【PBA】　Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open　【Qualifying Round 2】

Duke Averages 231 in Second Round to Retain Lead in Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open

Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., averaged 231 for six games Tuesday to retain his lead after the second round of the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by 900 Global at the Suncoast Bowling Center.

The PBA Hall of Famer and winner of the 2014 Senior U.S. Open bowled a 1,388 six-game pinfall total in the second round after bowling 1,488 in Monday’s first round for a 2,876 overall pinfall total (239.6 average). Duke had games of 237, 212, 289, 220, 224 and 206 in the second round.

“It was a solid round with all 200s,” said Duke, who ranks third on the all-time PBA Tour titles list with 38 wins and also owns two PBA50 Tour titles. “You have to put everything in perspective because at this point in the tournament you don’t win it today.

“The scores were a little lower today but you have to remember everybody’s trying to make their tweaks and get a little better so there’s some experimenting going on out there,” the 52-year-old Duke added. “I take what I get and move on.”

Duke holds a 71-pin lead over non-member Mike Klosin of Windham, N.H., in second, who is bowling in his first Senior U.S. Open.

Adding to Duke’s confidence was his ability to play from all areas of the lane regardless of what the lane conditions happened to be.

“There were no surprises for me out there,” Duke said. “I could get something from playing all the arrows. I started outside on the fresh condition yesterday and steadily moved in. Today, I was playing a lot of fourth arrow so that just reinforces the fact that I can play the lanes a variety of ways.

“I just want to clarify that I’m feeling good physically, and just need to make a few more tweaks to get my game 100 percent.”

Rounding out the top five were three-time PBA50 Tour winner Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 2,785; Eddie Graham, Centerville, Ohio, 2,719, and three-time PBA50 Tour titlist Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 2,691.

Two-time Senior U.S. Open winner Amleto Monacelli of Venezuela is in sixth with 2,689. Monacelli and fellow Hall of Famer Tom Baker of King, N.C., who was 21st after the second round with 2,608, are trying to become the first to win Senior U.S. Open three times.

Defending Senior U.S. Open champion Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., who is trying for a record fourth consecutive PBA50 Tour title, was in eighth place with 2,665.

Duke and Weber are the only players to win U.S. Open titles on both the PBA Tour and PBA50 Tours.

The 171-player field will bowl the final six-game qualifying round Wednesday after which the top 40 players will advance to modified round robin match play. After two six-game match play rounds Thursday, the top half of the field will bowl two more six-game match play rounds Friday, with the top four players after 42 games advancing to the stepladder finals at 7:15 ET (4:15 p.m. PT).

All rounds of the Senior U.S. Open are being covered live on PBA’s Xtra Frame online video streaming service. Live scoring also is available on PBA’s official website, pba.com.

　【PBA】　Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open　【Qualifying Round 1】

Norm Duke Averages 248 for First Round Lead in Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open; Weber Sits in Sixth

Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Norm Duke arrived at Suncoast Casino, Hotel and Bowling Center feeling under the weather, but he even surprised himself by averaging 248 on demanding lane conditions to charge into the early first round lead in the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open Monday.

Duke, a third-year PBA50 Tour competitor at age 52, rolled a 280 game out of the gate and followed with games of 196, 245, 242, 249 and 276 for a six-game total of 1,488 pins and a 72-pin lead over 61-year-old Tom Baker of King, N.C.

“I didn’t feel 100 percent and I haven’t since I got here,” Duke said. “I’m just trying to get my legs under me, but my scores don’t reflect the way I felt. I looked back and said, ‘Wow. That was a pretty good number.’”

Duke, who won the 2014 Senior U.S. Open on his way to PBA50 Rookie and Player of the Year honors, said his familiarity with Suncoast was a key to his round.

“I navigate this center real well,” he said. “I know you can’t just stand in one spot and shoot 200, so I was playing every pair of lanes the way I was supposed to. That doesn’t happen very often in a U.S. Open. I could easily come out here tomorrow and ‘pure’ every shot, and shoot 20 over. It isn’t easy. This is the Senior U.S. Open. No matter how good you are, it doesn’t mean you can score big. I feel quite fortunate to have the round I had.”

Duke also knows the elite field of professionals and amateurs isn’t going to make life easy. Behind Baker – who is trying for his 13th career PBA50 Tour title – is another PBA Hall of Famer, Venezuela’s Amleto Monacelli; journeyman contender Jack Jurek of Lackawanna, N.Y., and amateur Michael Klosin of Windham, N.H.

Defending Senior U.S. Open champion Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., who is trying for a record fourth consecutive PBA50 Tour title, was in sixth place with 1,375 pins, 113 behind Duke.

There is a long way yet to go. All 171 players will bowl three six-game qualifying rounds, continuing Tuesday and Wednesday. After 18 games, the top 40 players will advance to modified round robin match play. After two six-game match play rounds Thursday, the top half of the field will bowl two more six-game match play rounds Friday, with the top four players after 42 games advancing to the stepladder finals at 7:15 ET (4:15 p.m. PT).

All rounds of the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by 900 Global are being covered live on PBA’s Xtra Frame online video streaming service. Live scoring also is available on PBA’s official website, pba.com.

　【JPBA】　第7回 HANDA CUP プロボウリングマスターズ　【決勝】

原田招雄、シニア大会初優勝！

いぶし銀の男達が長年積み重ねてきた技術と知恵と経験を、思う存分ぶつけ合うHANDACUP・プロボウリングマスターズ。

シニアと言ってもまだまだ第一線で現役プレイヤーとして活躍する者も多く、今年も若手とはまたひと味違う素晴らしい激戦を見せてくれました。

今回は特に予選前半Bシフト31位から追い上げ準決勝でトップに躍り出た佐久間 忍選手、そして昨年のベストアマ溝口康男選手も2年連続で決勝ラウンドロビン進出を果たすなど、アマチュア選手の活躍が光りました。

しかし、プロとしてはアマチュア選手に抜かれて良しとするわけには行きません。

プロトップで準決勝を通過した原田招雄を筆頭に、水野成祐、高橋延明、木村紀夫、坂田重徳、持田 学、益田隆司、栴檀 稔、北岡義実、岡野秀幸らが後を追います。

スコアポイントと勝利ポイントで争う決勝ラウンドロビンでは、プロの面目にかけてこれ以上アマチュアに遅れは取らじとばかりにビッグゲームを連発。順位の変動も激しく、なかなか先の展開が読めません。

しかし転機はポジションマッチ前の11G目、原田に訪れました。

「レーン様のお陰」と語るほど、原田の投球と使用レーンが見事マッチして269ピンで白星を挙げ、なかなか獲れなかった首位をようやく奪取。ここで上位4名がほぼ確定し、結果原田を筆頭に水野・高橋・坂田らいずれ劣らぬタイトルホルダーが並びます。

第5回大会・6回大会と連覇を果たし、3連覇がかかった高橋と坂田による4位決定戦は、滑り出しからターキーを決めた高橋がまずリードを取ります。3・4フレームをオープンにしてしまった坂田は、4マークという苦しい展開となりましたが、粘り腰で勝負どころにターキーを持って来ることに成功。対して高橋も4フレーム目に続き大事な9フレーム目をスプリットにしてしまい、差を詰められてほぼ横並びに。

しかし坂田の10フレーム2投目が2・5番を残す8本カウントとなり、わずか4ピン差で高橋の逃げ切りを許す結果に終わりました。

苦しい戦いを制した高橋は、水野との3位決定戦ではほぼ互角の戦いを繰り広げましたが、坂田と同じく終盤にターキーを決めた水野を、今度はかわすことが出来ず敗退。

水野と原田、65歳と55歳による優勝決定戦に突入します。

社会的にまだまだ働き盛りの55歳と、定年と言われる65歳。通常で考えれば55歳に軍配があがるように思われますが、そこが”生涯スポーツ”と呼ばれるボウリングの奥深さ。勝利は若さの特権ではありません。

左右のレーンでコンディションが変わっていることに気付き、直前の練習ボールで「これが行ける」とラウンドロビンであまりスコアの出なかったボールにあえてチェンジした原田。

それが経験に裏打ちされた勘と呼ぶべきか、つかみ切れていなかった左レーンも5フレーム目にはアジャストしてストライクを決め、中盤5連続ストライクに成功。

対する水野は「失投したわけではないのに、予測よりも曲がってしまった」と、4フレーム目でイージーミス。その後もストライクが続かず、最終フレームを前に軍配は原田に上がってしまいました。

