BOWLING HIGHLIGHTS COLUMN

Where Is The Sport Of Bowling Headed?

  Success sometimes means changing attitudes but what some former bowling centers are doing is adding  new venues with the installation of family entertainment centers which of course includes bowling.
  We have heard, but have not yet personally seen, bowling centers with entirely different looks.
  The new family entertainment centers include bowling, bumper bowling for kids, dining and full bar services, a pizza cafe, TV's located throughout the center to allow visitors to watch what they want, golf driving ranges, horseshoe pits, laser tag, pool and game rooms with arcades.

  There is no doubt that the economy during the past five years certainly has had a big effect on the growth of the sport of bowling.
  We see bowling centers closing and leagues not being filled in other centers.
  The dollar can just go so far and new innovations must be conjured up  by bowling proprietors to get bowlers back to their center.
  One interesting league concept that is becoming more and more popular is the split season whereby bowlers can join a 16-week league and at the end of the league can then determine if they want to join the second 16-week league.
  Bowlers for years have complained that the 32-week league is too long and some don't like starting in early September and finishing in late April or early May.
  Another interesting league feature is the low cost no fringe benefits league which eliminates prize money and league banquets at the end of the season.
  A league we were familiar with several years ago was a straight $8 per person with no prize money (just a fun league with competition) and everyone brought food at the end of the league eliminating the costs of having the banquet catered.
  We always hear mentioned that the competitive landscape in the bowling business is very important and we have seen in the past bowing proprietors just thinking about themselves and not the personal income of bowlers and the many other opportunities bowlers have with their leisure time.
  Superior customer service is so important today and bowling centers that thrive give a lot of attention to bowlers needs.
  Bowling is both a competitive sport and recreational entertainment, as such, bowling has had to learn to compete with other leisure time activities, like sports, hobbies and electronic media.
  Bowling will survive but the family entertainment centers could become an important factor.

 Ed's Outlook

  The PBA is now accepting nominations for the 2016 Tony Reyes Community Service Award, named in honor of the late PBA Tour player in recognition of his service to the bowling community.
  The award recognizes a current PBA member who performs extraordinary community service over the course of a PBA Tour season.
  To be eligible, the nominee must be a PBA member in good standing.
  For a nomination form and additional information click on http://www.pba.com/Corporate/Awards
  The deadline for submissions is Dec. 19.  

   Bowling Tip    
   By Mike Luongo

  This week we will talk about 10 of the most important bowling tips you should remember.
  Tip # 1 is always buy your own bowling equipment as proper equipment is important to a successful bowling game.
  Tip # 2 is make sure the ball fits your fingers. The holes in bowling balls must fit your fingers and be tight enough to hold the ball while throwing the ball.
  Tip # 3 is always buy a ball that's the correct weight...this is critical to good play.
  Tip # 4 is always wear comfortable clothing that is loose. The shirt sleeves and pant legs should always allow movement,
  Tip# 5 is always care for your equipment, keep is will aired and dry...remove all dirt.
  Tip # 6 is always warm up before bowling. Stretch your entire body before bowling.
  Tip # 7 is always wear bowling shoes that fit...not too loose or tight.
  Tip # 8 is always pick up the ball with two hands....otherwise you are asking for injuries.
  Tip # 9  is dry your bowling hand....sticky fingers interfere with good bowling style.
  Tip # 10 is always make sure the bottoms of your shoes are clean and can easily slide moving up the alley to the foul line.
  Mike Luongo is a certified 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,  email him at mikel@stormbowling.com

                                             Local Scores

  Beechwood Lanes

  Mon. Villa Roma Ladies

  Beth Schumacher  162, 162, Mary Beth Olsen 162, Julie Yewchuck 176, Nicole Hubert 155, Diane Staves 154.

 Callicoon Kristal Bowl

 Mon. Hortonville Ladies

  Maureen Schlott 150, 151, 157, Opal Hocker 159, Sue Naughton 152, 187, Kelly Gombita 163, Lillian Zieres 181, 166, Eleanor Gassel 155, Robin Luckey 152, Sill Boldiis 163, Pat Peters 156, Rebecca Rhodes 150, Judy Mohn 151, Heidi Bauer 167, Kim Doty 158.

Wednesday Fun

 Brian Brustman 183, 202, Rich Thony 204, Mardette Wilcox 174, 156, Eugene Fulton 199, 183, Tom Gain 202, Johnny Glassel 181, Hopper Hubert 181, Jack Diehl 189, Alby Thony 191, 183, 182, Doug Kautz 188, Troy Parucki 180, Chris Marston 184, Ed Leroy 181, Mike Geiger 188, Rich Leaden 199.

Kiamesha Lanes

Monday Men's

  Dean Shattuck  227, 248, 667, Jason Jones Sr. 228, Pedro Agapito III a 254, 660, Gary North 604, Ryan Lepke 605, Charlie Tuttle 238, 277, 727, Gene Smith 234, 602, Jon Wilhelm 228, 664, James VanAken 244, 245, 236, 725, Robert Stewart 253, 653, Chris Parken 256, 623, Justin Lopez 241, Kyle Matthews 235, 259, 693, Jaryl Scott 249, 641, Vinnie Collura 236, 243, 233, 712, Donny Durland 228, 256, 699, Kevin Stackhouse 231, 226, 652, Ronald Totten 234, 246, 701, Keith Smith 236, 235, 225, 696, Eddie Lake 269, 710, Rick Lake 249, 237, 688, Michael Scuderi 235, 675, Ryan Feeney 267, Robert Feeney Sr. 602, Jody Farquhar 258, 278, 730, John Hoffmann 226, 608, Russell Bivins 640, Richard Bivins 225, 611, Pete Meachum 225.

