The Bowling Tree

PBA's Viper Championships Sunday on ESPN

2009-11-14T12:26:00.000-08:00

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR VIPER CHAMPIONSHIP AND PBA WOMEN'S SERIES VIPER CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY BOWL.COM
Sunday, November 15, 1 p.m. Eastern

Men's Matchs:
Semifinal Match One: Steve Jaros, Yorkville, IL. vs. Rhino Page, Wesley Chapel, FL.
Semifinal Match Two: Ryan Ciminelli, Buffalo, NY vs. Mike Haugen Jr., Carefree, AZ

Woman's Championship: Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, TX vs. Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, NY

PBA Doubles Event Rescheduled

2009-11-14T12:18:00.000-08:00

The Lumber Liquidator's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour’s scheduled tournament in
Medford, Ore., Jan. 4-10, has become a casualty of the national economic slump.

“The Professional Bowlers Association regrets to announce Lava Lanes in Medford will be unable
to host the Don and Paula Carter Mixed Doubles event in 2010,” said PBA Commissioner and CEO
Fred Schreyer. “It’s an unavoidable situation, and it’s too late in the planning process to find a host
center to replace Medford.”

Schreyer said the Don and Paula Carter Mixed Doubles will be moved to Brunswick Zone-Wheat
Ridge in Wheat Ridge, Colo., Feb. 15-21, where it will replace the previously-announced Gemini
Championship.

The cancellation also will mean a minor re-scheduling of the PBA Tour’s 2009-10 ESPN television
schedule. The tape-delayed finals of the Pepsi Red, White and Blue Open presented by the
United States Bowling Congress will be moved from Jan. 3 to Medford’s Jan. 10 date. Schreyer
said a decision on the Jan. 3 air date will be made after discussions with ESPN.

Duke Wins PBA Cheetah Championship

2009-11-09T10:50:00.000-08:00

Norm Duke added another milestone to his Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of
Fame career by capturing the PBA Cheetah Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes for his 33rd
career title.

Duke, who now ranks fifth on the list of PBA all-time title winners behind Walter Ray Williams Jr.
(46), Earl Anthony (43) and Mark Roth and Pete Weber (34 each), ended an incredible run by
challenger Ryan Ciminelli of Buffalo, N.Y., to win their best-of-seven-game championship match,
4-1.

The finals of the PBA World Series of Bowling event, presented in a unique documentary-style
format narrated by ESPN’s Kenny Mayne, gave viewers an inside look at a PBA match play event.
The third event in the PBA World Series of Bowling aired Sunday on ESPN.

The 23-year-old Ciminelli, a non-exempt player who is seeking his first Lumber Liquidators PBA
Tour title, led the Cheetah Championship Tour Qualifying Round (TQR) to get into the 72
-man tournament field. He then led both rounds of qualifying and won best-of-seven-game matches
against Hall of Famer Brian Voss, four-time Tour champion Ryan Shafer and PBA Tour rookie Derek
Sapp to advance to the title match.

Against the 45-year-old Duke, Ciminelli won the first game, 226-212, but the Clermont, FL, veteran
then took control, winning the next four matches, 236-228, 257-213, 236-193, and 258-205.

“If Ryan would have gotten a 2-0 edge on me, I don’t know if I could have come back,” Duke said.
“The lanes were changing and you really had to keep up with it. Being down by 42 (pins) at one
point in that second game, I didn’t know if I could have turned it around if I had lost.”

After a first-round bye on his side of the single-elimination match play bracket, Duke defeated
Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Chris Barnes to earn his berth in the championship match.

“For me it’s like tennis. You have to attack every opponent differently,” Duke said. “With Ryan being
left-handed I had a fresh condition on the right side of the lane which was an advantage for me.”

Ciminelli, who had little trouble carrying corner pins on pocket hits throughout the tournament,
ran into a pair where he had trouble kicking out the 7 pin.

“I had trouble carrying on this pair of lanes in a side tournament before this tournament started,”
Ciminelli said “but I thought it might have been just a unique situation.

“I was pretty calm going into the championship match and started out making good shots, but
after a while I couldn’t carry,” he added. “I tried everything I could to get rid of the 7 pin, but
nothing worked.”

Duke earned $25,000 for his victory. As the first so-called “animal pattern” winner of the season,
Duke also earned a berth in the end-of-season PBA Experience Showdown presented by
BOWL.COM which will be held at the new USBC International Training and Research Center in
Arlington, Texas, in April. Ciminelli earned $13,000 and his best Tour finish since finishing seventh in
last season’s CLR Carmen Salvino Scorpion Championship in Vernon Hills, Ill.

The Cheetah Championship was a landmark event for several reasons. It was the first Lumber
Liquidators PBA Tour event ever to incorporate a best-of-seven-game title match; it was the
Tour’s first highlight-style telecast, and it was the first PBA Tour event held in Thunderbowl’s
historic Arena Bay in more than a decade.

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR CHEETAH CHAMPIONSHIP
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, MI

Championship (best of seven games)
Norm Duke, Clermont, FL ($25,000) def. Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, NY ($13,000),
212-226, 236-228, 257-213, 236-193, 258-205.

Semifinal Round (best of seven games)
Ciminelli def. Derek Sapp, Keokuk, Iowa ($7,000),
269-263, 258-238, 213-287, 255-190, 209-206.
Duke def. Stevie Weber, Chalmette, LA ($7,000),
247-234, 269-223, 226-236, 217-204, 237-215.

Bowling Plotline on CSI

2009-11-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

Professional bowling will be a central plot element in an episode of the highly-rated “CSI” which is scheduled to air on CBS at 9 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, Nov. 19.

The CSI episode is centered around a professional bowling event taking place in Las Vegas. The tournament abruptly comes to a halt at a key moment in the match when a grisly murder is discovered. During the episode, the CSI team attempts to solve the mystery of who committed the murder.

Jason Thomas, a writer and production contributor to pba.com and its Xtra Frame online television channel, was asked to serve as a “bowling consultant” for the episode, where he taught several cast members and guest stars how to bowl. Thomas also acted as a “stunt” double to provide realistic professional bowling shots.

“Working on the show was a dream come true for me,” said Thomas, “I was incredibly impressed with how much care the cast and crew took to ensure the bowling elements were as true to the sport as possible.”

CSI is one of television’s most popular shows, and is watched by an average of more than 20 million viewers each week. It has spawned two spinoffs, CSI: New
York and CSI Miami, and is also currently in syndication on the Spike network
and TV Land.

The show’s cast includes popular actors Laurence Fishburne, Marg Helgenberger,
Jorja Fox, Paul Guilfoyle and a host of others.

New Track Ball The 920A

2009-11-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

With its new system of ball naming, Track bowling continues to strengthen its forces as it prepares to release a new high performance ball, the 920A.

The manufacturer’s intent for the 920A was to be more Angular on medium-heavy oil lane patterns. Built with a modified "LEGGO" core platform, the engineers raised the RG to 2.57 on a 15 pound ball and modified the horse power (Intermediate Differential) to .020, thus gaining extra length while still having plenty of hitting power.

“The 920A will have a much more dramatic overall hook than the previous ‘A’ series balls,” said Ebonite International Inc. ball engineer Jason Kosby.

In the Track ball naming system, the name of the product tells its performance: 9 Series bowling balls are the high performance products. The last two numbers in the name of the ball stand for its intermediate differential, which tells how much lane the ball will cover before it begins to move. The letter at the end of the numerals — A, C, or T — tells if a ball is Angular, Controlled or has a lot of Traction. The Series ball line debuted in May as a reformation for the Track brand. Instead of classifying balls in the high-, upper-mid and mid-performance category, Brand Manager Paul Figliomeni shunned the traditional ball naming system for a more no-holds-bar approach.

The 920A has the "HP Gen 3 Reactive™" coverstock with a Performance Pearl additive finished off with 4000 grit Abralon sanded.

“The pearl in the cover keeps the ball from gaining too much traction,” Kosby said.

The 920A will be available Dec. 1, 2009, in 12 to 16 pounds. Each new Track ball now comes with a microfiber cleaning pouch along with instructions on ball cleaning and maintenance so customers can get the most out of the product.

900 Global Bounty Hunter Pearl

2009-11-05T10:27:00.000-08:00

900 Global introduces the Bounty Hunter Pearl.

Designed to compliment the Bounty Hunter, the Pearl features a lower Radius of Gyration (RG) "Double Cross" core and new "S72" shell, the finish of the cover is polished, which will produce more skid/snap compared to the original.

Both the Bounty Hunter and Bounty Hunter Pearl can be used to qualify for part of the $50,000 Bounty prize pool. The $50,000 program runs through the end of April 2010, so bowlers and Pro Shops have the entire league season to collect their share. 15# R.G. - 2.5030. Diff. - 0490. Flare Potential 5 - 6" Available November 16th.

Changes at USBC

2009-11-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

From Bowlers Journal International (BJI)'s e-bowler newsletter: YOU CAN ’T really label it a “house cleaning,” but there’s no denying that changes are afoot at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, mostly on the United States Bowling Congress side.

In the wake of the news that Jeri Edwards would not be continuing as head coach
of Team USA, it now has been announced that USBC Chief Operating Officer Kevin Dornberger will be stepping down from his position. His last official day will be Nov. 20.

In the case of Edwards, the parting of the ways with USBC involved, at least
initially, her reluctance to relocate to Arlington, TX. Later, when it was decided to merge the Team USA coach job with coaching activities at the new International Training Center in Arlington, the expanded position was not offered to Edwards.
(See the November issue of Bowlers Journal International for more on what Edwards described as her “termination.”)

For Dornberger, his departure from USBC comes after he and his family relocated
from the Milwaukee area, the former long-time home of USBC, to Arlington.
“I am very proud of what we accomplished in moving the organization to Arlington,” Dornberger said in a USBC news release.

“Now I feel like it is time for me to move on and pursue other career challenges.”
Dornberger was named Interim Chief Operating Officer in July 2007 after the retirement of Roger Dalkin, and had the “Interim” tag removed in 2008.

Prior to his appointment as Interim COO, he had been USBC Vice President
for National Governing Body since 2005. He also oversaw the organization’s
legal affairs as General Counsel from 2005 to 2007.

Dornberger also has been a leading force in attempting to get bowling more recognition as an international sport. Before joining the full time USBC staff, Dornberger had been a member of the American Bowling Congress (ABC) Board of Directors since 1985 and was elected a vice president in 1995.

