Weber off to the best start in his PBA Career
11/13/06
At 44 years old, Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of Famer Pete Weber is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, he's off to what he calls the best start of his 28-year career. Weber won his 33rd career Denny's PBA Tour title Sunday, knocking off local favorite Doug Kent, 247-196, to win the 2006 Etonic Championship at AMF Thruway Lanes.
The win moved Weber within one title of tying Mark Roth for third on the all-time titles list and made him just the second bowler in Tour history to go over the $3 million mark in career earnings. Weber finished second in the season-opening Dydo Japan Cup, becoming the victim of Walter Ray Williams Jr.'s record-breaking 42nd career title.
"This is the best start of my career, making the show in two of the first four events and winning today," said Weber (St. Ann, Mo.), who used a Storm Double Agent. "From what I understand Paige (Williams' wife) predicted I would be Player of the Year. I'm trying not to let her down."
Weber struck in six of the first seven frames in the title match, the only blemish a 4-9 split and an open in the second frame. He was never threatened by Kent (Newark, N.Y.), the defending champion, who started the match with five consecutive nine-spares.
"I picked a ball that hit the pocket and just tried to let it off my hand. I didn't try to throw it hard, it was just a stroke off my hand and it worked out for the best," Weber said. "Winning never gets old. It's the best feeling in the world."
Weber advanced to the title match with a 227-179 win over Chris Loschetter (Avon, Ohio). Loschetter had just two strikes in the first nine frames, while Weber struck in four of the first five frames. A 4-7-9 split and an open frame in the eighth by Loschetter all but clinched the match for Weber.
Kent advanced with a 203-188 win over Steve Jaros (Yorkville, Ill.). Kent stayed clean with no opens until his final frame while Jaros had opens in the fifth, 8th and 9th frames.
Weber earned $25,000 and an exemption for the 2007-08 season. Kent, who was looking for his second title in three events after winning the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters, took home $13,000 for second. Jaros earned $6,500 for third and Loschetter earned $5,500 for fourth.
The Denny's PBA Tour moves to Hammond, Ind., for the 2006 Lake County Indiana Classic, Nov. 15-19, at Stardust Bowl I. The nationally televised ESPN finals take place Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m. EST.
AMF Thruway Lanes in Cheektowaga, NY (Nov. 8-12, 2006)
Championship Round:
1. Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 474 (2 games), $25,000
2. Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 399 (2 games), $13,000
3. Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 188 (1 game), $6,500
4. Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 179 (1 game), $5,500
Playoff Results:
First Match: Weber def. Loschetter, 227-179
Second Match: Kent defeated Jaros, 203-188
Championship Match: Weber def. Kent, 247-196.
This is Weber's 33rd career Denny's PBA Tour title. Picture courtesy of PBA LLC/Barnes.
AMF Thruway Lanes is becoming a very comfortable place for eight-time Denny's PBA Tour titlist Doug Kent. One season after winning the 2006 GEICO Classic in the Cheektowaga, N.Y., bowling center, Kent is in the Sunday finals of the 2006 Etonic Championship.
The Newark, N.Y., native advanced to the finals by defeating fellow New Yorker Brad Angelo (Lockport, N.Y.), four-games-to-none, in Friday's Round of 8, finishing the sweep with a 202-170 win.
"I'm just going through the motions. I just have a feeling that's just unbelievable and that I haven't had in a long time," said Kent, who won the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters two weeks ago. "Confidence can go a long way. Repeating shots is a lot of it and ball reaction is a lot of it."
Getting to the title match will be no easy task, as Kent faces seven-time titlist Steve Jaros. Jaros (Yorkville, Ill.) needed six games to advance, defeating Michael Fagan (Greenlawn, N.Y.), 4-2.
The other side of Sunday's bracket features "Legend" Pete Weber taking on "Young Gun" Chris Loschetter, who is looking for his first career title.
Weber disposed of Cheektowaga native Liz Johnson, 4-1. After falling behind 2-0, Johnson, who became the first ever female to make a Denny's PBA Tour final in the 2005 Banquet Open, won the third game, 257-192. Weber then took control in the final two games, including a 212-180 win in the fifth game.
Loschetter (Avon, Ohio), who qualified for match play 17th, knocked off Mike Edwards (Tulsa, Okla.), 4-2, after taking care of No. 1 seed Mike DeVaney in the Round of 16 in seven games.
The four bowlers advance to Sunday's live ESPN televised stepladder finals at 1 p.m. EST at AMF Thruway Lanes. The winner will take home $25,000 and a one-season Denny's PBA Tour exemption.
Single-elimination, best-of-seven games match play. Losers eliminated.
#3 Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y. def. #27 Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 4-0
(279-247, 203-199, 268-209, 202-170) $3,500
#13 Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo. def. #12 Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 4-1 (224-213, 256-223, 192-257, 256-178, 212-180) $3,700
#10 Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill. def. #2 Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., 4-2
(213-180, 223-253, 191-234, 196-193, 215-180, 232-194) $5,000
#17 Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio def. #9 Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 4-2
(245-216, 158-209, 247-179, 162-264, 224-222, 255-207) $4,000
Single-elimination, best-of-seven games match play. Losers eliminated.
Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., def. Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 4-1
(230-162, 248-245, 243-210, 248-269, 245-205) $2,700
Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., def. Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, 4-2
(222-206, 217-220, 210-242, 227-201, 210-200, 236-180) $2,800
Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, def. Mike DeVaney, Temecula, Calif., 4-3
(171-247, 232-186, 205-213, 226-200, 180-236, 206-186, 225-197) $3,000
Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., def. Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 4-0
(195-193, 247-183, 234-205, 216-212) $2,550
Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., def. Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, Ohio, 4-1
(216-161, 189-184, 204-231, 192-183, 196-182) $2,600
Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., def. Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 4-2
(259-224, 190-214, 194-184, 226-246, 226-193, 223-186) $2,900
Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., def. Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 4-0
(201-189, 212-203, 212-194, 207-185) $2,500
Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., def. Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 4-1
(244-167, 212-212, 241-230, 210-235, 197-193) $2,650
Single-elimination, best-of-seven games match play. Losers eliminated, earn $2,000
Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., def. Patrick Healey Jr., Flower Mound, Texas, 4-3
(197-171, 244-173, 237-175, 203-224, 212-231, 163-168, 215-199)
Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 4-3
(235-173, 174-201, 256-200, 201-230, 225-246, 247-223, 224-196)
Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, def. Billy Oatman, Chicago, 4-0
(246-182, 204-182, 213-195, 217-178)
Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., def. Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 4-3
(203-211, 216-210, 207-159, 179-280, 175-234, 212-182, 203-175)
Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., def. Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 4-2
(247-219, 195-198, 196-173, 247-223, 187-226, 268-182)
Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, def. Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 4-1
(269-187, 247-157, 224-210, 201-224, 238-184)
Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., def. Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 4-1
(248-244, 204-191, 180-206, 195-152, 245-231)
Mike DeVaney, Temecula, Calif., def. Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., 4-1
(277-209, 201-190, 171-183, 226-173, 234-170)
Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., def. Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ohio, 4-2
(238-211, 214-279, 236-233, 225-227, 268-215, 248-222)
Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., def. Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 4-2
(179-192, 223-149, 215-191, 198-200, 204-181, 277-216)
Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., def. Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 4-0
(235-203, 247-226, 197-186, 233-191)
Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., def. Chris Barnes, Flower Mound, Texas, 4-1
(204-237, 227-200, 217-208, 220-204, 227-203)
Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., def. Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, N.Y., 4-2
(232-204, 206-202, 200-214, 211-216, 208-201, 248-192)
Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., def. Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., 4-1
(204-180, 266-194, 206-247, 211-186, 211-186)
Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, def. Wes Malott, Argyle, Texas, 4-3
(201-238, 188-195, 232-248, 191-186, 246-212, 224-210, 267-187)
Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio def. Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 4-2
(189-201, 243-169, 199-193, 223-207, 150-299, 235-221)
300 games – None
On a wild day in which the lead changed numerous times, Mike DeVaney emerged as the overall leader in the 2006 Etonic Championship at AMF Thruway Lanes.
DeVaney fired a 265 in his final game to leap over five bowlers and finish as the top seed for Friday’s match play with a 3,135 14-game pinfall Thursday. He averaged 230.57 over his final seven games after finishing 14th through the first seven games.
“I just caught a couple breaks and had good pairs my last couple games,” said DeVaney (Temecula, Calif.). “The pairs I followed were good all day. Sometimes if you get caught behind the wrong guys it can be trouble, but the guys I was following didn’t do anything silly.”
DeVaney will face No. 32 Bill O’Neill (Levittown, Pa.) in the single elimination, best-of-seven games match play. O’Neill earned the final spot in match play with 2,923, five pins ahead of PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III (Jackson, N.J.).
For the first time in a standard Tour event, two women advanced to match play as both Liz Johnson (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) and Michelle Feldman (Skaneateles, N.Y.) made the cut. Both Johnson and Feldman advanced into the Round of 64 via Wednesday’s Denny’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round. Ironically, Johnson and Feldman will face each other in Friday’s Round of 32 as Johnson finished 12th with 2,996 and Feldman finished 21st with 2,963.
Two other featured matches include PBA Hall of Famers Tom Baker (King, N.C.) and Pete Weber (St. Ann, Mo.) facing off, and 2005-06 PBA Player of the Year Tommy Jones (Simpsonville, S.C.) taking on seven-time titlist Chris Barnes (Flower Mound, Texas).
In addition to Baker (a Buffalo native), Johnson and Feldman, a handful of other local favorites made the cut. Doug Kent (Newark, N.Y.), who won the season-opening USBC Masters, finished third. Joe Ciccone (Buffalo) finished tied for 15th and Brad Angelo (Lockport, N.Y.) finished tied for 27th. Angelo made a big run in the second block of qualifying, averaging 223.43 in the final seven games – including a 248 in the final game – to go from 54th to 27th.
Match play gets underway Friday morning at 9 a.m. EST with the Round of 32, followed by the Rounds of 16 and 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
The final four will advance to Sunday’s live ESPN televised finals at 1 p.m. EST at AMF Thruway Lanes. The winner will take home $25,000 and an exemption for the 2007-08 Denny’s PBA Tour season.
Players with position, hometown and 14-game pinfall. Top 32 advance. Place 33-64 earn $1,800.
