Scroggins Wins US Open, Malott Player of the Year

Defeating Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Player of the Year contenders Norm Duke and Chris Barnes in the stepladder finals, Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, TX, won his second career major in winning the 66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open Sunday at Brunswick Zone Carolier in New Jersey.

It was Scroggin’s sixth career PBA Tour title; he won the 2005 United States Bowling Congress Masters for his first major victory also defeating Duke. By beating Duke and Barnes, Wes Malott of Pflugerville, TX, earns 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year honors.

Scroggins defeated PBA Hall of Famer Duke 191-173 in the championship match to win the $100,000 first prize and three-year Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour exemption.

“It’s so satisfying to win it because it’s such a grind,” Scroggins said. “I just wanted to go out and bowl a decent game. Normally you’re going to have to throw a 220 or 230 so it was just karma, I guess, that I was able to beat Norm and Chris.

“I’m a believer in you have to beat the best to be best and I consider Norm to be one of the best,” Scroggins added.

In the semi-final match, Scroggins defeated Chris Barnes 200-199, who had a chance to repeat as Player of the Year with a victory. Barnes could have won the match with a strike on the first ball of the 10^th frame but left a solid 8 pin. Needing a strike on his fill ball to tie the match, Barnes left a 10 pin.

“I threw my best shot,” said Barnes who had eight television appearances this season and two wins to get back into the Player of the Year race. “I’ve put it in perspective--things work out the way they work out, but I’m just thankful to be in this position. Four weeks ago I didn’t think I would have a shot at Player of the Year.”

Duke, who ranks tied for fifth in all-time career PBA Tour titles with 32, was trying to become the first bowler to win back-to-back U.S. Opens since Dave Husted accomplished the feat in 1995-96. Duke was Player of the Year in 1994 and 2000. He left a 4-6-7-10 split in the third frame and a 4-6-7 split in the ninth frame.

“I’ve said it before, it’s more than rolling a good shot,” said Duke. “On those shots where I had the splits I thought those were two of the best shots of my career. I still feel I bowled well, the breaks just didn’t go my way.

“I’m proud of Mike, he did a great job.”

In the opening match former exempt player Richard Wolfe of Vienna, VA, defeated PBA Hall of Famer and 19-time PBA Tour titlist Amleto Monacelli, 213-176 to advance to the second match where he lost to Barnes 243-240.

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR

66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open

Brunswick Zone Carolier, North Brunswick, N.J.
Final Standings

1, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 391 (two games), $100,000

2, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 173 (one game), $50,000

3, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 442 (two games), $25,000

4, Richard Wolfe, Vienna, Va., 453 (two games), $13,000

5, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 176 (one game), $9,000

US Open Memorabilia

Bowling fans will find a treasure chest filled with unique memorabilia when the special 66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open online auction begins this week and runs through April 8.

From autographed scoring recaps to bowling balls used in U.S. Open competition, shoe bags to pin sweeps, jerseys worn by some of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s top stars all the way down to their shoes, the special U.S. Open auction will include eight or more new items every day.

The PBA online auction program, developed by Fans Depot, is easy to use. Just click the pba.com link and click on the Auction link.

Duke Leads After Three Rounds

Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of Famer Norm Duke retained his position as qualifying leader in the 66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open for the second consecutive day but found the going a lot tougher Thursday at Brunswick Zone Carolier, in New Jersey.

Duke has a 3,997 18-game pinfall (overall 222.0 average) to hold a 48-pin lead over reigning PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes. In Thursday’s third-round six-game qualifying block Duke struggled, rolling a 146 in the second game and averaging 195.1.

The original field of 415 professional and amateur bowlers has now been cut to the top 103 who will bowl an additional nine-game qualifying round this morning to determine the 24 players who advance to round-robin match play tonight (Friday) evening. The top five players after match play will advance to the live, two-hour ESPN-televised stepladder finals on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern.

“It’s going to catch up with you sooner or later in the U.S. Open and it happens to everyone,” Duke said of his sub-par performance Thursday. “It was just one of those days where I felt even some of my best shots turned into splits. I think I had at least two splits in every game.

“I’m disappointed but I haven’t lost the desire and that’s very important. You just have to keep digging.”

Duke, with three titles this season and Barnes with two wins, are in the running for Player of the Year honors but must win to have a shot at that title.

Duke, a 32-time PBA Tour titlist who has won professional bowling’s Grand Slam and Triple Crown, is trying to become the first bowler to defend a U.S. Open title since Dave Husted accomplished the feat in 1995 and 1996.

Currently in 41st with a 3,685 pinfall (204.7 average), Wes Malott, who also won three titles this season and has the inside track for Player of the Year, made the tournament’s first cut but has some work to do to make the top 24 for match play.

“Yesterday I gave a lot of pins away because I wasn’t feeling 100 percent and that affected my ability to focus,” said Malott, who has six career PBA Tour titles. “I felt better today and was able to rebound.

