PEPSI RED, WHITE AND BLUE SPOILER ALERT

by PBA Editor December 12, 2009 19:00
LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
PESPI RED, WHITE AND BLUE OPEN PRESENTED BY USBC
Northrock Lanes, Wichita, Kan., Dec.. 10
 
CHAMPIONSHIP:
Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas ($25,000) def. Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif. ($13,000), 278-229.
 
ROUND TWO:
 Match Three – Garber def. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla. ($8,000), 237-237, 10-10, 10-8 in one-ball sudden-death roll-off
 Match Four – Scroggins def. Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla. ($8,000), 227-215
 
ROUND ONE:
 Match One – Williams def. Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., ($5,500), 257-244
 Match Two – Scroggins def. Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., ($5,500), 218-197
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Newman University's Hartnell Upsets Barnes in "Challenge"

by PBA Editor December 11, 2009 19:00

Newman University senior Derek Hartnell overcame a 77-pin deficit to defeat PBA star Chris Barnes, 719-698, in the first Chris Barnes Challenge presented by Columbia 300 at Northrock Lanes Saturday.

Hartnell, a 22-year-old from Kenosha, Wis., finished his third game with five strikes as Barnes lost the pocket after throwing a near-perfect 289 in game two of the three-game, total pinfall match. Hartnell won the $3,200 pot, 719-698.

"I just threw shots," Hartnell said. "In the 10th, I had nerves going up and down, but I just tried to concentrate and I did it.

"Who would have thought?"

Barnes rolled games of 248, 289 and a split-filled 161 for his 698. Hartnell had games of 232, 229 and 258 for his 719.

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Machuga Stays Hot in Record-Setting Pepsi Red, White and Blue Open

by PBA Editor December 10, 2009 19:00
Michael Machuga of Erie, Pa., won six of his eight matches Friday afternoon, establishing a Professional Bowlers Association 40-game scoring record as he maintained his lead in the Pepsi Red, White and Blue Open presented by the United States Bowling Congress at Northrock Lanes.
 
Machuga, a 33-year-old two-time Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titlist, improved his average to 252.03 for 40 games, posting an actual total of 10,081 pins to establish a PBA record for 40 games. Including his bonus pins after posting an 11-5 match play record, he had a total of 10,411 pins for a 136-pin lead over rookie Wayne Garber of Modesto, Calif.
 
Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., was third with 10,207 pins; Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, fourth with a 10,156 total; Patrick Allen of Wesley Chapel, Fla., fifth at 10,153 and Mike Fagan of Patchogue, N.Y., held the sixth spot for the championship finals with 10,121 pins.
 
Friday morning’s White round, Machuga’s favorite, produced two more 300 games to boost the record for most perfect games in a PBA Tour event to 28.
 
“I saw some different things today, but the adjustments I had to make made sense,” Machuga said. “I struggled on a couple of pairs, but I figured things out. Every adjustment I made worked, and that’s been the key this week. You have to make quick decisions and not get confused, because you’re going to need to throw a six- or seven-bagger every game.
 
“It’s nice to have a 136-pin lead, but when you’re averaging 250 and the people chasing you are averaging 245 or so, you don’t have a comfort zone. Throw a couple 220s in a row and lose those matches, you’ll give away 80 pins a game. Things can change very quickly.
 
“My strategy has been to try to pick up 100 pins a game. If you can come close to that, no one can catch you and I think that strategy is why I’m where I am right now.”
 
The Pepsi Red, White and Blue Open presented by the USBC is being conducted on three different lane conditioning patterns the USBC plans to introduce on an optional basis to American league bowlers in cooperation with the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America for the 2010-11 winter league season. Similar in concept to golf’s tee system, the USBC Red condition is the most forgiving pattern, the White condition is a medium challenge and the Blue pattern is the most challenging.
 
After Friday’s final eight-game round of round-robin match play on the Blue pattern, the top six will advance to the championship round which will be taped Sunday to air on ESPN on Jan. 10.

