2003/10/26

Himmer Wins His Second Title

Brian Himmler

Brian Himmler defeated Mika Koivuniemi, 230-215, in the title match Sunday afternoon to win the PBA Miller High Life Open at Hawthorn Lanes.

Himmler, who won $40,000, started out the championship game with the first five strikes while Koivuniemi left three 10-pins in the first six frames. Last week in the title match of the PBA Greater Kansas City Classic, Koivuniemi left a 10-pin in the last frame to give Norm Duke the win.

Koivuniemi again had a chance to get back in the game after he left the 2-4-10 split in the 9th frame. However, Koivuniemi left another 10-pin to seal the victory for Himmler.

I think I bowled well today, said Koivuniemi, who earned $20,000. I thought I threw a great ball in the 9th frame, but I just didnt get the reaction on the shot.

This marks the second career title for Himmler, who hadnt won a tournament in his last 93 events. His first came in Albuquerque, N.M. in 1999 when he defeated Chris Barnes, 228-161.

This is really long overdue, and its just a matter of catching a break, Himmler said of his win. In the title game, I knew I wanted to keep the ball a little straighter to get a more consistent reaction and it worked for me.

In the wild-card match, Koivuniemi defeated Patrick Allen, who set a house record earlier in the week, shooting an 837 series. But Allens fondness with the lanes didnt help him as Koivuniemi won, 257-203. Allen took home $9,000 for 5th place.

In the first semifinal, Himmler also struck in the first five frames en route to beating Parker Bohn III, 258-212, to advance to the championship match.

Mike Scroggins awaited Koivuniemi in the second semifinal for the second consecutive week. Just like last week, Scroggins left a late spare to open up the gates for Koivuniemi to once again reach the final.

Bohn and Scroggins tied for third, and each earned $10,000.

2003/10/25

Mika Strikes Again

Mika Koivuniemi

Mika Koivuniemi advanced to the championship round by beating Tim Mack, four-games-to-one, in the PBA Miller High Life Open round of 8 Saturday evening at Hawthorn Lanes.

Koivuniemi broke a 1-1 tie using nine strikes to close out the 3rd game. Mack seemed to rebound, striking in frames 2-9 in the fourth game before leaving an open frame in the 10th. That was enough for Koivuniemi to tie the game at 257-257 then take the sudden death roll-off, 19-16.

ﾒIﾕve been doing the same thing since the first match...moving out so the lanes donﾕt open up for my opponent,ﾓ Koivuniemi said.

The victory means that Koivuniemi will be making his second consecutive television finals appearance. He lost to Norm Duke 197-194 in the final game of the PBA Greater Kansas City Classic last week.

ﾒThe whole summer I worked really hard, and its paying off,ﾓ said Koivuniemi.

Brian Himmler came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Patrick Allen, 4-3. Allen, the wildcard in tomorrowﾕs finals, had a chance to close out the match in the 5th game with a strike and a spare in the 10th frame. He struck on his first ball, but left a 2-4-6-10 split in his second shot. He left the 6-10 on his next ball and dropped the game, 223-222.

Parker Bohn III will be making his 88th televised finals appearance after a sweep of Doug Kent. Bohn was up 2-0 when he struck in his final four frames to win the 3rd game, 248-245.

Mike Scroggins will also be making his second straight finals appearance after beating Jeff Carter, 4-2. Carter won a sudden death roll off to even the series at 1-1. Scroggins ended the match with a 237-216 victory, and will now face the winner of Sundayﾕs wild card match between Allen and Koivuniemi.

　

　　【PBA】　PBA Miller High Life Open　【Round 4】

2003/10/24

Mack Attack

Tim Mack

Tim Mack was unfazed going up against six-time PBA Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr. in the PBA Miller High Life Open round of 32 Friday evening Hawthorn Lanes.

The 32-year old newcomer defeated Williams four-games-to-two in their best-of-seven match. Mack dropped the first game, 279-185, before taking the next two games. Williams fired back with his 58th career 300-game to even the series, but Mack responded by rolling a 278 and taking a 3-2 lead.

"(The 300 game) was one point for him," Mack said. "That's the beauty of match play system - it's not based on pinfall. You have to keep everything in perspective."