“Tomorrow’s another day and with a nine-game qualifying block to go there’s a lot of bowling left to make it to the top 24.”

The U.S. Open winner will earn a $100,000 first prize, a three-year PBA Tour exemption and Grand Slam points which will impact players trying to qualify for the GEICO PBA Team Shootout hosted by Six Flags in June.

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open
Brunswick Zone Carolier, North Brunswick, N.J.

Round 3 Qualifying After 18 Games
1, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3,997
2, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,949
3, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 3,873
4, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 3,869
5, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3,844
6, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3,842
7, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 3,840
8, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,822
9, Matthew O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J., 3,808
10, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 3,800
11, Jeff Lizzi, Sandusky, Ohio, 3,788
12, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 3,774
13, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 3,755
14, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,754
15, Vinny D'Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,748
16, Don Allen III, Vancouver, Wash., 3,745
17, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3,743
18, P.J. Sonday, Avoca, Pa., 3,739
19, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 3,737
20, Mike DeVaney, San Diego, 3,731
21, Sean Riccardi, Piscataway, N.J., 3,728
22, Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan., 3,727
22, Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio, 3,727
24, Kenneth Jessee, Huber Heights, Ohio, 3,720
25, Ron Nelson Jr., Bridgeview, Ill., 3,718
26, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 3,717
27, Richard Wolfe, Vienna, Va., 3,714
28, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 3,710
29, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3,707
30, Rick Hara, Darien, Ill., 3,706
30, Anthony LaCaze, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 3,706
32, Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, 3,705
33, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 3,699
34, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 3,697
35, Craig Tuholski, Washougal, Wash., 3,695
36, Mike Rose Jr., Rochester, N.Y., 3,693
37, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 3,692
38, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 3,689
39, Paul Pinto, Philadelphia, 3,688
39, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 3,688
41, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 3,685
42, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,682
43, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,681
44, James Wallace, Hicksville, N.Y., 3,678
45, William Barlow, Edgewood, Md., 3,674
46, John Furey, Freehold, N.J., 3,670
47, Shawn McKee, Concord, N.C., 3,666
48, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 3,662
49, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 3,660
50, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 3,654
51, Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., 3,653
52, P.J. Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 3,646
53, Peter Spreadbury, Oak Forest, Ill., 3,644
54, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 3,642
55, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 3,638
56, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 3,637
57, Lindsay Baker, Amherst, N.Y., 3,636
58, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,633
59, Don Breeden, Clive, Iowa, 3,632
60, Jason Baker, Sharon Springs, N.Y., 3,628
61, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 3,626
62, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 3,624
63, Jason Wojnar, Chicago, 3,620
63, Chris Forry, Bridgeport, Conn., 3,620
65, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 3,610
66, Chun Bae, Cedarhurst, N.Y., 3,608
67, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 3,607
67, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 3,607
69, Nick Weber, St. Charles, Mo., 3,605
69, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 3,605
71, Joe Bailey, Pittsburgh, 3,602
72, Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 3,600
73, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,595
73, Jeff Morin, Hoptacong, N.J., 3,595
75, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,593
75, Brian Voss, Kennesaw, Ga., 3,593
77, Jim Thomas, Binghamton, N.Y., 3,590
78, Shannon Buchan, Waterloo, Iowa, 3,589
79, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 3,586
80, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 3,582
80, George Lambert IV, Canada, 3,582
82, Derek Petty, Potomac Falls, Va., 3,579
83, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,576
84, Jeff Kubasak, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,563
85, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,562
85, Geoff Wetzler, Tolland, Conn., 3,562
87, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,560
88, Michael Marsico, Chesapeake Beach, Md., 3,558
88, Butch Cormier, Lafayette, La., 3,558
90, Ray Edwards, Middle Island, N.Y., 3,557
91, Paul Gibson, Brunswick, Ohio, 3,556
92, Tom Sorce, Blasdell, N.Y., 3,554
92, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 3,554
94, Scott Lavy, Troy, Mo., 3,553
94, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 3,553
94, Robert Mockenhaupt, Pompton Lakes, N.J., 3,553
94, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 3,553
98, Gean Perez, Puerto Rico, 3,550
99, Alex Aguiar, Dartmouth, Mass., 3,549
100, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 3,546
100, Dennis Beagle, Lehigh Acres, Fla., 3,546
102, x-Ron Dixon, Boynton Beach, Fla., 3,545
102, x-Thomas Smallwood, Flushing, Mich., 3,545
102, Jeffrey Voight, Canojahaire, N.Y., 3,545
105, Rusty Thomsen, Morgan, N.J., 3,543
106, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 3,542
107, Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 3,541
108, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 3,538
109, Bryan Reinsel, Hamburg, Pa., 3,537
109, Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 3,537
111, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 3,535
112, Robert Carlson, DeKalb, Ill., 3,534
112, David Simard, Canada, 3,534
114, Darryl McDuffie, Floral Park, N.Y., 3,533
115, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3,531
116, Andrew Koff, Miami, 3,528
117, Dean Richards, Tacoma, Wash., 3,526
118, Bryan Paul, Brooklyn, N.Y., 3,522
118, Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 3,522
120, Anthony Bennett, Worcester, Mass., 3,519
121, Marty Berke, Allentown, Pa., 3,518
122, Patrick Girard, Quebec, 3,517
123, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, 3,516
123, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 3,516
125, Tommy Gollick, Oberlin, Pa., 3,513
126, Rick Graham, Lancaster, Pa., 3,512
127, Matthew Zasowski, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,510
128, Matthew Gasn, Laurel, Md., 3,508
128, Tim Pfeifer, Cranberry Twp., Pa., 3,508
130, Tommy Dakouvanos, Morganville, N.J., 3,506
131, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,503
132, Jason Weaver, Denver, Pa., 3,499
133, T.J. Trout, Pottsville, Pa., 3,498
134, Robert Volk, Ridge, N.Y., 3,494
134, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 3,494
136, Matthew Janas, Central Falls, R.I., 3,487
137, Chris Kramer, Richlandtown, Pa., 3,486
138, Ronald Gardner, Troy, N.Y., 3,484
138, John Di Santis, Wilmington, Del., 3,484
140, Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 3,481
141, Del Ballard Jr., Keller, Texas, 3,479
142, Brandon Harris, Akron, Ohio, 3,475
143, G. Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 3,474
143, Will Jackson, Philadelphia, 3,474
145, Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 3,473
146, Michael Cimba, Monroeville, Pa., 3,472
147, Jonathan Rivera, Bronx, N.Y., 3,471
147, Pete Danyo Jr., Avenel, N.J., 3,471
147, Mike Long, High Point, N.C., 3,471
150, Scott Norton, San Francisco, Calif., 3,466
151, Robert Sperling, Livingston, N.J., 3,464
152, Joe Conigliaro, Valley Stream, N.Y., 3,461
153, Julien Depy, France, 3,460
154, Jay Boyle, Garnet Valley, Pa, 3,457
155, Mark Clark, Naperville, Ill., 3,456
155, Jason Poli, West Des Moines, Iowa, 3,456
157, Mark Decman, Canada, 3,452
158, Eddie "Chico" Santiago, Tuckahoe, N.Y., 3,451
159, Bobby Link, Glendale, N.Y., 3,450
159, Steven Meyer, Rochester, N.Y., 3,450
161, Michael Herman, Woodridge, Va., 3,444
162, Isao Yamamoto, Kanagawa, Japan, 3,439
163, Chris Blaison, Newburgh, N.Y., 3,437
164, Jonathan Roy, Canada, 3,435
164, Jim Rogers, Brick, N.J., 3,435
166, Christopher Blackmore, Alexandria, Va., 3,431
167, Chris Klerk, Chandler, Ariz., 3,430
168, Corey Husted, Milwaukie, Ore, 3,426
169, Walter Schaub II, Schaumburg, Ill., 3,425
170, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 3,424
171, Mark Cise, Summit, N.J., 3,423
171, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 3,423
173, John Conroy, Mahopac, N.Y., 3,422
174, Gary Duran, Commerce, Calif., 3,418
175, Travis Celmer, Wernersville, Pa., 3,410
175, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 3,410
177, Bill Gasser, Maple Shade, N.J., 3,409
177, Stephen Haas, Enola, Pa., 3,409
177, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 3,409
180, Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 3,407
180, Kevin Henley, Medford, Ore., 3,407
182, Bill Ireland, Absecon, N.J., 3,405
182, Jason Lundquist, Delaware Water Gap, Pa., 3,405
184, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 3,404
185, Jim Rood, Algonquin, Ill., 3,403
186, Thomas Wilkinson, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,400
187, Thomas Lulewicz, Livingston, N.J., 3,398
188, George Ennis, California, Md., 3,397
189, Charles Anderson, Sloatsburg, N.Y., 3,391
190, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 3,390
191, Jason Freeman, Maple Shade, N.J., 3,389
191, Christopher Wood, North Haven, Conn., 3,389
193, Chris Larsen, Norwich, Conn., 3,387
194, Mike Centrone, Carmel, N.Y., 3,386
195, Brian Checkle, Stockbridge, Ga., 3,385
196, Michelle Arrington, Philadelphia, 3,383
197, John Santalucia, North Brunswick, N.J., 3,382
198, Ron Glick, Morganville, N.J., 3,379
198, John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 3,379
200, Alex Cavagnaro, N. Massapequa, N.Y., 3,375
201, Aaron Pawloski, Volcano, Calif., 3,374
202, Adam Chase, Seaford, N.Y., 3,367
203, Jeremy Boyer, Desloge, Mo., 3,364
203, Jack Perry, Canada, 3,364
205, Robert Leonard Sr., Elmira Heights, N.Y., 3,363
206, John Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 3,360
207, A.B. Gonzalez, Bronx, N.Y., 3,357
208, Derek Sapp, Keokuk, Iowa, 3,353
209, Mike Keily, Lakewood, Colo., 3,351
210, David Cole, Deerfield, Ill., 3,350
211, Douglas Babin, Langhorne, Pa, 3,349
212, Michael Markis, Hawley, Pa., 3,348
212, Craig Diver, Spring, Texas, 3,348
214, Greg Rottengen, Washington, N.J., 3,347
215, Adrienne Miller, Buffalo Grove, Ill., 3,346
215, Reo Kanai, Japan, 3,346
217, Greg Stahora, W. Hazelton, Pa., 3,342
218, Joe Biscardi, Wantagh, N.Y., 3,339
219, Paul Viesto, Sandy Hook, Conn., 3,333
220, Alex Medveditskov, Russia, 3,331
220, Chris Deemer, Hamilton, N.J., 3,331
222, Keith Wagner, Easton, Pa., 3,330
223, Bob Rowe, Wynantskill, N.Y., 3,328
224, Ryan Appel, Cinnaminson, N.J., 3,325
225, Kevin Cartier, Beverly, N.J., 3,318
226, Kris O'Donaghy II, East Syracuse, N.Y., 3,317
227, Tom Martino, Old Bridge, N.J., 3,316
227, Wade Gayhart, Lockport, Ill., 3,316
227, Frank Gray Jr., North East, Md., 3,316
227, Billy Bertuch, Yonkers, N.Y., 3,316
231, Shane Holbert, East Lansdowne, Pa., 3,314
232, Nichole Spratford, Flanders, N.J., 3,313
233, Timothy Foy Jr., Salisbury, Md., 3,306