矢島純一が”最年長TV決勝出場記録”と”最年長パーフェクト達成記録”を保持していることを挙げて「追い抜きたい」と語り、先日のシーズントライアルで1位と2位だった川奨太と谷合貴志がその後のグリコセブンティーンアイス杯でリベンジマッチを繰り広げたことに対しては「その時3位だった自分も今回優勝した」と、若い者にも負けないと不敵に笑う原田。年齢の上下に関係なく、一流の現役プレイヤーとして、挑戦を続けていく姿を見せてくれました！

なお、今大会も選手会による熊本地震支援募金が行われ、180,711円の募金が集められました。グリコセブンティーンアイス杯と同様、熊本県ボウリング場協会を通じて被災地へと届けさせて頂きます。ご協力くださいました皆様に、この場を借りて御礼申し上げます。

堂々6位でベストアマ獲得！

佐久間 忍 選手

グランドシニア表彰のご報告

50歳以上に参加を限られたいぶし銀な男達の中でも一際渋い輝きを放つ、グランドシニアの表彰が行われましたのでご報告致します。

プロはちょうど65歳でシニア大会初優勝を果たした原田招雄がダブル優勝。2位に43期生・白石順子の父である白石憲児、3位にこれまた祐哉・琢哉・征哉ら3兄弟の父・斉藤正典。4位・矢島純一、5位・宮内圭次郎となりました。

また今大会はさらにアマチュア選手にもグランドシニア表彰を行い、76歳で参加の水上和彦選手が1位に輝きました。

受賞された皆様のみならず、すべてのシニアボウラーの皆様に、いつまでもお元気で”生涯現役”、”生涯ボウリング”を体現して頂きたいと思います。

とても76歳には見えない若々しさ

水上和彦 選手

　【JPBA】　第7回 HANDA CUP プロボウリングマスターズ　【ラウンドロビン】

原田招雄

　【JPBA】　第7回 HANDA CUP プロボウリングマスターズ　【準決勝】

佐久間　忍 選手

　【JPBA】　第7回 HANDA CUP プロボウリングマスターズ　【予選後半】

水野成祐

　【JPBA】　第7回 HANDA CUP プロボウリングマスターズ　【予選前半】

坂田重徳

　【JPBA】　2016 沖縄オープンサラダカップ　【承認大会】

沖縄在住・市川佑一がプロの部優勝！

大会期間中は雨の降る日が多かったものの今年は青天に恵まれ、多くの参加者が沖縄の青い空と海を堪能した承認大会・沖縄オープンサラダカップ。

楽しい前夜祭から一転、本大会では真剣勝負が繰り広げられました。

なかでもひときわ大きな声援を送られたのは、沖縄在住の市川佑一。松永裕美との優勝決定戦では、パンチアウトで追い上げてくる松永を2ピン差でかわしての勝利となり、初の沖縄在住プロによる大会制覇に地元の応援団が湧き上がりました。

なおアマチュアの部では新里翔悟選手が優勝。昨年の大会で2位に終わった雪辱を見事晴らしました！

　【JPBA】　第7回 スマイルフィールド。カップ　【承認大会】

さる5月14日（土）・15日（日）の2日間にわたって行われました承認大会・第7回スマイルフィールド。カップにて、山口行雄選手が優勝されましたことご報告致します。

予選4G目にパーフェクトを達成した山口選手は、決勝シュートアウトも260・274とビッグゲームを連発。優勝決定戦では坂本和幸選手と対戦し、ここでも263ピンのビッグゲームを打って堂々優勝を果たしました。

　【USBC】　United States Bowling Congress Queens　【Finals】

Singapore's Bernice Lim Wns 2016 USBC Queens

Bernice Lim of Singapore became the sixth international player to win the United States Bowling Congress Queens, defeating top seed Sandra Andersson of Sweden, 248-223, at The Orleans Bowling Center on Thursday.

Lim started the championship match, live on CBS Sports Network, with six consecutive strikes, before a 10 pin ended her run at perfection. She needed just three pins on the first shot of her final frame to secure the victory. The Queens is the first major of the 2016 PWBA Tour season.

The 24-year-old right-hander is the first bowler from Singapore to win the coveted tiara, previously claimed by bowlers from Japan (two), Australia, Latvia and Colombia.

"This was my first TV show in the United States, so it's a big deal for me, and I'm very proud," said Lim, who earned $20,000 for the win, but as an amateur, will not get credit for an official PWBA title and does not qualify for the season-ending Smithfield PWBA Tour Championship. "It also means so much to be the first one from Singapore to win. I'm just happy to do my country proud."

In order to stay relaxed and focused during competition, Lim works with a Rubik's Cube, which she solved twice during the semifinal before proving her dominance of the 40-foot oil pattern used at USBC Queens this week.

"It helps keep my mind off things, so I don't think too much when my opponent is bowling," Lim said. "It's a puzzle, just like bowling, and it represents the game well."

The title tilt was a rematch of the final winners' bracket match, in which Andersson defeated Lim, 712-646 to earn the top seed for the stepladder.

"I am so proud of myself," said Andersson, who now will head home to prepare for the European Women's Championships in June. "I've been struggling a lot lately with my mental game, and this week just proves I'm back. It's truly amazing."

As the No. 2 seed for TV, Lim used her opening match against Team USA's Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, New York, to get comfortable in her first appearance under the television lights.

She earned her spot in the championship match with a 238-221 win over McEwan.

Lim responded to a fourth-frame split from by McEwan with four consecutive strikes to pull ahead, and she tossed three more strikes in the 10th frame advance. McEwan took home $6,000 for the third-place finish.

Five countries were represented in the stepladder, while this week's event featured 63 international players from 20 countries outside of the United States. There were 29 international bowlers among the 64 players in the double-elimination match-play bracket.

Lim was one of eight players Singapore entered in the 2016 Queens, and all eight made match play this week.

While most of the Singapore contingent bowled the first four stops of the 2016 PWBA Tour season, the Queens was only event for Lim, who is on a different schedule. She now will return home to focus on the Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships in September.

In the second match of the day, McEwan and Birgit Poppler of Germany combined for 13 strikes in the first seven frames, before the high-scoring start turned dramatic. After back-to-back splits from Poppler in the ninth and 10th frames, McEwan doubled in her final frame to escape with a 245-233 win.

Poppler, who led qualifying this week at The Orleans Bowling Center, posted a string of 12 consecutive strikes in her two matches, but finished fourth overall, earning $5,000.

In the opening match, Poppler struck eight times, including her last five shots, to outlast Malaysia's Li Jane Sin, 242-224. Sin started with five consecutive strikes, but a pair of splits proved to be her undoing. Sin finished fifth and earned $4,000.

A total of 256 players bowled 15 games of qualifying over three days to determine the 63 bowlers who would join defending champion Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, in the double-elimination match-play bracket.

　【USBC】　United States Bowling Congress Queens　【Match-Play Bracket】

Sweden's Andersson Earns Top Seed at 2016 USBC Queens

Sweden's Sandra Andersson went undefeated in match play to earn the top seed for the stepladder finals of the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Queens, which will air live on CBS Sports Network on Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Andersson is looking to become the sixth international player, and first since 2014, to win the USBC Queens. This year's stepladder includes bowlers from five different countries - Sweden, Singapore, United States, Malaysia and Germany.

As the No. 1 seed, the 24-year-old right-hander is one win away from capturing the coveted tiara and $20,000 top prize after defeating Singapore's Bernice Lim in the winners' bracket final Wednesday at The Orleans Bowling Center, 712-646. Lim will be the No. 2 seed for the show.

Andersson averaged under 210 in her first three wins in the double-elimination match-play bracket, but she left little doubt Wednesday as she cruised through her final three matches, averaging more than 241.

"Today, I promised myself I would repeat shots, focus on myself and make spares," said Andersson, who qualified in 61st for match play with a 3,199 total for 15 games. "I feel I'm getting more confident with every shot I'm making right now, which is a good feeling going into the finals tomorrow."

Lim, a 24-year-old right-hander, was one of eight players from Singapore to advance to match play and turned in a 5-1 record. A total of 29 of the 63 international players competing this week in Las Vegas advanced to the bracket.

