2001/12/15

　　【JPBA】　全日本女子プロボウリング選手権大会　【決勝】

　　【JPBA】　全日本女子プロボウリング選手権大会　【準決勝】

2001/12/14

　　【JPBA】　全日本女子プロボウリング選手権大会　【予選前後半】

2001/12/13

　　【JPBA】　全日本女子プロボウリング選手権大会　【予選前半】

2001/12/09

　　【JPBA】　JLBCプリンスカップ　【決勝トーナメント】

　　【PBA】　U.S. Open　【Final】

　Solidifying his goal of being known as the world's best bowler, Mika Koivuniemi became the first foreign-born player to win Bowling's U.S. Open.

　Koivuniemi, Finland, topped Patrick Healey Jr., Mexico City, in Sunday's championship match at Fountain Bowl, 247-182, and picked up the winner's green jacket along with the $100,000 top prize.

　"I really like to make history," said the dry-witted Finn who recently moved his family to Ann Arbor, Mich. A three-year pro, Koivuniemi also put his name in the record books last year as the first foreign player to win the American Bowling Congress (ABC) Masters title in Reno, Nev.

　With his first two titles now being majors, "The Big Finn" was asked if his new nickname could be "Mr. Major."

　"I like it," he said in characteristic confident style. The win gives him one jewel in the PBA's Triple Crown, which is also comprised of PBA World Championship and Tournament of Champions, and one-half of the Grand Slam (Triple Crown plus the ABC Masters).

　"This may have been the best I've ever bowled. I stuck to my game play and didn't make too many mistakes all week." Koivuniemi led the tournament heading into the finals by 55 pins over his tour roommate, Healey following the extended 62-game format.

　"He's obviously a great talent, but he's an even greater friend," said Healey, who earned $50,000. "But, now he's going to pay for our room and buy me dinner tonight."

　"If I could pick one tournament to win, this would be it. I'll come back next year and try to take it to the top next time."

　Through nine frames, Koivuniemi struck in every frame but the third and ninth. Healey struggled to find a good ball reaction throughout the match. He left the 2-4-5-8 "bucket" in the first and followed with the first of two open frames, the 6-7-10 split, in the second. After a double in the third and fourth frames, Healey alternated spares and strikes through the eighth. He missed the 3-6-10 spare combination in the ninth, but the match was long over at that point.

　"I made the wrong adjustments," said Healey. "The match was over in the seventh frame. I don't know what happened. I lost my ball reaction between matches."

　In the semifinal match, Healey was forced to get by Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla. Healey overpowered the PBA Hall of Famer, 279-209, and sent him home with the $25,000 third-place prize. Williams defeated Mike DeVaney, Escondido, Calif., in the first match, 223-189. DeVaney rounded out the group in fourth with $15,000.

　　【PWBA】　Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship　【Final】

　Kim Terrell, Daly City, Calif. took home one of the PWBA's most coveted titles by winning the $300,000 Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship. Seeded fifth, Terrell posted victories in the opening shootout and the semi-finals before defeating Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nevada 234-220 in the championship match. Terrell took home a first place check worth $55,000 - the largest ever in a womenﾕs pro bowling event.

　"I'm speechless right now," said Terrell. "As a professional you dream of winning the U.S. Open because it is truly our sports' marquee event of the year. Being a part of a live telecast on ESPN and winning the tournament that offered the largest prize fund in the history of this sport is an honor.

　A winner of eight titles in her career, Terrell became just the third player this season to win a tournament as a No. 5 seed. The four-time Roby Award winner earned her way into the semi-finals after notching strikes in nine frames including a five-bagger, during the championship rounds' opening shootout, which featured Kelly Kulick, Union, New Jersey and Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y. Kulick, who may be this season's PWBA Rookie of the Year, tried to kept pace with Terrell by striking in eight of ten frames but in the end finished six-pins short with a 238. Johnson tallied a 212.

　"I was very nervous before I started the shootout match," said Terrell. "Once I got the first ball off my hand I calmed down and focused on what I had to do. Both Kelly and Liz were pushing me the whole way so there was no room for error."

　Terrell advanced to the title match after defeating Leanne Barrette 228-207 in the semi-finals. Often roommates and traveling partners during the tour season, both players marked in every frame of the bout, however Terrell registered seven strikes to Barrette's six.

　Eighteen pins separated Terrell and Macpherson in the finals entering the sixth frame, but an open sixth by Macpherson would prove to be costly as Terrell followed Macpherson's misfire with a four strikes and two spares.

　"Kim was terrific today," said Macpherson. "In a title match you can't expect to win if you leave any open frames. The sixth did me in because Kim never let up. She's a great champion."

　As part of the largest prize fund ever in a women's pro bowling tournament Macpherson claimed $30,000 for her second place finish. Barrette made $22,000 for third place while Johnson (4th) and Kulick (5th) earned $17,000 and $13,000 respectively.

2001/12/08

　　【JPBA】　JLBCプリンスカップ　【予選】

　　【PBA】　U.S. Open　【Round 9】

　Mika Koivuniemi finished out on top after the fourth round of qualifying in the U.S. Open at Fountain Bowl Saturday evening.

