“PBA24” Membership Program

Rob Gotterbarn first experienced PBA-level competition as a 19-year-old amateur when he bowled his first PBA East Region tournament in 2010. The Garden City South, NY, resident finished 39th, out of the money.

He tried again in 2011, when he improved to 37th – still short of the cash line, but closer.

Then the former St. John’s University collegiate bowler tried the 2012 U.S. Open, finishing in a tie for 80th place and picking up his first PBA check – for $1,145. It was a turning point.

“Bowling in the U.S. Open was an awesome experience,” Gotterbarn said. “It really made me want to be a PBA24 member.”

The new PBA24 membership program, inviting new players to experience PBA competition for a modest $49 membership fee, was just what Gotterbarn needed to take the next step.

“It was a great opportunity for me,” he said. “I can’t say enough about the program. College bowling helped me a lot, but the only reason I’m bowling regionals is because I get to bowl with the best bowlers in the world and see what they do. I really enjoy watching them and I’m learning a lot. Without the PBA24 program, it would have made it a lot harder for me to be out here.”

Since becoming a PBA24 member, Gotterbarn has bowled in three East Region tournaments, cashing in two events (Catskill, NY, and Rockaway, NJ). With two cashes, he was required to move up to full PBA membership, which he happily did.

“I definitely want to get there (on the national tour). I’m working every day towards it. That’s my goal, my dream,” he said. “I’m learning how to play the patterns. At the last regional I bowled, I had to grind it out, but I’m watching Patrick Allen and Brad Angelo and Ryan Shafer and Johnathan Bower, and it’s crazy to see what those guys can do when they get lined up on the pattern with the right equipment. I need to learn how to do that. I’m burning into my memory everything those guys are doing.”

Gotterbarn is one of 33 young bowlers, all ages 24 and younger, who have taken advantage of the PBA24 opportunity so far. Additional players who want to test their skills at an affordable price are expected to join as the PBA regional program kicks into high gear over the summer months.

For more information about this program and other PBA membership opportunities, visit pba.com and click on the “join PBA” link.

Seismic Releases The Raging Bull Stampede

The Seismic Raging Bull Stampede™ has been engineered to provide more torque at the end of the pattern than has ever been seen in a Seismic ball.

The Horn Core has been their most popular core to date. Matching this core with the new SF79 Coverstock, the Stampede™ provides you with the same stable roll which sets up for an strong back end move. This Core/Cover combination is designed for maximizing carry percentage on high scoring lanes. Video of the new Seismic Stampede

MOTIV Introduces the Sigma Hybrid

The new Diablo Red and Charcoal Pearl MOTIV Sigma Hybrid is built on award winning technology from the Sigma Tour, which won 1st place as the Most Versatile Ball of 2011 in the Bowling This Month Magazine's (BTM) Reader's Choice Awards.

While the Hybrid edition does feature the same proven Sigma™ core design, the cover technology (Atomix™ Hybrid Reactive) and box finish (1000 Wet Sand) the Sigma Hybrid should provide a different zone of performance. Designed for medium-heavy oil, the Sigma Hybrid reads earlier and provides a smoother ball motion.

League bowlers that are rev-challenged or speed dominant will appreciate the strength of the Sigma Hybrid on a fresh house shot. Tournament bowlers will use it on medium-heavy volume sport patterns. 15# SPECS: RG: 2.47, DIFF: .047

MOTIV steps into the Entry Level Performance Catagory

MOTIV™. will introduce the Ascent™ May 30th. Available in both a solid and pearl option, the Ascent™ line offers two different ball motions for Light Oil.



The Pink/Purple Pearl edition is much longer with a more angular backend (Pearl Finish: 2000 Polish).

The Red/Blue Solid Ascent reads earlier and produces a smooth strong arc to the pocket (Solid Finish: 1000 Wet Sand.

Both Ascent™ balls combine the MOTIVator-Z™ cover from the QZ2 Backdraft with the proven Recon™ core . The resulting RG is 2.59 with a .025 differential on the 15# model.

WWRD: 5/30/2012

PBA Regional Players Championship-East

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)’s annual Regional Players Championship-East is set for Memorial Day weekend at Columbus Western Bowl in Columbus, Ohio, where the winner will earn an “Elite” berth in the 2013 PBA Tournament of Champions.

The Regional Players Championship-East, which is open to all PBA members except for those who finished among the top 32 in competition points during the 2011-12 PBA Tour season, will also pay a $6,000 first prize based upon a capacity field of 200 players.

Scott Newell of Deland, FL, who went on to win his first PBA Tour title in the Xtra Frame Tour Ricart Ford Open in Columbus during the 2011-12 season, is the defending RPC-East champion.

