2003/03/06

64 Left In Contention for World Title

Mike DeVaney

With 20 games of qualifying completed, the field was trimmed to the top 64 players at the 2003 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) World Championship at Taylor Lanes on Wednesday.

Leading the pack is Mike DeVaney, Escondido, Calif. He averaged 220.9 in qualifying, and posted a 4,418 total to lead for the third straight round. Despite rolling three games under 200, including a 151 game, DeVaney says he's confident with his game.

"Being in the lead definitely makes it easier to bowl tomorrow," he said. "But as far as I'm concerned, the tournament doesnt begin until match play. I'll be ready."

Hanging on in second place is Steve Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, Fla. The 10-time titlist had a consistent round en route to a 4,394 score. His high game of the day was 212, with a low game of 191.

"Today was about maintaining the pace, and not doing anything to lose ground," he said. "Obviously I would have been happy with leading the tournament, but I'm pleased that I could just maintain my standing."

In third place is Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y. The 33-year-old is the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year honors, and has a 4,372 total for 20 games. Fourth place belongs to Steve Wilson, Lake Worth, Fla., at 4,371. The four-time PBA champions win was last season in Erie, Pa.

Rounding out the top five were Tommy Jones, Greenville, S.C., and Patrick Allen, Tarrytown, N.Y. The two players are tied with 4,359, and have identical 217.95 averages in qualifying.

There was a tie for the 64th and final spot to advance to the next round of competition. Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., and Paul Koehler, Stuart, Fla., rolled a one-game tie breaker for the final spot. Carter won the match, 258-172 to advance.

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2003/03/05

DeVaney Controls the World

Mike DeVaney

Mike DeVaney was able to weather a strong charge by 10-time champion Steve Hoskins to hang onto the third round lead at the 2003 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) World Championship at Taylor Lanes on Wednesday.

DeVaney, Escondido, Calif., posted a 3,413 total to retain the lead after 15 games. The one-time champion rolled games of 233, 266, 195, 242 and 203 for a 33-pin margin over Hoskins.

"Today was a good day for me," said DeVaney, who is averaging 227.53. "I was able to get good breaks in key situations, and that's why I was able to hang on to the lead."

DeVaney was the tournament leader heading into today's action, and hasn't been lower than second in any of the three rounds qualifying. He said that the charge from Hoskins isn't a big surprise.

"Steve's bowling better each day," he said. "He's becoming more comfortable with his equipment, and he is a major contender in the tournament. I think if I can go +150 tomorrow, I can hang on to the lead."

Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, Fla., recorded a 1,149 block total on Wednesday morning for a 15-game score of 3,380 (225.33 average). In round three, he rolled games of 222, 223, 223, 214 and 267.

"I'm pleased with the way I threw the ball today," said Hoskins, who last won in 2000. "I thought the lane conditions were more difficult today. I was able to make the most of my good breaks and turn them into good games."

Third place belongs to Dennis Horan Jr., Temecula, Calif., with a 3,282 score. The four-time champion averaged 218.8 for 15 games, and is looking for his first title since 1998. In fourth is Steve Wilson, Lake Worth, Fla., with 3,270.

Rounding out the top five are Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla., and Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y. The two enter the fourth round tied at 3,260.

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2003/03/04

DeVaney Moves Into Lead

Mike DeVaney

Mike DeVaney used a fast start in the second round of qualifying to move into the lead at the 2003 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) World Championship at Taylor Lanes on Tuesday.

DeVaney, Escondido, Calif., entered the second round of qualifying in second place, and started his five-game block with games of 267 and 236. After games of 195 and 176, the one-time titlist finished his round with 228 and a 2,274 score for 10 games (227.4 average).

"The first pair was close to the way the lanes were yesterday," said DeVaney. "To bowl across this center is pretty tough, but I had good luck throughout the round."

DeVaney won his first title at the PBA Geico Earl Anthony Classic in Tacoma, Wash. in January. He says winning the first prize of $120,000 and a major championship are not his only motivations for doing well this week.

"I want to win again to prove I can do it a second time," said DeVaney. "I've cashed once in the last four tournaments, so I want to prove that I can do it, not to prove anyone wrong, but to prove myself right."

Ten-time champion Steve Hoskins moved into second place with a 2,231 total. Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, Fla., averaged 223.1, and trails DeVaney by 43 pins. First-round leader Lee Vanderhoef fell from first place to third after the second round. Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., sits at 2,208, and is averaging 220.8 for the first two rounds.

Amleto Monacelli used a 289 game to move into fourth place at 2,203. The Venezuelan has won a pair of titles at Taylor Lanes, and is seeking his first title since 1997. Mark Stenger, Peoria, Ill., rounds out the top five with 2,198.

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2003/03/03

Qualifying Underway at World Championship

Lee Vanderhoef had visions of leading the opening round of the 2003 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) World Championship at Taylor Lanes on Monday. The 24-year-old from Greenville, S.C. saw those visions become a reality after leading the 266-player field with a 1,232 score.