1, Mike DeVaney, Temecula, Calif., 3,135
2, Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., 3,114
3, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 3,094
4, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 3,084
5, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,075
6, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, 3,072
7, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 3,060
8, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,045
9, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,038
10, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3,023
11, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 3,006
12, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 2,996
13, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 2,994
14, Wes Malott, Dallas, 2,985
15, Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 2,982
15, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 2,982
17, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,975
18, Patrick Healey Jr, Flower Mound, Texas, 2,973
19, Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, 2,968
19, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 2,968
21, Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., 2,963
22, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 2,957
23, Tommy Delutz Jr, Flushing, N.Y., 2,950
24, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 2,948
25, Chris Barnes, Flower Mound, Texas, 2,940
26, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 2,937
27, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 2,936
27, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,936
27, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 2,936
30, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,930
31, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 2,927
32, Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., 2,923
33, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 2,918, $1,800
34, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 2,900, $1,800
35, Del Ballard Jr, N. Richland Hills, Texas, 2,890, $1,800
36, Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla., 2,881, $1,800
37, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 2,870, $1,800
38, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 2,869, $1,800
39, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 2,855, $1,800
40, Walter Ray Williams Jr, Ocala, Fla., 2,850, $1,800
41, Michael Haugen Jr, Cave Creek, Ariz., 2,827, $1,800
42, Troy Wollenbecker, Toledo, Ohio, 2,826, $1,800
43, Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., 2,824, $1,800
44, Patrick Allen, Tarrytown, N.Y., 2,823, $1,800
44, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 2,823, $1,800
46, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 2,820, $1,800
47, John May, Lincolnton, N.C., 2,814, $1,800
48, Marv Sargent, Temecula, Calif., 2,781, $1,800
49, Chris Hayden, Orlando, Fla., 2,779, $1,800
50, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 2,778, $1,800
51, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, Md., 2,761, $1,800
52, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 2,752, $1,800
53, Richard Wolfe, Vienna, Va., 2,745, $1,800
54, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 2,720, $1,800
55, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 2,716, $1,800
56, David Tessman, Lake Placid, Fla., 2,688, $1,800
57, William Stoddard, Rochester, N.Y., 2,680, $1,800
58, Patrick Girard, Canada, 2,656, $1,800
59, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 2,654, $1,800
60, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2,588, $1,800
60, Riga Kalfas, Florence, Ky., 2,588, $1,800
62, Mark Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,428, $1,800
63, Rudy Kasimakis, Tupelo, Miss., 1,379, WD, $1,800
64, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., WD, $1,800
300 games - Doug Kent, Steve Jaros.
Despite finishing the first round of qualifying in the Etonic Championship at AMF Thruway Lanes, with a 215, Del Ballard Jr. was surprised to find himself in first place, especially with the top five spots only being separated by five pins.
The 215 gave Ballard a seven-game total of 1,565 in the first session of Thursday's Round of 64, topping second-place Tommy Delutz Jr., who is bowling in his first action of the season, by one pin.
"I'm surprised to be in first, but I'm not surprised that I bowled so well," said Ballard (North Richland Hills, Texas). "I had a nice 30 minute conversation with my sports shrink last night and just decided to bowl like I deserve to be here."
Ballard posted five scores above the 200 mark, opening with a 247 before firing his high game, 269, in the third game. Ballard started the day throwing an Ebonite Infinite One before switching to a Storm Passion for his final three games.
Delutz (Flushing, N.Y.), who missed the first two events of the season with an elbow injury, ended the round with games of 266, 231 and 252. The two finalists from last week's Motor City Classic, Wes Malott and Tony Reyes, sit third and fourth, respectively.
Malott (Argyle, Texas) sits in the third position with a 1,561. Reyes (San Bruno, Calif.), who won his first career title last week, finished in the fourth spot with a 1,560 after bowling a 171 in his seventh game. Reyes had a 299 in his first game. Michael Fagan (Greenlawn, N.Y.) rounded out the top five with a 1,560, bowling a 256 in his final game.
All 64 bowlers return at 6 p.m. EST for another seven games. The top 32 from today's rounds advance to Friday's match play.
The top four bowlers will advance to Sunday's live ESPN televised stepladder finals at 1 p.m. EST at AMF Thruway Lanes. The winner will take home $25,000 and a one-season Denny's PBA Tour exemption.
1, Del Ballard Jr, N. Richland Hills, Texas, 1,565
2, Tommy Delutz Jr, Flushing, N.Y., 1,564
3, Wes Malott, Dallas, 1,561
4, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 1,560
5, Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., 1,559
6, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 1,554
7, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,548
7, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 1,548
9, Chris Barnes, Flower Mound, Texas, 1,540
10, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,538
11, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan, 1,534
12, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,530
13, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, 1,523
14, Mike DeVaney, Temecula, 1,521
15, Patrick Healey Jr, Flower Mound, Texas., 1,516
16, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,509
17, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 1,508
18, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 1,506
19, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,504
20, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 1,503
21, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 1,477
22, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 1,475
23, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,460
24, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 1,456
25, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,446
26, Troy Wollenbecker, Toledo, OH, 1,445
27, Patrick Allen, Tarrytown, N.Y., 1,443
28, Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., 1,438
29, Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., 1,434
30, Michael Haugen Jr, Cave Creek, Ariz., 1,430
30, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,430
32, Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 1,429
33, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 1,428
33, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 1,428
33, Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, 1,428
36, John May, Lincolnton, N.C., 1,427
37, Richard Wolfe, Vienna, Va., 1,422
38, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,420
39, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 1,412
40, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 1,411
41, Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla., 1,405
42, Walter Ray Williams Jr, Ocala, Fla., 1,402
42, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 1,402
44, William Stoddard, Rochester, NY, 1,398
45, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 1,394
46, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1,393
47, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, WI, 1,389
48, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 1,388
49, Marv Sargent, Temecula, Calif., 1,384
50, Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., 1,379
50, Rudy Kasimakis, Tupelo, Miss., 1,379
52, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,377
53, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 1,376
54, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 1,372
55, Chris Hayden, Orlando, Fla., 1,352
56, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,340
57, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 1,339
58, David Tessman, Lake Placid, Fla., 1,326
59, Riga Kalfas, Florence, Ky., 1,296
60, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,295
61, Patrick Girard, Canada, 1,293
62, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,267
63, Mark Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1,180
64, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., WD
300 games - Doug Kent
With all the attention on Kelly Kulick since she became the first woman to earn an exemption for the Denny’s Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour this summer, Liz Johnson’s (left) accomplishments have been overshadowed.
The Cheektowaga, N.Y., native is back in the spotlight this week as she finished third with a 1,547 seven-game pinfall Wednesday in the Denny’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round for the 2006 Etonic Championship at Thruway Lanes.
This marks the fourth time Johnson has qualified for an event through the Qualifying Round. She became the first woman to qualify back in 2004, and later became the first woman to advance to a Denny’s PBA Tour championship round when she finished second in the 2005 Banquet Open.
