Smith is Still On Top

Robert Smith continued his recent hot streak by shooting 2,177 over nine games and holds the lead after the first round of qualifying in the PBA Days Inn Open at Don Carterﾕs All Star Lanes West.

Smith, Thousand Oaks, Calif., who won last week's PBA Odor-Eaters Open in Tucson, charged into the lead with games of 256, 259 and 269 in his final three games and averaged 241.89 on the day. The six-time titlist holds a 13-pin lead over Wes Malott, Austin, Texas, who shot 2,164.

"I'm making good choices and letting my game take over instead of trying to force it," said Smith, who has won two Tour titles this season. "Things are starting to come around. I'm not panicking as much I used to when I would throw a bad shot here and there."

Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, who is the leading candidate for PBA Rookie of the Year, averaged 230.22 to shoot 2,072 and is 3rd. Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., attempts to climb up from 43rd in the PBA World Point Rankings after rolling 2,061 to place him in 7th.

Reigning PBA Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., was the top bowler on the second squad and sits in 6th after shooting 2,063. Williams, who stormed back from 57th place last week to make the finals, is looking to make the finals for the fifth time in seven weeks after not making any finals appearances in the first half of the season.

After five weeks off nursing a left quadricepts injury, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., didn't skip a beat and was tied for 55th after shooting 1,915.

Notes: After being perfect in all 16 PBA Tour events this season, Doug Kent finished 110th to miss his first cut. He is now tied with Tommy Jones and Brad Angelo for the most cashes on Tour.

Smith's Hot Streak Continues

Robert Smith, Thousand Oaks, Calif., took the lead after early qualifying with a 2,177 nine-game pinfall Thursday afternoon in the PBA Days Inn Open at Don Carter's All Star Lanes West.

Smith, fresh off his victory in last week's PBA Odor-Eaters Open, opened up the day with games of 223 and 247. After shooting 188 in game three, the Thousand Oaks, Calif., resident rebounded with his high-game of 279.

"I'm making good choices and letting my game take over instead of forcing it," said Smith, a six-time Tour titlist, who's captured two victories this season. "Things are starting to come around. I'm not panicking as much I used to when I would throw a bad shot here and there."

Wes Malott, Austin, Texas, sits in 2nd place with 2,164 while Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, is 3rd with 2,072.

Norm Duke, who spent the last five weeks recovering from an injured left quadriceps muscle, shot 1,915 and is in 30th place. Pete Weber, St. Ann., Mo., finished tied for 19th with 1,979 a week after withdrawing with a sore right hand.

Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., currently 43rd in the PBA World Point Rankings, shot 2,061 and is 6th, while fellow left-hander Patrick Allen, Tarrytown, N.Y., is 15th with 2,002.

Smith Strikes Twice to Take Odor-Eaters Open

Needing to strike on his first two shots in the 10th frame, Robert Smith, Thousand Oaks, Calif., threw two perfect shots en route to defeating Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 227-218, and win the PBA Odor-Eaters Open Sunday at Golden Pin Lanes.

Williams left the door open for Smith after converting a spare to start the 10th, then threw a strike with his last shot, which forced Smith to strike twice. Smith nailed the both shots and knocked down eight with his last, giving him his second Tour title of the season and the sixth of his career.

"Needing two in the 10th, especially against Walter Ray, it's almost story book", Smith, who won $40,000 said. "You don't want to give a guy a chance to lead especially through six frames. I knew I needed to jump on him."

Williams defeated Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 224-191, in the second semifinal despite opening with three consecutive spares. The six-time Player of the Year struck with his next five shots, giving him a 195-151 lead after eight frames. Smith's fate was sealed with a 4-9 split in the 8th, missing both pins with his second shot.

The first semifinal saw Robert Smith defeat Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 235-211. Steelsmith had a hard time throwing strikes, tossing seven spares, including six in the first eight frames, which allowed Smith to lead wire-to-wire.

