Rookie Francois Lavoie Tops PBA Wolf Open Qualifying
Native Canadian to bowl for first PBA Tour title in opening event of PBA Fall Swing
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (Sept. 5, 2016) – Canadian
native Francois Lavoie, now living in Wichita, Kan., earned the top
berth for the stepladder finals of the PBA Wolf Open Monday as the
Professional Bowlers Association Fall Swing got underway at Thunderbowl
Lanes.
Lavoie,
who starred with the Wichita State University bowling program, averaged
??? for his 12 qualifying games to claim the lead with a total of 2,878
pins, 76 ahead Australia’s two-handed star Jason Belmonte. The
24-year-old rookie, bowling in only his fourth PBA Tour event, will
make his national television debut on CBS Sports Network on Wednesday,
Sept. 21, at 9 p.m.
“It should be exciting. I’m looking forward to it,” Lavoie said. “I’m just drinking up all the experiences.”
After
ranking third in the first eight games bowled earlier Monday in the
main section of Thunderbowl Lanes, Lavoie dominated competition Monday
night when the second six-game round was bowled in Thunderbowl’s
historic arena bay, built in 1961 as a showcase for premier bowling
competition.
“I
think the surface on the lanes in the bay was a little different, so it
played different than the main center,” Lavoie said, “but it was still
fairly understandable if you were able to do the right thing with ball
motion. And I was able to do that pretty well.”
Lavoie,
who grew up in Quebec City, is living in Wichita on a temporary visa,
but plans to apply for a athlete visa to stay here full-time.
“As
long as I want to be a competitive bowler, I think I need to be in the
U.S. and Wichita is pretty centrally located to a lot of competitive
bowling. Plus it’s a great city,” he said.
Belmonte,
the three-time reigning PBA Player of the Year, is trying for his 13th
PBA Tour title, but first of the 2016 season. He qualified for his eight
career PBA Summer/Fall Swing television final, one shy of Bill
O’Neill’s record in the fourth annual multi-event program.
Eighteen-time PBA
Tour champion Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, fired a 300 game
earlier Monday to take the early lead but slipped to third place in the
evening session. Barnes, 46, is seeking his first title on U.S.
soil since winning the 2013 PBA Viper Open in Las Vegas. Barnes’ most
recent titles were won in Qatar (2014) and Japan (2015).
Tom
Daugherty of Riverview, Fla., qualified fourth and 19-year-old Texas
two-hander Anthony Simonsen, a leading contender in the 2016 PBA Player
of the Year race, slipped past Kris Prather of Milton, Fla., by six pins
in the final game to clinch the fifth stepladder berth.
The
Wolf Open stepladder finals will be conducted on Saturday, Sept. 10, at
11 a.m. for telecast on CBS Sports Network on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 9
p.m. ET.
The
first six games in the Wolf, Bear and Badger Opens count as the
qualifying legs to determine the 18 players who will advance to the
Detroit Open qualifying finals on Thursday. The PBA Fall Swing continues
Tuesday with two rounds of Bear Open qualifying at 10 a.m. and 7:30
p.m. ET, followed by two rounds of Badger Open qualifying at the same
times on on Wednesday. All preliminary rounds of the Fall Swing are
being covered live, exclusively on PBA’s online video streaming channel,
Xtra Frame. For subscription information, visit pba.com and click on
the Xtra Frame link.
PBA WOLF OPEN
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich. Sept. 5
Final
Qualifying Standings (after 12 games; top five advance to stepladder
finals Saturday at 11 a.m. ET; finals air on CBS Sports Network on
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 9 p.m. ET)
1, Francois Lavoie, Wichita, Kan., 2,878.
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 2,802.
3, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,783.
4, Tom Daugherty, Riverview, Fla., 2,773.
5, Anthony Simonsen, Princeton, Texas, 2,739.
6, Kristopher Prather, Milton, Fla., 2,733, $1,500.
7, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 2,697, $1,300.
8, Anthony Pepe, Elmhurst, N.Y., 2,685, $1,100.
9, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 2,677, $900.
10, Jason Sterner, Cocoa, Fla., 2,655, $800.
11, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 2,591, $700.
12, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 2,549, $600.
2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 2,802.
3, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,783.
4, Tom Daugherty, Riverview, Fla., 2,773.
5, Anthony Simonsen, Princeton, Texas, 2,739.
6, Kristopher Prather, Milton, Fla., 2,733, $1,500.
7, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 2,697, $1,300.
8, Anthony Pepe, Elmhurst, N.Y., 2,685, $1,100.
9, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 2,677, $900.
10, Jason Sterner, Cocoa, Fla., 2,655, $800.
11, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 2,591, $700.
12, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 2,549, $600.
Qualifying Round One (after 6 games):
1, Barnes, 1,468.
2, Pepe, 1,460.
3, Lavoie, 1,445.
4, Troup, 1,403.
5, Sterner, 1,401.
6, Belmonte, 1,400.
7, Daugherty, 1,397.