Mack closed out the victory with a 243-219 win. He moves on to face PBA Hall-of-Famer Amleto Monacelli in the round of 16.

"I have to be on top of my game again," said Mack. "I look forward to the challenge. It definitely will be a great experience."

In other matches, Tommy Delutz Jr. advanced to the round of 16 for the third consecutive week with a sweep of Patrick Girard.

"I'm trying to use every trick just to get by each week," Delutz said. "Some guys get excited when they're on certain lane patterns. I don't get excited about any of the five lane patterns."

The round featured three, 300-games. Jason Couch rolled his 25th career perfect game during a 4-3 win against Jason Queen. Doug Kent tossed his 20th career 300-game en route to his 4-2 win over Joe Ciccone.

Brian Himmler came back from a 3-0 deficit against Mike DeVaney to win their match, 4-3. Himmler moves on to face Delutz.

　

　　【PBA】　PBA Miller High Life Open　【Round 2】

2003/10/23

Mack Takes Charge at the PBA Miller High Life Open

Tim Mack

To say that Tim Mack, Garfield, N.J., made an impression Thursday in his first PBA Tour stop in the PBA Miller High Life Open at Hawthorn Lanes would be an understatement.

Mack shot 276 in his final game en route to a 2,171 nine-game pinfall. He moved ahead of Brian Himmler, who led the first squad with 2,150.

"It was a difficult decision for me to come out and bowl, but I wanted to see how I stacked up against some of the best players in the world," said Mack. "I know I have a big learning curve out here since this is my first event, and I realize I'm going to have to take charge quickly."

Before his professional bowling days, Mack was a fullback at Penn State under the legendary Joe Paterno. Mack most recently helped Team USA win the gold medal in the Bowling World Championship in Malaysia.

Reigning PBA Player of the Year, Walter Ray Williams Jr., barely made the cut for the second straight week, qualifying in the 64th, and final, spot.

After missing the cut the first two weeks, Parker Bohn III finally made the top-64 in grand fashion, finishing the day in seventh. Also making their first cut of the season were Eric Forkel and Ryan Shafer.

Mike Aulby, who announced earlier this week of his retirement plans, narrowly missed the cut by nine pins, finishing in 67th place. Also missing the cut were Danny Wiseman, Rick Steelsmith, and last weeks winner Norm Duke, who bowed out after his first game of qualifying due to a left upper arm injury.

　

　　【PBA】　PBA Miller High Life Open　【Round 1 - A Squad】

2003/10/19

　

梁泰宣
（ヤンテソン）

　

　　【JPBA】　千葉オープン　【準決勝】

　　【PBA】　PBA Greater Kansas City Classic　【Final】

2003/10/18

梁泰宣
（ヤンテソン）

　

Greater Kansas City Classic Finals All Set

Norm Duke

Before his match with Rick Steelsmith in the round of 16, Norm Duke knew he had a tough task ahead of him in the PBA Greater Kansas City Classic at Lunar Bowl.

After splitting the first two games in the best-of-seven match, Duke won the fifth game, and then positioned himself for the win by throwing a 257 in the sixth game. Steelsmith had a chance to tie in the final frame, but left a solid 10-pin to seal the match for Duke four-games-to-two.

"I played power guys the first two rounds and I knew both our styles matched up very closely," Duke said of Steelsmith. "I knew I had to get momentum on my side and keep it."

Chris Barnes came back from a 0-1 deficit to defeat Dennis Horan Jr. 4-2. Horan cemented his place in the finals by being the top-qualifying loser in the round of 8. Horan and Barnes will now face each other again in the wild-card match in the finals.

Mika Koivuniemi came back from two games down to defeat Michael Haugen Jr. 4-2. In the other round of 8 match, Mike Scroggins beat Brian Himmler 4-2.

"The players in the finals tomorrow are playing really well now," Duke said of the other finalists. "But I know I'm confident and I have to be realistic about my chances. But if I settle in, watch out."

In semifinal No. 1, Duke will await the winner of the wild card match. Semifinal No. 2 will feature Scroggins against Koivuniemi.

　

　　【PBA】　PBA Greater Kansas City Classic　【Round 4】

2003/10/17

Clutch Performances Rule the Day

Brian Himmler

Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, came into his round of 32 match with Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, knowing he had to keep momentum on his side Friday night in the PBA Greater Kansas City Classic.

