Ritchie Allen gets his groove back
02/29/08
Tour Qualifying Round
Player with position, hometown and 14-game pinfall. Top 32 advance. Positions 33-64 cash.
1, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 3,295
2, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan, 3,255
3, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,248
4, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 3,240
5, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 3,218
6, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,197
7, PJ Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 3,159
8, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, 3,156
9, Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 3,132
10, Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, 3,128
11, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,127
12, Wes Malott, Argyle, Texas, 3,120
13, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,113
14, Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas, 3,103
14, Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, N.Y., 3,103
16, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3,100
16, Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 3,100
18, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 3,089
18, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,089
18, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 3,089
21, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 3,084
22, Todd Book, Cantonment, Fla., 3,078
23, Robert Smith, Captain Cook, Hawaii, 3,066
23, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 3,066
25, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,062
26, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 3,060
26, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 3,060
28, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3,048
28, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 3,048
30, Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., 3,046
31, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 3,043
31, Jason Wojnar, Chicago, 3,043
Missed Cut:
33, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 3,041, $1,800
34, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,032, $1,800
35, Jeff Lizzi, Sandusky, Ohio, 3,026, $1,800
35, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3,026, $1,800
37, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,009, $1,800
38, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 3,004, $1,800
39, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La, 3,003, $1,800
40, Steve Rogers, Bourbonnais, Ill., 2,987, $1,800
41, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 2,972, $1,800
42, Jimmy Johnson, Pataskala, Ohio, 2,964, $1,800
43, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 2,962, $1,800
44, Mike DeVaney, San Diego, 2,954, $1,800
45, David Leverage, Peoria, Ariz., 2,953, $1,800
46, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 2,934, $1,800
47, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 2,925, $1,800
48, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 2,907, $1,800
49, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 2,905, $1,800
50, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 2,894, $1,800
51, Brian Hatcher, Roseville, Mich., 2,870, $1,800
52, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 2,856, $1,800
53, Riga Kalfas, Florence, Ky., 2,852, $1,800
54, Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo., 2,842, $1,800
55, Bill Rowe, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 2,832, $1,800
56, Mike Mineman, Belleville, Ill., 2,810, $1,800
57, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,793, $1,800
58, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 2,786, $1,800
59, Michael Cimba, Monroeville, Pa., 2,754, $1,800
60, Ronnie Horton, Christiansburg, Va., 2,750, $1,800
61, Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 2,747, $1,800
62, Eddie Graham, Centerville, Ohio, 2,736, $1,800
63, Mark Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,725, $1,800
64, Curtis Woods Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., 2,686, $1,800
65, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 1,464, $910
300 games (3) – Jack Jure, Troy Wollenbecker, Steve Jaros
2007-08 Denny's PBA Tour #18
Sequoia Pro Bowl in Columbus, OH (Feb. 26-March 2, 2008)
A change in grip and a new moustache are all Ritchie Allen needed to get back in the groove. Allen, one of the more colorful personalities on the Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour, lead the Round of 64 in the 2008 Don Johnson Buckeye State Classic Thursday at Sequoia Pro Bowl with a 3,295 14-game pinfall.
The 29-year-old free spirit said he hadn't made match play since the Motel 6 Dick Weber Open, which was the last time he had a moustache. Sporting a barely-visible line of hair on his upper-lip, Allen earned the top seed for Friday's Round of 32, where he will face No. 32 Jason Wojnar, who earned the final spot in match play by two pins.
The two-time titlist Allen also made a major grip change recently, due to the returning strength in his right hand following a stress fracture which kept him out of the 2006-07 season.
"I basically made an entire grip overhaul," Allen (Columbia, S.C.) said. "I was having a lot of pain in my hand and the only reason I made the change was to relieve the pressure and by far this is the best my hand has felt in two years.
"I didn't have any strength in my hand when I came back and I was getting locked in the ball," Allen continued. "About a month ago I realized I was squeezing the (crap) out of it, so now I guess all my hand strength has come back and it feels 100 percent healthy. Now I'm locked in and still squeeze it and it doesn't bother me. And the moustache helps me strike more."
On Thursday, Allen averaged 221.14 in the first seven-game block and sat just 28th in the standings. He averaged 249.57 in the second seven-game block, with four games of 257 or better, including a 278 in the 11th game of the day.
Allen will look to make his second championship round appearance of the season and his first since the 2007 CLR Windy City Classic in November where he finished fifth. Since then he's dropped down to 31st in the PBA World Point Rankings and needs a strong finish to stay in the top 39 and maintain his exemption for 2008-09. His last victory came in the 2005-06 season.
Tour young gun Sean Rash (right, Wichita, Kan.) finished second with 3,255 and will face No. 31 Ronnie Russell (Indianapolis). Rash will look for his first championship round appearance since winning the season-opening United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters. Joe Ciccone (Buffalo, N.Y.) finished third with 3,248 and will face No. 30 Bill O'Neill (Levittown, Pa.).
Kelly Kulick (left, Union, N.J.), who became the first woman to earn a Denny's PBA Tour exemption last season and earned a spot in this week's event through the Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round, finished 29th. She will face No. 4 Eugene McCune (Munster, Ind.).
Last week's Denny's World Championship winner Norm Duke (Clermont, Fla.) finished 16th and will face No. 17 Steve Harman (Indianapolis).
The top 32 advance to Friday's single elimination match play which gets underway at 9 a.m. EST. Half the field will bowl at 9 a.m. followed by the second half rolling at 2 p.m. The Round of 16 takes place at 7 p.m. while the Round of 8 takes place Saturday at 10 a.m. EST.