Tues. Mixed Firefighters

  An outstanding 815 series by Keith Smith off single games of 259, 257 and a big 299. He maintains a 223 average in this league and bowls with the Brothers Mechanical team and team mates MIchelle Dennis, Patty Whipple and Liz Stubits.
  Kevin Stackhouse 259, 618, Pedro Agapito III a 236, 226, 247, 709, Niel Bell 233, 616, Kyle Vanwolde 225, 603, John Hoffmann 225, 267, 714, Trasey Barres 185, 182, 180, 547, Heather Dobell 182, 508, Carena Collura 223, 199, 566, Christie Graham 187, Robert Nicholson 231, 628, Eddie Walsh 243, 227, 234, 704, Charlie Tuttle 244, 236, 694, Mary Lee Williams 186, 180, 184, 550, Linda Schaefer 180, 182, 522, Andrea Grossman 203, 288, 530, Joan Lake 203, 180, 548, Kat Cronk 186, Liz Stubits 182, 501, Jon Wilhelm 237, 637, Dave Graham 259, 276, 705.

Thursday Ladies

  Trasey Barres 212, 199, 196, 607, Loretta Van Aken 215, 187, 534, Joan Lake 202, 202, 565, Tabatha Smith 185, 530, Dottie Cox 185, 188, 520, Audrey Woolard 184.

Friday Mixed

  Paul Berens 225, David Graham 247, 632, John Hoffmann 236, 227, 664, Eddie Lake 288, 248, 726, Ryan Lepke 257, 279, 225, 761, Dan Ricco 225, Tito Santiago 621, Keith Smith a big 299  single for a 716 series, Kevin Stackhouse 247, 643, Charlie Tuttle 253, 639, James VanAken 226, 227, 650, Larry Whipple 258, 233, 701, Trasey Barres 213, 209, 590, Doris Castro 186, 514, MaryAnn Drobysh-Berens 223, 195, 574, Katie Hacker 181, Joan Lake 201, 534.

  Ed Townsend is a Public Relations consultant to the sport of bowling and brings over 60-years of sports journalism experience in writing and compiling the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, bowl a 300 game or 800 series or even bowl our age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax at 845-205-4474. View this column and Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com  We are also on Facebook and Twitter.

HERE & THERE COLUMN

The Need For One County Government


  With the newspaper headlines reading "Still At Odds Over Sales Tax" there is really only one remedy for this subject and that is to convert all township, village and school districts into one county government.
  In what has been described as "a sometimes tense meeting" between  County Legislature Chairman Luis Alvarez and various town supervisors on whether the county should now finalize a shared sales tax agreement proposed a year ago it was firmly decided it's not going to go anywhere at this time.
  As we have pointed out so many times in the past the population of Sullivan County has too many governments.

  The disagreement which exists at present time between the townships and the county legislature would easily be eliminated if the county had just one government.
  A formal joining of a county with town, village and school district governments would be called a consolidation and the resulting unified body assumes the responsibilities of all of the above.
  A consolidation could have the potential to do the following:

  1. Produce cost savings.
  2. Increase efficiency.
  3. Improve resource base.
  4. Enhance planning capacity.
   A consolidation would certainly result in improved accountability and responsibility for services would no longer be in dispute as it is now between separate governments.

  Under one government each existing township, village and school district would become a district (call it any name) and voters in that district would elect representatives to the one single government.

  Sullivan County presently supports a county government, 15 township governments, 6 village governments and 6 school districts all with a population of a little over 77,000 people.
  Folks......we have too much government that is costing us too many tax dollars.

PBA SPARE SHOTS

PBA Spare Shots

U.S. OPEN CHAMP FRANCOIS LAVOIE RE-WRITES PBA RECORD BOOK

Quebec City native Francois Lavoie forced a re-write of the PBA record book with his victory in the U.S. Open Wednesday night at South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas.

The 23-year-old, 120-pound French Canadian, who is living in Wichita, Kan., where he previously earned all-American honors as a member of the Wichita State University bowling team, became the first player to bowl a perfect game in the U.S. Open stepladder finals, the first Canadian to win the 74th edition of an event that began as the BPAA All Star in 1942, and only the second international player (joining 2001 winner Mika Koivuniemi of Finland) to win a U.S. Open title.

Some other tidbits arising from Lavoie’s march toward his 228-194 victory over top qualifier Marshall Kent in the title match:

● Lavoie became the second Canadian in the PBA’s 57-year history to win a PBA Tour title, and both have not only occurred in 2016, but both happened in majors. Graham Fach of Guelph, Ontario, was the first Canadian champion, winning the Barbasol PBA Players Championship in Columbus, Ohio, in February. Coincidentally, both are rookies and leading contenders for 2016 PBA Rookie of the Year honors.

● Lavoie’s 300 was the sixth bowled in a nationally-televised major. The others were by Jack Biondolillo in the 1967 PBA Tournament of Champions, Johnny Petraglia in the 1995 PBA National Championship, Jason Queen in the 1997 USBC Masters, Parker Bohn III in the 1998 USBC Masters, and Sean Rash in the 2015 Barbasol PBA Tournament of Champions.

● Lavoie’s 300 was the 26th bowled on national television and the first since Rash’s in the 2015 TOC.

● Lavoie joined a short list of players who won their first PBA Title in the U.S. Open (BPAA All Star), joining All Star winners Billy Welu (1959), Harry Smith (1960), Bill Tucker (1961), Bobby Cooper (1970), and U.S. Open winners Paul Moser (1971), Joe Berardi (1979), Del Ballard Jr. (1987) and Robert Smith (2000).

JAKOB BUTTURFF HAS ONE MORE CHANCE TO BREAK PBA REGIONAL RECORD

Second-year PBA member Jakob Butturff of Chandler, Ariz., has one more opportunity – Nov. 18-19 in Rocklin, Calif. – to become the first player in PBA history to win nine QubicaAMF PBA Regional titles in a single year.

