Saturday, September 16, 2017

RAILRIDERS SEASON ENDS, 6-4

RailRiders Come Up Short in Repeat Bid
RailRiders’ Season Ends with Loss to Durham


Moosic, Pa. – As they did all season, the SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/ New York Yankees) fought to the bitter end on Friday night at PNC Field, but fell short, 6-4, against the Durham Bulls in Game Four of the International League Governors’ Cup Championship Series. The Bulls (3-1) claim their second title in five seasons. The RailRiders (1-3) closed out another memorable campaign.

Starter Brady Lail (0-1) hurled three scoreless frames before running into trouble in the fourth. Trailing 1-0, Durham’s Daniel Robertson drove in two with a bases-loaded single to right and a third run came home on an error. The Bulls added on another run with consecutive doubles in by Kean Wong and Willy Adames.
 
The Bulls used five relievers behind starter Burch Smith. Hunter Wood (1-0) took home the victory, retiring the only batter he faced. Diego Castillo notched the final five outs for the save.
 
Jonathan Diaz reached bases four times for SWB. He singled to left in the third and scored on a hit to right by Miguel Andujar for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Bulls scored six in a row, including a two-run homer by Robertson, before the RailRiders mounted one last charge. Mike Ford doubled for the second time in the game and scored on a grounder by Jake Cave in the sixth. Kyle Higashioka worked a bases-loaded walk to force in a run in the seventh. Diaz walked and crossed home as the game’s final run in the eighth thanks to a throwing error by Robertson.
 
Durham’s Jake Bauers was named Most Valuable Player after hitting .412 (7-for-17) with two doubles, two RBIs, and three runs scored.
 
The RailRiders host the 2017 Gildan Triple-A National Championship on Tuesday, September 19 at 7:07 p.m. The Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays) will face either the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals) or El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres) out of the Pacific Coast League. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

Friday, September 15, 2017

RAILRIDERS FALL TO DURHAM IN GAME 3

RailRiders Fall to Durham in Game Three
Cooper, Solano Tally Multi-Hit Efforts


Moosic, Pa. – The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/ New York Yankees) could not overcome an early deficit and dropped Game Three of the International League Governors’ Cup Championship Series to the Durham Bulls 6-2 on Thursday night at PNC Field. The RailRiders (1-2) must win the next two games against the Bulls (2-1) to capture their second straight Cup.

Chance Adams (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits across four innings. He issued three walks and struck out six. Brent Honeywell (1-0) struck out 10 over six scoreless frames, yielding five hits and a walk.
 
The Bulls grabbed a 2-0 lead on a home run to center field by Shane Peterson in the second inning. From there, they plated another run in the fourth and built a 6-0 lead with three in the seventh.
 
SWB came back with two runs in the home half of the seventh thanks to a double by Mason Williams and a productive groundout by Donovan Solano.
 
Solano finished with two hits. Garrett Cooper and Jonathan Diaz also came away with two hits.
 
Game Four of the GCSS at PNC Field is set for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch on Friday, September 15. The RailRiders are expected to start right-hander Brady Lail (6-5, 5.17). Right-hander Burch Smith (2-1, 1.65) will throw for the Bulls. SWB will host the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game on Tuesday, Sept. 19. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

PBA SPARE SHOTS

PBA Spare Shots

GEICO PBA WORLD SERIES OF BOWLING IX CLOSING IN ON INTERNATIONAL RECORD
With the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling IX, presented by Eldorado Reno Properties, less than two months away, the early entry list is closing in on the WSOB record for international representation with PBA members from 19 countries already on the roster, just four shy of the record set last year in Reno.

More than 120 entries are already on file from bowlers representing Australia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Norway, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and Venezuela as well as the United States.

Ramon Hilferink will be the first bowler from The Netherlands to bowl in the World Series.

WSOB IX will begin on Nov. 7 and conclude with a series of finals Nov. 18-19 for delayed telecast on ESPN (all of the finals will be live-streamed on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app). The World Series, open exclusively to PBA members, will include the PBA Cheetah, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark animal pattern events, all leading into the PBA World Championship. The multi-event program also will include a USA vs. The World team match featuring the five top U.S. and five top international qualifiers based on composite scores from the four animal pattern events, and the 2017 World Bowling Tour Men’s and Women’s Finals, presented by the PBA, which will feature the three leaders in competition points from a global series of tournaments in each gender division.

PBA Regional Challenge and PBA50 Tour Challenge events will kick off the World Series on Nov. 7, and will be covered exclusively by Xtra Frame, PBA’s online video streaming channel, which also will provide live coverage of all preliminary rounds of WSOB competition.

All PBA members are reminded that a lodging confirmation from one of Eldorado Reno Properties (Silver Legacy, Eldorado or Circus Circus) is required at the time of entry. Special World Series room rates also are available to fans, and news media and bowling industry representatives. To make room reservations, use one of the following links:

Silver Legacy: Room rates: $50 Sunday–Thursday, $70 Friday & Saturday. Silver Legacy code ISPBA17. Reservations phone number: 800-687-8733. Online reservations:  https://silverlegacyreno.reztrip.com/ext/promoRate?property=1080&mode=b&pm=true&sr=242404&vr=3&accessCode=ISPBA17

Eldorado: Room rates $50 Sunday–Thursday; $80 Friday & Saturday. Eldorado code IEPBA17. Reservations phone number: 800-879-8879. Online reservations: https://eldoradoreno.reztrip.com/ext/promoRate?property=1079&mode=b&pm=true&sr=242406&vr=3&accessCode=IEPBA17

Circus Circus: Room rates: $38 Sunday–Thursday; $60 Friday & Saturday. Circus Circus code ICPBA17. Reservations phone number: 800-648-5010. Online reservations: https://circusreno.reztrip.com/ext/promoRate?property=1081&mode=b&pm=true&sr=242416&vr=3&accessCode=ICPBA17

Once a room reservation is made, PBA members can enter the World Series online (https://secure.pba.com/Store/catalog/world-series-of-bowling,25.htm). 