Joining Johnson in Thursday’s Round of 64 will be another local woman, Michelle Feldman (Skaneateles, N.Y.), who finished second overall with 1,556. This week marks the second time in Tour history two women have advanced through the Qualifying Round, and the first since Johnson and Cathy Dorin-Lizzi qualified for the 2006 Ace Hardware Championship in March.
With Kulick joining Johnson and Feldman in the field as one of 58 exempt bowlers, this will be the first time in Tour history three women have competed in a standard Tour event.
Leading the qualifying field with 1,587 was Chad Kloss (Greenfield, Wis.), who advanced for the second week in a row. Kloss finished eighth in the season-opening United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters, and has an early lead in the 2006-07 PBA World Point Rankings among non-exempt bowlers. The highest non-exempt bowler in the point rankings at the end of the season earns an exemption for 2007-08.
“I told myself that if I did well in the Masters I would stay out here and try to chase the exemption,” said Kloss, the 2005-06 PBA Midwest Region Rookie of the Year. “Looking at the points now and knowing how hard it is to make points up, I feel very confident.”
The top six PBA members and top amateur advanced to Thursday’s Round of 64. Also advancing were Rudy Kasimakis (Tupelo, Miss.), Dino Castillo (Carrollton, Texas) and Troy Wollenbecker (Toledo, Ohio), as well as William Stoddard (Rochester, N.Y.) who was the highest amateur.
Thursday features two seven-game qualifying blocks, the first of which gets underway at 11 a.m. EST. The top 32 will advance to match play on Friday.
The final four will bowl for the $25,000 top prize and an exemption for the 2007-08 Denny’s PBA Tour season Sunday, Nov. 12. The live ESPN televised finals get underway at 1 p.m. EST.
Players with position, hometown and seven-game pinfall. Top six PBA members and top amateur advance. Places 7 and 9-16 cash.
1, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 1,587
2, Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., 1,556
3, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,547
4, Rudy Kasimakis, Tupelo, Miss., 1,512
5, William Stoddard, Rochester, N.Y., 1,483
6, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,476
7, Mike Rose Jr., West Henrietta, N.Y., 1,473, $1,000
8, Troy Wollenbecker, Toledo, Ohio, 1,470
9, Jerry Rich, Painesville, Ohio, 1,465, $800
10, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,459, $600
11, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 1,457, $500
12, Jonathan Van Hees, Newport, R.I., 1,451, $400
13, James Wallace, Hicksville, N.Y., 1,435, $380
14, Ryan Abel, Wichita, Kan., 1,434, $350
14, Gregory Thompson Jr., Dayton, Ohio, 1,434, $350
16, Kevin Smith, Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,433, $310
16, Steven Meyer, Rochester, N.Y., 1,433, $310
18, Brian O'Mara, Rochester, N.Y., 1,432
19, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Oxon Hill, Md., 1,426
20, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 1,425
21, Mike Zarcone, Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,424
22, Keith DeCambra, Quincy, Mass., 1,414
23, Jimmy Levendosky, Hudsonville, Mich., 1,408
24, Mark Hooks, Erie, Pa., 1,404
25, Jen Petrick, Canton, Ohio, 1,398
26, Michael Norris, Melvindale, Mich., 1,396
27, Shawn Evans, Satellite Beach, Fla., 1,395
28, Christopher Blackmore, Alexandria, Va., 1,392
29, Adam Monks, Oakland, N.J., 1,391
30, Peter Zmozynski, Depew, N.Y., 1,390
31, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 1,385
32, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, Ind.,1,374
33, Jay Nephew, West Seneca, N.Y., 1,366
34, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,348
35, Bill Rowe, Hamilton, Ont., Canada, 1,346
36, John Furey, Freehold, N.J., 1,343
37, Patrick Brick, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,332
38, TJ Ruggiero, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,322
39, Mark Andzel, West Seneca, N.Y., 1,321
40, Dave Guindon, West Seneca, N.Y., 1,320
41, Paul Gibson, Brunswick, Ohio, 1,319
42, Michael Sadowy, Clarence Center, N.Y., 1,316
42, Kenneth Muscato, Canandaigua, N.Y., 1,316
44, Travis Mento, Syracuse, N.Y., 1,313
45, Peter Dohan Jr, Tampa, Fla., 1,312
46, Michael Marks, Elmira, N.Y., 1,310
47, Curtis Foss, Medina, N.Y., 1,309
48, Jan Kravcheno Sr., Kalida,Ohio, 1,307
49, YonGyo Phark, Flushing, N.Y., 1,303
50, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 1,287
51, Matthew Zasowski, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,276
52, Rich Ferraro, Webster, N.Y., 1,244
53, Scott Olson, Warren, Pa., 1,229
54, Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 1,222
55, Ray LeChase II, Rochester, N.Y., 1,214
56, John Pieri III, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,211
57, Brian Convery, Manchester, N.H., 1,204
58, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 1,202
59, David Lucas, Orchard Park, N.Y., 1,192
60, Ricky Jewell Jr., Greenville, S.C., 1,187
61, Clifford Wheelock, Florence, Mass., 1,180
62, Art Swain, Jr, Philadelphia, Pa., 1,151
63, Sal Augugliaro, Alden, N.Y., 1,145
64, Gary Mahon, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,129
65, Allen Garrison, Wayland, N.Y., 1,105
66, Timothy Costello, Denville, N.J., 1,103
67, Nicholas Vieira, Rochester, N.Y., 1,080
68, Chris Blaison, Walden, N.Y., 1,111
300 games - None
2006-07 PBA Tour #3
Wins his 33rd career title in Etonic Championship
At 44 years old, Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of Famer Pete Weber is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, he's off to what he calls the best start of his 28-year career. Weber won his 33rd career Denny's PBA Tour title Sunday, knocking off local favorite Doug Kent, 247-196, to win the 2006 Etonic Championship at AMF Thruway Lanes. The win moved Weber within one title of tying Mark Roth for third on the all-time titles list and made him just the second bowler in Tour history to go over the $3 million mark in career earnings. Weber finished second in the season-opening Dydo Japan Cup, becoming the victim of Walter Ray Williams Jr.'s record-breaking 42nd career title.
