TOURNAMENT NOTES
2009 BAYER EARL ANTHONY MEDFORD CLASSIC
Lava Lanes
Medford, Ore.
January 18, 2009
SUNDAY’S MATCH UPS
Match #1: No. 4 Patrick Allen vs. No. 3 Wes Malott
Match #2: Winner of Match #1 vs. No. 2 Bill O’Neill
Women’s Title Match: No. 1 Wendy Macpherson vs. No. 2 Stefanie Nation
Title Match: Winner of Match #2 vs. No. 1 Tommy Jones
2009 BAYER EARL ANTHONY MEDFORD CLASSIC PRIZE BREAKDOWN:
1st -- $25,000 (+ one-year exemption)
2nd -- $13,000
3rd -- $6,500
4th -- $5,500
Tournament Purse -- $180,000
2009 BAYER EARL ANTHONY MEDFORD CLASSIC – BY THE NUMBERS
Field Size – 119
PBA Entries – 102
Amateur Entries – 17 (Amateur TQR Average – 181.17 over 7 games)
Exempt Players in Qualifying Round – 57 (Average – 208.42 over 14 games)
Format:
- 64 bowlers bowl two seven-game qualifying blocks
- Cut to top 32
- Top 32 bowl nine games of round robin (incl. one position round)
- Cut to top 16
- Top 16 bowl nine more games of round robin (incl. one position round)
- Cut to top four for stepladder finals
2009 BAYER EARL ANTHONY MEDFORD CLASSIC – FINALISTS BY ROUND
Qual Q2 RR1 RR2
Tommy Jones 4 2 1 1
Bill O’Neill 7 3 3 2
Wes Malott 1 5 2 3
Patrick Allen 8 4 4 4
TODAY’S FINALISTS
No. 1 Tommy Jones
Qualified 2nd after 14 games: 226.07 Avg.
Match Play record: 15-3
*Lost to Bill O’Neill, 235-203, in Game 18 final position round match
No. 2 Bill O’Neill
Qualified 3rd after 14 games: 225.71 Avg.
Match Play record: 12-6
*Defeated Tommy Jones, 235-203, in Game 18 final position round match
No. 3 Wes Malott
Qualified 5th after 14 games: 222.64 Avg.
Match Play record: 11-7
*Lost to Patrick Allen, 264-214, in Game 18 final position round match
No. 4 Patrick Allen
Qualified 4th after 14 games: 223.64 Avg.
Match Play record: 10-8
*Defeated Wes Malott, 264-214, in Game 18 final position round match
RECORD IN MATCH PLAY BY ROUND
Rd. 1 Rd. 2 Overall
Tommy Jones 8-1 7-2 15-3
Bill O’Neill 7-2 5-4 12-6
Wes Malott 7-2 4-5 11-7
Patrick Allen 6-3 4-5 10-8
TODAY’S FINALISTS IN ROUND ROBIN MATCH PLAY THIS WEEK
JONES VS.
O’Neill:
- Won 228-226 in their 16th game of match play
- Lost 235-203 in their 18th game final position round match
Malott:
-Won 214-189 in their 9th game of match play
-Won 179-166 in their 17th game of match play
Allen:
-Did Not Face
O’NEILL VS.
Jones:
- Lost 228-226 in their 16th game of match play
- Won 235-203 in their 18th game final position round match
Malott
- Did Not Face
Allen:
- Won 218-204 in their 8th game of match play
- Won 232-212 in their 17th game of match play
MALOTT VS:
Jones:
-Lost 214-189 in their 9th game of match play
-Lost 179-166 in their 17th game of match play
O’Neill
- Did Not Face
Allen:
- Won 239-212 in their 16th game of match play
- Won 264-214 in their 18th final position round match
ALLEN VS.