Team USA member Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, New York, Malaysia's Sin Li Jane and Germany's Birgit Poppler are the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 seeds for the stepladder, respectively, after advancing through a final shootout round Thursday.

McEwan rolled a 708 series to lead the round and earn the third spot. Sin shot 266 in her final game to jump into the fourth spot with 663, and she will face Poppler in Thursday's opening match. Poppler, the qualifying leader this week, earned the fifth seed with 662. Team USA's Stefanie Johnson of Grand Prairie, Texas, finished with 627 and was eliminated, finishing in sixth place.

A total of 256 bowlers competed in three five-game blocks of qualifying over three days to determine the top 63 who would join defending champion and USBC Hall of Famer Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, in the double-elimination match-play bracket.

Each bracket match leading up to the stepladder included three games with total pinfall determining which player advanced.

The USBC Queens is the first major of the 2016 Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour season.

　【USBC】　United States Bowling Congress Queens　【Match-Play Bracket】

Sixteen Players Remain at 2016 USBC Queens

After four days of competition at the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Queens, only 16 players remain in contention for the coveted tiara and $20,000 top prize, which will be earned live on CBS Sports Network on Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Among the undefeated competitors after the opening round of match play Tuesday are top seed Birgit Poppler of Germany and Team USA member Stefanie Johnson of Grand Prairie, Texas, who each have had very different experiences this week at The Orleans Bowling Center.

Poppler led the field of 256 competitors by averaging more than 240 through 15 games of qualifying but needed to rely more on her spare game Tuesday as she averaged nearly 215 in her three wins, including a 644-609 victory against Kaidee Sutphin of Mount Dora, Florida, to remain in the winners' bracket.

"I always started pretty well in the first game and was able to build a lead," said Poppler, whose 15-game qualifying mark of 3,601 was the second-highest in tournament history. "I wasn't striking as much, so I just tried to make my spares and stay patient. For tomorrow, I'm going to try to do what I did today and stay patient. Hopefully, I can keep it going. I might need to strike more tomorrow."

Johnson did not record a game higher than 226 in her first 13 games of qualifying but fired 279 and 240 in her final two games to edge her way into the double-elimination match-play bracket in the 53rd position.

Johnson continued to show a flair for the dramatic in match play, defeating Singapore's Jazreel Tan in a roll off after the two tied at 674 in the opening round of match play.

In her last match Tuesday, Johnson delivered two strikes and nine pins in the final frame to hold off a charging Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, 687-686. Kulick, a two-time USBC Queens champion, fired a 278 in the final game.

"I tried a couple of different things throughout qualifying but just never saw the picture," said Johnson, the 2015 Professional Women's Bowling Association Rookie of the Year. "I had nothing to lose, so I ended up making a big move right with a great ball choice and never looked back. Today was not an easy road. Two of my matches came down to the final frame, and being able to perform in those moments just reminds me of why I do what I do. Those are the moments you prepare for and want to be in."

Joining Poppler and Johnson in the winners' bracket are 2013 Queens champion Diana Zavjalova of Latvia, Singapore's Hui Fen New and Bernice Lim, Sweden's Sandra Andersson, Malaysia's Sin Li Jane and Robyn Renslow of Brentwood, California.

The double-elimination bracket started with the 64 bowlers who advanced through three rounds of qualifying, and now only 16 remain with the opportunity to advance to Thursday's stepladder finals.

The elimination bracket includes Kulick, Indonesia's Tannya Roumimper, Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, New York, Rocio Restrepo of Louisville, Ohio, Brenda Padilla of Mansfield, Texas, Natasha Roslan of Malaysia, Jennifer Higgins of Westerville, Ohio, and Lindsay Boomershine of Perry, Utah.

Defending champion and USBC Hall of Famer Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, won her opening match but lost her next two matches to be eliminated. Her run at a third Queens title ended after she fell to 2015-2016 National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Most Valuable Player Brittany Smith of Des Moines, Iowa, 646-625.

Match play will continue Wednesday at noon Eastern live on Xtra Frame, the online bowling channel for the Professional Bowlers Association. To subscribe to watch the action on Xtra Frame, visit XtraFrame.TV.

The final two players in the winners' bracket Wednesday will meet in a three-game match, with total pinfall determining the top seed for the stepladder finals.

The final four competitors in the elimination bracket will face off in a shootout round to determine the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 seeds for the show. The highest three-game set from the round will earn the third seed, the second highest will be seeded fourth and the third highest will earn the final spot in the stepladder. The lowest series will be eliminated and finish in sixth place.

The Queens is the first major of the 2016 PWBA Tour season.

　【USBC】　United States Bowling Congress Queens　【Qualifying Round 3】

Germany's Poppler Top Qualifier at 2016 USBC Queens

Birgit Poppler of Germany continued her scorching pace through the third round of qualifying Monday at the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Queens and earned the top seed for the match-play portion of the event.

Poppler averaged more than 240 over 15 games at The Orleans Bowling Center for a 3,601 total, the second-highest in USBC Queens history. She had blocks of 1,238, 1,159 and 1,204.

As the top seed, Poppler will square off against the No. 64 seed, Josie Earnest of Nashville, Tennessee, in the opening round of double-elimination match-play, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday at noon Eastern.

Poland's Daria Pajak qualified second with 3,450 and was followed by Sweden's Jenny Wegner (3,414), Singapore's Shayna Ng (3,384) and two-time USBC Queens champion Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey (3,374).

Despite the hot start, Poppler understands that match play essentially is the start of a new tournament.

"It really doesn't matter if you're 30th, 60th or first because tomorrow is a new day," said Poppler, a 29-year-old right-hander. "I'm going to try and win the first match and see what happens next. Even if I don't start well, I'm going to try and be patient because it's three games, so you always have the chance to catch up even if you are behind. So, I'll just try to stay patient if it's not going too well and see what happens."

The USBC Queens is the first major of the 2016 Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour season, and the tournament's stepladder finals will be televised live on CBS Sports Network on Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Match play will run through Thursday. The bracket will feature three-game matches, with total pinfall determining who advances. The five players who make their way through the bracket will advance to the stepladder finals and have the chance to take home the top prize of $20,000.

A total of 256 players bowled 15 games of qualifying over three days to determine the 63 bowlers who would join defending champion Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, in the double-elimination match-play bracket. Johnson posted a 3,364 total during qualifying to earn the No. 8 seed.

Earnest, who finished fifth at the 2012 Queens, claimed the final spot in the bracket this year with a 3,185 total, a 212.33 average.

All rounds of competition leading up to the stepladder are being broadcast on Xtra Frame, the online bowling channel for the Professional Bowlers Association. To subscribe to watch the action on Xtra Frame, visit XtraFrame.TV.

65位 浅田梨奈 $935 獲得

106位 浦野実紅, 109位 秋吉夕紀, 116位 近藤文美, 180位 板倉奈智美, 203位 望月理江

　【USBC】　United States Bowling Congress Queens　【Qualifying Round 2】

Germany's Poppler Leads After Second Round at 2016 USBC Queens

Germany's Birgit Poppler leads a field of more than 250 bowlers after two rounds of qualifying at the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Queens.

Poppler used games of 236, 245, 267, 186 and 225 for a 1,159 total Sunday at The Orleans Bowler Center to bring her 10-game total to 2,397. Two-time USBC Queens champion Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, is in second place with 2,388, and Singapore's Jazreel Tan is third with 2,324.

The USBC Queens is the first major of the 2016 Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour season, and the tournament's stepladder finals will be televised live on CBS Sports Network on Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Poppler, who captured a gold medal in doubles at the 2008 World Bowling Youth Championships, rolled 806 in her final three games Saturday to finish the opening round in second place with 1,238. The 29-year-old right-hander used that momentum as she averaged nearly 250 for her first three games Sunday on her way to the top of the standings.

"I've just been trying to take it shot by shot," said Poppler, who fired a perfect game during qualifying of the 2015 Queens in Green Bay, Wisconsin. "I think I have had the right equipment in my hands so far. I really didn't have to adjust that much yesterday and was able to use the same ball and move left. Today, I started farther to the right with something stronger and was able to do the same. I knew the scores were going to be high after the first block, so I'm just trying to keep it up and take it game by game, day by day."