XTRA FRAME’S NEWEST “PBA PLAYER PERSPECTIVE” FEATURES ANTHONY SIMONSEN
Anthony Simonsen’s historic victory in the 2016 USBC Masters at age 19 is the newest “PBA Player Perspective” feature on PBA’s Xtra Frame online video streaming channel. In the exclusive Xtra Frame feature that debuted on Wednesday, Simonsen shares his insight on becoming the youngest player in history to win a PBA Tour major title in his victory over Canada’s Dan MacLelland in the 2016 Masters from Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis.

A new PBA Player Perspective is being unveiled every other week, exclusively available to Xtra Frame subscribers along with hundreds of hours of additional content, including PBA tournament archives, interviews, bowling instruction, discussions about bowling equipment and more. To sign up for an Xtra Frame subscription, visit xtraframe.tv.

PBA REGIONAL UPDATE: RAY EDWARDS WINS A THRILLER IN SCHENECTADY
Ray Edwards of Middle Island, N.Y. rolled three clutch strikes in the 10th frame to achieve a 279 tie in the final match against Rick Graham of Lancaster, Pa., preserving his 12-pin lead and earning his 23rd PBA Regional title in the PBA50 Towne Bowling Academy Open in Schenectady, N.Y., Sunday. 

Edwards entered the position round finale with a 12-pin lead over Graham. With the 30 bonus pins awarded to the match winner, whoever won the match won the title. Both players started with six strikes before Graham left a 10 pin. Edwards posted a seventh strike before leaving a 4 pin.

Graham, who finished first, struck out to force Edwards to match his effort and split the 30 bonus pins, which he did to finish with an eight-game total of 2,054 pins. The reigning East Region PBA50 Player of the Year won his second title of the season, making him the leading candidate to retain his PBA50 POY title and earn his fifth overall East Region POY award. He also took home the $1,500 first prize.

Graham, who turned 50 in August, won $850 as the runner-up. Harry Sullins of Chesterfield Township, Mich., who rolled the only 300 game of the event, trailed Edwards by only 30 pins going into the position round game, but could not overcome the 279-279 match between the two leaders. He finished third and earned $800.

Former University of Kansas star Dylan Burns from Lawrence, Kan., defeated 17-year old Trey Ford III of Bartlesville, Okla., 205-167, to win the fourth annual PBA Grand Casino Resort & Hotel Southwest Invitational at FireLake Bowling Center in Shawnee, Okla., Sunday.

Burns, who won the 2014 PBA Lakewood Southwest Open as an amateur, earned his first PBA Regional title by avoiding open frames to topple the Oklahoma teenager to claim the $4,000 winner’s check.

After 12 games of qualifying, both Burns and Ford had long roads to the final match. Neither earned any byes in the elimination finals as Burns qualified 11th and Ford slipped into the finals with a 257 in his final game to grab the last spot in the 16-man finals. Burns started his road to victory by edging Brett Cooper of Fort Worth, Texas, 2-1 in the best-of-three-game Round of 16. He then defeated Anthony Lavery-Spahr of Pasadena, Texas; Sean Lavery-Spahr, also of Pasadena, and Mike Bailey from Irving, Texas, in his ensuing single-elimination matches.
       
Ford, who began bowling in PBA competition as a 13-year-old amateur, advanced to the finals with elimination match wins over Andy Patterson of Tyler, Texas; Beau Peterson from Newton, Kan.; fellow two-hander Shawn Maldonado of Houston, and Devin Bidwell of Wichita, Kan., before Burns ended his bid for his first PBA title. Ford, who joined the PBA in 2016 at age 16, earned $2,500 for second place.

As part of the tournament weekend, Dallas native Chris Warren of Grants Pass, Ore., and South Plains Lanes general manager/proprietor Jimmy (Jimbo) Evans of Lubbock, Texas, were inducted into the PBA Southwest Region Hall of Fame.

Chris Loschetter of Avon, Ohio defeated Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y. by 130 pins to win the PBA Autism Awareness Central Open presented by K&R Mower Derby at Astro Lanes in Wapakoneta, Ohio, Sunday.

Loschetter finished with a 10-2 match play record and a total of 5,120 pins for 20 games, including match play bonus pins, to win the $3,300 first place prize and his 14th PBA Regional title.

Amateur Russ Oviatt defeated Jakob Butturff, 250-239, in a battle of Tempe, Ariz., bowlers to win the PBA West Aquimo Open presented by Columbia 300 at Mesa East Bowl in Mesa, Ariz., Sunday.

Oviatt, who earned $2,500 for his win, does not receive credit as a regional champion because he isn’t a PBA member. He defeated Josh Blanchard of Mesa, 212-187, to set up the title match after Blanchard eliminated Ronnie Russell of Marion, Ind., 184-156, in the opening match of the stepladder finals.

Nick Kruml of Downers Grove, Ill., defeated Mitch Beasley of Clarksville, Tenn., 245-147, to win the PBA Diamond Jo Midwest Open at Cherry Lanes Sunday in Dubuque, Iowa. Kruml, a PBA rookie, won his first PBA title along with the $1,800 first prize.

Beasley defeated amateur Collin Smith of Huron, S.D., 210-204, to advance to the championship match. In the first stepladder match, Beasley edged another amateur, Bryan Hahlen of Greenwood, S.C., 235-171.

In the PBA-PWBA segment of the tournament, Jodi Gawlik of Schaumburg posted an eight-game total of 1,697 pins to defeat Nichole DePaul-Miller of Plano, Ill., by 98 pins for the $1,200 first prize.
 
● September 15-17 PBA Regional events will include the PBA Rex & Griffin Bigelow Memorial/M&D Blacktop/BW3’s Central Open presented by Hammer at Troy Bowl in Troy, Ohio; the PBA Century Lanes Hampton South Open in Hampton, Va., and the PBA and PBA50 Ken & Kathy Fowler Auto Centers West/Northwest Opens doubleheader at Yokayo Bowling Center in Ukiah, Calif.
 
● The PBA Regional calendar for the Sept. 22-24 weekend includes the PBA/PBA50 Millsboro Lanes Doubles in Millsboro, Del.; the Florence Bowling Center Central Open in Florence, Ky.; the PBA50 Rocky Mount South Open at Rocky Mount (Va.) Bowling Center; the Liberal Kansas Southwest Open at Ayr Lanes; the PBA and PBA50 Mockingbird Lanes doubleheader in Omaha, Neb., and the PBA West/Northwest TSI Inc. Open presented by Onsite Express at Paradise Lanes in Tacoma, Wash.