When the USBC was formed in 2005, he held the title of ABC Executive Vice
President. During his 20 years on the board, he also served as USA Bowling president and administrative director.

Active as a youth bowling volunteer for years, he was a youth coach and later became president of the Sioux Falls, S.D., Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA) local association in 1989.

But as often happens when new management is hired, there seemingly was
no place for Dornberger in the “new” USBC. “Kevin has been a central figure and key leader in the sport of bowling for many years,” said Stu Upson, USBC’s new Executive Director.

“He has helped build a solid foundation for the organization’s future success. I wish Kevin all the best in his future endeavors.” At the time USBC issued
the press release regarding his departure, Dornberger had not obtained new employment.

However, he continues to serve as president of the World Tenpin Bowling Assn.
Whether his departure from USBC will impact that position remains to be seen.
Traditionally, U.S. representatives on the WTBA board have had ties with America’s governing body for bowling.

eBowler has learned that there have been other staff changes in Arlington, as
well as reorganization of various departments. We’ll have more on the comings -and-goings at the International Bowling Campus in the December issue of BJI.

New Raw Hammer Intro in December

2009-11-04T01:10:00.001-08:00

New from Hammer, the mid-priced (Raw Hammer) Jacked uses the Raw Hammer “Assault” core to give the bowler early revs and strong mid-lane read. With the original Black Widow “Violent Reactive™” coverstock, the Jacked is Violet and Copper, finished at 1000 grit Abralon®. #15lb. RG/Differential 2.48 .050. Look for the new Raw Hammer Jacked December 1st. 2009.

New Ebonite Magic Action

2009-11-03T13:55:00.000-08:00

A new Ebonite high performance ball is being introduced as the Magic Action.

Ebonite suggests “The Magic Action is the perfect complement to the Magic and Magic Touch, designed with more length in mind.” The Navy/Red/Gold “Flexol Super Plus ™” Reactive coverstock is combined with the “Magic Symmetric Mass Bias” Core. #15lb. RG - 2.52, Differential - .051. Available December 1st.

PBA Show as Reality TV

2009-11-02T14:16:00.000-08:00

Make sure to watch the PBA Cheetah Championship Sunday Nov. 8 on ESPN at 1p.m. Eastern, it's the first ever "reality" show featuring an entire PBA event.

Williams Adds 46th Title

2009-11-01T21:53:00.000-08:00

Walter Ray Williams Jr. has already ventured into territory no bowler in history
has seen, but when he rallied to defeat Chris Barnes, 238-230, and win the
Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)’s Motor City Open at Thunderbowl
Lanes, he broke new ground even for himself.

Williams, who turned 50 on Oct. 6, won a record 46th title in a PBA Tour career 
that began in 1983, and he extended his PBA record for winning at least one 
title to 17 consecutive seasons. The Ocala, FL resident, who is now eligible 
to bowl on the PBA Senior Tour as well as the so-called “Junior Tour,” threw 
seven strikes and converted four single-pin spares in the Motor City Open finals 
that aired Sunday on ESPN. But his nearly flawless performance almost wasn’t 
enough.

Barnes, with strikes on seven of his first eight shots, left the 3-6-9-10 in the 
ninth frame and failed to convert the spare, giving Williams the lead for the 
first time in the title match. Then, needing a double and eight pins in the 10th 
frame to overtake Williams, Barnes left a 7 pin on his first shot.

“I left a lot of nine counts,” Williams said. “In the first frame, I threw a 
great shot and left a ringing 10 pin. The one I left in the third frame (a 6 
pin), I pinched the shot a little left, but I’ll throw the ball the same way 
every time after leaving ringing 10s. Sometimes you’ll strike, sometimes not. 
Fortunately today I didn’t get too many taps.”

The title match was a strike-fest compared to the earlier matches, when 
conditions were challenging. Bill O’Neill of Southampton, PA, needed a late 
strike surge to escape Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, SC, 201-169, in the 
opening match.

O’Neill then got lined up and blew past Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, 257-224. But 
as the lane conditions changed, the transition caught up to O’Neill in the 
semifinal match, when Barnes out-lasted him, 183-169, to set up a title match 
between the top two qualifiers in the event.

Barnes made a critical adjustment to find the pocket in the championship game, 
but Williams had an even better answer.

“At one time in my career, I was 0-9 on TV,” Williams said, “but things turned 
around. For a long time, I couldn’t do anything right. Since things turned around,
TV has been going good for me.”

Even as he approaches his debut on the PBA Senior Tour at the end of the 2009
-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season, Williams isn’t showing any signs of
slowing down.

“As long as I feel good and stay competitive, I’ll keep on bowling,” he said. “I 
don’t want to be out here if I’m not competitive; I’d be too frustrated. When I 
can’t compete, when it’s isn’t fun, I’ll retire. I have no issue with that. But 
I feel like I’m still doing pretty well.”

He also has set no goals or aspirations for whatever happens before he retires 
his bowling shoes.

“I keep saying one more (title), and now it’s 46,” he laughed. “Winning a 
tournament is the best thing in the world, but you never know when it’s going to 
be the last one.”

