Friday in Valley Park

Patrick Allen

Best friends...except on the lanes

No. 2 Patrick Allen defeated No. 63 Tom Daugherty in the round of 64 yesterday, 4-1. It seemed like a rather routine win for Allen, but in reality it wasn't. Off the lanes, Allen and Daugherty are best friends.

"I was way more relaxed bowling him," Daugherty said of his match with Allen. "During practice [Wednesday and Thursday] he was helping me out, which is pretty nice for a guy who is trying to beat me. He was helping me out with which ball to drill, and how to lay it out and where to play the lanes. "
"We had lunch together and we played Golden Tee together but once the match started it was 'game on'," said Daugherty, who advanced to the round of 64 by finishing 4th in the PBA Tour Qualifying Round Wednesday.

Daugherty defeated Allen in the first game, 195-194, but Allen went on to take the next four games.

"After the first game I was thinking I better start throwing the ball better because he is going to start bowling better," said Dougherty.

Even down 3-1, Dougherty made some noise before Allen sealed the victory with a 259-258 win in game five to advance to the round of 32.

"[Patrick] wasn't mad after the first game, but he was mad the last game when I made a little noise in the 9th frame. But he came back and was even louder than I was, and being the great player that he is, he struck out in the 9th and 10th to beat me by a pin."

Getting ready by hitting the links

How do competitors on the PBA Tour prepare for their matches? Well, some guys hit the links to blow off some steam. Thursday morning, Norm Duke played golf alongside his round of 64 opponent, Robert Smith. Pete Weber and Mike Machuga tagged along to fill out the foursome.

"Robert and I played golf together [Thursday] with Weber and Machuga, and not only did we have a blast but it helped to loosen everyone up," said Duke, who did not report the group's golf scores. "We knew we had to bowl each other, but we still enjoy each others company and that made for a good day either way."

Tough time for finalists

Two of the four finalists from last week's PBA Uniroyal Tire Classic were ousted in the round of 64 Thursday, both taking their matches to seven games.

Doug Kent, who finished 2nd last week, lost to Mike Wolfe yesterday, losing a 2-0 lead.

Kent averaged 246.00 over his first two games, both victories, before Wolfe won the next three games, 228-224, 223-169 and 269-205. Kent forced a game seven with a 244-200 win in game six. Wolfe shot lights out in the deciding game, taking the win, 279-208.

Lonnie Waliczek, who lost to Kent in the semifinals last week, fell to David Traber in the round of 64 this week.

Waliczek fell behind early, finding himself down 2-0 before winning two straight with scores of 219 and 236 to even the match. Down 3-2, Waliczek won game six, 188-183 before losing game seven, 191-187.

Rematch!

An interesting match-up in the round of 32 features a rematch of last week's semifinal clash between Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Jason Hurd.

If the opening game was a sign of things to come, this match should feature some blistering scores. Williams won the opener, 279-278, striking on his first seven shots before converting a single pin spare in the 8th frame. Hurd's lone blemish in the first game was in the 5th frame, when he knocked down eight pins on his first shot before converting the spare.

Duke Dominates

Norm Duke

Norm Duke, a 21-time PBA Tour title winner, advanced to the round of 32 for the first time in a standard PBA Tour event this season, defeating Robert Smith four-games-to-one in the round of 64 Thursday in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) BowlersParadise.com Open at Brunswick Zone Lakeside.

Duke shot the third 300 game of the tournament and averaged 266.40 in the five games.

"You've got to get a win under your belt otherwise it can be a roller coaster. You have to stop the bleeding at some point," said Duke, whose last title came in the 2003 PBA Greater Kansas City Classic in Blue Springs, Mo. "Maybe this will give me some confidence."

Duke, Clermont, Fla., struck 10 times in a row after a spare in the 1st frame to win game one, 289-219. After Smith, Thousand Oaks, Calif., won the second game, Duke struck on his last 11 shots to win game three, 290-201. Duke won game four, 226-225, when Smith left a 7-pin in the 10th frame, then finished out the match with a 300-212 win in game five.

Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., who has won two career tournaments in the St. Louis area, advanced with a 4-2 win over Ken Abner, Cincinnati. Weber's father, Dick, who was awarded the Commissioner's Exemption this week, fell to No. 6 Chris Barnes, 4-0.