● The PBA Regional schedule for the Sept. 29-Oct. 1 weekend includes the PBA50 Mel Westrich Memorial Central/Midwest Open at Delphos Recreation in Delphos, Ohio; the PBA50 Spartanburg South Open at Paradise Lanes in Spartanburg, S.C., and the Killeen Southwest Open at Hallmark Lanes in Killeen, Texas.

● For complete PBA Regional schedules, rules and entry information, visit pba.com, open the “schedules” tab and click on PBA Regional Tours to find the event(s) in your area…and remember, you can follow “live scoring” for all PBA Regional events on pba. com (easily accessible for Apple device users using the new PBA app).

QUICK NOTES
Ebonite International has named PBA Tour titlist Dave Wodka as the company's new Global Marketing Manager. Wodka, who owns one PBA Tour and 21 PBA Regional titles, will work closely with the EBI team to drive the company’s brands worldwide.

● As a tribute to his grandfather, PBA member Andy Varipapa II of Brookeville, Md., has created a comprehensive  website (www.andyvaripapa.com) that chronicles the life of the legendary showman and trick shot artist from the 1930s until his death in 1984 at age 93. Although Varipapa was 68 when the PBA was founded, his passion for the organization and the sport is clearly outlined in his grandson’s extensive collection of articles, photos, testimonials and more. A lengthy interview with Varipapa II, conducted during the 2016 PBA Xtra Frame Gene Carter’s Pro Shop Classic is included in PBA’s Xtra Frame archives.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

RAILRIDERS TIE SERIES

The RailRiders Blank Back
SWB Deadlocks Governors’ Cup Finals, 1-1

Durham, N.C. – One night after suffering a shutout defeat, the SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) flipped the script on the host Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays) on Wednesday night, taking Game 2 of the Governors’ Cup Finals, 4-0. Domingo German, Anyelo Gomez and Nick Rumbelow combined on the two-hit blanking, tying the best-of-five series, 1-1.

German (1-0) fired seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball, whiffing eight and walking three. He retired the final seven men he faced en route to the win.

SWB posted single scores in the first, seventh, eighth and ninth innings. Garrett Cooper singled Donovan Solano home in the opening frame. Solano’s single plated Mark Payton for a 2-0 margin in the seventh. A throwing error by third baseman Daniel Robertson allowed Cooper to scamper home in the eighth and Miguel Andujar singled Mason Williams home in the final frame.

Gomez worked around a one-out infield hit by striking out Justin O’Conner and Johnny Field in succession in the eighth. Rumbelow, who allowed runs in just one of his 17 regular-season appearances with the RailRiders, enjoyed redemption against the lone team to tag him with a score. He bookended strikeouts around a Jake Bauers two-out double to cement the series-tying victory.

Durham starter Yonny Chirinos (0-1) took the loss. He gave up one run on three hits and two walks over five frames. He struck out one and hit a batter on 63 pitches (41 strikes).

The best-of-five Governors’ Cup Finals shift to the RailRiders’ PNC Field with Game 3 on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 6:35 p.m. SWB is expected to start Chance Adams against fellow right-hander Brent Honeywell.  Playoff tickets are on sale now. For tickets or more information, please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com. The RailRiders’ PNC Field will also host the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 7:07 p.m.

OFF THE RAILS:
The RailRiders did not allow a run on the road during last year’s run to the IL’s Governors’ Cup crown. With their efforts on Wednesday night, the staff has posted shutouts in five of its last six road playoff games.

Including the regular season, Domingo German has fired 20 scoreless innings over three starts against the Bulls this season.

A pair of Major League rehabbers hurled in relief for the Bulls. Former New York Yankee Nathan Eovaldi gave up two hits in a scoreless sixth. Xavier Cedeno surrendered a score on two hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning thereafter.

The RailRiders will host Game 3 and Game 4, along with the if-necessary Game 5, at PNC Field. The winner of the series will represent the IL against the PCL champion in Tuesday’s Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game, also in Moosic at PNC Field. The RailRiders posted the IL’s second-best home record on the regular season at 44-26.

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (Best of Five)
G1 Tue. Sept. 12 at Durham – DUR 6, SWB 0
G2 Wed. Sept. 13 at Durham 6:35 p.m. – SWB 4, DUR 0
G3 Thu. Sept. 14 vs. Durham 6:35p         
G4 Fri. Sept. 15 vs. Durham 6:35p         
*G5 Sat. Sept. 16 vs. Durham 4:05p       
*-If Necessary

GILDAN TRIPLE-A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (PNC Field – Moosic, Pa.)
NCG Tue. Sept. 19 7:07p (IL Champion vs. PCL Champion)

PONIES ANNOUNCE 2018 SCHEDULE

Rumble Ponies Announce 2018 Schedule
BINGHAMTON, NY – With their inaugural season in the books, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies are proud to unveil their schedule for the 2018 season. The Rumble Ponies are set to kick off their second season at NYSEG Stadium with their home opener on April 5, 2018 against the Portland Sea Dogs.
There will be eleven weekends of pro baseball in the Southern Tier, including eight from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The team will be home for three major summer holidays including Memorial Day (May 28), Independence Day (July 4) and Labor Day (September 2).
Home games from Monday through Thursday will be scheduled to start at 6:35 PM throughout the season with the following exceptions: May 24 & June 14 (Baseball in Education Days), May 28 (Memorial Day), July 18 (Super Splash Day) and September 3 (Labor Day). Friday games throughout the year will start at 7:05 PM.
In a change for the 2018 season, Saturday contests from May 26 onward will begin at 6:05 PM. The first three Saturday games are slated for 3:05 PM starts. Aside from 6:35 PM first pitches on May 27 and September 2, Sunday home games will commence at 2:05 PM.
Rumble Club Memberships, which include tickets to the entire 70-game home schedule for the 2018 campaign, are available for purchase at the Rumble Ponies Starting Gate Box Office, over the phone at (607) 722-FUNN or online at www.BINGRP.com.

