プロボウリング情報
2015/11/30

 

　【PBA】　News

Harry O’Neale, Denny Schreiner, Pete Couture Elected to PBA Hall of Fame

Harry O’Neale Jr. of Ravenel, S.C.; Denny Schreiner of Akron, Ohio, and Pete Couture of Cocoa, Fla., have been elected to the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame, PBA CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark announced Monday.

Induction ceremonies will be held on Monday, Feb. 1, at Oklahoma’s Grand Casino Resort & Hotel as part of the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions.

O’Neale built the PBA South Region tournament program into the organization’s most successful proving ground for aspiring young players over a span of 31 years before his retirement in 2011. A one-time PBA Tour competitor in his own right, O’Neale assumed a regional program with fewer than 200 members and built it into a membership as high as 971 members, frequently traveling thousands of miles while conducting more than 40 weekend tournaments a year.

“I’m really proud of (getting elected),” O’Neale said. “I joined the PBA in 1963, and it’s always been a dream to one day get elected to the hall of fame.

“When I went to work for the PBA, I tried to make people feel welcome and I think that’s why the regional program took off. I think the guys felt at home and so they kept coming back. Watching the region grow so much, and all of the people we met through the southern states made it all worthwhile,” O’Neale continued.

“It was nice to see some of the guys who grew up through the regional program go on to become some of the best in the world. I still keep up with them to see how they’re doing. Even though I’m retired,” he said, “the PBA is still one of my first loves. “

Schreiner, who served as the ESPN television voice of the PBA between 1986 and 1995, also was a skilled bowler who joined the PBA media staff in Akron short after his graduation from the University of Akron as the PBA Tour Broadcast Director. As PBA’s play-by-play announcer on ESPN, he quickly became popular for his ability to apply his knowledge as a bowler to the telecasts, working in harmony with PBA Hall of Famer Mike Durbin as his color analyst. Schreiner’s career in broadcasting was cut short when he was diagnosed with Stardardt macular degeneration, an incurable genetic eye disease that began robbing him of his central vision.

“I’ll tell you what, that was a pretty neat phone call (from PBA Commissioner Tom Clark),” Schreiner said. “It’s my first hall of fame and that’s really special, especially because (the late PBA Hall of Famer) Chuck Pezzano nominated me. Chuck’s not with us anymore, but he knew more about the sport and the people in it than anyone, so that was really special.

“Just to be nominated was fun,” he added. “The first thing I think about was when I went to work for the PBA in 1978, it was really, truly a family business. They were great, great people, and that’s what I’ve always appreciated. And to go out and work for the Tour was easily the best experience in my life, as a person and as a broadcaster.

“We worked our tails off, but I had more fun – and laughed more – than I have doing anything else in my life,” Schreiner said “Bowling and the PBA gave me a chance to get to the network level, and I did the best I could with the opportunity. I was truly blessed, and to join Chris Schenkel as the second broadcaster elected is an amazing honor. Chris was truly a legend. To have known him, and worked with him, was something I’ll never forget.”

Couture, 70, was elected in the PBA50 Performance category based on his exceptional record for a minimum of 10 years as a “senior” competitor. On the heels of a 24-year career as a PBA Tour competitor, when he won five standard PBA titles, Couture began his PBA50 career in 1995 when he earned PBA50 Rookie of the Year honors. He won the first of nine PBA50 Tour titles in Reno in 1996, and captured a pair of USBC Senior Masters titles in 1998 (when he was selected as PBA50 Player of the Year) and 2002. The Connecticut native has earned $959,900 during his PBA career.

“I’m kind of overwhelmed,” Couture said. “I’m not sure what to think. It’s a dream come true. I think everyone who bowls for a living has a dream of getting into the hall of fame, and to have it actually happen is unbelievable. It’s an honor just to be on the ballot.”

Couture said his 1998 PBA50 Tour season was the most memorable of his career.

“I went from being a so-called star to being a superstar in that one year,” he said of his four-title season. “Everything came together. When I made match play, I was able to get to the show, and when I got to the show I was pretty successful. Everything went the right way for me that year.

“There’s no higher honor,” Couture added. “I’m humbled.”

None of the three eligible candidates in the PBA Performance category – Bryan Goebel of Shawnee, Kan.; Steve Hoskins of Tampa, Fla., and Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas – received the required minimum of 70 percent of votes cast needed for election. PBA and PBA50 Performance candidates are elected by a panel of PBA Hall of Famers and veteran bowling writers and industry leaders.

The 2016 PBA Hall of Fame ceremonies will begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 1, at Oklahoma’s Grand Casino Resort & Hotel following the official practice session for the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions at nearby Firelake Bowling Center in Shawnee, Okla. Tickets for the hall of fame dinner will be available under the “tickets” link on pba.com.

The FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions program will get underway Saturday, Jan. 30-Sunday, Jan. 31 with a TOC Regional event which will qualify 24 PBA Regional, PWBA-PBA Women’s Regional and/or PBA50 Regional title winners to join the field of PBA Tour champions in the Tournament of Champions field. TOC qualifying and match play rounds will be contested Tuesday, Feb. 2-Friday, Feb. 5, with the top five players advancing to the live ESPN stepladder finals on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. ET. The finals will be conducted on a special installation inside the FireLake Arena, adjacent to FireLake Bowling Center.

All preliminary rounds of the TOC program, including the PBA Hall of Fame ceremonies, will be covered live, exclusively on PBA’s online bowling channel, Xtra Frame. For subscription information, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame link.

 

2015/11/29

 

　【JPBA】　第49回 宮様チャリティボウリング大会

 

寛仁親王妃牌　渡邊美和 選手（小嶺シティボウル）
寛仁親王牌　 相田裕樹 選手（山形ファミリーボウル）

師走を控えたこの時期、毎年恒例の宮様チャリティボウリング大会が品川プリンスホテルボウリングセンターにて2日間にわたり開催されました。

式典では（公社）日本ボウリング場協会の中里則彦会長から、社会福祉法人友愛十字会の佐々木典夫会長へチャリティ金の贈呈が行われました。また長年にわたり大会名誉会長を務められた故・寬仁親王殿下のご息女、瑶子女王殿下が御台臨され、温かいお言葉を述べられました。

JPBAからは多数のプロボウラーがお手伝いとして参加し、ボウリング教室やハンディキャップを持つ方々と一緒にスカッチトリオ戦を投げるなど、楽しい一日を過ごさせて頂きました。

また一般の部では男子は山形ファミリーボウルの相田裕樹選手、女子は小嶺シティボウルの渡邊美和選手が優勝。

 

2015/11/28

 

山本　勲、7年ぶり4度目の全日本制覇！

滲む涙を堪えながら、勝ちどきに拳を挙げる

2015年の男子プロボウリングを締めくくる、HANDACUP第49回全日本プロボウリング選手権大会。節目の50回を控えた今年、勝利の女神が歴戦のトッププロ達にプレゼントしたのは「試練」でした。

全日本という最高のタイトルを手に入れる為に。来季のシード権を獲得する為に、ポイント・賞金・アベレージのランキングトップの座を獲得する為に。おのおのの目的を果たす為、勝利の女神に与えられた試練を乗り越えるべく、男達はショート・ロング・ミドルの3パターンというタフなレーンコンディションに挑みます。

そしてファイナルステージまでの通算36Gという長い長い戦いの中、今年も数々のドラマや伝説が生まれました。

予選6G時点で58位と出遅れながらも25位で予選を突破、ファイナル進出ラインに17ピン差まで詰め寄り、底力を見せた川添奨太。同じくファイナル進出はならなかったものの、70歳を迎えて今なお健在な姿を見せつけた矢島純一。

最後のチャンスとなる今大会で上位に食い込み、来季のシード権を掴んだ堀江真一、門川健一、越後裕哉、木村広人。彼らの健闘する姿には、プロのプライドを見る思いがしました。

なかでも特にドラマを感じさせたのは、準決勝9G時点で4位だった矢島との70ピン差を、最終シリーズでひっくり返してファイナル進出枠に飛び込んだ和田秀和でしょう。

そして予選から安定した強さを見せて勝ち抜け、自身が持つJPBA最年長優勝記録更新がかかった原田招雄、準決勝で奪われたトップシードを取り返し、2年ぶりの全日本2勝目を挙げたい藤井信人、史上初の全日本選手権3連覇達成から一転し、7年遠ざかっていた全日本タイトルを取り戻したい山本 勲がファイナル進出を決めました。

トップシードが負けた場合、スコア持ち込み無しの0スタートで再優勝決定戦を行い勝敗を確定する全日本方式決勝ステップラダーは、24歳の和田と64歳の原田による4位決定戦からスタート。

年齢差もさることながら、勢いのある和田と安定の原田という対照的な二人。しかし両者ともタフなレーンに翻弄されてスコアが伸びません。原田は特に左レーンに捕まりましたが、勝負どころの9フレーム目からターキーに成功して和田に逆転。3位決定戦へと進みましたが、やはり左レーンに苦戦し、8フレーム目からオールウェーを決めた藤井に倒されました。