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR MOTOR CITY OPEN
Thunderbowl, Allen Park, Michigan

Final Standings
1, Walter Ray Williams, Jr., Ocala, FL, $25,000
2, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, TX, $13,000
3, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, PA, $9,000
4, Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO, $7,000
5, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, SC, $6,000

PBA Motor City Open This Sunday on ESPN

2009-10-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

PBA Motor City Open stepladder finalists on ESPN at 1:00pm Eastern time in qualifying order:
1, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla.
2, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas
3, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo.
4, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C.
5, Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa.

● This was an open field event consisting of 131 entrants.
●  First event of 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season.
● 103 titles represented among finalists: Williams (45), Barnes (12), Weber (34), Jones (12).
   O’Neill is looking for his first win.
● Williams looking to extend his record for most PBA Tour career titles and his record for most
   consecutive years with at least one title (currently at 16).
● Williams has never won the first PBA Tour event of the season.
● First time in Weber’s 30-year career he has made a TV final in the first event of season.
● O’Neill earned his spot in the stepladder final by defeating Rhino Page, 190-171, in a one-game
   roll-off to break a tie for fifth place.

Prize Money: 1. $25,000 2. $13,000 3, $9,000 4, $7,000 5, $6,000

Tournament Recap:
First round leader (after 5 games): Weber, 1,219
Second round leader (after 15 games): Fero Williams, 2,390
Third round leader (after 15 games): Weber, 3,466
First round match play leader (after 23 games): Barnes, 5-2-1, 5,376
Second round match play leader (after 31 games): Barnes, 11-4-1, 7,388
Final match play standings (39 games): Williams, 15-8-1, 9,302; Barnes, 16-7-1, 9,260;
 Weber, 16-8, 9,169; Jones, 13-11, 8,935; O’Neill, 13-11, 8,907

Kulick and Sullins Win World Championships

2009-10-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., earned the right to become the first woman to bowl in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tournament of Champions thanks to her victory in the inaugural PBA Women’s World Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes in suburban Detroit.

Kulick’s historic victory aired Sunday on ESPN. The first of eight PBA World Series of Bowling telecasts also included a long-awaited win for Detroit area favorite Harry Sullins, who ended a 15-year winless dry spell in the resurrected PBA Senior World Championship.

Kulick, the only woman ever to earn an exemption to bowl full-time on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour, defeated Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix, 219-204, to win the newly-created major championship for women bowlers.

In addition to her berth in the PBA Tournament of Champions Jan. 19-24 at Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas, Kulick earned $15,000 and a spot in the end-of-season PBA Women’s Showdown presented by BOWL.COM.

Kulick bowled a clean game including a late string of three strikes to build a 35-pin lead in the eighth frame. Pluhowsky finished with four strikes in a row, but it wasn’t enough to overcome an unconverted 8-10 split in her third frame.

“It’s a long overdue win,” Kulick said. “I’ve been knocking on the door for awhile. I came close in the USBC (United States Bowling Congress) Queens earlier in the year.” Kulick finished second to Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., in the Queens in Reno, Nev.

“Last year I wasn’t exempt for the PBA Women’s Series and that really gave me things to think about. I was kinda depressed at first and then I really refocused,” Kulick added. “I asked myself if I belonged out here, but I went back to my routines – worked out, exercised, practiced a lot – and ever since the Queens, things have gotten better and better.

“Getting a chance to bowl in the Tournament of Champions is the icing on the cake. You blow out the candle and your wish comes true. My focus was on winning the title,” she continued, “but now I not only get to go to Las Vegas, but I get to bowl with the guys, which I’ve enjoyed doing in the past.

“My only failure on the men’s tour (during the 2006-07 season) was that I hit the pocket as often as they did, but I didn’t knock down as many pins because I don’t have as high of a rev rate. That said, if you want to be the best, you have to bowl against the best players, so the only way I’m going to get better is to bowl against them. I’ll enjoy the experience in the Tournament of Champions and we’ll see what happens.”

Sullins, who won his fifth and last PBA Tour title in 1994 in Windsor Locks, Conn., defeated Hugh Miller of Mercer Island, Wash., 222-192, for a $15,000 prize, his first PBA Senior Tour title and a berth of his own in the Tournament of Champions.

The PBA Senior World Championship was resurrected as a part of the new PBA World Series of Bowling after lying dormant since 2002.

“It feels great,” Sullins said. “I’ll be glad to go back to the Tournament of Champions.” Sullins admitted to being nervous. “It’s been almost 11 years between TV shows, 15 years since I’ve won a title. You try to stay as calm as you can,” he said. “Some guys might say they don’t get butterflies, but I don’t care who you are – you get ‘em.

The question is, how much pressure can you take and still move your feet, swing your arm, roll the ball and hit what you’re throwing at? It worked out.

“The difference was I made all my spares,” he continued. “That keeps the pressure on. It kept me 19-20 pins ahead the whole match. I threw two strikes in a row twice early in the game and that was huge. I could tell Hugh was trying to figure out which ball to use, so I kept telling myself, just get a double, and fortunately I was able to do that.”

Sullins felt like the title was his for the taking after he was warmly greeted by the Detroit area fans attending the finals in a center where he had honed his game for years. “I’ve bowled at Thunderbowl for 30 years,” the Chesterfield Township, Mich., resident said, “but when we came out for the introductions, I actually had the fans with me. That was so pleasing. It was like, it’s my time to win.”