RAILRIDERS LOSE FINALS OPENER

Bulls Take Finals Opener
Mason Williams Posts Two Hits

Durham, N.C. – The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) fell behind early and dropped Game 1 of the Governors’ Cup Finals to the host Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays) on Tuesday night, 6-0. Three Durham hurlers combined to face just two over the minimum, twirling a three-hitter.

The RailRiders’ best scoring chances came at the game’s start with back-to-back game-opening hits from Mason Williams and Donovan Solano. Thereafter, Billy McKinney struck out swinging and Miguel Andujar bounced into an inning-ending double play.

In the home half of the first, four consecutive one-out singles, two on the infield, a Ronald Herrera (0-1) wild pitch, and a run-scoring groundout put Durham on top, 3-0. Patrick Leonard and Shane Peterson each registered an RBI in the frame. In the second, Justin Williams doubled Herrera’s first pitch of the inning into the left-field corner and later scored on a two-out base hit by Kean Wong for a 4-0 margin.

The RailRiders would place just two other men on base all night. Garrett Cooper reached via a two-out bruise in the second and Mason Williams registered an infield single in the sixth before he was caught stealing.

Durham tacked on two insurance scores with Mike McHenry’s two-out single in the sixth.

The win went to Bulls starter Ryan Yarbrough (1-0). He fired seven innings of three-hit ball, whiffing four. Mike Broadway and Jeff Ames each recorded a perfect inning thereafter.

The best-of-five Governors’ Cup Finals continue at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. SWB’s Domingo German is slated to face fellow right-hander, Yonny Chirinos.

The RailRiders’ first home game of the finals will be on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 6:35 p.m. and playoff tickets are on sale now. For tickets or more information, please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com. The RailRiders’ PNC Field will also host the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 7:07 p.m.

OFF THE RAILS:
Tuesday marked the SWB franchise’s first shutout loss in postseason play since Sept. 10, 2010 when the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians) blanked the then-SWB Yankees, 1-0. That loss came in Game 3 of the first-round set. The Clippers would claim Game 4 the next day, 11-5, and went on to take the Governors’ Cup. Columbus beat Durham in that year’s finals in four games, outscoring the Bulls, 38-9, including a 13-2 clincher in Game 4.

Durham pitching retired the last 10 in a row to end the game.

The RailRiders went 0-for-2 with men in scoring position, both in the first inning. Durham finished 4-for-15 with men in prime real estate.

Mason Williams went 2-for-4 and Donovan Solano finished 1-for-4. The rest of the lineup went 0-for-20.

The Durham pitching staff did not issue a walk on Tuesday night.

Domingo German started a team shutout win at Durham in the final regular-season meeting between the teams on Aug. 20. He struck out nine over seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball that Sunday afternoon in Moosic.

The Bulls co-led the IL in shutout wins on the regular season with Pawtucket. Each team recorded 18 blankings.

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (Best of Five)
G1 Tue. Sept. 12 at Durham – DUR 6, SWB 0
G2 Wed. Sept. 13 at Durham 6:35 p.m.
G3 Thu. Sept. 14 vs. Durham 6:35p         
*G4 Fri. Sept. 15 vs. Durham 6:35p         
*G5 Sat. Sept. 16 vs. Durham 4:05p       
*-If Necessary

GILDAN TRIPLE-A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (PNC Field – Moosic, Pa.)
NCG Tue. Sept. 19 7:07p (IL Champion vs. PCL Champion)

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

PBA'S 60TH ANN. CELEBRATION

PBA’s 60th Anniversary Celebration to Include 60 Most Memorable Moments
Great victories, historic disappointments, classic achievements to be featured during 2018 season

CHICAGO (Sept. 12, 2017) – The Professional Bowlers Association is making plans for a festive anniversary season in 2018, 60 years after a group of 33 of the most famous bowlers in a bygone era met with Akron, Ohio, lawyer Eddie Elias and agreed to support a new professional bowling organization.

As the PBA prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary with a variety of special tributes, including a new Go Bowling! PBA 60th Anniversary Classic tournament, a 60th Anniversary celebration dinner, the highlight of the 2018 season will be the unveiling of the “60 Most Memorable Moments in PBA History” as a part of the PBA’s ESPN television schedule beginning on Feb. 4 and concluding on May 13, 2018.

In preparation for the anniversary season, a panel of PBA historians, veteran bowling writers and long-time PBA Tour competitors are reviewing a list of more than 100 of the PBA’s most memorable victories, defeats, triumphs and disappointments, record-setting achievements and headline news stories to come up with a list of the top 60 moments.

The list is formidable, including such moments as:
            ● The inaugural meeting when the PBA was born;
            ● PBA’s first national telecast;
            ● Don Johnson’s historic 299 in the Tournament of Champions…and Jack Biondolillo’s first nationally-televised 300 game;
            ● Mark Roth’s unmatched season when he won eight PBA Tour titles;
            ● Venezuela’s Amleto Monacelli becoming PBA’s first international hall of famer;
            ● Earl Anthony breaking the million-dollar barrier in career earnings;
            ● Walter Ray Williams Jr. breaking Earl Anthony’s career titles record;
            ● Kelly Kulick becoming the first-and-only woman to win a PBA Tour title;
            ● Pete Weber winning the U.S. Open for the fifth time…

How would you rank these and more than 100 additional moments over a span of 60 years? That’s the task many of our sport’s most experienced observers have been asked to answer, and fans will be invited to make their selections as well.

There will be a special line of PBA 60th Anniversary merchandise, video highlights of PBA’s most memorable moments shared on PBA’s YouTube channel as well as Xtra Frame. The PBA 60th Anniversary Dinner and hall of fame ceremonies will air live on Xtra Frame, and components of the historical moments will be built into Concrete Software’s PBA Challenge Mobile Game, and more. A special logo has been created to also commemorate the special year in PBA history.

Other special features of the 2018 celebration planning in cooperation with the Go Bowling! PBA Tour in 2018 will be announced later. Throughout the season, the 60th Anniversary celebration will be featured on the PBA Network’s comprehensive mass media and social media outlets as well as on PBA’s exclusive online video streaming service, Xtra Frame (visit xtraframe.tv for subscription information).