In the fourth game, Himmler left the 2-10 split in the 9th frame and would have to convert if he wanted to avoid a fifth game. As he had already done five times during the day, Himmler made the split and went on to beat Monacelli four-games-to-none in the best-of-seven set.

"I knew I had to make that spare because I've seen in the past where momentum can come back to hurt you," said Himmler, who tends to leave a lot of 2-10 splits because of his power game. "I was relieved when I made it because Amleto is a good bowler and I didn't want to give him any chance for a comeback."

But, in what might turn out to the biggest upset of the year, Kevin Duncan, Mexico, Mo., toppled Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 4-1. In the fifth game, Williams struck out in the 10th frame to put the pressure on Duncan, who responded with a strike to close out the match.

"They could have given me someone a little easier to play in the round of 32," Duncan said of Williams. "There is no doubt he is the best player in the world and I just had a few more breaks than he did."

Duncan, who has only bowled in two PBA Tour events, was consistent the whole match against Williams. Despite his big win, the 36-year-old isn't sure that he will come out to bowl any more stops this year.

"My wife, Krysta, was diagnosed with breast cancer last November," said Duncan. "She has been a big inspiration for me and has made me put things in perspective."

In other action, Chris Barnes came back from a two-game deficit to defeat Jeff Beasley 4-2. Norm Duke also advanced to the round of 16, defeating first day leader Tom Daugherty 4-1.

Brad Angelo, Tommy Delutz Jr., and Tommy Jones were the only competitors to advance to the round of 16 for the second consecutive week.

　

　　【PBA】　PBA Greater Kansas City Classic　【Round 2】

2003/10/16

Tommy Jones Looks For His First PBA Title

Tommy Jones

Tommy Jones, Greenville, S.C., led the second qualifying squad to move into second place overall Thursday during the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Greater Kansas City Classic.

"I didn't have a very good reaction early, but I just remembered what I saw in practice yesterday and changed based on that," said Jones, who averaged 247.25 over his last four games. "Now I have enough pins where I'm a little more comfortable heading into tomorrow."

Jones registered a 2,020, nine-game pinfall total, 50 pins off the pace set by Tom Daugherty, Palm Harbor, Fla.

Local pro James Pugh, of Blue Springs, also found his shot in the latter half of qualifying to make his first cut. Pugh, who also bowled the event last year, was a lot more comfortable this time.

"Last year I was under a lot of pressure because everyone was expecting me to do well," Pugh said. "But this year, I was a little more prepared for it and bowled a lot better."

Reigning PBA Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala., Fla., who was in danger of missing the cut in the final game, struck out in the 10th frame to make the cut by three pins with 1,863. Rudy Kasimakis, Tupelo, Miss., was the last person to make the cut to the round of 64 shooting 1,860.

Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., missed the cut for the second week in a row, rolling 1,845. Other notables that missed were Del Ballard Jr. (67th), Pete Weber (t-131st), Mike Aulby (139th), Randy Pedersen (100th), and last week's finalists, Mike Machuga (93rd) and Lonnie Waliczek (t-131st).

　

　　【PBA】　PBA Greater Kansas City Classic　【Round 1 - A Squad】

2003/10/12

　

鷲塚志麻

　

　

鷲塚志麻

　

Robert Smith Powers His Way To Victory

Robert Smith

Robert Smith, Thousand Oaks, Calif., defeated Mike Machuga in the finals of the season-opening PBA Banquet Open, 244-177, at Thunderbowl Sunday afternoon.

Smith earned his fifth career PBA Tour title and claimed an exemption for the 2004-05 64-man, all-exempt tour. Smith jumped ahead to an early lead. He struck in his first four frames while Machuga recorded four spares and an open mark in his first five frames.

"If you're going to beat these guys out here, you have to jump on them quick and force them to try and catch up," said Smith who won $40,000.

Smith tossed 18 strikes in 24 frames on the day, and used a big power game to march to the title.

"I got into a power match with the most powerful bowler in the world," Machuga said. "I'd have to bowl perfect to top him."

With the finals victory, Smith earned the first exemption for the 2004-05 PBA season. Next season will feature an all-exempt field of 64 bowlers, with 50 exemptions given to champions and point leaders from the current season.

