The Brunswick Ballmaster Open is the season opener of the European Bowling Tour since the Tour was launched in the year 2000 as the European part of the "World Ranking System".

For the third time in his career Pasi Uotila (pictured left), Finland, started the European Bowling Tour season atop the men's ranking when he won his third Ballmaster title Sunday with a 214-212 victory over Dominic Barrett from England.

Uotila's first Ballmaster title came in the year 2000 and made him the first-ever ranking leader in Europe. He won his second title in 2004 and is now one of just three 3-time Ballmaster Open champions. His compatriots Lasse Lintilä (1988, 2003, '06) and Simo Vähäkorpela (1983, '84, '93) are the others.

Nicole Sanders (pictured right), Netherlands, was the sole woman, who made the cut to the top 16 for the match play finals in Helsinki, and positioned herself atop the women's ranking after finishing in 8th place.

Sanders fell to 3rd-placed Kimmo Lehtonen, a two-time Ball Open and the 2005 World Ranking Masters champion, in the quarterfinal with three-games-to-two after a 2-1 lead after three games.

In the last nine years, the top 8 women and top 8 men in the European Bowling Tour rankings qualified for the World Ranking Masters. Kegel hosted the event three times (2003, '05 and '07) at it's headquarter in Lake Wales, Florida, but it has become more and more difficult to find a host and sponsor of the 50.000 Dollar prize fund, especially since the European Tenpin Bowling Federation has launched a European Masters last year.

As there is no host for the 2010 World Ranking Masters on the horizon, the 2009 WRM in Naples, Italy, could become the 9th and last event.

The top 16 men and the top 16 women of the 2009 EBT rankings, however, will qualify for the EBT Masters 2010 (city and country tba).


2009 Men's Ranking - Top 10 after Helsinki
1. Pasi Uotila, Finland, 100
2. Dominic Barrett, England, 80
3. Kimmo Lehtonen, Finland, 70
4. Dennis Eklund, Sweden, 60
5. Osku Palermaa, Finland, 50
6. Jari Ratia, Finland, 48
7. Petteri Salonen, Finland, 46
8. Tobias Karlsson, Sweden, 44
9. Jason Belmonte, Australia, 42
10. Jussi Turtiainen, Finland, 40


2009 Women's Ranking - Top 10 after Helsinki
1. Nicole Sanders, Netherlands, 100
2. Patricia Luoto, Germany, 80
3. Krista Pöllänen, Finland, 70
4. Diana Zavjalova, Latvia, 60
5. Katja Kyllönen, Finland, 50
6. Piritta Kantola, Finland, 48
7. Nina Flack, Sweden, 46
8. Mari Santonen, Finland, 44
9. Nina Manninen, Finland, 42
10. Reija Lunden, Finland, 40

 

 

2009 European Bowling Tour Rankings by Bowlingdigital

2009 EBT Men's Ranking
2009 EBT Women's Ranking

 

 

2009 EBT Rankings - Men's Division after Helsinki

Players with country, ranking point total and number of top 50 finishes

 

2009 EBT Rankings - Women's Division after Helsinki

Players with country, ranking point total and number of top 50 finishes