To enlist in all PBA Network outlets, visit pba.com and click on the PBA Network link for easy access to sign up for PBA’s exclusive email list, links to PBA’s Facebook page (Professional Bowlers Association), YouTube channel (PBABowling), Twitter feeds (@PBATOUR) and Instagram (@pbatour).

RAILRIDERS IN FINALS

DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN: The SWB RailRiders splash into the 2017 finals after dispatching of the nearby rival Lehigh Valley IronPigs in four games. The RailRiders advanced to the 2016 finals after the franchise's first postseason sweep, a three-game broom cleaning of the IronPigs. SWB never trailed in that series and outscored the IronPigs, 20-3. This year's series victory came with the RailRiders outscoring the 'Pigs, 16-9, and holding the edge in home runs on the set, 4-1. RailRiders pitching held the IronPigs to a 5-for-32 (.156) showing with men in scoring position during the four-game series.
 
HOME AWAY FROM HOME: SWB pitching did not allow a run on the road during last season's Governors' Cup playoffs, a 36-inning span. The RailRiders held the IronPigs scoreless in both semifinal meetings at Coca-Cola Park and the IL South champ Gwinnett Braves failed to score in two GCCS clashes at Coolray Field as SWB earned its second title.
 
PLAYOFF HISTORY: SWB has made the Governors' Cup finals for the seventh time in franchise history (1992, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017). SWB has claimed the IL North 12 times in its lore, including eight division titles in 11 seasons as the Yankees' top affiliate. The SWB franchise's first Governors' Cup crown came in 2008. The then-SWB Yankees beat the Pawtucket Red Sox in four games and bested the Durham Bulls in four in the championship with a 20-2 win in clincher. However, those then-SWB Yankees lost to the Sacramento River Cats (then-Oakland Athletics) in the "Bricktown Showdown", 4-1. This marks SWB's first trip to back-to-back finals since the 2008-09 teams. Both times, SWB faced Durham for the right to hoist the Governors' Cup. As the Phillies' top farm club, the then-Red Barons also made consecutive finals appearances in 2000 and 2001.
SOL MAN: Donovan Solano ended the regular season with 13 hits in his last 32 at-bats (.406). He had 16 multi-hit showings over his last 38 games. In August, he slashed .361/.388/.557/.945 over 25 games with 10 doubles, three homers and 15 RBIs. During the first-round defeat of Lehigh Valley, Solano led the team in hits (7) and OBP (.526). Only Billy McKinney (5), who slugged a team-high two homers, had more RBIs than Solano (4).
 
I'M JUST A CAVE MAN: The IL's July Player of the Month, Jake Cave owned the IL's second-longest hitting streak of the season overall (19, .440, July 15-Aug. 4) and its longest at home (24, .429, June 19-Aug. 4). The MVP of last year's finals entered 2017 with 19 career round-trippers. He had 20 between Double-A Trenton (5) and SWB (15) this year, tying him with Mike Ford (20) for the lead on the Yankees' farm. His .305 overall batting average ranked second among Yankees minor leaguers this season.
 
CAN DO: Miguel Andujar had hitting streaks of 15 and 17 games since joining the Triple-A ranks this season. He hit safely in 38 of his last 44 to end the regular season. Over the 44-game span he slashed .337/.382/.541/.923 with nine doubles, a triple, eight homers and 25 RBIs. His 82 RBIs between Double-A and Triple-A ranked third on the Yankees' farm. His overall numbers also ranked among the farm's best in AVG (1st, .315) and HR (T-4th, 16). He hit .294 with four extra-base hits and three RBIs in the first round.
 
HIGH, FAR, GONE: The RailRiders boast seven players with double-digit homers this season. It marks the first time SWB has had seven or more 10+ homer hitters since the 2008 team had eight, paced by Cody Ransom's 22 big flies. The 2008 unit won the franchise's first-ever Governors' Cup title, beating Durham in four games in the finals including a 20-2 rout in the clincher. The SWB franchise record for homers in a season was set by the 1998 Red Barons with 164. The record as the Yankees' top affiliate (2007-Present) was set by the inaugural 2013 RailRiders at 133. This year's RailRiders obliterated that mark with a new Yankees-era record and 2017 league-high 153 homers.
 
PINSTRIPE PRIDE: Seven Yankees minor league affiliates, all four full-season clubs plus Short Season-A Staten Island (NYP), the Rookie Pulaski Yankees (APP) and the Rookie GCL Yankees East made their respective playoffs this season. The Yankees' top affiliate has won the IL's Governors' Cup 16 times, by far the most by affiliation.
 
OFF THE RAILS: The RailRiders posted the IL's best overall record at 86-55 (.610)...SWB's offense ranked among the IL's best in: R/G (1st, 4.7), AVG (1st, .272), OBP (1st, .334), SLG (1st, .442), OPS (1st, .775), 2B (T-2nd, 272), 3B (1st, 36), HR (1st, 153) and SB (6th, 93)...No IL team had led the league in R/G, AVG, OBP and SLG in the same season since the 2004 Buffalo Bisons (Cleveland Indians)...Those Bisons won a league-best 83 games and the Governors' Cup title...The 2016 RailRiders paced the league in R/G, AVG, SLG and OPS, but ranked 2nd in OBP...The 2015 RailRiders led the IL in R/G, AVG, OBP and OPS, but finished 4th in SLG...SWB pitching ranks among the 2017 IL's best in ERA (1st, 3.33), WHIP (1st, 1.19) and K/9IP (2nd, 9.2)...SWB had 10 walk-off wins including seven in extras...The club owned the IL's best record in one-run games (23-13, .639) and in extras (9-1)...No IL team had more wins when trailing after seven innings than the RailRiders (7)...SWB stood an IL-best 42-29 (.592) away from PNC Field...With 1,249 strikeouts, the 2017 RailRiders became the first team in franchise history to eclipse 1,200K...SWB had a losing record against just two foes during the regular season, its vanquished first-round opponent, Lehigh Valley (7-11), and its combatant in the finals, Durham (3-4).
 