Butturff, a 22-year-old left-hander with an unorthodox delivery, has dominated the PBA West and Northwest Regions in 2016, winning eight titles in Reno; Las Vegas; Hawaii; Gilbert, Ariz.; Rohnert Park, Calif.; Reno a second time; Tacoma, Wash., and Twin Falls, Idaho. According to PBA records, the only other player to win eight PBA Regional titles in a single year was Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, in 1999.

Butturff, who also has won his first two PBA Tour titles in 2016 (the Xtra Frame PBA Lubbock Sports Open and Xtra Frame PBA South Point Las Vegas Open), must win the PBA West/Northwest 3rd Capital City Open presented by DV8, Genesis and Mongoose in order to break the existing record because it’s the final event of the year for the PBA West and Northwest Regions.

SPECIAL WSOB VIII ROOM RATE AT SILVER LEGACY EXPIRES ON NOV. 14

Bowlers planning to compete in the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling VIII, presented by Silver Legacy Resort and Casino, are reminded that a confirmed reservation at Silver Legacy is required at the time of entry, and that special discounted room rates at Silver Legacy expire on Nov. 14. Just as important, due to other events scheduled for Reno, rooms may be extremely hard to find, so getting reservations in ASAP is strongly recommended.

Entries are open to PBA members only on a first-come basis by contacting PBA Membership Services Manager Mary von Krueger (email: maryvk@pba.com; phone: 206-332-9688; fax: 850-564-1717).  Reservations at the Silver Legacy, the tournament’s official sponsor, can be made by using this link: https://reservations.silverlegacy.com/cgi-bin/lansaweb?procfun+rn+resnet+res+funcparms+UP(A2560):;wsob16;?/

Room rates are also available to family members, support staff, industry representatives, news media representatives and fans in general. The special PBA rates are $49.99 Sunday-Thursday and $59.99 for Saturday-Sunday. Each room reservation (single or double) that includes a weekend stay also includes two buffet coupons.

NEXT UP ON XTRA FRAME: RANDY PEDERSEN GOES “ONE ON ONE” WITH PBA STARS

Xtra Frame subscribers are in for a special treat as the PBA’s online video-streaming service introduces a new up-close-and-personal look at the PBA Tour’s top stars through a new feature called One on One with Randy Pedersen. The new series will be available beginning Monday, Nov. 14.

The exclusive Xtra Frame series will begin with PBA Hall of Famer and ESPN/CBS Sports color analyst Randy Pedersen sitting down with three-time reigning PBA Player of the Year Jason Belmonte  discussing his daily routine, his crush on Jennifer Lawrence, family cuisine, shark cages and much more.

On Thursday, Nov. 17 will be a chat with five-time PBA Tour titlist and 2015 PBA Rookie of the Year Jesper Svensson where they will delve into such subjects as Svensson’s expansive hat collection, cuddleball, golf and his unique "scam step."

Other stars to be featured in the coming weeks will be Anthony Simonsen, Chris Barnes, Dom Barrett, Ryan Ciminelli, Tom Daugherty, Gary Faulkner and Sean Rash.

For a preview visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxRTi0p-1h8

The “One on One” series will be available as the PBA gears up for wall-to-wall coverage of the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling VIII. Xtra Frame subscribers will get a comprehensive look at the multi-event, two-week showcase of international bowling, beginning on Sunday, Nov. 27, with the qualifying rounds of the PBA Regional, PBA-PWBA Women’s Regional and PBA50 Challenge events, followed by the two-player championship matches.

Tuesday through Friday, Nov. 29-Dec. 2, will feature exclusive coverage of qualifying rounds in the Cheetah, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark Championships, leading into the PBA World Championship cashers round and match play Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 4-5. World Series coverage will continue Dec. 6-8. For the daily schedule, including air times, visit http://www.pba.com/Live. 

Xtra Frame subscriptions are available in a variety of packages: three-day ($3.99), 30-day ($7.99) and Xtra Frame Season Ticket (a full-year’s coverage at an average cost of $1.25 per week) subscriptions are available by visiting “xtraframe.tv” and clicking on the “subscribe now” link. As a reminder, new monthly or Season Ticket subscribers also are automatically entered into monthly sweepstakes where they have chances to win a new high-performance bowling ball from Brunswick, DV8 or MOTIV.

QUBICA AMF PBA REGIONAL UPDATE:  SCHMIDT WINS CENTRAL/MIDWEST TITLE

T.J. Schmidt of Mishawaka, Ind. defeated Nathan Michalowski of Burlington, Wis., 224-191, to win the PBA Pro Bowl West Central/Midwest Classic at Pro Bowl West in Ft. Wayne, Ind., Sunday for his second QubicaAMF PBA Regional title and a $2,000 first prize.

Schmidt downed Josh Conner of Columbus, Ohio, 2-1 (181-225, 201-159, 184-134), and Michalowski topped Joe Bailey of Doylestown, Ohio, 2-0 (217-182, 198-162), in the best-of-three-game semifinal round to set up the championship match.

● Chris Warren of Grants Pass, Ore., defeated Hugh Miller of Mercer Island, Wash., 258-225, to win the PBA50 Dick’s Pro Shop Northwest/West Open at Linn Lanes in Lebanon, Ore., Sunday. Along with his third PBA50 regional title, Warren earned the $2,500 top prize.

Warren defeated Parker Bohn III of Jackson, N.J., 237-221, and Miller defeated non-member Eric Parker of Lebanon, Ore., 258-246, in the semifinal round to set up the championship match.

● The QubicaAMF PBA Regional Tour schedule for the Nov. 11-13 weekend includes the PBA50 Victory Lanes Midwest/Central Open in Kankakee, Ill.; the Lubbock Sports Southwest Challenge presented by Ebonite, an event for non-champions, at South Plains Lanes in Lubbock, Texas, and the East Region’s PBA50 Chuck Pezzano Memorial presented by The Insurance Market at Bryan’s Bowling Center in Laurel, Del.