The wildcard match came down to the 10th frame, as Joe Ciccone, down two pins, threw a strike in his first shot before failing to convert a 4-6-7 split. Bryon Smith struck out, moving him into the semifinals with a 268-255 win.

Williams won $20,000 for his second place finish. Bryon Smith and Steelsmith won $10,000 for third place while Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., earned $9,000 for fifth place.

Smith Clinches Spot In Finals

Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., threw five straight strikes to end game five and defeat Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., four games-to-one in the round of 8 in the PBA Odor-Eaters Open Saturday at Golden Pin Lanes.

With the match tied 1-1, Smith won game three, 258-187, then converted the 6-7 split in game four, giving him a 257-236 win. In the fifth and final game, Smith led 157-156 after seven frames, but Ciccone threw a spare in the 8th frame, opening the door for Smith. Smith struck out, securing the win and putting him in the finals for the first time since the 2003 ABC Masters.

"It's been a good week," Smith, who stood 51st on the PBA World Point Rankings heading into this week, said. "I've been struggling since the second week of the Tour. I haven't been able to put anything together. I've practiced more this year than I have the last four years. I got the breaks I needed and I threw it good. I got rewarded for all the practice."

In a round of 8 rematch, Smith will go against Ciccone in Sunday's wildcard match. Ciccone was the top qualifier among the four bowlers who lost in the round of 8, therefore earning the wildcard spot.

Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., swept Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 4-0 to advance to the finals for the second time this season.

Robert Smith, Thousand Oaks, Calif., used a 10-9 sudden death, one-ball roll-off win to take game five, and the match, over Brandon Hilgendorf, Clinton Flagship, Mich., 4-1.

Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., swept Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 4-0. Williams, who dropped just two games in match play this week, has averaged 246.69 this week and earlier set the PBA all-time, nine-game pinfall total with 2,367, Friday morning.

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

Angelo Climbs Into Round of 16

Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., used a 29-25 roll-off following game five to defeat Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., four games-to-one in the round of 32 Friday in the PBA Odor-Eaters Open at Golden Pin Lanes.

Angelo, who has made two finals appearances in the last four weeks, tied Garber in game five, 215-215. After trading strikes in the one-ball, sudden death roll-off and nine-spares in the second roll-off, Angelo struck in the third extra frame while Garber knocked down six.

"This is tough mentally when you know you have to shoot 230 to keep pace," said Angelo, who entered the day in a tie for 62nd place. "I think everyone out here feels the pressure."

Angelo will face Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., Saturday morning in the round of 16. Learn advanced by defeating Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 4-1.

Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., swept Matt Ballard, Peoria, Ariz., 4-0 and will face Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J. Saturday morning. Bohn advanced by defeating Mike Machuga, Erie, Pa., 4-3. Bohn and Williams finished qualifying earlier Friday, first and second, respectively.

Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., knocked off Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 4-0. Couch used a 10-9 roll-off to proceed into tomorrow's action. Couch will face Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., who advanced by defeating Brian Voss, Alphretta, Ga., 4-3. In game seven, Edwards nearly threw a perfect game in the 278-217 win.

Brandon Hilgendorf, Clinton Township, Mich., defeated Patrick Allen, Tarrytown, N.Y., 4-3. In one of the few seven-game matches of the evening, Hilgendorf struck with his first shot in the 10th frame to secure the win.

　　【PBA】　PBA Odor-Eaters Open　【Round 2】

Bohn Bounces Back

Despite being entrenched in one of the worst stretches of his 20-year career, Parker Bohn III battled back to shoot a 2,326 nine-game pinfall and holds the lead after the opening round of the PBA Odor-Eaters Open at Golden Pin Lanes.

Bohn, Jackson, N.J., started off with a 300-game to set the tone for the rest of his day. After his low game of 211 in game four, Bohn shot 255, 279, and 258 over his next three games and ended with a 268.

"Everything I've done lately has been everything but right," said Bohn, who is currently 54th in the PBA World Point Rankings. "It's been like a 12-round fight with Mike Tyson, and I don't know why I keep getting up. I felt really good bowling out there today, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. I'll take it game by game."