Also advancing to the round of 64 was last week's PBA Uniroyal Tire Classic champion Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., who beat amateur Robby Spigner, 4-1. Williams is one PBA Tour title shy of tying Earl Anthony's all-time record of 41.

Johnson Moves Straight into Round of 32

Chris Johnson

Last season's PBA Rookie of the Year Chris Johnson is known for his ability to hook his shots. He used a straighter shot Thursday, however, to defeat Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., four-games-to-three in the first of two sessions of the round of 64 in the PBA BowlersParadise.com Open at Brunswick Zone Lakeside.

"I had a good shot the whole time; just dead straight. I knew the shot would be there," said Johnson, Garland, Texas, who averaged an impressive 275.75 over his four victories. "I can play straight, too. That's no big deal."

Down 1-0, Johnson used games of 278 and 279 to take a 2-1 lead. After dropping game three in a sudden death roll-off, Johnson shot 205 in game five and fell behind 3-2. He responded with victories of 278-201 and 268-225 to advance to the round of 32.

No. 19 Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, took out No. 46 Mike DeVaney, Henderson, Nev., 257-236 in the seventh game and will next face No. 51 Shannon Buchan, who derailed PBA Hall of Famer No. 14 Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., winning their seventh game, 235-195.

Other matches featured PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., taking out Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., 4-1. Another PBA Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, advanced by topping Mike Edwards, Tulsa, 4-2.

40!!!

Walter Ray Williams Jr.

Walter Ray Williams Jr. became just the second bowler to reach 40 career PBA Tour titles when he defeated Doug Kent in the title match of the PBA Uniroyal Tire Classic, 268-248, Sunday at Freeway Lanes of Wickliffe.

The PBA Hall of Famer needed to double in the 10th frame to move within one win of the all-time Tour title winner, Earl Anthony (41).

Kent, Newark, N.Y., put pressure on Williams, striking from the 3rd through 8th frames to take a one pin lead heading into the 9th frame. With both working on strikes, Kent left a 10-pin while Williams threw one of his seven straight strikes to close out the game.

"Being able to have the opportunity to perform in a pressure situation and actually doing it is very satisfying. To get up there in the 10th frame needing to throw a strike and coming through, that is one of the best moments for a bowler," said Williams, who won $40,000 and an exemption for the 2005-06 season.

Williams defeated Jason Hurd, Titsuville, Fla., 268-186, in their semifinal match. Williams struck on nine of his first 10 shots while Hurd, who entered the match having marked in his last 45 frames, opened three times in the first five frames.

In the other semifinal, Kent defeated Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, in their semifinal, 247-198. Waliczek opened in the 2nd frame, missing the 4-pin and giving Kent, Newark, N.Y., the early lead. Kent capitalized, striking on his next six shots as Waliczek opened in the 8th to stamp Kentﾕs ticket to the finals.

Kent won $20,000 for 2nd while Hurd and Waliczek tied for 3rd and took home $10,000 apiece.

愛甲恵子

愛甲恵子がポジションマッチでも中谷優子を破り（237-167）、決勝ラウンドロビン11勝1敗と抜群の勝負強さと相性で群馬オープン2勝目、今季2勝・通算8勝目を挙げた（7月のBIG BOX東大和カップ優勝に続き）。また前半トップを走っていた中谷は、後半伸び悩みポジションマッチでも167とスコアを落として川口富美恵に逆転され3位に後退、代わってポジションマッチで近藤に勝った川口が準優勝。なお昨年優勝の近藤文美は終盤追い上げるも5位となった。

女子は残りプリンスカップと全日本の2試合を残し、今大会6位の時本美津子が着実にポイントを加算してポイントランキングトップを独走、それを愛甲恵子・川口富美恵・竹内昭子・吉田真由美の中堅・若手が追いかける展開となった。

中谷優子

1999年大会優勝の中谷優子が予選4位から準決勝217アベレージで追い上げトップで決勝ラウンドロビンへ進出、2位に今季2勝を挙げ好調の川口富美恵、3位に準決勝後半失速の林尚子、4位に今季初優勝を狙う吉田真由美、5位に体調不十分ながらラウンドロビン進出を果たした時本美津子、6位に予選トップから後退の大山由里香、7位にディフェンディングチャンピオンの近藤文美、8位に2002年大会準優勝の溝渕秀美、9位に2000年大会優勝の愛甲恵子、10位に前回館林スポーツレーン開催時の優勝者高林英子、11位に2002年優勝の中島政江（予選20位から）、そして12位に金城愛乃が入り今年の好調組と歴代優勝者が揃って決勝ラウンドロビンへ進出した。なお地元群馬出身の斉藤志乃ぶは準決勝でもスコアが伸びず20位で終了した。

