【PBA】　News

Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., was named as 2011-12 Professional Bowlers Association Chris Schenkel Player of the Year Monday, concluding one of the most competitive Player of the Year contests in years.

Rash, who made a record five-consecutive television finals during the 2011 PBA World Series of Bowling and concluded his season with a victory in the PBA Tournament of Champions, was elected over a field of 11 eligible candidates in balloting conducted among his fellow PBA Tour competitors and veteran members of the bowling news media.

In the end, Rash received 29.04 percent of the Player of the Year votes, Australia’s Jason Belmonte 26.61 percent and Mike Fagan of Dallas 18.32 percent in the closest voting contest in years. Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., received 11.89 percent and Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., 10.23 percent to round out the top five vote-getters.

The announcement was made live on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel as a special kickoff to the made-for-television PBA Summer Shootout special event at 10pin bowling lounge in Chicago.

During the 2011-12 PBA Tour season, Rash, a 29-year-old right-hander, won the season-ending PBA Tournament of Champions for his only title, but had six championship round finishes, including third place in the PBA World Championship. Qualifying for a record five consecutive TV finals during the World Series of Bowling helped the Alaska native dominate PBA Tour stats where he finish first in average, points and earnings.

“We all had great seasons, but I think winning the TOC put a stamp on it,” Rash said. “I’m a stats guy. When I voted in the past, I voted by the numbers. They don’t lie. If one of those guys had won the TOC, he would have got my vote.

“I felt a big sign of relief,” he said of the moment PBA Commissioner Tom Clark announced his win. “It meant a lot to have the waiting finally over.

“Jason and Mike and I have bowled in 15 different countries during the past year. We travel around the world to stay sharp,” Rash added. “You take a lot of satisfaction after all of the travel, the practice, the sacrifices you make. We’ve made each other better.”

Belmonte, a 28-year-old two-handed player, won three titles, had championship round finishes, finished third in average and second in both points and earnings. Belmonte also finished third in the U.S. Open and Tournament of Champions, fourth in the PBA World Championship and ninth in the USBC Masters.

Fagan, a 31-year-old right-hander, won the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters for his first major title and he won the Brunswick Euro Challenge in Paris, France. The Long Island, N.Y., native had three additional championship round finishes including second place in the U.S. Open and fourth place in the Tournament of Champions. Statistically, he was second in average, and third in points and earnings.

Also contending in the Player of the Year race were Weber, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, and Duke, three-time winner during the 2011-12 season.

The Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award is named in honor of the late hall of fame announcer who served as the voice of the PBA on ABC Television for 36 years.

　【PBA】　PBA Senior Dayton Classic　【Finals】

PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia became the first player in PBA history to win a national tour or senior tour title in six decades by winning the PBA Senior Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip Thursday at Capri Lanes.

Petraglia, who won his eighth career Senior Tour title, also ended a three-year drought without a win by defeating reigning Senior Player of the Year Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, 220-204, in the title match.

Petraglia, who was the top seed for the finals, started strong with the first three strikes but then ran into trouble in the fourth frame throwing a 4-6-7-10 split. He threw another split (3-7) in the seventh frame but was able to close out the match with four strikes and a nine-count which was enough to beat Mohr who was also struggling.

“When I threw that first split it surprised me because I thought it was going to be a strike,” said the 65-year-old Petraglia, whose last Senior Tour title came in the 2009 Sun Bowl In The Villages. “Frankly, I was a little lost at that point. I really didn’t make an adjustment until after that second split when I moved right on the approach threw it a little farther left on the lane and trusted that it would come back and it did.

“I guess some things are meant to happen,” he added. “Ron was having trouble on the left lane leaving three 10-pins which meant if I could get back to striking I could still win the match.”
Overall, Petraglia and fellow PBA legend Dick Weber both have PBA titles in six decades, however, Weber’s longevity mark includes a PBA regional title. Petraglia also owns 14 PBA Tour titles, winning his first at a national tour stop in Ft. Smith, Ark., in 1966 at the age of 19.

“I guess it shows how old I am,” Petraglia said jokingly after achieving the milestone. “But this is very special to me because it’s part of history and makes it all worth it.

“You know at my age, I was wondering if it was going to happen,” he said. “There are so many great Senior Tour players and there are more great bowlers from the regular tour who are becoming eligible so it doesn’t get any easier. Another thing that makes it special is that there are some guys that might be able to tie this record in the coming years and decades but probably not going to break it.”

In the semi-final match, Mohr, trying for his first title of the season and eighth of his career, defeated Ron Profitt of Brookville, Ohio, 238-222, to advance to the title match. In the opening match, Profitt defeated last week’s Senior Mooresville Classic winner Bob Learn Jr. of Erie, Pa., 243-217. Learn beat Profitt in the championship match of that tournament, 203-196, for his first Senior Tour title.

The Senior Tour takes a two-week break before the Senior U.S. Open June 3-8 at the Suncoast Bowling Center in Las Vegas. The season’s first major will be streamed live in its entirety on bowling’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame. Subscription information is available at www.xtraframe.tv.

　【JPBA】　第24回東海クラシックオープン　【承認大会】

さる5/6（日）、愛知・稲沢グランドボウルにて、第24回東海クラシックオープンが開催されました。

決勝トーナメント1回戦で289ピンを打ち出した脇坂裕貴 選手は、2回戦では東海の強豪アマ・岩切政博 選手とワンマーク差の接戦を演じてこれに勝利。さらに優勝決定戦では田形研吾を相手に268ピンという素晴らしい成績で圧勝。アマチュアの部のみならず、プロアマ総合の部も制覇しました！

　【JPBA】　ドリームプロチャレンジマッチ　【承認大会】