Youth bowlers to gain valuable experience in events conducted on PBA lane conditions
The nation's top youth bowlers will have the opportunity to compete on PBA lane conditions and rub elbows with the greats in the game when Teen Masters Qualifiers will be conducted in conjunction with selected PBA Regional tournaments in 2012. PBA has entered into an agreement with Killer 'B' Promotions to conduct 18 Teen Masters qualifiers at PBA Regional events beginning in March through the end of May. The Teen Masters qualifiers will be conducted on lanes designated for Teen Masters competition.
PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III (l.) of Jackson, N.J., and amateur partner Alex Aguiar (r.) of Dartmouth, Mass., defeated Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio, and amateur Jeff Fehr of Cincinnati, 428-415, to win the PBA West Region Member/Non-Member Doubles title Sunday at South Point Bowling Center. Bohn fired a 224 and Aguiar a 204 to claim the $4,800 first prize. The victory was Bohn's 19th in PBA Regional competition.
Lead top 16 teams into Sunday’s Match Game Elimination Finals
Reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi (l.) of Hartland, Mich., and amateur Kim Hyun Bum of South Korea led a field of 16 teams into Sunday’s single-elimination match play finals in the PBA West Region’s Member/Non-Member Doubles at South Point Bowling Center. The duo combined for 3,649 pins over eight games (228.06 avg.) to take the top spot by three pins over amateur Adam Ishman of Las Vegas and Dom Barrett (r.) of England.
Former PBA Player of the Year earns $4,000, 14th career PBA Regional title
Six-time PBA Tour winner Wes Malott (l.) of Pflugerville, Texas, defeated rookie Josh Blanchard (r.) of Gilbert, Ariz., 266-214, to win the PBA All Regions South Point Open Saturday at South Point Bowling Center. Malott, the 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year, collected his 14th career PBA Regional title and a $4,000 prize. Blanchard, who has been a PBA member for just over a week, earned $2,200.
Regional "major" championship includes two berths in PBA Tournament of Champions "Elite Field"
The Professional Bowlers Association has announced its 2012 PBA Regional Players Doubles Championship will move to Las Vegas where it will be hosted by The Orleans Casino, Hotel and Bowling Center Feb. 11-12. The RPC-Doubles, which replaces the PBA Regional Players Invitational which was held for several years in Reno, will immediately follow the February High Roller, a "megabucks" tournament that has revised its eligibility rules to allow many PBA Regional-level players an opportunity to bowl both events.
Earns $6,000 and "elite" berth in the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions
Scott Newell (pictured) of Deland, Fla., defeated Michael Clark Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio, 227-180, to win the PBA Regional Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. The win earned Newell $6,000, an "elite" berth in the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions and his third career title as a PBA regional competitor. Newell, 28, entered the 32-player single-elimination match play finals as the No. 27 qualifier. He hopes the victory is a turning point in an up-and-down career.
Brian Thompson (l.) of Flat Rock, Mich., averaged 232.3 to overtake first round leader Lennie Boresch Jr. (r.) of Kenosha, Wis., at the end of qualifying in the PBA Regional Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Sunday. Thompson, 27, will lead the top 32 qualifiers into the single-elimination match play finals Monday in his quest for his first PBA title - regional or national - after finishing the 16-game qualifying with 3,717 pins.
Lennie Boresch Jr. (l.) of Kenosha, Wis., a 24-time PBA Regional title winner, averaged 241.3 to take the first round lead in the PBA Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Saturday. Boresch, a bowling pro shop operator, held a 56-pin lead over fellow PBA Midwest Region competitor Dave Beres (r.) of Waukesha, Wis. Boresch had 1,931 pins for the first eight games while Beres finished with a 1,875 total.
The PBA has announced the season-ending award winners for its 2010-11 regional program. Each of the seven regions annually recognizes a Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Patterson Award winner. Four regions also recognized Senior Regional Players of the Year. Among the Regional Players of the Year are 2010 PBA Regional Players Champion Riga Kalfas (l.) and PBA Regional Players Invitational winner Bryon Smith (r.).