Following Friday, May 25, practice and pro-am events, the RPC-East gets underway with an eight-game qualifying round Saturday. The top one-third of the field will advance to a four-game cashers’ round Sunday morning, with the top 32 (based on 170 entries) moving on. Additional two-game elimination rounds will follow at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. with the field being trimmed in half after each round.

At 2 p.m., the four surviving players will bowl one more game, with total pinfall for 19 games deciding the champion.

The entry fee will be $295. One in three entries will cash with last-to-cash guaranteed to pay a minimum of $600. For additional entry and prize fund information, visit pba.com and click on the “Regional Players Championship” in the Regional Tours section under the Schedules tab.

Bob Learn Jr. Wins PBA Senior Mooresville Classic

In only his third tournament on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour, Bob Learn Jr. of Erie, PA, won the PBA Senior Mooresville Classic presented by Columbia Wednesday for his first Senior Tour title.

Learn, who won five PBA Tour titles including the 1999 U.S. Open in a 15-year PBA Tour career, defeated Ron Profitt of Brookville, Ohio, 203-196, in the championship match at George Pappas Victory Lanes.

After starting the match with two strikes, Profitt ran into trouble early with a split and a washout in the third and fourth frames, respectively, which he failed to convert and was not able to recover from later in the match.

“When he threw the split and the washout it definitely changed the tone of the match,” said the 50-year-old Learn. “Even though I didn’t have a good look on the pair either, from that point on I was able to bowl just good enough to stay ahead of him.”

In his two previous Senior Tour tournaments this season Learn finished ninth in both the Senior Sun Bowl In The Villages and Senior Don Carter Memorial Open.
“Third time’s the charm I guess,” said Learn. “I’m qualifying well but you have to get some breaks in the match play rounds and it kind of made up for some bad breaks I had in the first two tournaments.”

Profitt was trying for his first win in seven seasons on the Senior Tour. He had a long road to the championship match winning three best-of-five matches, a best-of-three match and the semifinal. His runnerup finish was a career best with fourth being his best previous finish.

In the semifinal matches, Learn defeated Mike Henry of Brunswick, Ohio, 201-189 and Profitt defeated last week’s Senior Don Carter Memorial winner Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr., 248-206.

The next stop for the PBA Senior Tour will be the Senior Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip May 14-17 at Capri Lanes in Kettering, Ohio. The tournament will be streamed live in its entirety on pba.com’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame. For Xtra Frame subscription information visit www.xtraframe.tv.

PBA SENIOR MOORESVILLE CLASSIC PRESENTED BY COLUMBIAGeorge Pappas Victory Lanes, Mooresville, N.C., Wednesday

Final Results

Championship Match
Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa. ($8,000) def. Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio ($4,500), 203-196.

Semifinal Round (one-game matches, losers earn $3,000)
Profitt def. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 248-206.
Learn def. Mike Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 201-189.

Round of 8 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, $1,700 each)
Profitt def. Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 2-0.
W.R. Williams def. Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D., 2-0.
Henry def. Roger Kossert, Lithia, Fla., 2-0.
Learn def. Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 2-0.

Round of 16 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,300 each)
M. Williams def. Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 3-0.
Profitt def. Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 3-1.
W.R. Williams def. Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., 3-0.
Beck def. Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 3-2.
Henry def. Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 3-1.
Kossert def. Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 3-2.
Petraglia def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3-2.
Learn def. Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3-2.

Round of 24 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,100 each)
M. Williams def. Brent Hunter, Glenville, Pa., 3-2.
Profitt def. Dave Sill, Titusville, Fla., 3-0.
Schrum def. Kerry Fulford, Brownwood, Texas, 3-1.
Ferraro def. Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 3-0.
Kossert def. Joel Carlson, Omaha, Neb., 3-0.
Petraglia def. Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 3-0.
Gonzalez def. Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., 3-0.
Beck def. Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 3-2.
Round of 32 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,050 each)
Hunter def. Brian Gottry, Wilmington, N.C., 3-2.
Profitt def. Bob Handley, Winter Park, Fla., 3-0.Schrum def. Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn., 3-2.
Beck def. Al Brooks, Bluefield, W. Va., 3-0.
Ferraro def. Ron Glick, Morganville, N.J., 3-0.
Carlson def. Peter Knopp, Germany, 3-2.
Petraglia def. Peter King, Yankton, S.D., 3-2.
Gonzalez def. Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill. 3-2.

Wayne Webb Holds Onto Lead at PBA Senior Mooresville Classic

Wayne Webb relied on his arsenal of bowling equipment once again to help him retain the lead after the second round of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Mooresville Classic presented by Columbia Tuesday at George Pappas Victory Lanes.