大山由里香

群馬オープンレディースボウリングトーナメントが群馬県の館林スポーツレーンで開催され、今大会選抜から出場の大山由里香がシード選手（2〜9位を占める）を抑えトップで準決勝へ。2位にラスト269・245のビッグゲームを出し一気に上がった林尚子がつけ、3位に今季2勝を挙げ好調の川口富美恵がつけている。

Looking to Join the 40 Club

Walter Ray Williams Jr.

Walter Ray Williams Jr. will look to become just the second bowler in PBA Tour history to reach the 40-title mark after he advanced to the championship round of the PBA Uniroyal Tire Classic Friday night at Freeway Lanes of Wickliffe.

Williams has 39 PBA Tour titles and trails all-time leader and bowling legend Earl Anthony by two wins.

"Bowling is a numbers game, and as time goes by you start to get a certain perspective of what they mean," said Williams, who will be making his record 145th career televised finals appearance on Sunday. "The records do mean a lot to me, but you have to put it in perspective. I've won a lot of titles but I've also lost a lot of matches too."

Friday evening, Williams, Ocala, Fla., defeated Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., four-games-to-one to punch his ticket to the final round. Williams dropped the first game, 249-224 before shooting 247 in three consecutive games, all wins. He closed out the match with a 268-232 victory.

Williams will face Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla., who defeated Wes Malott, Austin, 4-2. Hurd averaged 248.50 in his four wins.

In Sunday's other semifinal, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, will face Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y. Waliczek, who will be looking to claim a PBA Tour title for the first time in his last 25 events, defeated Mike Scroggins, 4-1.

In his round of 8 match, Kent swept Bryon Smith, 4-0. Kent increased his score in each of his four games including a 274-257 win in the final game, in which he struck on 10 of 12 frames.

Notes: Mike Edwards struck on a mind-boggling 27 consecutive shots in his round of 16 match against Michael Fagan. Edwards struck on his final six shots of the first game before firing a 300 (12 shots) in game two then striking on his first nine shots of game three. Edwards went on to sweep Fagan, 4-0, and averaged 262.50 in the match win.

Angelo Downs Johnson

Brad Angelo

Liz Johnson and Brad Angelo have bowled against each other many times, but never when it meant much. Angelo defeated Johnson, the first female to bowl in a standard PBA Tour event, four-games-to-two Thursday evening in the PBA Uniroyal Tire Classic at Freeway Lanes.

Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., and Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., have a long history together, bowling against each other in upstate N.Y. since they met each other over 10 years ago.

Thursday night, Angelo struck first with a 216-172 opening game win before taking the second game, 257-210. Johnson, who won 11 Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour titles, came back with a 247-216 victory in game three.

"It was awesome. It was great to be able to bowl with Brad, and in a way it made things easier for me," said Johnson, who this past summer bowled against Angelo in the Buffalo area. "Mentally and emotionally it made things easier overall. I didn't really feel any nerves."

Down 3-1, Johnson struck in her first nine shots of the fifth game en route to a 278-230 win. Angelo closed out the match, 236-212, in game six.

In other matches, No. 2 Patrick Allen, Tarrytown, N.Y., averaged 270.00 over his final three games - including the event's second 300 game - to come back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat No. 63 Jeff Zaffino, Warren, Pa.

No. 49 Richard Wolfe, Vienna, Va., also battled back from a 3-1 deficit to beat this seasonﾕs Masters champion, Danny Wiseman, 4-3. Wolfe topped Wiseman, Baltimore, 264-248, in the deciding game.

Notes: Johnson had a rough start to her night...after a striking on her first shot, she left a 7-10 split in the 2nd frame and quickly fell behind...there were 13 "upsets" in which the lower seed won in the Round of 64...the lowest seed still remaining is No. 59 Dale Traber, who beat No. 6 Tommy Jones, 4-1...Dale's pair was next to his brother, Dave's, pair...Dave lost to No. 18 Lonnie Waliczek, 4-2.

Johnson Makes History

Liz Johnson

Liz Johnson made history by becoming the first woman to qualify for a PBA Tour event Wednesday when she finished 4th in the PBA Tour Qualifying Round of the PBA Uniroyal Tire Classic at Freeway Lanes of Wickliffe.

Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., finished with a 2,074 nine-game pinfall for a 230.44 average to finish as the top amateur of the day.

The top five non-exempt PBA members and the top amateur move on to the 64-person, single elimination match play event starting Thursday.

"This is pretty exciting," said Johnson. "I came in here with no expectations. It was actually a last minute decision to enter. I started off bad out of the gates, but I focused and got better game by game. I'm pretty happy with the results."

Johnson started the day with a 153, but came back to average 255 over the next six games, including a high of 278 in game four. After a 177 in game eight, she sealed the deal with a 214 in the final game of the night.

Johnson was an 11-time winner in the Professional Women's Bowling Association. She won the 1996 U.S. Open on the way to winning the 1996 Rookie of the Year.

Johnson will face fellow New Yorker and No. 1 seed Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., in the round of 64, which is best-of-seven match play.

Also qualifying for the round of 64 was Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., who finished 1st with a 2,148 nine-game pinfall. Mike Mineman, Belleville Ill., Jimmy Johnson, Columbus, Ohio, Brandon Hilgendorf, Clinton Township, Mich., and Jeff Zaffino, Warren Pa., also advanced to Thursday's match play.

Five members advanced to the round of 64 this week because Pete Weber has taken the week off.

Himmler Repeats In Chicago

Brian Himmler

Brian Himmler became just the 27th player in PBA Tour history to successfully defend a title as he defeated Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 277-217, in the PBA Chicago Open Sunday at Hawthorn Lanes.

Himmler, Cincinnati, who won the 2003 PBA Miller High Life Open at Hawthorn Lanes last season, was two shots away from a perfect game as he struck with his first seven shots and 10 of 12 frames. Voss began the game with a strike but two spares in his next three shots gave Himmler a comfortable 40-pin lead after the fourth.

"It could be a coincidence but I've always had good pin carry here which helped this week because the scores were so high," Himmler said regarding defending his title from last season. "The more I bowl on TV the more comfortable I get. I rise to the occasion when the heat is on."

Himmler advanced to the final via a 257-191 win in the second semi-final over Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan. Himmler opened the match with seven strikes in his first eight shots to take a commanding 208-142 lead after eight frames. Steelsmith had a pair of open frames, including one in the second frame, giving Himmler a comfortable lead from the start.

Voss defeated Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, 279-228, in the first semi-final. Voss was nearly perfect, striking 11 of 12 times. Johnson, who threw three consecutive strikes to begin the match, had two spares in two of the next three frames, opening the door for Voss to advance to the title match.

Himmler picked up his 3rd career title, a $40,000 first-place prize and a one-year Tour exemption. Voss won $20,000 for his 2nd place finish. Johnson and Steelsmith won $10,000 for 3rd place.

貞松保行

貞松保行

ポジションマッチも制した貞松がブッチギリでTV決勝トップシード、品田順一郎も貞松に234-232で敗れるも2位でTV決勝初進出を果たす。またポジションマッチ5位・6位の20歳対決を制した永野が257で勝ち3位へ、そして3位・4位対決の大澤義樹対水野成祐の対戦は僅か1ピン差（212-211）で水野が勝ち何とか4位でTV決勝へ。水野は今年ミックスダブルスを森谷留美子と組んで優勝、個人初タイトルへ意欲を燃やす。

貞松保行

トップをひた走る貞松保行が準決勝ラストゲームに今大会第1号のパーフェクトを達成し2位に296ポイント差をつけてブッチギリでラウンドロビンへ。そして今年合格の新人、日置（ヘキ）秀一（弱冠20歳）が準決勝で大爆発し予選18位から一気に2位でラウンドロビン進出を果たし初賞金を獲得。また3位も初ラウンドロビン進出となる品田順一郎（37期：藤岡ボウル）が入り、8位の永野すばると若手の活躍が期待される。また4位に先週の疲れも見せず（東海女子オープンでトーナメントディレクターを務め、朝から夜中までハッスル）健闘の坂田重徳、5位に前回優勝の大澤義樹、6位に今季ミックスダブルス優勝の水野成祐、KPBA勢も2名進出を果たしラウンドロビン12名は多彩な顔ぶれとなった。なお13位はジャパンオープン優勝し勢いに乗る玉井慎一郎がラストゲーム243を出すも8ピン届かず惜しくも次点となった。

Himmler's Hawthorn Success Continues

Brian Himmler

Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, will try to win a Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour event at Hawthorn Lanes for the second consecutive year as he advanced to the finals of the PBA Chicago Open with a four-games-to-two win Friday over Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y.