234, Kevin Humble, Lake Mary, Fla., 3,304
234, Larry Woomer, State College, Pa., 3,304
236, Ken Yokobosky, Fredon, N.J., 3,299
237, David Oulman, Owatonna, Minn., 3,298
238, Hubert Register, Philadelphia, 3,288
239, Robert Lee, Japan, 3,287
240, Chris Tomlinson, Franklin, Tenn., 3,286
240, Frank Szabo Jr., Spring City, Pa., 3,286
242, Sean McAuliffe, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,284
243, Mike Hastings, Georgetown, Del., 3,282
243, Steven Arehart, Chesapeake, Va., 3,282
245, Philip Petersam, Baltimore, 3,278
246, Matthew Priore, North Arlington, N.J., 3,274
247, Jason Zagrodnik, Allentown, Pa., 3,272
248, Andrew Cain, Scottsdale, Ariz., 3,271
249, Gale Voshell, Dover, Del., 3,270
250, Kevin Kelly, White Plains, N.Y., 3,269
251, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 3,268
252, Rob Mayotte, Syracuse, N.Y., 3,267
252, Timothy Gillick, Milford, Conn., 3,267
254, George Kruse, Clifton, N.J., 3,266
255, Stephen Dieter, Palmerton, Pa., 3,264
256, Michael Tarsio, Newburgh, N.Y., 3,260
257, Matthew Vega, Bronx, N.Y., 3,257
258, Michael Sanders, Kearny, N.J., 3,254
259, Philip Duncan, Dayton, Ohio, 3,252
260, Dan Perreten, Deland, Fla., 3,251
260, Supachai Papee, Alexandria, Va., 3,251
262, Joe Krajkovich, North Brunswick, N.J., 3,250
263, Scott Irwin, Milltown, N.J., 3,248
264, Matt Himmelreich, Cressona, Pa., 3,247
265, Gene Speenburgh, Athens, N.Y., 3,246
265, Derek James, Wyandanch, N.Y., 3,246
267, Derrick Stanley, Dover, Del., 3,245
268, A.J. Tkaczuk, Bloomfield, N.J., 3,244
269, Tim McAuliffe, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,242
270, Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 3,240
271, William Davenport, Ducktown, Tenn., 3,238
272, Ryan Friend, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,236
272, Thomas Grunwald, Astoria, N.Y., 3,236
274, Walt Taormina, Oak Ridge, N.J., 3,235
274, Chris Fisher, Brooklyn, N.Y., 3,235
276, Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.V., 3,234
276, Louis Rodriguez, Bayonne, N.J., 3,234
278, Thomas Bates, S Boston, Va., 3,229
279, Maurice Plante, Canada, 3,226
280, Brent Frisch, Allentown, Pa., 3,225
281, Joel Caridad, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,224
282, Mike Swackhamer, Parkersburg, W.V., 3,222
283, Stephen Ennis Jr., Staten Island, N.Y., 3,217
284, Jeff Keller, Chesapeake, Va., 3,213
284, Wayne Fleming Jr., Hackettstown, N.J., 3,213
286, Jonathan Conger, Missoula, Mont., 3,211
287, James Tesch Jr., Mooresville, N.C., 3,210
288, Jason Meketansky, Bronx, N.Y., 3,208
289, Michael Robey, Morrisville, Pa., 3,206
289, Curtis Foss, Medina, N.Y., 3,206
291, Chris Kliczinski, Pinckney, Mich., 3,205
292, Christopher Bucchianico, Jackson, N.J., 3,202
293, Brian Burkhardt, Wildwood, Mo., 3,198
293, Orlando Mercado, Ponce, P.R., 3,198
295, Zak Brandt, Marysville, Pa., 3,197
295, Lewis Johnson Jr., Bayonne, N.J., 3,197
295, Cedric Anthor, France, 3,197
298, Michael Healy, Yonkers, N.Y., 3,196
299, Anthony Martino, Morganville, N.J., 3,195
300, Ricky Matsko Jr., Overland, Mo., 3,189
301, Jeffrey Owens, Ithaca, N.Y., 3,184
302, Aaron Williams, Trenton, N.J., 3,181
303, Ken Smith Jr., Cherry Valley, N.Y., 3,179
304, Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, N.Y, 3,178
305, Matt Pritchard, Barrington, R.I., 3,167
306, Guido Susi, Bronx, N.Y., 3,165
307, Sean Wilson, Hawthorn Woods, Ill., 3,164
308, Wilbert Moorer, Dover, Del., 3,160
308, Alan Mojado, Fallbrook, Calif., 3,160
310, Edward Kramarcik Sr., Lake Mary, Fla., 3,159
311, Pierre-Luc Larouche, Canada, 3,156
312, Roger Petrin, Indian Trail, N.C., 3,148
313, Chris Voshell, Dover, Del., 3,139
314, Jack Nealon, Bowie, Md., 3,136
315, Eric Wysokowski, Monroe Twp., N.J., 3,135
316, Jean-Francois Bittner, Canada, 3,133
317, Joseph Truchan Jr., Ringwood, N.J., 3,122
317, Don Amorosi, Piscataway, N.J., 3,122
319, Sun Kim, Flushing, N.Y., 3,111
320, Rob Belau, Newport News, Va., 3,106
321, Greg Schwamberger, Dover, Del., 3,102
322, Keith Mentone, Long Branch, N.J., 3,097
