Eugene McCune remains in the lead; cut for 43 place is 1357 (226.17 avg.)
Only two players, J. C. Zuniga of Tulsa, Okla., and Adam Barta of Girard, Ohio, cracked the top 43 at the WTBA International Open in Friday evening's Squad 17 at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. Three-time PBA champions Eugene McCune (l.) of Munster, Ind. and Mike Fagan (r.) of Grapevine, Texas, held on to lead the field of 124 players - 116 men and eight women - with 1505 and 1503 pinfall total, respectively.
Koshelev, Blanchard, and Gomez are tied at 1354 (225.67 avg.) for 43rd and last place to advance to the finals on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, starting at Noon Pacific (3 p.m. EST / 9 p.m. CET)
Russian international Nikita Koshelev (l.) led the 16th out of 19 qualifying squads in the WTBA International Open Friday afternoon at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. With his 1354 six-game total, Koshelev is currently tied for the 43rd and last place to advance to the finals slated for Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, starting at Noon Pacific with Josh Blanchard of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and PBA champion Andres Gomez (r.) of Colombia.
Three-time PBA champion closes out Squad 15 with 298 to top previous leader Fagan by two pins; cut for 43rd place is 1354 (225.67 avg.)
Eugene McCune (pictured) of Munster, Ind. closed out his six-game series in Squad 16 Friday morning at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas with a huge game to shoot into the lead in the WTBA International Open, a World Bowling Tour event. Fresh off his victory in the PBA Cheetah Open, the three-time PBA champion started the day with 247, 266, 235, 256 and 203 before he closed things out with 298 to surpass previous leader Mike Fagan of Grapevine, Texas, by two pins.
Ties Walter Ray Williams Jr. for 22nd place with 1384; Mike Fagan still in control with 1503; cut for 44th place remains 1332 (222 avg.)
PBA exempt player Ronnie Russell (pictured) of Marion, Ind., bowled in his own class in the 14th qualifying squad of the WTBA International Open Thursday evening at Sunset Station in Las Vegas. The three-time PBA Regional champion rolled games of 223, 234, 235, 209, 268 and 215 for 1384 total, an average of 230.67, to jump into a tie for 22nd place with PBA Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla. Mike Fagan of Grapevine, Texas, leads
the field of 109 players since Squad 10 with 1503.
Moves into 15th place with 1406; Mike Fagan leads field of 107 players with 1503; cut for 44th place is now 1332 (222 avg.)
Jason Sterner of McDonough, Ga., started the 13th qualifying squad of the WTBA International Open Thursday afternoon at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas with the second 300 game of the tournament en route to become the 16th player in the tournament's 1400-club. The 2007-08 PBA South Region Player of the Year totaled 1406 pins to lead the squad and to overtake 15th place in qualifying. Another six players of Squad 13 positioned themselves in the top 44.
Mike Fagan continues to lead with 1503; cut for 44th place is now 1322 (220.33)
Just nine players took the lanes at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas to compete in the 12th of 198 qualifying squads in the WTBA International Open. There were no changes atop the leaderboard though three players made it into the top 44 or climbed the ladder after improving their previous high scores. Those three were Bob Belmont of Clearwater, Fla., Mike Scroggins (left) of Amarillo, Texas, Scott Norton (right) of Costa Mesa, Calif.
USBC Masters champion Mike Fagan leads field of 97 players with 1503; cut for 44th place is now 1316 (219.33)
Former Asian ranking champion Wu Siu Hong (pictured) of Hong Kong, China, led the 11th qualifying squad in the World Bowling Tour's WTBA International Open Wednesday night in Ls Vegas with 1418 and an average of 236.33 for six games to move into 13th place in the overall qualifying standings. Another two players of Squad 11, Kurt Pilon of Warren, Mich., and Lonnie Waliczek of Wichite, Kan., moved into the top 44. USBC Masters champion Mike Fagan of Grapevine, Texas, held on to the lead with 1503.