Former PBA Tour exempt player earns "Elite" berth in $1 million PBA Tournament of Champions
Bryon Smith (l.) of Roseburg, Ore., dominated the match play finals Thursday to win the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational at the National Bowling Stadium. Smith, a former PBA Tour exempt player posted an 11-5 match play record for a 37-game total of 8,290 pins, including match play bonus pins, for a 25-pin victory over Tom Hess of Urbandale, Iowa. Seven players earned exemptions to bowl on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour during the 2011-12 season.
Field has been cut to 16 players for Thursday's match play
Two-time PBA regional titlist Jason Wojnar (l.) of Chicago, moved into the lead after three rounds of the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational Wednesday at the National Bowling Stadium. Wojnar finished the 21-game preliminaries with a 4,704 21-game pinfall (224 average). The 87-player field that features PBA's top regional and senior players
has been cut to the top 16 who will bowl two eight-game round robin
match play rounds on Thursday to determine the final standings.
Five-time PBA regional titlist Steven Black (l.) of Phoenix, averaged 239.8 to take the first round lead in the 42nd Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational Tuesday at the National Bowling Stadium. Black bowled a 1,679 seven-game pinfall to hold a 37-pin lead over Tyler Jensen (r.) of Fort Worth, Texas, in second with 1,642. The entire 87-player field will bowl two more seven-game qualifying rounds Wednesday to cut to the top 16.Â
PBA's top regional competitors will also compete for 2011-12 PBA Tour exemptions
Among the Professional Bowlers Association's nearly 3,500 regional competitors, winning the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational ranks high on the wish list. The 42nd annual RPI will feature 84 of the country's top regional players representing PBA's East, South, Central, Southwest, Midwest, West and Northwest Regions who qualified for the event by finishing in the top 25 in points of their respective regions and – for the first time – to PBA Senior players who finished in the top five in points in senior events or who qualified in special senior regional qualifying events.
108 regional qualifiers will join top 72 PBA Tour points leaders in Indianapolis
Regional qualifying has been completed and the top 18 players in six PBA Regional "pods" have been determined for the end-of-season Dick Weber PBA Playoffs which will be held March 9-13, 2011 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis. The new Dick Weber PBA Playoffs will feature a total of 108 PBA members who have qualified through their respective Regional programs, along with the top 72 players on the 2010-11 PBA Tour competition points list.
Eight qualifying spots in each of six PBA Regional programs remain open for end-of-season event
Professional Bowlers Association Regional competitors will begin a two-month chase for berths in the new end-of-season Dick Weber PBA Playoffs this weekend, beginning with PBA Regional tournaments in Camp LeJeune, N.C., and Tumwater, Wash. Over the course of the ensuing 60 days, regional competitors across the U.S. will pursue competition points in weekend tournaments scheduled within the PBA's seven regions. On the schedule for the Oct. 8-10 weekend are regional events in Lancaster, Pa.; Richmond, Ind.; Springfield, Mo., and Tucson, Ariz.
"Elite" berth in $1 million 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions awaits the winner
Among the Professional Bowlers Association's nearly 3,500 regional competitors, winning the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational ranks high on the wish list. But winning the 2010 edition at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., Dec. 13-16 means an automatic berth in the "Elite" field for the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions and a shot at a $250,000 prize. The PBA Regional Players Invitational offers a $6,000 first
prize (based on 80 entries).
Joins Dick Weber as second player with PBA Titles in six decades
PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia (pictured) of Jackson, N.J., defeated David Kneas of Annapolis, Md., 245-189, to win the PBA East Region Howell Lanes Senior Open at Howell Lanes Sunday, and join the legendary Dick Weber as only the second player to win PBA titles in six decades. Petraglia won the first of his 14 PBA Tour titles in Fort Smith, Ark., in 1966 at age 19. With Sunday's title, he also has 12 PBA Regional titles along with seven PBA Senior Tour titles.Â
Earns berth in the $1 million PBA Tournament of Champions 2011
Riga Kalfas (pictured) of Florence, Ky., revived his game just in time to win the PBA Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. Kalfas, a 42-year-old truck driver by day and bowling pro shop operator by night, defeated Chris Collins of Savannah, Ga., 236-216, to complete a near-perfect day and claim the $7,500 first prize along with a guaranteed berth in the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, a record $1 million event with a $250,000 first prize. Coming into the Detroit area event, however, Kalfas was on the brink of giving up the game.