2年ぶり2度目の全日本覇者となるべく山本との優勝決定戦に進んだ藤井は、家族やお世話になった関係者が応援に駆けつけてくれたことに「優勝することで応援に応えたい」と考えます。

さらに今年PBAに挑戦し、渡米で学んだことなどから、「これまでの自分を乗り越える」という試練を己に課しました。

しかし対する山本も、今回は特に厳しい試練との戦いでもありました。

2012年の千葉オープン以来優勝はなく、今季も7月のワールドオープンや先だってのジャパンオープンなど、ビッグタイトルで決勝まで登り詰めながら2位という結果が続くなか、アマチュア時代からホームとしていた新杉田ボウルの閉鎖を恩師・矢野金太から知らされたのは、この全日本の1日目が終わった後。通常であれば選手を気遣い、試合が終わるまで伏せておくものと思われますが、「この試練に打ち勝て」という恩師からの愛の鞭を受け、山本に「勝とう、勝ちたい」と強い意志が生まれました。

来季の男子開幕戦までに閉鎖してしまうホームに、最後の優勝トロフィーを持ち帰る為。かつては三冠王に輝き、数々の偉業を達成してきた山本が2位で終わる男じゃないと示す為に。

しかし優勝決定戦はイージーミスでオープンフレームを2つ出しながらも、後半に7連続ストライクを決めた藤井が圧勝。勝敗の行方は再優勝決定戦へと持ち込まれます。

両者ともに「あと一つ勝てば優勝」というイーブンの状態ですが、すでに一度勝って波に乗る挑戦者を相手に、「もう後がない」と考えてしまってはトップシードに勝ち目は薄くなります。

けれど山本は、「後がない」ではなく「今度こそ決める」と思える強さを持っていました。そこにはジャパンオープンにて、挑戦者の立場から一勝をもぎ取りながら、最後のとどめを刺せなかった口惜しさもあったのかもしれません。

変化が止まらない難解なレーンを相手に「我慢大会だ」と考え、ラインを変えボールを変え立ち位置を変えてと考え悩み、迷いながらもノーミスを守る山本。藤井も2フレーム目にイージーミスを出しましたが後は何とか堪えてワンマーク差で山本を追います。

このまま山本が逃げ切るか、最後の爆発力で藤井が後半からストライクラッシュを起こして逆転するか。膠着しかかった状況で迎えた9フレーム目、山本に待望のストライクが決まりました。すでに9フレーム目を投げていた藤井がスペアだった為、パンチアウトを決めてもMAX194ピンとなり、山本がここでダブルを決めれば優勝が確定。そして10フレーム目、1投目どころか2投目まで駄目押しのストライクを決めた山本の、渾身の雄叫びが場内に響き渡りました。

苦手としていた日替わり3パターンのレーンコンディションという試練に打ち勝ち、長くお世話になったホームの閉鎖という試練にも打ち勝ち。「都合があって応援に娘達が来れなかったことだけが残念」と良きパパの横顔を見せた山本、史上5人目となる全日本選手権4勝を挙げ、賞金ランキングトップも掴み取りました！

 

 

山本　勲

 

2015/11/27

 

 

藤井信人

 

 

藤井信人

 

2015/11/26

 

 

門川健一

 

 

北岡義実

 

南 吉範　優勝！

なわてボウル（大阪）の経営会社・西澤株式会社が創立百周年を記念して開催されました、承認大会・なわてボウルプロアマトーナメントにて、地元大阪の南 吉範が優勝しましたのでご報告致します。

予選6G、準決勝2Gを投げてA・Bシフト上位14名ずつが決勝シュートアウトに進出。南は一回戦から勝ち上がり、優勝決定戦にて高淵常志と対戦。スリーマーク差で高淵を下して頂点に立ちました。

 

内野 久 選手　優勝！

先日、11月23日（月祝）に立川スターレーン（東京）で開催されました、承認大会・第1回三多摩プロアマオープンにてアマチュアの内野久夫選手が優勝されました。

予選6G、準決勝3Gに続く決勝シュートアウトには、先だってのジャパンオープンで活躍された斎藤祐太選手や坂本かや選手ら強豪アマチュア6名と、吉野武典、三浦啓寛の8名が進出。

吉野がシュートアウト2回戦に進出するも、全日本ナショナルユースチームの一員である北村恵選手に敗れ、トップシードの内野選手vs北村選手による優勝決定戦となりました。

内野選手と北村選手の戦いは219対218のわずか1ピン差で内野選手が優勝。三多摩プロアマオープン初代王者に輝きました。

 

2015/11/25

 

