No changes in the top 8 in the 5 p.m. squad; cut nears the 1300-mark, is now 1288 (214.67 average)
Chris Barnes (pictured left with his wife, Lynda), United States, set the tone in the 12th of 17 qualifying squads at the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open Friday afternoon at Plus Bowling in Vienna. The 13-time PBA champion, who won the gold medal at the World Singles Championships on Cyprus last month, toppled 1381 pins improving his previous high series by 24 pins en route to leap six spots into 12th place in the overall qualifying standings. Lynda leaped into 33rd place with 1319.
German international jumps into second place overall with 1466; teams with Stuart Williams to move into second place in Doubles; cut for 52nd place is now 1279 (213.17 average)
German national team member Birgit Pöppler (r.) had the first 300 game of the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open in Squad 11 on Friday afternoon en route to move into second place in both the overall qualifying standings and the Doubles competition. Pöppler started her series with 238 and achieved perfection in game two. She closed out with 206, 246, 225 and 203 for 1466 including handicap. She teamed with Stuart Williams of England, who added 1292 for 2758 total.
Swede overtakes fourth place overall with 1385; total six players in the Friday morning squad surpass the 1300-mark; with 270 players from 26 countries in the books, the cut for 52nd place is 1250 (208.33 average)
Joachim Karlsson (l.) of Sweden has six games between 214 and 246 Friday morning at Plus Bowling in Vienna Austria to lead the 10th qualifying squad with 1385 total en route to move into fourth place in the overall qualifying standings of the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open. With 270 players - 222 men and 48 women - from 26 countries in the books, one 1500 series, one 1400 series and 30 1300 can be found on the leaderboard. Stuart Williams of England is in the driver's seat with 1544 (257.33).
England's Stuart Williams holds a 144-pin lead heading into the penultimate qualifying day; Squad 9 leader Carsten Warming Hansen moves into 35th place; Thomas and Ivonne Gross were the best doubles with 2500 (24th place); cut for 52nd place is 1244 (207.33 average)
Stuart Williams of England (pictured) remained unchallenged in the ninth squad Friday night and leads a field of 247 players from 25 countries into the penultimate qualifying day at the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open. Squad 9 leader Carsten Warming Hansen totaled 1287 to move into 35th place. Williams and Dennis Eklund of Sweden continued to lead in Doubles with 2790. Thomas and Ivonne Gross were the best doubles in Squad 9 with 2500, good for 24th place. Qualifying continues on Friday with Squads 10-13 scheduled for 9 a.m., 1, 5 and 9 p.m. CEST.
Williams and Sweden's Dennis Eklund take the pole position in Doubles with 2790; six players of qualifying Squad 8 move into the top 8; cut for 52nd place improved by 30 pins to 1232 (205.33 average)
The eighth qualifying squad was the highest scoring squad so far at the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open with Stuart Williams (l.) of England taking the lead in Singles and Doubles with Swede Dennis Eklund (r.) Thursday evening at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. Williams fired games of 228, 274, 228, 287, 259 and 268 for 1544 six game total, an average of 257.33, to overtake previous leader and fellow PBA bowler Dan MacLelland of Canada by 144 pins.
Johnson leads Squad 7 with 1365 to shoot into second place in the qualifying standings; Frederik Øhrgaard, Osku Palermaa crack the top 8; cut for 52nd place is now 1202 (200.33 average)
Liz Johnson, United States, led the seventh qualifying squad of the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open with 1365 and teamed with fellow Team USA member Kelly Kulick (l-r) to overtake the lead in Doubles 2692. Johnson leaped into second place in the overall qualifying standings. Dane Frederik Øhrgaard (right) had six games between 243 and 197 and moved into fouth place with 1349.
Dane shoots 1346 to move into fourth place; USA's Tanner Spacey uses 296 game to leap into ninth place; cut for 52nd place is now 1160 (193.33 average)
Mik Stampe (l.) of Denamrk led the sixth qualifying squad at the 10 Columbia 300 Vienna Open with 1346 total en route to earn the last automatic berth into Sunday's finals. Tanner Spacey (r.), United States, used a 296 game to leap into ninth place with 1308. Dan MacLelland of Canada leads the field of 172 bowlers with 1400 (233.33). The PBA bowler and Clara Juliana Guerrero of Colombia also lead in Doubles with 2666 (218.17).