323, Walter Williams Jr., Lodi, N.J., 3,093
324, Bob Inscore Jr, Waldorf, Md., 3,092
325, Dan Rowe, Wynantskill, N.Y., 3,091
326, Timothy Dennis, Enola, Pa., 3,087
327, Eric Martin, Succasunna, N.J., 3,077
328, William Allen Jr., Lumberton, N.J., 3,074
328, Clinton Sloper, Locust Grove, Va., 3,074
330, Noel Pabilonia, Jersey City, N.J., 3,070
331, Donald Sherman, Darlington, Md., 3,068
332, Alexandre Vahidi, France, 3,066
333, Chris Galler, San Antonio, Texas, 3,061
333, Michael Llorca, Orlando, Fla., 3,061
335, Clarke Hill, Goldboro, N.C., 3,060
336, Aaron Graves, Danbury, Conn., 3,059
337, Martin Porrini Jr., National Park, N.J., 3,056
338, Mun Hong Lee, Cliffside Park, N.J., 3,054
339, Matthew Graham, West Orange, N.J., 3,052
339, John Poandl, Allentown, Pa., 3,052
341, Marcus Henderson, Dayton, Ohio, 3,047
342, Peter Gurrieri, Bloomingdale, N.J., 3,046
343, Jeff Kirk, Easton, Pa., 3,041
344, Cory Nichols, Hudson Falls, N.Y., 3,040
345, Brian DiCicco, Agawam, Mass., 3,038
346, Robert Hoyser, Titusville, Fla., 3,036
347, Bob Smith, Philadelphia, 3,035
348, Anthony Santonastaso, New Milford, Conn., 3,027
349, Ross McDonald, Clarksville, Md., 3,021
350, Chris Schlegel, Yonkers, N.Y., 3,019
351, Chuck Hinks, Eagle Point, Ore., 3,018
352, Derek Bailey, Sloatsbury, N.Y., 3,015
353, Thomas VanGorden, Jamesburg, N.J., 3,001
354, Bob Andretta Jr., New Hyde Park, N.Y., 2,997
354, Anthony Phillips, Elmont, N.Y., 2,997
356, Dale Johnson, Doylestown, Pa., 2,996
357, David Lefevre, France, 2,994
358, Jonathan Savard, Canada, 2,992
359, Timothy Butz, Whitehall, Pa., 2,987
360, Gregory Smith, Baltimore, 2,983
361, Connie Thibodeaux, Houma, La., 2,981
362, James Grago, Rome, N.Y., 2,980
362, Keith DeCambra, Quincy, Mass., 2,980
364, Victor Hnatczenko Jr., Philadelphia, 2,965
365, Leon DeMasi, Rose Valley, Pa., 2,951
366, Tom Warner, Latham, N.Y., 2,942
366, Shaun Riggins, Millville, N.J., 2,942
368, Scott Petritis, Clifton, N.J., 2,941
369, Joseph Bevelacqua, Endicott, N.Y., 2,940
370, Joel Thibeault, Canada, 2,938
371, Christopher Gillette, Scotia, N.Y., 2,917
372, Michael Miles, Toms River, N.J., 2,916
373, David Zeitz, Philadelphia, 2,914
374, Christopher Ohnesorge, Dunlap, Iowa, 2,905
374, Sandy Perron, Canada, 2,905
376, Patrick Weiss, Winfield, N.J., 2,904
377, Joseph Purdom, Mechanicsburg, Pa., 2,892
378, Ronald Powick, Williamstown, N.J., 2,886
379, Ken Ellsworth Jr., Oswego, N.Y., 2,884
380, Mike Nadolski, Westland, Mich., 2,868
381, Jason Duncan, Oakland, N.J., 2,866
382, Peter Smith, Bay Shore, N.Y., 2,864
383, Jason Babicka, Imperial, Pa., 2,851
384, Art Swain Jr, Philadelphia, 2,848
385, Gary Starcher, Hammonton, N.J., 2,836
386, Jonathan Wilhelm, Grahamsville, N.Y., 2,811
386, Chuck Galaviz, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2,811
388, Joseph Hunter, Milltown, N.J., 2,804
389, Julianne Martirano, Bronx, N.Y., 2,803
389, Paul Christopher, Tonawanda, N.Y., 2,803
391, John Wise Sr., Pine Grove, Pa., 2,788
392, Andy Zavaglia, Glasser, N.J., 2,782
393, Sean Dillon, Yardley, Pa., 2,781
394, Brian Atherton, Bridgewater, N.J., 2,772
395, Bryan Duurloo, Watervliet, N.Y., 2,754
396, Frank Rakowski, Rochelle Park, N.J., 2,753
397, Mark Gabrielli, Indialantic, Fla., 2,728
398, Louis DiGirolamo, Howell, N.J., 2,725
399, Johnathon Proctor, Lebanon, N.J., 2,690
400, Aaron Williams, Roselle, N.J., 2,665
401, Raymond Melone, North Haledon, N.J., 2,623
402, Sal Izzo, Old Bridge, N.J., 2,591
403, Razor Chisolm, Brooklyn, N.Y., 2,439
404, Rudy Kasimakis, Baldwyn, Miss., 2,237
405, Howard Ridgeway, Cleveland, 2,169
406, Dale Aivaz Jr., Yonkers, N.Y., 2,099
407, Warrnon Bell, Longwood, Fla., 1,960
408, Seth Harrison, South Euclid, Ohio, 1,889
409, Kevin Bandrowski, Speonk, N.Y., 1,791
410, Omar Juarbe, Allentown, Pa., 1,636
411, David Fantl, Springfield, N.J., 1,630
412, Robert Killmer Jr., Levittown, Pa., 1,614
413, Eric Race, Schoharie, N.Y., 903
414, Nina Smith, Philadelphia, 897
415, Duc Le Minh, Ivry, France, 783
x-advanced in one-game rolloff

Duke Leads Second Round of the U. S. Open

There is a lot at stake for Norm Duke at the 66^th Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open–a major title defense and a shot at Player of the Year honors. The 44-year-old Hall of Famer demonstrated he’s up for the challenge by taking the second round qualifying lead Wednesday at Brunswick Zone Carolier.

With a 2,826 12-game overall pinfall (235.5 average) and averaging 243.5 in Wednesday’s six-game round, Duke holds a 141-pin lead over reigning PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes in second who is a contender to repeat as Player of the Year.

“I’m ecstatic about how well I’ve been bowling to this point,” Duke said. “You’re not supposed to be able to shoot numbers like this at the U.S. Open.”

Duke, who is tied for fourth with Parker Bohn III for career PBA Tour titles with 32—six of those majors—took last week off from the Tour to prepare for the U.S. Open.

“For this tournament you need all your mental skills,” Duke said. “Taking last week off was part of my preparation and as a result I feel I’m as ready as I can be for this tournament.”

Duke and Barnes are the only two players who can challenge current front-runner Wes Malott for the Player of the Year title but would have to win for any chance for the honor. Malott is in 58^th place after Wednesday’s qualifying round.

“It’s nice to be in position for Player of the Year,” said Duke, who was Player of the Year in 1994 and 2000, “but after 27 years, I’ve only won one of these (U.S. Opens). It’s not easy, but I go into it thinking why not me?”

A testament to Duke’s prowess in majors was his win in the PBA World Championship that kicked off the 2008-09 season where he became the only bowler to win three consecutive majors. He is just one of two bowlers to win professional bowling’s Grand Slam (USBC Masters, Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open and World Championship) and one of just five players to win the Triple Crown (Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open and World Championship).

Dave Husted was the last bowler to win back-to-back U.S. Open titles in 1995 and 1996.

The entire field of 415 professional and amateur players will bowl another six-game qualifying round today after which the field will be cut to the top 103 players for another nine-game round on Friday. The top 24 after 27 games will advance to round-robin match play which concludes on Saturday. The top five players will advance to the live, two-hour ESPN-televised stepladder finals on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern.

The U.S. Open winner will earn a $100,000 first prize, a three-year PBA Tour exemption and Grand Slam points which will impact players trying to qualify for the GEICO PBA Team Shootout hosted by Six Flags in June.

2009 Dydo Japan Cup

What has become a showcase of topflight international professional bowling competition, the 2009 Dydo Japan Cup will be conducted April 23-26 in Tokyo. Featuring Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour, Japan Professional Bowlers Association (JPBA) Tour and amateur stars, qualifying and match play will once again take place at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel while the championship round takes place at the Tokyo Metro Gymnasium.

The field will consist of 144 players that will include 20 PBA professionals (including the top 16 on the PBA Tour points list from 2007-08), 90 JPBA players and 34 amateurs. The JPBA entrants will include 49 seeded players and the rest will be determined through a pre-tournament qualifier. The amateur field will include nine seeded players and the rest determined through a qualifier in Japan on April 4.

In September 2007, Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, MI, won the most recent Dydo Japan Cup for his eighth PBA Tour title and a tournament championship in 11 different countries. Koivuniemi, a native of Finland, defeated Mike Wolfe of New Albany, IN, 200-178, in the title match.

The 2007 event had an international flavor as five Japanese bowlers, one Korean, one American and one Finnish bowler made up the final eight. This year the home crowd will hope to see a Japanese bowler win the Dydo Japan Cup for the first time since 1988.

The field will bowl 12 games of qualifying on April 24 with the top 64 bowlers advancing to match play. The Rounds of 48, 32 and 16 feature best-of-five-games match play – all taking place April 25 – with the final eight advancing to the final round on April 26.

Sunday’s competition begins with four single-game Round of 8 matches, followed by two semifinal matches and the championship match, with the winner taking home $50,000.

The 20 PBA representatives competing in the Dydo Japan Cup are as follows:

Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, FL
Chris Barnes, Double Oak, TX
Wes Malott, Pflugerville, TX
Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, MI
Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, TX
Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, FL
Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, SC
Chris Loschetter, Avon, OH
Rhino Page, Topeka, KS
Sean Rash, Wichita, KS
Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO
Parker Bohn III, Jackson, NJ
Brad Angelo, Lockport, NY
Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, NY
Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, MD
Norm Duke, Clermont, FL
Eugene McCune, Munster, IN
Bill O’Neill, Levittown, PA
Steve Jaros, Yorkville, IL
Mike Wolfe, New Albany, IN

Kegal Hosts King of Bowling and Woman's Series

Bowling fans in Florida are invited to experience the best in professional bowling when the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)’s top stars – men and women – get together at Kegel Training Center in Lake Wales, Fla., April 8, 9 and 10 for the new PBA King of Bowling Powered by Amp Energy and PBA Women’s Series Showdown presented by United State Bowling Congress (USBC) telecasts.

General admission and VIP tickets are now available for a unique series of two Women’s Showdown and five King of Bowling telecasts that will be contested over a period of three days for tape-delayed airing on ESPN. General admission tickets are $15 each on a first-come basis all three days ($5 if any seats are available for the final show of the day only).

To order tickets, visit pba.com and click on the “tickets” link, or visit any Kegel Pro Shop at the Kegel Training Center, Lake Wales; Kegel Bowling Center, Sebring; Cypress Lanes, Winter Haven; Orange Bowl, Lakeland, or Seminole Lanes, Seminole.

Special limited-edition VIP packages are available for $99 per day. The VIP package includes preferred seating, access to the “skybox” area where food and beverages will be available; “meet and greet” sessions with the competitors; a special Kegel autograph bowling pin; a towel-and-cleaner package; a PBA program book; a $25 discount coupon for any Kegel Training Center training package and a VIP identification lanyard.

Taping sessions begin with back-to-back one-hour Women’s Series events, featuring six top competitors from the 2008-09 PBA Women’s Series, on Wednesday, April 8, at 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Both shows will air on ESPN on Sunday, April 12, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern.

The five-week series of PBA King of Bowling Powered by Amp Energy telecasts will be conducted at 6, 7:45 and 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, and at 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. on Friday, April 10. The one-hour shows will air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN beginning April 22 and continuing through May 20.

The field for the Women’s Showdown, presented by the United States Bowling Congress, includes five winners of PBA Women’s Series events held during the 2008-09 season, plus Missy Bellinder of Fullerton, CA, who finished second to two-time titlist Michelle Feldman of Auburn, NY, in the CLR Carmen Salvino Scorpion Championship. Other contestants are Feldman, who won the Chameleon and Scorpion Championships; Stefanie Nation of Arlington, TX, winner of the Pepsi Viper Championship; Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, TX, winner of the Cheetah Championship; Jodi Woessner, Oregon, OH, winner of the Lumber Liquidators Shark Championship, and Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, NV, winner of the Bayer Earl Anthony Medford Classic.

The PBA Women’s Series Showdown presented by USBC will feature a “Showdown” elimination round, followed by a championship round – all using a unique scoring format created by PBA and newly-elected USBC Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia. The Petraglia Scoring System ignores pinfall, but counts the number of balls thrown to clear the deck in each frame and the lowest score for 10 frames wins. A strike thus equals a “1” and a typical spare would result in a “2” for the frame. A 7-10 split, however, might require three balls - or more.

The King of Bowling Powered by Amp Energy will feature the top 10 players in the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour Player of the Year points race, which won’t be decided until the conclusion of the Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open on April 5, plus a “wild card” player to be named later. The Player of the Year, based upon PBA points, will be the first "King."

Each King of Bowling show will feature three players. In the first show, the No. 2 finisher in the Player of the Year points race will face the No. 3 finisher in a one-game match, with the winner advancing to bowl vs. the King (Player of the Year) in a one-game match. That winner will come back as the King on the following week's show. Subsequent shows will feature the No. 4 and 5, No. 6 and 7, No. 8 and 9, and No. 10 plus a “wild card” player bowling for the right to de-throne the “King.”

Heading into the final three events of the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour schedule, the top 10 in Player of the Year points were, in order: Wes Malott, Norm Duke, Patrick Allen, Chris Barnes, Rhino Page, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Mike Scroggins, Bill O'Neill, John Nolen and Brad Angelo.

The players in the PBA King of Bowling Powered by AMP Energy® will be battling for shares of a $100,000 prize fund.

WOMENS ONLINE LINK

MEN’S ONLINE LINK

US Open Round 1

Because of his recent success on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowling Association (PBA) Tour, reigning PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes can still defend his title but he’ll need a little help for it to happen.

Barnes had a 1,394 six-game pinfall (232.33 average) to lead a 415-player field of the sport’s top professional and amateur bowlers after first-round qualifying Tuesday in the 66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open at Brunswick Zone Carolier.

With the U.S. Open being the final event of the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season, Wes Malott of Pflugerville, TX, who has won three titles this season, is the front runner to win PBA Player of the Year honors. Malott is currently in 42nd place after first-round qualifying with a 1,253 six-game pinfall.

Barnes had made five television finals appearances this season without a title but then broke through by winning back-to-back events in March.

Barnes and defending U.S. Open champion and Hall of Famer Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, who is currently fourth after the first round with a 1,365 pinfall, are the only players who can challenge Malott for the title. Both Barnes and Duke must win to have any chance of earning Player of the Year honors.

“I’m bowling as well now as I have all season,” Barnes said. “My sole intention is to win this tournament and force Wes to do whatever he needs to do.”

As one of the most demanding events—mentally and physically—in professional bowling, the entire field will bowl additional six-game qualifying rounds Wednesday and Thursday after which the field will be cut to the top 25 percent for another nine-game round on Friday. The top 24 after 27 games will advance to round-robin match play which concludes on Saturday. The top five players will advance to the live, two-hour ESPN-televised stepladder finals on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern.

“In a tournament like this you have to take advantage of a big block (qualifying round),” said the 39- year-old Barnes of Double Oak, TX “With a long format it’s better to hang on to pins rather than chase them. It’s so hard to get through the three days of qualifying that you can’t get too far behind and then feel you have to press.”

Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, hoping to become the U.S. Open’s first five-time winner, was in eighth place after Tuesday’s first-round qualifying with a 1,348 pinfall. Weber currently holds the record of four U.S. Open wins with his dad, Dick Weber, and Don Carter.

As a major with a challenging format, the U.S. Open is contested on a U.S. Open lane conditioning pattern, which is considered to be the toughest in professional bowling. Adding to the pressure will be a $100,000 first prize, a three-year PBA Tour exemption and Grand Slam points which will impact players trying to qualify for the GEICO PBA Team Shootout hosted by Six Flags in June.

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open
Brunswick Zone Carolier, North Brunswick, N.J.

See Updated results above.