Six players move into the top 10 from Squad 9 and 10; cut for 44th place is 1309 (218.17)
Mike Fagan (l.) of Grapevine, Texas, who won the USBC Masters last Sunday here at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas became the first player in the WTBA International Open Wednesday who cracked the 1500-bar. The three-time PBA champion had games of 240, 255, 279, 236, 258 and 235 for 1503 total to overtake previous leader, PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber (r.) of St Ann, Mo., by 53 pins.
For first time in bowling history, players will compete for PBA titles on first true global professional bowling tour
The Professional Bowlers Association and the World Tenpin Bowling Association Wednesday announced an historic agreement that will result in the first true global professional bowling tour. The alliance will allow international and domestic PBA members who compete in World Bowling Tour events to earn PBA Tour titles in WBT events and to bowl in PBA Tour events in the United States.
A recent study by TSE Consulting has shown that the World Bowling Championships is capable of generating one of the highest return of investment in tourism value for a host city organizing a World Championship event. On average the event generates one of the highest return in tourism income compared to other World Championship events. The only sport that eclipsed Bowling in this respect was Triathlon according to a study that was conducted on a selection of World Championship events for a leading sports city.
Johnathan Bower rolls first 300 game of the tournament; cut for 44th place moves up from 1199 to 1290
PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber (l.) of St Ann, Mo., led the eighth qualifying squad in the WTBA International Open Tuesday afternoon at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas and is automatically qualified for the finals on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, starting at Noon Pacific (3 p.m. EST / p.m. CET). "PDW", who ranks third all-time with 35 career PBA Tour titles including eight major titles, struck out in the tenth frame of the last game to overtake previous qualifying leader, Mika Koivuniemi of Finland by two pins.
Both players advance to the finals; Koivuniemi holds on to the qualifying lead; cut for 44th place is currently 1199
Bill O'Neill (l.) of Levittown, Pa., and Shannon Pluhowsky (r.) of Dayton, Ohio, both totaled 1421 for six games to share the lead in qualifying squad 7 Tuesday morning at the WTBA International Open. Both players will advance to the finals on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, starting at Noon Pacific. at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas. Qualifying continues on Tuesday, Jan. 31, with Squad 8 scheduled for 1.30 p.m.
PBA stars Koivuniemi, Rash bowl two games with eight Nevada Special Olympic athletes
In conjunction with the WTBA International Open at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev., the World Tenpin Bowling Association, tenpin bowling's governing body, held its first WTBA / Special Olympics event on Monday afternoon, Jan. 30. The event, which is part of the WTBA agreement with Special Olympics, featured PBA stars Mika Koivuniemi and Sean Rash and eight Nevada Special Olympic athletes. WTBA President Kevin Dornberger emceed the event.
Monday afternoon squad features eight PBA champions and one PWBA champion
The sixth qualifying squad in the WTBA International Open Monday afternoon featured eight PBA champions and one PWBA champion but it was Martin Larsen (pictured left) of Sweden who topped the squad to book his spot for Sunday's finals at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. After a slow start on the WTBA Atlanta oil conditioning pattern, the three-time world champion fired four consecutive games over 240 to win the squad with 1379 total and an average of 229.83 over six games.
Mika Koivuniemi holds on to lead qualifying with 1448 total
Former PBA champion Dave Wodka (pictured) led Monday's qualifying squad 5 en route to earn berth into the finals of the WTBA International Open which will start on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5 at Noon Pacific.
Wodka, who lives in Henderson, Nev. where the host Strike Zone Bowling Center is located inside Sunset Station Hotel and Casino, had games of 220, 209, 278, 224, 245 and 177 on the WTBA Atlanta pattern for 1353 six-game total and an average of 225.50. Mika Koivuniemi of Finland remained in the lead with 1448.
Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Henderson, Nev., USA (Jan. 28 - Feb. 5, 2012)
Reigning PBA Player of the Year and current World Bowling Tour men's point ranking leader Mika Koivuniemi (pictured) of Finland took the early lead in the WTBA International Open at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. Koivuniemi had a 1448 six-game total on the WTBA Atlanta oil conditioning pattern to lead a field of 25 players after four qualifying squads with an average of 241.33. The International Open is the third stop of the 2012 World Bowling Tour and offers total prize fund of $100,000.