　Koivuniemi, Finland, won four matches in the final eight-game block and stayed in first-place the entire round to earn the position as tournament leader. The 34-year-old finished with a field-best (tied with Patrick Healey Jr.), 21-11 match play record and a 14,033, 62-game pinfall total, good for a 216 tournament average.

　Koivuniemi's only PBA title is also a major, the 2000 American Bowling Congress Masters, Albuquerque, N.M. This is his third career championship round appearance and his first time as the tournament leader.

　"I like to make history, so this could be a new one," said Koivuniemi, who was the first international player to win the ABC Masters and would be the first to win the U.S. Open.

　"I have been disappointed with the way I have been bowling this fall so this is definitely a confidence booster," said Koivuniemi. "Plus, two weeks ago I told my wife to watch and see how good I bowl in the (U.S.) Open because I was ready to start striking."

　Finishing in second place was Healey, Mexico. Healey, who is searching for his first PBA title, kept all eight games between 201 and 257 to collect a 13,988 pinfall total and gather a 21-11 match play record.

　The right-hander, who shot a perfect game in the third round of match play, has a high-career finish of second, which game in 2000 in Canandaigua, N.Y., when he lost to Walter Ray Williams Jr. in the title match.

　Earning third place with a 13,861 pinfall total is Williams. The 34-time PBA titleholder lost half of the games during the round to compile a 16-16 match play record. Williams, Ocala, Fla., is making his eighth championship round appearance of the year and is looking for his third title of 2001. His first win was another PBA major, the PBA National Championship, Toledo, Ohio. The PBA Hall of Famer won the U.S. Open in 1998, Milford, Conn.

　Sneaking into the finals by rolling a 279 in the eighth game of the round is Mike DeVaney. DeVaney, of Escondido, Calif., won his final match against Dave Husted, 279-223, to go around Ryan Shafer and Ritchie Allen to make his first PBA telecast. DeVaney averaged 236 through the round with a high game of 289 to bring his pinfall total to 13,746 (17-15).

　　【PBA】　U.S. Open　【Round 8】

　Mika Koivuniemi stayed in the lead and Patrick Healey Jr. vaulted perfectly into second after the third round of match play Saturday in Bowling's U.S. Open at Fountain Bowl.

　Koivuniemi, Finland, won five games (players earn 30 bonus pins per win) and pushed his overall match play record to a field-best, 17-7. Koivuniemi, whose only PBA title came last year in the ABC Masters (Albuquerque, N.M.), posted a tournament-leading, 12,128 54-game pinfall total.

　The leader after tonight's final round of match play will be top-seeded for tomorrow's championship round. The top seed bowls only the title match versus the survivor of two stepladder matches between the second-fourth qualifiers. The winner takes home the 59th prestigious title and $100,000 top prize.

　"I don't have to bowl any big games (to stay in the lead)," said Koivuniemi, who carries a 121-pin advantage. "I only have to shoot in the 210s and hope I'm winning my games. That's been my game plan. I just have to stay out of trouble and remain focused."

　Healey, of Mexico, won his final contest of the eight-game block, 300-280, over Tommy Jones and moved four spots into second (12,007). Healey, searching for his first PBA title as a fourth-year pro, averaged a field-best 230.5 in the round. He has a 16-8 record.

　"Things worked out great this morning," said Healey. "I had a good game plan that I executed to a 'T.' I struggled yesterday morning on the fresh oil condition. So, my ball rep (Columbia 300) and I drilled a new ball for this morning. I had a phenomenal ball reaction and I bowled much better. That's usually a dangerous combination."

　Qualifying leader Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., dropped one place into third after collecting a 4-4 record. Williams won the U.S. Open in 1998 (Milford, Conn.), one of three majors to his credit.

　Second-year pro Ritchie Allen, Tulsa, Okla., is hanging onto fourth, only 19 pins ahead of three-time U.S. Open champion Dave Husted. Allen is targeting his first career championship round appearance.

　　【PWBA】　Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship　【Round 7】

　With a historic prize fund and telecast in place, Henderson, Nevada's Wendy Macpherson completed the 56-game preliminaries of the Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship as the tournament's No. 1 seed. Macpherson chalked up a 12,605 pin fall, a 17-7 match play record (Editor's note - players earn 30 bonus pins for each match won during match play rounds) and a 215.98 average over the course of seven rounds.

　"I am thrilled to get to this point of the tournament," said Macpherson. "To have our sport live on ESPN and offer the largest prize fund ever for a women's bowling tournament...this is a landmark event for womenﾕs sports."

　Scheduled for a 90-minute, live telecast on ESPN starting at 11:30 a.m. (PST), Macpherson will be attempting to win her 20th national title and a first place check worth $55,000. The four-time PWBA Player of the Year won her first championship in 1986 when she became the youngest player ever to win a U.S. Open at the age of 18. Sunday's broadcast will be the Macpherson's PWBA-record 94th televised appearance of her career.

　"It's a wonderful feeling to be among the top five in this particular event. With all of the road blocks we faced this year to get this tournament off the ground, I am honored to be a part of the final day of competition."