Jones:
- Did Not Face
O’Neill:
- Lost 218-204 in their 8th game of match play
- Lost 232-212 in their 17th game of match play
Malott:
- Lost 239-212 in their 16th game of match play
- Lost 264-214 in their 18th final position round match
QUALIFYING, MATCH PLAY AND TOURNAMENT AVERAGES
Name Qualifying (Rank) Match Play Overall
Tommy Jones 226.07 (2) 222.72 224.19
Bill O’Neill 225.71 (3) 226.50 226.16
Wes Malott 222.64 (5) 225.17 224.06
Patrick Allen 223.64 (4) 217.28 220.06
MATCH PLAY STATISTICAL RANKS FOR 2009 MEDFORD CLASSIC
Avg. Strike Pct. Spare Pct. w/splits
Tommy Jones 222.72 59.90 80.00
Bill O’Neill 226.50 59.31 87.34
Wes Malott 225.17 57.64 87.65
Patrick Allen 217.28 51.49 89.47
AVERAGES IN WINS, LOSSES
Wins Losses
Tommy Jones 247.77 208.46
Bill O’Neill 237.98 202.22
Wes Malott 242.69 208.62
Patrick Allen 248.61 214.37
HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE 2009 BAYER EARL ANTHONY MEDFORD CLASSIC – QUALIFYING
Name High Game Low Game
Jones 279 (Gm. 7) 190 (Gm. 3)
O’Neill 278 (Gm. 6) 168 (Gm. 1)
Malott 259 (Gm. 5) 178 (Gm. 8)
Allen 279 (Gm. 13) 179 (Gm. 10)
HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE 2009 BAYER EARL ANTHONY MEDFORD CLASSIC – MATCH PLAY
Name High Game Low Game
Jones 280 (Gm. 5) 179 (Gm. 17)
O’Neill 289 (Gm. 6) 177 (Gm. 1)
Malott 268 (Gm. 7) 166 (Gm. 17)
Allen 264 (Gm. 18-Pos. Rd.) 182 (Gm. 2)
FINALIST TITLES
NAME Total titles (27) Majors (3)
Tommy Jones 12 2 (’06 U.S. Open; ’07 T of C)
Bill O’Neill 0 0
Wes Malott 4 0
Patrick Allen 11 1 (’05 World Champ.)
2008-2009 FINISHES
Tommy Jones
Tournament/Finish
Don & Paula Carter Mixed Doubles Championship/26th
National Bowling Stadium Championship/10th
Lumber Liquidators Shark Championships/9th
Cheetah Championship/42nd
CLR Carmen Salvino Scorpion Championship/53rd
Chameleon Championship/26th
Ultimate Scoring Championship/47th
Lake County Indiana Golden Anniversary Championship/5th
Pepsi Viper Championship/22nd
PBA World Championship/27th
Bill O’Neill
Tournament/Finish
Don & Paula Carter Mixed Doubles Championship/25th
National Bowling Stadium Championship/5th
Lumber Liquidators Shark Championships/29th
Cheetah Championship/11th
CLR Carmen Salvino Scorpion Championship/ 15th
Chameleon Championship/2nd
Ultimate Scoring Championship/3rd
Lake County Indiana Golden Anniversary Championship/2nd
Pepsi Viper Championship/8th
PBA World Championship/9th
Wes Malott
Tournament/Finish
Don & Paula Carter Mixed Doubles Championship/42nd
National Bowling Stadium Championship/3rd
Lumber Liquidators Shark Championship/2nd
Cheetah Championship/12th
CLR Carmen Salvino Scorpion Championship/1st
Ultimate Scoring Championship/10th
Chameleon Championship/3rd
Lake County Indiana Golden Anniversary Championship/31st
Pepsi Viper Championship/4th
PBA World Championship/63rd
Patrick Allen
Tournament/Finish
Don & Paula Carter Mixed Doubles Championship/15th
National Bowling Stadium Championship/1st
Lumber Liquidators Shark Championships/4th
Cheetah Championship/3rd
CLR Carmen Salvino Scorpion Championship/39th
Chameleon Championship/45th
Ultimate Scoring Championship/17th
Lake County Indiana Golden Anniversary Championship/41st
Pepsi Viper Championship/47th
PBA World Championship/18th
FINALISTS VS. EACH OTHER ON TV
JONES VS.