Webb, an innovator in using knowledge of bowling ball mechanics and drilling
layouts to achieve desired ball reaction since his days competing on the PBA
Tour where he won 20 titles, led with a 3,969 16-game overall  pinfall total
(248 average).  In Tuesday’s second round he had a 1,962 eight-game pinfall with games of 255, 256, 199, 300, 234, 217, 279 and 222.

“I put my experience with equipment to good use the past two days,” said the
Hall of Famer. “One of my strengths is having an idea of what equipment to use
to sometimes create something that isn’t there and get the desired results.”
In Monday’s qualifying round Webb used three different balls and two in
Tuesday’s round to help him adjust to the changing lane conditions.

“I started with one of the balls I used yesterday thinking it would give me the
same ball reaction today but it was hooking way too early,” said Webb, who is
five-time Senior Tour titlist and was the 2010 Senior Player of the Year.  “The
lanes played differently in today’s first block so I went to another ball that
gave me a similar look as yesterday and had good luck with it.”
Webb heads a field of 32 players who advanced to Wednesday’s match play rounds dominating qualifying by holding a 181-pin lead over Mike Henry  of Brunswick, Ohio in second with 3,788.  As a result of finishing in the top eight, Webb and Henry earned two byes for match play.

Rounding out the top eight and also earning two byes in match play were Bob
Learn Jr., Erie, PA, 3,711; Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, MI, 3,667; Walter Ray
Williams Jr., Ocala, FL, 3,561; Tom Baker, King, NC, 3,549; Kenny Parks,
Hammond, IN, 3,547, and Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 3,545.
PBA SENIOR MOORESVILLE CLASSIC PRESENTED BY COLUMBIA
George Pappas Victory Lanes, Mooresville, N.C., Tuesday

SECOND ROUND RESULTS
(after 16 games)

1, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 3,969.
2, Mike Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 3,788.
3, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 3,711.
4, Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 3,667.
5, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,561.
6, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,549.
7, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 3,547.
8, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 3,545.
9, Dave Sill, Titusville, Fla., 3,540.
10, Roger Kossert, Lithia, Fla., 3,536.
11, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 3,521.
12, Kerry Fulford, Brownwood, Texas, 3,501.
13, Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 3,499.
14, Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., 3,497.
15, Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 3,491.
16, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 3,488.
17, Brian Gottry, Wilmington, N.C., 3,477.
18, Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 3,463.
19, Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3,456.
20, (tie) Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D., and Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., 3,447.
22, Patrick King, Yankton, S.D., 3,445.
23, Joel Carlson, Omaha, Neb., 3,435.
24, Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, 3,418.
25, Bob Handley, Winter Park, Fla., 3,409.
26, Peter Knopp, Germany, 3,403.
27, (tie) John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn., and Al
Brooks, Bluefield, W. Va., 3,400.
30, Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 3,397.
31, Ron Glick, Morganville, N.J., 3,387.
32, Brent Hunter, Glenville, Pa., 3,382.

Did not advance
33, Wayne Bolin, Lumberton, N.C., 3,381, $900.
34, (tie)Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, and Steve Lickliter, Beckley, W. Va., 3,376, $900.
36, (tie) Brendan Bierch, Grafton, Mass., and Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 3,366, $900.
38, Steve Stein, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,359, $900.
39, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 3,344, $900.
40, George Patel, England, 3,343, $900.
41, Vince Mazzanti Jr., Levittown, Pa., 3,341, $900.
42, George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C., 3,337, $900.
43, Danny Weikel, Dallas, N.C., 3,335, $900.
44, Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., 3,332, $900.
45, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 3,319, $900.
46, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 3,314, $900.
47, Roy Buckley, New Albany, Ohio, 3,303, $900.
48, Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 3,290, $900.
49, Jeff Bellinger, Columbia, S.C., 3,289.
50, ss-Marc Lineberry, Camanche, Iowa, 3,287, $700.
51, Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 3,286.
52, (tie) Frank Gallo Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., and Vince Honeycutt, Buford, Ga., 3,283.
54, Tommy Reeves, Gastonia, N.C., 3,273.
55, Christopher Keane, New City, N.Y., 3,269.
56, ss-Dave Bernhardt, Romeo, Mich., 3,268, $700.
57, Larry Popp, Marion, Ohio, 3,267.
58, Mike Hastings, Millsboro, Del., 3,265.
59, ss-Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 3,263, $700.
60, Tom Howison, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,257.
61, Ernest Lukacs, Manville, N.J., 3,254.
62, ss-Ron Woods, Hudson, Fla., 3,252, $700.
63, Dick Gran, Hartville, Ohio, 3,247.
64, David Kneas, Annapolis, Md., 3,241.
65, Jim Price, Harrrisburg, N.C., 3,234.
66, Greg McMahan, Dandridge, Tenn., 3,232.
67, Keith Sharp, Orlando, Fla., 3,227.
68, Gary Morgan, Marietta, Ga., 3,224.
69, ss-Richard Hunt, Valparaiso, Ind., 3,223, $700.
70, Brian Cooper, Visalia, Calif., 3,207.
71, ss-Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., 3,206, $700.
72, Bob Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 3,196, $700.
73, (tie) Todd Wilson, Summerfield, N.C., and ss-Paul Mielens, Menomonie, Wis., 3,191, $700.
75, Doug Arden, Newport, N.C., 3,189.
76, Mark Glover, Woodbridge, Va., 3,187.
77, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 3,171.
78, Nick Panicaro, Naples, Fla., 3,170.
79, William Banks, Laurel Hill, N.C., 3,169.
80, Thomas Ream, Tampa, Fla., 3,136.
81, Andy Anderson, Falls Church, Va., 3,133.
82, Emilio Mora Sr., Defiance, Ohio, 3,131.
83, Randy Robertson, Evansville, Ind., 3,128.
84, Marty Berke, Allentown, Pa., 3,126.
85, Chris McGee, Townvilel, S.C., 3,124.
86, Rod Michael, Florissant, Mo., 3,122.
87, Charlie Tomey, Spartanburg, S.C., 3,119.
88, Harv Pallas, Stevensville, Mich., 3,118.
89, (tie) Darrell Adams, Flintstone, Ga., and Dave Flemming, Fairborn, Ohio, 3,109.
91, David Hull, Lexington, N.C., 3,107.
92, Dennis Amato, Pine Brook, N.J., 3,104.
93, Ron Garr, Ridgedale, Mo., 3,101.
94, Ken Shealy, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 3,099.
95, Terry Metzner, Kentwood, Mich., 3,097.
96, Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., 3,088.
97, Randy Shewmake, Ft. Worth, Texas, 3,085.
98, (tie)Steve Easterday, Strasburg, Ohio, and Steve Fuhrman, Fort Worth, Texas, 3,074.
100, Chuck Gardner, Charlotte, N.C., 3,068.
101, Rich Giragosian, Charlotte, N.C., 3,066.
102, Ken Gibson, Greenville, S.C., 3,057.
103, William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 3,056.
104, George Lord, Lakeland, Fla., 3,053.
105, Gene Morrison, Spring Lake, N.C., 3,042.
106, (tie) Terry Wellman, Marengo, Ohio, and Michael Truitt, Orland Park, Ill., 3,041.
108, Ross McDonald, Clarksville, Md., 3,039.
109, Todd Kjell, Roscoe, Ill., 3,028.
110, Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 3,017.
111, Bill Argenbright, Fisherville, Va., 3,009.
112, Phil Gessner, Spring, Texas, 3,008.
113, (tie) James Souder, Greeneville, Tenn., and Mark McNutt, Alpharetta, Ga., 2,997.
115, Teata Semiz, North Brunswick, N.J., 2,987.
116, Daniel Miner, East Moline, Ill., 2,986.
117, (tie) James West, Catonsville, Md., and Steve Bova, Massapequa, N.Y., 2,970.
119, Bob Andersen, Forest City, N.C., 2,941.
120, Donald Breihan, Columbia, S.C., 2,936.
121, Dave Paquin, Kannapolis, N.C., 2,934.
122, Kevin Murray, Concord, N.C., 2,926.
123, Jim Lesiuk, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 2,898.
124, Rusty Huggins, Concord, N.C., 2,891.
125, Darryl Traber, Waterford, Wis., 2,879, $50.
126, Frank Manley Jr., Fletcher, N.C., 2,876.
127, John Hunt, Grayling, Mich., 2,875.
128, Larry Swain, West Columbia, S.C., 2,874.
129, Bill Carpenter, Middletown, Ohio, 2,872.
130, Jack Howell, Lyons, N.Y., 2,848.
131, Larry Graybeal, Elizabethton, Tenn., 2,841.
132, Richard Felten, Rockville, Md., 2,839.
133, Wayne Garren, Candler, N.C., 2,838.
134, Dave Rossi, Morgantown, W.Va., 2,837.
135, Bill Ursillo, Bluffton, S.C., 2,822.
136, Matty Robinson, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 2,818.
137, Larry Felts Jr., Moore, S.C., 2,811.
138, Mike O'Barr, Anderson, S.C., 2,776.
139, Bobby Dunn, Augusta, Ga., 2,753.
140, Brian DiCicco, Ridgefield, Conn., 2,750.
141, Larry O'Neill, Alexandria, Va., 2,639.
142, Mike Walden, Stony Point, N.Y., 2,607.
143, J. Wayne Shank, Winter Park, Fla., 2,453.
Charlie Toney, Oak Hill, W.Va., 1,923 (WD)
Jim McGee, Townville, S.C., 1,473 (WD).

300 Games - Wayne Webb, Brian Gottry