PBA TOUR RETURNS TO TULSA

Go Bowling! PBA Tour Returns to Tulsa Area

for Multi-Event FloBowling PBA Fall Swing Oct. 15-20

        Three PBA Tour titles up for grabs to be contested on PBA’s Wolf 33 and Bear 39 lane conditions

 

OWASSO, Okla. (Oct. 8, 2018) – The Go Bowling! PBA Tour will return to the Tulsa area for the first time in 13 years when The Lanes at Coffee Creek in Owasso, Okla., hosts the 2018 revival of the FloBowling PBA Fall Swing Oct. 15-20.

 

The multi-event tournament package, which will be conducted on two different PBA lane conditions, will be covered live exclusively on PBA’s online streaming service Xtra Frame on FloBowling.

 

The Fall Swing will feature three PBA Tour events – Wolf Open, Bear Open and Tulsa Open – each awarding a PBA Tour title. The Fall Swing will precede the U.S. Open – the final major championship of the season – which takes place Oct. 24-31 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.

 

The Wolf Open will be conducted on PBA’s Wolf 33-foot pattern, the Bear Open on the Bear 39-foot pattern. The 18 players who advance to the Tulsa Open match play rounds will have the added challenge of competing on a mixed condition that uses the Bear condition on the left lane and Wolf condition on the right lane. The mixed Bear/Wolf oiling system also will be used for the Tulsa Open stepladder finals on Saturday, Oct. 20.

 

As the 2018 season heads down the homestretch, the Fall Swing will play a pivotal role in determining the PBA Player and Rookie of the Year award winners. Leading contenders for Player of the Year heading into the Fall Swing are four two-time PBA Tour winners this season including four-time and reigning Player of the Year Jason Belmonte of Australia; 2016 Player of the Year EJ Tackett of Bluffton, Ind.;, 2018 USBC Masters champion Andrew Anderson of Holly, Mich., and Jakob Butturff of Chandler, Ariz.

 

The defending champions from the last Fall Swing held in 2016 at Thunderbowl Lanes in suburban Detroit are Tackett (Bear Open), Tom Daugherty of Riverview, Fla. (Wolf Open) and Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill. (Detroit Open).

 

The last time the PBA Tour visited the Tulsa area was in October 2005 when 18-time PBA Tour winner Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C., won the Tulsa Championship at The Lanes at Coffee Creek, defeating Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, 289-248, in the title match. Both players are also entered in the Fall Swing which will feature a field of approximately 120 players representing 10 countries.

 

Of local interest will be Oklahoma players including 18-year-old two-hander Trey Ford III of Bartlesville and former touring player Mike Edwards of Tulsa. Ford made PBA history earlier this year by becoming the youngest player to win a PBA regional tournament at the age of 17.  He has competed in several other PBA national events with a best finish of 11th in the PBA Grand Hotel & Resort Open in July of 2017. Edwards owns one PBA Tour title which came in the IOF Foresters Bowling For Miracles Open in 1994.

 

Following an official practice day on Oct. 14, the FloBowling PBA Fall Swing will get underway with two Wolf Open six-game qualifying rounds on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 15-16. After 12 games, the top five will advance to the Wolf Open stepladder finals Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. CT.

 

Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 17-18, all players will bowl two more six-game qualifying rounds in the Bear Open with the top five bowling for the Bear Open title Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

 

Based on the combined 24-game qualifying totals from the Wolf and Bear events, the top 18 players will advance to Tulsa Open match play, which will consist of two six-game round robin match play rounds on Friday, Oct. 19 and the final six-game round on Saturday, Oct. 20. Based on combined total pinfall for 42 games, including match play bonus pins, the top five scorers will compete for the Tulsa Open title Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

 

Spectator admission is $10 each day including the stepladder finals on Oct. 20. Grassroots bowlers can bowl with the pros during a special practice session on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. which will provide the opportunity to get instruction from some of the best bowlers in the world. For additional admission and Practice with the Pros entry information contact The Lanes at Coffee Creek by calling (918) 274-0400.

 

FLOBOWLING PBA FALL SWING SCHEDULE

The Lanes at Coffee Creek, Owasso, Okla. (all times are Central)

All rounds covered live on Xtra Frame on FloBowling

 

Sunday, Oct. 14

10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. – Official practice sessions

6 p.m. – Practice With the Pros

 

Monday, Oct. 15

9 a.m. – A Squad, Wolf Open, 6 qualifying games

3 p.m. – B Squad, Wolf Open, 6 qualifying games

 

Tuesday, Oct. 16

9 a.m. – B Squad, Wolf Open, 6 qualifying games

3 p.m. – A Squad, Wolf Open, 6 qualifying games

    Top five advance to stepladders finals

7:30 p.m. – Stepladder finals, live on Xtra Frame on FloBowling

 

Wednesday, Oct. 17

9 a.m. – A Squad, Bear Open, 6 qualifying games

3 p.m. – B Squad, Bear Open, 6 qualifying games

 

Thursday, Oct. 18

9 a.m. – B Squad, Bear Open, 6 qualifying games

3 p.m. – A Squad, Bear Open, 6 qualifying games

    Top five advance to stepladders finals; top 18 after 24 combined qualifying games advance to Tulsa Open finals

7:30 p.m. – Stepladder finals, live on Xtra Frame on FloBowling

 

Friday, Oct. 19

9 a.m. – Top 18, 6 games, round robin match play

3 p.m. – Top 18, 6 games, round robin match play

Bear 39 lane condition will be used on left lane and Wolf 33 used on right lane

 

Saturday, Oct. 20

9 a.m. – Top 18, 6 games, round robin match play

    Top five after 42 games advance to stepladder finals

12:30 p.m. – Stepladder finals live on Xtra Frame on FloBowling

Bear 39 lane condition will be used on left lane and Wolf 33 used on right lane for final match play round and stepladder finals

 

LIU WINS TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

LIU WINS TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP, TOP-10 FINALIZED

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — For a third time this season Ruixin Liu (Dalian, China) found her way into the winner’s circle, only on this occasion with a 19-under par overall performance to capture the 11th annual Symetra Tour Championship at LPGA International.

Entering the final round, Liu was tied with Pavarisa Yoktuan (Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand) at 18-under par overall. The two battled all afternoon, neither yielding an inch until a bogey on the par-3 17th by Yoktuan sealed the deal for Liu.

The victory makes it back-to-back wins for the second-year professional, as she captured the IOA Golf Classic title on Sept. 30. Her third piece of hardware this season came from the Island Resort Championship in late June. 

“Last week and this week my putting has been really good and it means a lot to me to win three times,” said Liu, who finished No. 4 on Tour this year with 230 sub-par holes. “It is a really big step forward from season one to season two. It shows me that I have improved a lot and everything that I have worked for is worth it.”

In addition, Liu climbed to No. 1 in the Volvik Race for the Card thanks to the $33,750 winner’s check. That spot earns her Player of the Year honors and is the icing on the cake for a monumental season.

“It means a lot to me because after 21 tournaments, being able to be the No. 1 on course, it feels really good and gives me momentum to move forward for next year on the LPGA,” Liu said. “For next year it helps knowing that I can do it here, so now make sure I can do it there.”

Meanwhile, an even par 72 today left Yoktuan one shot short of forcing a playoff in shooting for her first Symetra Tour victory. Three birdies helped Yoktuan tame the windy conditions, but three matching bogeys proved to be her downfall.

Nonetheless, she secures a LPGA Tour card for 2019 with a solo second finish in the Sunshine State. 

“I wish I could have done better than this, but today was really hard, the greens were tough and it was very windy,” said Yoktuan, who ended the year No. 3 on Tour in scoring average at 70.208. “I did my best and Ruixin played so good, making a lot of putts. Even tough I finished runner-up I get my card. That’s the best part, so I’m really glad I can go next year.”

VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS

Following the 21st and final tournament of the 2018 Symetra Tour season, the Volvik Race for the Card top-10 is finalized and 10 players have earned a full LPGA Tour card for 2019. 

The victory and $33,750 winner’s check launched Ruixin Liu into the No. 1 position with $124,839 earned. She was one of three players in the top-10 that competed in all 21 events, joined by Stephanie Meadow (Jordanstown, Northern Ireland) and Charlotte Thomas (Guildford, England).

Below is a look at the 10 individuals that secured full LPGA membership for next season with their finish in the top-10. 