It was also rewarding because he made a less-than-satisfying debut on the Senior Tour a year earlier. “I wanted to come out full blast last year,” the 52-year-old Michigan native said. “I had big goals – rookie of the year, all of that – but I went out to the west coast and didn’t do so well. In the Senior U.S. Open I threw my elbow out, so I wound up missing the whole balance of the season.

“This year I had a different outlook. I wanted to start strong in Jackson (Mich.), but I got a job with the U.S. Census Bureau. I hadn’t had a job in three years, so I decided the seniors could wait. I wound up staying home and bowling in the Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl, which gave me an edge to get ready for the Senior Tour and for the World Series.

In the six Senior Tour events I did bowl, I had four championship round appearances including a win and a second. So I’m happy.”

The opening event of the PBA’s 2009-10 season on ESPN also included a PBA Trick Shot Invitational, won by PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla. Duke performed a series of trick shots to top a field including fellow Hall of Famers Parker Bohn III and Brian Voss, PBA champions Chris Barnes and Sean Rash, and Finland’s two-handed sensation, Osku Palermaa, for a $5,000 prize.

The finals of the Motor City Open, the inaugural event of the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season, will air next Sunday on ESPN at 1 p.m. Eastern.

PBA 's Schreyer Recouping

2009-10-24T10:29:00.000-07:00

Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Commissioner Fred Schreyer is back at home, resting and beginning his recovery from an angioplasty procedure last week in Phoenix.

"Thanks everyone for your wishes and concern over the last week. I am happy to be home and thankful to have come through this episode as well as I did. I can certainly tell you it is humbling to realize how precious life is and how quickly it can change." Schreyer commented.

"I am feeling good and regaining my strength and hope to resume a full schedule within the next week or so. In the meantime, I thank each of you for your commitment to the organization and your passion for the PBA. Let’s make this season our best one yet."

Belmonte and Asbaty Appearing in Vernon Hills

2009-10-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

Join two-handed bowling sensation Jason Belmonte of Australia and Team USA member Diandra Asbaty as they roll into Chicago (Brunswick Zone Hawthorn in Vernon Hills, IL,) to show off their skills and help you with your game.

First, Jason and Diandra will square off in an exhibition match that will pit two hands against one. Then, it will be your turn to get on the lanes and work with the dynamic duo to improve your game. During that time, you'll have the opportunity to get to know Jason and Diandra, ask them questions and get an autograph.

On site Brunswick product demos will also be featured. To sign up, download the entry form below and return it with payment directly to Brunswick Zone Hawthorn. Entries are limited.

Click here to download the registration form.

The PBA on ESPN

2009-10-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

The MoRich Craze

2009-10-21T11:50:00.001-07:00

The new MoRich Craze contains the “Awakening“ core (.042 Total Diff, and 2.534 Radius of Gyration) with the “Vigor” blue pearl coverstock touted as the “most hookingest” cover by the company, finished at 2000 SiaAir surface.
The new Craze is expected Nov. 1st, but is being introduced via seminars to pro shops for the next six weeks. Check with your local pro shop for availablitity of the new MoRich Craze.

PBA CEO Schreyer Recovering

2009-10-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Commissioner and CEO Fred Schreyer
was recovering in a Phoenix, Ariz., hospital Monday after suffering a heart attack
during a flight to Phoenix on Friday.

New Ball From MOTIV

2009-10-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

“The MOTIV™ SR2 is engineered to destroy pins” proclaims Motiv. The “Sigma” core produces a low RG (RG of 2.47 in 15#) for easy revs and a high differential (.047 diff) for serious track flare.

The “Reverb™” outer core of the SR2 is a low-density polyester resin with pin piercing hardness and strength. Rather than absorb impact energy, this outer core reverberates energy as it explodes through the pins.

Combine this with “MOTIVat-R” reactive urethane on the cover and Motiv suggests “you have a deadly weapon of destruction in the palm your hand.” The SR2 is sanded to 2000 at the factory and then brought to a luster with Power Gel® Polish. Expect the Motiv SR2 November 1st.

Visionary Bowling Introduces The New Breed Pearl Particle

2009-10-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

Visionary Bowling Products announces the New Breed Particle Pearl will begin shipping on October 23rd. This ball utilizes the "Serpentine" core design in combination with new "Leviathan" coverstock. The coverstock contains a non abrasive particle that creates traction in the oil yet still allows the ball to get down the lane without the dreaded burnout.

Factory finished to 2,000 Abralon, the New Breed Particle Pearl covers the same lane conditions as other particle pearls, however, Visionary suggests it can easily be adjusted to create a wide variety of reactions. With surfaces up to 1,000 Abralon, the ball reacts much like a solid particle, and polished it reacts more like a pearl reactive. LOW RG: 2.56” DIFFERENTIAL: .052”

World Series of Bowling

2009-10-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

It has been months in the making, but the Professional Bowlers Association’s inaugural World Series of Bowling is about to make its historic debut on ESPN.

Beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, Oct. 25, bowling fans across America will see 13 champions crowned over a span of eight weekly PBA World Series of Bowling telecasts.

Over the course of the World Series telecasts, 22 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour players will make television appearances along with five stars of the PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM and two top PBA Senior Tour players.

The series will get underway with an historic event – the inaugural PBA Women’s World Championship – which will reward its winner with the first-ever berth for a woman in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas. In the title match, Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix, AZ will meet Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J. Also at stake is a $15,000 first prize and a women’s major title.