Malott:
- Is 2-0 in two matches
o Defeated Malott 289-248 in the Championship Match of the 2005 Tulsa Championship
o Defeated Malott 222-221 in the Championship Match of the Ace Hardware Championship in Wickliffe, OH
O’Neill:
Never faced
Allen:
- Is 2-0 in two matches
o Defeated Allen 235-177 in the Semifinal Match at the 2006 Bayer Atlanta Classic in Norcross, GA
o Defeated Allen 254-214 in the Championship Match of the 2008 Constructionjobs.com Classic in Reno, NV
MALOTT VS.
- Is 0-2 in two matches
o Lost to Jones 289-248 in the Championship Match of the 2005 Tulsa Championship
o Lost to Jones 222-221 in the Championship Match of the Ace Hardware Championship in Wickliffe, OH
O’Neill:
- Is 0-1 in one match
o Lost to O’Neill 223-215 in the Championship Round of the 2005 Greater Omaha Classic
Allen:
- Is 1-2 in threematches
o Defeated Allen 299-236 in the Semifinal Match of the 2005 Mile High Classic in Lakewood, CO
o Lost to Allen 247-217 in the Championship Match of the 2007 Lumber Liquidators Championship in Baltimore, MD.
o Lost to Allen 268-215 in the Championship Round of the 2009 National Bowling Stadium Championship
O’NEILL VS.
Jones:
- Never faced
Malott:
- Is 1-0 in one match
o Defeated Malott 223-215 in the Championship Round of the 2005 Greater Omaha Classic
Allen:
-Is 0-1 in one match
-Lost to Allen 218-200 in the Championship Round of the 2009 National Bowling Stadium Championship in Reno, NV.
ALLEN VS.
Jones:
- Is 0-2 in two matches
o Lost to Jones 235-177 in the Semifinal Match at the 2006 Bayer Atlanta Classic in Norcross, GA
o Lost to Jones 254-214 in the Championship Match of the 2008 Constructionjobs.com Classic in Reno, NV
Malott:
- Is 2-1 in three matches
o Lost to Malott 299-236 in the Semifinal Match of the 2005 Mile High Classic in Lakewood, CO
o Defeated Malott 247-217 in the Championship Match of the 2007 Lumber Liquidators Championship in Baltimore, MD.
o Defeated Malott 268-215 in the Championship Round of the 2009 National Bowling Stadium Championship
O’Neill:
-Is 1-0 in one match
-Defeated O’Neill 218-200 in the Championship Round of the 2009 National Bowling Stadium Championship in Reno, NV.
CAREER ROLL-OFF RECORDS
(One ball, sudden-death format to break ties)
Jones 5-5
Malott 5-9
O’Neill 1-1
Allen 10-5
PBA PERFECTION
2009 BAYER EARL ANTHONY MEDFORD CLASSIC 300 Games – None
So far during the 2008-09 season, there have been 49 perfect games in 11 tournaments for an average of 4.45 per tournament.
During the 2007-08 season, there were 101 perfect games in 21 tournaments for an average of 4.81 per tournament.