男子は山本 勲、女子は愛甲恵子が優勝！

11月21日（土）・22日（日）の二日間にわたり、今年は東広島市の賀茂ボールにて承認大会・第23回中国新聞杯広島オープンが開催されました。

中・四国地区のプロアマを中心に、韓国からも選手を招待して毎年賑やかに開催され、今年も大変な盛り上がりとなった模様です。

男女とも予選8G、準決勝6Gを投げて上位8名が決勝シュートアウトへ進出。男子はトップシードの山本 勲と先日の熊本オープンでも優勝した日置秀一による優勝決定戦となり、スプリットに泣いた日置を抑えて山本が広島オープン初優勝を果たしました。

また女子は愛甲恵子と竹原三貴が激突。ストライクが来ず我慢を強いられた竹原が、9フレーム目からのオールウェーで追うも愛甲に届かず、愛甲の大会4勝目となりました。

 

2015/11/19

 

日置秀一、優勝！

今年で10回目の節目を迎える、承認大会・熊本オープンパスカカップが、11月7日（土）〜8日（日）の2日間にわたってパスカワールド宇土店にて開催されました。

九州勢を中心に、多くのプロボウラーとアマチュア選手が参加し、賑やかな大会となった模様です。

優勝決定戦では日置秀一と愛甲恵子が対戦。257対200で日置が勝利をおさめました。

またアマチュアの部は全日本ナショナルチームの一員である、今井双葉選手が優勝されました。

 

2015/11/15

 

 

Pat Nolan

 

2015/11/13

 

渡辺けあきがプロの部優勝！

11月7日（土）～8（日）の2日間にわたり、トミコシ高島平ボウル（東京）にて開催されました、承認大会・第3回TTBオープントーナメントのプロの部を渡辺けあきが制覇しました。

予選8Gに続く決勝トーナメントにて、渡辺はビッグゲームで小林哲也に圧勝の後はワンマーク差の接戦を繰り広げて勝ち上がります。優勝決定戦ではアマチュアの石井秋男選手と対戦し、プロの意地を見せて優勝を果たしました。

 

2015/11/10

 

酒井武雄　優勝！

11月3日（火祝）にボウルアロー松原店（大阪）にて、関西・南地区プロアマ研修トーナメント2015が開催され、酒井武雄が優勝しましたのでご報告致します。

予選6Gを投げ、9位で通過した酒井は決勝シュートアウトを順調に勝ち抜けて4回戦へ進出。小林孝至と和田秀和、そして全日本ナショナルチームの石本美来選手らと優勝を争い、254ピンを打った石本選手をわずか3ピン上回っての勝利となりました。

 

　人見啓二朗　優勝！

今年5月に第5回大会が開催され承認大会・スマイルフィールド。カップの第6回大会が、早くも先日10月31日（土）・11月1日（日）の2日間にわたって開催されました。

予選6Gに続き決勝シュートアウトが行われ、人見啓二朗と、プロ入り2年目の三浦美里が優勝決定戦で激突。男女の若手対決は、安定したスコアを打った人見の勝利となりました。

 

2015/11/08

 

Ciminelli wins Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open for first major title

Top qualifier Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, New York, captured his first major title by winning the final match at the Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open on Sunday.

Ciminelli, who led the field by 461 pins to earn the top spot in the stepladder finals, held off Dominic Barrett of Colchester, England, 236-223, in the title match at AMF Garland Lanes.

“I thought I would get a major eventually in my career, but never in a million years did I think it would be the U.S. Open, especially the first one,” said Ciminelli, who was making his fifth TV show appearance in a major. “I said it before and I’ll say it again, I just don’t believe it.”

Holding a four-pin lead heading into the final frame, Ciminelli knew he needed the first two strikes to close out Barrett, the No. 4 seed who had won three matches to reach the final.

“I was just focused on one shot at a time, not looking at the eagle, not looking at the jacket, and just bowling the best game I could bowl,” said Ciminelli, the only left-hander in the field to reach the 24-player cut to match play. “When I needed those two in the 10th to lock him out, I knew I couldn’t give him a chance. Both of our looks were good and then I would have had to rely on a bad break or something. I wasn’t OK with that. I wanted to win on the approach and not sitting down.”

Barrett had taken out the defending champion and two hall of famers to reach the title match.

“I bowled really well this week and almost made the most of it,” Barrett said. “Ryan is a very deserving champion. He ran away with the lead and he did deserve to win.”

In the semifinal match, Barrett slipped past five-time U.S. Open champion Pete Weber of St. Ann, Missouri, 218-200. After failing to convert a 3-4 split in the sixth, Weber struck in the seventh and eighth to have a chance but then left back-to-back 10 pins.

Barrett topped defending champion Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, in the opening match, 221-217, and was on the ropes against two-time U.S. Open winner Norm Duke of Clermont, Florida, in the second match.