"This is the best start of my career, making the show in two of the first four events and winning today," said Weber (St. Ann, Mo.), who used a Storm Double Agent. "From what I understand Paige (Williams' wife) predicted I would be Player of the Year. I'm trying not to let her down."
Weber struck in six of the first seven frames in the title match, the only blemish a 4-9 split and an open in the second frame. He was never threatened by Kent (Newark, N.Y.), the defending champion, who started the match with five consecutive nine-spares.
"I picked a ball that hit the pocket and just tried to let it off my hand. I didn't try to throw it hard, it was just a stroke off my hand and it worked out for the best," Weber said. "Winning never gets old. It's the best feeling in the world."
Weber advanced to the title match with a 227-179 win over Chris Loschetter (Avon, Ohio). Loschetter had just two strikes in the first nine frames, while Weber struck in four of the first five frames. A 4-7-9 split and an open frame in the eighth by Loschetter all but clinched the match for Weber.
Kent advanced with a 203-188 win over Steve Jaros (Yorkville, Ill.). Kent stayed clean with no opens until his final frame while Jaros had opens in the fifth, 8th and 9th frames.
Weber earned $25,000 and an exemption for the 2007-08 season. Kent, who was looking for his second title in three events after winning the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters, took home $13,000 for second. Jaros earned $6,500 for third and Loschetter earned $5,500 for fourth.
The Denny's PBA Tour moves to Hammond, Ind., for the 2006 Lake County Indiana Classic, Nov. 15-19, at Stardust Bowl I. The nationally televised ESPN finals take place Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m. EST.
Etonic Championship
AMF Thruway Lanes in Cheektowaga, NY (Nov. 8-12, 2006)
Championship Round:
1. Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 474 (2 games), $25,000
2. Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 399 (2 games), $13,000
3. Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 188 (1 game), $6,500
4. Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 179 (1 game), $5,500
Playoff Results:
First Match: Weber def. Loschetter, 227-179
Second Match: Kent defeated Jaros, 203-188
Championship Match: Weber def. Kent, 247-196.
This is Weber's 33rd career Denny's PBA Tour title. Picture courtesy of PBA LLC/Barnes.
Kent targets second title of 2006-07 PBA Tour season
AMF Thruway Lanes is becoming a very comfortable place for eight-time Denny's PBA Tour titlist Doug Kent. One season after winning the 2006 GEICO Classic in the Cheektowaga, N.Y., bowling center, Kent is in the Sunday finals of the 2006 Etonic Championship. The Newark, N.Y., native advanced to the finals by defeating fellow New Yorker Brad Angelo (Lockport, N.Y.), four-games-to-none, in Friday's Round of 8, finishing the sweep with a 202-170 win.
"I'm just going through the motions. I just have a feeling that's just unbelievable and that I haven't had in a long time," said Kent, who won the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters two weeks ago. "Confidence can go a long way. Repeating shots is a lot of it and ball reaction is a lot of it."
Getting to the title match will be no easy task, as Kent faces seven-time titlist Steve Jaros. Jaros (Yorkville, Ill.) needed six games to advance, defeating Michael Fagan (Greenlawn, N.Y.), 4-2.
The other side of Sunday's bracket features "Legend" Pete Weber taking on "Young Gun" Chris Loschetter, who is looking for his first career title.
Weber disposed of Cheektowaga native Liz Johnson, 4-1. After falling behind 2-0, Johnson, who became the first ever female to make a Denny's PBA Tour final in the 2005 Banquet Open, won the third game, 257-192. Weber then took control in the final two games, including a 212-180 win in the fifth game.
Loschetter (Avon, Ohio), who qualified for match play 17th, knocked off Mike Edwards (Tulsa, Okla.), 4-2, after taking care of No. 1 seed Mike DeVaney in the Round of 16 in seven games.
The four bowlers advance to Sunday's live ESPN televised stepladder finals at 1 p.m. EST at AMF Thruway Lanes. The winner will take home $25,000 and a one-season Denny's PBA Tour exemption.
Round of 8
Single-elimination, best-of-seven games match play. Losers eliminated.
#3 Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y. def. #27 Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 4-0
(279-247, 203-199, 268-209, 202-170) $3,500
#13 Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo. def. #12 Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 4-1 (224-213, 256-223, 192-257, 256-178, 212-180) $3,700
#10 Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill. def. #2 Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., 4-2
(213-180, 223-253, 191-234, 196-193, 215-180, 232-194) $5,000
#17 Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio def. #9 Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 4-2
(245-216, 158-209, 247-179, 162-264, 224-222, 255-207) $4,000
Round of 16
Single-elimination, best-of-seven games match play. Losers eliminated.
Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., def. Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 4-1
(230-162, 248-245, 243-210, 248-269, 245-205) $2,700
Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., def. Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, 4-2
(222-206, 217-220, 210-242, 227-201, 210-200, 236-180) $2,800
Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, def. Mike DeVaney, Temecula, Calif., 4-3
(171-247, 232-186, 205-213, 226-200, 180-236, 206-186, 225-197) $3,000
Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., def. Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 4-0
(195-193, 247-183, 234-205, 216-212) $2,550
Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., def. Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, Ohio, 4-1
(216-161, 189-184, 204-231, 192-183, 196-182) $2,600
Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., def. Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 4-2
(259-224, 190-214, 194-184, 226-246, 226-193, 223-186) $2,900
Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., def. Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 4-0
(201-189, 212-203, 212-194, 207-185) $2,500
Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., def. Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 4-1
(244-167, 212-212, 241-230, 210-235, 197-193) $2,650
Round of 32
Single-elimination, best-of-seven games match play. Losers eliminated, earn $2,000
Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., def. Patrick Healey Jr., Flower Mound, Texas, 4-3
(197-171, 244-173, 237-175, 203-224, 212-231, 163-168, 215-199)
Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 4-3
(235-173, 174-201, 256-200, 201-230, 225-246, 247-223, 224-196)
Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, def. Billy Oatman, Chicago, 4-0
(246-182, 204-182, 213-195, 217-178)
Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., def. Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 4-3
(203-211, 216-210, 207-159, 179-280, 175-234, 212-182, 203-175)
Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., def. Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 4-2
(247-219, 195-198, 196-173, 247-223, 187-226, 268-182)
Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, def. Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 4-1
(269-187, 247-157, 224-210, 201-224, 238-184)
Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., def. Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 4-1
(248-244, 204-191, 180-206, 195-152, 245-231)
Mike DeVaney, Temecula, Calif., def. Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., 4-1
(277-209, 201-190, 171-183, 226-173, 234-170)
Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., def. Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ohio, 4-2
(238-211, 214-279, 236-233, 225-227, 268-215, 248-222)
Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., def. Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 4-2
(179-192, 223-149, 215-191, 198-200, 204-181, 277-216)
Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., def. Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 4-0
(235-203, 247-226, 197-186, 233-191)
Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., def. Chris Barnes, Flower Mound, Texas, 4-1
(204-237, 227-200, 217-208, 220-204, 227-203)
Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., def. Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, N.Y., 4-2
(232-204, 206-202, 200-214, 211-216, 208-201, 248-192)
Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., def. Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., 4-1
(204-180, 266-194, 206-247, 211-186, 211-186)
Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, def. Wes Malott, Argyle, Texas, 4-3
(201-238, 188-195, 232-248, 191-186, 246-212, 224-210, 267-187)
Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio def. Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 4-2
(189-201, 243-169, 199-193, 223-207, 150-299, 235-221)
300 games – None
Mike DeVaney emerges as Round of 64 leader in Cheektowaga
On a wild day in which the lead changed numerous times, Mike DeVaney emerged as the overall leader in the 2006 Etonic Championship at AMF Thruway Lanes. DeVaney fired a 265 in his final game to leap over five bowlers and finish as the top seed for Friday’s match play with a 3,135 14-game pinfall Thursday. He averaged 230.57 over his final seven games after finishing 14th through the first seven games.
“I just caught a couple breaks and had good pairs my last couple games,” said DeVaney (Temecula, Calif.). “The pairs I followed were good all day. Sometimes if you get caught behind the wrong guys it can be trouble, but the guys I was following didn’t do anything silly.”
DeVaney will face No. 32 Bill O’Neill (Levittown, Pa.) in the single elimination, best-of-seven games match play. O’Neill earned the final spot in match play with 2,923, five pins ahead of PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III (Jackson, N.J.).
For the first time in a standard Tour event, two women advanced to match play as both Liz Johnson (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) and Michelle Feldman (Skaneateles, N.Y.) made the cut. Both Johnson and Feldman advanced into the Round of 64 via Wednesday’s Denny’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round. Ironically, Johnson and Feldman will face each other in Friday’s Round of 32 as Johnson finished 12th with 2,996 and Feldman finished 21st with 2,963.
Two other featured matches include PBA Hall of Famers Tom Baker (King, N.C.) and Pete Weber (St. Ann, Mo.) facing off, and 2005-06 PBA Player of the Year Tommy Jones (Simpsonville, S.C.) taking on seven-time titlist Chris Barnes (Flower Mound, Texas).
In addition to Baker (a Buffalo native), Johnson and Feldman, a handful of other local favorites made the cut. Doug Kent (Newark, N.Y.), who won the season-opening USBC Masters, finished third. Joe Ciccone (Buffalo) finished tied for 15th and Brad Angelo (Lockport, N.Y.) finished tied for 27th. Angelo made a big run in the second block of qualifying, averaging 223.43 in the final seven games – including a 248 in the final game – to go from 54th to 27th.
Match play gets underway Friday morning at 9 a.m. EST with the Round of 32, followed by the Rounds of 16 and 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
The final four will advance to Sunday’s live ESPN televised finals at 1 p.m. EST at AMF Thruway Lanes. The winner will take home $25,000 and an exemption for the 2007-08 Denny’s PBA Tour season.
Round of 64
Players with position, hometown and 14-game pinfall. Top 32 advance. Place 33-64 earn $1,800.