1. Ruixin Liu - $124,839
2. Dottie Ardina (Laguna, Philippines) - $97,822
3. Pavarisa Yoktuan - $80,313
4. Elizabeth Szokol (Winnetka, Illinois) - $76,612
5. Linnea Ström (Hovas, Sweden) - $70,685
6. Stephanie Meadow - $70,617
7. Kendall Dye (Edmond, Oklahoma) - $63,579
8. Charlotte Thomas - $60,952
9. Isi Gabsa (Munich, Germany) - $60,386
10. Dana Finkelstein (Chandler, Arizona) - $60,168

ALLEN & MIKA ELECTED TO HALL OF FAME

PBA Champions Patrick Allen, Mika Koivuniemi Elected to Hall of Fame

Veteran bowling journalist Bob Johnson, Indianapolis tournament host Jim Doty also to be honored

 

CHICAGO (Oct. 1, 2018) – Professional Bowlers Association champions Patrick Allen of South Salem, N.Y., and Mika Koivuniemi of Finland have been elected to the PBA Hall of Fame along with veteran bowling journalist Bob Johnson of Las Vegas and long-time Indianapolis tournament host Jim Doty, PBA CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark announced today.

 

The 2019 PBA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held on Saturday, Jan. 5, at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, as part of the PBA Hall of Fame Classic tournament that will be contested at the International Research and Training Center Jan. 2-6. The finals of the first tournament on the 2019 Go Bowling! PBA Tour season will be televised live on FS1 on Sunday, Jan. 6, at 11 a.m. EST.

 

Allen, a 13-time PBA Tour title winner, and Koivuniemi, one of the most successful international players in PBA history, were elected by an elite panel of veteran bowling writers, industry leaders and PBA Hall of Famers in the Superior Performance category.

 

Allen won PBA’s 2004-05 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year after becoming the second player in PBA history to finish among the top five in all four PBA majors during the same season – finishing second in the USBC Masters and U.S. Open, fifth in the PBA Tournament of Champions and winning the PBA World Championship.

 

“I don’t know exactly how I feel yet,” Allen said. “People are always saying you’re a lock (for hall of fame election), but you don’t know until it happens. I’m just happy I finally got there. I’m going to embrace it, and now I’ll have to figure out a speech.

 

“It was a helluva ride,” the 48-year-old left-hander said. “It just went faster than I would have liked. You blink your eyes and wonder, where did it go? But the time comes for every professional athlete, and the results show that. Your mind says you can do it, but your body won’t respond. You have to know when to say when.”

 

Koivuniemi, who now resides in the United Arab Emirates where he is coaching the UAE national bowling team, is a 14-time PBA Tour champion who earned his nickname – Major Mika – after winning two majors before he won his first “standard” PBA Tour title. In his first PBA television appearance, Koivuniemi defeated PBA star Pete Weber by a pin to win the 2000 USBC Masters. A year later he won the U.S. Open, and he claimed the crown jewel of his PBA career in 2011, when he won the $250,000 first prize in the $1 million PBA Tournament of Champions.

 

“I’m having a really good day,” the 51-year-old Koivuniemi said. “It was a really great call (from Tom Clark).

 

“I was 32 when I joined the PBA, but I had my experience around the world before I joined. But back then bowling on tour was something you needed to learn about. To bowl every week and to realize how good the players really were was different. Even when you had a good week, making the top 24 or a (TV) show was really hard. I knew I had to get better.

 

“It’s amazing how fast time goes,” he added. “I can’t believe it’s been almost three years since I bowled on tour for the last time. But being in the hall of fame now is a great, great honor.”

 

Johnson, who began his journey into bowling  journalism at age 15, is the only person in the bowling family to serve as editor of four national bowling magazines, winning 75 national writing awards for his news, feature and editorial compositions, many of which directly involved the PBA. Currently Senior Editor of Bowlers Journal International and editor of the BJI Cyber Report, he is a recipient of both the International Bowling Media Association’s Luby Hall of Fame Award and the Mid-America Bowling Writers Golden Quill Award.

 

“I have been blessed to be able to cover bowling competition at the highest level, to see the best players bowl in the most pressure-packaged situations, and to be able to talk to them and write about them is a privilege I’ve never taken lightly,” Johnson said. “To be honored for the work I’ve done is really something I don’t have the words to describe. If I was talking about someone else, I could describe, but myself? Well, that’s difficult.”

