Reno’s Sands Regency to Host
PBA Regional Players Invitational Dec. 14-16

Among the Professional Bowlers Association’s nearly 3,500 regional competitors, winning the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational ranks high on the wish list. But winning the 2010 edition at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., Dec. 14-16 means an automatic berth in the “Elite” field for the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions and a shot at a $250,000 prize.

The 42nd annual RPI is open to the top 25 points leaders in each of the PBA’s East, South, Central, Southwest, Midwest, West and Northwest Regions based upon their points rankings as of Sept. 30. The 2010 RPI also is open – for the first time – to PBA Senior players who finished in the top five in points in senior events within their regions, or who qualified in special senior regional qualifying events.

The PBA Regional Players Invitational – one of two major championships the PBA offers each year to its regional members – offers a $6,000 first prize (based on 80 entries) plus the “Elite” field berth for the Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas Jan. 15-22.

In addition, all players will have an optional opportunity to compete for seven exemptions to bowl full-time on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour during the 2011-12 season. All results in the RPI will be based on total pinfall for 37 games of qualifying and match play.

Last year, Scott Norton of Costa Mesa, Calif., won the 41st anniversary RPI.

The tournament will get started with a players’ reception hosted by the Sands Regency Hotel and Casino on Monday, Dec. 13. Following a practice session Tuesday morning, the entire field will bowl three seven-game qualifying rounds Tuesday and Wednesday. After 21 games, the top 16 will advance to bowl two eight-game round robin match play rounds on Thursday to determine the final standings.

The inaugural RPI was won by hall of famer Tom Hennessey, a member of the fabled Budweiser’s of St. Louis team, in Cincinnati in 1969. The tournament has served as a launching pad for a number of players who went on to careers as national touring players. Among the past champions who are still active as PBA Tour exempt players are Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas (1999); Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C. (2004); Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash. (2005), and John Nolen, Waterford, Mich. (2008).

In addition to Norton, the top seven 2009 RPI qualifiers who earned berths to bowl on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour during the 2010-11 season are: Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md.; Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y.; Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis.; Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore.; Dave Beres, Greenfield, Wis., and Jeff Zaffino Warren, Pa.

2010 PBA REGIONAL PLAYERS INVITATIONAL
Presented by the Sands Regency Casino Hotel
National Bowling Stadium, Reno, Nev., Dec. 13-16

Monday, Dec. 13
7 p.m. - Player’s reception, Sands Regency Casino Hotel

Tuesday, Dec. 14
8:30 a.m. – Practice session
1 p.m. – Round 1, 7 qualifying games, all players

Wednesday, Dec. 15
9 a.m. - Round 2, 7 qualifying games, all players
3:30 p.m. - Round 3, 7 qualifying games, all players
Field cut to top 16 bowlers after 21 games

Thursday, Dec. 16
9 a.m. – Round 4, 8 games round robin match play
2 p.m. – Round 5, 8 games round robin match play

HISTORY OF PBA REGIONAL PLAYERS INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS
1969 - Tom Hennessey, St. Louis
1970 - J.B. Blaylock, Alamogordo, N.M.
1971 - Tye Critchlow, Los Angeles
1972 - Harry O’Neale, Charleston, S.C.
1973 - Bob McGregor, Wichita Falls, Texas
1974 - Ray Orf, St. Louis
1975 - Bus Oswalt, Muncie, Ind.
1976 - Glenn Carlson, Fresno, Calif.
1977 - Don Helling, St. Charles, Mo.
1978 - Kevin Gannon, Long Beach, Calif.
1979 - Willie Willis, West Haven, Conn.
1980 - Ted Malicki, Solon, Ohio
1981 - Jim Hills, St. Peters, Mo.
1982 - Darwin Skrzynecki, Chicago
1983 - Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa.
1984 - John DiLutis, Baltimore
1985 - Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa.
1986 - David Traber, Cedarburg, Wis.
1987 - Bill Ryan, Dayton, Ohio
1988 - Bruce Carter, Las Vegas
1989 - Rich Abboud, Omaha, Neb.
1990 - Bruce Hollen, Baltimore
1991 - Kevin McGerr, Lincoln, Neb.
1992 - Marty Letscher, Bel Air, Md.
1993 - Jeff Richgels, Madison, Wis.
1994 - Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis.
1995 - Ray Edwards, Middle Island, N.Y.
1996 - Ted Hannahs, Zanesville, Ohio
1997 - Jason Hurd, Visalia, Calif.
1998 - Kevin Taber, Toledo, Ohio
1999 - Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas
2000 - Bob Davidson, Seattle, Wash.
2001 - Mike Nape, Aurora, Ill.
2002 - Chris Warren, Puyallup, Wash.
2003 - Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis.
2004 - Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C.
2005 - David Anthony, Austin, Texas
2006 - Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas
2007 - Eddie Graham, Centerville, Ohio
2008 - John Nolen, Waterford, Mich.
2009 – Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif.