Professional Bowlers Association

George Branham III must have felt like he was six years old again Tuesday night in the PBA Orleans Casino Open at The Orleans Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center. With his parents watching in the stands, Branham, Indianapolis, defeated No. 1 ranked Parker Bohn III during the round of 32, in three straight games (245-238, 215-205, 235-172). “They always come to watch when we’re in Vegas,” said Branham, whose parents (George II and Betty) moved here from their native Detroit 11 years ago. “Mom’s always so nervous. I tell her – calm down or you’re going to have a heart attack. Just clap when I strike.” Tonight that was easy. But, Branham certainly gave mom flutters in game one, throwing a not-so-decisive strike in the 10th frame to win by seven pins. “I had to finish the match, and on the right lane – which was tough for me tonight,” said Branham. “I almost missed the pocket, but I ended up throwing a shaky strike to win. That relaxed me for the rest of the match.” Born and raised in Detroit, Branham began bowling when he was six. His father was his coach until he left for the PBA Tour at 23. One year later he became the first African-American to win on the PBA Tour (Chicago, 1986). In the following 10 years he picked up four more titles, including the final Firestone Tournament of Champions (Akron, Ohio, 1993). But, the 39-year-old hasn’t won since 1996 and has failed to earn a finals berth in five seasons. He pinpoints his mental game as the culprit. “I think it had a lot to do with what the tour was going through,” commented Branham about the once-floundering PBA. “It was kind of falling apart. So was I.” When the PBA was purchased by new owners in 2000, it injected new life into the Tour – and Branham. Tomorrow, in his first round of 16 showing, Branham will bowl against six-time champion Hugh Miller. Other matchups include: Ryan Shafer, looking for an Orleans three-peat, against Bryan Alpert; power players Steve Hoskins and Jason Couch; Brian Voss will bowl Pete Weber; Eric Forkel goes against Ricky Ward; Bryon Smith takes on Amleto Monacelli; Tommy Jones and Rudy Kasimakis face-off; and Mike Wolfe challenges Ritchie Allen. The remaining 16 bowlers advance for more best-of-five games, single-elimination match play. Wednesday the field is cut from 16, to eight to four plus a wild card for the finals. The five finalists will vie for the title and the $40,000 top prize Thursday. ESPN will televise the taped finals on Sunday, Jan. 27, from 12:30–2 p.m. (ET).

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NOTES: WHOSE HOUSE? After trailing Chris Barnes, 2-0, defending champion Ryan Shafer had his back against the wall. Barely winning game three, he fought back and took Barnes to a decisive fifth game. In the final game, Shafer threw a strike in the ninth frame and shut out Barnes. Following the shot he repeatedly yelled at the top of his lungs, "Not in my house, not in my house." Parker Bohn III was the last player to successfully complete a three-peat victory when he won consecutive Japan Cup titles in Tokyo (1998-2000).

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PBA TOUR THE PBA ORLEANS CASINO OPEN At The Orleans Hotel, Casino & BC, Las Vegas, NV Tuesday, January 22, 2002 Round of 32 Single-Elimination Best of Five Games Matches (Losers eliminated, earn $2,250)