Colombian leads Squad 5 with 1346 to leap into third place overall; teams with qualifying leader Dan MacLelland to overtake lead in Doubles with 2666; cut for 52nd place is now 1137 (189.50 average)
Clara Juliana Guerrero (l.) of Colombia finished her six-game series Wednesday evening with a four-bagger en route to win Squad 5 with 1346 total including 48 pins handicap. The two-time World Champion became the first woman to win a squad in the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open. Guerrero sandwiched games of 225, 229, 233 and 225 around two 190s to beat out Riku Petteri Kivelae (r.) of Finland for the top spot by 19 pins.
Canadian teams with Austria's Thomas Gross to take the pole in Doubles with 2547; four players of Squad 4 move into the top 8; cut for 52nd place is now 1111 (185.17 average)
Dan MacLelland (l.) of Canada averaged 233.33 and bowled 1400 on the nose in the fourth squad of the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open to overtake the qualifying lead Thursday afternoon at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. Trailing MacLelland by 42 pins to move into second place was Kelly Kulick (r.), United States, with 1358 total including 48 pins handicap. Alexander Rauscher, Austria, and Jens Rieger, Germany moved into 4th and 6th place.
Swede bowls all eighteen games on Tuesday en route to qualify for the finals in his last attempt; Leo Grundschober holds on to the lead with 1316; Wegner sisters set the pace in Doubles with 2460; cut for 52nd place is 1089 (181.50 average)
Robert Andersson (l.) of Sweden, who bowled all three squads on Tuesday, managed a 1274 series in his third and last attempt en route to win the squad and to qualify for the finals of the 10th Columbia Vienna Open. Squad 1 leader, Leo Grundschober (r.) of Austria, led the field of 108 players from 16 countries after the first day of qualifying with 1316 and an average of 219.33. Qualifying continues Wednesday with Squads 4, 5 and 6.
Beats out Robert Andersson, Sean Rash, Daniel Vezis for the top spot; Leo Grundschober holds on to the lead with 1316; early cut for 52nd place is 1049 (174.83 average)
Hans Flaton (l.) of Austria closed out his six-game series with a big 243 game en route to become the surprise winner of the second qualifying squad of the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open in Vienna, Austria. Flaton totaled 1244 pins, an average of 207.33, earned an automatic berth into Sunday's finals. He moved into fourth place in the overall qualifying standings. Squad 1 leader, Leo Grundschober (r.) of Austria, held on to the lead with 1316.
Austrians lead the opening squad with 1316 and 1310; Wegner sisters from Sweden set the pace in Doubles with 2460
Leo Grundschober and Daniel Hahn (l-r) of Austria became the first players of the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open who cracked the 1300-bar Tuesday afternoon at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. Grundschober led the first of 17 qualifying squads with 1316 and an average of 219.33. As the squad leader Grundschober is automatically qualified for the finals on Sunday, Oct. 7 live on Bowlingdigital TV. If Grundschober will qualify among the top 52, Hahn will take advantage.
75 players compete for 17 of the coveted qualifying spots in the nearly sold-out tournament; all other players were consoled by a bottle of Austrian wine
The 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open got underway Monday evening, Oct. 1st with a 9-Pin No-Top tournament at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. The event, which traditionally kicks off the five-day qualifying portion of the European Bowling Tour "Gold" tournament, drew 75 players Each player bowled five games in which every nine-count on the first ball counted as a strike. 17 players (pictured) received a free entry for the main event, which starts Tuesday at noon local time.
