Professional Bowlers Association

SEATTLE (May 14, 2013) – The Professional Bowlers Association’s 2012-13 Player of the Year race may take a decisive turn during the final two weeks of May when four PBA Tour titles are decided during the GEICO PBA Summer Swing in the Milwaukee.

With the Badger, Wolf, Bear and Milwaukee Open titles at stake in the Milwaukee series, a hotly-contested six-man race for PBA Player of the Year honors could quickly change in favor of one of the leading contenders. Or it could move a couple of dark horse candidates into position to challenge for the end-of-season honor.

The Player of the Year will be selected in balloting by the PBA membership and members of the bowling news media at the close of the season. Key criteria most voters use are titles won, competition points, earnings, averages and television finals. Major titles won, or championship round appearances, are commonly factors that will tip the scales if voting is close.

The 2012-13 Player of the Year competition will be based upon overall performance over an expanded 14-month campaign which began with the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling IV and will conclude on Dec. 31, 2013, as the PBA heads toward a return to a traditional calendar year schedule beginning on Jan. 1, 2014.

Heading into the GEICO PBA Summer Swing, the Player of the Year leaders, in alphabetical order, are:

● Jason Belmonte, Australia: won the 2013 USBC Masters for his only 2012-13 title, leads the PBA Tour in competition points and average (234.97), and ranks third in earnings ($131,586). Finished second in the PBA World Championship and PBA Tournament of Champions, and has three other TV appearances.

● Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J.: won the 2012 PBA World Championship for his only 2012-13 title, ranks fifth in competition points, and seventh in earnings ($77,688) and average (228.91). He also finished fourth in the USBC Masters.

● Mika Koivuniemi, Finland/Hartland, Mich.: has won two 2012-13 titles, both on the PBA International Tour (Round1 Japan Cup and Qatar Open), ranks seventh in points, first in earnings ($158,412) and sixth in average (228.99). Koivuniemi also finished fifth in the USBC Masters.

● Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif.: has won two 2012-13 titles (Chameleon Open and Earl Anthony PBA Players Championship), and ranks fourth in points, fifth in earnings ($87,970) and eighth in average (228.85).

● Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill.: reigning PBA Player of the Year’s only title this season is Kuwait Open. He ranks third in points, second in earnings ($145,472) and third in average (232.58), and is tied with Belmonte with five TV appearances, including finishing third in PBA World Championship and PBA Tournament of Champions.

● Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo.: won a PBA-record 10th major title in the PBA Tournament of Champions at age 50. Ranks 13th in points, sixth in earnings ($82,306) and fourth in average (229.97).

Heading the “dark horse” list includes Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C., a one-time title winner in 2012-13 who ranks sixth in points and fourth in earnings, and non-winner Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, who is second in points and average and eighth in earnings. Other players who have won one title during the 2012-13 season are Bill O’Neill, Langhorne, Pa.; Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y.; Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla.; Andres Gomez, Colombia; Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz.; Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., and Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind.

The GEICO PBA Summer Swing begins with the Badger Open May 19-21 at AMF Waukesha, followed by the Wolf Open May 22-24 at AMF West, Bear Open May 26-28 at AMF Bowlero, Milwaukee Open May 29-30 at Bowlero, and two days of CBS Sports Network stepladder finals June 1-2 at Bowlero.

Thus far in 2012-13, the PBA Tour has conducted 16 individual tournaments in the United States and around the world and the extended 14-month season will include 14 more PBA Tour and International Tour events – including the four Milwaukee title events – before it ends.

REMAINING 2013 PBA TOUR EVENTS

May 20-June 2 – GEICO PBA Summer Swing (Badger, Wolf, Bear and Milwaukee Open), AMF Waukesha, AMF West and AMF Bowlero, Milwaukee, Wis.

July 7-13 - It's Daejeon International Open Bowling Tournament, Daejeon, Korea

July 21-27 – U.S. Open, Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl, Columbus Western Bowl, and Holiday Lanes, Columbus, Ohio

Oct. 1-6 – 11th annual Columbia 300 Vienna Open, Plus Bowling Center, Vienna, Austria

Oct. 14-21 – 2013 World Bowling Tour Thailand, Bul-O Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand

Oct. 25-Nov. 3 – PBA World Series of Bowling V (Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon and Scorpion Championships plus PBA World Championship), South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas

Nov. 28-30 – Round1 Japan Cup, Tokyo Port Bowl, Tokyo, Japan

Story courtesy USBC Communications

ARLINGTON, Texas – Thanks to a new format and return to the industry's largest venue, the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame's major fund-raising event for 2013 could be the best ever.