Season 300 Games # of Tournaments Avg. per Tournament
2008-09 49 11 4.45
2007-08 101 21 4.81
2006-07 119 21 5.67
2005-06 86 22 3.91
ALL-TIME PBA 300 GAMES ON TV (LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR) – 19
Name Opponent (score) Date Tournament City
1. *Jack Biondolillo Les Schissler (216) April 1, 1967 Akron OH
2. John Guenther Don Johnson (189) Feb. 1, 1969 San Jose, CA
3. Jim Stefanich Glenn Carlson (243) Jan. 5, 1974 Alameda, CA
4. Pete McCordic Wayne Webb (249) Jan. 31, 1987 Torrance, CA
5. @# Bob Benoit Mark Roth (255) Jan. 23, 1988 Grand Prairie, TX
6. # Michael Aulby David Ozio (279) July 31, 1993 Wichita, KS
7. Johnny Petraglia W.R. Williams Jr. (194) March 5, 1994 Toledo, OH
8. Butch Soper Bob Benoit (236) July 12, 1994 Reno, NV
9. @C.K. Moore Parker Bohn III (192) Feb. 2, 1996 Austin, TX
10. Bob Learn Jr. Johnny Petraglia (279) April 6, 1996 Erie, PA
11. Jason Queen Ron Papp (225) May 3, 1997 Huntsville, AL
12. Steve Hoskins W.R. Williams Jr. (234) Oct. 15, 1997 Rochester, NY
13. Parker Bohn III Chris Sand (246) May 9, 1998 Reno, NV
Michael Mullin (191)
14. Steve Jaros Ricky Ward (200) Feb. 13, 1999 Chattanooga, TN
15. Mike Miller Danny Wiseman (266) June 20, 1999 Reno, NV
Tim Criss (224)
16. Norm Duke W.R. Williams Jr. (213) Jan. 5, 2003 Tacoma, WA
17. Mika Koivuniemi Jason Couch (248) Dec. 7, 2003 Windsor Locks, CT
18. @Tony Reyes Parker Bohn III (215) Nov. 5, 2006 Taylor, MI
19. Ryan Shafer Jeff Carter (228) March 18, 2007 Indianapolis, IN
# - Title match @ - Won first title same show
**TELEVISED 300 GAME BONUS**
- Any finalist rolling a 300 game this week in the championship round will earn a $10,000 bonus, compliments of the PBA.
ALL-TIME LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR “7-10 SPLIT” CONVERSIONS ON TV – 3
1. Mark Roth (1980, Alameda, CA)
2. John Mazza (1991, Sunrise, FL)
3. Jess Stayrook (1991, Tucson, AZ)
2008-09 STATISTICS
2008-09 PBA Points Leaders
- ►Wes Malott 152,588
- ►Bill O’Neill 150,373
- Walter Ray Williams Jr. 123,942
- Brad Angelo 122,874
5. ►Patrick Allen 119,237
- Sean Rash 115,115.5
- Parker Bohn III 114,949
- Norm Duke 112,462
9. Mike Scroggins 111,956.5
- Chris Barnes 108,237
--------
13. ►Tommy Jones 90,556.5
Minimum points for today included
2008-09 PBA Money Leaders
1. Norm Duke $94,320
2. ►Wes Malott $71,600
3. Walter Ray Williams Jr. $65,500
4. ►Bill O’Neill $61,250
5. Brad Angelo $59,200
6. Parker Bohn III $58,725
7. ►Patrick Allen $57,800
8. Chris Barnes $52,890
9. Mike Scroggins $52,860
10. Rhino Page $43,990
-------
14. ►Tommy Jones $37,370
Minimum money for today included
2008-09 PBA Average Leaders
1. Parker Bohn III 225.46
2. ►Wes Malott 224.53
3. ►Bill O’Neill 223.84
4. ►Patrick Allen 223.65
5. Walter Ray Williams Jr. 223.32
6. Mike Scroggins 221.73
7. Mika Koivuniemi 220.25
8. Tommy Delutz Jr. 220.19
9. Brad Angelo 219.99
10. Mika Koivuniemi 221.34
-------
27. ►Tommy Jones 216.17
2008-09 PBA Player of the Year Points