Competition continues Monday morning at 11 a.m. Eastern with the final round of qualifying. After 15 games over three days, the top 63 players in the field will join defending champion Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, in the double-elimination match-play bracket.

Johnson is guaranteed the No. 64 spot in the bracket but can improve her seeding through qualifying. The USBC Hall of Famer fired a 1,134 set Sunday and is in 44th place with a 2,184 total.

The match-play bracket will feature three-game matches, with total pinfall determining who advances. The five players who make their way through the bracket will advance to the stepladder finals and have the chance to take home the top prize of $20,000.

All rounds of competition leading up to the stepladder will be broadcast on Xtra Frame, the online bowling channel for the Professional Bowlers Association. To subscribe to watch the action on Xtra Frame, visit XtraFrame.TV.

34位 浅田梨奈, 91位 浦野実紅, 119位 秋吉夕紀, 180位 板倉奈智美, 183位 近藤文美, 210位 望月理江

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【女子・決勝】

姫路 麗、大会初の連覇達成！

4月に予定されていた宮崎プロアマオープンが延期となったことで、女子にとってはまさに待望だったこの『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』。もちろん戦いに賭ける意気込みは熱く、各ゾーン制の生き残り合戦は華やかな中にも見応えあるものとなりました。

男子と同様、女子も準決勝進出者24名中16名がプロ入り10年未満という、フレッシュな印象の強い大会となりましたが、なかでも男子の新城一也と同様、今月13日にプロデビューした小池沙紀の活躍は特筆すべきでしょう。

女子トップ合格のデビュー戦はこの長崎と決まっていたため、長崎出身の小池は故郷に錦を飾りたいと、最終日に怒涛の追い上げでトップ合格をもぎとり、さらに強豪プロアマがひしめくCゾーンを5位の成績で予選通過しました。今年3月に結婚したばかりで公私ともに充実している中谷優子や昨年の全日本女子覇者・山田 幸らの壁は厚く決勝進出ならずも、地元長崎のお客様にたくさんのご声援をいただき、とても幸せなプロデビュー戦となりました。

もう一つ、小池を下した新婚の中谷も特筆すべきでしょう。というのも中谷のご夫君となったのは、男子53期生の平岡勇人。今大会は結婚後初の夫婦同時参加であり、しかも夫婦ともにファイナル進出を決めるという快挙。支えあう二人の絆と可能性をしっかり見せつけてくれました。

そんな中谷とともに決勝シュートアウトを戦うのは、三冠女王・姫路 麗、はるばる北海道から参戦の本間由佳梨、今季開幕戦の関西オープンで待望の2勝目を挙げた堂元美佐。

昨年の三冠女王ロードの始まりとなったのもこの『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』とあって、三冠女王連覇を目指す姫路にとっては絶対に落とせないタイトル。関西オープンに続く連勝を挙げて三冠女王の手始めとしたい堂元、のどから手が出るほど初優勝の欲しい本間、そしてもちろん結婚後初タイトル、しかももしかしたら前代未聞の夫婦同時優勝の可能性がある中谷と、負けられない理由が揃って決勝シュートアウトが始まりました。

男子が苦戦したレーンは女子をも苦しめ、特に左レーンに捕まってしまいます。全員がダブル以上にストライクが繋がらず、またはオープンフレームを出してしまい、中盤は膠着状態に陥りました。

そんな状況をいち早く抜け出したのはやはり姫路。6フレーム目のオープンから切り替えて5連続ストライクに成功し、決勝進出一番乗りを果たします。

残る一席を巡る戦いは、左レーンを攻略できなかった中谷、勝負どころで連続オープンにしてしまった本間が脱落。苦しい戦いながらも堂元が切符を手に入れ、今季2勝目を賭けて姫路に戦いを挑みます。

しかしシュートアウトでレーン攻略を掴んだ姫路は滑り出しからストライクを連発。堂元も果敢に攻め、もはや「ストライクが切れた時点で負ける」という緊迫した展開に。

そんななか、姫路は6フレーム目で4番ピンを残す9本カウント。これで堂元も差を詰められるかと思われましたが、レーンの変化を掴み、アジャストに微調整を施した姫路は息を吹き返したかのごとく再びストライクを連発します。

堂元も決して悪くはないボウリングで攻めましたが、姫路の圧倒的な強さの前に最終フレームを前にして敗北が確定。姫路が今季1勝目、通算13勝目を手に入れました。

関西オープンで疲れやすくなった体を自覚したと語りましたが、その後体質改善につとめてしっかりと結果を出してきた姫路、女王未だ健在、三冠女王連覇への道を踏み出しました！

京都から参戦、総合26位入賞でベストアマ獲得！

北川市子選手

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【男子・決勝】

谷合貴志、一年越しのリベンジを果たして2勝目を挙げる！

初夏の風物詩として定着してきた感のある、『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』。今年は熊本地震の影響を鑑みて、延期や中止も考えらるなか、それでも無事開催の運びとなりましたこと、まずは関係各位のご尽力と、待ち望んでいてくださったボウリングファンの皆様に感謝申し上げます。

もちろん選手達にとっても待ち望んだ大会だけあって気合いは十分。男女合わせてパーフェクトが5つ、7-10スプリットメイドが2つ達成されるなど、ハイパフォーマンスな戦いが繰り広げられました。

今大会は2フロアに分かれている為、第1・第2シフトをさらに2つのゾーンに分け、各ゾーン上位6名が準決勝進出。さらに準決勝も各ゾーン中トップ1名が決勝進出となる変則的な形で行われるなか、男女ともに若手が大活躍を見せてくれました。特筆すべきはプロデビュー間もない新人の新城一也でしょう。準決勝最終ゲームでパーフェクトを達成して同じCゾーントップの平岡勇人に2ピン差まで詰め寄り、場内を沸かせてくれました。

そして決勝シュートアウトには追い上げる新城からトップを守り抜いた平岡のほか、今大会で自身初パーフェクトも達成した谷合貴志、長崎に縁のある藤井信人、地元長崎の強豪アマ・山下知且選手を撃破した川添奨太らの、若手実力派がそろい踏み。

ファイナリスト全員が20代、しかも全員がジュニアの頃から顔見知りという、今後のプロボウリング界を背負って立つ若手達の激突は、序盤でビッグ5を出してしまった平岡が、タイトルホルダー3人を追う展開に。

しかし昨年度ポイントランキングトップの藤井が、中盤2つのオープンを出してしまいトップ集団から脱落。ストライクが続かないながらも辛抱してノーミスを守った谷合と、7フレーム目からオールウェーを決めた川添が逃げ切って優勝決定戦へと駒を進めます。

奇しくも昨年の大会で3位と4位に終わった谷合と川添。両者とも昨年のリベンジ戦となりましたが、さらに言えば今年だけでもシーズントライアルで二度直接対決してきた二人。その二度とも川添に敗れているとあって三度目の正直を狙う谷合は、滑り出しから4連続ストライクに成功します。

川添にツーマークのリードを取り、このままの勢いで行けるか？！とはやる谷合に、レーンの神様は試練を与え給うたか。ゲームの流れを決めるぎりぎりの5フレーム目、谷合はビッグ5を出してしまい、2投目は惜しいところまで行きましたが結果はオープンフレームに。

本来ならここで畳みかけてくる川添も中盤はストライクを繋げられませんでしたが、7フレーム目からターキーを決めて谷合を追い上げます。

「川添は最後絶対決めてくると思った」と語った谷合。その川添はオールウェーで繋げられていれば自力優勝を決められましたが、10フレーム1投目で7番ピンを残す9本カウント。結果226ピンでフィニッシュとなり、勝敗の行方は谷合の最終フレームに預けられました。

10フレーム1投目でストライクを出さなければ、スペア・ストライクと繋げても222ピン止まりとなる谷合。勝つためには最低でもここでストライクを持って来なければなりませんが、8フレーム目の10番ピンタップが尾を引き、「一枚か半枚か」というぎりぎりのアジャストに悩みます。

しかし直前のシュートアウトでじりじりとアジャストを変えてしのいだ経験から、「一枚」と決断を下した谷合。それがピタリとはまり、見事ストライクに成功。

2投目を7本カウントとしたところで、3投目をミスしても川添と同ピン、1本でも倒せば優勝という展開で、谷合は有終の美を飾るスペアを決め、大きな大きなガッツポーズを決めました。

「川添を倒して勝ったことはやっぱり大きい」と語った谷合。藤井や平岡といったジュニアの頃から切磋琢磨してきた仲間であり、最大のライバル達とともに、今後ますますの成長を見せてくれることでしょう。

今後の彼らの活躍が楽しみです！

地元長崎を背負って立つ元ナショナル選手、総合5位でベストアマ獲得！

山下知且選手

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【女子・準決勝】

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【男子・準決勝】

　【USBC】　United States Bowling Congress Queens　【Qualifying Round 1】

McCarthy leads opening day at 2016 USBC Queens

Team USA's Erin McCarthy of Omaha, Nebraska, continued where she left off at the United States Bowling Congress Queens and led a field of more than 250 players Saturday in the opening round of the 2016 event.

