Fagan Wins World Championship
"The Majors are where you can separate yourself from everyone else," Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) World Championship winner Mike Fagan declared following his win last Sunday live on ESPN.
Fagan, who had qualified second in the stepladder finals, defeated top qualifier Wes Malott 252-212 in the title match.
The win for Fagan was his second major title after winning the United States Bowling Congress Masters in 2012 and is his fifth PBA tour title.
Fagan, who is originally from Long Island, New York now makes his home in Fort Worth, Texas.
In commenting about the "Major Tournaments" Fagan said, "these opportunities don't come around too often so you always have to consider yourself fortunate to be in a position to win and to take advantage of the opportunity you worked so hard for."
"Making it into the PBA Hall of Fame is one of my goals," he continued, "I've thought about my place in the sport and while winning my second major is another step in getting there, it's a big step for sure."
In the title match, Fagan and Malott traded strikes in the first four frames but then a turning point came when Malott, trying for his 10th Tour title, left the 2-10 split in the fifth which he failed to convert. Fagan had a moment of his own when he left an 8-10 split in the eighth frame but was able to finish strong and hold off Malott for the win.
The win for Fagan brings him the $50,000 first prize with Malott taking home $25,000.
The GEICO World Series Of Bowling VI PBA Challenge presented by the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame will air this Sunday, January 18 at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
Ed's Outlook
We became friends with PBA World Championship winner Mike Fagan many years ago when Fagan was just starting out on the tour and was competing in one of his first tournaments at the former Bowlers Club bowling center in Latham, NY.
Had the opportunity as a member of the press covering the preliminaries to meet and talk with Mike and later in the day to meet his father who had come up to Latham to watch his son bowl.
Bowling writers gain a lot of inside information covering the sport and some of the inside information is being able to talk to bowling ball representatives and also my many talks with former pro-shop owner Mike Luongo who had drilled bowling balls for me for some 25 years.
Fagan was bowling in the final preliminary match to see who would make it into the Sunday television finals and he was struggling as the ball he was using hooked too much.
He came over to where his cache of bowling balls were sitting and of which I was sitting right in back of these bowling balls. I remember well Mike looking at the balls and trying to figure out what he should use. He looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and I reacted by pointing to one of the balls I was familiar with and one I though he could get to the pocket with.
He was 35 pins down in the final game when he made the ball change......and what a change it was as he recorded eight strikes in a row to defeat his challenger and make his first TV finals.
Mike and I and his father enjoyed dinner together that night and a bonding friendship was made.
I don't get to see Mike very often as there are not any PBA tour stops in New York anymore but when we do see each other we talk about that afternoon in Latham.
Ed Townsend, a PR Consultant to the sport of bowling, writes and compiles the information for this column. If you have league scores, tournament information, score a 300 game or 800 series or even bowl your age, call Ed at 845-439-8177, 845-866-0333, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax at 845-205-4474. View this column and our pictures at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.
Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo
To be able to maximize your bowling game, you need to learn to properly control your bowling ball speed.
Ball speed is one of the most important factors in being consistent and scoring high.
Being able to adjust the speed of your ball to match the lane conditions will really give you the edge you need to win games.
You may arrive at the bowling alley and find your lane is excessively oily so slowing down your lane is really oily is the key to high scoring.
Likewise, during long tournaments, the lane may become dryer, and throwing the ball with more speed will help overcome this obstacle.
By controlling the bowling ball speed, you will find yourself at a big advantage over those that don't.
Mike Luongo is a cerified IBPSIA Pro Shop Operator, Master Instructor, USBC Silver Level Coach and an Advisor-Special Events assistant with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. Have a question, give him a call at 435-720-7939 or email at mikel@stormbowling.com
Local Scores
(compiled by Ed Townsend
Beechwood Lanes
Monday Ladies
Diana Staves 176, 151, Barbara Cady 155, Danielle Meyer 159, Beth Schumacher 178, Dot McCormack 155, Tracy Puerschner 159.