1. Norm Duke 40
2. ►Wes Malott 36
3. Walter Ray Williams Jr. 28
4. ►Bill O’Neill 25
5. ►Patrick Allen 24
6. Brad Angelo 22
7. Mike Scroggins 20
Parker Bohn III 20
9.. Michael Machuga 16
Mike Wolfe 16
Rhino Page 16
10. Steve Jaros 10
---
15. ►Tommy Jones 8
*Minimum points for today included
*Point Distribution
1st Place – 16
2nd Place – 8
3rd Place – 4
4th Place – 2
ALL-TIME LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR CHAMPIONS
Pos. Name Titles
1. Walter Ray Williams Jr. 45
2. Earl Anthony 43
3. Mark Roth 34
Pete Weber 34
5. Parker Bohn III 32
---
ALL-TIME PBA MONEY LEADERS
Pos. Name Earnings
1. Walter Ray Williams Jr. $4,062,116
2. Pete Weber $3,267,069
3. Parker Bohn III $2,756,142
4. Norm Duke $2,696,734
5. Brian Voss $2,373,828
6. Amleto Monacelli $2,097,684
7. Mike Aulby $2,096,060
8. Tom Baker $1,791,559
9. Marshall Holman $1,707,790
10. Mark Roth $1,638,406
---
27. ►Patrick Allen $1,175,011
35. ►Tommy Jones $1,065,558
80. ►Wes Malott $ 656,680
192. ►Bill O’Neill $ 256,212
Includes minimum money for today’s telecast
MOST CAREER MAJOR TITLES
No. Name Number Majors Won
1. Earl Anthony 10 (6 NC, 2 Masters, 2 TOC)
2. Mike Aulby 8 (3 Masters, 2 NC, 1 US, 1 TOC, 1 TPC)
Pete Weber 8 (4 US, 2 NC, 1 TOC, 1 TPC)
4. Walter Ray Williams Jr. 7 (3 NC/WC, 2 US, 1 Masters, 1 TPC)
5. Don Carter 6 (4 All-Stars, 1 Masters, 1 NC)
6. Norm Duke 5 (2 NC/WC, 1 Masters, 1 TOC, 1 US)
7. Del Ballard Jr. 4 (2 US, 1 Masters, 1 TOC)
Jason Couch 4 (3 TOC, 1 TPC)
Dave Davis 4 (2 NC, 2 TOC)
Marshall Holman 4 (2 TOC, 2 US)
Dave Husted 4 (3 US, 1 TPC)
Doug Kent 4 (2 Masters, 2 WC)
Dick Weber 4 (4 All-Stars)
MOST CAREER EVENTS BOWLED WITHOUT A TITLE (CURRENT EXEMPT PLAYERS ONLY)
Name No. of events
1. Brian LeClair 385
2. Joe Ciccone 168
3. Brian Kretzer 145
4. Jeff Carter 120
5. Randy Weiss 111
6. Nathan Bohr 91
7. Chris Loschetter 88
8. Ken Simard 81
9. ►Bill O’Neill 71
10. Dino Castillo 68
11. Mitch Beasley 54
THIS WEEK IN THE LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR NOTES
THE PBA IN OREGON
This week marks the 37th Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour event held in Oregon and the eighth event at Lava Lanes in Medford (all in consecutive seasons). Lava Lanes is tied with Taylor Lanes Taylor, Mich., and Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley, Calif., as centers which have held a Denny’s PBA Tour stop for the most consecutive seasons (eight).
Lefty Ricky Ward won the first event held at Lava Lanes, the 2002 Medford Open. Bryan Goebel won here in 2003 and Pete Weber won in Jan. 2004 before Mike Wolfe won his first career title in Medford in Dec. 2004. Three seasons ago, Brian Himmler captured his fourth career title when he won the 2006 Earl Anthony Medford Classic. In 2007, Sean Rash earned his third title with a win over Himmler. Last season, Wes Malott won the 2008 Lumber Liquidators Earl Anthony Medford Classic to capture his third PBA Title.
PAST PBA EVENTS IN MEDFORD (all at Lava Lanes):
This is the eighth consecutive season the PBA has visited Lava Lanes in Medford, OR. Past winners below:
Date/Season Winner
Jan. 13, 2002 (2001-02 season) Ricky Ward
Jan. 12, 2003 (2002-03 season) Bryan Goebel
Jan. 18, 2004 (2003-04 season) Pete Weber
Dec. 12, 2004 (2004-05 season) Mike Wolfe
Jan. 8, 2006 (2005-06 season) Brian Himmler
Jan. 14, 2007 (2006-07 season) Sean Rash
Jan. 13, 2008 (2007-08 season) Wes Malott
MEDFORD FACTS
Medford is in Jackson County, Oregon. As of 2008, the city had a total population of 76,850 and a metro area population of 202,310. The city was named in 1883 by David Loring, civil engineer and right-of-way agent for the Oregon and California Railroad for his hometown in Medford, Mass.
The beginning of the 20th century was a transitional period. Medford built a new steel
bridge over Bear Creek to replace an earlier one which washed away three years before. Without a bridge, those wanting to cross had to
ford the stream, typically using a horse-drawn wagon; the first automobile did not arrive in Medford until 1903.
Pharmacist George H. Haskins had opened a drugstore since just after the town was platted, and in 1903 he allowed the Medford Library Association to open a small library in that store. Five years later the library moved to Medford's new city hall, in another four years,
Andrew Carnegie's donation allowed a dedicated library to be built. Construction on the
Medford Carnegie Library was completed in 1912.
In 1967,
Interstate 5 was completed immediately adjacent to downtown Medford to replace the Oregon
Pacific Highway. It has been blamed for the decline of small businesses in downtown Medford since its completion, but nevertheless remains an important route for commuters wishing to travel across the city. A study completed in 1999 found that 45% of vehicles entering I-5 from north Medford heading south exited in south Medford, just three miles (5 km) away (less than five kilometers).
Over the last ten years, Medford has experienced a significant residential building boom, and a resurgence of downtown Medford has accompanied that growth. A restored
Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, new library, dozens of restored buildings, two parking structures, an urban plaza, and residential lofts are now all part of downtown Medford. The high volume of traffic on Interstate 5 led to the completion of a new north Medford interchange in 2006. The project, which cost about $36 million, improved traffic flow between I-5 and
Crater Lake Highway.
Further traffic problems identified in south Medford prompted the construction of another new interchange, estimated at costing $70 million. The project began in 2006 and should be completed by 2010. Several other projects are in planning or under way to further improve the image of the city.
THE 300 CLUB
No perfect games bowled this week.
OIL PATTERN INFO:
|
Length: 40 feet
The Earl Anthony Pattern places a premium on execution and repetition, qualities which Earl Anthony exemplified.
|
Description: The Earl Anthony Pattern places a premium on execution and repetition, qualities which Earl Anthony exemplified. This 40 foot pattern has a unique design in which the oil widens, as opposed to narrows, down the lane. The unusual placement of widening oil down the lane will force players to make premium shots from a variety of angles. As the pattern breaks down, look for players to make unique moves and precision shots, ala Earl Anthony.
Note: This is the first time this pattern has been used.
VERSATILITY SWING:
The Bayer Earl Anthony Medford Classic is the sixth and final event in the PBA’s “Versatility Swing.” These events include the five events on the named animal patterns (Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion, Cheetah and Shark), as well as the Earl Anthony pattern used this week. Much like tennis has a “Clay Court Championship” or a “Hard Court Championship,” the PBA features these events on different oil patterns. Today’s event marks the only time all season the Earl Anthony pattern will be used.
2008-09 VERSATILITY SWING RESULTS:
Date: Event/City Winner
Nov. 2 Pepsi Viper Championship, Omaha, NE Brad Angelo
Nov. 16 Chameleon Championship, Taylor, MI Mike Machuga
Nov. 30 CLR Carmen Salvino Championship, Vernon Hills, IL Wes Malott
Dec. 7 Cheetah Championship, Cheektowaga, NY Parker Bohn III
Dec. 14 Lumber Liquidators Shark Championship, Baltimore, MD Rhino Page
Jan. 18 Bayer Earl Anthony Medford Classic, Medford, OR ?????
