Ozio, Eagle, Roth and Atria earn Generations Pro Bowling Tour year-end awards
07/12/07
The Generations Pro Bowling Tour has named David Ozio the 2007 Player of the Year; Dale Eagle as the 2007 Classic Division (60+) Player of the Year; Mark Roth as the 2007 Comeback Player of the Year and Vinnie Atria as the 2007 Rookie of the Year. The announcement was made by Steve Sanders, Founder of the GPBT, which awarded more than $800,000 in prize money during its inaugural 17 event season.
"We congratulate our award winners as well as all of our members for an exciting season," said Sanders (left). "Although David and Dale were certainly the dominant performers, the competition week in and week out was fierce, as more than 25 bowlers earned over $10,000 and 12 different bowlers captured a title. The pressure will certainly be on both David and Dale to defend their player of the year honors next season."
David Ozio (right) dominated the circuit, winning his 50-59 division 10 times out of 16 events and capturing titles in Toledo, New Jersey and Austin. He earned $86,300 in prize money, the most ever by a senior player. He also set a new single season average record of 231.5 for 486 games, and he did it under very trying personal circumstances. While he was traveling with the tour, his wife Lisa was at home in Texas battling breast cancer. In the end, David having the greatest season ever for a senior bowler was dwarfed by the news that Lisa's cancer is in remission.
"As a competitor, I was a little disappointed winning only three times in 10 chances, but it was a great tour," said Ozio. "The GPBT has stood for progress and delivered the opportunity for senior players to compete at the highest level under a well run organization that has a passion for the sport. I urge all of them to refocus their dedication to the sport and support this tour in the future."
Dale Eagle (left) was the obvious choice to be honored as the top performer in the Classic Division. He won three titles of his own in Providence, Stuart, Fl. and Lansing. Eagle, who turned 61 on April 22, earned $73,050 in prize money, much more than he made as PBA Senior Bowler of the Year in 1999.
One of the highlights of the inaugural season of the GPBT was the return of Mark Roth (right). Four years removed from competition, Roth stepped-up at the Tour's inaugural event in Bay City to capture his 37th career title and first on the GPBT. Roth finished fourth in the round-robin competition and then defeated Mark Weller (226-167), Dennis Psaropoulos (258-192) and Ozio (255-235) in the step-ladder finals. In all, the lefty earned $32,000 and posted a 222.51 average and cashed at 14 of the 15 GPBT events in which he bowled.
Vinnie Atria (left), a former 'megabuck' bowler launched a new career in the pro ranks in grand fashion winning the first GPBT event he bowled in Jackson. The Louisville, native finished the season winning the tour's final event in Houston. In all, the "rookie" competed in eight GPBT events, posting a 220.6 average for 237 games and earning $43,500.
GPBT News
The Generations Pro Bowling Tour has named David Ozio the 2007 Player of the Year; