Professional Bowling Returns to ESPN

Hammer Adds A Brick

Hammer plans to add a Brick. With an advanced new core design matched with the strongest veneer (GTR Hybrid) ever used on a Hammer ball at this performance level, Hammer touts “the Brick is destined to be a staple in every bowler’s bag.”

The new “Brick Mirror Plane Asymmetric (MPA)” core design is completely asymmetric in shape, a highly unusual feature of the ball. The core is not high mass bias; however the low Radius of Gyration (RG) is not in the geometric center of the ball.

“This core shape was designed for a specific purpose,” explained Ron Hickland, Ball Design Engineering Manager. “The pro shop operator can tweak ball motion by making smaller layout changes when drilling the Brick. Those smaller layout changes will produce bigger performance changes in ball motion for the bowler.”

When you have a core as special as the Brick MPA, you have to make sure you have a coverstock that makes the most of the core’s performance. The Black/Blue/Red “GTR Hybrid” cover does the trick (finished 500/500/1000/2000 Abralon® Sanded). Look for the Hammer Brick just before Christmas on December 20th.

Video of the Roto Grip Shooting Star

The Omen From Columbia 300

Columbia 300 introduced yet another new ball, this time the mid-performance Omen. The Omen, a Purple/Gold/Silver “Bend-It” pearl reactive coverstock finished aggressively (500, 500, 4000, 4000 Abralon®) in order to enhance the Omen’s footprint on the lane, surrounding the “Capsule core with Magnetite”.

Columbia reports “The “Capsule core” was designed to provide great performance and versatility while also being very simple. A simple symmetric shape with great performance characteristics was chosen in order to be very driller and bowler friendly. The low RG Capsule revs up early and the high Differential helps create a large amount of flare for great continuation in the backend.”

The new core, cover and finish process for the Omen makes it one of the best choices in the Columbia 300 lineup for heavier oil conditions. Look for the Omen December 15^th, 2011.

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).

Hammer Moves To Save Bowling

On December 1, 2011, Hammer, the leading manufacturer of high-performance bowling balls since the late 1970s, will launch a crusade to save competitive bowling.

While scores have skyrocketed, league participation is at its lowest point in 30 years. In the past 10 years, the number of professional bowlers has dropped by 40% and amateur league bowling has dropped by 20%.Hammer’s Save Bowling campaign will awaken bowlers to what’s hurting the sport, like bowling centers that make striking easier by using less oil.

On December 1st, Hammer will unveil a revolutionary system that allows bowlers to compute their true averages based on where they bowl.

The bowling that dominated middle class life in America 30 years ago was a game of skill and hard-earned mastery. This is the game that Hammer will bring back.

Follow the movement at SaveBowling.com.

Latest PBA News

Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of Famer Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, will have an opportunity to move into a tie for third place on the all-time PBA titles list  after advancing to the finals of the Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship Wednesday at South Point Bowling Center.

Duke, currently tied with fellow hall of famer Mark Roth for fourth place on the PBA career titles list with 34, eliminated Bill O’Neill of Southampton, PA; Andres Gomez of Colombia, and Dan MacLelland of Windsor, Ontario, in the Elite Players Eliminator Round to reach the finals. Roth was in the crowd, watching as Duke defeat O’Neill, 484-438, in their two-game finale.

Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, who was eliminated in his final match Wednesday by Mike DeVaney of Murrieta, CA, is third on the PBA titles list with 35, trailing leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. (47) and Earl Anthony (43). DeVaney knocked Weber out of the event, 473-425, to win his group’s berth in the finals.

“Bowling in the Elite Players Championship was like bowling three different formats in one, so you can imagine what that can do with your mind,” Duke said about surviving 30 qualifying games just to reach the Eliminator Round. “The physical part of the game is demanding enough, but mentally it’s even more tiring. You start to space out after a while and lose track of the little things like where you’re standing, how fast should I be throwing it, what ball you’re using. The one thing that helps is you’re not alone. I say to myself, look at the rest of the field – they’re going through the same thing.”

Regarding his quest to break his titles tie with Roth and catch Weber, the 47-year-old Duke said, “I look at everything I do now as to how will it round out my career. How much longer do I have? To be tied with Roth and have the chance to tie Weber, how great is that?”

In Wednesday’s Eliminator Round, 16 players were divided into four groups for two-game elimination rounds. After each round, the lowest scoring player was eliminated. In addition to Duke and DeVaney, the other two players advancing to the Elite Players Championship finals were Australia’s Jason Belmonte and Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas.

Belmonte defeated Mike Fagan of Dallas, 473-407, to qualify for his fifth World Series television final, tying a World Series record for TV appearances set earlier in the event by Sean Rash of Montgomery, IL. Scroggins eliminated Jason Couch of Clermont, FL, 460-417, in their group’s final game.

The 16 Eliminator Round qualifiers will also compose the field for the Lumber Liquidators Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship which will be contested on Sunday as part of a four-day PBA World Series of Bowling television extravaganza at South Point.

Ronnie Russell of Marion, IN, the top qualifier going into the Eliminator Round, was eliminated in the first game in Group A, but he will be the first player to select a doubles partner from among the remaining 15 during a special doubles selection session Thursday afternoon. After Russell selects his partner, the next highest qualifier will select a partner. That process will continue until the field of eight doubles teams has been determined. The doubles competition will be conducted Sunday afternoon as part of the World Series of Bowling’s weekend television package.

                

Beginning Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Pacific, the PBA will produce the first of 14 television shows for delayed telecast on ESPN in a special arena in South Point’s Exhibit Hall A. Admission is free for all of the shows.

PEPSI PBA ELITE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Nov. 16

ELIMINATOR ROUND (Two games, lowest scoring player eliminated; group winners advance to ESPN finals)

GROUP A

            Round One: Pete Weber 472, Mike DeVaney 463, Sean Rash 444, Ronnie Russell 378 (Russell eliminated, earned $3,000).

            Round Two: DeVaney 457, Weber 416, Rash 401 (Rash eliminated, earned $3,500).

            Round Three: DeVaney 473, Weber 425 (Weber eliminated, earned $5,000).

GROUP B

            Round One: Jason Couch 441, Mike Scroggins 439, Ryan Ciminelli 436, Wes Malott 410 (Malott eliminated, earned $3,000).

            Round Two: Scroggins 484, Couch 419, Ciminelli 400 (Ciminelli eliminated, earned $3,500).

            Round Three: Scroggins 460, Couch 417 (Couch eliminated, earned $5,000).

GROUP C

            Round One: Andres Gomez 531, Norm Duke 487, Bill O’Neill 479, Dan MacLelland 445 (MacLelland eliminated, earned $3,000).

            Round Two: O’Neill 495, Duke 458, Gomez 427 (Gomez eliminated, earned $3,500).

            Round Three: Duke 484, O’Neill 438 (O’Neill eliminated, earned $5,000).

GROUP D

            Round One: Mike Fagan 495, Jason Belmonte 482, Martin Larsen 381, Dick Allen 335 (Allen eliminated, earned $3,000).

            Round Two: Belmonte 494, Fagan 411, Larsen 410 (Larsen eliminated, earned $3,500).

            Round Three: Belmonte 473, Fagan 407 (Fagan eliminated, earned $5,000).

Final Qualifying Standings (after 30 games; top 16 advanced to Eliminator Round and to Lumber Liquidators Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship)

1, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 7,294.
2, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 7,150.
3, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 7,134.
4, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 7,069.
5, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 7,039.
6, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 6,976.
7, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 6,942.
8, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 6,917.
9, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 6,903.
10, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 6,896.
11, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 6,889.
12, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 6,863.
13, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 6,829.
14, Dan MacLelland, Saginaw, Mich., 6,796.
15, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 6,776.
16, Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 6,760.

Did not advance:17 (tie), Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., and Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 6,759, $2,490.
19, Patrick Allen, Baltimore, 6,756, $2,460.
20, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 6,746, $2,440.
21, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 6,745, $2,420.
22, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 6,727, $2,400.
23, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 6,719, $2,390.
24, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 6,717, $2,380.
25, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 6,688, $2,370.
26, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 6,671, $2,360.
27, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 6,655, $2,350.
28, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 6,631, $2,340.
29, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 6,616, $2,330.
30, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 6,605, $2,320.
31, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 6,550, $2,410.
32, Tyler Jensen, Ft. Worth, Texas, 6,483, $2,300.