1, Mike DeVaney, Temecula, Calif., 3,135
2, Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., 3,114
3, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 3,094
4, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 3,084
5, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,075
6, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, 3,072
7, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 3,060
8, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,045
9, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,038
10, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3,023
11, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 3,006
12, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 2,996
13, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 2,994
14, Wes Malott, Dallas, 2,985
15, Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 2,982
15, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 2,982
17, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,975
18, Patrick Healey Jr, Flower Mound, Texas, 2,973
19, Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, 2,968
19, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 2,968
21, Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., 2,963
22, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 2,957
23, Tommy Delutz Jr, Flushing, N.Y., 2,950
24, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 2,948
25, Chris Barnes, Flower Mound, Texas, 2,940
26, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 2,937
27, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 2,936
27, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,936
27, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 2,936
30, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,930
31, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 2,927
32, Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., 2,923
33, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 2,918, $1,800
34, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 2,900, $1,800
35, Del Ballard Jr, N. Richland Hills, Texas, 2,890, $1,800
36, Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla., 2,881, $1,800
37, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 2,870, $1,800
38, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 2,869, $1,800
39, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 2,855, $1,800
40, Walter Ray Williams Jr, Ocala, Fla., 2,850, $1,800
41, Michael Haugen Jr, Cave Creek, Ariz., 2,827, $1,800
42, Troy Wollenbecker, Toledo, Ohio, 2,826, $1,800
43, Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., 2,824, $1,800
44, Patrick Allen, Tarrytown, N.Y., 2,823, $1,800
44, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 2,823, $1,800
46, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 2,820, $1,800
47, John May, Lincolnton, N.C., 2,814, $1,800
48, Marv Sargent, Temecula, Calif., 2,781, $1,800
49, Chris Hayden, Orlando, Fla., 2,779, $1,800
50, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 2,778, $1,800
51, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, Md., 2,761, $1,800
52, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 2,752, $1,800
53, Richard Wolfe, Vienna, Va., 2,745, $1,800
54, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 2,720, $1,800
55, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 2,716, $1,800
56, David Tessman, Lake Placid, Fla., 2,688, $1,800
57, William Stoddard, Rochester, N.Y., 2,680, $1,800
58, Patrick Girard, Canada, 2,656, $1,800
59, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 2,654, $1,800
60, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2,588, $1,800
60, Riga Kalfas, Florence, Ky., 2,588, $1,800
62, Mark Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,428, $1,800
63, Rudy Kasimakis, Tupelo, Miss., 1,379, WD, $1,800
64, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., WD, $1,800
300 games - Doug Kent, Steve Jaros.
Ballard takes the lead in Empire State Classic
Despite finishing the first round of qualifying in the Etonic Championship at AMF Thruway Lanes, with a 215, Del Ballard Jr. was surprised to find himself in first place, especially with the top five spots only being separated by five pins. The 215 gave Ballard a seven-game total of 1,565 in the first session of Thursday's Round of 64, topping second-place Tommy Delutz Jr., who is bowling in his first action of the season, by one pin.
"I'm surprised to be in first, but I'm not surprised that I bowled so well," said Ballard (North Richland Hills, Texas). "I had a nice 30 minute conversation with my sports shrink last night and just decided to bowl like I deserve to be here."
Ballard posted five scores above the 200 mark, opening with a 247 before firing his high game, 269, in the third game. Ballard started the day throwing an Ebonite Infinite One before switching to a Storm Passion for his final three games.
Delutz (Flushing, N.Y.), who missed the first two events of the season with an elbow injury, ended the round with games of 266, 231 and 252. The two finalists from last week's Motor City Classic, Wes Malott and Tony Reyes, sit third and fourth, respectively.
Malott (Argyle, Texas) sits in the third position with a 1,561. Reyes (San Bruno, Calif.), who won his first career title last week, finished in the fourth spot with a 1,560 after bowling a 171 in his seventh game. Reyes had a 299 in his first game. Michael Fagan (Greenlawn, N.Y.) rounded out the top five with a 1,560, bowling a 256 in his final game.
All 64 bowlers return at 6 p.m. EST for another seven games. The top 32 from today's rounds advance to Friday's match play.
The top four bowlers will advance to Sunday's live ESPN televised stepladder finals at 1 p.m. EST at AMF Thruway Lanes. The winner will take home $25,000 and a one-season Denny's PBA Tour exemption.
Round One Qualifying
1, Del Ballard Jr, N. Richland Hills, Texas, 1,565
2, Tommy Delutz Jr, Flushing, N.Y., 1,564
3, Wes Malott, Dallas, 1,561
4, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 1,560
5, Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., 1,559
6, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 1,554
7, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,548
7, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 1,548
9, Chris Barnes, Flower Mound, Texas, 1,540
10, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,538
11, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan, 1,534
12, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,530
13, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, 1,523
14, Mike DeVaney, Temecula, 1,521
15, Patrick Healey Jr, Flower Mound, Texas., 1,516
16, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,509
17, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 1,508
18, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 1,506
19, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,504
20, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 1,503
21, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 1,477
22, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 1,475
23, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,460
24, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 1,456
25, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,446
26, Troy Wollenbecker, Toledo, OH, 1,445
27, Patrick Allen, Tarrytown, N.Y., 1,443
28, Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., 1,438
29, Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., 1,434
30, Michael Haugen Jr, Cave Creek, Ariz., 1,430
30, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,430
32, Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 1,429
33, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 1,428
33, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 1,428
33, Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, 1,428
36, John May, Lincolnton, N.C., 1,427
37, Richard Wolfe, Vienna, Va., 1,422
38, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,420
39, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 1,412
40, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 1,411
41, Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla., 1,405
42, Walter Ray Williams Jr, Ocala, Fla., 1,402
42, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 1,402
44, William Stoddard, Rochester, NY, 1,398
45, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 1,394
46, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1,393
47, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, WI, 1,389
48, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 1,388
49, Marv Sargent, Temecula, Calif., 1,384
50, Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., 1,379
50, Rudy Kasimakis, Tupelo, Miss., 1,379
52, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,377
53, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 1,376
54, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 1,372
55, Chris Hayden, Orlando, Fla., 1,352
56, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,340
57, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 1,339
58, David Tessman, Lake Placid, Fla., 1,326
59, Riga Kalfas, Florence, Ky., 1,296
60, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,295
61, Patrick Girard, Canada, 1,293
62, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,267
63, Mark Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1,180
64, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., WD
300 games - Doug Kent
Johnson and Feldman join Kulick in Empire State Classic field
With all the attention on Kelly Kulick since she became the first woman to earn an exemption for the Denny’s Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour this summer, Liz Johnson’s (left) accomplishments have been overshadowed. The Cheektowaga, N.Y., native is back in the spotlight this week as she finished third with a 1,547 seven-game pinfall Wednesday in the Denny’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round for the 2006 Etonic Championship at Thruway Lanes.