　Macpherson's tournament tally was 242-pins better than No. 2 seed Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. Barrette posted a 15-9 record during the week and a 212.73 average. She led the tournament in two of the seven previous rounds. This season she has made the top 10 in 16 of 23 (69.5%) events. She finished the year fifth in earnings ($64,405) and averages (210.28) and fourth in competition points (13,182).

　Ranked in the third slot and 21-pins behind Barrette is Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y. Johnson closed the prelims out with a 12,342 and a 210.75 average. Her 18-6 match play record was the tournament's best. Johnson has won four titles this season and including TV incentives has earned a PWBA-high $137,627. A first or second place finish for the native New Yorker would give her the PWBA record for the most money earned in a single season (Macpherson set the mark in 1997 with $165,425).

　Placing fourth is Union, New Jersey's Kelly Kulick. A three-time member of Team USA (1998-00), Kulick will be making her ninth televised appearance this season. She is the tour's front-runner for PWBA Rookie of the Year and entering the Open was ranked seventh in earnings ($52,057), eighth in competition points (11,020) and 10th in averages (207.77).

　Completing the top five is Kim Terrell, Daly City, Calif. Terrell racked up a 12,273 pin fall, a 14-10 record and a 211.66 average. The 13-year pro has seven career titles to her credit. She has made the top 10 in 11-22 tournaments (50%) and was one of 19 PWBA'ers to toss a perfect game this season.

2001/12/07

　　【PBA】　U.S. Open　【Round 7】

　Mika Koivuniemi stole the lead from Walter Ray Williams Jr. after the second round of qualifying in the U.S. Open at Fountain Bowl Friday evening.

　Koivuniemi, of Finland, won all but one game in the round including a win in the final game against Williams to take the top spot from the PBA Hall of Famer, who held it for five consecutive rounds. Koivuniemi has compiled an overall 12-4 match play record and a 46-game, 10,222 pinfall total.

　"I didn't pay too much attention to where I placed game-by-game tonight," said Koivuniemi. "I pretty much was just trying to stay out of trouble. My plan was to try and shoot games in the 210's and 220's and try to win a few and that is exactly what I did so I'm pleased.ﾓ"

　The third-year pro won his lone PBA title in another PBA major, the 2000 American Bowling Congress (ABC) Masters, Albuquerque, N.M., by defeating Pete Weber in the title match.

　"It's early to think about winning," Koivuniemi said. "I'm not really focusing on the majors and I'm not sure why I seem to bowl so well in them but I'm not complaining."

　Williams, of Ocala, Fla., won only three games through the round to fall to second place. The PBA Hall of Famer is searching for his 35th PBA title and his second U.S. Open title. He won the event in 1998, in Milford, Conn., and has a second-place finish (1993) and a fourth-place finish (1996) in the event. Williams, who has two wins in 2001, including the PBA National Championship, Toledo, Ohio, has gathered an 8-8 record and a 10,124 pinfall total.

　"I gave away a few matches tonight," said Williams. "It was very frustrating. In one game, I missed a 4-pin to lose the game - It was inexcusable."

　Slipping one spot to third place with a 10,059 pinfall total was Ritchie Allen. Allen, of Tulsa, Okla., had to face a field that owns a combined 17 PBA titles to go 4-4, good for a complete 8-8 record. The 23-year-old, who joined the PBA in 1999, is competing in his third event of the year and will earn his cash of the year on Tour. The right-hander won his lone PBA regional title in 1999 in Shawnee, Okla.

　Fourth place belongs to Ryan Shafer. Shafer, of Elmira, N.Y., won half of his games including two wins against Allen. The three-time PBA titlist, who has been on Tour for 15 years, is aiming toward his first PBA major.

　Rounding out the top five is Mike DeVaney. DeVaney, of Escondido, Calif., lost only three matches during the round and has piled up a 10-6 match play record. He has upended 10,038 pins and is looking to make his first career championship round appearance.

　Also advancing is three-time U.S. Open champion (1982, '95, '96) Dave Husted (8th), Tim Criss (13th) and rookie Tommy Jones (15th, tie).

　Defending champion Robert Smith, who plummeted from fifth place to 25th preceding this round, failed to advance and finished in 28th place. Other notables unable to make the top 16 include Norm Duke (19th), Bob Learn Jr. (22nd), George Branham III (30th) and Amleto Monacelli (31st).

　　【PBA】　U.S. Open　【Round 6】

　Walter Ray Williams Jr. "wasn't happy" after the first round of match play Friday in Bowlingﾕs U.S. Open at Fountain Bowl.

　Williams, who entered the round with an 82-pin lead, struggled with a 203.13 average. But, the Ocala, Fla., resident managed to stay in first after winning five of the eight match play games, earning him 150 bonus pins (players earn 30 bonus pins per win).

　"I bowled, basically, three good games," said Williams. "I couldn't find the reaction I had the last two days in the morning. I have no idea why. When I threw the ball left, it wasn't finishing as hard. When I threw it right, it hooked all over the place. I just couldn't find that all-important forgiving area that players always look for."