The 24th edition of Salute to Bowling will be held June 26 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Paris Hotel and Casino as part of International Bowl Expo in Las Vegas. It will feature a theme of “Go for the Gold” as it continues its goal to help fund IBM/HF operations.

“This will be a fun event that we think attendees will really like,” said Salute Chair Mike Aulby. “We'll have our usual silent and live auctions of sports memorabilia and vacation packages. There also will be plenty of great appetizers and a full bar. But the real fun might just be the reverse raffle for the $5,000 top prize.”

In a reverse raffle, it's the person whose name is drawn last and who hasn't been selected earlier who wins. Names drawn by Aulby will be read by Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer and ESPN commentator Randy Pedersen and proprietor and comedian Jim Stubler who will serve as emcees. In another twist, the top prize can be won by up to five people if those finalists unanimously agree to split it.

“We are very pleased to be returning to Bowl Expo for our major annual fund-raiser,” said IBM/HF President/Chairman of the Board Keith Hamilton. “We want to thank the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America for giving us the time during the always-busy Bowl Expo week.”

Tickets for Salute to Bowling will be $100 and will include an entry into the drawing for the $5,000 first prize. Tickets may be ordered either with Bowl Expo registration or by contacting Ginny Linton at the IBM/HF at 800-414-2695 or at the bowlingmuseum.com web site.

Originally called Salute to Champions in 1990, the fund-raiser was the brainchild of former Brunswick executive Jim Bennett. It started as a black-tie sit-down affair to honor those who had helped the industry. The event moved to Bowl Expo in 2002 and changed format to an auction/cocktail format. It was part of a special event in 2011 at the International Bowling Campus and held in conjunction with BPAA's Bowling Summit in 2012 before returning to Bowl Expo this year.

It was just a year ago that PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia became the first player in PBA history to win a PBA Tour or PBA50 Tour title in six decades by winning the PBA Senior Dayton Classic at Capri Lanes.

Petraglia, who won his eighth career PBA50 Tour title last May in the Dayton Classic, also ended a three-year drought without a win by defeating two-time PBA50 Player of the Year Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, 220-204, in the title match.

He joined PBA legend Dick Weber who also won PBA titles in six decades, however, Weber’s longevity mark included a PBA regional title. Petraglia also owns 14 PBA Tour titles, winning his first at a national tour stop in Ft. Smith, Ark., in 1966 at the age of 19.

Petraglia will be among a field of more than 100 players ages 50-years-and-older who will compete in the fifth stop of the 2013 season when the PBA50 Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip returns to Capri Lanes in Kettering, Ohio, May 13-16.

“I guess it shows how old I am,” Petraglia said jokingly after achieving the milestone, “but this is very special to me because it’s part of history and makes it all worth it.”

As the 2013 Dayton Classic approaches, Petraglia is reminded of the historic significance of the achievement.

“Since then I’ve gotten more media attention and feedback from people than anything else I’ve done in my career,” Petraglia said. “It really hit home when (fellow hall of famer) Carmen Salvino called me to congratulate me and tell me what a great achievement it was.”

The 66-year-old Petraglia is looking forward to returning Capri Lanes in the Dayton suburb of Kettering to defend his title, one of his favorite tournaments on the PBA50 Tour.

“I’m a year older but I’m still competitive,” Petraglia said. “I’ve been bowling well to start this season and it’s one of my favorite tournaments on Tour so I’m looking forward to returning to Capri Lanes. I’m sure it will bring back some nice memories of a year ago.”

Petraglia is among a group of PBA greats that will compete in a tournament that has become a PBA50 Tour tradition including PBA Hall of Famer and PBA Tour ESPN color analyst Randy Pedersen who will make his PBA50 Tour debut, but admits it will be somewhat of trial run.

“I’ve been slowly getting back into bowling shape but in reality this going to be a trial run,” said the 13-time Tour titlist who was voted the 35th greatest player in Tour history. “I was actually a little on the fence about bowling in Dayton but felt I’m probably as ready as I’m going to be. My goal will be to cash and hopefully make match play but after that I’m just going to play it by ear as to what the future holds.”

Also making his PBA50 Tour debut will be two-time PBA Tour winner Jack Jurek.