SIMPLY THE BEST: Manager Al Pedrique was named IL Manager of the Year for the second straight year. He became the fourth IL skipper to earn the honor in consecutive years, joining Rick Sweet (Louisville), Jack Tighe (Toledo) and Eddie Haas (Richmond) as the only managers to win it back-to-back years. Sweet was the last to do it from 2008-09. Pedrique became the first SWB manager to win the award in consecutive seasons and joined Dave Miley as the only two to win it twice.
 
CATCH IT HERE: PNC Field will host the 2017 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game on Sept. 19 at 7:07 p.m. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com. The RailRiders claimed the franchise's second-ever Governors' Cup as IL champs and the team's first-ever Triple-A national title with a win over El Paso in 2016.

BETHEL WOODS FALL PDROGRAM

BETHEL WOODS KICKS OFF FALL PROGRAMMING IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION WEEK
Immersive Programs For Children, Teens, Families, And Life-Long Learners This Fall
 
BETHEL, NY (September 11, 2017) – According to Americans for the Arts, the arts are an essential part of a complete education, no matter if it happens in the home, school, or community. Students of all ages—from kindergarten to college to creative aging programs—benefit from artistic learning, innovative thinking, and creativity. Celebrating National Arts in Education Week is a way to recognize this impact and share the message with friends, family, and communities.

This fall, programs at Bethel Woods Center for the Art ensure all are inspired and empowered by the transformative power of the arts. Bethel Woods offers programs for children, families, teens and adults serving thousands of participants annually. These immersive, enriching and fun programs focus on inspiring creativity and thoughtfulness via entertaining and social experiences.

The WoodsTalk: Live series features artists and speakers who share their skills and knowledge with participants, while encouraging them to discover their own talents and voice.
  •  Media 101: Truth or Consensus, Survival Tools in the Age of Fake News
    Sunday, October 1 at 4:30pm, The Event Gallery
    This interactive roundtable will focus on the perplexing issue of factual reporting, the role of satire, and how to be an informed citizen featuring comedian, Trae Crowder, the “Liberal Redneck.”
     
  •  Art & Knowledge: Poetry & Power with Jeffrey Mc Daniel
    Friday, October 20 at 6:30pm, The Conservatory
    A poetry reading and writing workshop with Jeffrey McDaniel based off the ideas of The Museum and the ‘60s. McDaniel’s quirky and current writing is sure to please all participants, practiced poets or not.
     
  •  Art & Knowledge: 2-Day Comedy Workshop - Honing your Comically Counter-Cultural Voice
    Saturday and Sunday, November 4 & 5 at 10am, The Conservatory
    Mentor Louie Pearlman and participants will dive into comedy history, venture into the 1960’s to look for inspiration, explore basic improv and comedy writing techniques, and apply them to craft their own material.
School-based programming includes Explore the ’60s, a field trip program built around K-12 curriculum drawing on the content in The Museum and encouraging students to connect the ideals of the 60s to relevant issues today. E3: Engage. Experience. Explore. Brings professional performers into local classrooms for hands on workshops, as well as students to Bethel Woods. These programs ignite creativity and inspire children and their families through the arts.
  • October 23-28 – Story Pirates returns to local Elementary classrooms for fun, interactive story creating and telling.
     
  • October 16-21 – Soul Inscribed uses Hip Hop as a medium for Middle School students to express themselves through projection, dance, and spoken word.

    *Both programs culminate in FREE Saturday performances at Bethel Woods, open to the community.
PLAY: The Classics returns this year to the magnificent Event Gallery. Presented in collaboration with Shandelee Music Festival, the chamber music series offers an affordable, accessible opportunity for people of all ages to develop an appreciation for the classics. The series shines a spotlight on young emerging artists and chamber ensembles.
  • “An Evening of Chamber Music” with the Manhattan Chamber Players
    Thursday, September 14 at 8:00 pm, The Event Gallery
    The Manhattan Chamber Players is a chamber music collective of New York-based musicians who share the common aim of performing the greatest works in the chamber repertoire at the highest level.
     
  •  “Cabaret Night” with Borislav Strulev and Friends
    Thursday, September 28 at 8:00 pm, The Event Gallery
    Russian-American cellist Borislav Strulev quickly gained a reputation as a musician of exceptional temperament, charismatic personality and virtuoso technique.
     
  • “Electrifying Evening” with Grammy-nominated ZOFO
    Thursday, October 19 at 8:00 pm, The Event Gallery
    Since joining forces as a professional duo in 2009, internationally acclaimed solo pianists Eva-Maria Zimmermann and Keisuke Nakagoshi – ZOFO - have electrified audiences from Carnegie Hall to Tokyo Japan with their dazzling artistry and outside-the-box thematic programming for piano-four-hands.
Project: Identity, a free teen program, creates a safe, open environment for them to express themselves among peers and think creatively to make positive change in their communities.

Saturdays at the Woods returns Saturday, September 16 to nurture curiosity and creativity in toddlers through teens. Throughout the 12-week program kids explore self-expression and develop artistic skills.

The Harvest Festival and Flicks bring the community together for an old-fashioned good time, whether exploring the activities and markets at a festival, or enjoying a good film, both provide a break from the daily grind.
  • The Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods
    Sundays, September 3 to October 1 at 11:00am, Harvest Festival Field
    Free Admission, $3 Parking Fee, No Pets Allowed
    The Harvest Festival presents a unique blend of local farmers, artisans and crafters, live music, fresh food, special events, children's activities, and arts and humanities-based programming.
     
  • Monty Python and the Holy Grail
    Friday, September 15 at 7:00pm, The Museum Theater
    Rated PG - King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.
     
  • Hidden Figures
    Friday, October 13 at 7:00pm, The Museum Theater
    Rated PG - The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.
     
  • The Shining
    Friday, October 27 at 7:00PM, The Museum Theater
    Rated R - A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.
     
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas
    Sunday, October 29 at 2:00pm, The Museum Theater
    Rated PG - Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home cause confusion.
     
  • Home Alone
    Saturday, December 2 at 4:00pm, The Museum Theater
    Rated PG - An eight-year-old trouble-maker must protect his home from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation.
     
  • Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
    Sunday, December 3 at 4:00pm, The Museum Theater
    Rated PG - One year after Kevin was left home alone and had to defeat a pair of bumbling burglars, he accidentally finds himself in New York City, and the same criminals are not far behind.
In support of Bethel Woods ever growing arts and humanities-based programming, professional artists from across the region are invited to apply to become Teaching Artists. Bethel Woods continue to leverage local talent and passion through ongoing development of their successful Teaching Artist Program, tapping expertise within the community to help lead project-specific programming for all ages.
 For more information on upcoming offerings, available tuition assistance, to register, or purchase tickets please visit: www.bethelwoodscenter.org.

Funding for the 2017 arts, humanities, and museum education program and for PLAY: The Classics is provided by generous individuals, foundations and agencies including: The American Gift Fund, Tammy and Keith Anderson Foundation, Inc., John N. Blackman Sr. Foundation, AT&T, Annelise Gerry and Family, Robyn Gerry, Richard and Karen Goodman, the Guenther Family, Humanities New York, IBM, Joan Kaplan, the William and Elaine Kaplan Family Foundation, Liberty Properties, Inc., the Monticello Motor Club, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, the Rea Charitable Trust, Resorts World Catskills, the Rhulen Loughlin Family -- in memory of Trevor John Loughlin, Rolling V Bus Corporation, James and Kelly Schmitt, Dan and Joan Silna, Stewarts Shops, TD Charitable Foundation, and the Williams Endowed Education Fund at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
 
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About Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts inspires, educates, and empowers individuals through the arts and humanities by presenting a diverse selection of culturally-rich performances, popular artists, and community and educational programming.  Located 90 miles from New York City at the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, NY, the lush 800-acre campus includes a Pavilion Stage amphitheater with seating for 15,000, an intimate 440-seat indoor Event Gallery, the award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods, and a Conservatory for arts education programming.

Through the in-depth study and exhibition of the social, political, and cultural events of the 1960s, as well as the preservation of the historic site of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Bethel Woods educates individuals about the issues and lessons of the decade while inspiring a new generation to contribute positively to the world around them. The not-for-profit organization relies on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations to develop and sustain programs that improve the quality of life in the region and beyond.

For more information please visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org.

Monday, September 11, 2017

STAILKOFF SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

PBA50 Tour Veteran Ted Staikoff Named
2017 PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award Winner

CHICAGO (Sept. 11, 2017) - Ted Staikoff of Black Hawk, S.D., a competitor on the PBA50 Tour for 20 seasons, was selected by his fellow competitors as the winner of the 2017 PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award.

“When John (PBA50 Tour Director John Weber) called to tell me I won the award, I said, are you kidding?,” a surprised Staikoff said. “It’s quite an honor to receive an award with that name on it—probably the top honor of my career.”

Staikoff, who will turn 70 in November, is still competitive on the tour for players 50 and older. In 2017, he had a best finish of 11th in the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open, matching his previous best finish in a major (2007 Senior U.S. Open). His career-best finish overall is fourth which he accomplished twice in 2004.

“I feel like I’m bowling better now than when I was younger,” said Staikoff, who is a retired lieutenant colonel in the South Dakota Army National Guard. “What makes it special for me is to see the great young bowlers – or young-old bowlers as I call them – come out to bowl on the senior tour and then have the opportunity to bowl against them.”

Staikoff got off to a slow start this season with finishes of 110th and 130th in the first two tournaments but thanks to some help from fellow competitors Bob Learn Jr. and Tom Carter, was able to turn his season around.

“Another thing that makes it so enjoyable to bowl out here is the help you get from the other guys,” he said. “Bob and Tom noticed that I needed to get the ball down on the lane sooner and stop muscling the ball. They found a problem with my arm swing and worked with me to correct it, and as a result I had some better finishes later in the season.”

In addition to his 11th-place Senior U.S. Open finish, Staikoff also finished 14th in the PBA50 South Shore Open in Hammond, Ind.

“As long as I’m competitive I’ll keep going,” said the two-time PBA50 regional winner. “It’s an opportunity to bowl against some great bowlers and make a lot of friends along the way and you can’t ask for much more than that.”

The Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award is named after the late PBA Hall of Fame legend, who won 30 PBA Tour and six PBA50 Tour titles among his many accomplishments in the sport.

History of PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award Winners
2017 – Ted Staikoff
2016 – Kerry Fulford
2015 - Tom Carter
2014 - Chris Keane
2013 - Robert Harvey
2012 - Dave Soutar
2011 - Ray Randall
2010 - Robert Harvey
2009 - Larry Graybeal
2008 - Fred Baldwin

LPGA HEADS TO FRANCE

The Evian Championship
Evian Resort Golf Club
Evian-les-Bains, France


LPGA HEADS TO FRANCE FOR SEASON’S FINAL MAJOR
Four majors down and one to go. The LPGA Tour moves on to Evian-les-Bains, France, and The Evian Championship, the final major of the 2017 season. The field includes 92 of the top 100 players on the LPGA Money List, as well as a combined 51 major victories. All four players who have claimed this major championship – Suzann Pettersen (2013), Hyo Joo Jim (2014), Lydia Ko (2015) and In Gee Chun (2016) – are in the field this week.

In 2016, In Gee Chun captured her first Evian Championship title by four strokes over Sung Hyun Park and So Yeon Ryu. Chun’s 72-hole score of -21 is the lowest major championship score in the history of men’s and women’s golf, and she went on to win the year’s Rolex Rookie of the Year honors.

Chun recently spoke with LPGA.com about her memories of her 2016 victory, saying, “My memories from last year’s Evian Championship are still vivid – my shots went in the direction I wanted and my putter felt great that week. During the four days of the tournament, everything worked out beyond my expectation. Every day spent in the town of Evian was new, different and meaningful, so it’s difficult to say that I had just one single memory from that week.”

