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2014/07/31 |
Tom Baker Wins PBA50 Dayton Classic for 12th Career Title and Second of the Season
Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Tom Baker of King, N.C., won the PBA50 Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip Thursday to capture his 12th career PBA50 Tour title and second of the season. The 59-year-old Baker defeated fellow Hall of Famer and top qualifier Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., 265-217, in the title match at Capri Lanes to join Duke as the tour’s only two-time winners this season. The win also propelled Baker into a three-way tie for second on the PBA50 Tour career titles list with Gary Dickinson and Dale Eagle. John Handegard leads the list with 14 titles. “When you bowl a great player like Norm you know you’re going to have your hands full,” said Baker, who also owns 10 PBA Tour titles. “I knew I was going to need a good game. I think we were all a little surprised that the lanes were playing a little straighter than we thought. “I was fortunate to start the game with four strikes and Norm struggled so I was able to build up a little bit of a cushion which put me in good mindset as the match went on.” Baker’s win avenged a loss to Duke in the title match of the UnitedHealthcare Sun Bowl In The Villages earlier this season which Duke won 256-228. “I told Norm that now we’re even,” said Baker, who won his first title of the season in the Northern California Classic in June. “With two tournaments left this season hopefully we’ll meet again to bowl for a title, you never know.” In the semifinal match, Baker defeated Hall of Famer Brian Voss of Alpharetta, Ga., 213-203, to advance to the title match. In the opening stepladder match, Voss defeated two-time PBA Tour winner Jack Jurek of Lackawanna, N.Y., 216-167. Jurek and Voss were both trying for their first PBA50 Tour title. Heading into the final two tournaments of the season, Baker, a four-time PBA50 Player of the Year, moved into a tie with Pete Weber for second in the PBA50 Player of the Year points race, 12 points behind Duke who leads. The PBA50 Tour travels to Hammond, Ind. Aug 4-7 for the PBA50 South Shore Open presented by DV8 to be followed by the season-ending Treasure Island Resort & Casino Open presented by Hammer in Welch, Minn., Aug. 10-13. Both events can be seen on PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame. For subscription and schedule information click on the Xtra Frame logo on the pba.com homepage. |
2014/07/25 |
Pluhowsky wins 2014 BPAA Women's All-Star
In a week where strikes were hard to come by, Team USA member Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, stepped up and delivered one to remember as she defeated Diana Zavjalova of Latvia, 225-212, in the championship match of the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America Women's All-Star Tournament. Neither player had trouble getting to the pocket in the finale Friday at The Cherry Bowl, but carry was a challenge as it had been all week. Zavjalova clung to a one-pin lead until a missed 2-4-8-10 split in the ninth frame gave Pluhowsky a chance to shut her out. "In my mind, I wasn't necessarily trying to strike, because that's when you over-think it and bad things happen," said Pluhowsky, a 31-year-old left-hander who earned $15,000 for the win. "I just wanted to throw a good shot, and I did that. Diana bowled two great games today and had one bad frame. It could've gone either way. She bowled well all week." Pluhowsky and Zavjalova battled for the top spot in the standings throughout the 16 games of match play Thursday. The two faced off in the final game of match play and again in the position round, with Pluhowsky winning both meetings to secure the No. 1 seed for the stepladder finals. "The lanes weren't easy this week, and you didn't need a lot of big games stay close," said Pluhowsky, who also won the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Queens. "I tried some different tricks to try and make it carry better here and there, but I didn't necessarily want to make too big of a move. I was fortunate to be able to win a lot of matches (14), and the bonus pins were a big help." Zavjalova struck in six of her first seven frames in a 236-207 semifinal win against Team USA member Shannon O'Keefe of Arlington, Texas, and it looked like that momentum might carry her to her first win against Pluhowsky. But, as was the case throughout the week, the 39-foot oil pattern was tricky to navigate. "The lanes have been really sensitive all week, and