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
PESPI RED, WHITE AND BLUE OPEN PRESENTED BY USBC
Northrock Lanes, Wichita, Kan., Dec. 11
 
FIFTH ROUND (after 40 games, including match play bonus pins)
1, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 11-5, 10,411
2, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 11-5, 10,275
3, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 11-5, 10,207
4, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 11-4-1, 10,156
5, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 8-8, 10,153
6, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 9-7, 10,121
7, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 6-10, 10,093
8, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 10-6, 10,017
9, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 7-9, 9,981
10, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 9-6-1, 9,974
11, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 9-6-1, 9,968
12, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 9-7, 9,957
13, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 6-8-2, 9,955
14, (tie) Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 8-8, and Cassidy Schaub, Ashland, Ohio, 6-10, 9,931
16, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 9-7, 9,824
17, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 8-8, 9,798
18, Gilbert Sanchez, Mulvane, Kan., 9-7, 9,782
19, David Ruder, Edmond, Okla., 7-9, 9,769
20, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 3-13, 9,719
21, Cory Simmons, Wichita, Kan., 6-9-1, 9,679
22, Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., 7-8-1, 9,570
23, Andrew Mortensen, Tulsa, Okla., 4-11-1, 9,541
24, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 4-12, 9,521
 

300 Games (28) – Mitch Beasley, Tommy Jones, Todd Book (2), Leroy Willis Jr., Billy Oatman, Scott Newell, Michael Machuga (2), Cassidy Schaub (2), Liz Johnson, Derek Hartnell, Cory Simmons, Gilbert Sanchez, Ritchie Allen (2), Walter Ray Williams Jr. (2), Brad Angelo, Mike Scroggins, Jason Sterner, Rhino Page, Jason Couch, Wayne Garber, Wes Malott, David Ruder, Jeff Carter.

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Former GM autoworker Smallwood bowls to PBA Tour semifinals - USA Today

by PBA Editor December 10, 2009 19:00

By Bob Velin, USA TODAY

Two days before last Christmas, Tom Smallwood found himself, like millions of Americans, jobless and wondering how he would support his family.

The General Motors plant Smallwood worked at closed down, and the Saginaw, Mich., native was suddenly out of a job when he needed it most.

Michigan's struggling economy didn't leave the Smallwoods with many options, but "we didn't panic," he says.

Smallwood, 32, has always been a good bowler, even supplementing his income in some local tournaments, and he saw there was a Professional Bowlers Association qualifying tournament in Detroit.

So, with the blessing of his wife, Jennifer, Smallwood set out to chase his dream.

"I always felt I could compete out there (on the Tour), but I was also content with working and staying with my family," Smallwood says. "I have a 21/2-year old (Hannah Rose) and she's my life."

Smallwood qualified, gained a one-year exemption, and nearly a year after being laid off, finds himself in a dream scenario — ranked seventh in the world and one of four semifinalists in the PBA World Championship, which will air Sunday (ESPN, 1-2:30 p.m. ET) in Wichita

So far, Smallwood has earned just under $30,000 on the tour, but a victory Sunday would add $50,000 to the family's coffers. The least he can win is $12,500.

Smallwood bowls against Bill O'Neill, a Pennsylvanian who was a four-time All-American at Saginaw Valley State, and veteran Wes Malott faces former top rookie Rhino Page in the other semi.

Smallwood is a professional, but he's far from living the high life on the tour. He drove his own car with fellow pro Brian Waliczek from Detroit to Wichita last week ("only 15 hours") and they will drive back to Michigan for the holidays, then set out on their West Coast swing in California in January — "341/2 hours from Detroit," says Smallwood — for five tournaments west of the Rockies.

"It saves a lot of money and you have your own car, and it's a lot easier to carry your bowling balls in the car than it is paying about $100 for every four balls on an airplane," Smallwood says.

Ironically, Smallwood received a call from the GM jobs bank last week asking if he was interested a job.

"I said, 'Uh, no thank you.' They called me on a Friday, and I was on TV that Sunday," Smallwood says. "I said, 'I'm a professional bowler now. If you want to turn on the TV this weekend, I'll be on ESPN at 1 p.m.'

"It was pretty funny."

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Allen Rolls 300 in Final Game to Top Pepsi Red, White and Blue Open Finalists

by PBA Editor December 10, 2009 19:00
Patrick Allen of Wesley Chapel, Fla., fired the 31st and final 300 game of the tournament in the last match Friday night to jump from fifth place to the top qualifying position for the Pepsi Red, White and Blue Open presented by the United States Bowling Congress finals at Northrock Lanes.
 