8, Buss, 1,388.
9, Malott, 1,384.
10, Simonsen, 1,382.
11, Prather, 1,372.
12, Duke, 1,370.
2, Pepe, 1,460.
3, Lavoie, 1,445.
4, Troup, 1,403.
5, Sterner, 1,401.
6, Belmonte, 1,400.
7, Daugherty, 1,397.
8, Buss, 1,388.
9, Malott, 1,384.
10, Simonsen, 1,382.
11, Prather, 1,372.
12, Duke, 1,370.
Failed to advance:
13 (tie), Martin Larsen, Sweden, and Steven Arehart, Chesapeake, Va., 1,365.
15, n-Carl Boldt, Pontiac, Mich., 1,364.
16, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,362.
17 (tie), Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., and Dylan Macon, Lubbock, Texas, 1,359.
19 (tie), Jordan Klassen, Ontario, Canada, and J.R. Raymond, Bay City, Mich., 1,358.
21 (tie), Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., and Jeff Evans, Supply, N.C., 1,356.
23, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Ecorse, Mich., 1,355.
24, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,354.
25, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 1,352.
26, Jesper Svensson, Sweden, 1,344.
27, Greg Ostrander, Freehold, N.J., 1,342.
28, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 1,337.
29, n-Matthew Sanders, Evansville, Ind., 1,336.
30 (tie), John Furey, Freehold, N.J.; Osku Palermaa, Finland, and Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,332.
33, Joe Bailey, Wooster, Ohio, 1,330.
34, Josh Blanchard, Mesa, Ariz., 1,327.
35, Cameron Weier, Tacoma, Wash., 1,325.
36, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 1,319.
37, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,318.
38, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 1,317.
39, Sam Cooley, Australia, 1,314.
40, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 1,312.
41 (tie), n-Mason Brantley, Detroit; Chris Arcaro, Wilmington, N.C., and Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,311.
44, Kim Bolleby, Thailand, 1,310.
45, Dave Wodka, Beavercreek, Ohio, 1,308.
46, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 1,307.
47, Graham Fach, Ontario, Canada, 1,305.
48 (tie), D.J. Archer, Friendswood, Texas, and Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,304.
50, Myles Duty, Modesto, Calif., 1,299.
51, Darren Tang, San Francisco, Calif., 1,292.
52, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 1,290.
53, Aaron Lorincz, Belleville, Mich., 1,289.
54 (tie), Dom Barrett, England, and Brandon Novak, Chillicothe, Ohio, 1,288.
56, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 1,276.
57, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,275.
58, Jakob Butturff, Chandler, Ariz., 1,273.
59, n-Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich., 1,271.
60, Patrick Allen, Mt. Kisco, N.Y., 1,268.
61, Zeke Bayt, Westerville, Ohio, 1,266.
62, Jake Peters, Henderson, Nev., 1,265.
63, Brad Miller, Maryland Hts, Mo., 1,262.
64, Devin Bidwell, Wichita, Kan., 1,260.
65, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,253.
66, A.J. Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 1,252.
67, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,250.
68 (tie), Rocio Restrepo, Colombia, and Connor Pickford, Charlotte, N.C., 1,247.
70 (tie), Carleton Chambers, Detroit; Jason Miller, Houston, and Jon Van Hees, Charlestown, R.I., 1,245.
73, John Szczerbinski, N. Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,238.
74 (tie), E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., and Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 1,224.
76 (tie), Anthony Colosimo, Davie, Fla.; Gary Faulkner Jr., Memphis, Tenn., and Maria Rodriguez, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,219.
79, Shawn Maldonado, Houston, 1,215.
80, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 1,213.
81, n-Christopher Lemmon, Canada, 1,212.
82, Austin Hunt, Kennewick, Wash., 1,210.
83, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 1,205.
84 (tie), n-Charles Zelechowski, Warren, Mich., and Lonnie Jones, Ypsilanti, Mich., 1,203.
86, Liz Kuhlkin, Rotterdam, N.Y., 1,198.
87 (tie), Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., and Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 1,194.
89, Mike Williams II, Montgomery, Ala., 1,192.
90, Carey Bock, Canada, 1,182.
91, Matt Bollhalter, Niceville, Fla., 1,165.
92, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 1,164.
93, Zachary Dwyer, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., 1,159.
94, Ben Zakrocki, Philadelphia, 1,139.
95, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,125.
96 (tie), Zachary Seals, Kingsland, Ga.; Perry Crowell IV, Hoquiam, Wash., and n-Steve Jacobs, Belleville, Mich., 1,119.
99, Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 1,112.
100, Ward Rauch, Cheboygan, Mich, 1,097.
101, n-Kurry Crayton, Birmingham, Ala., 1,082.
102, Brian Gunn, Chicago, 1,077.
103, Monty Wonnacott, Livonia, Mich., 1,067.
104 (tie), Ervin Raines, New Cummberland, Pa., and D.J. Rose, Ypsilanti, Mich., 1,065.
106, Matthew Wozney, Clayton, Del., 1,030.
