Four Denny’s PBA Tour Players Receive Injury Deferments

Jeff Carter, Jason Couch, Patrick Healey Jr., Tony Reyes defer exemptions until 2008-09

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) announced today Jeff Carter, Jason Couch, Patrick Healey Jr. and Tony Reyes have each been granted injury deferments of their 2007-08 Denny’s PBA Tour exemptions by PBA Commissioner and CEO Fred Schreyer until the 2008-09 season.
The four spots will go back to the weekly Denny’s PBA Tour Qualifying Rounds meaning at least nine PBA members will earn a spot in each standard event for the remainder of the 2007-08 season through the TQR. Normally, four PBA members and one amateur advance each week, but exempt player Tim Criss recently announced his retirement and the four injury deferments mean five additional spots will go to the qualifying round.
Carter, who earned his second career exemption after finishing 26th in the 2006-07 PBA World Point Rankings, competed in four events this season before filing for deferment due to surgery on his right hand. The 38-year-old from Springfield, Ill., had a career-season in 2006-07, advancing to two championship rounds and finishing third in the 64th U.S. Open.
Couch, a 15-time titlist, was also coming off a strong season in which he won two titles for the second consecutive season. The lefty from Clermont, Fla., did not compete in any events this season as he is still recovering from off-season knee surgery.
Healey, a three-time titlist, also did not compete in any events this season due to an illness which forced him to defer his exemption. Reyes, meanwhile, deferred his exemption due to a quadriceps injury. The San Bruno, Calif., native had a career-season in 2006-07 as well, winning his first career title and becoming the 17th bowler in history to shoot 300 on national TV.
The Denny’s PBA Tour is in the midst of a two-week break for the holidays before returning with the 2008 ConstructionJobs.com Championship, Jan. 2-6 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. The event starts with the Denny’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round on Wednesday, Jan. 2 where 11 PBA members will earn a spot in Thursday’s Round of 64 as exempt bowlers Wes Malott and Pete Weber have withdrawn. The live ESPN-televised finals take place Sunday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. ET.