The second event in the opening telecast of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season is the revival of the PBA Senior World Championship, which was last held in 2002 in Las Vegas.

Hugh Miller of Mercer Island, Wash., will meet Harry Sullins of Chesterfield Township, MI, in another battle for a berth in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Championships as well as a $15,000 payday.

The closing event of the first telecast of the season will be a special PBA Trick Shot Invitational featuring PBA Tour stars Chris Barnes, Parker Bohn III, Norm Duke, Sean Rash and Brian Voss along with Finland’s two-handed sensation, Osku Palermaa.

On Nov. 1, the Motor City Open kicks off a series of seven ESPN telecasts featuring the 2009-10 PBA Tour players.

Following the Motor City Open, a unique “reality-style” telecast of the Cheetah Championship airs Nov. 8.

The Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark Championships for men and women – all conducted during the World Series of Bowling at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, MI, in August – will lead up to the first live telecast of the season – the finals of the PBA World Championship at 1 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, Dec. 13 from Northrock Lanes in Wichita, KS.

Watch for weekly summaries of upcoming ESPN telecasts on pba.com, and immediately following each telecast, pba.com’s Xtra Frame will feature a post-tournament interview segment with each tournament champion.

PBA WORLD SERIES OF BOWLING TV PREVIEW SUNDAY, OCT. 25, 1 P.M. (E).
PBA Women’s World Championship (Final Match) Championship:
Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix, AZ vs. Kelly Kulick, Union, NJ.
Prize Money: $15,000 first, $7,500 second.
PBA Senior World Championship (Final Match) Championship:
Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Township, MI, vs. Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, WA.
Prize Money: $15,000 first, $7,500 second
PBA Trick Shot Invitational (Head-to-Head Judged Competition)
Competitors: Chris Barnes, Parker Bohn III, Norm Duke, Osku Palermaa, Sean Rash and Brian Voss. Prize Money: $10,000 first

PBA Motor City Open SUNDAY, NOV. 1, 1 P.M. EASTERN
(Five-Player Stepladder Finals) Match One: #4 Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, SC, vs. #5 Bill O’Neill, Southampton, PA. Match Two: Winner Match One vs. #3 Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO. Semifinal Match: Winner Match Two vs. #2 Chris Barnes, Double Oak, TX Championship: Winner Semifinal Match vs. #1 Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, FL. Prize Money: $25,000 first, $13,000 second, $9,000 third, $7,000 fourth, $6,000 fifth.

PBA Cheetah Championship SUNDAY, NOV. 8, 1 P.M. EASTERN (“Reality Style” Match Play Finals) Semifinal Match One: Ryan Ciminelli, Rochester, NY, vs. Derek Sapp, Keokuk, IA Semifinal Match Two: Stevie Weber, Chalmette, LA, vs. Norm Duke, Clermont, FL. Championship: Winners of Match One and Match Two Prize Money: $25,000 first, $13,000 second, third $7,000 each.

PBA Viper Championship SUNDAY, NOV. 15, 1 P.M. EASTERN (Match Play Finals) Women’s Championship: Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, TX, vs. Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, NY. Semifinal Match One: Steve Jaros, Yorkville, IL, vs. Rhino Page, Wesley Chapel, FL. Semifinal Match Two: Ryan Ciminelli, Rochester, NY, vs. Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, AZ. Championship: Winner Match One vs. Winner Match Two Prize Money: $25,000 first, $13,000 second, third $7,000 each.

PBA Chameleon Championship SUNDAY, NOV. 22, 1 P.M. EASTERN (Match Play Finals) Women’s Championship: Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix, AZ vs. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, TX Semifinal Match One: Sean Rash, Wichita, KS, vs. Ronnie Russell, Camby, IN. Semifinal Match Two: Bill O’Neill, Southampton, PA, vs. Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela. Championship: Winner Match One vs. Winner Match Two Prize Money: $25,000 first, $13,000 second, third $7,000 each.

PBA Scorpion Championship SUNDAY, NOV. 29, 1 P.M. EASTERN (Match Play Finals) Women’s Championship: Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, NY, vs. Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix, AZ. Semifinal Match One: Sean Rash, Wichita, KS, vs. Mike DeVaney, San Diego, CA. Semifinal Match Two: Thomas Smallwood, Saginaw, MI, vs. Jason Belmonte, Australia. Championship: Winner Match One vs. Winner Match Two Prize Money: $25,000 first, $13,000 second, third $7,000 each.

PBA Shark Championship SUNDAY, DEC. 6, 1 P.M. EASTERN (Match Play Finals) Women’s Championship: Kelly Kulick, Union, NJ, vs. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, TX. Semifinal Match One: Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, NY, vs. Wes Malott, Pflugerville, TX. Semifinal Match Two: Jason Couch, Clermont, FL, vs. Michael Fagan, Patchogue, NY. Championship: Winner Match One vs. Winner Match Two Prize Money: $25,000 first, $13,000 second, third $7,000 each.

PBA World Championship SUNDAY, DEC. 13, 1 P.M. EASTERN (Live Match Play Finals) Semifinal Match One: Bill O’Neill, Southampton, PA, vs. Thomas Smallwood, Saginaw, MI. Semifinal Match Two: Wes Malott, Pflugerville, TX, vs. Rhino Page, Wesley Chapel, FL. Championship: Winner Match One vs. Winner Match Two Prize Money: $50,000 first, $25,000 second, third $11,500 each.