● The QubicaAMF PBA Regional Tour schedule for the Nov. 18-20 weekend includes the PBA50 Gastonia South Open presented by Brunswick at George Pappas Liberty Lanes in Gastonia, N.C.; the PBA and PBA50 3rd Capital City West/Northwest Open doubleheader, presented by DV8, Genesis and Mongoose, at Strikes Unlimited in Rocklin, Calif., and the La-Z-Boy Central Challenge for non-champions at Monroe Sports Center in Monroe, Mich.

 

● The QubicaAMF PBA Regional Tour’s Thanksgiving weekend schedule begins with the Japan Region’s Phoenix Rays Wolf Open at PBA Fuji Bowl in Iruma, Japan. The only tournament in the U.S. will be the Beaumont Southwest Open at Crossroads Bowling Center in Beaumont, Texas, Nov. 25-27.

 

● Heading into the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling VIII in Reno, the QubicaAMF PBA East Region will host the MJK Pro Shop/Knob Hill Eastern Challenge presented by DV8 for non-champions at Knob Hill Country Lanes in Manalapan, N.J., over the Dec. 2-3 weekend.

● For complete QubicaAMF PBA Regional schedules, rules and entry information, visit pba.com, open the “schedules” tab and click on QubicaAMF Regional Tours to find the event(s) in your area. For more information about QubicaAMF, visit www.qubicaamf.com or, for social media posts, visit http://bit.ly/QAMFSponsorship1.

QUICK NOTES

● Jim Owens is the October winner of the $200 HotelPlanner.com certificate, good for future lodging expenses, compliments of PBA’s official travel partner. The monthly sweepstakes is open to anyone who books a hotel through the HotelPlanner.com link on pba.com.

● John Dawidoicz of Scotch Plains, N.J., is the owner of a new high-performance DV8 bowling ball; Deborah Varney of Saginaw, Mich., won a new Brunswick ball, and Casey Mattingly of Alexandria, Ind., is the recipient of a new MOTIV ball thanks to the September sweepstakes sponsored by the respective PBA Product Registered partners. The monthly sweepstakes is open to new Xtra Frame subscribers, who are automatically entered when they enroll as a new monthly or yearly Xtra Frame subscriber.

● The 12th annual Chris and Lynda Barnes Thanksgiving Classic Scholarship tournament will take place Nov. 25-27 at Super Bowl in Plano, Texas. The tournament, which will include $7,000 in added scholarship money, features scratch, handicap and 12-under divisions. For more information, look for the Barnes Thanksgiving Classic page on Facebook.

● Reminder: Dec. 19 is the deadline to submit nominations for the 2016 Tony Reyes Community Service award, recognizing a current PBA member who performs extraordinary community service over the course of a PBA Tour season. For a nomination form and additional information click on http://www.pba.com/Corporate/Awards.

WORLD SERIES OF BOWLING TO START SOON

GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling VIII Ready to Invade Reno

World’s premier bowlers gearing up for dramatic conclusion to 2016 season

CHICAGO (Nov. 11, 2016) – For the eighth consecutive year, the world’s best bowlers are gearing up for a dramatic conclusion of the season as they prepare to invade Reno, Nev., for the GEICO Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling VIII, presented by Silver Legacy Resort and Casino, Nov. 27-Dec. 11.

With five PBA Tour titles on the line to conclude a year that has seen bowling history re-written at every major championship contested to date, the live telecast of the PBA World Championship on Sunday, Dec. 11, from Reno’s National Bowling Stadium should provide a fitting ending to a memorable year.

Among the highlights thus far in the 2016 season:

● In the first event of 2016, Anthony Simonsen became the second-youngest player to win a PBA Tour title, missing Norm Duke’s record by two days. Simonsen was 18 years, 347 days old at the time.

● In the second event of the year, Venezuela’s Amleto Monacelli won the DHC PBA Japan Invitational at age 54, becoming the fourth-oldest ever to win a PBA Tour title.

● Next, eight days shy of his 21st birthday, Jesper Svensson of Sweden became the youngest to win the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions.

● A week later, Simonsen – now 19 – became the youngest ever to win a PBA major when he won the USBC Masters.

● Seven days later, Graham Fach won the Barbasol PBA Players Championship to become the first Canadian to win a PBA Tour title.

● In November, Francois Lavoie won the U.S. Open, bowling the first nationally-televised 300 game in U.S. Open history, to become the second Canadian to win a PBA Tour title.

● During the PBA Fall Classic at South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas, 22-year-old Jakob Butturff won the Xtra Frame South Point Las Vegas Open, joining Ryan Ciminelli as the only two-time title winners in the seven-event 2016 PBA Xtra Frame Tour, but veteran Tommy Jones won a $10,000 winner-take-all bonus as the top all-around performer in the special XF series of events.

After his record-breaking start to the year, Svensson tacked on two more titles to become the first player to win five PBA Tour titles by age 21 and set in motion an intense PBA Player of the Year race that will carry into WSOB VIII. Svensson is being pursued by two-time 2016 title winners Ryan Ciminelli, EJ Tackett, Sean Rash (who won both of his titles in the PBA Fall Swing) and Jakob Butturff. And Canadian rookies Fach and Lavoie are battling at the head of the PBA Rookie of the Year race – an award won by international players only two other times in PBA history (Australia’s Jason Belmonte in 2009 and Sweden’s Svensson in 2015).

Keep in mind, however, that the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling – the richest event in bowling with more than $750,000 in prize money – has a way of ignoring trends.

The four animal pattern events – Cheetah Championship presented by PBA Bowling Challenge Mobile Game, Chameleon Championship presented by HotelPlanner.com, Scorpion Championship presented by Reno Tahoe USA and the Shark Championship – often produce unexpected champions. In 2015, Jon Van Hees won the Scorpion Championship for his first PBA Tour title. Six other players made ESPN finals for the first time in their careers in the animal pattern events. Gary Faulkner Jr. won the 2015 PBA World Championship, and Simonsen teamed with Connor Pickford to win the Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship, all for their first titles.