Bohn holds a 17-pin lead over Bob Learn, Erie, Pa., who set a torrid early scoring pace of his own, averaging 274 in his first five games, including a perfect game of his own to start the round. However, Learn tailed off toward the end of his nine-game set, shooting 223 and 197, in games six and seven, respectively, to give Bohn the advantage.

PBA Hall of Famer Steve Cook, Granite Bay, Calif., who is only competing in his third event since being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992, sits in 11th place with 2,170. Last week's U.S. Open champion Pete Weber bowed out after the second game due to a sore right hand.

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Tom Candiotti averaged 201.22 and finished 163rd. Candiotti is the second former pitcher to compete on Tour this season following John Burkett's 185th place finish in the ABC Masters.

　　【PBA】　PBA Odor-Eaters Open　【Round 1 - A Squad】

Weber Wins Taxing U.S. Open

In a shootout between two PBA Hall of Famers, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., defeated, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 231-178, to win the 61st U.S Open presented by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Sunday in the Anaheim Convention Center.

Weber, who picked up his third U.S. Open title, seventh major Tour title and 31st career title, took advantage of Voss' open in the 7th frame by striking in two of his next three shots. Needing seven pins in the 10th to secure the win, Weber threw the ball straight down the middle of the lane for a strike, giving him the $100,000 first-place prize and three-year Tour exemption.

"I found a pretty good shot and just went with it," Weber, a leading candidate for PBA Player of the Year, said. "I said at the beginning of the week that you have to be patient, keep the ball in play and make your spares. I stayed calm all week and when it was time to let my emotions go, I let them go."

In the semifinals, Voss defeated Chris Barnes, Dallas, 214-193, placing him in the final game of the U.S. Open for the first time in his career. Heading into the 8th frame, Barnes needed to strike out to advance, but couldn't convert a 4-6-7-9-10 split, paving the way for Voss.

Voss, who won $50,000, struck on 11 of 12 shots as he defeated defending U.S Open champion Walter Ray Williams, Ocala, Fla., 260-214 in the quarterfinals.

In the first match of the day, Williams struck twice in the 10th frame to secure a 228-198 victory over amateur Osku Palermaa, Finland, to advance. Palermaa was the first international amateur in the history of the PBA to make a televised finals.

Barnes earned $25,000 for his third place finish, while Williams and Palermaa earned $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.

Weber Looking For Third Open Title

Three PBA Hall of Famers headline the five finalists for the 61st U.S. Open presented by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. The finalists were decided Saturday night with the final eight game set of round-robin match play at Fountain Bowl.

Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Brian Voss advanced to the final round, along with 1998 PBA Rookie of the Year Chris Barnes and amateur Osku Palermaa, who uses an unusual, two-handed bowling style.

Weber, St. Ann, Mo., is the No. 1 seed after beating eventual No. 2 seed Chris Barnes in their final game to decide seeding, 247-211. Weber finished match play with a 16-7-1 record and a 5,732 51-game pinfall while Barnes was 17-7 with 5,844.

"In this kind of format whenever you're the number one seed that's perfect," said Weber, who will be looking for his third U.S. Open crown. "I really can't ask for much more than that."

A five-time Tour titlist, Barnes, Dallas, will be making his third major finals appearance of the season. He was 3rd in the 2003 PBA Dexter Tournament of Champions and 2nd in the 2004 ABC Masters.

Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., defeated Williams, Ocala, Fla., 230-212 for the third seed. A 22-time Tour titlist, Voss converted a 7-10 split in the 7th frame to secure his finals slot. Williams, the No. 4 seed, will be looking to defend his title and earn his seventh career major victory.

Palermaa, a Finland native, will be the first international amateur and the fifth amateur overall to appear in a U.S. Open final since 1971 after defeating 2003 PBA Rookie of the Year Brad Angelo, 203-167 in their final match.

Back to His Old Self

Brian Voss contin