 

Doty, who has served as general manager of Indianapolis’ Royal Pin Leisure Centers chain since 1996, has served as host for every major championship tournament conducted by the PBA at least once over the past two-plus decades. The 1971 Indiana University graduate joined the Royal Pin group in 1978, working under Royal Pin founder and 2018 PBA Hall of Fame inductee Don Mitchell as marketing manager until his promotion to general manager.

 

“It’s a nice way to start your week,” said Doty of his congratulatory call from Clark. “It was a surprise. I wasn’t thinking about it, actually. I don’t think you do what you do with the hopes of someday being put into the hall of fame, but it’s always nice to be recognized for what you do.

 

“It’s not only me; it’s having a great staff of people who make these things happen,” Doty added. “It’s a continuing process. At Woodland Bowl, we have endeared ourselves to the PBA over the years. The bowling industry is changing, but traditions need to be retained and honored, and that’s what we try to do.”

 

Additional career details for the four inductees are included below.

 

The 2019 PBA Hall of Fame ceremonies will be live streamed by PBA Xtra Frame on FloBowling. Tickets for the event will be available online in the future (https://www.pba.com/Tickets).

 

PATRICK ALLEN CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Patrick Allen, affectionately known as “P.A.” among his peers, had 40 top-five finishes in the 300 PBA Tour events he entered, cashing in 214 of them and averaging at a 218.9 pace for more than 6,300 games. He finished in the top 10 in PBA earnings six times, and won the 2005 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award after earning $350,740 – the second highest total in PBA history (behind only Walter Ray Williams Jr.’s $419,700 for the 2002-03 season.

 

Allen won his first PBA Tour title in the 2001 Greater Detroit Open, and has two majors in the 2005 PBA World Championship and the 2009 PBA Tournament of Champions. The 2004-05 season was especially memorable because he became the second PBA player ever to place in the top five in all four majors in a single season (second in the USBC Masters, 2nd in the U.S. Open, first in the PBA World Championship and fifth in the PBA Tournament of Champions.

 

As a full-time competitor, the New York native also won 30 PBA Regional titles including posting victories in the PBA’s East, South, Central, Southwest and West Regions. He has earned $1,539,260 during his career.

 

MIKA KOIVUNIEMI CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Mika Koivuniemi, who didn’t join the PBA until he was 32, quickly earned the nickname “Major Mika” after winning the 2000 USBC Masters and 2001 U.S. Open before winning his first “standard” PBA Tour title in 2003. His most memorable feat might have been his historic 299-100 victory over Tom Daugherty in the semifinal match of the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, followed by a victory over Tom Smallwood in the title match of the $1 million event, winning the richest first prize in PBA history ($250,000).

 

Despite his reasonably-late start in PBA Tour competition, the native of Finland bowled in 405 PBA Tour events and finished in the top five 45 times on his way to $1,851,503 in career earnings. He finished in the top 10 in earnings eight times, averaged 219.21 for 6,774 games and won the Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award in 2004 and 2011.

 

A member of the World Bowling Writers and Finland Bowling Halls of Fame, Koivuniemi has won titles and bowled 300 games in 21 different countries. He bowled the 17th nationally-televised PBA 300 game during the finals of the 2003 Cambridge Credit Classic – the first standard PBA Tour event he won. He is the only foreign-born player to win both the USBC Masters and the U.S. Open, and he was the first European bowler to win the Japan Cup.

 

In his second year as a PBA50 Tour competitor, he added another major – the 2018 Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open.

 

BOB JOHNSON CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Bob Johnson started working for the Pacific Bowler when he was 15 years old, and he’s still writing about bowling 45 years later. He is the only person to have served as Editor of the American Bowling Congress’ Bowling Magazine, International Bowling Industry, Bowlers Journal International, and Bowling Center Management.

 

During his tenure at Bowlers Journal, he produced BJI’s historic 300-page 100th Anniversary Issue and he wrote several key chapters in the PBA’s “50 Greatest” book published by Luby Publishing.