even a small mistakes turned out really bad," said Zavjalova, the 2013 USBC Queens champion. "I thought I threw it OK in the ninth frame, and I was surprised that happened. I thought it would make it back because I knew I had even slowed down a little bit." O'Keefe's road to the semifinal included wins against three-time U.S. Women's Open winner Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, and five-time major champion Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey. In her match against Johnson, O'Keefe struck eight times on the way to a 237-175 victory, while Johnson was in the pocket the whole game but managed just one strike, which came in the eighth frame. In the opening game, Kulick struggled early with four opens in the first six frames and never got any traction, falling 223-169. The field at this week's BPAA All-Star included 75 bowlers, who all bowled 18 qualifying games over three days, before being cut to the top 16 players for 16 games of round-robin match play. The Women's All Star Tournament, which began in 1971, was the pre-cursor to Bowling's U.S. Women's Open, which is on hiatus until 2015. This year's event will showcase today's top talent, highlight the history of women's bowling and celebrate the 40th anniversary of formation of the Ladies Pro Bowling Tour. Bowling's U.S. Open officially will return in 2015 after USBC and BPAA agreed to a three-year deal that will see USBC operate and conduct the U.S. Open for men and women in 2015, 2016 and 2017. As part of the agreement, USBC and BPAA each will contribute at least $100,000 annually toward operating the events. Further details will be announced at a later date. The excitement at The Cherry Bowl this week included the 2014 Bowling's Senior Women's U.S. Open, which was held simultaneously using the same format. That event was decided Thursday with Paula Vidad of Sun City, California, successfully defending her title with a 234-210 win over USBC Hall of Famer Tish Johnson of Colorado Springs, Colorado. |
2014/07/23 |
Pete Weber Wins PBA50 Pro Bowl West Fort Wayne Classic For Third Career PBA50 Tour title
After five top-eight finishes, PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber finally broke through to win his first PBA50 Tour title of the season Wednesday by winning the PBA50 Pro Bowl West Fort Wayne Classic presented by Ebonite. Weber defeated fellow Hall of Famer and PBA Tour telecast color analyst Randy Pedersen of Orlando, Fla., 259-207, in the title match at Pro Bowl West, also notching his third career PBA50 Tour title. Pedersen, trying for his second career PBA50 Tour title, jumped out to the early lead in the title match with the first three strikes, but ran into trouble in the seventh frame when he missed the 2-10 split. Weber took control by the mid-point of the match striking in seven of the first eight frames. “We were all leaving a lot of corner pins so I thought it was a good time to change to a different ball for the final match,” said the 51-year-old Weber. “The lane conditions were transitioning pretty quickly and the ball wasn’t driving into the pocket like it should so I went to a ball that hooked more and revved sooner and it was the right choice.” With his win, Weber, who recently won his fourth ESPY, moved into second in the PBA50 Player of the Year race behind Hall of Famer Norm Duke with three tournaments remaining in the season. Duke did not compete in the Fort Wayne event. “If you want to be the best, you have to keep at it,” said the 37-time PBA Tour winner and 2013 PBA50 Rookie of the Year. “I still look at guys like Walter Ray (Williams Jr.) and the other great bowlers and that’s what keeps me going. I still love to bowl and love to travel.” In the all-Hall of Fame semifinals, Weber beat Wayne Webb of Columbus, Ohio, 223-210, and Pedersen defeated Johnny Petraglia of Jackson, N.J., 207-192, to advance to the championship match. Bill McCorkle of Westerville, Ohio, who won the PBA50 Dick Weber Super Senior Classic presented by Storm on July 20 at Pro Bowl West, made a run at winning back-to-back tournaments but lost to Pedersen in the Round of 8. Petraglia, trying for his ninth career PBA50 Tour title, finished second to McCorkle in the Super Senior Classic, losing in the championship match 244-173. Weber’s win marked seven of nine PBA50 Tour tournaments this season which have been won by PBA Hall of Famers. His previous best finishes this season were second in the PBA50 Miller High Life Classic and Suncoast Senior U.S. Open. The PBA50 Tour moves to Capri Lanes in Kettering, Ohio, July 28-31 for the PBA50 Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip, the 10th stop of the season. Bowling fans can catch all the action on PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame by clicking on the Xtra Frame logo on the pba.com homepage for subscription and schedule information. |
2014/07/20 |
Ohio’s Bill McCorkle Wins Inaugural PBA50 Dick Weber Super Senior Classic for First PBA50 Title
Bill McCorkle of Westerville, Ohio, won the biggest tournament of his professional career Sunday by defeating PBA Hall of Famer and eight-time PBA50 Tour winner Johnny Petraglia in the championship match of the PBA50 Dick Weber Super Senior Classic presented by Storm. In the inaugural event for PBA50 Tour players ages 60 and over, McCorkle defeated the top-seeded Petraglia 244-173 at Pro Bowl West in Fort Wayne to record his first PBA50 Tour title. McCorkle got off to the early lead stringing the first five strikes while Petraglia struggled missing the 2-4-6-10 split in the first frame and the 1-3-6-7 washout in the fifth frame. “I’ve been bowling in PBA competition for 40 years and never won at the national level so I’m a little overwhelmed,” said the 61-year-old McCorkle whose best previous PBA50 Tour finish was fifth. “I was fortunate to get off to a good start but then I had to remind myself to stay loose and continue to throw good shots. “Toward the end of the match I started to get a little emotional but then I looked over at the Dick Weber trophy and thought what would Dick do, and at that moment I was able to get the inspiration I needed.” McCorkle qualified second for the stepladder final thanks to a 11-1 record in match play. “My goal was to make the top five,” McCorkle said. “I think I benefited from the tougher condition because it enabled me to throw harder which I like to do. The big games weren’t out there so there was a premium on making good shots.” In the opening stepladder match one-time PBA50 Tour winner No. 4 seed Dave Patchen of Oregon, Ohio, defeated one-time PBA50 Tour winner No. 5 seed Mike Henry of Brunswick, Ohio, 258-190, and then went on to beat Don Blatchford of Santa Monica, Calif., 207-202, in the second match to eventually finish third. McCorkle defeated Patchen 212-195 in the semifinal to advance to the title match. PBA50 Tour action continues Monday with the start of the PBA50 Pro Bowl West Fort Wayne Classic presented by Ebonite open to all PBA50 Tour players ages 50 and over. The first qualifying round will get underway at 10 a.m. The Fort Wayne Classic can be seen on PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame. For subscription and schedule information click on the Xtra Frame logo on the pba.com homepage. |
2014/07/17 |
【PBA】 News Pete Weber Wins Fourth “Best Bowler” ESPY Award
PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., won his fourth Best Bowler ESPY Award Wednesday during the 22nd annual ESPY Awards ceremony at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Weber was the leading vote-getter among Best Bowler candidates Jason Belmonte, Wes Malott and Sean Rash, who attended the event with his wife Sara and father Gene Rash. ESPN awards for a variety of sports categories and special moments are determined by fan voting on espn.com. Weber, who previously won the Best Bowler ESPY in 2002, 2004 and 2013, won after completing the PBA’s Triple Crown for a second time, winning the USBC Senior Masters title – a PBA50 Tour major – and earning PBA50 Rookie of the Year honors. “It’s not necessarily based on whoever did the best bowling because Belmo should have won, hands down,” Weber said. “But that just goes to show I have more fans around the world than he does. “That said, it’s absolutely a nice thing,” he added. “I’m honored, I’m humbled, I’m grateful, all of the above. It’s neat to see I actually do have that many fans.” |
2014/07/15 |
桑藤美樹、恩師に捧げる初優勝！
最高の笑顔で掴んだ初タイトル 本格的な夏の始まりを告げる六甲クィーンズが本日閉幕致しました。 予選から順位が大きく変動する混戦模様となりましたが、準決勝で追い上げた長縄多禧子・松永裕美・谷川章子らに、上位に踏み止まった桑藤美樹・阿部聖水・佐藤美香・名和 秋らが続きます。そして最後の一枠は西村美紀に3ピン差で競り勝った松本君代選手が飛び込みました。 タイトルホルダーや実力派プロが出揃いましたが、台風の目となったのは松本選手。ラウンドロビンでは8位スタートからただ一人7勝を挙げ、ポジションマッチでとうとう松永を首位から引きずり下ろします。 トップシードに立つアマチュア選手をプロが追う展開となった決勝ステップラダーは、松永と桑藤の3位決定戦からスタート。 最後の最後で松本選手に逆転された松永と、ただ一人松本選手に黒星を与えた桑藤。二人の戦いは4フレーム目まで一歩も譲らぬストライク合戦に。 5フレーム目で松永が先にストライクを切らしてしまう一方、桑藤はさらに6フレームまで繋げましたが、7フレーム目でイージーミス。その隙を縫って松永が8・9フレームとダブルを決め、桑藤を捉えます。 松永のダブルで沸いた歓声に「パンチアウトしないと負ける」と意識した桑藤は見事パンチアウト。対して松永はオールウェーを決められず敗退。松永の3位が確定し、優勝決定戦はレフティ対決となりました。 なかなか緊張のほぐれない桑藤でしたが、「同じレフティとして、しかもプロとしてアマチュア選手に負けたくない」と強く勝利を意識。 緊張から親指の抜けが悪くなったと自覚しつつも、常に持ち歩いている今は亡き恩師・梅田寿雄氏の写真を眺めては力をもらい、2フレーム目から4連続ストライクを決めて松本選手にリードを取ります。 一方松本選手は3フレーム目でタップした7番ピンをカバーミス。さらに8フレーム目で再びカバーミスしてしまい、ダブルを持って来て必死に追いますが桑藤の背中は近づくことのないまま192ピンで終了します。 ウィニング投球をストライクで締めくくり、満面の笑顔で優勝を掴んだ桑藤でしたが、その後緊張の糸が切れたのか、恩師の姿が瞼に浮かんだか、囲み取材の前に大号泣。 桑藤にとって記念すべきデビュー戦にして初賞金となった28回大会から2年、さらに記念すべき初優勝・初タイトルをこの六甲で果たしました！
もしや優勝！？の勢いでベストアマ獲得
松本君代 選手
松本君代 選手 ポジションマッチで2位の松本君代選手がトップの松永裕美を235対226で破りトップシードでTV決勝へ！敗れた松永が2位、そして名和を下した桑藤美樹が3位でTV決勝進出を果たす。なおポジションマッチ前に阿部が体調不良により中止勧告を受け対戦相手の佐藤が不戦勝。
長縄多禧子 |
2014/07/14 |
桑藤美樹
佐藤美香 |
2014/07/13 |
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【JPBA】 第34回神戸プロアマボウリングフェスティバル 【承認大会】 ベストアマチュアは霜出佳奈 選手！
明日より本大会を迎える六甲クィーンズオープンのアマチュア予選会を兼ねた承認大会、神戸プロアマボウリングフェスティバルが行われ、6Gトータルで競われました。 A組・B組それぞれの上位4名が表彰され、1,392ピンを打った霜出佳奈選手が総合アマチュア最高位に立ち、ベストアマチュア賞を獲得しました。 先月のJFEカップ千葉女子オープンで宮城鈴菜と優勝を争った霜出選手、今大会でも活躍が予想されます！
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2014/07/12 |
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2014/07/10 |
【JPBA】 シーズントライアル 2014 サマーシリーズ
永野すばる |
2014/07/08 |
【JPBA】 シーズントライアル 2014 サマーシリーズ
斉藤茂雄
【JPBA】 シーズントライアル 2014 サマーシリーズ
髙淵常志 |
2014/07/06 |
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2014/07/05 |
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2014/07/03 |
【USBC】 USBC Queens 【Finals】 Colombia's Rodriguez wins 2014 USBC Queens
Maria Jose Rodriguez of Colombia outlasted two-time United States Bowling Congress Queens champion Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., to win the 2014 event, presented by Storm, in a dramatic 190-189 finish at the National Bowling Stadium on Thursday. Rodriguez, a 25-year-old right-hander and former collegiate standout at Maryland Eastern Shore, missed the 2-4-5-8 combination in her final frame, but Kulick still was forced to throw a double in order to become the third player in history with three USBC Queens titles. Kulick hadn't struck since the fourth frame of the championship match and was coming off a 7-10 split in the ninth fame. The 37-year-old right-hander, who won the Queens in 2007 and 2010, left a 10 pin on her first shot in the 10th frame, handing Rodriguez the title. "I couldn't believe it," said Rodriguez, who earned the $20,000 first-place prize and coveted Queens tiara. "I opened, and I still won. I wanted everything to be perfect, and it wasn't, but it turned out exactly how I hoped it would. I am so happy right now." Rodriguez cruised through match play this week on the way to a 5-0 record, despite struggling early when the lanes were freshly oiled. As the top seed for the stepladder finals, there already had been three matches before she took to the championship lanes, so she was able to get into her comfort zone and play deeper on the 39-foot oil pattern. "I tried to follow the transition while I was practicing and while I was watching on the TV," said Rodriguez, who helped UMES to three national championships from 2008-2011. "I knew I would be able to play my A-game, and that was important. You never know with Kelly, though. She's a great bowler. She was having trouble carrying the 10 pin, but it could've gone either way at the end." With the win, Rodriguez became the second consecutive foreign-born player to wear the Queens tiara. Last year, Diana Zavjalova of Latvia became the first foreign player since 1989 to win. Kulick, who was looking to join USBC Hall of Famers Millie Ignizio and Wendy Macpherson as the only three-time Queens winners, averaged 257 in her first three matches, but was unable to strike in her final six frames. She also finished second at the Queens in 2001 and 2009. This time, she earned $10,000 as the runner-up. In the semifinal, three consecutive splits in the first four frames left second-seeded Tannya Roumimper of Indonesia 55 pins behind and unable to recover as Kulick cruised to a 248-137 victory. Kulick advanced to the semifinal with a 268-209 win against Jennifer Higgins of Westerville, Ohio. Kulick started the match with seven consecutive strikes before a 2 pin ended her run and her shot at an additional $10,000 from Storm Bowling Products. Higgins struggled with carry throughout the game and finished fourth for the second year in a row. In the day's opening match, Kulick and Missy Parkin of Laguna Hills, Calif., were even halfway through the game, but Kulick pulled away, posting strikes in seven of the first eight frames on the way to a 255-220 win over the 2011 Queens champion. The Queens is open to all female USBC members, and this year's event featured 178 players from 11 countries, vying for the major title and top prize from the more than $91,000 prize fund, which included a $20,000 contribution by presenting sponsor Storm.
【JPBA】 第10回 ペプシコーラ杯争奪三重オープン 【承認大会】 前坂翔人選手 優勝！
6月29日（日）にサン・ボウル（三重）にて承認大会・第10回ペプシコーラ杯争奪三重オープンが開催され、前坂翔人選手が総合優勝されました。 |
2014/07/02 |
【USBC】 USBC Queens 【Bracket】 Finalists set for 2014 USBC Queens
Colombia's Maria Jose Rodriguez earned the top seed for the stepladder finals of the 2014 United States Bowling Congress Queens presented by Storm after finishing match play Wednesday with a perfect record. The 25-year-old right-hander rallied back from a 58-pin deficit after one game to defeat Tannya Roumimper of Indonesia, 614-582, to secure the No. 1 seed, and now is just one win away from her first major title. Roumimper, a two-time National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Most Valuable Player at Wichita State, will be the second seed. The stepladder finals of the 2014 USBC Queens will be televised live on ESPN2 on Thursday at 7 p.m. EDT. The winner will earn $20,000 and the coveted Queens tiara. Rodriguez, who averaged more than 212 on the way to a 5-0 match-play record, was guaranteed a spot on the show after defeating 2011 Queens champion Missy Parkin of Laguna Hills, Calif., 621-579, at the National Bowling Stadium earlier Wednesday. Roumimper downed Jennifer Higgins of Westerville, Ohio, 650-637, to earn her spot on the show and set up the showdown with Rodriguez. "I learned how to be patient on the fresh because I didn't have anything on it," said Rodriguez, a three-time collegiate national champion at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. "I knew it would come to me, and I tried to make good shots. It was really important to win the match for the top seed because I'll get a chance to see where everyone else is playing and where I can find some hold and create some room to play with. It would mean the world if I won." Higgins and Parkin both found their way back into the spotlight through a shootout round that included the last four players in the elimination bracket. All four bowled three games on the same pair of lanes, and total pinfall determined the three who would advance to the stepladder. Higgins, who is making her second consecutive Queens TV show, led the way with a 736 series and was followed by two-time Queens winner Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., (703) and Parkin (689). The fourth bowler in the shootout was 2009 Queens champion Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., who shot 589 and was eliminated, giving her a sixth-place finish. The 2014 Queens featured 178 players vying for the major title and top prize from the more than $91,000 prize fund, which includes a $20,000 contribution by presenting sponsor Storm. All of the qualifying rounds and match play competition at the 2014 Queens were broadcast live on BowlTV. The Queens is open to any female USBC member.