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#2 Eric Forkel vs. #31 Joe Ciccone GAME 1: Joe Ciccone def. Eric Forkel, 213-196 GAME 2: Eric Forkel def. Joe Ciccone, 211-204 GAME 3: Eric Forkel def. Joe Ciccone, 258-181 GAME 4: Eric Forkel def. Joe Ciccone, 223-190 Eric Forkel defeated Joe Ciccone, 3-1, and advances to the Round of 16 vs. Ricky Ward #30 Ritchie Allen vs. #3 Christopher Sand GAME 1: Christopher Sand def. Ritchie Allen, 225-218 GAME 2: Ritchie Allen def. Christopher Sand, 209-183 GAME 3: Ritchie Allen def. Christopher Sand, 244-179 GAME 4: Christopher Sand def. Ritchie Allen, 215-204 GAME 5: Ritchie Allen def. Christopher Sand, 254-218 Ritchie Allen defeated Christopher Sand, 3-2, and advances to the Round of 16 vs. Mike Wolfe #6 Tommy Jones vs. #27 Steve Wilson GAME 1: Tommy Jones def. Steve Wilson, 245-193 GAME 2: Steve Wilson def. Tommy Jones, 225-205 GAME 3: Tommy Jones def. Steve Wilson, 300-226 GAME 4: Tommy Jones def. Steve Wilson, 213-206 Tommy Jones defeated Steve Wilson, 3-1, and advances to the Round of 16 vs. Rudy Kasimakis #26 Amleto Monacelli vs. #7 Robert Smith GAME 1: Amleto Monacelli def. Robert Smith, 211-164 GAME 2: Robert Smith def. Amleto Monacelli, 208-150 GAME 3: Amleto Monacelli def. Robert Smith, 257-247 GAME 4: Amleto Monacelli def. Robert Smith, 236-194 Amleto Monacelli defeated Robert Smith, 3-1, and advances to the Round of 16 vs. Bryon Smith #10 Kevin Mitchell vs. #23 Bryon Smith GAME 1: Bryon Smith def. Kevin Mitchell, 209-183 GAME 2: Bryon Smith def. Kevin Mitchell, 227-211 GAME 3: Bryon Smith def. Kevin Mitchell, 259-253 Bryon Smith def. Kevin Mitchell, 3-0, and advances to the round of 16 vs. the winner of Amleto Monacelli #22 Rudy Kasimakis vs. #11 Patrick Healey Jr. GAME 1: Rudy Kasimakis def. Patrick Healey Jr., 228-213 GAME 2: Rudy Kasimakis def. Patrick Healey Jr., 226-209 GAME 3: Patrick Healey Jr. def. Rudy Kasimakis, 245-211 GAME 4: Rudy Kasimakis def. Patrick Healey Jr., 277-224 Rudy Kasimakis defeated Patrick Healey Jr., 3-1, and advances to the Round of 16 vs. Tommy Jones #14 Lennie Boresch Jr. vs. #19 Mike Wolfe GAME 1: Mike Wolfe def. Lennie Boresch Jr., 266-232 GAME 2: Lennie Boresch Jr. def. Mike Wolfe, 239-173 GAME 3: Mike Wolfe def. Lennie Boresch Jr., 213-194 GAME 4: Mike Wolfe def. Lennie Boresch Jr., 277-237 Mike Wolfe defeated Lennie Boresch Jr., 3-1, and advances to the Round of 16 vs. Ritchie Allen #18 Ricky Ward vs. #15 Rick Steelsmith GAME 1: Ricky Ward def. Rick Steelsmith, 259-201 GAME 2: Rick Steelsmith def. Ricky Ward, 243-215 GAME 3: Ricky Ward def. Rick Steelsmith, 210-200 GAME 4: Ricky Ward def. Rick Steelsmith, 194-158 Ricky Ward defeated Rick Steelsmith, 3-1, and advances to the Round of 16 vs. Eric Forkel #1 Ryan Shafer vs. #32 Chris Barnes GAME 1: Chris Barnes def. Ryan Shafer, 280-194 GAME 2: Chris Barnes def. Ryan Shafer, 221-182 GAME 3: Ryan Shafer def. Chris Barnes, 196-193 GAME 4: Ryan Shafer def. Chris Barnes, 235-196 GAME 5: Ryan Shafer def. Chris Barnes, 236-215 Ryan Shafer defeated Chris Barnes, 3-2, and advances to the Round of 16 vs. Bryan Alpert #29 Bryan Goebel vs. #4 Pete Weber GAME 1: Pete Weber def. Bryan Goebel, 266-147 GAME 2: Bryan Goebel def. Pete Weber, 280-219 GAME 3: Pete Weber def. Bryan Goebel, 248-237 GAME 4: Pete Weber def. Bryan Goebel, 257-215 Pete Weber defeated Bryan Goebel, 3-1, and advances to the Round of 16 vs. Brian Voss #5 Parker Bohn III vs. #28 George Branham III GAME 1: George Branham III def. Parker Bohn III, 245-238 GAME 2: George Branham III def. Parker Bohn III, 215-205 GAME 3: George Branham III def. Parker Bohn III, 235-172 George Branham III def. Parker Bohn III, 3-0, and advances to the round of 16 versus Hugh Miller #25 Brian Kretzer vs. #8 Jason Couch GAME 1: Jason Couch def. Brian Kretzer, 255-166 GAME 2: Brian Kretzer def. Jason Couch, 205-203 GAME 3: Jason Couch def. Brian Kretzer, 226-187 GAME 4: Jason Couch def. Brian Kretzer, 207-174 Jason Couch defeated Brian Kretzer, 3-1, and advances to the Round of 16 vs. Steve Hoskins #9 Steve Hoskins vs. #24 Paul Fleming GAME 1: Steve Hoskins def. Paul Fleming, 248-235 GAME 2: Steve Hoskins def. Paul Fleming, 205-167 GAME 3: Steve Hoskins def. Paul Fleming, 236-182 Steve Hoskins def. Paul Fleming, 3-0, and advances to the round of 16 versus Jason Couch #21 Michael Machuga vs. #12 Hugh Miller GAME 1: Hugh Miller def. Michael Machuga, 200-160 GAME 2: Hugh Miller def. Michael Machuga, 247-158 GAME 3: Hugh Miller def. Michael Machuga, 268-188 Hugh Miller def. Michael Machuga, 3-0, and advances to the round of 16 versus George Branham III #13 Brian Voss vs. #20 Rick Lawrence GAME 1: Brian Voss def. Rick Lawrence, 258-190 GAME 2: Brian Voss def. Rick Lawrence, 208-204 GAME 3: Brian Voss def. Rick Lawrence, 237-216 Brian Voss def. Rick Lawrence, 3-0, and advances to the round of 16 versus the winner of Pete Weber #17 Wes Godwin vs. #16 Bryan Alpert GAME 1: Wes Godwin def. Bryan Alpert, 217-205 GAME 2: Bryan Alpert def. Wes Godwin, 190-156 GAME 3: Bryan Alpert def. Wes Godwin, 172-160 GAME 4: Bryan Alpert def. Wes Godwin, 247-222 Bryan Alpert defeated Wes Godwin, 3-1, and advances to the Round of 16 vs. Ryan Shafer