Ryan Shafer Earns PBA Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award
Chris Barnes wins Harry Smith Point Leader Award, Wes Malott wins George Young High Average Award

SEATTLE, Wash. (May 6, 2009) – Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., has been selected as the Professional Bowlers Association’s Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award winner for the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season by his fellow Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour competitors.

Shafer, a four-time PBA Tour titlist who won Rookie of the Year honors in 1987, earned the sportsmanship award for the first time.

“It’s an honor just to be considered for the award. To be a part of a group of not only great players, but great individuals who have won it over the years is wonderful,” Ryan said. “Earning the respect of your peers for not only how well you bowl but how you conduct yourself is a great honor.

“Throughout the course of the Tour season, I always try to relieve the tension in the locker room by having a sense of humor,” he added. “And for someone who also admits to be a little opinionated, it shows you can express your opinions and still have the respect of your peers.”

From a performance standpoint this season, the 42-year-old Shafer was 12th in the national point standings, had the most match play appearances (19) including a best finish of fourth in the Denny’s Dick Weber Open, was 18th in average with 218.69, and earned $60,320.

Established in 1966, the Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award is named after the late PBA Hall of Famer who was one of 33 founding members of the PBA. A colorful and talented performer, Nagy made such an impact on his fellow pros that the award was established shortly after his death. Hall of Famer Johnny Guenther won the first “Nagy”.

The PBA also announced Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, as winner of the Harry Smith Point Leader Award, presented to the player who exemplified the most consistent performance throughout the year, and Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, as winner of the George Young High Average Award.

Barnes, the 2007-08 PBA Player of the Year and a two-time title winner in 2008-09, accumulated 257,018 points to finish nearly 25,000 points ahead of runner-up Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa. Malott, the 2008-09 Player of the Year, finished with a 222.98 average for 597 games, just edging out O’Neill who finished at 222.96 for 611 games.

Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., who won three titles including the PBA World Championship, led the Tour in earnings with $199,630. Rhino Page of Topeka, Kan., was runner-up with $197,760, thanks in part to a $100,000 prize for rolling a televised 300 game in the Dydo Japan Cup.

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