The EBT and WBT event offers a PBA title for PBA members; 308 players from 29 countries registered; 8 of 17 qualifying squads are currently fully booked; the last 14 doubles spots are available on first come-first serve basis; the popular EBT "gold" tournament will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a big players' party
The 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open is the 16th event and the last "gold" tournament of the 2012 European Bowling Tour season as well as the 11th and penultimate event on the 2012 World Bowling Tour. Eight out of 17 qualifying squads are fully booked. The $100.000 Dollar tournament will run from Oct. 2-7, 2012 at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. Bowling fans around the world will be able to watch portions of the qualifying as well as all the final rounds including the stepladder finals live on Bowlingdigital TV.
Dutch Ghislaine van der Tol finishes third to win the women's ranking in Nieuwegein, Netherlands
Tony Ranta (l.) of Finland won his first career European Bowling Tour title in the Chandra Open 2012 Sunday at Chandra Bowling in Nieuwegein, Netherlands. The former European Youth Champion totaled 2654 for the last 12 games, an average of 221.17, to beat out qualifying leader Daniel Vezis (r.) of England for the top spot by 19 pins. Ghislaine van der Tol, Netherlands, finished in third place en route to win the
women's ranking in Nieuwegein.
Englishman leads 31 men and seven women into Sunday's finals; cut for 30th place was 1299 (215.50 average)
Daniel Vezis (pictured) of England led a field of 124 bowlers from 15 countries to win the qualifying of the Chandra Open 2012 and to lead a group of 38 bowlers into Sunday's finals at Chandra Bowling in Nieuwegein, Netherlands. The former Latvian national team member, who is now playing under his English nationality, toppled 1464 pins, an average of 244, on Friday and remained unchallenged in the last three qualifying squads on Saturday. The tournament offers total prize fund of 24.600 Euro with 5.000 Euro going to the winner
Six players of Squad 8 move into top 8; cut for 30th place is now 1261 (210.17 average)
On the fifth day of qualifying at the European Bowling Tour's Chandra Open 2012 three players cracked the 1400-bar en route to take control of the leaderboard. Daniel Vezis (l.) of England fired three games in the 260s in Squad 8 en route to pace the field of 107 players from 14 countries with 1464 total and an average of 244 for six games. Ben Fishler (r.) of Israel moved into second place with 1436 with Tony Ranta of Finland third at 1424,
Englishmen lead Squad 6 to move into the top 6; German's Oliver Pescher leads Chandra Open 2012 since the first Squad with 1379; cut for 30th place surpassed the 1200 mark (1213, 202.17 average)
Oliver Pescher of Germany held on to the lead in the Chandra Open in Nieuwegein, Netherlands, with his 1379 series from the first day of qualifying which included the tournament's first 300 game. Team England's Matt Miller (l.) and Stuart Williams (r.) paced Squad 6 on Thursday (Squads 4 and 5 have been cancelled) en route to move into fifth and sixth place in the overall qualifying standings with 1355 and 1348, respectively.
Qualifying leader Pescher wins his second squad but fails to improve, top 4 of Squads 1-3 earn automatic spots in Sunday's finals; cut for 30th place is now 1178 (196.33 average)
Qualifying leader Oliver Pescher (l.) of Germany won his second qualifying squad Wednesday and continued to lead the qualifying of the Chandra Open in Nieuwegein, Netherlands with 1379 six-game total. Dirk Dreyer (r.), Germany, was second with 1369 followed by Dutch Ghislaine van der Tol in third place with 1368 and Jeroen van Geel in fourth place with 1364. Those four players earned automatic berths into Sunday's finals.
Oliver Pescher holds on to the lead; Cut for 30th place is currently 1154 (192.33 average)
Three Dutch and one German women's national team members finished atop the leaderboard of the second qualifying squad in the Chandra Open Tuesday at Chandra Bowling in Nieuwegein, Netherlands. Ghislaine van der Tol (pictured), Netherlands, led the squad with 1368 total and an average of 220 to move into third place in the overall qualifying standings. Oliver Pescher and Dirk Dreyer of Germany held onto the lead with 1379 and 1369, respectively. Qualifying continues Wednesday, Sept. 26 with Squad 3 scheduled for 8 p.m. CEST.