Allen, who never led until the final game, rolled his record-setting 300 game against Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., the Professional Bowlers Association record-holder for career titles (46), to finish the event with a 48-game total of 12,308 pins, including match play bonus pins.
 
Also advancing to the championship round were Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour rookie Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 12,306; fifth-round leader Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 12,279; Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 12,257; Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 12,253; and Williams, 12,138.
 
“I just hung around, won a few games in the 10th that I probably didn’t deserve to win, and someone was going to be the odd man out,” Allen, a 13-time PBA Tour titlist, said. “I was just hoping it wouldn’t be me. Then guys around me started opening in the 10th frame and I realized if I shot 300, I could actually take the lead.”
 
Garber, who earned his place on Tour this year through the PBA Regional Players Invitational last December, was stunned by his performance. “I’m 42. I can’t believe this,” he said. “I have no idea how I’ll do on TV, but I’ve done pretty well at the start of each round, so I hope that continues on TV.”
 
“Mentally and physically, I couldn’t have bowled worse than I did tonight,” Machuga said. “But at least I still have a shot at the title.”
 
Friday’s final round on the USBC Blue pattern produced three more 300 games to boost the record for most perfect games in a PBA Tour event to 31.
 
The Pepsi Red, White and Blue Open presented by the USBC was conducted on three different lane conditioning patterns the USBC plans to introduce on an optional basis to American league bowlers in cooperation with the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America for the 2010-11 winter league season. Similar in concept to golf’s tee system, the USBC Red condition is the most forgiving pattern, the White condition is a medium challenge and the Blue pattern is the most challenging.
 
The championship round will be conducted Sunday on the Blue pattern and taped to air on ESPN on Jan. 10. Also on Sunday’s schedule is the live finals of the PBA World Championship, which will air on ESPN at 1 p.m. Eastern. The World Championship finalists are Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas; Rhino Page, Wesley Chapel, Fla.; Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa., and Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich.

LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
PESPI RED, WHITE AND BLUE OPEN PRESENTED BY USBC
Northrock Lanes, Wichita, Kan., Dec. 11
 
FINAL MATCH PLAY STANDINGS (after 48 games, including match play bonus pins; top six advance to ESPN television finals)
1, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 14-10, 12,308
2, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 16-7-1, 12,306
3, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 14-9-1, 12,279
4, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 12-11-1, 12,257
5, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 15-9, 12,253
6, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 15-9, 12,138
7, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 16-7-1, 12,124, $4,500
8, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 16-8, 12,070, $4,000
9, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 10-12-2, 12,030, $3,800
10, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 13-9-2, 11,996, $3,600
11, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 15-8-1, 11,972, $3,400
12, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 14-9-1, 11,938, $3,200
13, Cassidy Schaub, Ashland, Ohio, 10-14, 11,917, $3,100
14, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 12-12, 11,898, $3,000
15, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 13-10-1, 11,861, $2,900
16, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 13-11, 11,842, $2,800
17, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 8-16-0, 11,772, $2,750
18, Todd Book, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 8-16, 11,643, $2,700
19, David Ruder, Edmond, Okla., 9-15, 11,458, $2,650
20, Cory Simmons, Wichita, Kan., 8-15-1, 11,436, $2,600
21, Gilbert Sanchez, Mulvane, Kan., 9-15, 11,393, $2,550
22, Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., 10-13-1, 11,390, $2,500
23, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 5-19, 11,372, $2,450
24, Andrew Mortensen, Tulsa, Okla., 6-17-1, 11,294, $2,400
 

300 Games (31) – Mitch Beasley, Tommy Jones, Todd Book (2), Leroy Willis Jr., Billy Oatman, Scott Newell, Michael Machuga (2), Cassidy Schaub (2), Liz Johnson, Derek Hartnell, Cory Simmons, Gilbert Sanchez, Ritchie Allen (2), Walter Ray Williams Jr. (2), Brad Angelo, Mike Scroggins (2), Jason Sterner, Rhino Page, Jason Couch, Wayne Garber, Wes Malott (2), David Ruder, Jeff Carter, Patrick Allen.

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