Will the 2010 World Series of Bowling
Produce Another Tom Smallwood?


If his story hasn’t become legendary yet, Tom Smallwood’s remarkable road to winning the 2009 Professional Bowlers Association World Championship will one day achieve that status.

It’s an inspiring story of a husband, father and accomplished bowler who loses his job and decides to pursue his dream of becoming a professional bowler, and goes on to win one of the sport’s most prestigious titles in dramatic fashion against a reigning Player of the Year.

To review, Smallwood’s story goes something like this; the 32-year-old former assembly line worker from Saginaw, Mich., is laid off from his job with General Motors in December 2008 as a result of the country’s worsening economic condition. Losing his job gives him the opportunity to pursue his passion of bowling as his new career. He enters the 2009 PBA Tour Trials where a third-place finish earns him an exemption to bowl full-time for the 2009-10 season.

Fast-forward to the August 2009 World Series of Bowling at Thunderbowl Lanes in suburban Detroit where he qualifies for the World Championship stepladder finals to be telecast live on ESPN in December from Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.

Bowling against then-reigning PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott, the title match is a nail-biter until the 10th frame. Malott starts with four strikes, but then runs into carry problems on the right lane. Smallwood stays close, striking on five of his first six shots, but then leaves a 4-6-7 split in the seventh frame and the tide turns to Malott’s favor. Malott isn’t able to put two strikes together in the final frames, however, and Smallwood answers with another four strikes in a row – including two in the tension-filled 10th frame – to seal the victory, 244-228.

Smallwood earns a $50,000 first prize, a two-year exemption to continue his PBA Tour career and his first chance to bowl in January’s PBA Tournament of Champions. He gains nationwide media attention in outlets ranging from Sports Illustrated to the National Enquirer.

“Looking back at last season, it was something I could have never expected—just crazy,” Smallwood said. “Now I’m concentrating on getting back in shape for this year’s World Series. Last year I wanted to prove I could compete on Tour. Now I want to prove that I wasn’t a one-year wonder.

“It’s going to be important to be in shape because there’ll be some long formats,” he added. “I’m practicing five days a week, two to four hours a day.

“I’ve been anxious to get back out there (on Tour) since the last season ended and just need to make sure I’m in top form when the end of October rolls around.”

Smallwood had a productive 2009-10 season making two other television appearances where he finished third in the Scorpion Championship and fifth in the Bayer Don and Paula Carter Mixed Doubles with partner Jodi Woessner.

His success in 2009-10 also earned him a contract with the Brunswick Pro Staff which has kept him busy since the end of the season last April.

“Actually, I haven’t been able to bowl competitively over the summer as much as I have in the past because I’ve been busy making appearances and attending trade shows,” Smallwood said. “There’s been a lot of traveling, but it’s been fun.”

The moral of this story is there may be other Tom Smallwoods out there and the 2010 edition of PBA’s WSOB has the potential to produce another unlikely hero, according to Smallwood.

“In general, there are just so many good bowlers out there,” Smallwood said. “Just around where I live in the Saginaw area I think there are a lot of bowlers who have the potential so I would encourage anyone who can to enter—you never know what will happen.”


The 2010 WSOB, to be conducted at the South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas Oct. 24-Nov. 6, was designed to be the ultimate destination event for all PBA members. Multiple titles are up for grabs, a huge overall prize fund and nine nationally-televised shows are part of the event. An affordable entry fee and accommodations all in one city for a short amount of time make it an affordable experience for entrants. For a $750 entry fee, bowlers are entered in six events including the PBA World Championship.



In all, the WSOB will award six PBA Tour titles and pay $635,000 in prize money. The top 16 players in each “animal pattern” event will earn prize money with the winner of each earning $15,000, a PBA Tour title and a berth in the Tournament of Champions.



The PBA World Championship will pay one in four based on 215 entries with a $2,000 low-to-cash. (Prize ratio is 1 in 3 up to 160 entries; 53 places will be paid for a field of 161-215). First prize in the World Championship will be $50,000.


Bowlers wishing to enter the WSOB must be Full PBA members. The only exception is International players who belong to the WTBA, JPBA or KPBA.

An entry form may be downloaded by going to pba.com, clicking on Schedule/PBA Tour and opening any of the WSOB tournaments. Entrants also can request an entry form by calling (206) 332-9688. Entries may be scanned and e-mailed back to PBA, faxed to (206) 332-9722, or mailed to the PBA office.