Mohr, Voss and Graybeal Receive PBA Senior Honors

2009-10-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour’s only three-time winner in 2009, has been selected as PBA Senior Tour Player of the Year by a panel of veteran bowling writers and his fellow competitors.

Brian Voss of Alpharetta, GA, has been elected as the PBA Senior Tour’s 2009 Rookie of the Year and veteran Senior Tour competitor Larry Graybeal of Elizabethton, TN, is the winner of the second PBA Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award.

Mohr, a 53-year-old second-year Senior Tour member, won the PBA Jackson (MI) Senior Open and PBA Dayton (Ohio) Senior Open, kicking off the 2009 season with his first two titles in back-to-back weeks. He won his third title in the Senior Dick Weber Open in Lansing, MI, where he defeated four-time defending Senior Player of the Year Tom Baker, 232-175, in the title match.

In 12 Senior Tour events, Mohr cashed in all 12, advanced to match play 11 times and he had five top-five finishes. He was runner-up in the Senior Tour earnings race to Wayne Webb by only $250 with his $41,600 total, and he led the full-time touring seniors in average at 223.14.

“I don’t know if it’s a surprise to get the news, but it’s still a shock,” Mohr said. “You hope things will turn out this way, but you never know. After my first year, I realized I could be competitive, but it’s a major step to win a title and then to win more than once is surreal. To go on to win Player of the Year is beyond anything a guy living in Alaska could ever imagine.

“I think it would be easy to accept this, say it has been a great year, and move on,” he added. “But I’m looking for ways to get better. Tom Baker won this honor four years in a row. I’m going to try to get better if I have any hope of doing something like that. And with Walter Ray (Williams Jr.) coming out on the Senior Tour, even for a few events, we’ll all have our work cut out for us next year.”

Voss, who bowled in only six events, didn’t win a title, but he finished second in the Senior Dayton Open, second to Webb in the Senior U.S. Open, and tied for fifth in the USBC Senior Masters. Voss was granted a “Golden Umbrella” exemption to rejoin the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour in August, and missed the final five Senior Tour events.

During his limited action, he was the only player to out-average Mohr (223.99) and he earned $22,200 – eighth best among the seniors.

“It’s always nice to win something, to be recognized. I would have preferred to be Player of the Year, but it suggests I’m still competitive,” the 24-time Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titlist said.

“My first Senior Tour event was a rude awakening (he failed to cash). I didn’t bowl practice. I had no idea what lanes were like. It turned out they were pretty easy, and I have all of the excuses in the world why I wasn’t ready. “But I adapted,” the 53-year-old Voss continued. “I finished second the next week in Dayton, and I did well in the majors. It was good competition and it was really nice to see some of my old friends.”

Voss, a PBA and USBC Hall of Famer, will be a full-time member of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour for the 2009-10 season, so his participation in Senior Tour events is unknown. “We’ll see what my schedule is. I’ll bowl a few,” he said.

Graybeal, who turned 70 on Sept. 7, bowled in his 100th PBA Senior Tour event in the PBA Senior World Championship in Allen Park, MI, in August. The 26-year PBA member won his only PBA title – a senior regional event – in Gastonia, NC, in November 2006.

“I was kinda surprised, but I’m really honored to have an award with that man’s name (Dick Weber) on it,” Graybeal said. The former textile printing supervisor fought and beat colon cancer in 2001, which proved to be a turning point in his life.

“I decided after that I was going to do what I wanted to do with my life. I’m still at it, still trying to win,” he grinned. He acknowledged he’s a consistent Super Senior casher – the 60-and-older group who don’t cash in the regular prize list, “but that’s not what I’m shooting at. “I try to be a nice guy,” Graybeal continued. “It’s not always the easiest thing to do when you’re a competitor. I guess you’d call it losing gracefully.”

Graybeal’s selection by his peers was the perfect choice, according to PBA Senior Tour Tournament Director Corey Kistner and PBA Regional and Senior Tours Director John Weber, the son of the award’s namesake. “I’m really happy to see a guy like Larry win this award,” Kistner said. “He’s the epitome of what the sportsmanship award represents. He’s definitely deserving.”

“On behalf of the Weber family as well as the PBA, I’m really happy the players voted for someone as congenial as Larry Graybeal. All of the players look up to him. He’s just a pleasure to be around. I couldn’t be happier.”

Williams Turns 50, Senior Tour and More Records Await

2009-10-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. spent a relaxing day at home Tuesday, contemplating if not celebrating his 50th birthday.

In addition to his record 45 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titles and more than $4 million in career earnings heading into the PBA’s World Series of Bowling, Oct. 6 marked the day Walter Ray Williams Jr. became eligible to begin compiling a new set of records as a PBA Senior Tour competitor.

“Yeah, I’ve been looking forward to do this day for a long time,” he dead-panned.
“I’m just happy to be up and around.”

At age 50, Williams remains a remarkably physically-fit athlete. He plays golf at near-scratch level. He’s still a world-class horseshoe player. And he remains at the top of his chosen sport – bowling – with no end in sight.

“Amazingly, I didn’t expect to be doing this well this late in my career, but I’m still bowling fairly consistently and giving the kids something to shoot at,” he said. “Right now I’m exempt (to compete on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour) and that’s my main focus, but I’ll bowl most of the PBA Senior Tour events I’m available for, if my schedule allows. I might bowl a few regionals if I can, too.