After The Evian Championship, the LPGA Tour will take a week off before heading to Auckland and the MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open. It’s then on to seven consecutive weeks in Asia, with the Tour visiting the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia and Japan, before heading back to the United States of America for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, in Naples, Fla.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Since 2013, The Evian Championship has been played as a major on the LPGA Tour
  • From 1994-2012, the event was played as the Evian Masters and was a stop on the LPGA and Ladies European Tours
    • From 1994-1999, the event was part of the Ladies European Tour only
  • Past Evian Masters winners in the field are Laura Davies (1995, 1996), Juli Inkster (2003), Paula Creamer (2005), Karrie Webb (2006), Natalie Gulbis (2007) and Ai Miyazato (2009, 2011)
  • Hyo Joo Kim’s first-round 61 in 2014 is the lowest round in LPGA major history
  • In Gee Chun’s 72-hole score of 21-under 263 is the lowest major championship score in the history of men’s and women’s golf

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT DEFENDING CHAMPION IN GEE CHUN
  • In 18 starts this season, Chun has five runner-up finishes and three other top-10 finishes
  • Currently No. 5 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings
  • She has two LPGA victories, with both coming at majors – the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open Championship and the 2016 Evian Championship

ROLEX ANNIKA MAJOR AWARD UP FOR GRABS
The Rolex ANNIKA Major Award recognizes the player who, during a current LPGA Tour season, had the most outstanding record in all five major championships. Points are awarded at all five major championships to competitors who finished among the top 10 and ties. To take home the award, a player must also win at least one of the five majors.

With the first four majors complete, So Yeon Ryu (ANA Inspiration), Danielle Kang (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship), Sung Hyun Park (U.S. Women’s Open Championship) and In-Kyung Kim (Ricoh Women’s British Open) have staked their claim to the 2017 RAMA title. Ryu currently leads the race with 78 points, followed by Kang, Kim and Park with 60 points apiece. The winner of this week’s Evian Championship will also be eligible to win RAMA honors.

WHO’S IN THE FIELD
2017 LPGA Winners (17):
Brittany Lincicome (Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic), Amy Yang (Honda LPGA Thailand), Anna Nordqvist (Bank of Hope Founders Cup), Mirim Lee (Kia Classic), So Yeon Ryu (ANA Inspiration, Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G), Cristie Kerr (LOTTE Championship presented by Hershey), Haru Nomura (Volunteers of America Texas Shootout presented by JTBC), Sei Young Kim (Citibanamex Lorena Ochoa Match Play presented by Aeromexico and Delta), Lexi Thompson (Kingsmill Championship presented by JTBC, Indy Women in Tech Championship presented by Guggenheim), Shanshan Feng (LPGA Volvik Championship), In-Kyung Kim (ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I, Ricoh Women’s British Open), Ariya Jutanugarn (Manulife LPGA Classic), Brooke Henderson (Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give), Danielle Kang (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship), Katherine Kirk (Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic), Sung Hyun Park (U.S. Women’s Open Championship, CP Women’s Open), Mi Hyang Lee (Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open)

2017 Solheim Cup Participants (21)
Team USA (9): Paula Creamer, Austin Ernst, Danielle Kang, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lang, Brittany Lincicome, Gerina Piller, Lexi Thompson, Angel Yin
Team Europe (12): Carlota Ciganda, Georgia Hall, Charley Hull, Karine Icher, Caroline Masson, Catriona Matthew, Anna Nordqvist, Florentyna Parker, Emily K. Pedersen, Mel Reid, Madelene Sagstrom, Jodi Ewart Shadoff

2017 LPGA Rookies (12):
Aditi Ashok, Nicole Broch Larsen, Peiyun Chien, Laura Gonzalez Escallon, Nelly Korda, Olafia Kristinsdottir, Bronte Law, Sung Hyun Park, Emily K. Pedersen, Mel Reid, Madelene Sagstrom, Angel Yin

MIYAZATO PLAYING IN FINAL LPGA EVENT BEFORE RETIREMENT
This week marks two-time Evian Masters champion and nine-time LPGA Tour winner Ai Miyazato’s final appearance as a member of the LPGA Tour. In May, Miyazato announced her intention to retire at the end of the season, and she decided to make the Evian Championship her final event.

“I started golf when I was 4,” Miyazato said in May at a press conference in her native Japan. “It’s over 20 years. I have received many supports from many people. So I would like to repay from my position.”

She added, “I received many messages from many people, that you have done well. Many players, older and younger, told me that they will miss me. But now I am very thankful. Friends, players, family were very warm and accepting about my retirement.”

Over her 12-year LPGA Tour career, Miyazato has amassed nine victories, 62 top-10 finishes and more than $8 million in career earnings. She spent 11 weeks in the No. 1 spot on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings in 2010, and became the most beloved Japanese golfer since Ayako Okamoto.

THE FINAL STRETCH IN THE RACE TO THE CME GLOBE
The Evian Championship is the 26th event in the season-long Race to the CME Globe. This week could provide a major shakeup to the Race standings, as the five LPGA major championships carry 25% more value and this week’s winner will receive 625 Race to the CME Globe points.

World No. 2 Lexi Thompson currently leads the standings with 3,192 points, followed by World No. 1 So Yeon Ryu (2,652 points) and World No. 3 Sung Hyun Park (2,563 points).

In 2017, the reset points for the Race to the CME Globe will be modified slightly. As a result of these modifications:
  • The top five finishers entering Naples will control their own destiny at the CME Group Tour Championship
    • If a player in the top five wins in Naples, she will also win the $1M CME Globe
  • The top 12 finishers entering Naples will have a mathematical chance to win the $1M CME Globe
  • Please note that previously, the top three controlled their destiny and top nine had a mathematical chance

CME GROUP CARES WEEKENDS EAGLES UPDATE AFTER IWiT CHAMPIONSHIP
CME Group Cares Weekend is a season-long charitable giving program that turns eagles into donations.  For each eagle recorded during weekend play (Saturday and Sunday) throughout the 2017 LPGA Tour season, CME Group donates $1,000 to the program’s total donation count. The money raised will go towards a charitable pool and be split evenly between Wounded Warrior Project® and Bright Pink®.

Players scored four eagles over the weekend at the 2017 Indy Women in Tech Championship presented by Guggenheim, raising another $4,000 for charity. This brings the total to 238 eagles on the year, which translates to $238,000 raised.