107, Jeremiah Bryant, Taylor, Mich., 1,029.
108, Daniel Hochstein, Farmington Hills, Mich., 1,021.
109, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,016.
13 (tie), Martin Larsen, Sweden, and Steven Arehart, Chesapeake, Va., 1,365.
15, n-Carl Boldt, Pontiac, Mich., 1,364.
16, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,362.
17 (tie), Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., and Dylan Macon, Lubbock, Texas, 1,359.
19 (tie), Jordan Klassen, Ontario, Canada, and J.R. Raymond, Bay City, Mich., 1,358.
21 (tie), Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., and Jeff Evans, Supply, N.C., 1,356.
23, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Ecorse, Mich., 1,355.
24, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,354.
25, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 1,352.
26, Jesper Svensson, Sweden, 1,344.
27, Greg Ostrander, Freehold, N.J., 1,342.
28, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 1,337.
29, n-Matthew Sanders, Evansville, Ind., 1,336.
30 (tie), John Furey, Freehold, N.J.; Osku Palermaa, Finland, and Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,332.
33, Joe Bailey, Wooster, Ohio, 1,330.
34, Josh Blanchard, Mesa, Ariz., 1,327.
35, Cameron Weier, Tacoma, Wash., 1,325.
36, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 1,319.
37, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,318.
38, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 1,317.
39, Sam Cooley, Australia, 1,314.
40, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 1,312.
41 (tie), n-Mason Brantley, Detroit; Chris Arcaro, Wilmington, N.C., and Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,311.
44, Kim Bolleby, Thailand, 1,310.
45, Dave Wodka, Beavercreek, Ohio, 1,308.
46, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 1,307.
47, Graham Fach, Ontario, Canada, 1,305.
48 (tie), D.J. Archer, Friendswood, Texas, and Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,304.
50, Myles Duty, Modesto, Calif., 1,299.
51, Darren Tang, San Francisco, Calif., 1,292.
52, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 1,290.
53, Aaron Lorincz, Belleville, Mich., 1,289.
54 (tie), Dom Barrett, England, and Brandon Novak, Chillicothe, Ohio, 1,288.
56, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 1,276.
57, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,275.
58, Jakob Butturff, Chandler, Ariz., 1,273.
59, n-Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich., 1,271.
60, Patrick Allen, Mt. Kisco, N.Y., 1,268.
61, Zeke Bayt, Westerville, Ohio, 1,266.
62, Jake Peters, Henderson, Nev., 1,265.
63, Brad Miller, Maryland Hts, Mo., 1,262.
64, Devin Bidwell, Wichita, Kan., 1,260.
65, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,253.
66, A.J. Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 1,252.
67, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,250.
68 (tie), Rocio Restrepo, Colombia, and Connor Pickford, Charlotte, N.C., 1,247.
70 (tie), Carleton Chambers, Detroit; Jason Miller, Houston, and Jon Van Hees, Charlestown, R.I., 1,245.
73, John Szczerbinski, N. Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,238.
74 (tie), E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., and Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 1,224.
76 (tie), Anthony Colosimo, Davie, Fla.; Gary Faulkner Jr., Memphis, Tenn., and Maria Rodriguez, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,219.
79, Shawn Maldonado, Houston, 1,215.
80, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 1,213.
81, n-Christopher Lemmon, Canada, 1,212.
82, Austin Hunt, Kennewick, Wash., 1,210.
83, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 1,205.
84 (tie), n-Charles Zelechowski, Warren, Mich., and Lonnie Jones, Ypsilanti, Mich., 1,203.
86, Liz Kuhlkin, Rotterdam, N.Y., 1,198.
87 (tie), Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., and Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 1,194.
89, Mike Williams II, Montgomery, Ala., 1,192.
90, Carey Bock, Canada, 1,182.
91, Matt Bollhalter, Niceville, Fla., 1,165.
92, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 1,164.
93, Zachary Dwyer, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., 1,159.
94, Ben Zakrocki, Philadelphia, 1,139.
95, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,125.
96 (tie), Zachary Seals, Kingsland, Ga.; Perry Crowell IV, Hoquiam, Wash., and n-Steve Jacobs, Belleville, Mich., 1,119.
99, Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 1,112.
100, Ward Rauch, Cheboygan, Mich, 1,097.
101, n-Kurry Crayton, Birmingham, Ala., 1,082.
102, Brian Gunn, Chicago, 1,077.
103, Monty Wonnacott, Livonia, Mich., 1,067.
104 (tie), Ervin Raines, New Cummberland, Pa., and D.J. Rose, Ypsilanti, Mich., 1,065.
106, Matthew Wozney, Clayton, Del., 1,030.
107, Jeremiah Bryant, Taylor, Mich., 1,029.
108, Daniel Hochstein, Farmington Hills, Mich., 1,021.
109, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,016.
300 Games: Jason Belmonte, Jason Sterner, Bill O’Neill, Francois Lavoie, Chris Barnes, Martin Larsen.
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