DiRupo Holds Off Feldman For Her First WIBC Queens Championship

Seven-time Professional Women's Bowling Association winner Marianne DiRupo, Succasunna, N.J., captured her third major championship Wednesday -- winning the 2004 Women's International Bowling Congress Queens Tournament, sponsored by Reno Tri-Properties, in dramatic fashion at Northrock Lanes.

The 37-year-old DiRupo, whose previous victory was at the 2002 Miller High Life National Players championship, defeated 2002 PWBA Player of the Year Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y.; in their second championship match of the stepladder finals, 226-202. DiRupo received the Queens tiara, crystal trophy and $13,500 for her victory.

"This has been a tournament since I was so little that I've always wanted to win. I'm in a fog right now," said DiRupo, who was a 227-202 runner-up to Wendy Macpherson in the 2000 WIBC Queens championship match. "I was hoping it was my tournament to win, but when it comes 'show day,' they didn't play any (lane conditions) like we bowled on all week."

The second match was needed since Feldman defeated DiRupo 242-193 in the first championship game. Since DiRupo was undefeated in the three-game, double-elimination match play portion of the tournament, she needed to lose twice from the No. 1 position in order to be eliminated.

The turning point of their second game came when Feldman, who had advanced through the stepladder finals with two victories from the No. 3 seed by striking at a 72.7 percent rate (24 of 33), opened in the fifth frame with a 4-6-7 split. From there, DiRupo answered with four consecutive strikes while Feldman would not strike again until the 10th frame.

"During the first game, I knew she had me beat so I was playing with some lines and hand positions because I had one game to go," DiRupo said. "It actually helped me that she started striking real early and took me out of play. It's always a relief when you start striking because at least it's taking a little bit of pressure off yourself."

Feldman rolled to the championship match by defeating No. 4 seed Takiko Naganawa, Funabashi, Japan, 235-223, and then No. 2 seed and Team USA 2004 member Olivia Sandham, Wichita, Kan., 245-159. Naganawa opened the stepladder finals with a 213-192 victory over 11-time PWBA winner Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y.

　

Magnificent Mika

The PBA announced today that Mika Koivuniemi won the 2004 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award, Chris Johnson won the 2004 Harry Golden PBA Rookie of the Year Award and Tim Criss took home the 2004 Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award.

Koivuniemi, Ann Arbor, Mich., led the PBA Tour with a 222.73 average, $238,590 in Tour earnings and tied Chris Barnes with a Tour-best seven championship round appearances. The six-year pro tossed the 16th televised perfect game in Tour history in the 2003 PBA Cambridge Credit Classic in Windsor Locks, Conn., en route to his first career PBA Player of the Year Award.

"This is the biggest honor. It's a dream come true. This was one of my biggest goals, and it will keep me going and even more motivated for next year," Koivuniemi said. "I know it wasn't easy because there were a couple of other guys who could have won."

The owner of four career PBA Tour titles, including two last season (PBA Cambridge Credit Classic and PBA Reno Open), Koivuniemi finished the year on a high note, placing second in the 2004 PBA World Championship. In addition, he led Team Geico to a first place finish in the season-long PBA Team Championship.

Steve Jaros, who won a Tour-best three titles last season, was second in PBA Player of the Year voting, followed by Pete Weber, who won the 61st U.S. Open presented by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. Other players receiving votes were Brad Angelo, Tom Baker, Chris Barnes, Michael Haugen Jr., Patrick Healey Jr. and Walter Ray Williams Jr.

Johnson, Garland, Texas, led all rookies with $45,260 in season earnings, eight match play appearances and two championship round appearances. The 6-2, 199-pounder became the first rookie to appear in multiple televised championship round appearances since Healey accomplished the feat in 1998.

Johnson's 12 cashes in 19 events tied him with Tom Smallwood for tops among all rookies. His second place finish in the 2003 PBA Toledo Open was the top finish among all rookies while his 104,800 point total also led all rookies.

"It's an honor because of all the people who have won it in the past," Johnson said. "I'm surprised. There were some good rookies out there this year."

Sweden native Tore Torgersen was second in PBA Rookie of the Year voting while Smallwood placed third. Other rookies receiving votes included Shannon Buchan, Brandon Hilgendorf and Tim Mack.

Criss, Bel Air, Md., wins the PBA Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award for the second time in his 20-year career, having also won the award in 1998. He finished 30th in the PBA World Point Rankings last season with 118,455 points. The five-time PBA Tour title winner has been nominated for this award on numerous occasions.

"Just the fact that I've been nominated almost every year has been real honor," said Criss. "Winning it after so many years shows that people know I'm a good sport off the lanes regardless of whether I do well or don't do well on the lanes."

Jason Queen, the 2003 Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award winner, finished second in voting while Richard Wolfe was third. Justin Hromek and Tim Mack also received votes.

The PBA Player of the Year Award is named after the long-time television play-by-play announcer Chris Schenkel. Schenkel provided commentary for the PBA tour for 36 years and was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame in 1976.

The PBA Rookie of the Year Award is named after Harry Golden. Golden, who retired in 1990, served as the PBA Tour's Tournament Director for 30 years. The PBA Hall of Famer passed away May 10 after battling a long illness.

Steve Nagy, a member of the American Bowling Congress and PBA Hall of Fame, is the namesake of the PBA's Sportsmanship Award. The Award is given annually to the PBA professional who demonstrates the highest degree of sportsmanship on Tour.

All three PBA Tour Awards are voted on by PBA members after the completion of the season.

Japanese Bowling Stars Compete on Senior Tour

Two of the best Japanese Senior professional bowlers came to the United States this week for two weeks of competition Senior Tour in what could be a preview of them joining full-time in the near future.

Junichi Yajima and Takeo Sakai, said to be "Japan's equivalent to Dick Weber and Mark Roth", will both be competing this week at the PBA Senior Chillicothe Open as well as in next week's Senior U.S. Open. Yajima, who owns 40 Japanese professional titles, has bowled in the U.S. on numerous occasions as has Sakai, who has 31 Japanese professional titles.

Sakai, the last Japanese winner of the Japan Cup in 1988, is also trying his hand at what he calls "a very great opportunity." Sakai has entered and will compete for a spot on the PBA Tour in next month's Tour Trials in Merrillville, Ind.

"It's very interesting what the PBA is doing now," said the 51-year-old Sakai. "To compete on Tour would be a great challenge, and I relish the opportunity to get a chance to make it happen."

Yajima doesn't have the same quest as his friend Sakai, but he is glad for the chance that Sakai has been given. Yajima, however, has his mind set on a different goal.

"I will definitely enjoy competing in these two events, but in the future I would be open to the possibility of coming out to bowl an entire season on the Senior Tour," said Yajima. "But only if my wife came too."

Friday night, the two were part of a best-ball sweeper, in which the bowler with the least pinfall on one ball would be eliminated. PBA Senior stars Dick Weber, Gary Dickinson, Pete Couture and Dale Eagle were part of the 25-man field, which also included Carmen Salvino, who was a special guest of Shawnee Lanes.

The event had three heats, with the winner of the each heat winning $750 and the runner-up taking $200. The winners of each of the heats were not allowed to compete in the subsequent events.

PBA Senior Tour rookie David Ozio took the first heat, while reigning Senior Player of the Year, Bob Chamberlain, took the second. Eleven-time Senior Tour titlist Gene Stus took the third and final heat.

Action gets underway Sunday, May 2 at 10 a.m. with the first of two qualifying squads bowling eight games. The finals will take place on Tuesday, May 4 with the round of 4 at 7 p.m. with the finals getting underway immediately following.