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich. (May 28-31, 2010)
Jonathan Van Hees (l.) of Charlestown, R.I., and Matt White (r.) of Warren, Pa., maintained their one-two positions to lead the field of 32 finalists into the match play finals of the PBA Regional Players Championship. Van Hees averaged 231.12 for 16 qualifying games, topping the field of 172 non-exempt PBA members with a total of 3,698 pins. White finished with a 3,607 total, The field was cut to the top 32 for Monday’s single-elimination match
play finals.
Jonathan Van Hees (pictured) of Charlestown, R.I., averaged 237 to take the first round lead in the Professional Bowlers Association Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes Saturday by 44 pins over Matt White of Warren, Pa. Van Hees finished the first eight qualifying games with a total of 1,896 pins. White had a 1,852 total. The field of 172 non-exempt PBA members will bowl another eight games Sunday, after which the field will be cut to the top 64 for single-elimination match play competition on Monday.
The nation's top youth bowlers will have the opportunity to compete on PBA lane conditions and rub elbows with the greats in the game when Teen Masters Qualifiers will be conducted in conjunction with selected PBA Regional tournaments in 2012. PBA has entered into an agreement with Killer 'B' Promotions to conduct 18 Teen Masters qualifiers at PBA Regional events beginning in March through the end of May. The Teen Masters qualifiers will be conducted on lanes designated for Teen Masters competition.
Reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi (l.) of Hartland, Mich., and amateur Kim Hyun Bum of South Korea led a field of 16 teams into Sunday’s single-elimination match play finals in the PBA West Region’s Member/Non-Member Doubles at South Point Bowling Center. The duo combined for 3,649 pins over eight games (228.06 avg.) to take the top spot by three pins over amateur Adam Ishman of Las Vegas and Dom Barrett (r.) of England.
Six-time PBA Tour winner Wes Malott (l.) of Pflugerville, Texas, defeated rookie Josh Blanchard (r.) of Gilbert, Ariz., 266-214, to win the PBA All Regions South Point Open Saturday at South Point Bowling Center. Malott, the 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year, collected his 14th career PBA Regional title and a $4,000 prize. Blanchard, who has been a PBA member for just over a week, earned $2,200.
The Professional Bowlers Association has announced its 2012 PBA Regional Players Doubles Championship will move to Las Vegas where it will be hosted by The Orleans Casino, Hotel and Bowling Center Feb. 11-12. The RPC-Doubles, which replaces the PBA Regional Players Invitational which was held for several years in Reno, will immediately follow the February High Roller, a "megabucks" tournament that has revised its eligibility rules to allow many PBA Regional-level players an opportunity to bowl both events.
Scott Newell (pictured) of Deland, Fla., defeated Michael Clark Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio, 227-180, to win the PBA Regional Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. The win earned Newell $6,000, an "elite" berth in the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions and his third career title as a PBA regional competitor. Newell, 28, entered the 32-player single-elimination match play finals as the No. 27 qualifier. He hopes the victory is a turning point in an up-and-down career.
Brian Thompson (l.) of Flat Rock, Mich., averaged 232.3 to overtake first round leader Lennie Boresch Jr. (r.) of Kenosha, Wis., at the end of qualifying in the PBA Regional Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Sunday. Thompson, 27, will lead the top 32 qualifiers into the single-elimination match play finals Monday in his quest for his first PBA title - regional or national - after finishing the 16-game qualifying with 3,717 pins.