Himmler won the PBA Miller High Life Open in Vernon Hills last season for his second career title. On Friday, he used a 300 in game three on the way to defeating Fagan in the best-of-seven match in the round of 8.

"I'd love to win it again," said Himmler. "I feel really comfortable in this house. This year the conditions are different but I feel really confident. Good things just seem to happen to me here."

Himmler defeated Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 4-0 in the round of 16, just the second four-game sweep in 60 matches since the tournament opened on Thursday. At No. 50, Himmler was the lowest remaining seed in the round of 8. No bowler seeded higher than 16th advanced into the round of 8.

The highest seed remaining is No. 16 Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., who advanced with a 4-3 win over Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla. Voss bowled the maximum 21 games on Friday, winning all three of his matches 4-3.

Also qualifying for the finals were No. 22 Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, and No. 37 Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas. Steelsmith won 4-2 over Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, who won last week's Miller High Life Masters presented by the American Bowling Congress.

Johnson, the 2004 PBA Rookie of the Year, beat Robert Smith, Thousand Oaks, Calif., 4-2. Johnson, who will face Voss in the semifinals, will be looking for his first career title. Himmler will battle Steelsmith in the other semifinal.

　　【PBA】　PBA Chicago Open　【Round 3】

貞松保行

貞松保行が予選4シリーズ全て700アップで、2位に170ピン差をつけダントツでトップ！そしてディフェンディングチャンピオンの大澤義樹が10位で通過。地元勢では15位に岡部直治が入り、北関東支部長の黒羽正行がラストゲーム278と爆発し通過ラインギリギリの32位で準決勝進出を果たした。なお矢島純一がラストゲームまさかの147をたたき次点となった。また昨年ベストアマの小堀大輔選手が準決勝進出を逃すも総合68位で2年連続ベストアマを獲得！

Weiss Wins Opening Match

Randy Weiss

Randy Weiss, Irmo, S.C., knocked off No. 4 seed Patrick Allen, Tarrytown, N.Y., four-games-to-two Thursday to advance to the round of 32 in the PBA Chicago Open at Hawthorn Lanes.

Weiss reached the round of 64 by finishing 2nd in Wednesday's PBA Tour Qualifying Round. The top four non-exempt PBA members and top amateur advanced to the 64-man bracket featuring best-of-seven match play.

Weiss, the No. 61 seed, will face No. 36 Steve Wilson, Lake Worth, Fla. on Friday.

"I have a long way to go," Weiss said. "All I am thinking about is my match tomorrow morning."

Weiss won the first game of the best-of-seven match against Allen, 224-217. Allen won a 10-9 roll-off, the fourth roll-off of the day, to win game two, but Weiss took command by winning the next two games. After Allen took the fifth game, Weiss clinched the match with a 214-188 win.

Three bowlers came back from 3-0 deficits to win 4-3. Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, who won last week's Miller High Life Masters presented by the American Bowling Congress, came back from three games down to win, as did No. 3 Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., and No. 7 Tommy Jones, Mauldin, S.C.

In another upset, No. 57 Jim Pratt defeated No. 8 Michael Haugen Jr., Las Vegas, 4-2.

Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., had the only sweep of the day, defeating Peter Hernandez, Miami, 4-0. Learn just missed the fifth 300 game of the day, shooting a 299 in game four.

Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, who won the PBA Miller High Life Open at Hawthorn Lanes last year, advanced Thursday morning with a 4-1 win over Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita.

貞松保行

栃木オープンが栃木県の宇都宮第二トーヨーボウルで開催され、前半6Gが終了し貞松保行がトップ、柴田英徳が2位と共に11期生のベテラン勢が頑張り、3位に桑名の吉川孝孝（25期）がつけている｡。また昨年優勝の大澤義樹は15位、今年合格の日置秀一が13位と健闘、先週「東海女子オープン」でトーナメントディレクターを務めた坂田重徳も練習不足を乗り越え27位、地元勢は岡部直治が26位・安藤智宏が30位につけている。なお毎年上位を占めるレフティー陣が32位以内におらず苦戦の模様、明日の巻き返しを期待。