MIKA KOIVUNIEMI SETS
“MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS”
RECORD, ROLLS TOWARD
PBA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Mika Koivuniemi has sprawled on the approach in victory and in defeat during the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season, but the bottom line is that he has opened his bag and used the entire Ebonite International family of brands to roll his way into the frontrunner position in the PBA Player of the Year race.This season Koivuniemi has made PBA history by advancing to the nationally-televised finals in all four major championships. The Finnish native finished sixth in the eight-man stepladder field in the PBA World Championship in January, won the $1 million PBA Tournament of Champions a week later, finished third in the Bayer United States Bowling Congress Masters in mid-February and added a disappointing second place finish in Sunday’s Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open.All of this comes on the heels of two lackluster seasons on Tour and nearly three years since his last win.“It was time to make a change and I signed with Ebonite International last August,” Koivuniemi said. “I liked the idea that I had four brands to choose from (Ebonite, Track, Hammer and Columbia 300) and I’ve used balls from all of them this season.“It’s been great because there have been several new balls introduced recently that fit my style. They’ve come up with the right combination of balls that work the best with the adjustments I need to make.”One of those new balls is the Ebonite $250K, which was re-named in recognition of his record-breaking victory in the Tournament of Champions title where he won $250,000, the richest first prize in PBA history. He also used that ball extensively in the U.S. Open.“I used the $250K solely in the last 25 games of the U.S. Open and I used it on the TV show as well,” Koivuniemi said. “Right now I think that ball is really matching up the best for me.”The 43-year-old Hartland, Mich., resident is known for his ability to loft the ball through the front part of the lane, but needs smooth mid-lane roll and backend power for carry, and he has found that combination in the Mission $250K.With his runner-up finish in the PBA U.S. Open, a tournament he would have won had he not failed to convert a 10 pin in the 10th frame of the championship match, Koivuniemi has now earned $325,940 this season, moving him into third for most earnings in a season and over $1.4 million in his career.Not-so-ironically, the last time Koivuniemi was affiliated with Ebonite International was during the 2003-04 season when he earned the PBA Player of the Year title. During that season, “Major Mika” won two of his nine career PBA Tour titles, made seven TV appearances and earned more than $238,000 – his best season before 2010-11.“That was certainly in the back of my mind when I joined Ebonite International last year,” Koivuniemi said. “I just hope that I don’t miss six more opportunities for Player of the Year with Ebonite from this point forward.”About Ebonite InternationalEbonite International is a privately-owned company that services bowling centers, distributors and retail outlets domestically and internationally. The company’s consumer product brands include Ebonite,Hammer,Robby’s,Columbia 300,Track and Powerhouse™; its commercial product brand is Ebonite Bowling Center Direct.