Lennie Boresch Jr. (l.) of Kenosha, Wis., a 24-time PBA Regional title winner, averaged 241.3 to take the first round lead in the PBA Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Saturday. Boresch, a bowling pro shop operator, held a 56-pin lead over fellow PBA Midwest Region competitor Dave Beres (r.) of Waukesha, Wis. Boresch had 1,931 pins for the first eight games while Beres finished with a 1,875 total.
The PBA has announced the season-ending award winners for its 2010-11 regional program. Each of the seven regions annually recognizes a Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Patterson Award winner. Four regions also recognized Senior Regional Players of the Year. Among the Regional Players of the Year are 2010 PBA Regional Players Champion Riga Kalfas (l.) and PBA Regional Players Invitational winner Bryon Smith (r.).
Bryon Smith (l.) of Roseburg, Ore., dominated the match play finals Thursday to win the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational at the National Bowling Stadium. Smith, a former PBA Tour exempt player posted an 11-5 match play record for a 37-game total of 8,290 pins, including match play bonus pins, for a 25-pin victory over Tom Hess of Urbandale, Iowa. Seven players earned exemptions to bowl on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour during the 2011-12 season.
Two-time PBA regional titlist Jason Wojnar (l.) of Chicago, moved into the lead after three rounds of the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational Wednesday at the National Bowling Stadium. Wojnar finished the 21-game preliminaries with a 4,704 21-game pinfall (224 average). The 87-player field that features PBA's top regional and senior players
has been cut to the top 16 who will bowl two eight-game round robin
match play rounds on Thursday to determine the final standings. 
Five-time PBA regional titlist Steven Black (l.) of Phoenix, averaged 239.8 to take the first round lead in the 42nd Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational Tuesday at the National Bowling Stadium. Black bowled a 1,679 seven-game pinfall to hold a 37-pin lead over Tyler Jensen (r.) of Fort Worth, Texas, in second with 1,642. The entire 87-player field will bowl two more seven-game qualifying rounds Wednesday to cut to the top 16. 
Among the Professional Bowlers Association's nearly 3,500 regional competitors, winning the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational ranks high on the wish list. The 42nd annual RPI will feature 84 of the country's top regional players representing PBA's East, South, Central, Southwest, Midwest, West and Northwest Regions who qualified for the event by finishing in the top 25 in points of their respective regions and – for the first time – to PBA Senior players who finished in the top five in points in senior events or who qualified in special senior regional qualifying events.
Among the Professional Bowlers Association's nearly 3,500 regional competitors, winning the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational ranks high on the wish list. But winning the 2010 edition at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., Dec. 13-16 means an automatic berth in the "Elite" field for the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions and a shot at a $250,000 prize. The PBA Regional Players Invitational offers a $6,000 first
prize (based on 80 entries). 
PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia (pictured) of Jackson, N.J., defeated David Kneas of Annapolis, Md., 245-189, to win the PBA East Region Howell Lanes Senior Open at Howell Lanes Sunday, and join the legendary Dick Weber as only the second player to win PBA titles in six decades. Petraglia won the first of his 14 PBA Tour titles in Fort Smith, Ark., in 1966 at age 19. With Sunday's title, he also has 12 PBA Regional titles along with seven PBA Senior Tour titles. 
Riga Kalfas (pictured) of Florence, Ky., revived his game just in time to win the PBA Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. Kalfas, a 42-year-old truck driver by day and bowling pro shop operator by night, defeated Chris Collins of Savannah, Ga., 236-216, to complete a near-perfect day and claim the $7,500 first prize along with a guaranteed berth in the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, a record $1 million event with a $250,000 first prize. Coming into the Detroit area event, however, Kalfas was on the brink of giving up the game.
Jonathan Van Hees (l.) of Charlestown, R.I., and Matt White (r.) of Warren, Pa., maintained their one-two positions to lead the field of 32 finalists into the match play finals of the PBA Regional Players Championship. Van Hees averaged 231.12 for 16 qualifying games, topping the field of 172 non-exempt PBA members with a total of 3,698 pins. White finished with a 3,607 total, The field was cut to the top 32 for Monday’s single-elimination match
play finals. 