　Williams' highest game of the round was only 238. He rolled five scores below the 200 mark. The PBA Hall of Famer has posted a tournament-leading, 8,388 38-game pinfall total.

　Climbing to within 31 pins of the leader is three-time PBA champion Ryan Shafer. Shafer, Elmira, N.Y., moved up two spots after posting a 215.75 average and a 4-3-1 record in the round. He is targeting his second win of the season.

　"I threw about the same game, every game today," said Shafer. "But, that's my style. For the most part, if I'm lined up, I shoot scores in a close grouping. Every now and then, I'll throw a big score."

　Shafer began and finished his round with 245 games, his highest of the day. His lowest game was 190.

　Ritchie Allen, Tulsa, Okla., fell one place into third (8,339). Allen, a second-year pro in search of his first title, compiled a 4-4 record with a 211 average.

　The highest average of the round (229.63) was scored by Mika Koivuniemi, Finland. Koivuniemi, whose only win on tour came at last year's ABC Masters, moved up six places in the round with a 5-3 record.

　Defending champion Robert Smith, Simi Valley, Calif., fell from fifth to 25th after losing all eight games and posting a 180.87 average, the lowest of the field.

　Three-time U.S. Open champion Dave Husted (1982, '95, '96), jumped from 19th into seventh.

　　【PWBA】　Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship　【Round 6】

　If you ask her Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nevada will tell you it wasn't pretty, but she'll take the end result. Macpherson completed the sixth round of the Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship at the Riverside Resort Bowling Center as the tournament leader. The reigning PWBA Player of the Year notched a 3-5 match play record in today's round (Editor's note - players earn 30 bonus pins for each match won during match play rounds) to improve her tournament total to 10,553 (213.60 avg.).

　"I guess I should be happy still to be leading the tournament," said Macpherson. "I didn't bowl well today and instead of building on a lead I lost ground. The top seven in this field are truly the best we have on tour. Tomorrow is going to be a tough day because everyone is going to be jockeying for position."

　Macpherson holds a 24-pin lead over Kim Terrell, Daly City, Calif. (10,529, 213.10 avg.) In the sixth session Macpherson registered a 1,662 pin fall (207.75 avg.). After 16 match play games her record stands at 10-6.

　Terrell helped her cause in the sixth stanza going 6-2 while knocking down the second highest pin fall of the day with 1,734 (216.75 avg.). The 13-year pro has been among the top six players for five consecutive rounds and has a 31-pin lead over Kelly Kulick, Union, New Jersey.

　Kulick, who may be the tour's top rookie this season, has amassed a 10,498 pin fall and a 210.58 average. The PWBA freshman leads the tournament in match play victories with a 13-3 mark. After going 7-1 in round five, the former Team USA member went 6-2.

　Trailing Kulick by three-pins is Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. After leading the tournament in rounds' two and four the two-time PWBA Player of the Year sits in fourth place with 10,495 and 213.02.

　Climbing into the fifth position was Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y. Johnson edged into the top five after going 8-0 in the sixth stanza while accumulating the top pin fall of the day with a 1,795 (224.37 avg.). Johnson's tournament tally stands at 10,401 (209.81 avg.).

　Probably the unluckiest competitor in today's matches was Kim Adler, Cocoa, Florida. Adler posted the fourth highest pin fall of the day with a 1,700 (212.5 avg.) but went 1-7 in her matches.

2001/12/06

　　【PBA】　U.S. Open　【Round 5】

　Walter Ray Williams Jr. refused to give up the lead for the fourth consecutive round after the fifth round of qualifying in the U.S. Open at Fountain Bowl Thursday evening.

　The PBA Hall of Famer posted his lowest-scoring round of the event to finish with an 82-pin lead over second-place finish Ritchie Allen. The 34-time PBA champion, who won the 1998 U.S. Open, Milford, Conn., has a 6,613, 30-game pinfall total and a 220 tournament average.

　"I'm a little disappointed with the way I bowled tonight, but all and all I'm still in good shape," said Williams. "I started bowling in for the first game, shot 172, moved out for the second and shot 192, then moved back in and bowled low 200's for the rest of the block - it just never quite came together for me."

　Jumping from fifth place to second was Ritchie Allen. Allen, of Tulsa, Okla., averaged 230 in the six-game block with all games between 214 and 266. The second-year pro is hoping to improve on a career-high finish of 16th (Austin, Texas, 2000) and to find a few fans.

　"I'm the underdog out here, the no-name," said Allen. "I had nobody cheering for me tonight, maybe one clap in the last game. But that's okay, I think it helped me keep my cool and stay calm."

　Allen is competing in only his second PBA event since this summer.

　"I hit my hand earlier this summer and inflamed all of the tendons in it," said Allen. "I couldn't even pick up a bowling ball until the Louisville (Ky.) event two weeks ago."

　Allen missed making a paycheck in Louisville by seven pins.

　"Hurting my hand was a turning point in my career," said Allen. "In Louisville, I kept my cool and told myself if I didn't let my attitude control my bowling, I would make it and I definitely tested myself and won. Now, I'm still anxious but I can keep it under control."