"In the back of my mind, it's great to know that no matter what, I'll be out here next year," Smith said. "No matter what happens, I'll be in next season."

Smith advanced to the finals by beating Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., in the semi-final round, 269-202. Smith struck in frames 2-9 while Waliczek left the 9th frame open to decide the match.

Machuga, a former University of Nebraska Cornhusker from Erie, Pa., topped Brad Angelo in the other semifinal. Angelo was making his first television finals appearance, and the 2003 Rookie of the Year was defeated, 217-181.

Machuga won $20,000 for his runner-up finish while Waliczek and Angelo won $10,000 apiece. Jason Hurd, who fell to Machuga in the wild card match, walks away with $9,000 for fifth place.

2003/10/11

　

守矢一美

High Drama in the Round of Eight

Robert Smith

Robert Smith, Thousand Oaks, Calif., came into this year with a different attitude. At the PBA Banquet Open Saturday night, he used this new outlook to defeat Doug Kent four-games-to-three.

"I really was disappointed with what happened last year and I had some really big expectations," Smith said. "So this year, I got on a work-out routine and I fixed a couple of things with my swing, and I really think it will pay off."

In the fifth game, Smith had a chance to close out the match in the 10th frame, but after striking, Smith left a ringing 9-pin. Kent then struck out to win the game 234-225.

In the sixth game, Kent turned it on, throwing 11 strikes to tie the match 3-3 with a 262-181 victory. The final game was also a nail-biter as it also went down to the final frame. Smith spared and then struck to close out Kent, 238-228.

The Kent-Smith epic wasn't the only match to go the distance. Brad Angelo, the 2003 Rookie of the Year, beat Bryan Goebel in a heart-stopper. Angelo, who will appear in his first televised final, struck out in the last frame to edge Goebel, 259-237.

Angelo will now take on the winner of the wild-card match between Jason Hurd and Mike Machuga.

Machuga, who was the highest qualifier remaining in the field of eight, lost the other 4-3 match against Lonnie Waliczek and became the wild-card. Waliczek went up 3-0 before Machuga reeled off three straight behind a friendly University of Nebraska crowd.

Machuga bowled at Nebraska from 1994-95 and was an All-American there. However, the crowd couldnﾕt bring him all the way back as Waliczek closed out the match with eight strikes and won game No. 7, 277-158.

Jason Hurd, who beat No. 1 seed Walter Ray Williams Jr. earlier in the day, pulled off another big upset as he took down No. 9 Bryon Smith 4-1. Hurd is tied with Brad Angelo for the best match play record of any of the remaining competitors at 12-4.

　

Hurd Tops Williams in Round of 16 Match Play

Jason Hurd

Three of the top four ranked seeds fell Saturday afternoon in the round of 16 match play in the PBA Banquet Open at Thunderbowl.

Jason Hurd, the No. 16 seed, knocked off the six-time PBA Player of the Year and top seed in the tournament, Walter Ray Williams, Jr., four-games-to-one. Hurd, an eight-year pro with one career title, won the first game 242-204 and dropped the second before winning the final three games.

"As the match went on, the oil started going down lane, and the ball wasn't as jerky," Hurd said. "The better control meant better results."

Hurd moves on to face No. 9 Bryon Smith Saturday evening in the round of eight, best-of-seven match play.

In other matches, No. 18 Mike Machuga, who tied for second in qualifying, defeated No. 2 Tommy Delutz, 4-3. With the top qualifier, No. 4 Brian Voss, losing his match, 4-3, to No. 20 Bryan Goebel, Machuga is assured at least the wildcard spot in Sunday's nationally televised championship round.

"If I don't win tonight, I still have to bowl that wildcard match which would mean an extra game on TV," Machuga said. "I've had to do that before, and I'd rather win tonight to hopefully avoid that extra game."

Other action featured No. 14 Robert Smith beating No. 3 Pete Weber, 4-1, while No. 7 Lonnie Waliczek bowled his 10th career 300-game Saturday en route to a 4-2 win over No. 10 Steve Hoskins.

The highest seed to continue to the round of eight was No. 5 Brad Angelo, who downed No. 12 Rick Steelsmith, 4-1.