Arizona’s Josh Blanchard is 2011-12 Rookie of the Year

Arizona's Josh Blanchard, a former Wichita State University All-American, is the 2011-12 PBA Harry Golden Rookie of the Year.

The 24-year-old Blanchard from Gilbert, Ariz., got his PBA career off to a fast start when he won a PBA West Region Non-Champions tournament for his first title in the first event he entered as a member. In his first year as a PBA Tour player, he dominated rookie stats, cashing in 10 of 13 events (the next closest rookie cashed in only two events) while leading all rookies in average, points and earnings. His best finish was third in the PBA Cheetah Open presented by Ebonite.

"The successes and failures I learned this season have taught me what I need to know not to just be competitive but to compete for wins," said Blanchard, who made one other championship round appearance and gained some unexpected notoriety when he fell during the ESPN telecast of the PBA World Championship Mike Aulby Division finals. "This year my mindset was to bowl well enough to make cuts and match play rounds. After my experience this season I believe I have the confidence where now my mindset will be bowl to win.

"I achieved way more than I expected," said Blanchard, who was a runaway winner of the Rookie of the Year award. "I mainly joined (the PBA) to see how good my skills were and if I could compete. Rookie of the Year really didn't enter into my mind until I had some good finishes."

*The 2002 awards where based on the 2001-02 season, marking a transition from calendar-year to seasonal.