That has been a common theme since the WSOB was created in 2009. In the ensuing years, the WSOB has become the international showcase for bowlers, attracting bowlers from 37 different countries and making PBA Tour champions out of players from Australia, Colombia, England, Finland, South Korea and Sweden.

The World Series of Bowling has not only attracted bowlers from around the globe, but the introduction of Xtra Frame – PBA’s online video-streaming service that provides hundreds of hours of live coverage of WSOB competition – has given bowling fans an opportunity to watch their home-country favorites in competition on the sport’s most visible stage.

Expect nothing different in 2016, when bowlers from more than 20 countries descend on Reno. There will be a few subtle changes to enhance the event (the World Series has been in a constant evolution to remain fresh and vibrant), such as the return of the Shark Championship – contested on a 43-foot application of oil – in place of the Viper pattern, to provide a different challenge. Updated lane surfaces inside the National Bowling Stadium also are expected to change the way balls react on the lanes.

In 2016, the top 24 qualifiers in each of the animal pattern championships will advance to best-of-five-game match play elimination rounds to give players a more diverse path to the ESPN finals in each event. But like years past, the animal pattern events will also serve as “stages” to advance to the main event – the PBA World Championship – similar in concept to the way world-class bicycle racers advance to the podium in the famous Tour de France.

Eight games each on the Cheetah, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark qualifying stages will serve as the 32-game qualifying phase of the PBA World Championship. An additional eight-game cashers round for the top 25 percent of the field will determine the 24 players who will then bowl 24 games of round-robin match play to determine the five players who will bowl for the $60,000 first prize in the final major championship of the year, live on ESPN on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. Eastern (10 a.m. local time).

The carrot-at-the-end-of-the-stick in the animal pattern championships is that all four of them include a $20,000 first prize, a chance to bowl on ESPN and a PBA Tour title for each winner. So consider it “qualifying on steroids.”

That’s not all. WSOB VIII will get underway on Sunday, Nov. 27, when eight PBA Regional, eight PBA-PWBA Women’s Regional and eight PBA50 Tour players will compete in special PBA Challenge events - eight-game match play events video-streamed live on Xtra Frame. Those players, who earned their berths in season-long points competitions, will then bowl in the World Series.

Another bonus feature, reviving a special event held in 2010 and 2012, will be the USA vs. The World team showdown. Based on the same 32-game pinfall totals used in PBA World Championship qualifying, the top five American players and the top five international bowlers will advance to the team event which will be contested after the PBA World Championship telecast on Dec. 11 for delayed broadcast on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 1 p.m. ET.

Bottom line, the world’s most expensive and dedicated bowling facility – Reno’s 21-year-old National Bowling Stadium – will once again be at the center of the bowling universe for two solid weeks. Grassroots bowlers  in and around northern Nevada and California will have an opportunity to bowl with the greatest stars in the sport during the annual WSOB Pro-Am on Saturday, Dec. 3 (call the National Bowling Stadium  at 800-304-2695 for details).

The Dec. 10-11 weekend will feature six ESPN television finals. An all-day pass to watch the Cheetah, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark Championship finals on Saturday, starting at noon, is available for $20. An all-day pass for the live PBA World Championship finals on Sunday at 10 a.m. followed by the USA vs. The World special team match is available for $15, and will include a free hotdog and beer/soft drink for the first 200 through the door. TV tickets can be purchased at pba.com/tickets.

That’s about all, except for the occasional “surprise.” In previous World Series, devoted bowlers such as Sirius radio star Howard Stern’s engineer, Scott Salem, bowled. So did NFL superstar Terrell Owens. Last year, Boston Red Sox outfield Mookie Betts made his professional bowling debut.

That’s what makes the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling great. You never know what’s going to happen…

PBA WORLD SERIES OF BOWLING VIII SCHEDULE

National Bowling Stadium, Reno, Nev., Nov. 27-Dec. 11 (all times are Pacific)

Sunday, Nov. 27

3 p.m. – PBA Regional, PBA-PWBA Women’s Regional and PBA50 Tour Challenge, 8 games round-robin match play (top two in each division advance to Xtra Frame finals)

6:30 p.m. – PBA-PWBA Women’s Regional Challenge Xtra Frame championship match (live on Xtra Frame)

7 p.m. – PBA50 Tour Challenge Xtra Frame championship match (live on Xtra Frame)

7:30 p.m. – PBA Regional Challenge Xtra Frame championship match (live on Xtra Frame)

Monday, Nov. 28

10 a.m. – A Squad practice session (Cheetah, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark lane conditions)

2:30 p.m. - B Squad practice session (Cheetah, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark lane conditions)

6 p.m. – Mandatory PBA WSOB VIII players meeting

Tuesday, Nov. 29

9 a.m. – Cheetah Championship – A Squad 8 qualifying games

4 p.m. - Cheetah Championship – B Squad 8 qualifying games

            (Top 24 advance to best-of-five-game single-elimination match play on Tuesday, Dec. 6; top 8 qualifiers earn one round bye)

Wednesday, Nov. 30

9 a.m. – Chameleon Championship – A Squad 8 qualifying games

4 p.m. – Chameleon Championship – B Squad 8 qualifying games

            (Top 24 advance to best-of-five-game single-elimination match play on Tuesday, Dec. 6; top 8 qualifiers earn one round bye)

Thursday, Dec. 1

9 a.m. – Scorpion Championship – B Squad 8 qualifying games

4 p.m. - Scorpion Championship – A Squad 8 qualifying games

            (Top 24 advance to best-of-five-game single-elimination match play on Wednesday, Dec. 7; top 8 qualifiers earn one round bye)