Duke, needing two strikes to close out Barrett in the 10th, struck on his first shot but then left the 10 pin on his second. Barrett stepped up and fired three strikes in the final frame for a 259-255 victory.

“I was just trying to figure out the lanes and make good shots,” Barrett said. “That setup in the 10th against Norm to strike out was one of my better frames. I bowled solid, had a good idea what I was doing. It was one of my better TV shows.”

The starting field of 275 bowlers at the 2015 U.S. Open completed 24 qualifying games over three days before the field was cut to the top 92. The 32-game pinfall totals determined the 24 players for the 24 games of match play. After 24 games of match play, the top five advanced to the finals.

Bowlmor AMF, the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, committed to hosting and providing television sponsorship of more than $250,000 for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open.

For more information on Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open, visit BOWL.com/USOpen.

 

2015/11/07

 

Ciminelli earns top spot for Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open finals

Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, New York, continued his strong run at the 2015 Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open on Saturday, leading the field by 461 pins to earn his fifth TV appearance in a major tournament.

Ciminelli earned the top qualifying spot for Sunday’s TV finals with a 13,445 pinfall total for 56 games, including bonus pins, to outdistance United States Bowling Congress and PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Missouri.

Sunday’s stepladder finals will be televised live on CBS Sports Network starting a 1 p.m. (Eastern). The winner will take home the top prize of $50,000.

“If you would have told me that I would ever in my life lead the U.S. Open into the show, I would have told you that you were crazy,” Ciminelli said. “It’s just not that tournament for me, it hasn’t been for the nine years I’ve been out here. But everything went right, things fell into place.

“What I’ve accomplished might sink in over the next week or so, but for right now I’m just going to put that aside and focus on one match.”

Dominic Barrett of Colchester, England, qualified third followed by two-time U.S. Open winner Norm Duke of Clermont, Florida. Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, who won the U.S. Open the last time it was held in 2013, will have the opportunity to defend his title on the TV show.

“As far as defending the title, obviously that’s one of the things we all want to be able to do and not only that but to do it close to home,” said Malott, who rolled a perfect game Saturday. “I have a feeling a lot of family and friends will make the trip to come and see it.”

Weber, who already has the record for most U.S. Open titles with five, would pass Earl Anthony for most major titles if he wins Sunday. Weber and Anthony each have 10 major titles.

“When I am out here just bowling I try not to think about that because I don’t need to put any more pressure on myself,” Weber said. “It would be great to go around Earl in major titles. It’s Earl Anthony … come on.”

The starting field of 275 bowlers at the 2015 U.S. Open completed 24 qualifying games over three days, before the field was cut to the top 92. The 32-game pinfall totals determined the 24 players for the 24 games of match play.

Bowlmor AMF, the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, committed to hosting and providing television sponsorship of more than $250,000 for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open.

 

佐野芳宏が総合優勝！

先日、11月1日（日）にアソビックスびさい（愛知）にて、承認大会・第4回エーツーカップが開催されました。

東海地区内外から参加したトッププロをはじめ、東海が誇る強豪アマチュアも多数参加し、和気藹々としたなかにも真剣勝負のつばぜり合いを見せてくれました。

優勝決定戦では、エリミネーター方式を勝ち抜いてきた青木彰彦と佐野芳宏が対戦。スリーマーク差で佐野の優勝となりました。

 

2015/11/06

 

Ciminelli regains lead at 2015 U.S. Open

Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, New York, dominated the opening round of match play to recapture the lead at the 2015 Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open on Friday night.

The 29-year-old left-hander averaged more than 250 on his way to a 7-1 match-play record and 9,348 total, including bonus pins, to put himself nearly 300 pins ahead of two-time U.S. Open champion Norm Duke of Clermont, Florida, who is second with 9,053.

Five-time U.S. Open champion Pete Weber of St. Ann, Missouri, is third with 8,978, two-hander Anthony Simonsen of Princeton, Texas, is fourth at 8,917 and defending champion Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, rounds out the top five with 8,916.

Ciminelli, who led after the second round of qualifying, quickly ascended back to the top of the standings after starting the block in third place.

The three-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour titlist has found continued success on the low end of the 58-lane AMF Garland Lanes this week, and he took advantage of his comfort level as the event transitioned to match play.

"I've liked the low end of the house and bowled on a lot of pairs that I felt comfortable on tonight," said Ciminelli, the lone left-hander to advance into match play. "I was just able to get into that zone where you go blank and start repeating shots. Every decision I made was with confidence. A lot has to go right to bowl a block like that, especially at the (U.S.) Open."

Ciminelli now has 16 more games of match play standing between him and his first championship round appearance at the U.S. Open. Competition resumes Saturday at 11 a.m. Eastern. The top five will advance to Sunday's stepladder finals based on their 56-game totals, including bonus pins.

The finals of the 2015 U.S. Open will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern. The winner will take home a top prize of $50,000.

"I'm trying my best not to look at the leaderboard, but I'm a leaderboard watcher," said Ciminelli, who finished 24th at the 2013 U.S. Open. "I'm doing everything I can not to peek over at it and see what's going on. There are still a lot of games left, so I have to be focused at all times. I'm taking nothing for granted and hoping to get every pin I can. At the end, hopefully when I look at the leaderboard, I'm still in the show. Leading would be a bonus, but making the show would be a huge accomplishment for me."

The final round of qualifying took place earlier Friday, as the 92 players who advanced after Thursday's third round bowled an additional eight games to determine the top 24 players who would continue to match play.

Team USA's John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda, New York, paced the field through 32 games, while Marshall Kent of Yakima, Washington, earned the final spot with a 215.13 average.

All qualifying and match-play rounds are being broadcast live on the PBA's online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.

Bowlmor AMF, the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, committed to hosting and providing television sponsorship of more than $250,000 for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open, which USBC Hall Famer Liz Johnson won at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, New Jersey, in September.

 

Szczerbinski transitioning from starstruck to star on PBA Tour

As a young bowler, John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda, New York, spent part of his weekends watching the elite bowlers of the day do battle on TV, hoping someday to be the one throwing the clutch strike under the bright lights.

This week, the 27-year-old right-hander is the one putting on a show as he continues to pace the field at the 2015 Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open. He led the top 24 bowlers into the round-robin match-play portion of the event, which began Friday evening.

Despite a slow start Friday, Szczerbinski was able to fend off charges by a trio of greats - Professional Bowlers Association and United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famers Norm Duke of Clermont, Florida, Pete Weber of St. Ann, Missouri, and Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Oxford, Florida - to increase his lead over the talented after 32 games.

Szczerbinski finished the fourth round of qualifying at AMF Garland Lanes with a 257 game and 32-game total of 7,273, a 227.28 average. Duke was 130 pins back with a 7,143 total, followed by Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, New York, the lone left-hander in the top 24 (7,135). Weber was fourth with 7,118 and Williams was fifth with 7,052.

The final spot in the top 24 went to Team USA member Marshall Kent of Yakima, Washington, with a 6,884 total, a 215.13 average.

"It's an honor right now to be able to bowl with these guys, let alone be at the top of standings with them," said Szczerbinski, who finished 21st at the U.S. Open in 2011. "I grew up watching them perform, and the desire to step up like them in the heat of the moment is what drives me to give it my all."

For a bowling-fan-turned-PBA Tour-competitor, there sometimes is a transition period where being a little starstruck isn't uncommon, but as Szczerbinski has built relationships with his fellow competitors and continued to find success on the lanes, he has become more comfortable.

And, although he still is searching his first PBA Tour title (his best finish was second at the 2014 Kingdom of Bahrain International Open), Szczerbinski quickly is becoming one of the players today's young bowlers look up to, as he can be found signing autographs and taking pictures after each round of competition at AMF Garland Lanes.

"It means a lot to be looked up to," said Szczerbinski, a member of the New York City WTT KingPins team, owned by tennis legend Billie Jean King, which won inaugural PBA League Elias Cup in 2013. "I try to be the best role model I can, show respect to my elders and the guys who I grew up watching and stay humble, because that's the type of person my parents raised me to be."

With the start of match play, Szczerbinski knows the players he looked up to now are looking up to him - in the standings - and they'll be gunning for him over the next 24 games.

"With the longer formats, the better players are going to be there, and it's kind of a coincidence that we have a few senior players that are doing pretty well," said Williams, the 1998 and 2003 U.S. Open champion. "We still have a lot of games left, so I just have to keep bowling well. It seems like a horse race at times, but it's a long marathon."

The 24 remaining players will bowl eight games Friday night and return for 16 games Saturday. The top five will advance to Sunday's stepladder finals based on their 56-game totals.

All competitors at the 2015 U.S. Open completed 24 qualifying games over three days, before the field was cut to the top 92. The 32-game pinfall totals determined the 24 players for match play.

All qualifying and match-play rounds are being broadcast live on the PBA's online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.

The televised finals are scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern on the CBS Sports Network, and the winner will take home a top prize of $50,000.

Bowlmor AMF, the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, committed to hosting and providing television sponsorship of more than $250,000 for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open, which USBC Hall Famer Liz Johnson won at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, New Jersey, in September.