Admission is $3 per day of competition or $10 for an all-tournament pass. Additional admission and pro-am entry information may be obtained by contacting Capri Lanes at (937) 298-7411.

PBA50 DAYTON CLASSIC PRESENTED BY ROTO GRIP SCHEDULE
Capri Lanes, Kettering, Ohio
(All times Eastern)

Monday, May 13
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. - Practice
Pro-am squads to follow
6 p.m. – Special pro-am squad benefiting Alzheimer Disease

Tuesday, May 14
9 a.m. - A squad qualifying (8 games)
3 p.m. - B Squad qualifying (8 games)

Wednesday, May 15
9 a.m. - B Squad qualifying (8 games)
3 p.m. – A Squad qualifying (8 games)
Top 32 Advance to match play

Thursday, May 16
Match play rounds begin at 9 a.m.
7 p.m. - Top four advance to stepladder finals

The Professional Bowlers Association doesn’t keep official records on such things, but Bob Learn Jr. of Erie, Pa., may have bowled the “longest” 300 game in PBA history Monday during the PBA50 Miller High Life Classic at George Pappas’ Victory Lanes in Mooresville, N.C.

After throwing the first four strikes in his third qualifying game Monday, the power went out at Victory Lanes. Ironically, fellow competitor Joe Scarborough of nearby Charlotte – the same guy who recorded the first 900 series in PBA history two weeks earlier in The Villages, Fla. ­– helped get things back on track. Scarborough, an independent electrical contractor by trade, and Ken Shealy of Myrtle Beach. S.C., another electrician bowling in the tournament, helped restore power.

After a 90-minute “delay of game,” Learn threw the final eight strikes to complete a 300 game that took nearly two hours from start to finish. It was helpful because Learn claimed the first round lead in the tournament, averaging 248 for eight games to finish with 1,984 pins and a 42-pin lead over Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska.

JULY 15 IS QUALIFYING DEADLINE FOR REGIONAL PLAYERS INVITATIONALS

The July 15 qualifying deadline for the new PBA Regional Players Invitational series for the 2012-13 season is only two months away.

The new RPI program gives all PBA members an opportunity to qualify for a prestigious new regional championship event closer to home. The tournament series will include events in the PBA’s East, South, Central, Midwest, Southwest and joint West-Northwest Regions, and each will include live online coverage on PBA’s online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.

Each of the six RPIs also will offer prize funds in excess of $25,000, including $6,000 to each winner and a 1:2 payout ratio, and the winner of each will win a paid entry into the 2013 PBA World Series of Bowling, Nov. 1-10 at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas.

In order to qualify for their home area RPI, players will be required to qualify among the top 48 in competition points within their own regions during a season-long points race that concludes on July 15. Within the five standard regions, PBA members who reside within the region and finish 1-15 in the seasonal competition points standings will receive an invitation and free entry into the end-of-season RPI for their home region. Players who finish 16-32 on the points list are invited, but must pay a $220 entry fee. The next 16 spots will go to players on the points list who have participated in a minimum of 50 percent of the region’s tournaments during the year. If any spots remain open, invitations will be extended based upon players’ rankings on their home region’s points list. Special rules will apply to the joint West-Northwest RPI, and for international players.

The new RPI program is open to all PBA members: touring players, PBA50 members, regional members, PBA24 members and PBA International members. Players will only be eligible to participate in one RPI. RPI points qualifying began on Sept. 1, 2012, and will end on July 15.

PBA members and fans can check on the current regional competition points rankings on pba.com. Under the “Schedule” tab, click on “Regional Tour” and then click on the appropriate region. Regional Point Leaders are listed on each region’s landing page.

2013 PBA REGIONAL PLAYERS INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE

Aug. 2-4 – PBA South Regional Players Invitational, Break Point Alley, Tavares, Fla.

Aug. 31-Sept. 2 – PBA Midwest Players Invitational, Super Bowl, Peru, Ill.

Sept. 6-8 – PBA Southwest Regional Players Invitational, Firelake Bowling Center, Shawnee, Okla.

Sept. 13-15 – PBA Central Regional Players Invitational, Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich.

Sept. 20-22 – PBA East Regional Players Invitational, Maple City Bowl, Hornell, N.Y.

Oct. 18-20 - PBA West/Northwest Regional Players Invitational, National Bowling Stadium, Reno, Nev.

