Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Commissioner and CEO Fred Schreyer announced today Billy Oatman will replace injured Ritchie Allen as one of 58 exempt bowlers on the 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour. Oatman becomes the first-ever African-American to earn a full-season Tour exemption.

Oatman finished 11th in the 2006 Denny's PBA Tour Trials in June, one spot shy of an exemption as the top 10 finishers in the 140-bowler field earned season-long exemptions. Oatman, who became a PBA member just days prior to the qualifying event, finished 34 pins behind 10th-place Del Ballard Jr.

The Chicago native will replace Allen, who suffered a stress fracture in the ring finger of his bowling hand. Allen will defer his exemption, which he earned by winning the 2006 Motel 6 Phoenix Classic, until 2007-08. The 28-year-old, who was exempt for the first time in 2005-06, won his second career title and finished 31st in the 2005-06 PBA World Point Rankings.

"I am ecstatic. I'm sorry for Ritchie, but at the same time I am happy for myself and for Del because it worked out for all three of us to stay exempt and not step on each others' toes," Oatman said. "I'm just glad I got the chance. This is something I have always dreamed about. I feel like an NBA player who just got drafted."

The 40-year-old Oatman, who has yet to bowl in a Denny's PBA Tour event as a PBA member, will look to become the Tour's second African-American title winner. George Branham III won five titles in his career including the prestigious Firestone Tournament of Champions in 1993. Several other African-Americans have competed on Tour, including Willie Willis who won a National Resident Pro Championship, which did not count as a Tour title.

The Denny's PBA Tour switched to an all-exempt format starting with the 2004-05 season. Earlier this summer, Kelly Kulick became the first woman to earn a full-season exemption when she finished sixth in the Denny's PBA Tour Trials.

Oatman's first event will be the season-opening 2006 USBC Masters Oct. 22-29 at AMF Bowlero Lanes in Wauwatosa, Wis.

Though his lead after 20 games of qualifying will not carry into round robin match play, Michael Fagan still feels good about his chances in the Dydo Japan Cup 2006.

Fagan, looking for his first career Denny's PBA Tour title, finished qualifying with a 4,767 20-game pinfall Thursday at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. He leads a group of 32 bowlers into round robin match play Friday, where scores start from scratch.

The 25-year-old from Greenlawn, N.Y., averaged 240.25 in his eight games Thursday to maintain his lead over Wes Malott (Dallas, Texas). Fagan started and ended his block with his two highest games, firing a 278 to start the day and finishing with a 268.

"I tried a different ball today to see what it would do and I feel like I have a couple different options for match play," said Fagan. "I feel comfortable and hopefully I can continue the success I've had in match play."

Malott, who made the championship round in his first career Japan Cup last season, remained second with 4,655. Ryan Shafer (Horseheads, N.Y.) is third with 4,604.

"We don't bowl this format on the PBA Tour and it requires a little different strategy," said Malott of the qualifying scores not carrying over into match play. "This year I know what the strategy is and I'm going to take advantage of it."

The two-time defending Japan Cup champion and reigning PBA Player of the Year Tommy Jones (Simpsonville, S.C.) had a solid day, moving up from 20th at the start of the day to seventh. He is looking to become just the second bowler to win three consecutive Japan Cup crowns.

Parker Bohn III (Jackson, N.J.), the only man to accomplish that feat, missed the cut, as did Doug Kent (Newark, N.Y.). The brothers-in-law were the only two of the 20 PBA players who failed to advance to match play.

38位のダグ・ケント、41位のパーカー・ボーン III を除くPBA18名がラウンドロビン進出を果たしPBAトッププロのレベルを今年も実感。そんな中JPBA期待の一番星、山本勲（44期：ABS）が6位で進出。そしてプロ入り5年以内の日置秀一（43期：T-MAX）、児島都史（41期：フリー）、永野すばる （40期：プロショップなかや）らも進出を果たした。またJapan Cup上位常連の栴檀稔（21期：八尾ボウルアロー）､酒井武雄（9期：C-BIC）が何とか31位・32位で進出、明日のラウンドロビンはトータルピンを持ち込まずゼロスタートなる為、彼らの巻き返しに期待。
※JPBA11名・KPBA3名・PBA18名の計32名が明日のラウンドロビン投球。

A little more than 24 hours after landing in Tokyo, Michael Fagan made a strong debut in the Dydo Japan Cup 2006, leading the field after the first 12 games of qualifying Wednesday at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Bowling Center.

The event marks the season opener of the 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour, and features 20 of the top PBA bowlers against the best of the Japan Professional Bowlers Association (JPBA) and Korean Professional Bowlers Association (KPBA).

Fagan (Greenlawn, N.Y.), who finished 18th in the 2005-06 PBA World Point Rankings to receive an invitation to the event, averaged 237.08 in finishing with a 2,845 12-game pinfall. The top 16 bowlers in the PBA World Point Rankings receive an all-expenses paid trip to the event. In addition, four bowlers are invited to attend, but are required to pay their own expenses. The 25-year-old flew straight to Japan from Germany, where he was bowling in another tournament.

"I wanted to come here and bowl no matter what, and it was worth the money," said Fagan, who is still looking for his first Denny's PBA Tour title. "I've always wanted to come here and bowl, especially since Tommy (Jones) started doing so well. Our styles are similar so it motivated me to come here and do as well as he has."

Jones (Simpsonville, S.C.), the 2005-06 PBA Player of the Year, is the two-time defending Japan Cup champion. He won in 2004 for his first career title which launched a two-year run that has seen him dominate the Tour, winning eight titles in two seasons. Jones is 20th after day one with 2,577.

Wes Malott (Dallas, Texas) is second with 2,826, while Mike Machuga (Erie, Pa.) is third with 2,715.

Chris Loschetter (Avon, Ohio), who is also appearing in his first Japan Cup, is 10th with 2,625. Loschetter fired the day's only 300 game.

The field of 144 bowlers was cut to the top 72, who advance to Thursday's additional eight-game qualifying round. The top 32 will then advance to round robin match play. All 20 PBA players survived the first cut.

The nine-bowler finals will take Sunday, Sept. 24 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. The championship round will air tape-delayed on ESPN Sunday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. ET.

Notes
Loschetter is like Fagan in that the 26-year-old paid his own way to Japan after finishing 19th in the 2005-06 PBA World Point Rankings. He impressed on day one with the only perfect game of the day, which came in his fifth game.

"I never had a second thought," said Loschetter about coming to Japan. "I knew I would come whether I had to pay or not."

Though he started slow, averaging 201.25 over his first four games, Loschetter picked things up later in the block.

"The lanes were tougher than I expected after practice (Tuesday) and I didn't bowl well this morning but I was fortunate to have the one big game," said Loschetter. "I bowled very well (in the second block). I didn't carry very well, but I had enough big games to get by. The lanes were tough and if you didn't have the right ball it was hard to carry."

Loschetter qualified for the Japan Cup in his first season as an exempt bowler.

"I think everyone here has been very friendly and very helpful," said Loschetter of his first trip to Japan. "It's a very nice center and I'm happy I've done well. I'm looking forward to hopefully making the top 32 and moving on in this competition.

"It's definitely a prestigious event and it's an honor to be here," Loschetter continued. "The PBA only sends the best of the best so to be here is definitely an honor. Last year I set a goal for myself and that was to qualify for this tournament and I accomplished that goal so I'm very happy."

DHC初タイトルを狙う両者の対決は、中島の1フレビッグフォーが最後まで響き時本が危なげなく3位決定戦へ進出。