【JPBA】 シーズントライアル 2014 サマーシリーズ
渡邉航明 |
2014/07/01 |
【USBC】 USBC Queens 【Bracket】 Four players unbeaten at 2014 USBC Queens
Four players remain undefeated after the opening round of match play at the 2014 United States Bowling Congress Queens presented Storm. Maria Jose Rodriguez of Colombia, 2011 USBC Queens champion Missy Parkin of Laguna Hills, Calif., Jennifer Higgins of Westerville, Ohio, and Tannya Roumimper of Indonesia each find themselves one victory away from making this year's stepladder finals, which will be televised live on ESPN2 on July 3 at 7 p.m. EDT. Rodriguez, a 25-year-old right-hander, earned the No. 16 seed through qualifying and sent defending champion Diana Zavjalova of Latvia to the elimination bracket in the first match of the day, 626-623. Rodriguez dispatched of high qualifier and Team USA member Brittni Hamilton of Wood Ridge, N.J., in the second round, 687-587, setting up a third-round match against two-time Queens champion Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J. Rodriguez found herself trailing by 47 pins after two games but rallied to a 248 finale and 639-629 victory. "It was a pretty tough bracket," said Rodriguez, who rolled a perfect game at the 2009 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's Championships as a member of the Colombian national team. "The lanes weren't easy at the beginning, so I tried to keep it in play knowing that later in the day, I was going to have an advantage because I could create more room. For tomorrow, I'm keeping the same mindset and mentality, and I am going to try to get a little bit better on the fresh." Tuesday's competition started with the top 32 of the 178-player field, and now the double-elimination match-play bracket has been cut down to just eight players. Competition resumes Wednesday at noon Eastern and will continue until the five bowlers for the stepladder finals are determined. The matches will kick off with Kulick taking on Amanda Greene of Romney, W.V., and 2009 Queens champion Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., battling Team USA member Shannon O'Keefe of Arlington, Texas. The winner of the 2014 Queens will take home the coveted tiara and $20,000 of the more than $91,000 prize fund, which includes a $20,000 contribution by presenting sponsor Storm. All of the qualifying rounds and match play competition at the 2014 Queens are being broadcast live on BowlTV. The Queens is open to any female USBC member.
Bill O’Neill Cruises to Victory in Oklahoma’s Grand Casino Resort PBA King of the Swing
Top qualifier Bill O’Neill of Langhorne, Pa., brought the Professional Bowlers Association Tour’s Oklahoma’s Grand Casino Resort PBA Summer Swing to a near-perfect close, cruising past Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., to win the King of the Swing finale, 245-181, at the Grand Event Center. The concluding event in Oklahoma’s Grand Casino Resort PBA Summer Swing aired Tuesday on CBS Sports Network. The Oklahoma’s Grand Casino Resort King of the Swing was contested on the 52-foot Badger lane condition, selected by O’Neill as the Summer Swing points leader. O’Neill won the PBA Badger Open earlier in the swing. The final match was decided early. O’Neill struck on eight of his first nine shots and held a 55-pin lead after five frames when Rash failed to convert the 4-7-9-10 split in his fifth frame. After a second split and open by Rash in the seventh frame, O’Neill had the match locked up. O’Neill’s open in the 10th frame was meaningless. The King of the Swing was a special event. No PBA Tour title was awarded, but O’Neill took home $10,000 and a lot of restored confidence. “I’ve been working hard. I’ve had some struggles over the past couple of years, but I’ve tried to stay mentally right,” he said. “Any time you win it’s a boost to your confidence, but to win the way I did here by doubling in the 10th on a really difficult condition (to win the Badger Open), and bowling a really good game today really helps. You don’t often bowl a guy like Sean and have the match closed out by the eighth or ninth frame. “I’m just really happy overall,” O’Neill said with a smile. “It may not be an official PBA title, but I got a trophy and it’s a title in my heart.” In the first match, Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C., who earned the “wild card” berth as the player with the most Summer Swing points without winning a title, eliminated Bear Open champion Ronnie Russell of Marion, Ind., 236-206, in a contest that featured seven strikes by Jones and five 10 pins sandwiched between strikes by Russell. Rash, the Wolf Open winner, started match two with six strikes to take a 33-pin lead over Jones and won handily, 257-212. Jones’ rally was cut short when he left the 4-9 split in the ninth frame and failed to convert. In the semifinal match, Oklahoma Open winner Jason Belmonte of Australia had a chance to eliminate Rash with two strikes in the 10th frame, but he left a 10 pin on his first ball and missed the spare. Rash won, 236-224, and advanced to the championship match. The PBA Tour will return to action Oct. 24-Nov. 2 when South Point Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center in Las Vegas hosts PBA World Series of Bowling VI, a multi-event competition featuring the PBA Cheetah, Scorpion, Chameleon and Viper Championships, the PBA World Championship, the World Bowling Tour Men’s and Women’s Finals, and a new PBA Champion’s Challenge special event. In the interim, PBA players will compete in World Bowling-PBA International Tour’s World Bowling Tour Thailand in Bangkok, Aug. 18-25. CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com. A King of the Swing post-game show is available on PBA’s subscription-based online bowling channel, Xtra Frame and on PBA’s YouTube page. The complete telecasts of all five Summer Swing events are archived on Xtra Frame seven days after the original air date. |