 

Through the years, Johnson has covered every PBA major tournament among other important events and has interviewed dozens of PBA players. He has written countless editorials and columns suggesting ideas or changes for the betterment of the PBA and the enrichment of its players. He has delved into some of the PBA’s most sensitive moments, including Scott Norton’s decision to “come out” as a gay bowler, how Ryan Shafer dealt with his wife’s suicide, and Mark Baker’s battle with addiction.

 

JIM DOTY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Jim Doty is general manager of Royal Pin Leisure centers, the Indianapolis chain that includes long-time PBA host Woodland Bowl, Western Bowl, Expo Bowl and Southern Bowl. Doty, who graduated from Indiana University in 1971 with a business degree, worked at Nora Bowl while attending high school and college. He joined the Royal Pin group in 1978, serving as general manager of 421 Bowl and Woodland Bowl while also serving as marketing director for the chain. He was promoted to general manager of all Royal Pin centers in 1996.

 

Under Doty’s leadership, Royal Pin Leisure Centers has hosted PBA events over a span of 20 years, including the U.S. Open, PBA Touring Players Championship, USBC Masters, PBA World Championship, PBA Tournament of Champions and PBA League Elias Cup finals among other events. Woodland Bowl is the only center to host all five PBA major Championships.

 

The Royal Pin group also has hosted the USBC Junior Gold Championships a record five times, the 1999 USBC Women’s Championships and Queens. Nearly 20 local high school teams call one of Royal Pin’s centers home. Doty also is a past president and currently a director with the Central Indiana Bowling Centers Association. He served multiple terms as a BPAA board member, serving on BPAA’s marketing committee.

ALL-TIME SWB TEAM NOMINATIONS

RailRiders accepting nominations for All-Time SWB team

RailRiders celebrating 30 seasons of baseball in NEPA during 2019 season

MOOSIC, PA. (October 1, 2018) – During the 2019 season, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will celebrate 30 years of baseball in Northeast Pennsylvania.  Over the next three weeks, nominations will be accepted to help determine the All-Time Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Team. Nine bobbleheads will be created and given away in 2019, honoring the best of the best that honed their skills here.

⸰ Between now and October 7, fans can nominate their favorite pitcher and catcher.
⸰ From October 8 through October 14, nominations for the top infielders will be accepted.
⸰ Nominations for the top outfielders will be accepted between October 15 and 21.

Nominations are being accepted via email at info@swbrailriders.com. In addition, fans can make a nomination via social media by simply replying to that week’s All-Time Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Team posting. The nominations will form the basis of fan voting later this month and into November as the club builds the roster to honor the top players over the last 30 seasons.

“We know our fans have their favorites over the years,” said Josh Olerud, the RailRiders Team President and General Manager. “As we celebrate 30 years of baseball, we want to honor those greats that kept people coming back. Red Barons, SWB Yankees, RailRiders... whatever era or team. We need this input to make sure the fan’s voices are heard as we pay tribute those great players that came up through Northeast Pennsylvania.”

Season ticket plans for 2019 are now available by calling (570) 969-BALL or by visiting swbrailriders.com.

WILLIAMS BEATS DUKE TO WIN STORM INVITATIONAL

Walter Ray Williams Jr. Beats Norm Duke to Win PBA50 Storm Invitational

Williams defeats Duke 259-237 in title match to win tournament

featuring PBA50 Tour’s elite players from 2018

 

SHALLOTTE, N.C. (Sept. 30, 2018) – In a showdown between two of the Professional Bowlers Association’s all-time greats, PBA Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. beat fellow hall of famer and top qualifier Norm Duke, 259-237, in the title match Sunday to win the PBA50 Storm Invitational at Planet Fun Bowling & Entertainment Center.

 

Williams and Duke were part of an elite 14-player field that competed in the “all-star” non-title special event that featured the top 12 in points from PBA’s tour for players 50 and over plus invitees hall of famers Johnny Petraglia and Brian Voss.

 

Down by eight pins in the fourth frame of the title match, Williams, the PBA Tour’s career titles leader with 47 wins and an 11-time PBA50 Tour winner, took advantage of a missed 9-pin by Duke in the fifth frame and then struck on the next seven of eight shots to take the title.