　"This is huge though," said Allen. "I'm just taking my turn and their all going down now."

　Falling one spot to finish in third is Mike DeVaney. DeVaney, of Escondido, Calif., has upended 6,508 pins. The three-time PBA regional champion is looking for his first PBA Tour title.

　Finishing in fourth place is Ryan Shafer, of Elmira, N.Y. Shafer, who finished fourth in the U.S. Open the same year the Williams won (1998), shot a high game of 269 and has knocked down 6,496 pins. The former PBA Rookie of the Year (1987) is looking for his first PBA major. The three-time PBA titleholder competed on the Tour for 14 years before capturing his first PBA title last year in Las Vegas. He since won his second title in 2000 in Wichita, Kan., and successfully defended his title in Las Vegas this year for win No. 3.

　Rounding out the top five is defending champion Robert Smith. Smith, of Simi Valley, Calif., has a 6,488 pinfall total. The 28-year-old won his first PBA title in the U.S. Open in July of 2000 and won his second and last title three months later in Erie, Pa.

　Tommy Jones, of Greenville, S.C., rolled the first perfect game of the event to work his way from eights place to sixth. The 300 game was Jones' second career PBA 300. The 23-year-old PBA Tour rookie is looking to make his first-career championship round appearance.

　Of the remaining 32 athletes, 28 are PBA members and four amateur competitors remain. No amateurs have won the event since it's inception as the U.S. Open in 1971.

　Other PBA notables advancing include seventh-place finisher Ernie Schlegel, of Vancouver, Wash., who with his guaranteed 32nd place finish, will go over $1 million in career earnings, Bob Learn Jr. (12th), Parker Bohn III (14th), three-time former U.S. Open champion (1982, '95,'96) Dave Husted (19th) and reigning PBA Player of the Year Norm Duke (29th).

　Those failing to advance include Chris Barnes (37th place), Mike Aulby (43rd), Pete Weber (44th) and Danny Wiseman (61st).

　　【PBA】　U.S. Open　【Round 4】

　After the fourth round of qualifying Thursday in Bowling's U.S. Open, Walter Ray Williams Jr. was casually asked "What's up?" He succinctly replied: "My scores."

　Nursing a 10-pin lead entering the round, Williams, Ocala, Fla., erupted with the highest six-game block of the tournament (1,426, 237.67 average) and gave himself a 177-pin cushion atop the leaderboard. He has registered a 5,414, 24-game pinfall total.

　"My biggest confidence booster is that I'm bowling well in the morning sessions (on fresh oil), which is what we'll see for most of the tournament moving forward."

　Williams, who recently tied Mark Roth for second on the all-time Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) win list with 34 titles, scorched the competitive lane condition with opening games of 258 and 243.

　After falling off his pace with a 213 in game three, the PBA Hall of Famer finished strongly with games of 236, 245 and 231.

　"Starting with the fourth game, I began moving a pinch left for the rest of the block. I started the day playing the ninth board at the arrows. By the time I was finished, I was looking at the 12th and 14th boards."

　"Now that we've cut to the top players in the tournament (and with less games being rolled) there won't be as much transition on the lanes."

　Mike DeVaney, Escondido, Calif., remained in the second spot for the third consecutive round after posting a 209.83 average. He is in search of his first PBA title.

　In third place is Ryan Shafer, Elmira, N.Y., with 5,163 total pins. The three-time champion averaged 205.17 in the round.

　Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash., bowled the tournament's second-best block during the round (235.67) and moved from 26th into fourth. The six-time PBA champion, who owns two career majors (1996 ABC Masters, 1995 Touring Players Chamionship), is targeting his first Triple Crown title.

　Dave Husted, owner of three U.S. Open titles (1982, '95, '96), sits in the 10th position (5,061). Husted, Milwaukie, Ore., claimed the U.S. Open as his first of 14 career PBA titles.

　　【PWBA】　Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship　【Round 5】

　After 40 games at the Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship at the Riverside Resort Bowling Center, Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nevada took over the tournament's top spot going 7-1 in the first round of match play (Editor's note - players earn 30 bonus pins for each match won during match play rounds). Macpherson's efforts helped her increase her total pin fall to 8,801 (214.77 avg.). The four-time PWBA Player of the Year holds a 74-pin lead over Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif, who led the Open after Wednesday's fourth round.

　"The first day of match play is probably one of the most important rounds of the tournament," said Macpherson. "With only 16 games left before we cut down to the top five, you don't want to be playing catch up from too far back in the field. To get to the championship round its going to take anywhere from 13-18 wins so today was a nice lift for me."

　Macpherson's seven wins came in impressive fashion as the 19-time titlest posted victories over four of the Open's top 10 including Barrette (247-224), Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas (241-235), Michelle Mullen, Dearborn, Michigan (225-212) and Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Michigan (225-212).

　Entering the fifth round as the tournament leader, Barrette went 4-4 chalking up 1,679 pins. Her second place tally of 8,727 puts her 46-pins ahead of Kelly Kulick, Union, New Jersey. In spite of falling back to the second slot, Barrette leads the tournament in overall average with a 215.77 clip.