McCarthy averaged more than 251 for her five-game block at The Orleans Bowling Center, including games of 268, 257, 259, 232 and 241, for an opening-round total of 1,257. Germany's Birgit Poppler ended the day in second place with 1,238, while two-time USBC Queens champion Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, sits third with 1,223.

The Queens is the first major of the 2016 Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour season, and the tournament's stepladder finals will be televised live on CBS Sports Network on Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

The 25-year-old right-hander, who went undefeated in match play at last year's Queens to earn the top seed in the stepladder final before finishing second to USBC Hall of Famer Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, took advantage of conditions that played to her favor Saturday.

"The burn is my strong suit, so I tried to get as many pins as possible," said McCarthy, who fell in the 2015 title match, 256-202. "I matched up well with my equipment, chased it left and also made my spares, which is something I haven't done well in the past few weeks. I don't think I'll strike nearly as much on the fresh, so I'm going to try to make the best shots possible, make my spares and hope it turns out all right."

All competitors will bowl three five-game blocks of qualifying over the course three days at the 2016 event, including two sets on the fresh 40-foot lane condition and one on the burn.

Competition continues Sunday morning at 11 a.m. Eastern with the second round of qualifying. After 15 games of qualifying, the top 63 players in the field will join Johnson in the double-elimination match-play bracket.

Johnson is guaranteed the No. 64 spot in the bracket but can improve her seeding through qualifying. She is 88th after Saturday's round with a 1,050 total.

The match-play bracket will feature three-game matches, with total pinfall determining who advances. The five players who make their way through the bracket will advance to the stepladder finals and have the chance to take home the top prize of $20,000.

All rounds of competition leading up to the stepladder will be broadcast on Xtra Frame, the online bowling channel for the Professional Bowlers Association. To subscribe to watch the action on Xtra Frame, visit XtraFrame.TV.

26位 浅田梨奈, 90位 秋吉夕紀, 105位 浦野実紅, 161位 板倉奈智美, 177位 近藤文美, 221位 望月理江

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【女子・予選 Dゾーン】

堂元美佐

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【女子・予選 Cゾーン】

中谷優子

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【男子・予選 Dゾーン】

藤井信人

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【男子・予選 Cゾーン】

甘糟翔太

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【女子・予選 Bゾーン】

姫路　麗

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【女子・予選 Aゾーン】

松下聖子

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【男子・予選 Bゾーン】

山下知且 選手

　【JPBA】　『グリコセブンティーンアイス杯』第4回 プロアマボウリングトーナメント　【男子・予選 Aゾーン】

谷合貴志

　【JPBA】　JPBAシーズントライアル 2016 スプリングシリーズ

全会場終了のご報告

プロテストから続いて行われましたシーズントライアル・スプリングシリーズが、本日全国4会場すべてで終了しましたのでご報告致します。

本格的な男子開幕戦を控えて、どの会場でも選手達の仕上がりは上々と言ったところか、見応えのある熱戦が繰り広げられました。

今大会はプロテスト合格後のデビュー戦で優勝を収めた笠原康正、そして森本健太や川添奨太らを筆頭に、若手の活躍が光りました。

　【JPBA】　シーズントライアル 2016 スプリングシリーズ

川添奨太
会場：新狭山グランドボウル

　【JPBA】　シーズントライアル 2016 スプリングシリーズ

栴檀　稔
会場：神戸六甲ボウル

　【JPBA】　シーズントライアル 2016 スプリングシリーズ

森本健太
会場：星ヶ丘ボウル

　【JPBA】　シーズントライアル 2016 スプリングシリーズ

笠原康正
会場：シチズンボウル

　【PWBA】　PWBA Storm Sacramento Open　【Group Stepladder Finals】

Cherie Tan Earns Top Seed at 2016 PWBA Storm Sacramento Open

With as many as six bowlers on the lanes for each Professional Women's Bowling Association event this season, Singapore has been well-represented, and the group now is guaranteed to bowl for the title at the PWBA Storm Sacramento Open.

Cherie Tan, the lone left-hander of the contingent, averaged more than 225 this weekend at Steve Cook's Fireside Lanes to claim the No. 1 seed for the TV finals, which will be taped May 26 at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas and air Tuesday, June 21 on CBS Sports Network.

Tan qualified third for the match-play portion of the PWBA Storm Sacramento Open and compiled a 6-0 match-play record to top the Group A standings with a 5,600 pinfall total, which included 30 bonus pins for each victory.

"This has been a good visit for Team Singapore, and it would be huge if I were to win the title," said Tan, whose teammate Hui Fen New earned the No. 4 seed for the show to double Singapore's chances at the trophy. "We support each other at all times, and we know we all have the potential to be successful at any time. Seeing the others do well definitely motivates me, and I'm excited to be the one in this position this time."

Team USA member Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, went 3-3 in match play Saturday and led Group B with a 5,446 total, which earned her a guaranteed spot on the TV show as the No. 2 seed. Colombia's Anggie Ramirez and New advanced through the unique dual stepladder portion of the event to join Tan and Pluhowsky as the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, respectively.

With overall pinfall deciding the top seed, Pluhowsky was 49 pins behind Tan heading into the position round, and Pluhowsky suffered a 190-172 loss to New. Tan cruised in a 247-179 win against Ramirez to secure the top spot.

"I roughly knew how far ahead I was, but I just tried to focus on my own game and not watch what Shannon was doing, and it worked out," Tan said. "We were really looking forward to coming here to compete and get a taste of the PWBA Tour, and to do well makes us very proud."

In the Group A stepladder at Steve Cook's Fireside Lanes, United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Carol Gianotti of Australia struck out in her final frame to down 2015 PWBA Rookie of the Year Stefanie Johnson of Grand Prairie, Texas, 216-210, after Johnson failed to throw a double of her own for the shutout.

New prevailed in the Group A final, 194-163, when Gianotti lost her look in the second half of the game.

The PWBA Storm Sacramento Open stepladder will be the second for New, who earned the No. 3 seed for the Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open finals and just missed the show at the season-opening PWBA Las Vegas Open.

New and Tan look to earn a spot in the record books next to their Team Singapore teammate Jazreel Tan, who won the 2015 PWBA Lubbock Sports Open as a non-member.

In the opening match of the Group B stepladder, Singapore's Shayna Ng tossed six consecutive strikes in frames four through nine to ease past reigning PWBA Player of the Year Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, 233-191.

In the Group B final, Ramirez made a run at perfection, opening with eight consecutive strikes before a 7 pin ended her bid, but she was able to slip past Ng, 279-244, to make her first PWBA TV show.

Saturday's competition kicked off with a six-game block that narrowed the field from the 32 cashers to the top 12 players for round-robin match play.

The match-play finalists were split into two groups, each featuring six players. Each group bowled six games of match play, including a final position round, to determine the top seeds and advancers to each group stepladder final.

For more information on the PWBA, visit PWBA.com. To subscribe to watch the action on Xtra Frame, visit XtraFrame.TV.

　【PWBA】　PWBA Storm Sacramento Open　【Qualifying Round 2】

Colombia's Ramirez Leads at 2016 PWBA Storm Sacramento Open

Colombia's Anggie Ramirez started and finished her day at the Professional Women's Bowling Association Storm Sacramento Open with her two best games, closing with a 258 effort to surge to the top of the standings after 12 games.

The 25-year-old left-hander averaged more than 231 during the second block of qualifying Friday at Steve Cook's Fireside Lanes to move up from fifth place after the day's first block. She finished with a 2,713 total, an overall average of 226.08.