Friday, Dec. 2

9 a.m. – Shark Championship – B Squad 8 qualifying games

4 p.m. – Shark Championship – A Squad 8 qualifying games

            (Top 24 advance to best-of-five-game single-elimination match play on Wednesday, Dec. 7; top 8 qualifiers earn one round bye)

            (Top 25 percent of field based on 32-game combined qualifying totals from Cheetah, Chameleon, Scorpion and Shark championships advance to PBA World Championship cashers round)

Saturday, Dec. 3

6-9 p.m. – Pro-am

Sunday, Dec. 4

11 a.m. – PBA World Championship cashers round, 6 games

            (Top 24 based on 38 games advance to round-robin match play)

5:30 p.m. - PBA World Championship, 8 games round-robin match play

Monday, Dec. 5

11 a.m. - PBA World Championship, 8 games round-robin match play

5:30 p.m. - PBA World Championship, 8 games round-robin match play

            (Top five after 62 games of qualifying and match play advance to ESPN finals)

Tuesday, Dec. 6

10 a.m. – Cheetah Championship, qualifiers 9-24, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

1 p.m. - Cheetah Championship, qualifiers 1-8 plus 10 a.m. winners, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

            (Winners advance to Round of 8 on Thursday, Dec. 8)

4:30 p.m. – Chameleon Championship, qualifiers 9-24, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

7:30 p.m. – Chameleon Championship, qualifiers 1-8 plus 4:30 p.m. winners, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

            (Winners advance to Round of 8 on Thursday, Dec. 8)

Wednesday, Dec. 7

10 a.m. – Scorpion Championship, qualifiers 9-24, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

1 p.m. - Scorpion Championship, qualifiers 1-8 plus 10 a.m. winners, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

            (Winners advance to Round of 8 on Thursday, Dec. 8)

4:30 p.m. – Shark Championship, qualifiers 9-24, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

7:30 p.m. – Shark Championship, qualifiers 1-8 plus 4:30 p.m. winners, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

            (Winners advance to Round of 8 on Thursday, Dec. 8)

Thursday, Dec. 8

10 a.m. – Cheetah Championship Round of 8, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

            (Four winners advance to ESPN match play finals)

1 p.m. – Chameleon Championship Round of 8, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

            (Four winners advance to ESPN match play finals)

4:30 p.m. – Scorpion Championship Round of 8, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

            (Four winners advance to ESPN match play finals)

7:30 p.m. – Shark Championship Round of 8, best-of-five-game single elimination match play

            (Four winners advance to ESPN match play finals)

Friday, Dec. 9

            No competition (television setup day)

Saturday, Dec. 10

Noon – Cheetah Championship presented by PBA Bowling Challenge Mobile Game match play semifinals and finals (airs on ESPN on Dec. 18, 1 p.m. ET)

2:30 p.m. – Chameleon Championship presented by HotelPlanner.com match play semifinals and finals (airs on ESPN on Dec. 24, 1 p.m. ET)

4:15 p.m. – Scorpion Championship presented by Reno Tahoe USA match play semifinals and finals (airs on ESPN on Dec. 25, 2:30 p.m. ET)

6 p.m. – Shark Championship match play semifinals and finals (airs on ESPN on Dec. 25, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Sunday, Dec. 11

10 a.m. – Live ESPN stepladder finals, PBA World Championship (10 a.m. Pacific; 1 p.m. Eastern; re-airs on ESPN on Jan. 1, 4 p.m. ET)

1:30 p.m. – USA vs. The World Team match (airs on ESPN on Jan. 8, 1 p.m. ET)

PBA SPARE SHOTS

PBA Spare Shots

TOMMY JONES SAVES BEST FOR LAST TO WIN PBA XTRA FRAME TOUR POINTS BONUS

After finishing second in the bowlingball.com PBA Maine Shootout in April to kick off the PBA Xtra Frame Tour’s winner-take-all points chase, Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C., never led until it mattered – at the very end.

Jones, needing a big finish to overtake Xtra Frame Series points leader E.J. Tackett, finished match play in Sunday’s Xtra Frame South Point Las Vegas Open with games of 300, 278 and 290 to qualify third for the stepladder finals. He then lost to Anthony Simonson, 248-191, but his fourth-place finish was good for 17 Xtra Frame Tour points and that gave him a total of 89 points for the year, enough to top Tackett’s 84 and Ryan Ciminelli’s 83. The win earned him a $10,000 bonus.

For the record, Jones finished second in Maine (19 points), won the Greater Jonesboro Open (25 points), finished 19th in Lubbock, Texas (2 points); 11th in Middletown, Del. (10 points), and fifth in Aurora, Ill. (16 points) before the finale in Las Vegas. The seven-tournament Xtra Frame Tour awarded 25 points to each tournament winner, 19 points for second place, 18 for third, etc., declining by one point each place through 20 places, resulting in a close, competitive points race all the way to the end.

APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2016 TONY REYES COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

The PBA is now accepting nominations for the 2016 Tony Reyes Community Service award, named in honor of the late PBA Tour player in recognition of his service to the bowling community. The award recognizes a current PBA member who performs extraordinary community service over the course of a PBA Tour season. To be eligible, the nominee must be a PBA member in good standing.

For a nomination form and additional information click on http://www.pba.com/Corporate/Awards. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 19

Reyes, a popular PBA Tour titlist, died in late September 2012 of injuries sustained in a traffic accident near his home in San Bruno, Calif. at the age of 38. Reyes, who competed in 14 seasons on the PBA Tour, won his lone Tour title in dramatic fashion in the 2006 Motor City Classic in Detroit where he bowled the 18th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history in the semi-final match against Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III before going on to defeat Wes Malott in the championship match, 255-238.

Past winners of the award were Parker Bohn III in 2013, Missy Parkin in 2014 and Ed Godbout in 2015.