JONES AS NO. 1 QUALIFIER
Today marks the first time Tommy Jones has qualified as the tournament leader in a stepladder finals.
GOOD KHARMA
Tommy Jones has been perfect in title matches vs. both Wes Malott and Patrick Allen (he has not bowled in O’Neill in a title match).
Jones is 2-0 vs. Malott and was nearly perfect against him in the title match of the 2005 Tulsa Championship when he started with the first 10 strikes on his way to a 289-248 victory. He also beat Malott in 2006 in Wickliffe, OH (222-221). In that match, Malott when 9-spare-9 in the 10th frame to allow Jones to escape with the one-pin win.
Jones is 1-0 against Allen in title matches, taking care of P.A., 254-214, in Reno last season.
AND YOU ARE . . . ?
Tommy Jones is the only one of today’s finalists NOT to qualify for the TV finals last week in the National Bowling Stadium Championship in Reno, NV. He finished 10th in that event . . . O’Neill finished fifth, Malott finished third and Allen was first.
STRINGING TOGETHER SHOWS
For the second time this season, Bill O’Neill has strung together consecutive telecasts. He made three shows in a row earlier this season (second in Hammond, IN; second at the Chameleon Championship in Taylor, MI and third in the Ultimate Scoring Championship in Taylor, MI). He has now posted back-to-back singles shows after finishing fifth in last week’s National Bowling Stadium Championship in Reno, NV. He has only won one match on TV this season (1-4).
Wes Malott is also making his third consecutive appearance in a singles telecast (second in Baltimore to end the first half of the season and third in Reno last week). In 2005, Malott made four consecutive shows, winning one of those (Lakewood, CO).
Not to be outdone, Patrick Allen is making his fourth consecutive singles telecast (third in Cheektowaga, NY; fourth in Baltimore and first last week in Reno). It’s the second time in his career he has made four in a row as he did so last season over a four-event stretch in, oddly enough, December and January. He won once in that stretch (Dec. 2007 in Baltimore), beating Wes Malott in the process.
Additionally, Patrick Allen is trying to win titles in back-to-back weeks for the second time in his career. He turned the trick in 2005 when he won back-to-back in Dallas, TX and Birmingham, AL.
T OF C BUBBLE
Should O’Neill win today, Rick Lawrence would be bounced “off the bubble” for next week’s H&R Block Tournament of Champions and would be eliminated from the field.
MOVIN’ ON UP
With a win today, Wes Malott would pass Carmen Salvino for 75th place on the PBA’s all-time earning list with $676,180.
LOOKING TO DEFEND:
Wes Malott is looking to successfully defend a title for the first time in his career. He won last season’s event here in Medford with a 255-193 victory over Rhino Page.
MR. VERSATILITY
Wes Malott has been nothing short of spectacular during the PBA’s “Verstility Swing,” making five of the six shows. Below are his results in each event of this swing:
Date: Event/City Finish
Nov. 2 Pepsi Viper Championship, Omaha, NE 4th
Nov. 16 Chameleon Championship, Taylor, MI 3rd
Nov. 30 CLR Carmen Salvino Championship, Vernon Hills, IL 1st
Dec. 7 Cheetah Championship, Cheektowaga, NY 12th
Dec. 14 Lumber Liquidators Shark Championship, Baltimore, MD 2nd
Jan. 18 Bayer Earl Anthony Medford Classic, Medford, OR ?????
2008-09 COMMISSIONER’S EXEMPTIONS:
Event/City: Recipient:
Lumber Liquidators Shark Championship, Baltimore, MD Mark Roth (finished 60th)
National Bowling Stadium Championship, Reno, NV Wayne Webb (did not bowl-injured)
Earl Anthony Medford Classic, Medford, OR Marshall Holman (T-63rd)
GEICO Plastic Ball Championship, Wheat Ridge, CO Brian Voss
Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic, West Babylon, NY Johnny Petraglia
Note: All five are PBA Hall of Famers and part of the PBA’s “50 Greatest.”