"I definitely didn't expect this, and if you would've told me this morning I was going to lead, I wouldn't have believed it," said Ramirez, who shot 266 in her opening game Friday. "I tried not to look at the standings, but I looked early in the last game and saw I was third. After that, I just wanted to get as many pins as I could heading into tomorrow."

Ramirez, who resides in Austin, Texas, is 28 pins ahead of Singapore's Hui Fen New, who made the stepladder finals for last week's Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open and just missed the TV show for the season-opening PWBA Las Vegas Open.

New finished Friday with a 12-game total of 2,685 and was followed by United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Carol Gianotti of Australia (2,667), left-hander Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio (2,648) and Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, New York (2,645).

The final spot in the cashers' round went to Jackie Carbonetto of Blauvelt, New York, who finished Friday's 12 games with a 2,460 total, a 205 average.

The fast start this week for Ramirez was the exact opposite of last week's first game of 135, but she took that experience as part of the learning process. She also battled back and went on to finish 17th last week at Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park, California.

"Last week, I just changed balls too soon, thinking it was the equipment, when it really was me the whole time," Ramirez said. "This week, I'm focusing on executing and making the best shots I can, especially at the beginning of each game, so I can see what the lanes are giving me and be sure about it before I think about moving or changing balls. My focus is on patience and execution."

Ramirez, who only bowled in three events during the 2015 PWBA season, is much more comfortable now that she's bowling every week, and she will lead the top 32 players into Saturday's cashers' round, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. Competition will conclude Saturday evening with a group stepladder final starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Six additional games, with pinfall carrying over, will determine the 12 players who will advance to the round-robin match-play portion of the PWBA Storm Sacramento Open. The match-play finalists will be split into two groups, each featuring six players. Each group will bowl six games of match play, including a final position round.

At the end of the match play, the top qualifier in each group will earn an automatic spot in the stepladder finals, with seeding being determined by total pins. The second, third and fourth qualifiers in each group will advance to a group stepladder final. The winner of each group stepladder final will advance to the televised stepladder finals.

All qualifying and match-play rounds are being carried on Xtra Frame, the exclusive online bowling channel for the Professional Bowlers Association.

The finals of the PWBA Storm Sacramento Open will be taped May 26 during the USBC Queens and will air Tuesday, June 21 on CBS Sports Network.

　【JPBA】　第55回 男子・49回 女子プロボウラー資格取得テスト

男子11名・女子15名の新人プロボウラーが誕生しました！

男子はトータル120Gを投げてAVG200、女子は96GでAVG190が求められる過酷なテストをクリアして、本日、男子11名、女子15名の新人プロボウラーが誕生致しました。

男子は2013年のジャパンオープンにてアマチュアながら総合優勝を果たした髙橋俊彦が実技免除合格となり、実技テストトップ合格は嶋田佑介となりました。

また女子では、43期生・小池和久の妹であり、最終シリーズの3Gで追い上げた小池沙紀がトップで合格を果たしました。

さらに今年は坂本かや、田代小夏、新城一也の3名が弱冠16歳で合格。特に坂本は16歳3ヶ月で合格となり、男女を通じて史上最年少合格記録を更新しました。

輝かしい活躍を期待させてくれる新人達に、どうぞ温かいご声援をよろしくお願い申し上げます。

男子 55期生

女子 49期生

　【PBA】　PBA50 Johnny Petraglia BVL Open 【Finals】

Pete Weber Notches Record-Tying Third Straight PBA50 Tour Title in Johnny Petraglia BVL Open

Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Pete Weber continued his torrid 2016 PBA50 Tour campaign Tuesday night, winning the Johnny Petraglia BVL Open presented by Brunswick at Farmingdale Lanes for a record-tying third consecutive PBA50 Tour title.

Weber again dominated the field of 50-and-older players to earn the top berth in the stepladder finals, but he narrowly escaped with a 223-204 victory over Brian LeClair of Delmar, N.Y., when LeClair left a pocket 7-10 split on his first shot in the 10th frame.

With his win, Weber tied the PBA50 Tour record for consecutive titles set by Tom Baker of King, N.C., in 2006. With his seventh career PBA50 Tour title, Weber also broke a personal tie with his late father, who won six PBA50 titles. Weber also noted he won the first Johnny Petraglia Open, held on the PBA Tour at Brunswick Zone Carolier in N. Brunswick, N.J., 25 years ago.

Thus far in 2016, Weber – the reigning PBA50 Player of the Year – has a fourth-place finish in the season-opening Pasco County Florida Open followed by consecutive titles in the UnitedHealthcare Sun Bowl in The Villages in Florida and the Mooresville Ford Open in North Carolina. Weber will try for his fourth consecutive title in the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open at Suncoast Bowling Center in Las Vegas, May 30-June 3, where Weber also is defending champion.

“I’ve won a couple titles in a row, maybe made a show the next week, but I’ve never won three in a row, so it’s kinda cool,” Weber said.

Unlike many PBA players, Weber was watching when LeClair threw his ill-fated shot in the 10th frame.

“I always watch,” he said. “When Brian let it go, I thought, I just lost. But Dad always said I’d rather be lucky than good. I’d rather be both, but tonight I got lucky.”

And Weber said his confidence will be soaring when he goes for a fourth consecutive title in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks.

“You know me and the majors. I love the majors,” he said. “Having 17 days off before we bowl in Vegas is a big advantage to me. I’ll be relaxed and ready to win again.”

LeClair, in his second year of PBA50 competition, dominated the early matches, tripping PBA Hall of Famers Tom Baker of King, N.C., 258-247, and Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Oxford, Fla., 221-205, in the first two matches. LeClair then won a battle of New Yorkers in the semifinal contest, eliminating Ray Edwards of Middle Island, 238-184.

The second Petraglia BVL Open, like its predecessor, raised nearly $50,000 in support of the nation’s military veterans.

“If we can keep raising that kind of money for the people who are protecting us every day, that’s what it’s all about,” Petraglia said.

The entire tournament was video-streamed live on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel. The PBA50 Tour’s next Xtra Frame’s event will be the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open from Las Vegas, May 30-June 3.

　【JPBA】　第55回 男子プロボウラー資格取得テスト　【第2次テスト・４日目】

　【JPBA】　第49回 女子プロボウラー資格取得テスト　【第2次テスト・４日目】

　【JPBA】　第55回 男子プロボウラー資格取得テスト　【第2次テスト・３日目】

　【JPBA】　第49回 女子プロボウラー資格取得テスト　【第2次テスト・３日目】

　【PBA】　PBA League Elias Cup　【Finals】

“Right” Choice Helps GoBowling.com Dallas Strikers Win PBA League Elias Cup

Making the “right” lane choice throughout the Professional Bowlers Association League Elias Cup elimination rounds proved to be the correct strategic move as the GoBowling.com Dallas Strikers ended four years of frustration in capturing the elusive team championship at Bayside Bowl.

The 2016 Elias Cup finals aired on Sunday on ESPN.

PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke, the only player-manager in the PBA League program, made a series of eyebrow-raising decisions – going all the way back to December when he traded two proven stars for a pair of untested young power players – but in the end, after pulling off a 204-180 victory over the GEICO New York City WTT KingPins in the decisive Baker team finale, Duke led his team to its first Elias Cup.

“Look at the smile on my face,” Duke grinned. “It was just an amazing experience. When you’ve got this many years under your belt, and this many appearances on television, and this many narrow misses…to explain the feeling on the approach after this one doesn’t even compute.

“This is a different environment, a different event,” he continued, adding very deliberately, “We are the Elias Cup champions.”

The Elias Cup finale involved a singles match (Duke defeated NYC’s Marshall Kent, 203-168); an alternative ball doubles match (the KingPins” John Szczerbinski and Mike Fagan overwhelmed Duke and Bill O’Neill, 224-178), and a Baker trios match, won by the KingPins’ Scott Norton, Pete Weber and Kent, 256-178, over Dallas’ Tommy Jones, Shawn Maldonado and BJ Moore. With a 2-1 edge in the one-point preliminary matches, all signs pointed to the KingPins regaining the Cup they won in the PBA League’s first season in 2013.

With the three-point Baker team match yet to come, Duke took himself out of the anchor position, inserted Jones in that role, and made the call for his team to finish the contest on the right lane that had served the team well in its previous matches. But things didn’t go as expected. Duke started the game on the left lane with a 4-10 split and an open frame, and then the team moved to the right lane, Duke left a 7-10 split and opened again.

