Professional Bowlers Association

New Year’s Day is a special time for friends and family to remember the past year’s events and look ahead to a clean slate for the upcoming year. The same is true for life on the Denny’s PBA Tour. With 2005 gone, bowlers now look ahead to the first event of 2006, the 2006 Earl Anthony Medford Classic at Lava Lanes in Medford, Ore., next week. Since the Tour switched from a yearly schedule to a seasonal schedule in 2001 it seems like the first event of the New Year always packs something a little extra special for bowling fans. The 2002 Earl Anthony Memorial Classic, the first Tour event dedicated to the 41-time Tour title winner, was won by Parker Bohn III. The victory was Bohn’s 28th career title, the second-highest win total of any left-hander behind Anthony. Bohn defeated Mike DeVaney in the semifinals, 200-181, before toppling Patrick Healey Jr. in the title match, 235-215. “There were two people looking down on me today, one no one has ever met and the other was the best friend bowling ever had – Earl,” said Bohn on the day of his victory. “All week I had lucky breaks right when I needed them and I can’t help but think Earl was behind one or two of them.” The start of 2003 rang in with the 2003 Earl Anthony GEICO Classic, and the televised finals proved to be historic. The event, which actually began on New Year’s Day, culminated with a finals roster which included Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Norm Duke. The two met in the semifinals and Duke rolled the 15th nationally televised perfect game in Tour history. It was the first 300 game on television in over three years and it was something the crowd at Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash., will not soon forget. “That’s been a goal of mine for 21 years,” said Duke of his historic achievement that day. “I’ve believed it for so long. Most times, we’re just happy when we can get a double (two consecutive strikes). It just kept going today and I dragged it out. I had a shot at it. I finally did it. It’s unbelievable.” Despite the perfect game, Duke couldn’t overcome a solid performance by Mike DeVaney, who beat “Mr. 300” (Bob Learn Jr.) in the semifinals, 258-211, before beating Duke, 279-248, in the title match to earn his first career victory. A week after New Year’s 2004, the 2004 Earl Anthony Classic took place in Tacoma, Wash., with the arena finals held in Fisher Pavilion at the Seattle Center. The final round featured Williams, Lonnie Waliczek, Mike Scroggins, Steve Jaros and Duke. Waliczek defeated Duke, who was battling a quad injury, in the wildcard, 222-202. Williams was nearly perfect against Scroggins in the semis, winning 279-243, while Waliczek won his second match of the day, beating Jaros, 257-198. The title match was a nail-biter throughout, with Waliczek holding a slim lead heading into the final frame. Williams started the 10th by striking out, forcing Waliczek to mark in the 10th to claim his third career Tour title. Unfortunately, Waliczek left a 1-2-4-6-10 washout then left the 6 and 10-pins, and a stunned crowd saw Williams win his 38th career title. “I knew I needed to strike out to force Lonnie to mark,” Williams said at the time. “Marking isn’t the easiest thing to do and it was devastating for him to do what he did. I know the feeling. I don’t think anyone wants to win that way. You would rather need to strike three times to win by one pin.” “The right lane was tighter the whole day,” Waliczek said of his errant shot. “I thought it was an okay shot, but your adrenaline gets up and I let it go too fast. In that situation the only thing you should be thinking about is making your best shot.” Last season’s 2005 GEICO Open in Mesa kicked off the most recent calendar year, and the defending PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi proved that his 2003-04 season was no fluke. After an ordinary first half of the 2004-05 season, Koivuniemi improved his record against lefties on TV to 11-0 by beating Bohn in the title match, 200-196. Making his first finals appearance of the season, Koivuniemi avoided early disaster by converting a difficult 3-4-6-7 split in the 3rd frame. Bohn, who was looking to become just the fifth bowler to reach the 30-title plateau, still held a 6-pin lead through seven frames, but an open 8th frame opened the door for Koivuniemi, who struck out in the 10th to clinch his 5th career title. The 2006 Earl Anthony Medford Classic, which begins Jan. 4, will provide more memories for PBA fans. If recent history stays true, there should be some big names headlining the televised finals with even more than $40,000 and a Tour exemption at stake.