After a season in which more than 170 regional and senior regional tournaments were conducted, the Professional Bowlers Association announced its 2012 season-ending Player of the Year, Senior Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year Award winners. PBA also announced Pat Patterson Award winners for each Region. The award is presented to those recognized for contributions to the regional program and are selected by the respective regional managers.
PBA adds new incentives to end-of-season "regional major championship" tournaments
The PBA has added new incentives to its inaugural Regional Players Invitational program, including a special ESPN telecast for the six RPI champions and a berth in the 2014 PBA Tournament of Champions. The new RPI program will introduce affordable, closer-to-home regional "major" championship events to the PBA's East, South, Central, Midwest, Southwest and West/Northwest combined regions.
One-day tournament formats will help reduce travel expenses for competitors
The PBA Midwest Region will offer a limited schedule of reduced entry fee and condensed format tournaments in 2013, designed to help competitors manage their expenses. The Midwest Region will conduct four standard and four senior events that will reduce PBA member entry fees to $155 (a $65 reduction) and non-member entry fees to $225 (a $60 reduction). The reduced-entry fees will offer a modified 1:4 payoff ratio.
Average entries show increase in experimental tournament series
The PBA's experimental regional "animal pattern" championship series has produced 35 paid entries into PBA World Series of Bowling IV and a significant increase in the average number of entries in PBA Regional tournaments between March and August of 2012, John Weber, PBA Director of Regional and Senior Tours, announced Monday. The inaugural animal pattern series featured Cheetah, Viper, Scorpion and Chameleon Championships in each of the PBA's seven regions.
Closer-to-home championship events offer prize funds in excess of $25,000; provide unique incentives, opportunities for PBA members
The Professional Bowlers Association has created a new PBA Regional Players Invitational series for the 2012-13 season that will give all PBA members an opportunity to qualify for a prestigious new regional championship event closer to home, PBA Commissioner Tom Clark announced Tuesday. The new tournament series, which will be conducted in the PBA's East, South, Central, Midwest, Southwest and joint West-Northwest Regions and will be webcast live, exclusively on PBA's online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.
Two clutch split conversions salvage nine-pin victory over Jason Sterner
Jason Lundquist (l.) of Groveport, Ohio, pulled out every escape trick in his bag Sunday to win the PBA Regional Players Championship-East by nine pins over Jason Sterner (r.) of McDonough, Ga. Lundquist converted two difficult splits, a 2-6-7 in the sixth frame and a 2-4-6-10 in the 10th, to finish with an 18-game total of 4,146 pins. Needing a strike to win, Sterner left a solid 10 pin in his final frame, finishing with 4,137 pinfall total.
Jason Lundquist (l.) of Englewood, Ohio, averaged 241.13 for eight qualifying games Saturday to lead the field of 32 players who advanced to Sunday’s finals in the PBA Regional Players Championship-East at Columbus Western Bowl. Lundquist, a 36-year-old two-time PBA Regional title winner, rolled games of 243, 254, 237, 278, 254, 236, 256 and 171 for total of 1,929 pins (241.13 average) and a 52-pin lead over Riga Kalfas (r.) of Florence, Ky.
Josh Blanchard adds West and Northwest Region Rookie of the Year awards to his PBA Tour ROY honor
Josh Blanchard (pictured) made it three PBA Rookie of the Year honors for the 2011-12 season adding West and Northwest Region awards Thursday after being named PBA Tour Rookie of the Year last week. Blanchard's awards were part of the PBA's announcement of regular and senior regional awards for the 2011-12 season. Blanchard, of Gilbert, Ariz., had one win in each region while cashing and making match play in all five events he entered.
"Elite" berth in 2013 PBA Tournament of Champions at stake in Memorial Day weekend event
The Professional Bowlers Association's annual Regional Players Championship-East is set for Memorial Day weekend at Columbus Western Bowl in Columbus, Ohio, where the winner will earn an "Elite" berth in the 2013 PBA Tournament of Champions. The Regional Players Championship-East, which is open to all PBA members except for those who finished among the top 32 in competition points during the 2011-12 PBA Tour season, will also pay a $6,000 first prize based upon a capacity field of 200 players.
New events offer players a chance to experience World Series of Bowling patterns, win WSOB berths
The PBA is expanding its "animal pattern" lane conditioning program into a series of PBA Regional "animal pattern" championship tournaments, giving bowlers across the nation an opportunity to experience lane conditions that are the heart of the PBA World Series of Bowling. Under the new program, each PBA Regional program will run championship tournaments, incorporating the same lane conditioning patterns that are used in the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling, Nov. 2-11, at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev., USA (Feb. 11, 2012)
Professional Bowlers Association Tour rookie Josh Blanchard (l.) and 2003 United States Bowling Congress Masters champion Bryon Smith (r.) teamed up to win the PBA Regional Players Doubles Championship presented by Hammer Saturday at The Orleans Bowling Center. With the win, both bowlers earned an Elite Round berth in the PBA Tournament of Champions April 8-15 at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas. The duo also received the $8,000 top prize.