In the meantime, O’Neill, Maldonado and Moore put together a string of three strikes on the elusive left lane while NYC struggled on the right, falling into a 19-pin hole. Duke’s second split brought the KingPins back to within 10 pins, but New York City didn’t get a double until the 10th frame. Maldonado and Moore – two young power players Duke landed in a trade with the Shipyard Brewing Portland Lumberjacks for proven stars Liz Johnson and Ryan Ciminelli – both made key shots to help Dallas secure its lead. Jones locked up the Elias Cup with three strikes in the 10th frame for a 204-180 team win.

“I’m glad we put it back in Tommy’s hands because I was the weakest link that last game,” Duke said. “I put the rock in the right person’s hand at the right time, and he delivered every single time.”

Winning the Cup, however, was the result of key contributions by each team member at a critical juncture, Duke added.

“Sometimes it was me, sometimes it was Bill O’Neill. Maldonado was stellar. And BJ Moore?” Duke asked. “People don’t realize what he just did. He’d never bowled on television, and he just walked up there, every single time, like it was nothing. He reminded me of me when I was a kid.

“Whatever we needed to do, we did it as a team,” he continued. “It was so good.”

There was little question, however, that Jones was the correct choice as the Mark Roth Most Valuable Player in the Elias Cup competition.

“Anytime you win something with Mark Roth’s name on it, is special,” Jones said after Roth presented him with the trophy. “I grew up idolizing Mark, and having the chance to get to know him a bit over the years has been amazing. To have a trophy I can put in my trophy case with his name on it – there’s nothing like it.”

At the conclusion of the PBA League competition, PBA CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark, along with Bayside Bowl proprietor Charlie Mitchell, announced the PBA League will return to Portland and an expanded, re-designed Bayside Bowl for the fifth annual PBA League Elias Cup competition in 2017.

　【PWBA】　Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open　【Group Stepladder Finals】

Kulick Earns Top for Finals at 2016 Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open

Statistically, Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, had a terrific 2015 season on the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour, but there was one thing missing - a win.

Now, she's in position to get that hurdle out of the way early in 2016 as the top seed for the stepladder finals of the Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open, which will be taped May 26 at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas and air Tuesday, June 14 on CBS Sports Network.

Kulick averaged more than 216 over 24 games Friday and Saturday and worked her way up the leaderboard at Double Decker Lanes, needing every possible frame along the way to find her way to the top.

She secured the No. 1 seed with a 183-171 position-round win against Latvia's Diana Zavjalova, who started the event with a perfect game and stayed among the top two in the standings until a final-frame split allowed Kulick to pass her.

"I'm absolutely elated to be in this position and to be off to a strong start this season," said Kulick, who was in the top five in all statistical categories last year and led the PWBA Tour with six championship-round appearances. "I've been getting stronger and more confident on these shorter oil patterns, and I'm also getting more comfortable each week with these longer formats again."

While Kulick was passing Zavjalova in Group A's half of the match-play field, Team USA member Shannon O'Keefe of O'Fallon, Illinois, was surging to the top of the Group B standings to lock up the No. 2 spot for the televised finals.

Three additional players from each group advanced to an on-site group stepladder Saturday, with Singapore's Hui Fen New and Jennifer Higgins of Westerville, Ohio, climbing their respective ladders to join Kulick and O'Keefe on the show.

In the Group A stepladder at Double Decker Lanes, New needed a mark in her final frame to defeat Zavjalova, and she delivered three strikes for a 213-198 win.

The Team Singapore standout earned the chance to face Zavjalova by defeating United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Leanne Hulsenberg of Pleasant View, Utah, 201-200. Hulsenberg could've struck on her first shot in the 10th frame to win but left a 10 pin.

Higgins, who made back-to-back TV shows at the Queens in 2013 and 2014, downed Singapore's Jazreel Tan, 185-163, to advance to the Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open finals.

In the opening match of the Group B stepladder, Higgins threw four consecutive strikes in frames five through eight to give herself enough of a cushion in a 207-202 win over Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, New York.

Saturday's competition kicked off with a six-game block that narrowed the field from the 32 cashers to the top 12 players for round-robin match play.

The match-play finalists were split into two groups, each featuring six players. Each group bowled six games of match play, including a final position round, to determine the top seeds and advancers to each group stepladder final.

All rounds leading up to the TV finals were broadcast live on Xtra Frame.

To subscribe to watch the action on Xtra Frame, visit XtraFrame.TV.

　【PWBA】　Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open　【Qualifying Round 2】

McEwan Leads at 2016 Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open

Most players on the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour travel with diverse equipment arsenals and a wealth of knowledge and support, but Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, New York, found patience to be her most effective tool on the way to the top of the standings Friday at the 2016 Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open.

McEwan said she didn't initially see what she needed to see in order to successfully navigate the 37-foot oil pattern at Double Decker Lanes, but when it finally clicked, she was able to take advantage. The 24-year-old right-hander averaged more than 226 over 12 games to lead the 76-player field with a 2,719 total.

"This morning started off pretty rough, and I really wasn't throwing very good shots," said McEwan, who won the 2015 season-ending Smithfield PWBA Tour Championship for her first PWBA Tour title. "But, I was able to keep my head clear and grind until something finally clicked. Then, I just ran with it."

Latvia's Diana Zavjalova, the 2013 United States Bowling Congress Queens champion, never fell below second place after opening the day with the tournament's only perfect game, and she finished qualifying just behind McEwan with a 2,694 total.

Zavjalova was followed by PWBA Tour rookie Jennifer Higgins of Westerville, Ohio (2,688), and the Singaporean duo of Hui Fen New (2,678) and Jazreel Tan (2,669).

The final spot in the cashers' round went to Kristina Wendell of Kingston, New York, who finished Friday's 12 games with a 2,346 total, a 195.5 average.

McEwan will lead the top 32 players into Saturday's cashers' round, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. Competition will conclude Saturday evening with a group stepladder final starting at 8 p.m. Eastern. All rounds leading up to the stepladder finals are being broadcast live on Xtra Frame.

The head start is good for confidence and momentum, but McEwan is well aware of how much tournament is left, a lesson she took from last week's PWBA Las Vegas Open, where she finished ninth.

"There's still a lot of games left, and I know things still can move around quickly," McEwan said. "As the leader today, it means I did some things right, but I still need to remember what I did and make the right moves and ball choices again tomorrow."

Six additional games, with pinfall carrying over, will determine the 12 players who will advance to the round-robin match-play portion of the Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open. The match-play finalists will be split into two groups, each featuring six players. Each group will bowl six games of match play, including a final position round.

At the end of the match play, the top qualifier in each group will earn an automatic spot in the stepladder finals, with seeding being determined by total pins. The second, third and fourth qualifiers in each group will advance to a group stepladder final. The winner of each group stepladder final will advance to the televised stepladder finals.

The finals of the Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open will air Tuesday, June 14 on CBS Sports Network.

To subscribe to watch the action on Xtra Frame, visit XtraFrame.TV.

　【JPBA】　関西南地区プロアマ研修トーナメント 2016 Spring　【承認大会】

北田典男選手が優勝！

さる4月29日（金祝）にボウルアロー松原店（大阪）で開催されました承認大会・関西南地区プロアマ研修トーナメント2016Springにて、アマチュアの北田典男選手が優勝しました。

決勝シュートアウトでは並み居るプロや強豪アマをものともせず、ビッグゲームを連発して勝ち上がった北田選手は、優勝決定戦にてホストプロの栴檀 稔、プロ入り2年目を迎える角戸英隆と対戦。

打ち切れず我慢のボウリングとなったプロ二人を相手に、237ピンを打って堂々の優勝となりました。

　【PBA】　PBA50 Mooresville Ford Open【Finals】

Pete Weber Wins in Mooresville for Back-to-Back PBA50 Tour Titles, Ties Late Father for Career Titles

Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Pete Weber won the PBA50 Tour’s Mooresville Ford Open presented by Columbia 300 and Miller High Life Wednesday night at George Pappas’ Victory Lanes, notching back-to-back titles and his sixth career PBA50 title to tie his late father, Dick Weber, on the all-time “senior tour” titles list.