NEXT UP ON XTRA FRAME: U.S. OPEN TO INCLUDE SPECIAL “XF2” COVERAGE

PBA’s Xtra Frame team will not only provide exclusive live coverage of all qualifying and match play rounds of Bowling’s U.S. Open from South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas, Nov. 4-8, but will continue to provide bonus coverage of featured groups of players on its new “XF2” channel.

During the mid-day (second) qualifying squad on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, XF2 – introduced during last week’s PBA Fall Classic – will cover a group of players-to-be-named every game in the mid-day eight-game rounds. The same coverage will apply to Monday’s cashers round. During the three match play rounds Monday evening and Tuesday, XF2 will follow a specific player-to-be-named for each eight-game round. The XF2 coverage will be available simultaneously along with Xtra Frame’s normal coverage as players migrate across the bowling center during each round.

PBA Hall of Famer Marshall Holman will join the team for its coverage of the evening rounds of match play on Nov. 7 and 8, leading into the stepladder finals that will air live on CBS Sports Network on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m. ET.

Xtra Frame will feature a Free Trial Day on Nov. 8 and three-day ($3.99), 30-day ($7.99) and Xtra Frame Season Ticket (a full-year’s coverage at an average cost of $1.25 per week) subscriptions are available by visiting “xtraframe.tv” and clicking on the “subscribe now” link. New monthly or Season Ticket subscribers also are automatically entered into monthly sweepstakes where they have chances to win a new high-performance bowling ball from Brunswick, DV8 or MOTIV.

QUBICA AMF PBA REGIONAL UPDATE:  TWO EVENTS OPEN NOVEMBER SCHEDULE

The QubicaAMF PBA Regional Tour schedule for November begins over the Nov. 4-6 weekend with the Pro Bowl West Central/Midwest Classic in Ft. Wayne, Ind., and the PBA50 Dick’s Pro Shop Northwest/West Open presented by Boulder Falls Inn in Lebanon, Ore.

● The QubicaAMF PBA Regional Tour schedule for the Nov. 11-13 weekend includes the PBA50 Victory Lanes Midwest/Central Open in Kankakee, Ill.; the Lubbock Sports Southwest Challenge presented by Ebonite, an event for non-champions, at South Plaines Lanes in Lubbock, Texas, and the East Region’s PBA50 Chuck Pezzano Memorial presented by The Insurance Market at Bryan’s Bowling Center in Laurel, Del.

● The QubicaAMF PBA Regional Tour schedule for the Nov. 18-20 weekend includes the PBA50 Gastonia South Open presented by Brunswick at George Pappas Liberty Lanes in Gastonia, N.C.; the PBA and PBA50 3rd Capital City West/Northwest Open doubleheader, presented by DV8, Genesis and Mongoose, at Strikes Unlimited in Rocklin, Calif., and the La-Z-Boy Central Challenge for non-champions at Monroe Sports Center in Monroe, Mich.

 

● The QubicaAMF PBA Regional Tour’s Thanksgiving weekend schedule begins with the Japan Region’s Phoenix Rays Wolf Open at PBA Fuji Bowl in Iruma, Japan. The only tournament in the U.S. will be the Beaumont Southwest Open at Crossroads Bowling Center in Beaumont, Texas, Nov. 25-27.

 

● Heading into the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling VIII in Reno, the QubicaAMF PBA East Region will host the MJK Pro Shop/Knob Hill Eastern Challenge presented by DV8 for non-champions at Knob Hill Country Lanes in Manalapan, N.J., over the Dec. 2-3 weekend.

● For complete QubicaAMF PBA Regional schedules, rules and entry information, visit pba.com, open the “schedules” tab and click on QubicaAMF Regional Tours to find the event(s) in your area. For more information about QubicaAMF, visit www.qubicaamf.com or, for social media posts, visit http://bit.ly/QAMFSponsorship1.

QUICK NOTES

● Dean Courtrade, the first bowler to average 200 for an entire season in New Orleans (1958) and the second Louisiana bowler to join the PBA (1960) died on Oct. 22 in New Orleans. He was 88. A former co-owner of Fazzio-Courtade Pro Shop he also owned Sugar Bowl Lanes and Sugar Bowl/Orbit Lanes, and earned induction into the Louisiana USBC Hall of Fame.

● The 12th annual Chris and Lynda Barnes Thanksgiving Classic Scholarship tournament will take place Nov. 25-27 at Super Bowl in Plano, Texas. The tournament, which will include $7,000 in added scholarship money, features scratch, handicap and 12-under divisions. For more information, look for the Barnes Thanksgiving Classic page on Facebook.

