (ESPN telecast Sunday, Jan. 15, 1 p.m. Eastern).

         SUNDAY, NOV. 20, 10 a.m. – Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship, Baker format stepladder round one (not televised):

Match One – No. 7 Jason Couch, Clermont, FL/Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, CA. vs. Dick Allen, Columbia, SC/Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, TX. 

Match Two – Winners Match One vs. No. 6 Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO /Jason Belmonte, Australia. 

Match Three – Winners Match Two vs. No. 5 Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, NY/Dan MacLelland, Saginaw, MI. 

Match Four – Winners Match Three vs. No. 4 Mike Fagan, Dallas/Bill O’Neill, Southampton, PA.

SUNDAY, NOV. 20, Noon – Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship Baker format stepladder finals: Match Five – Winners Match Four vs. No. 3 Andres Gomez, Colombia/Martin Larsen, Sweden. 

Semifinal Match – Winners Match Five vs. No. 2 Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas/Norm Duke, Clermont, FL. 

Championship – Semifinal Match Winners vs. No. 1 Ronnie Russell, Marion, IN/Sean Rash, Montgomery, IL. (ESPN telecast Sunday, March 25, 2:30 p.m. Eastern).

         SUNDAY, NOV. 20, 3:30 p.m. - Carmen Salvino Classic Eliminator Finals (four players, three elimination matches): Andres Gomez, Colombia; Wes Malott, Pflugerville, TX; Ronnie Russell, Marion, IN; Jason Belmonte, Australia. (ESPN telecast Sunday, April 1, 1 p.m. Eastern).

         SUNDAY, NOV. 20, 5:30 p.m. – Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship Eliminator Finals (four players, three elimination matches): Norm Duke, Clermont, FL; Jason Belmonte, Australia; Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, TX; Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, CA. (ESPN telecast Sunday, April 8, 1 p.m. Eastern).