 

“When I got done with practice I wasn’t real excited about how I was going to play the lanes,” said Williams, who turns 59 on Oct. 6. Going into the semifinal match I planned on playing the lanes straighter but I had to make an adjustment a little further inside and hook it a little more. When I go to the title match against Norm I started to feel pretty comfortable and didn’t miss the pocket.

 

“Both of us threw good shots in the title match,” Williams added. “I was fortunate that I only left two 10 pins.”

 

Both Williams and Duke, who is third on the all-time PBA Tour titles list with 38 wins and also owns five PBA50 Tour titles, have been bowling against each other in tour competition for more than three decades.

 

“We’ve been bowling against each other for a long time and he’s a great player,” Williams said. “When you bowl someone like Norm, you always feel fortunate to come out on the winning end.”

 

Williams finished the season fourth in points with three runner-up finishes and two other top-five finishes including fifth in the PBA50 National Championship. Duke, who finished the season fifth in points, had one title in 2018 and runner-up finishes in the PBA50 National Championship and USBC Senior Masters.

 

Williams, who qualified second for the finals after two seven-game match play rounds, defeated No. 3 qualifier five-time PBA Tour winner Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., 256-212, in the semifinal to advance to the title match against Duke.

 

Shafer, who finished ninth in points, had six PBA50 Tour top-10 finishes including a career best of second.

 

In the second match, Shafer beat USBC Hall of Famer and 2018 PBA50 National Championship winner Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wis., who qualified fifth for the finals, 257-222, to advance to the semifinal match against Williams.

 

In the opening match Boresch, who finished the season seventh in points, beat 2018 PBA50 Player of the Year and season points leader Michael Haugen Jr., of Phoenix, 225-207, to advance to the second stepladder match against Shafer.

 

PBA50 STORM INVITATIONAL

Planet Fun Bowling & Entertainment Center

Shallotte, N.C.

 

Final Standings

1,  Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., $10,000

2,  Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., $5,000

3,  Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., $3,500

4,  Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis. $2,500.

5,  Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, $2,000.

 

Stepladder Results

Match One – Boresch def. Haugen, 225-207.

Match Two – Shafer def. Boresch, 257-222.

Semifinal – Williams def. Shafer, 256-212.

Final – Williams def. Duke, 259-237.

 

SECOND ROUND RESULTS

(after 14 games. Includes match play record and total pinfall including bonus pins. Top five advance to stepladder finals)

1, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 8-5-1, 3,633.
2, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 10-4, 3,573.
3, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 10-4, 3,566.
4, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 8-6, 3,505.
5, Lennie Boresch Jr, Kenosha, Wis., 9-5, 3,494.
6, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 8-6, 3,449, $1,700.
7, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 8-6, 3,350, $1,600.
8, Brian Voss, Cornelius, N.C., 6-8, 3,257, $1,500.
9, Bob Learn Jr, Erie, Pa., 6-8, 3,241, $1,400.
10, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 4-8-2, 3,030, $1,300.
11, Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 5-8-1, 2,935, $1,200.
12, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3-11, 2,931, $1,100.

13, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 4-10, 2,921, $1,050.
14, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 4-7, 2,436, $1,000, WD.

LIU WINS IOA GOLF CLASSIC

LIU WINS IOA GOLF CLASSIC FOR SECOND TITLE OF SEASON

LONGWOOD, Fla. — Entering the final round of the fifth annual IOA Golf Classic at Alaqua Country Club, Ruixin Liu (Dalian, China) trailed by one shot, but a string of three consecutive birdies from Nos. 14-16 helped land her in the winner’s circle for the second time this year. 

Liu finished the tournament at 14-under par overall after a closing 4-under par 67 that featured five birdies and only one bogey.

“It was an amazing week for me and being able to win for a second time this year is thrilling,” said Liu. “I didn’t really picture this before I started today because there was a lot of girls that are pretty strong in the front. I’m really proud of what I did.”

In late June, the second-year Symetra Tour professional won the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass Golf Club. She also came away with a one-stroke victory in Harris, Mich., but this time around her game is in a different place.

“I think I’m actually playing much better right now,” Liu said. “To know I’ve improved a lot since last year and show that I can do this a second time is extra credit for me and my team. It’s an awesome reward for all of us.”

At one point on the back nine, five players were tied for the lead at 12-under par overall. That’s when Liu made her move.