　Like Macpherson, Kulick also went 7-1 in Thursday's matches registering a 1,809-pins en route to a 8,681 total (211.77). A front runner for PWBA Rookie of the Year, the three-time Team USA member faces a tough road for round six with matches scheduled against four players in the Open's top ten including Barrette, Dorin-Ballard, Jennifer Swanson, Shelton, Connecticut and Bishop.

　Hot on the heels of Kulick and 66-pins off third place is Kim Terrell, Daly City, Calif. Terrell went .500 (4-4) on the day and has amassed 8,615 pins (212.37avg.). The 13-year pro has been among the top six players for four consecutive rounds. She ranks 95-pins ahead Mullen who went 4-4 and has recorded a 8,520 pin fall (210 avg.).

2001/12/05

　　【PBA】　U.S. Open　【Round 3】

　Walter Ray Williams Jr. saw his lead shrink to 10 pins as the top 65 players advanced after Wednesday's third round of qualifying in Bowling's U.S. Open at Fountain Bowl.

　Williams, Ocala, Fla., averaged only 206 in the six-game round and shaved 80 pins from his second round lead. The five-time Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Player of the Year has registered a 3,988, 18-game pinfall total for a tournament-leading 221.56 average.

　"The first few games went pretty well," said Williams, who shot 228, 248 and 211 to start the round. "The last three were pretty ugly. I was confused and fortunate not to have shot lower scores." He finished with a 184, 179 and 186.

　When asked if he has a good enough ball reaction to run away and hide from the field, Williams responded: "I didn't have that kind of reaction today. The first two days I did. It's a tough shot. There are just so many games left. We're not even one-third of the way through the tournament."

　Williams led the U.S. Open in 1998 with a 232 average. This year, the 59th edition of the tournament, the lanes have proved more challenging. After 18 games this year, Williams is leading the field with an average less than 1998's 21st finisher (221.7). He claimed the green jacket that year, defeating Tim Criss in the title match, 221-189.

　Mike DeVaney, Escondido, Calif., remained in the second position after averaging 219.33. DeVaney shot a 277 in the fourth game, his highest score of the day.

　George Branham III, Indianapolis, averaged 220.83 (1,325) and stood pat in third with a 3,961 total pinfall. The five-time PBA titleholder, whose titles include one major (Tournament of Champions, 1996), last made a championship round appearance in 1997 (Erie, Pa.). In three rounds, Branham has averaged 218, 221 and 220.

　Rookie Tommy Jones, Greenville, S.C., sits in the fourth position (3,934). Jones is searching for his first championship round appearance. He has a high finish of ninth on the PBA Tour (North Brunswick, N.J.).

　Defending champion Robert Smith, Simi Valley, Calif., rolled the best average of the day (231.33) having to finish the round lofting the ball more than 20 feet down lane in order to find a fresh-oil line to the pocket. He climbed 59 spots into 22nd. Ryan Shafer, Elmira, N.Y., felled one less pin than Smith for the second best average of the day (231.17).

　　【PWBA】　Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship　【Round 4】

　And then there were 24. Sixty-four of the best bowlers in the world entered the Riverside Resort Bowling Center in Laughlin, Nevada to compete in round four of the Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship. Forty were cut from the competition after 32 games. Claiming the top position heading into the round robin match play is Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. Barrette knocked down 1,796 pins (224.5 avg.) in today's eight-game block to increase her tournament tally to 6,928 (216.50 avg.). The 23-time titlest has led the tournament in two of four rounds.

　"I've had the best success this week when I've bowled in the morning on fresh oil," said Barrette. "The condition of the lanes with the fresh oil has really suited my game so far."

　Competing in squad B during the first three rounds, Barrette led the tournament at the end of round two when squad B took the lanes for the morning session. Barrette is attempting to win her first U.S. Open title and second major title of her career. She has two titles to her credit (Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic, Storm Challenge) this season and has finished in the top 10 in 15 of her last 22 events (68.8%).

　Trailing Barrette by 54-pins is Kim Terrell, Daly City, Calif, who punched out a 1,645-pin fall (205.62 avg.) during the fourth stanza and has a tournament total of 6,874 (214.81 avg.) The 13-year pro has been among the top six players for three consecutive rounds and coincidentally travels and often rooms with Barrette during the tour season.

　"When you spend a lot of time with someone on the road you know what they are going through each week and how hard they are working," said Barrette. "I'm always happy to see Kim bowl well."

　Sixteen-pins behind Terrell and in third position is Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas. Dorin-Ballard notched 1,719-pins (214.87 avg.) en route to a 6,858 total (214.31 avg.) Dorin-Ballard came into the Open leading the tour in titles (7), earnings ($125,670), competition points (16,835) and averages (215.13). Her seven titles ties Patty Costello's 1976 record for the most professional women's bowling titles in a single season.

　In fourth place is four-time PWBA Player of the Year Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nevada. Over the last five years Macpherson has made the top 10 in 65-of-100 tournaments (65%). This season Macpherson surpassed Aleta Sill to become the PWBA's all-time leader in earnings with $1,104,735. She was the youngest player ever to win a U.S. Open claiming the title as an 18-year old in 1986.