RUMBLE PONIES IS NEW NAME OF B-METS TEAM

Rumble Ponies Start New Era in Binghamton

The “Carousel Capital of the World” is now officially home to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the freshly-minted Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets. The new team identity was revealed on Thursday at NYSEG Stadium in a ceremony attended by 700 students, teachers and administrators from local Benjamin Franklin Elementary School.
“The completion of the project signifies the beginning of a new era for the team in Binghamton,” said team president John Hughes. “This is only the first step towards a bright future the team shares with the community. We look forward to the long and fun-filled journey as the Double-A Affiliate of the New York Mets playing in Binghamton.”
Nearly a century ago, local businessman and philanthropist George F. Johnson commissioned and funded the construction of six carousels to be enjoyed free-of-charge by the public throughout the Binghamton area. Almost 100 years later, these cherished artifacts continue to be used and beloved by the community.
The winning name submission came from Nicole, of Binghamton. Her inspiration for Rumble Ponies came from “The Carousel,” a children’s book written by Binghamton University professor Liz Rosenberg about carousel horses that sleep in the winter, but come to life in the spring. Nicole was awarded season tickets for life and the first home jersey produced for winning the Name the Team Contest.
“When I rode the carousels as a child every summer, I imagined they were wild stallions or untamed ponies,” said Nicole. “Now as a mother I watch my young sons do the same. The book illustrates the concept of every child's imagination of what these horses truly are. These carousels of the Triple Cities were put here by men of industry from our local history for the community to enjoy, just like baseball.”
“Using a local author’s work as her lead, Nicole has helped shape the future of Minor League Baseball in Binghamton while paying homage to the past,” Hughes said. “That speaks volumes about the strength and spirit of the people of the Southern Tier.”
An armored, white horse with a flame mane jumping free of the carousel is the centerpiece of the identity. The “Rumble Ponies” lettering is formed in classic carousel style. The road cap logo is a broken silver carousel pole in the shape of a “B.” Another broken pole logo forms an “NY,” celebrating New York State. A patch with an anthropomorphic carousel horse sporting boxing gloves will be worn on the jersey sleeves.
Carousel Silver, Fire Red and Binghamton Blue make up the club's new official colors, paying tribute to Binghamton’s carousel heritage.
 “The pride, passion and strong fighting spirit are proudly reflected in the logos,” explained Hughes. “Most importantly, for the first time in a long time, the team will play with the words “Binghamton” proudly displayed on the front of the jerseys. We will respectfully display the spirit of Binghamton and the entire Southern Tier throughout the Eastern League.”
The Rumble Ponies will continue the rich history of professional baseball in Binghamton in 2017. It will mark the 103^rd pro season of baseball in the Southern Tier and the 26^th straight at the Double-A level. The Rumble Ponies join the Crickets, Bingoes, Triplets and Mets as caretakers of America’s pastime in Binghamton.
“With the new name and identity we add another building block to the great tradition and legacy of professional baseball in Binghamton,” said Hughes.
The Rumble Ponies will unveil their new uniforms for the 2017 season at a later date.
Merchandise featuring the Rumble Ponies new look is available now at the ballpark and online at www.BingRP.com. The team store at NYSEG Stadium will be open until 5 PM on Thursday, from 9 AM to 5 PM on Friday and from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday.
Be sure to follow the Rumble Ponies on Facebook (facebook.com/RumblePonies) on Twitter (@RumblePoniesBB), and at the team’s official website (BingRP.com) for more team information.
The Rumble Ponies open the 2017 season on the road in New Hampshire on April 6 before celebrating their home opener at NYSEG Stadium on April 13. Tickets for the 2017 season will go on sale soon.

LPGA TOP STORYLINES

top storylines

lpga returns to Japan

The LPGA returns to Japan for the 43rd edition of the TOTO Japan Classic held at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course in Ibarkabi. It marks the first time the LPGA has played in the Tokyo area since 1991.

Throughout the years, several of the LPGA’s best have captured victories in Japan including; Nancy Lopez, Pat Bradley, Betsy King, Annika Sorenstam and a trio of former champs who are in the field this week, Mi Hyang Lee, Karrie Webb and Stacy Lewis.

As in the past, members of the JLPGA have been invited to compete in this year’s event as 35 members, including defending champion Sun-Ju Ahn, will be teeing it up among the LPGA’s best. For a complete list of JLPGA members competing please see page 4.

who’s in the field

Past Champions (7):

Sun-Ju Ahn (2015), Mi Hyang Lee (2014), Teresa Lu (2013), Stacy Lewis (2012), Momoko Ueda (2011, 2007), Jiyai Shin (2010, 2008), Karrie Webb (2006)

Japanese LPGA Golfers (3):

Ai Miyazato, Mika Miyazato, Haru Nomura

END OF LONG ASIA SWING FOR 6

The TOTO Japan Classic will mark the end of a six event in six week Asian stretch for six golfers who competed in the five previous Asia events and are in the field this week. The six golfers are:

               

                Moriya Jutanugarn                  Danielle Kang                            

                Christina Kim                             Pornanong Phatlum               

                Beatriz Recari                            Jenny Shin

Of the six, Danielle Kang has had the most impressive play during the five tournament stretch with a pair of top-10 finishes, including a tie for seventh last week at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.

2016 lpga leaders

Wins - 5 (Ariya Jutanugarn)

Top-10s - 15 (Brooke Henderson)

Money List - $2,451,642 (Lydia Ko)

Race to CME Globe - 4,416 (Ariya Jutanugarn)

Scoring Average - 69.552 (Lydia Ko)

Rolex Player of the Year - 260 (Ariya Jutanugarn)

feng on fire

Since to Olympics, no player on the LPGA Tour has been playing better than Bronze Medalist Shanshan Feng. Who has registered five top-4 finishes and a victory last week at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. Below are Feng’s finishes in events since Rio:

Tournament                                         Result

Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia                  Win

KEB-HanaBank Championship               T3

Fubon LPGA Taiwan                                     2

Reignwood LPGA Classic                          T4

The Evian Championship                            4

race to cme globe enters the home stretch

The Race to CME Globe is entering its home stretch with just two events left to decide who will be competing for the $1 million dollar first prize at the CME Group Tour Championship.

The top 72 LPGA Members and those tied for 72nd on the Race to the CME Globe Points Standings, ranked in the order of their position on the standings at the conclusion of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex will have earned their way into field at CME.

Once the players have qualified for the event the points will reset. After the reset, the players in the top-3 positions on the Race to the CME Globe Points Standings will be able to win the Race to the CME Globe with a win at the Tour Championship. Additionally, the players in the top-9 positions will have a mathematical chance to win the race based on various scenarios.

The battle for the top-3 and top-9 is coming down the stretch as laid out below.

Race to cme globe battles

Top-4                                                                    8, 9, 10, 11

1. Ariya Jutanugarn - 4,416                           8. Anna Nordqvist - 2,440

2. Lydia Ko - 4,365                                            9. Haru Nomura - 2,439

3. Brooke Henderson - 3,186                       10. Amy Yang - 2,233

4. Sei Young Kim - 2,753                                 11. Shanshan Feng - 2,051