Callicoon Kristal Bowl
Tues. Del Valley Men's
Sami Markao 180, Rick Weigelt 210, Bob Head 184, Dick Pomes 201, Buddy Romney 194, Bruce Rutledge 187, Rich Winters 202, Erik Burton 245, Mark Yewchuck 188, 215, Gary Maas 200, Bill Meyer 182, Kurt Buddenhagen 189, Mike Sorge 194, Jim Kautz 186, 206, Eugene Fulton 191, 234, 187, 612, Mike Gieger 191, Dave Graham 193, 235, 606, Dean Shattuck 256, Brian Marino 197, Kory Keesler 217, 188, Albert Tyles 182, Tom Bisig 234.
Kiamesha Lanes
Monday Men's
Pedro Agapito III a 245, 241, 236, 722, Rudy Belanchia 246, 640, Tom Belgiovene 245, 626, Lloyd Bridges 258, 643, Al Caycho 237, 608, Vinnie Collura 225, 268, 658, Shane Conner 232, 624, Vincent DeGraw 233, Donnie Durland 227, 625, Jody Farquhar 236, 649, John Fischer 256, 617, Kyle Giordino 631, Dave Graham 237, 267, 267, 771, John Hoffmann 243, 245, 233, 721, Todd Houghtaling 236, 611, Jason Jones Sr. 609, Eddie Lake 257, 617, Rick Lake 237, 258, 227, 722, Francisco Martinez 610, Patrick Mulhern 233, Laresko Niifa 243, 620, Jaryl Scott 258, 236, 686, Frank Scuderi 225, 637, Michael Scuderi 278, 234, 650, Keith Smith 639, Josh Strang 244, 675, Rob Sze 633, Michael Travis 249, 225, 679, Charlie Tuttle 234, 232, 661, Jon Wilhelm 233, 277, 233, 743, Larry Whipple 257, 684, Craig Wilhelm 606.
Tues. Mixed Firefighters
Ed Guthrie 279, 687, Larry Whipple 227, 243, 684, John Hoffmann 227, 246, 677, Shane Cunningham 235, 234, 645, Neil Bell Jr. 257, 622, Rob Keesler 611, Pedro Agapito III a 246, George Kelley 231, Cara Nicholson 183, 214, 567, Mary Lee Williams 180, 193, 183, 556, Wendy Swan 186, 202, 546, Leanne Mangabang 180, 189, 540, Andrea Grossman 207, 535, Kat Cronk 221, 532, Carena Collura 184, 511, Linda Schaefer 192, Joann Ruggiero 198.
Wednesday Men's
Al Frangipone 619, Paul Durland 243, 640, Donnie Durland 279, 702, Josh Strang 237, 225, 680, Pedro Agapito III a 241, 255, 711, Dave Graham 626, Tom Mitchell 246, 626, Dave Garlinghouse 226, 652, Merrill Conner 602, Carlos Torres 225, 225, 663, Robert Stewart 234, 658, Tom Belgiovene 602, Steve Belgiovene 248, 247, 698, Jon Wilhelm 235, 635, Russell Bivins 240, 229, 692, Tim Minton 236, 236, 666, Larry Whipple 268, 257, 741, Bradley Cottam 238, Keith Smith 225, Kevin Stackhouse 235, 615, Dennis Matthews 233, Charlie Tuttle 235, 628, Kyle Matthews 246, 245, 640.
Thursday Ladies
Bonnie Geraine 187, Trasey Barres 215, Connie Beach 182, 200, Liz Stubits 192, Debbie Polin 200, 200, 187, 587, Barbara Merton 204, 185, Monica Lane 195, Shirley Bowens 192, Dottie Collins 180, 228, 184, 592, Lisa Cartwright 180, 183, Ann Sawyer 201, Joan Lake 182.
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