Chicago Area Standout Named PBA Rookie of the Year

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) has announced Anthony LaCaze of Melrose Park, IL, as the 2009-10 Harry Golden PBA Rookie of the Year.

As a non-exempt player, the 27-year-old LaCaze had to compete in Tour qualifying rounds for most Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events last season to earn his way into tournament fields. In the ninth tournament of the season, he won the PBA Earl Anthony Memorial Classic in January to earn an exemption for the 2010-11 season.

LaCaze ranked 27th in earnings with $42,570 and 38th in average with 211.94. He made match play in five tournaments and his other top finishes included a 17th in the Etonic Don Johnson Eliminator, 19th in the PBA Tournament of Champions and 24th in the Motor City Open.

Track Adds 505T

Track has designed the new 505T simply to be the strongest traction ball in the mid priced category. The 505T is constructed with the proven “Shuttle” core, its final appearance in the Track line.  The “Shuttle” core was then wrapped with a brand new Blue/Black/Gold coverstock blend, the MP GEN 4 solid – creating the strongest coverstock Track has ever used in a mid priced ball. Surface is finished with 800 Abranet, then 1000, 2000, 4000 Abralon. 15#   RG - 2.48, Diff-040. WWRD 7-8-2010

Stonger Link Morphs Into 900 Global's Missing Link(s)

900 Global adds some core dynamics to the Link calling their new entry level products Missing Links. Coverstock of the new balls is “S40” in Black/Red Solid ‐ (Sanded 2,000 - pictured), Blue/White Polished, Blackberry/Silver Polished, and Purple/Blue Polished. The Asymmetric Core creates RG Value of 2.560, and RG Differential of 0.045. Available June 14th.
 

Purple Hype Added to AMF Line-up

AMF adds a Hype Purple/Gold with “F45” Reactive Pearl Polished finish. The Symmetric Core mirrors that of the Urethane version and last years Blue Hype. Core numbers: RG 2.543, RG Diff.- 0.051. Available July 15^th, 2010.

Ebonite's New Game Plan

When you want to BOWL TO WIN, you need a Game Plan. Ebonite reports the new Game Plan offers “strong continuation previously unseen in this pricepoint. We use the “Traxion Reactive .039” coverstock and combine it with the “EMP-1 Mass Bias Core” to create an unbelievable strength.” Visit ebonite.com, and let Ebonite know your Game Plan, for a chance to win your own Navy/Turquoise/Silver Game Plan.

College Freshman Wins PBA East Regional

The youth movement in PBA competition continued last weekend when 18-year-old Matt Gasn of Laurel, MD, won the PBA East Region Non-Champions Open at Faxon Lanes. Gasn’s win is the latest in a wave of outstanding showings by youth bowlers in PBA regional events.

Bowling as a non-PBA member, he had a 7-1 match play record, averaged 233 and defeated Michael Bohner of Allenwood, PA, 2-0 in the best-of-three championship match to win a $1,500 scholarship for his SMART account.

“I didn’t think it would happen this early,” Gasn said of his victory. “There were a lot of very good bowlers in the field and I just wanted to have a good finish.

“One of my goals in any tournament is to make the cut and if I can do that I feel I have as good a chance as anyone because I love match play. I feel that when you get to match play it’s anyone’s game.”

Gasn recently finished his freshman year at Saginaw Valley State where he was named to the all-tournament team at the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championship, but will transfer to Webber International this fall.

He bowled in first regional three years ago at age 15 finishing 12th and his previous best regional finish was fifth.

Eighteen-year-old Andrew Koff of Miami, FL, won a PBA South regional event in Jupiter, Fla., May 16, earning $2,500 which went directly to his SMART scholarship account, and a week before 12-year-old Kamron Doyle of Brentwood, TN, became the youngest bowler ever to cash in a PBA event, finishing 30th in a Canton, GA, regional earning $400 which also went into a SMART account.

Among Gasn’s other accomplishments in PBA competition include a seventh-place tie and 25th-place finishes in Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour TQRs in 2007 and 2008. In April 2009, Bowlers Journal International recognized him as one of seven bowlers to watch in future PBA Tour seasons, but for now school remains the priority.

“Right now I’m going to focus on school and bowl as much as I can,” Gasn said.

“We’ll see what happens as time goes on and I get more experience.”

AMF Adds a New Double Clutch

AMF doubles down with a Double Clutch to join it’s Clutch Pearl. The new Double Clutch coverstock is “F64” finished to 2,000 Abralon in Royal Blue/Black. A meatier Asymmetric Core drives the Double Clutch with Radius of Gyration of 2.520, and RG Differential - 0.040. Available July 15^th, 2010.