“It’s funny,” he added. “Last weekend there was a senior regional about 50 miles away from me, but I wasn’t 50 yet…” It’s hard to imagine what Williams has left to conquer as he enters the 2009-10 season, but there are a couple of items on his wish list.

“If they don’t happen, it’s not a big deal, but winning the Tournament of Champions would be a nice addition to my portfolio,” he said. The Tournament of Champions is the only major title Williams is missing. A TOC victory would mean completion of the PBA Triple Crown (U.S. Open and PBA Championship), Grand Slam (add the USBC Masters) and Super Slam (add the PBA Touring Players Championship).

“I don’t expect it, and if it never happens, oh, well. The other is bowling a 300 on TV. I don’t expect that either, but I hope to get a few opportunities. “I’ve had a few chances at 300s on TV, but I either threw a bad shot or got a bad break.

People make a big deal about bowling 300 games, but bowling one on TV would be kinda special,” he said. “And it would be nice to throw one at someone else. I’ve certainly had enough of them (four) thrown at me.”

Williams has remained remarkably fit across the years. He has his occasional sore knee and sore wrist problems – functions of age, but otherwise he more than holds his own against “the kids.”

“Physically, I’ve kept my weight under control,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing. About five years ago my wife (Paige) decided to get serious about her weight and I decided that was a pretty good idea for me as well. I started eating less, drinking water rather than soda, things like that. I don’t work out a lot, but I get exercise with golf and horseshoes. I probably do a real workout once a week or so, but it’s more diet for me than anything. I love to eat like everyone, but if I kept going the way I was going a few years, I was going to be way too heavy.

“I feel good,” Williams continued. “My biggest problem during the off season is that I don’t work at my game a lot. I’ve been doing some exhibitions, and I’ve bowled a couple of regionals. I’m going to bowl a couple more because I want to get ready for the (QubicaAMF) World Cup in Malaysia.

For me, tournament play is the best practice in the world.”

Another adjustment to Williams’ physical and mental well-being has been fatherhood. At age 47, he and Paige adopted their daughter, Rebecca, who is now 3. “Oh, yes, Rebecca counts as exercise,” he laughed. “Life is good.”

Williams is the top qualifier and will compete for his 46th career title in the finals of the PBA Motor City Open which will air on ESPN on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. Eastern.

BWAA Selects O'Neill Bowler of the Month

2009-10-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

Bill O'Neill of Southampton, Pa. has been named Kegel Bowler of the Month by the Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA) for September.

The two-time Collegiate Player of the Year won his first Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) title, the PBA Chameleon Championship over Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 205-192, and then continued his hot hand in the Pan American Bowling Confederation (PABCON) Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Competing as a Team USA member for the first time, O'Neill took home four out of a possible six gold medals in Men's Team, Men's Trios, Men's All-Events, and Men's Singles. He broke an eight-year-old record in the Men's Singles event averaging 245, and won the Men's All-Events by over 300 pins.

In very close voting this month, other nominees capturing votes were Kelly Kulick, PBA Women's World Championship and Women's Series Shark Championship winner, and Shannon Pulhowsky, PBA Women's Series Chameleon Championship winner, PBA World Championship runner up, PABCON Women's Team Gold Medalist, PABCON Women's Trio's Gold Medalist.

PBA Online Features

2009-10-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

This Week on PBA.com’s Xtra Frame

Monday, Oct. 5 – World Series of Bowling (WSOB) Feature: Andrew Cain
PBA Tour player and pba.com blogger Andrew Cain was given a camera to record his experiences during the World Series of Bowling. Watch what he captured after spending the month in a rented house in Detroit with fellow players Stuart Williams, Martin Larsen, Paul Moor and Michael Haugen Jr.

Tuesday, Oct. 6 – 2002 PBA World Championship Formerly named the PBA National Championship, watch finalists Doug Kent, Lonnie Waliczek, Rick Steelsmith and Brian Voss battle it out for what was, at the time, the biggest payday in PBA history ($120,000).

Wednesday, Oct. 7 – WSOB Spotlight: Brunswick, featuring Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Sean Rash, Parker Bohn III, Leslie Bohn and Diandra Asbaty
In the third of nine weekly Product Spotlight features, watch the extended family of Brunswick staffers demonstrate the manufacturer’s latest lineup of equipment. Other manufacturers part of Xtra Frame’s WSOB Spotlight series in addition to Brunswick are Storm, Ebonite, AMF, Roto Grip, 900 Global, Hammer, Track and Columbia.

Thursday, Oct. 8 – 2003 PBA Miller High Life Open
A pair of high-scoring semifinals highlighted this event. Finalists include Brian Himmler, Parker Bohn III, Mika Koivuniemi and Mike Scroggins.

Friday, Oct. 9 – The Bowling Show (Now Free on PBA.com) The Bowling Show is back to its regular time with all-new stories. The Team USA-Team Europe battle in the Weber Cup is the subject of this week’s show.

Xtra Frame is PBA’s official online video subscription service. Bowling fans can subscribe to Xtra Frame on pba.com for $64.99 per year or $7.99 per month. To check out the Xtra Frame programming schedule for the upcoming weeks click on pba.com/xtraframe.