Youth bowlers to gain valuable experience in events conducted on PBA lane conditions
The nation's top youth bowlers will have the opportunity to compete on PBA lane conditions and rub elbows with the greats in the game when Teen Masters Qualifiers will be conducted in conjunction with selected PBA Regional tournaments in 2012. PBA has entered into an agreement with Killer 'B' Promotions to conduct 18 Teen Masters qualifiers at PBA Regional events beginning in March through the end of May. The Teen Masters qualifiers will be conducted on lanes designated for Teen Masters competition.
PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III (l.) of Jackson, N.J., and amateur partner Alex Aguiar (r.) of Dartmouth, Mass., defeated Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio, and amateur Jeff Fehr of Cincinnati, 428-415, to win the PBA West Region Member/Non-Member Doubles title Sunday at South Point Bowling Center. Bohn fired a 224 and Aguiar a 204 to claim the $4,800 first prize. The victory was Bohn's 19th in PBA Regional competition.
Lead top 16 teams into Sunday’s Match Game Elimination Finals
Reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi (l.) of Hartland, Mich., and amateur Kim Hyun Bum of South Korea led a field of 16 teams into Sunday’s single-elimination match play finals in the PBA West Region’s Member/Non-Member Doubles at South Point Bowling Center. The duo combined for 3,649 pins over eight games (228.06 avg.) to take the top spot by three pins over amateur Adam Ishman of Las Vegas and Dom Barrett (r.) of England.
Former PBA Player of the Year earns $4,000, 14th career PBA Regional title
Six-time PBA Tour winner Wes Malott (l.) of Pflugerville, Texas, defeated rookie Josh Blanchard (r.) of Gilbert, Ariz., 266-214, to win the PBA All Regions South Point Open Saturday at South Point Bowling Center. Malott, the 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year, collected his 14th career PBA Regional title and a $4,000 prize. Blanchard, who has been a PBA member for just over a week, earned $2,200.
Regional "major" championship includes two berths in PBA Tournament of Champions "Elite Field"
The Professional Bowlers Association has announced its 2012 PBA Regional Players Doubles Championship will move to Las Vegas where it will be hosted by The Orleans Casino, Hotel and Bowling Center Feb. 11-12. The RPC-Doubles, which replaces the PBA Regional Players Invitational which was held for several years in Reno, will immediately follow the February High Roller, a "megabucks" tournament that has revised its eligibility rules to allow many PBA Regional-level players an opportunity to bowl both events.
Earns $6,000 and "elite" berth in the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions
Scott Newell (pictured) of Deland, Fla., defeated Michael Clark Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio, 227-180, to win the PBA Regional Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. The win earned Newell $6,000, an "elite" berth in the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions and his third career title as a PBA regional competitor. Newell, 28, entered the 32-player single-elimination match play finals as the No. 27 qualifier. He hopes the victory is a turning point in an up-and-down career.
Brian Thompson (l.) of Flat Rock, Mich., averaged 232.3 to overtake first round leader Lennie Boresch Jr. (r.) of Kenosha, Wis., at the end of qualifying in the PBA Regional Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Sunday. Thompson, 27, will lead the top 32 qualifiers into the single-elimination match play finals Monday in his quest for his first PBA title - regional or national - after finishing the 16-game qualifying with 3,717 pins.
Lennie Boresch Jr. (l.) of Kenosha, Wis., a 24-time PBA Regional title winner, averaged 241.3 to take the first round lead in the PBA Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Saturday. Boresch, a bowling pro shop operator, held a 56-pin lead over fellow PBA Midwest Region competitor Dave Beres (r.) of Waukesha, Wis. Boresch had 1,931 pins for the first eight games while Beres finished with a 1,875 total.
The PBA has announced the season-ending award winners for its 2010-11 regional program. Each of the seven regions annually recognizes a Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Patterson Award winner. Four regions also recognized Senior Regional Players of the Year. Among the Regional Players of the Year are 2010 PBA Regional Players Champion Riga Kalfas (l.) and PBA Regional Players Invitational winner Bryon Smith (r.).
After a season in which more than 170 regional and senior regional tournaments were conducted, the Professional Bowlers Association announced its 2012 season-ending Player of the Year, Senior Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year Award winners. PBA also announced Pat Patterson Award winners for each Region. The award is presented to those recognized for contributions to the regional program and are selected by the respective regional managers.
The PBA's experimental regional "animal pattern" championship series has produced 35 paid entries into PBA World Series of Bowling IV and a significant increase in the average number of entries in PBA Regional tournaments between March and August of 2012, John Weber, PBA Director of Regional and Senior Tours, announced Monday. The inaugural animal pattern series featured Cheetah, Viper, Scorpion and Chameleon Championships in each of the PBA's seven regions. 
Jason Lundquist (l.) of Groveport, Ohio, pulled out every escape trick in his bag Sunday to win the PBA Regional Players Championship-East by nine pins over Jason Sterner (r.) of McDonough, Ga. Lundquist converted two difficult splits, a 2-6-7 in the sixth frame and a 2-4-6-10 in the 10th, to finish with an 18-game total of 4,146 pins. Needing a strike to win, Sterner left a solid 10 pin in his final frame, finishing with 4,137 pinfall total.
Jason Lundquist (l.) of Englewood, Ohio, averaged 241.13 for eight qualifying games Saturday to lead the field of 32 players who advanced to Sunday’s finals in the PBA Regional Players Championship-East at Columbus Western Bowl. Lundquist, a 36-year-old two-time PBA Regional title winner, rolled games of 243, 254, 237, 278, 254, 236, 256 and 171 for total of 1,929 pins (241.13 average) and a 52-pin lead over Riga Kalfas (r.) of Florence, Ky.
Josh Blanchard (pictured) made it three PBA Rookie of the Year honors for the 2011-12 season adding West and Northwest Region awards Thursday after being named PBA Tour Rookie of the Year last week. Blanchard's awards were part of the PBA's announcement of regular and senior regional awards for the 2011-12 season. Blanchard, of Gilbert, Ariz., had one win in each region while cashing and making match play in all five events he entered.
Professional Bowlers Association Tour rookie Josh Blanchard (l.) and 2003 United States Bowling Congress Masters champion Bryon Smith (r.) teamed up to win the PBA Regional Players Doubles Championship presented by Hammer Saturday at The Orleans Bowling Center. With the win, both bowlers earned an Elite Round berth in the PBA Tournament of Champions April 8-15 at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas. The duo also received the $8,000 top prize. 
The nation's top youth bowlers will have the opportunity to compete on PBA lane conditions and rub elbows with the greats in the game when Teen Masters Qualifiers will be conducted in conjunction with selected PBA Regional tournaments in 2012. PBA has entered into an agreement with Killer 'B' Promotions to conduct 18 Teen Masters qualifiers at PBA Regional events beginning in March through the end of May. The Teen Masters qualifiers will be conducted on lanes designated for Teen Masters competition.
Reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi (l.) of Hartland, Mich., and amateur Kim Hyun Bum of South Korea led a field of 16 teams into Sunday’s single-elimination match play finals in the PBA West Region’s Member/Non-Member Doubles at South Point Bowling Center. The duo combined for 3,649 pins over eight games (228.06 avg.) to take the top spot by three pins over amateur Adam Ishman of Las Vegas and Dom Barrett (r.) of England.
Six-time PBA Tour winner Wes Malott (l.) of Pflugerville, Texas, defeated rookie Josh Blanchard (r.) of Gilbert, Ariz., 266-214, to win the PBA All Regions South Point Open Saturday at South Point Bowling Center. Malott, the 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year, collected his 14th career PBA Regional title and a $4,000 prize. Blanchard, who has been a PBA member for just over a week, earned $2,200.
The Professional Bowlers Association has announced its 2012 PBA Regional Players Doubles Championship will move to Las Vegas where it will be hosted by The Orleans Casino, Hotel and Bowling Center Feb. 11-12. The RPC-Doubles, which replaces the PBA Regional Players Invitational which was held for several years in Reno, will immediately follow the February High Roller, a "megabucks" tournament that has revised its eligibility rules to allow many PBA Regional-level players an opportunity to bowl both events.
Scott Newell (pictured) of Deland, Fla., defeated Michael Clark Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio, 227-180, to win the PBA Regional Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. The win earned Newell $6,000, an "elite" berth in the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions and his third career title as a PBA regional competitor. Newell, 28, entered the 32-player single-elimination match play finals as the No. 27 qualifier. He hopes the victory is a turning point in an up-and-down career.
Brian Thompson (l.) of Flat Rock, Mich., averaged 232.3 to overtake first round leader Lennie Boresch Jr. (r.) of Kenosha, Wis., at the end of qualifying in the PBA Regional Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Sunday. Thompson, 27, will lead the top 32 qualifiers into the single-elimination match play finals Monday in his quest for his first PBA title - regional or national - after finishing the 16-game qualifying with 3,717 pins.
Lennie Boresch Jr. (l.) of Kenosha, Wis., a 24-time PBA Regional title winner, averaged 241.3 to take the first round lead in the PBA Players Championship-East at Thunderbowl Lanes Saturday. Boresch, a bowling pro shop operator, held a 56-pin lead over fellow PBA Midwest Region competitor Dave Beres (r.) of Waukesha, Wis. Boresch had 1,931 pins for the first eight games while Beres finished with a 1,875 total.
The PBA has announced the season-ending award winners for its 2010-11 regional program. Each of the seven regions annually recognizes a Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Patterson Award winner. Four regions also recognized Senior Regional Players of the Year. Among the Regional Players of the Year are 2010 PBA Regional Players Champion Riga Kalfas (l.) and PBA Regional Players Invitational winner Bryon Smith (r.).