This marks the fourth time Johnson has qualified for an event through the Qualifying Round. She became the first woman to qualify back in 2004, and later became the first woman to advance to a Denny’s PBA Tour championship round when she finished second in the 2005 Banquet Open.
Joining Johnson in Thursday’s Round of 64 will be another local woman, Michelle Feldman (Skaneateles, N.Y.), who finished second overall with 1,556. This week marks the second time in Tour history two women have advanced through the Qualifying Round, and the first since Johnson and Cathy Dorin-Lizzi qualified for the 2006 Ace Hardware Championship in March.
With Kulick joining Johnson and Feldman in the field as one of 58 exempt bowlers, this will be the first time in Tour history three women have competed in a standard Tour event.
Leading the qualifying field with 1,587 was Chad Kloss (Greenfield, Wis.), who advanced for the second week in a row. Kloss finished eighth in the season-opening United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters, and has an early lead in the 2006-07 PBA World Point Rankings among non-exempt bowlers. The highest non-exempt bowler in the point rankings at the end of the season earns an exemption for 2007-08.
“I told myself that if I did well in the Masters I would stay out here and try to chase the exemption,” said Kloss, the 2005-06 PBA Midwest Region Rookie of the Year. “Looking at the points now and knowing how hard it is to make points up, I feel very confident.”
The top six PBA members and top amateur advanced to Thursday’s Round of 64. Also advancing were Rudy Kasimakis (Tupelo, Miss.), Dino Castillo (Carrollton, Texas) and Troy Wollenbecker (Toledo, Ohio), as well as William Stoddard (Rochester, N.Y.) who was the highest amateur.
Thursday features two seven-game qualifying blocks, the first of which gets underway at 11 a.m. EST. The top 32 will advance to match play on Friday.
The final four will bowl for the $25,000 top prize and an exemption for the 2007-08 Denny’s PBA Tour season Sunday, Nov. 12. The live ESPN televised finals get underway at 1 p.m. EST.
Denny’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round
Players with position, hometown and seven-game pinfall. Top six PBA members and top amateur advance. Places 7 and 9-16 cash.
1, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 1,587
2, Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., 1,556
3, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,547
4, Rudy Kasimakis, Tupelo, Miss., 1,512
5, William Stoddard, Rochester, N.Y., 1,483
6, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,476
7, Mike Rose Jr., West Henrietta, N.Y., 1,473, $1,000
8, Troy Wollenbecker, Toledo, Ohio, 1,470
9, Jerry Rich, Painesville, Ohio, 1,465, $800
10, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,459, $600
11, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 1,457, $500
12, Jonathan Van Hees, Newport, R.I., 1,451, $400
13, James Wallace, Hicksville, N.Y., 1,435, $380
14, Ryan Abel, Wichita, Kan., 1,434, $350
14, Gregory Thompson Jr., Dayton, Ohio, 1,434, $350
16, Kevin Smith, Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,433, $310
16, Steven Meyer, Rochester, N.Y., 1,433, $310
18, Brian O'Mara, Rochester, N.Y., 1,432
19, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Oxon Hill, Md., 1,426
20, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 1,425
21, Mike Zarcone, Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,424
22, Keith DeCambra, Quincy, Mass., 1,414
23, Jimmy Levendosky, Hudsonville, Mich., 1,408
24, Mark Hooks, Erie, Pa., 1,404
25, Jen Petrick, Canton, Ohio, 1,398
26, Michael Norris, Melvindale, Mich., 1,396
27, Shawn Evans, Satellite Beach, Fla., 1,395
28, Christopher Blackmore, Alexandria, Va., 1,392
29, Adam Monks, Oakland, N.J., 1,391
30, Peter Zmozynski, Depew, N.Y., 1,390
31, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 1,385
32, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, Ind.,1,374
33, Jay Nephew, West Seneca, N.Y., 1,366
34, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,348
35, Bill Rowe, Hamilton, Ont., Canada, 1,346
36, John Furey, Freehold, N.J., 1,343
37, Patrick Brick, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,332
38, TJ Ruggiero, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,322
39, Mark Andzel, West Seneca, N.Y., 1,321
40, Dave Guindon, West Seneca, N.Y., 1,320
41, Paul Gibson, Brunswick, Ohio, 1,319
42, Michael Sadowy, Clarence Center, N.Y., 1,316
42, Kenneth Muscato, Canandaigua, N.Y., 1,316
44, Travis Mento, Syracuse, N.Y., 1,313
45, Peter Dohan Jr, Tampa, Fla., 1,312
46, Michael Marks, Elmira, N.Y., 1,310
47, Curtis Foss, Medina, N.Y., 1,309
48, Jan Kravcheno Sr., Kalida,Ohio, 1,307
49, YonGyo Phark, Flushing, N.Y., 1,303
50, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 1,287
51, Matthew Zasowski, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,276
52, Rich Ferraro, Webster, N.Y., 1,244
53, Scott Olson, Warren, Pa., 1,229
54, Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 1,222
55, Ray LeChase II, Rochester, N.Y., 1,214
56, John Pieri III, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,211
57, Brian Convery, Manchester, N.H., 1,204
58, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 1,202
59, David Lucas, Orchard Park, N.Y., 1,192
60, Ricky Jewell Jr., Greenville, S.C., 1,187
61, Clifford Wheelock, Florence, Mass., 1,180
62, Art Swain, Jr, Philadelphia, Pa., 1,151
63, Sal Augugliaro, Alden, N.Y., 1,145
64, Gary Mahon, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,129
65, Allen Garrison, Wayland, N.Y., 1,105
66, Timothy Costello, Denville, N.J., 1,103
67, Nicholas Vieira, Rochester, N.Y., 1,080
68, Chris Blaison, Walden, N.Y., 1,111
300 games - None