The top four after Saturday's match play will advance to Sunday's championship round live on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. The winner receives $25,000 an exemption for the 2008-09 Denny's PBA Tour.
The 29-year-old free spirit said he hadn't made match play since the Motel 6 Dick Weber Open, which was the last time he had a moustache. Sporting a barely-visible line of hair on his upper-lip, Allen earned the top seed for Friday's Round of 32, where he will face No. 32 Jason Wojnar, who earned the final spot in match play by two pins.
The two-time titlist Allen also made a major grip change recently, due to the returning strength in his right hand following a stress fracture which kept him out of the 2006-07 season.
"I basically made an entire grip overhaul," Allen (Columbia, S.C.) said. "I was having a lot of pain in my hand and the only reason I made the change was to relieve the pressure and by far this is the best my hand has felt in two years.
"I didn't have any strength in my hand when I came back and I was getting locked in the ball," Allen continued. "About a month ago I realized I was squeezing the (crap) out of it, so now I guess all my hand strength has come back and it feels 100 percent healthy. Now I'm locked in and still squeeze it and it doesn't bother me. And the moustache helps me strike more."
On Thursday, Allen averaged 221.14 in the first seven-game block and sat just 28th in the standings. He averaged 249.57 in the second seven-game block, with four games of 257 or better, including a 278 in the 11th game of the day.
Allen will look to make his second championship round appearance of the season and his first since the 2007 CLR Windy City Classic in November where he finished fifth. Since then he's dropped down to 31st in the PBA World Point Rankings and needs a strong finish to stay in the top 39 and maintain his exemption for 2008-09. His last victory came in the 2005-06 season.
Tour young gun Sean Rash (right, Wichita, Kan.) finished second with 3,255 and will face No. 31 Ronnie Russell (Indianapolis). Rash will look for his first championship round appearance since winning the season-opening United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters. Joe Ciccone (Buffalo, N.Y.) finished third with 3,248 and will face No. 30 Bill O'Neill (Levittown, Pa.). Kelly Kulick (left, Union, N.J.), who became the first woman to earn a Denny's PBA Tour exemption last season and earned a spot in this week's event through the Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round, finished 29th. She will face No. 4 Eugene McCune (Munster, Ind.).Last week's Denny's World Championship winner Norm Duke (Clermont, Fla.) finished 16th and will face No. 17 Steve Harman (Indianapolis).
The top 32 advance to Friday's single elimination match play which gets underway at 9 a.m. EST. Half the field will bowl at 9 a.m. followed by the second half rolling at 2 p.m. The Round of 16 takes place at 7 p.m. while the Round of 8 takes place Saturday at 10 a.m. EST.
The top four after Saturday's match play will advance to Sunday's championship round live on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. The winner receives $25,000 an exemption for the 2008-09 Denny's PBA Tour.
Related Articles
Tour Qualifying Round
Round of 64
Player with position, hometown and 14-game pinfall. Top 32 advance. Positions 33-64 cash.
1, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 3,295
2, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan, 3,255
3, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,248
4, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 3,240
5, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 3,218
6, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,197
7, PJ Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 3,159
8, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, 3,156
9, Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 3,132
10, Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, 3,128
11, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,127
12, Wes Malott, Argyle, Texas, 3,120
13, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,113
14, Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas, 3,103
14, Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, N.Y., 3,103
16, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3,100
16, Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 3,100
18, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 3,089
18, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,089
18, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 3,089
21, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 3,084
22, Todd Book, Cantonment, Fla., 3,078
23, Robert Smith, Captain Cook, Hawaii, 3,066
23, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 3,066
25, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,062
26, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 3,060
26, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 3,060
28, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3,048
28, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 3,048
30, Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., 3,046
31, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 3,043
31, Jason Wojnar, Chicago, 3,043
Missed Cut:
33, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 3,041, $1,800
34, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,032, $1,800
35, Jeff Lizzi, Sandusky, Ohio, 3,026, $1,800
35, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3,026, $1,800
37, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,009, $1,800
38, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 3,004, $1,800
39, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La, 3,003, $1,800
40, Steve Rogers, Bourbonnais, Ill., 2,987, $1,800
41, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 2,972, $1,800
42, Jimmy Johnson, Pataskala, Ohio, 2,964, $1,800
43, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 2,962, $1,800
44, Mike DeVaney, San Diego, 2,954, $1,800
45, David Leverage, Peoria, Ariz., 2,953, $1,800
46, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 2,934, $1,800
47, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 2,925, $1,800
48, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 2,907, $1,800
49, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 2,905, $1,800
50, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 2,894, $1,800
51, Brian Hatcher, Roseville, Mich., 2,870, $1,800
52, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 2,856, $1,800
53, Riga Kalfas, Florence, Ky., 2,852, $1,800
54, Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo., 2,842, $1,800
55, Bill Rowe, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 2,832, $1,800
56, Mike Mineman, Belleville, Ill., 2,810, $1,800
57, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,793, $1,800
58, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 2,786, $1,800
59, Michael Cimba, Monroeville, Pa., 2,754, $1,800
60, Ronnie Horton, Christiansburg, Va., 2,750, $1,800
61, Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 2,747, $1,800
62, Eddie Graham, Centerville, Ohio, 2,736, $1,800
63, Mark Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,725, $1,800
64, Curtis Woods Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., 2,686, $1,800
65, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 1,464, $910
300 games (3) – Jack Jure, Troy Wollenbecker, Steve Jaros