68位 藤井信人 $920 獲得

 

 

石田真也
会場：トミコシ高島平ボウル

 

2015/11/05

 

Szczerbinski takes lead at 2015 U.S. Open

Before heading to the 2015 Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open, John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda, New York, spent some time working on the feel of his equipment and some inconsistencies in his physical game.

His efforts paid dividends at AMF Garland Lanes this week as the five-time Team USA member never fell below second place and finished Thursday's third round of qualifying atop the 275-player field with a 24-game total of 5,530, a 230.42 average.

Szczerbinski now will lead the top third of field, 92 bowlers, back onto the lanes for eight additional games, beginning Friday at 11 a.m. Eastern.

Left-hander Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, New York, was second overall with a 5,461 total, and he was followed by first-round leader Cameron Weier of Tacoma, Washington (5,323), England's Dominic Barrett (5,321) and two-time U.S. Open champion Norm Duke of Clermont, Florida (5,319).

"I still don't necessarily feel physically sharp, even though I scored well, but my ball reaction was phenomenal, and I did my best to take advantage of that," said Szczerbinski, who has a high game of 299 this week. "It's a little bit of a dream come true to be in this position, but we're not even halfway there yet. Tomorrow, I'll just try to keep doing what I've been doing. I haven't looked at the numbers too much, but I did want to give myself as much of a cushion on 24th place as possible."

Heading into Friday's fourth round, Szczerbinski is 375 pins ahead of two-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion DJ Archer of Kingwood, Texas, who is 24th with 5,155, while Jesse Buss of Belvidere, Illinois, was the final bowler to advance with a 4,870 total.

Friday's eight games will take place on the fresh 43-foot lane condition, which Ciminelli excelled on early to maintain his lead after the first squad of the day Thursday. He opened with a 779 series for his first three games, and while he struggled late in the eight-game block, he learned from his mistakes.

"When you see ball reaction you like, you can get comfortable, your arm swing gets loose and your mind goes blank, so all you have to focus on is repeating shots," said Ciminelli, a three-time PBA Tour champion and the lone southpaw in the top 50 so far this week. "Until that last game (150), I never really had to make a desperation move like I did when I changed balls for the last couple of frames. I threw a ball I hadn't thrown all week, and I found something I'll be able to use again if I need it."

All competitors at the 2015 U.S. Open completed 24 qualifying games over three days, before the field was cut to the top 92. The 32-game pinfall totals will determine the 24 players for round-robin match play, which is scheduled to begin Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern. The top five will advance to Sunday's stepladder finals based on their 56-game totals.

All qualifying and match-play rounds are being broadcast live on the PBA's online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.

The televised finals are scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern on the CBS Sports Network, and the winner will take home a top prize of $50,000.

Bowlmor AMF, the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, committed to hosting and providing television sponsorship of more than $250,000 for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open, which USBC Hall Famer Liz Johnson won at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, New Jersey, in September.

75位 藤井信人, 106位 浅田梨奈

 

2015/11/04

 

Ciminelli leads after second round at 2015 U.S. Open

Less than two weeks after capturing his third Professional Bowlers Association Tour title, Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, New York, finds himself on top of the standings at the 2015 Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open through two rounds of qualifying.

The 29-year-old left-hander posted an eight-game block of 1,829 at AMF Garland Lanes on Wednesday to move into the lead with a 16-game total of 3,690, a 230.6 average.

Team USA's John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda, New York, is second with 3,655, while United States Bowling Congress and PBA Hall of Famers Amleto Monacelli of Venezuela (3,632) and Norm Duke of Clermont, Florida (3,611), are third and fourth, respectively. Defending U.S. Open champion Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, rounds out the top five with 3,580.

"On our side of the lane, it's been all about staying away from the traffic," Ciminelli said. "You have to find a way to eliminate the pattern as much as you can. For me, it's been strong balls, keeping my angles shut, using my ball speed to get through the front of the lane and just trying to keep everything uphill and towards the pocket. As soon as you open up your angles and give it away at all, no matter where you're playing, it's dead."

Ciminelli admittedly has struggled at the U.S. Open in the past, but his win at the PBA Xtra Frame South Point Las Vegas Open last month helped build his confidence heading into this week.

"Getting another win really takes the weight off your shoulders, and you have to ride that wave," said Ciminelli, who finished 24th at the U.S. Open in 2013. "You never know what to expect on the left side at the (U.S.) Open, and I haven't had a lot of success at this tournament, so I tried to come in with an open mind. I've been fortunate to see something out there that others haven't, and I've been able to take advantage of it."