“After birdie on No. 14, I was 13-under par and saw the leaderboard that [Dana and] I led by one, so I got a little nervous because everyone was really tight,” said Liu. “Then I birdied Nos. 15 and 16, so after that I knew I was there and had to play well the next two holes, for par and just relax.”

With her father Zuoyi on the bag and mother Zhengzi in attendance, Liu did just that.

“They give me a lot of support,” Liu said. “My mom does all the cooking for us and eating good is a really big part on the road. My dad gave me support along the way on the course and I’m very thankful for everything they did for me.”

Meanwhile, three individuals tied for second including Dottie Ardina (Laguna, Philippines), Simin Feng (Beijing, China) and Liu’s playing parter in the final pairing Dana Finkelstein (Chandler, Arizona).

“Congratulations to Ruixin, she played great and had three-in-a-row on the back nine that really kind of sealed it for her,” said Finkelstein, who held the 36-hole advantage. “I tried to give it my all and putts weren’t falling, ball striking was a little off. Just really couldn’t get it going like I did the first two days, but I’m happy with how I did and it puts me in a good position heading into next week.”

The official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour concludes the 2018 season in Daytona Beach, Fla. with the Symetra Tour Championship from Oct. 4-7 on the Jones Course of LPGA International. Following the event, the top-10 in the Volvik Race for the Card will earn full LPGA membership for the 2019 season, while Nos. 11-30 will be exempt into Q-Series. 

MEADOW SECURES LPGA TOUR CARD WITH ANOTHER TOP-10

Joining Dottie Ardina and Ruixin Liu in securing their LPGA Tour card for 2019 is Stephanie Meadow (Jordanstown, Northern Ireland), who has recorded 12 top-25 finishes this season including a win and eight top-10 results. 

The most recent came today at Alaqua Country Club where Meadow tied for eighth at 8-under par overall in the IOA Golf Classic. The performance was highlighted by a bogey-free, 4-under par 67 final round.

“Amazing, it has been a lot of hard work and realizing that it has paid off is crazy,” said Meadow, one of three players in the current Volvik Race for the Card top-10 to play in all 20 events so far this year. “You never quite know and don’t want to get too excited. It’s really cool, really cool.”

What makes the occasion extra special is that Meadow’s father Robert would have celebrated his 67th birthday earlier this month. Born on September 17, 1951, he passed away in May of 2015 after a short battle with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Robert was Meadow’s inspiration when it came to pursuing the game of golf. 

“I think my dad would be very proud, it was his birthday a couple weeks ago,” Meadow said. “I think that’s a pretty awesome birthday present. I’m just really happy that I get a second chance because I came down here and had to work my way back.”

Meadow lost her LPGA Tour membership for the 2018 season after suffering a stress fracture in her lower back last year. When she was set to take a medical exemption, it was too late to regain even partial status.

In her first start as a professional, Meadow finished solo third at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. Having spent this year on the Symetra Tour to build her strength, she is right on track to showcase that same form on the big stage once again. 

“I won’t be a rookie and have already learned a lot of things from being out there before,” said Meadow. “I’m hoping I can use that to help me perform to my ultimate potential next year. I’ve been through a lot the last few years and I’m so glad I have such outstanding support from Investec, Ireland Golf, my family and boyfriend. I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this without them.”

VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS

Following the 20th tournament of the 2018 Symetra Tour season, the Volvik Race for the Card saw plenty of shifting within the top-10.

The victory and $22,500 winner’s check helped Ruixin Liu maintain her position at No. 2 with $91,089 through 20 events played. Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into the 11th annual Symetra Tour Championship on the Jones Course at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. from Oct. 4-7, the final tournament on the 2018 Symetra Tour calendar:

1. Dottie Ardina - $94,954
2. Ruixin Liu - $91,089
3. Linnea Ström (Hovas, Sweden) - $66,463
4. Stephanie Meadow - $66,395
5. Elizabeth Szokol (Winnetka, Illinois) - $63,882
6. Charlotte Thomas (Guildford, England) - $59,242
7. Pavarisa Yoktuan (Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand) - $58,482
8. Dana Finkelstein - $57,751
9. Min Seo Kwak (Seoul, Republic of Korea) - $57,571
10. Kendall Dye (Edmond, Oklahoma) - $57,263