　Staking claim to fifth place is Belleville, Michigan's Lisa Bishop. The fifth-year PWBA'er propelled herself to the top of the leader board after 24 games but today fell back four spaces with a 6,770 pin fall and a 211.56 average.

2001/12/04

　　【PBA】　U.S. Open　【Round 2】

　PBA Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. remained atop the U.S. Open leaderboard after the completion of the second round of qualifying at Fountain Bowl Tuesday night.

　Williams, of Ocala, Fla., rolled the highest scoring six-game block of the day, averaging 228, and climbed one spot into the lead. He rolled high games of 257 and 255 while building his 12-game pinfall total to 2,752 for a 229 tournament average.

　"I'm elated that I bowled so well today," said the 34-time PBA champion. "I played the lanes different than I did last night and being on the early squad today, I knew it was going to be tough. I started to lose my reaction in the last two games and was fortunate to keep my last games at 213 and 205."

　First-round leader, Mike DeVaney, of Escondido, Calif., fell one place into second after averaging 208 for the day. DeVaney, who owns three PBA regional titles, has upended 2,662 overall pins. He is looking for his first PBA title and is competing in his first U.S. Open.

　George Branham III, of Indianapolis, sits in the third position (2,636). The five-time PBA titleholder owns one PBA major, the 1993 Tournament of Champions, Akron, Ohio. He is looking for his first win since 1996 when he won in Cleveland, Ohio.

　Brian LeClair, of Chatham, N.Y., is in fourth place. LeClair, whose best finish in the U.S. Open is 11th in 1999 (Uncasville, Conn.), has a 2,635 pinfall total. The 37-year-old right-hander is searching for his first title.

　　【PWBA】　Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship　【Round 3】

　For Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Michigan round three, squad B was "all good." The fifth-year PWBA'er propelled herself to the top of the leader board after 24 games by notching a 1,723 total during the evening's eight-game block while increasing her tournament pin fall to 5,237 (218.20 avg.). Bishop holds an eight-pin margin over Kim Terrell (5,229, 217.87) who led the C squad in the afternoon session.

　"Right now I'm really enjoying myself and that's why I'm bowling so well," said Bishop. "Coming into today I knew I had enough pins to advance so I was very relaxed and focused."

　This season Bishop has appeared in four televised finals with her best finish coming at the Albuquerque Open where she placed second. Nicknamed "Little Bear," Bishop has eight top 10 finishes in her last 18 events. She ranks 16th in earnings ($24,920), 19th in competition points (7,320) and 18th in averages (202.90).

　"Tonight I think I did a good job of reading the lanes correctly and making the right adjustments. I think one of my best attributes is my consistency. I may not post many big scores but I always seem to keep my games above 200."

　Bishop is one of five players in the tournament's top 10 that has tallied 18-of-24 games with a score of 200 or better.

　Terrell used and abused the matinee round to post a day-three high of 1,798 pin fall en route to a 5,229 tournament total and a 217.87average. Competing in her 13th year as a professional Terrell has been among the top 10 in 10-of-21 (47.6%) events this season and ranks 16th on the all-time earnings list with $564,449.

　Falling back to third position is four-time PWBA Player of the Year Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nevada. Macpherson pushed her tournament sum to 5,189 (216.20 avg.) after ringing up a 1,560 pin fall. Named the Bowler of the Decade for the 1990s, Macpherson was the youngest player ever to win a U.S. Open claiming the title as an 18-year old in 1986.

　Rounding out the top five is Michelle Mullen, Dearborn, Michigan (4th - 5,152, 214.66) and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas (5th - 5,139, 214.12).

　Dorin-Ballard came into the Open leading the tour in titles (7), earnings ($125,670), competition points (16,835) and averages (215.13). Her seven titles ties Patty Costello's 1976 record for the most professional women's bowling titles in a single season.

2001/12/03

　　【PBA】　U.S. Open　【Round 1】

　Mike DeVaney averaged 235 and took the first round qualifying lead in Bowling's U.S. Open Sunday at Fountain Bowl.

　DeVaney, of San Diego, is competing in his first-ever U.S. Open. The 28-year-old opened the six-game round with a high game of 279 and did not post a game below 209 to gather a 1,414 pinfall total.

　"I was really surprised with how well I did," said DeVaney. "I took it one frame at a time and concentrated on my spare shooting. I only left four open frames for the entire block and most guys had two or three a game."

　DeVaney, who has won in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) regional program three times, just rejoined the PBA this past July.

　"I'd like to compete out here on the PBA Tour regularly and doing well this week would definitely help me get some recognition," said DeVaney.

　Trailing DeVaney by 33 pins is Walter Ray Williams Jr., of Ocala, Fla. Williams, who won the 1998 U.S. Open in Milford, Conn., has two wins in 2001, including the first PBA major of the year (PBA National Championship, Toledo, Ohio). The PBA Hall of Famer grabbed his second victory of the year three weeks ago in Erlanger, Ky., giving him 34 career titles to tie Mark Roth for second on the all-time win list.