Ciminelli will return to the lanes Thursday at 9 a.m. Eastern for the final day of qualifying, and he will have his first opportunity to compete on the fresh 43-foot oil pattern.

The lanes at the U.S. Open are oiled once each day, and bowlers are divided into three squads. By the end of qualifying Thursday, they all will have had the chance to compete on the three phases of the oil pattern - the fresh, burn and double-burn.

"I'll need to get the ball started in the first 10-to-15 feet because I'm trying to play the fronts," Ciminelli said. "With the fresh, it's going to be harder to get my ball started, but I have a couple of ideas and hope they work. It can quickly go south in this tournament, so I'm not taking anything for granted."

The first perfect game of the 2015 U.S. Open was rolled Wednesday, as Canada's Francois Lavoie rolled 12 consecutive strikes on his way to a 3,546 total, placing him in eighth overall.

Lavoie, who won the 2014 Intercollegiate Singles Championships and 2015 Intercollegiate Team Championships while attending Wichita State, also rolled a 300 at the USBC Masters in February.

All competitors at the 2015 U.S. Open will bowl 24 qualifying games over three days, before the field is cut to the top 92 for eight additional games. The 32-game pinfall totals will determine the 24 players for the round-robin match play, after which, the top five will advance to the stepladder finals based on their 56-game totals.

All qualifying and match-play rounds will be broadcast live on the Professional Bowlers Association's online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.

The televised finals are scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern on the CBS Sports Network, and the winner will take home a top prize of $50,000.

Bowlmor AMF, the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, committed to hosting and providing television sponsorship of more than $250,000 for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open, which USBC Hall Famer Liz Johnson won at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, New Jersey, in September.

57位 藤井信人, 80位 浅田梨奈

 

2015/11/03

 

Weier leads after opening day at 2015 U.S. Open

Cameron Weier of Tacoma, Washington, may be new to the professional bowling ranks, but he quickly has made his presence known and now is the player to beat at the 2015 Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open.

The 25-year-old right-hander posted an eight-game score of 1,895, a 236.88 average, to set the pace after the first day of qualifying Tuesday at AMF Garland Lanes. Weier finished one pin ahead of Team USA member John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda, New York (1,894).

"It feels great to be in this position, but it's just one day of a long event," said Weier, a first-team All-American at Robert Morris-Illinois during the 2013-14 collegiate season. "It is nice to be this far up, though, because it definitely will help me be relaxed and keep my emotions in check tomorrow. I plan to just see what the lanes give me and take it shot by shot. I'll be able to bowl my own game and not worry as much."

The English duo of Dominic Barrett (1,890) and Stuart Williams (1,888) are third and fourth, while Sean Rash of Montgomery, Illinois, rounds out the top five with 1,863.

Defending champion Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, led the event's opening squad with a 1,845 total and finished the day eighth overall.

He spent most of Monday's official practice session sharpening his physical game, rather than trying to figure out the 43-foot oil pattern, and that strategy worked for the 39-year-old right-hander, who got out to a fast start Tuesday. He averaged more than 246 for his first five games.

"I played out all day and never changed balls," said Malott, a 10-time Professional Bowlers Association national champion. "I had a few different options later in the day, but I was close to the pocket and felt comfortable. I could've changed zones, but I didn't want to risk it. Hopefully, I can play in the same area tomorrow, but I'm still going to focus on one shot and one game at a time."

Weier, who helped Robert Morris to the men's title at the 2013 Intercollegiate Team Championships, joined the PBA in August and earned his first regional title at the PBA Sands Regency West/Northwest Challenge Presented by DV8 two weeks ago at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada.

He followed that win with a fourth-place finish at the PBA Xtra Frame Sands Regency Casino West/NW Presented by Radical, held at the NBS during the same weekend, and the confidence he gained in Reno showed on the lanes at the U.S. Open on Tuesday.

Weier will lead the 275-player U.S. Open field back onto the lanes at AMF Garland Lanes for the second qualifying round beginning Wednesday at 9 a.m. Eastern.

All competitors will bowl 24 qualifying games over three days, before the field is cut to the top 92 for eight additional games. The 32-game pinfall totals will determine the 24 players for the round-robin match-play portion of the tournament, after which, the top five will advance to the stepladder finals based on their 56-game totals.

All qualifying and match-play rounds will be broadcast live on the Professional Bowlers Association's online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.

The televised finals are scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern on the CBS Sports Network, and the winner will take home a top prize of $50,000.

Bowlmor AMF, the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, committed to hosting and providing television sponsorship of more than $250,000 for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open, which USBC Hall Famer Liz Johnson won at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, New Jersey, in September.

20位 藤井信人, 92位 浅田梨奈