Chris Barnes (pictured left with his wife, Lynda), United States, set the tone in the 12th of 17 qualifying squads at the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open Friday afternoon at Plus Bowling in Vienna. The 13-time PBA champion, who won the gold medal at the World Singles Championships on Cyprus last month, toppled 1381 pins improving his previous high series by 24 pins en route to leap six spots into 12th place in the overall qualifying standings. Lynda leaped into 33rd place with 1319.
German national team member Birgit Pöppler (r.) had the first 300 game of the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open in Squad 11 on Friday afternoon en route to move into second place in both the overall qualifying standings and the Doubles competition. Pöppler started her series with 238 and achieved perfection in game two. She closed out with 206, 246, 225 and 203 for 1466 including handicap. She teamed with Stuart Williams of England, who added 1292 for 2758 total.
Joachim Karlsson (l.) of Sweden has six games between 214 and 246 Friday morning at Plus Bowling in Vienna Austria to lead the 10th qualifying squad with 1385 total en route to move into fourth place in the overall qualifying standings of the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open. With 270 players - 222 men and 48 women - from 26 countries in the books, one 1500 series, one 1400 series and 30 1300 can be found on the leaderboard. Stuart Williams of England is in the driver's seat with 1544 (257.33).
Stuart Williams of England (pictured) remained unchallenged in the ninth squad Friday night and leads a field of 247 players from 25 countries into the penultimate qualifying day at the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open. Squad 9 leader Carsten Warming Hansen totaled 1287 to move into 35th place. Williams and Dennis Eklund of Sweden continued to lead in Doubles with 2790. Thomas and Ivonne Gross were the best doubles in Squad 9 with 2500, good for 24th place. Qualifying continues on Friday with Squads 10-13 scheduled for 9 a.m., 1, 5 and 9 p.m. CEST.
The eighth qualifying squad was the highest scoring squad so far at the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open with Stuart Williams (l.) of England taking the lead in Singles and Doubles with Swede Dennis Eklund (r.) Thursday evening at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. Williams fired games of 228, 274, 228, 287, 259 and 268 for 1544 six game total, an average of 257.33, to overtake previous leader and fellow PBA bowler Dan MacLelland of Canada by 144 pins. 
Liz Johnson, United States, led the seventh qualifying squad of the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open with 1365 and teamed with fellow Team USA member Kelly Kulick (l-r) to overtake the lead in Doubles 2692. Johnson leaped into second place in the overall qualifying standings. Dane Frederik Øhrgaard (right) had six games between 243 and 197 and moved into fouth place with 1349. 
Mik Stampe (l.) of Denamrk led the sixth qualifying squad at the 10 Columbia 300 Vienna Open with 1346 total en route to earn the last automatic berth into Sunday's finals. Tanner Spacey (r.), United States, used a 296 game to leap into ninth place with 1308. Dan MacLelland of Canada leads the field of 172 bowlers with 1400 (233.33). The PBA bowler and Clara Juliana Guerrero of Colombia also lead in Doubles with 2666 (218.17).
Clara Juliana Guerrero (l.) of Colombia finished her six-game series Wednesday evening with a four-bagger en route to win Squad 5 with 1346 total including 48 pins handicap. The two-time World Champion became the first woman to win a squad in the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open. Guerrero sandwiched games of 225, 229, 233 and 225 around two 190s to beat out Riku Petteri Kivelae (r.) of Finland for the top spot by 19 pins.
Dan MacLelland (l.) of Canada averaged 233.33 and bowled 1400 on the nose in the fourth squad of the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open to overtake the qualifying lead Thursday afternoon at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. Trailing MacLelland by 42 pins to move into second place was Kelly Kulick (r.), United States, with 1358 total including 48 pins handicap. Alexander Rauscher, Austria, and Jens Rieger, Germany moved into 4th and 6th place.
Robert Andersson (l.) of Sweden, who bowled all three squads on Tuesday, managed a 1274 series in his third and last attempt en route to win the squad and to qualify for the finals of the 10th Columbia Vienna Open. Squad 1 leader, Leo Grundschober (r.) of Austria, led the field of 108 players from 16 countries after the first day of qualifying with 1316 and an average of 219.33. Qualifying continues Wednesday with Squads 4, 5 and 6. 