"I lay in bed last night thinking about nothing else but crushing the lane conditions," he said. "I was able to keep up with the lane changes throughout the round, and everything I did worked."

Vanderhoef's opening game of 235 was the lowest in his five-game block. He followed with games of 236, 257, 237, and 267.

Vanderhoef had been struggling on Tour in recent weeks, failing to cash in the last three tournaments. But he says working out with an old friend helped him regain his edge.

"I worked with my buddy Jeff Anderson, and we worked out the problems with my armswing," he said. "Once you start feeling good about your game, everything falls into place, and that's what happened today."

With three more days of qualifying left, Vanderhoef knows it's too early to look to the finals.

"I know not to get too excited about it all," he said. "I know that there's still a lot of bowling to be done. I know if I keep this going, I'll be in the hunt."

In second place is Mike DeVaney, Escondido, Calif., at 1,172. He averaged 234.4 for five games, and is seeking his second title of the season. Also seeking his second career title is Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla., who is in third at 1,160.

Tommy Jones, runnerup at last week's Odor-Eaters Open, is in fourth place with 1,155. The 24-year-old from Greenville, S.C. is seeking his first career title. Rounding out the top five is non-winner Jason Duran, Greenly, Colo., with 1,147.

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2003/03/02

Waliczek Wins Second Title

Lonnie Waliczek

Lonnie Waliczek survived tough lane conditions en route to his second career title in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Odor-Eaters Open at Executive Strike and Spare Sunday afternoon.

In contrast with his first win at the Storm Las Vegas Classic in January, Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., won a lower-scoring affair against Tommy Jones, 218-194.

"I don't care if it's a high-scoring event or not," said the 32-year-old. "I just want to win, and I'm fortunate that I could get the job done today."

In the final, Waliczek started with three spares before rolling a pair of strikes. Jones, a 24-year-old from Greenville, S.C., had only one strike in the first six frames, including a 4-10 split in the fifth frame.

Waliczek kept Jones in the match by leaving a 7-10 split in the sixth. After rolling a double in frames seven and eight, Jones had a chance to put the match away with strikes in the ninth and 10th frames. But he left a four-pin spare in the ninth and a 10-pin spare in the 10th to open the door for Waliczek.

"I felt I made good shots today, but the pins just didn't fall" said Jones. "This is a tough center to put strikes together, and the pattern we bowled on didn't make it any easier."

Waliczek put the match away with four strikes in the late frames to win his second career title, and the $40,000 first-place check. Jones took home $20,000 for second.

"Even when I wasn't stringing strikes, I always felt I could put a string together," said Waliczek. "My goal was to become a more consistent player, and I think the two wins are the confirmation of my abilities."

In the semifinals, Waliczek defeated Cincinnati's Nick Vogegesang, 191-164, while Jones beat Dave D'Entremont 208-194. D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, and Vogelgesang tied for third place worth $10,000. In the wild-card match, Vogelgesang defeated Steve Hoskins 195-190. Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, Fla., received $9,000 for fifth place.

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2003/03/01

Odor-Eaters Finals Showcases Power

Lonnie Waliczek

Lonnie Waliczek swept Hall of Famer Brian Voss in the Round of 8 Friday night to qualify for the finals of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Odor-Eaters Open at Executive Strike and Spare.

Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., won his first title at the Storm Las Vegas Open in January. He hopes that a three-games-to-zero sweep of Voss, Atlanta, leads to another title.

"After my win in Las Vegas, something inside of me knows that I can do it again," said Waliczek. "If I do the things I know I'm capable of, I know I can win tomorrow."

Waliczek moves to the finals with a 10-2 overall record, and averaged 226.27 in the tournament.

"It wasn't as easy as it looked," said Waliczek. "Brian caught some really bad breaks out there tonight. Luckily I was able to capitalize."

Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, qualified for his second championship round of the season with a three game sweep of leading qualifier Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla. D'Entremont won the first domestic event on Tour this season at the Wichita (Kan.) Open in October, and is also looking for his second title of the season.

"It seems like forever since the last one," he said. "Each day is a new day, and I'm going to go out there tomorrow and have fun."

D'Entremont will face reigning Rookie of the Year Tommy Jones in the first semifinal match. Jones, Greenville, S.C., is making his second finals appearance of the season, and wants to keep the intensity levels high in the competition.

"The last time I was on in Memphis, and I wasn't that aggressive," said Jones. "I'm going to go out and play my game, and try to stay aggressive throughout the matches."

Steve Hoskins and Nick Vogelgeseang will face off in the wild card match for the right to face Waliczek. Hoskins, a 10-time champion from Tarpon Springs, Fla., is looking to prove himself.

"Only a few guys have out-bowled me this season," he said. "It's been two years since I've won, and I don't want to go that long between winning again."

Vogelgesang, Cincinnati, is making his first appearance in the finals. He says he's not afraid of bowling in the spotlight.

"All's fair in love and war, and I'm looking to put it all out there," said Vogelgesang. "I've been looking forward to this for a long time, and I just hope I can take advantage of this opportunity."

　

　　【PBA】　PBA Odor-Eaters Open　【Round 4】

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