Players with country, ranking points earned in 2012 and 2011, ranking point total and number of top 50 finishes
The World Bowling Tour is heading into its second season featuring 14 events in 10 countries - five in the United States and one each in Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Finland, France, Japan, Korea, Kuwait and Thailand. The top 50 men and the top 50 women earn points based on how they finish in each event. The current points system is based on a continuous two-year cycle (2011-12). The top 3 men and top 3 women in the WBT rankings will qualify for the World Bowling Tour finals at the end of 2012.
Players with country, ranking points earned in 2012 and 2011, ranking point total and number of top 50 finishes
The World Bowling Tour is heading into its second season featuring 14 events in 10 countries - five in the United States and one each in Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Finland, France, Japan, Korea, Kuwait and Thailand. The top 50 men and the top 50 women earn points based on how they finish in each event. The current points system is based on a continuous two-year cycle (2011-12). The top 3 men and top 3 women in the WBT rankings will qualify for the World Bowling Tour finals at the end of 2012.
Claims his first PBA "major" title and the $50,000 top prize
Mike Fagan (pictured left with the trophy) of Dallas, seeded second, took revenge for the loss of the winners bracket finals defeating top seeded Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, 246-213, to win the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Masters and the $50,000 top prize. It was the third career PBA title for Fagan and his first major. With the victory in the TV finals at Sunset Station's Strike Zone bowling Center in Las Vegas, Fagan denied Barnes' bid to become the third Grand Slam winner in PBA history.
Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Henderson, Nev., USA (Jan. 28 - Feb. 5, 2012)
The WTBA International Open kicked off this morning at 9 a.m. at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. The International Open, the third stop of the 2012 World Bowling Tour, is held concurrently with the USBC Masters and the International Mini, which will start later today.
Only two players, J. C. Zuniga of Tulsa, Okla., and Adam Barta of Girard, Ohio, cracked the top 43 at the WTBA International Open in Friday evening's Squad 17 at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. Three-time PBA champions Eugene McCune (l.) of Munster, Ind. and Mike Fagan (r.) of Grapevine, Texas, held on to lead the field of 124 players - 116 men and eight women - with 1505 and 1503 pinfall total, respectively.
Russian international Nikita Koshelev (l.) led the 16th out of 19 qualifying squads in the WTBA International Open Friday afternoon at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. With his 1354 six-game total, Koshelev is currently tied for the 43rd and last place to advance to the finals slated for Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, starting at Noon Pacific with Josh Blanchard of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and PBA champion Andres Gomez (r.) of Colombia.
PBA exempt player Ronnie Russell (pictured) of Marion, Ind., bowled in his own class in the 14th qualifying squad of the WTBA International Open Thursday evening at Sunset Station in Las Vegas. The three-time PBA Regional champion rolled games of 223, 234, 235, 209, 268 and 215 for 1384 total, an average of 230.67, to jump into a tie for 22nd place with PBA Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla. Mike Fagan of Grapevine, Texas, leads
the field of 109 players since Squad 10 with 1503. 
Jason Sterner of McDonough, Ga., started the 13th qualifying squad of the WTBA International Open Thursday afternoon at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas with the second 300 game of the tournament en route to become the 16th player in the tournament's 1400-club. The 2007-08 PBA South Region Player of the Year totaled 1406 pins to lead the squad and to overtake 15th place in qualifying. Another six players of Squad 13 positioned themselves in the top 44. 
Just nine players took the lanes at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas to compete in the 12th of 198 qualifying squads in the WTBA International Open. There were no changes atop the leaderboard though three players made it into the top 44 or climbed the ladder after improving their previous high scores. Those three were Bob Belmont of Clearwater, Fla., Mike Scroggins (left) of Amarillo, Texas, Scott Norton (right) of Costa Mesa, Calif.
Former Asian ranking champion Wu Siu Hong (pictured) of Hong Kong, China, led the 11th qualifying squad in the World Bowling Tour's WTBA International Open Wednesday night in Ls Vegas with 1418 and an average of 236.33 for six games to move into 13th place in the overall qualifying standings. Another two players of Squad 11, Kurt Pilon of Warren, Mich., and Lonnie Waliczek of Wichite, Kan., moved into the top 44. USBC Masters champion Mike Fagan of Grapevine, Texas, held on to the lead with 1503.
Mike Fagan (l.) of Grapevine, Texas, who won the USBC Masters last Sunday here at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas became the first player in the WTBA International Open Wednesday who cracked the 1500-bar. The three-time PBA champion had games of 240, 255, 279, 236, 258 and 235 for 1503 total to overtake previous leader, PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber (r.) of St Ann, Mo., by 53 pins.
The Professional Bowlers Association and the World Tenpin Bowling Association Wednesday announced an historic agreement that will result in the first true global professional bowling tour. The alliance will allow international and domestic PBA members who compete in World Bowling Tour events to earn PBA Tour titles in WBT events and to bowl in PBA Tour events in the United States.
PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber (l.) of St Ann, Mo., led the eighth qualifying squad in the WTBA International Open Tuesday afternoon at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas and is automatically qualified for the finals on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, starting at Noon Pacific (3 p.m. EST / p.m. CET). "PDW", who ranks third all-time with 35 career PBA Tour titles including eight major titles, struck out in the tenth frame of the last game to overtake previous qualifying leader, Mika Koivuniemi of Finland by two pins.
Bill O'Neill (l.) of Levittown, Pa., and Shannon Pluhowsky (r.) of Dayton, Ohio, both totaled 1421 for six games to share the lead in qualifying squad 7 Tuesday morning at the WTBA International Open. Both players will advance to the finals on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, starting at Noon Pacific. at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas. Qualifying continues on Tuesday, Jan. 31, with Squad 8 scheduled for 1.30 p.m. 
The sixth qualifying squad in the WTBA International Open Monday afternoon featured eight PBA champions and one PWBA champion but it was Martin Larsen (pictured left) of Sweden who topped the squad to book his spot for Sunday's finals at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. After a slow start on the WTBA Atlanta oil conditioning pattern, the three-time world champion fired four consecutive games over 240 to win the squad with 1379 total and an average of 229.83 over six games.
Former PBA champion Dave Wodka (pictured) led Monday's qualifying squad 5 en route to earn berth into the finals of the WTBA International Open which will start on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5 at Noon Pacific.
Wodka, who lives in Henderson, Nev. where the host Strike Zone Bowling Center is located inside Sunset Station Hotel and Casino, had games of 220, 209, 278, 224, 245 and 177 on the WTBA Atlanta pattern for 1353 six-game total and an average of 225.50. Mika Koivuniemi of Finland remained in the lead with 1448.
Reigning PBA Player of the Year and current World Bowling Tour men's point ranking leader Mika Koivuniemi (pictured) of Finland took the early lead in the WTBA International Open at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. Koivuniemi had a 1448 six-game total on the WTBA Atlanta oil conditioning pattern to lead a field of 25 players after four qualifying squads with an average of 241.33. The International Open is the third stop of the 2012 World Bowling Tour and offers total prize fund of $100,000. 
The World Bowling Tour is heading into its second season featuring 14 events in 10 countries - five in the United States and one each in Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Finland, France, Japan, Korea, Kuwait and Thailand. The top 50 men and the top 50 women earn points based on how they finish in each event. The current points system is based on a continuous two-year cycle (2011-12). The top 3 men and top 3 women in the WBT rankings will qualify for the World Bowling Tour finals at the end of 2012.
The WTBA International Open kicked off this morning at 9 a.m. at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas. The International Open, the third stop of the 2012 World Bowling Tour, is held concurrently with the USBC Masters and the International Mini, which will start later today.