Leo Grundschober and Daniel Hahn (l-r) of Austria became the first players of the 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open who cracked the 1300-bar Tuesday afternoon at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. Grundschober led the first of 17 qualifying squads with 1316 and an average of 219.33. As the squad leader Grundschober is automatically qualified for the finals on Sunday, Oct. 7 live on Bowlingdigital TV. If Grundschober will qualify among the top 52, Hahn will take advantage.
The 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open got underway Monday evening, Oct. 1st with a 9-Pin No-Top tournament at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. The event, which traditionally kicks off the five-day qualifying portion of the European Bowling Tour "Gold" tournament, drew 75 players Each player bowled five games in which every nine-count on the first ball counted as a strike. 17 players (pictured) received a free entry for the main event, which starts Tuesday at noon local time.
The 10th Columbia 300 Vienna Open is the 16th event and the last "gold" tournament of the 2012 European Bowling Tour season as well as the 11th and penultimate event on the 2012 World Bowling Tour. Eight out of 17 qualifying squads are fully booked. The $100.000 Dollar tournament will run from Oct. 2-7, 2012 at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. Bowling fans around the world will be able to watch portions of the qualifying as well as all the final rounds including the stepladder finals live on 
Tony Ranta (l.) of Finland won his first career European Bowling Tour title in the Chandra Open 2012 Sunday at Chandra Bowling in Nieuwegein, Netherlands. The former European Youth Champion totaled 2654 for the last 12 games, an average of 221.17, to beat out qualifying leader Daniel Vezis (r.) of England for the top spot by 19 pins. Ghislaine van der Tol, Netherlands, finished in third place en route to win the
women's ranking in Nieuwegein.
Daniel Vezis (pictured) of England led a field of 124 bowlers from 15 countries to win the qualifying of the Chandra Open 2012 and to lead a group of 38 bowlers into Sunday's finals at Chandra Bowling in Nieuwegein, Netherlands. The former Latvian national team member, who is now playing under his English nationality, toppled 1464 pins, an average of 244, on Friday and remained unchallenged in the last three qualifying squads on Saturday. The tournament offers total prize fund of 24.600 Euro with 5.000 Euro going to the winner
On the fifth day of qualifying at the European Bowling Tour's Chandra Open 2012 three players cracked the 1400-bar en route to take control of the leaderboard. Daniel Vezis (l.) of England fired three games in the 260s in Squad 8 en route to pace the field of 107 players from 14 countries with 1464 total and an average of 244 for six games. Ben Fishler (r.) of Israel moved into second place with 1436 with Tony Ranta of Finland third at 1424,
Oliver Pescher of Germany held on to the lead in the Chandra Open in Nieuwegein, Netherlands, with his 1379 series from the first day of qualifying which included the tournament's first 300 game. Team England's Matt Miller (l.) and Stuart Williams (r.) paced Squad 6 on Thursday (Squads 4 and 5 have been cancelled) en route to move into fifth and sixth place in the overall qualifying standings with 1355 and 1348, respectively. 
Qualifying leader Oliver Pescher (l.) of Germany won his second qualifying squad Wednesday and continued to lead the qualifying of the Chandra Open in Nieuwegein, Netherlands with 1379 six-game total. Dirk Dreyer (r.), Germany, was second with 1369 followed by Dutch Ghislaine van der Tol in third place with 1368 and Jeroen van Geel in fourth place with 1364. Those four players earned automatic berths into Sunday's finals.
Three Dutch and one German women's national team members finished atop the leaderboard of the second qualifying squad in the Chandra Open Tuesday at Chandra Bowling in Nieuwegein, Netherlands. Ghislaine van der Tol (pictured), Netherlands, led the squad with 1368 total and an average of 220 to move into third place in the overall qualifying standings. Oliver Pescher and Dirk Dreyer of Germany held onto the lead with 1379 and 1369, respectively. Qualifying continues Wednesday, Sept. 26 with Squad 3 scheduled for 8 p.m. CEST.