　With the help of a 268 game, Jeff Hickenbottom, of Tustin Ranch, Calif., sits in the third position having upended 1,376 pins.

　Fourth place belongs to Chris Collins, of Hope Mills, N.C., with 1,354 pins. Brian Voss, of Atlanta, finished the round in fifth. The PBA Hall of Famer, who owns 20 PBA titles, has a 1,344 pinfall total. Voss has not won a title since 1998 (Virginia Beach, Va.) and has never won a U.S. Open title. His only PBA major is the 1988 PBA National Championship, Toledo, Ohio.

　　【PWBA】　Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship　【Round 2】

　Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. closed out the second round of competition as the overall leader at the $300,000 Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship at Riverside Resort in Laughlin, Nevada.

　Nicknamed "Boomer" because of her potent hook, Barrette leads the 132-women field with a 3,535 pin fall and a 220.93 average. The 23-time titlest holds a nine-pin margin over Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nevada.

　"Today was a seesaw round for me," said Barrette. "I started out slow, then bowled four good games. I got a little lazy toward the end of the night because I was loosening up my arm on my release.ﾊ After I firmed up my swing I found the right angle for the last game."

　One of two players this season to qualify for five consecutive championship rounds, Barrette ranks fifth on tour in earnings ($64,405) and averages (210.28) and fourth in competition points (13,182).

　Macpherson, who in 1986 became the youngest player ever to win a U.S. Open at the age of 18 has 19 titles to her credit including five majors. Over the last five years the four-time PWBA Player of the Year has placed in the top 10 in 65 of 100 tournaments (65%). Macpherson's tournament sum of 3,526-pins (220.37) ranks 12-pins ahead of fellow squad B member Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Michigan, who increased her tournament total to 3,514 and averaged 219.62.

　Australia's Maxine Nable ended her second round as the squad C leader and in fourth place overall. The Aussie is just 51-pins behind Bishop, averaging 227.87 in Monday's eight-game block while pushing her tournament total to 3,463.

　Nable has appeared in one championship round this season where she finished fourth at the WIBC Queens in May. On the year she has two top ten finishes and has made the top 24 cut in 10 of her last 22 tournaments (45.4%).

　Other notables from round two include ten-time titlest Liz Johnson (5th), Cheektowaga, N.Y. who averaged 212.62 to bring her total to 3,433, former Team USA member Kim Terrell, Daly City, Calif. (6th - 3,431, 214.43) and three-time collegiate All-American Michelle Mullen, Dearborn, Michigan (7th - 3,419, 213.68)

2001/12/02

　　【PWBA】　Women's U.S. Open Bowling Championship　【Round 1】

　In 1986 Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nevada became the youngest player ever to win a U.S. Open Bowling Championship at the age of 18. Fifteen years later, the four-time PWBA Player of the Year is making her way towards a second Open title. Broken into three tournament squads (A, B, C), Macpherson posted the top pin fall among A, B and C to take the overall tournament lead. Macphersonﾕ's total of 1,851 leads Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. by 10 pins. Barrette, who led the A squad earlier in the day is just 31 pins ahead of Janette Piesczynski, Cheektowaga, N.Y., who closed out the first day of competition as the squad C leader.

　Recognized as one of the sports most successful performers, Macpherson comes into the Open with 11 consecutive top 10 finishes and one title in 2001. She was recently named to the Bowlers Journal All-American team for the sixth consecutive year. Her eight game tournament mean of 231.37 is 18-pins above her 2001 average.

　"With 56 games it's a long week so knocking down every pin early in the tournament is critical," said Macpherson. "You don't want to find yourself in the last round before a cut needing pins to advance."

　"This tournament will always be special to me because it was the first time I ever won, but in spite of that I've only made the top five in an Open one other time. Hopefully today is a good sign for the rest of the week."

　A winner of two tournaments this season including the Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic and the Storm Challenge, Barrette chalked up seven of eight games with a score of 200 or above. Her best mark came in the sixth stanza when the two-time PWBA Player of the Year posted a first-round high game of 299. The 23-time titlest finished her round averaging 230.13.

　"Today I just wanted to ease into the tournament," said Barrette. "I played the lanes correctly and made the right ball change after my third game. I was very pleased with my scoring but the toughest part of this game is to stay focused each day. Tomorrow I have to make sure and come as mentally prepared as I did today or a lot can change."

　Piesczynski completed her eight game block with a 716 series. The PWBA rookie averaged 226.25 on the day ringing up three games of 240 or higher. The New York native has cashed in 12 of her last 18 tournaments (66.6%) and made the top 24 cut in 11 of 18 (61.1%) including the last eight straight.

　"Taking time off helped me better prepare for this week," said Piesczynski. "I've been working very hard on my game, especially my spare shooting. Today I think I reaped the benefits of practicing so hard because I didnﾕt miss a spare all day."

2001/12/01

　　【JPBA】　全日本プロボウリング選手権大会　【決勝】

　　【JPBA】　全日本プロボウリング選手権大会　【準決勝】