The first ESPN telecast of the season is set to kick off Sunday, October 25 at 1pm ET. Be sure to log on to pba.com at 12:55 ET (five minutes before air time) to watch the brand new PBA: 39x60 Pre-Game Show. Then, after the telecast, Xtra Frame subscribers will have access to complete check and trophy presentations, post-match interviews and press conferences. Don't miss any of the action!
Until then, here is a rundown of what to expect on Sunday's show:
PBA Women’s World Championship (Final Match)
Championship: Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix, vs. Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J.
● This is a new event created by the PBA.
● The winner will become the first woman ever invited to participate in the PBA Tournament of Champions (Jan. 19-24, Red Rock Casino, Las Vegas, Nev.).
● Pluhowsky has won one previous PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM title, the 2007 Etonic Women’s Championship in Cheektowaga, N.Y.
● Kulick is trying for her first PBA Women’s Series presented by BOWL.COM title; she is the only woman to win an exemption to bowl on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour via the PBA Tour Trials (2006-07).
Prize Money: $15,000 first, $7,500 second.
Tournament Recap:
First round leader (after 6 games): Kulick, 1,432
Second round leader (after 12 games): Kulick, 2,888
Third round leader (after 18 games): Kulick, 4,191
Final qualifying leader (after 24 games): Pluhowsky, 5,482
Best-of-7-game match play summary: Kulick def. Diandra Asbaty, 4-3 (Round of Super 8), and Missy Bellinder, 4-2 (Semifinal Round). Pluhowsky def. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, 4-1 (Round of Super 8), and Liz Johnson, 4-3 (Semifinal Round).
PBA Senior World Championship (Final Match)
Championship: Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Township, Mich., vs. Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash.
● This is the first PBA Senior World Championship held since 2002 (2002 event, held at Suncoast Bowling Center in Las Vegas, was won by Mark Roth).
● This is a third major championship for the PBA Senior Tour; the winner will be invited to participate in the PBA Tournament of Champions (Jan. 19-24, Red Rock Casino, Las Vegas, Nev.).
● Miller is a third-year PBA Senior; he won his only PBA Senior Tour title in Klamath Falls, Ore., in 2008.
● Sullins is a third-year PBA Senior who is looking for his first Senior Tour title. He won his last PBA Tour title in Windsor Locks, Conn., in 1994.
Prize Money: $15,000 first, $7,500 second
Tournament Recap:
First round leader (after 6 games): Ron Mohr, 1,423
Second round leader (after 12 games): Ron Mohr, 2,727
Third round leader (after 18 games): Ron Mohr, 4,018
Final qualifying leader (after 24 games): Ron Mohr, 5,238
Best-of-7-game match play summary: Sullins def. Kerry Painter, 4-3 (Round of Super 8), and Brian Brazeau, 4-3 (Semifinal Round). Miller def. Robert Harvey, 4-2 (Round of 16); Henry Gonzalez, 4-0 (Round of 8); Dave Patchen, 4-1 (Round of Super 8), and Tom Baker, 4-3 (Semifinal Round).
PBA Trick Shot Invitational (Head-to-Head Judged Competition)
Competitors: Chris Barnes, Parker Bohn III, Norm Duke, Osku Palmermaa, Sean Rash and Brian Voss.
The Competition: Each player was allowed to perform a different trick shot in each round he remained in competition. A panel of “celebrity” judges graded each trick shot for originality and end result. Players with the highest scores advanced to the next round.
Prize Money: $5,000 for first