In winning the title, the reigning PBA50 Player of the Year spoiled Jack Jurek’s bid to defend his 2015 Mooresville title after the Lackawanna, N.Y., veteran won all six matches in the final match play round to run away with the top berth for the stepladder finals. Unconverted splits in the first two frames put Jurek in a hole, which he almost escaped, but back-to-back strikes by Weber in the ninth and 10th frames locked up his 212-198 victory.

“I had my first 500-over (a 200 average) round here two years ago and finished third,” Weber said. “Last year I was second, and now I’m first. This is now my favorite place to bowl.”

Weber, who ended the 2015 season battling chronic back and knee problems, has bowled virtually pain free in 2016, including his romp to victory in the PBA50 UnitedHealthcare Sun Bowl In The Villages Open a week earlier.

“I’m feeling really good,” Weber said. “I’ve had no pain at all this spring, and now I’m looking forward to bowling in New York because I led there last year, too.”

Weber advanced to the title match with a 266-205 victory over 61-year-old Tom Baker of King, N.C., ending Baker’s bid for a 13th PBA50 Tour title. King started the stepladder finals with a 227-203 win over Robert Brown of Cody, Wyo., followed by a 279-257 slugfest with Sam Maccarone of Blackwood, N.J., in match two.

A global audience watched the Mooresville finals on PBA’s Xtra Frame online video-streaming service. The PBA50 Tour and Xtra Frame’s next event will be the PBA50 Johnny Petraglia BVL Open presented by Brunswick at Farmingdale Lanes in Farmingdale, N.Y., starting Sunday.

　【PWBA】　PWBA Las Vegas Open　【Group Stepladder Finals】

Pluhowsky Top Seed for PWBA Las Vegas Open

Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, rolled through round-robin match play Sunday to capture the No. 1 seed for the stepladder finals of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Las Vegas Open.

The stepladder finals of the PWBA Las Vegas Open, the opening event of the 2016 season, will be taped May 26 at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas and will air Tuesday, June 7 on CBS Sports Network.

Pluhowsky went 5-1 in match play and averaged nearly 250 in her final three games at Texas Station to run away from the field with a 5,551 total, including bonus pins.

“We’ve been bowling on all of these pairs for a few days, so when I went to a new pair I tried to just make a good shot and make the move right away,” said Pluhowsky, a 16-time Team USA member who is looking for her first PWBA title. “This performance gives me a lot of confidence going forward. Having to win one game is a lot better than having to climb the ladder, so we’ll take our chances.”

Mexico’s Sandra Gongora earned the No. 2 seed after firing a 275 game in the position round against reigning PWBA Player of the Year Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, to edge her by six pins with 5,453, including bonus pins.

The opening match of the stepladder finals will feature Johnson taking on Rocio Restrepo of Louisville, Ohio, after each advanced through their group stepladders.

Johnson earned her spot on the CBS Sports Network telecast by defeating PWBA spokesperson Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, 215-205. Kulick had the opportunity to throw three strikes in the 10th frame to shut out Johnson, but left the 2-4-8-10 split on her first shot and was unable to convert. Johnson advanced by covering the 10 pin and delivering a strike on her fill ball.

Restrepo, who led qualifying after the cashers’ round, took advantage of back-to-back splits from Singapore’s Hui Fen New by connecting on three consecutive strikes in frames six through eight to advance, 216-189.

The opening matches in the group stepladder saw Kulick best Singapore’s Jazreel Tan, 239-193, to set up the meeting with Johnson. New advanced by defeating Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, 268-225.

Sunday’s competition kicked off with a six-game block that narrowed the field from the 32 cashers to the top 12 players for round-robin match play. The match-play finalists were split into two groups, each featuring six players. Each group bowled six games of match play, including a final position round, to determine the top seeds and advancers to each group stepladder final.

Every round of competition leading to the stepladder final was broadcast live on Xtra Frame.

　【PBA】　PBA League Elias Cup　【Semifinall Round】

Perfect Game Propels Dallas Strikers into PBA League Elias Cup Finals Against New York City WTT KingPins

Helped by the first perfect game in Professional Bowlers Association League history, the GoBowling.com Dallas Strikers advanced to a PBA League Elias Cup showdown with the 2013 Elias Cup champion GEICO New York City WTT KingPins.

The semifinal round matches aired Sunday on ESPN, with PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber leading the KingPins to a dramatic best-of-two-game victory over the hometown-favorite Shipyard Brewing Portland Lumberjacks while Weber’s long-time opponent and fellow Hall of Famer Norm Duke inspired the Strikers in their 2-0 sweep of the Barbasol Motown Muscle at Bayside Bowl.

In the first semifinal match, the KingPins, behind Mike Fagan, John Szczerbinski, Scott Norton, Weber and anchor bowler Marshall Kent, used superior strike power in the last half of both games for a 223-190 and 237-222 sweep of the Lumberjacks.

Norton, after leaving a 4-6-7-8-10 “Greek church” in frame three of game one, stabilized the KingPins with strikes on his next three attempts while Kent, PBA’s 2014 Rookie of the Year, delivered in the fifth and 10th frames of both games.

“It was all me; I just threw it bad,” Norton said of his initial error, “but I was able to fix the physical mistakes the next three shots. The good thing is, my team was able to pick me up, which is what it’s all about.”

Kent was the team’s choice to assume the anchor role from Weber because his game matched up better with the conditions, and he embraced the opportunity.

“It feels good the whole team was behind the decision,” Kent said. “We work together so well we could have put any of our five guys in that position and we would have been comfortable. But I’m kinda glad it was me. I like being in that position.

“The atmosphere is so much fun,” the former Robert Morris-Illinois collegiate star added. “It reminds me a lot of college, with all of the teams and parents, and it’s loud and crazy. I’m actually very comfortable in this atmosphere.”

In the second semifinal match, Dallas made history with its 300-237 romp in game one, with Duke completing the perfect game with three strikes in the 10th frame. In game two, Duke moved himself to leadoff and turned over anchor duties to Tommy Jones. The Strikers fell behind by 37 pins after five frames on the troublesome left lane, but when they switched to the right lane to finish the game, Duke, BJ Moore, Shawn Maldonado, Bill O’Neill and Jones ran off a string of six consecutive strikes for a 215-204 victory, and the Strikers’ first trip to the Elias Cup finals.

“That was mega exciting,” Duke beamed later. “I can’t even begin to tell you. I was so worried about getting into a big deficit early, like we did last week. It seems like the left lane wants to give you problems if you want to hook the ball, but it’s actually my best lane so that’s why I bowled the 10th in game one and had Tommy throw the rock in game two.”

After starting the first game with eight strikes, Dallas had the game locked up, but the 300 was still in play.

“When Tommy got that strike in the ninth, he turned around and said, ‘I’m so glad it’s on you (to finish it)…and that’s what gave me the strength,” Duke said. “He just put it on me, like someone gets in your face and dares you, and that’s what lifted me to the point I could get it done.”

But the pressure was back on Jones to rescue his team in the 10th frame of game two.

“We were pretty much dead and buried through five frames,” Jones said. “The left lane is okay early, but once it changes a little bit, it just seems to catch people the wrong way. (Motown’s) Josh (Blanchard) got a terrible break leaving an 8 pin in the eighth frame, and Anthony (Simonsen) made a good shot in the 10th that didn’t carry.

“We were fortunate to throw a couple of good shots at the end,” Jones added. “I’m not sure what Norm’s thinking was. We had just bowled 300 and I thought he’d leave the lineup alone, but he’s the (manager), he made the choice (to move me to anchor) and we’re two for two, so I think we’ll keep going with something similar.”

While Dallas has never finished higher than fifth place in three previous PBA League seasons, the NYC WTT KingPins won the inaugural Elias Cup in Indianapolis in 2013, with celebrity owner Billie Jean King in the audience and Tommy Jones as part of their roster. Jones, who also helped the Silver Lake Atom Splitters win the 2014 Elias Cup, will be trying to win the PBA League championship for the third time with his third different team.

The 2016 Elias Cup finals will air on Sunday, May 8, at 1 p.m. ET. The PBA League championship will be decided by a singles, alternate-ball doubles and Baker trios matches worth one point each, followed by a five-player Baker team finale worth three points. If the two teams are tied after the Baker team match, a roll-off will determine the winner.