BALLARDS PREPARE FOR “BALLARD VS. THE BIG C” PART II IN SEPTEMBER

PBA Hall of Famer Del Ballard Jr., and his wife, former PBA Women’s Series champion Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, are not taking Del’s battle with tonsil cancer lying down. The Ballards organized the inaugural “Ballard vs. The Big C: Striking Back to Spare More Lives” fund-raiser last fall, raising more than $30,000 in support of the fight against cancer.

The Ballards will host their second annual “Striking Back” fund-raiser on Saturday, Sept. 14, at AMF Showplace Lanes in Euless, Texas, starting at 1 p.m. The event will feature four-player teams – any gender combination – with special awards for those who bring in the most donations.

“This event was developed during my journey with tonsil cancer and I am proud to be partnering with Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Cancer Care Services,” Del Ballard said. “It’s a brand new state-of-the-art center which opened in March of 2011 and treats 6.6 percent of the cancer cases in Texas.

“With tonsil cancer, I had to have a feeding tube put in place to allow me to have the nutrients necessary during treatment and post treatment,” Ballard added. “Without these nutrients, it is harder for the body to heal and gain strength. Cancer Care is an organization that helps patients that cannot afford the nutritional supplements during and after treatment.”

For more information about the September event, visit Ballard Vs. The Big “C” on Facebook, BallardsVsBigC on Twitter, or call Tina and Terry Taylor at 817-996-4544.

WELU SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE JUNE 15

Reminder: Applications are due June 15 for the PBA’s Billy Welu Scholarship, awarded annually to a male or female college student who competes in the sport of bowling and exhibits exemplary qualities as a student and citizen. The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship award.

To be eligible, candidates must be amateur bowlers who are currently in college (preceding the application deadline) and maintain at least a 2.5/4.0 GPA or equivalent. To access the Welu Scholarship application form, use this link: http://pba.com/Corporate/Scholarships/

PBA REGIONAL ROUNDUP:

● Nathan Bohr from Wichita, Kan., defeated Erik Gulbrandson of Superior, Wis., 256-233, to win the sixth annual joint PBA Junction City Bowl Southwest/Midwest Open presented by MOTIV in Junction City, Kan., Sunday. Bohr, who also won the Junction City event in 2010, claimed his 17th PBA Regional title and a $2,500 first prize.

● David Haynes of Las Vegas defeated Michael Haugen Jr. of Carefree, Ariz., 276-219, to win the PBA Battle at Black Oak Casino West Open Sunday at Black Oak Lanes in Tuolumne, Calif., for a $2,500 first prize and his fourth PBA West Region title.

● PBA Regional players are continuing to compile qualifying points for their respective Regional Players Championships, which begin in August, during a busy schedule in May.

Between the current PBA50 Tour stop in Mooresville, N.C., and the PBA Dayton Classic presented by Roto-Grip, May 13-16 at Capri Lanes in Dayton, Ohio, the PBA’s 50-and-older players will have a chance to visit Riverside Lanes in Danville, Va., for the PBA50 Danville South Open May 9-11.

Two “reduced entry fee” tournaments are scheduled for May 11 (PBA50 Columbus (Ohio) Central Open at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl) and May 11-12 (PBA Midcontinent Communications Midwest Open at Empire Bowl in Sioux Falls, S.D.).

The May 17-19 schedule includes the PBA Fort Sill Southwest Open at Twin Oak Lanes in Fort Sill, Okla.; the PBA U.S. Foods Northwest Open presented by Boger Construction and the PBA50 Daffodil Bowl Northwest Open presented by Sunset Chevrolet at Daffodil Bowl in Puyallup, Wash., and the PBA and PBA50 Baldo Campana Central Opens benefitting the Lorain County Kids Fund at Rebman Recreation in Lorain, Ohio.

The May 24-25 schedule includes two one-day joint PBA50 regionals for Midwest and Central Region players, sponsored by Allstate Insurance, at Poplar Creek Bowl in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Closing out the month will be a pair of mid-week PBA50 West Regional events: the fourth annual PBA50 Long King Saguaro West Open at Johnson Lanes in Sun City West, Ariz., May 27-29, followed by the PBA50 Miller High Life West Open at Starlite Lanes in Flagstaff, Ariz., May 29-31.

For complete PBA regional schedule and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tours” under the Schedules tab.

Down by more than 30 pins halfway through the title match, Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wis., came back to win the PBA50 Miller High Life Classic presented by Columbia 300 by one pin Wednesday at George Pappas’ Victory Lanes.

Boresch won his second career PBA50 Tour title by defeating Mike Henry of Brunswick, Ohio, 211-210 in the title match. In 2012 Boresch won in his PBA50 Tour debut capturing the Senior Sun Bowl In The Villages title.

After Boresch made his run to take the lead heading into the 10th frame, Henry still had a chance to win by throwing a double in the 10th. He got the first strike but threw a seven count on the second ball handing the win to Boresch.

“I figured I was done but then Mike threw a bad shot and then I started thinking, well, you never know what can happen.” Boresch said. “It was kind of early in the match and I looked up at the scoring monitor and saw I could strike out for 232. I didn’t strike out but I put enough strikes together to put a little pressure on Mike.”

It marked the second week in a row that the title match was decided by one pin. Hall of Famer Tom Baker defeated Bryan Goebel 227-226 to win last week’s Greater Birmingham Open.

“I thought Mike would get that double in the 10th frame after he got the first one because he was generally bowling pretty well,” Boresch added. “You just never know in this game.”

Henry, who was also trying for his second career PBA50 Tour title, was hoping to end a three-season winless streak dating back to 2010 when he won the Senior Lake County (Ind.) Open.

Boresch’s win was a confidence builder after a slow start to the season and having thoughts about taking this week off to work on his game.

“I’ll be honest I had some work to do,” Boresch said. “I thought about taking this tournament off and coming back home to work on my game but then I decided after bowling a little better in the second tournament of the season I could maybe work through it and that’s what happened. It’s nice to win again and not have to worry that you’ll be a one-hit wonder.”

In the semifinal, Boresch defeated seven-time PBA Tour and three-time PBA50 Tour winner Hugh Miller of Seattle, 205-191 and Henry defeated Dale Csuhta of Wadsworth, Ohio, 241-138 to advance to the title match.

Boresch’s win makes it four different winners in the first four tournaments of the season. The next stop for the PBA50 Tour will be Capri Lanes in Kettering, Ohio, for the PBA50 Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip May 13-16.

PBA50 MILLER HIGH LIFE CLASSIC PRESENTED BY COLUMBIA 300
George Pappas’ Victory Lanes, Mooresville, N.C., Wednesday

Final Results

Championship Match
Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis. ($7,500) def. Mike Henry, Brunswick, Ohio ($4,000), 211-210.

Semifinal Round (one-game matches, losers earn $2,500)
Boresch Jr. def. Hugh Miller, Seattle, 205-191.
Henry def. Dale Csuhta, Wadsworth, Ohio, 241-138.

Round of 8 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, earn $1,700)
Boresch Jr. def. Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2-0.
Miller def. Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 2-1.
Csuhta def. Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 2-1.
Henry def. Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 2-1.

Round of 16 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, earn $1,300)
Miller def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3-0.
Goebel def. Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp. Mich., 3-2
Boresch def. Tim Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 3-0.
Gonzalez def. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3-1.
Petraglia def. Michael Long, High Point, N.C., 3-0.
Csuhta def. Dennis Rakauskas, Apopka, Fla., 3-1.
Mohr def. Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 3-1.
Henry def. Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 3-1.

Round of 24 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, earn $1,150)
Baker def. Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 3-0.
Dias def. Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 3-1.
Kauble def. Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 3-0.
Gonzalez def. William Peters, Dayton, Ohio, 3-1.
Long def. Steve Neff, Homosassa Springs, Fla., 3-1.
Rakauskas def. Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., 3-0.
Traber def. Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 3-2.
Henry def. Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 3-1.

Round of 32 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, earn $1,050)
Tapp def. Don Sylvia, Lady Lake, Fla., 2-0.
Sullins def. Jeff Bellinger, Columbia, S.C., 2-1.
Kauble def. Michael Shequin, Orange City, Fla., 2-0.
Gonzalez def. Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 2-0.
Long def. Joe Scarborough, Charlotte, N.C., 2-0.
Shultis def. Greg McMahan, Dandridge, Tenn., 2-0.
Traber def. Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 2-0.
Henry def. Patrick King, Fayetteville, N.C., 2-1.

Round of 40 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, earn $975)
Sylvia def. Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., 2-1.
Bellinger def. Mark Scime, Winter Garden, Fla., 2-1.
Kauble def. Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 2-0.
Eagle def. Robert Harvey, Boise, Idaho, 2-0.
Long def. Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio 2-0.
Shultis def. Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 2-0.
Traber def. Bob Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 2-1.
Henry def. Sal Borngiorno, Hollywood, Fla., 2-0.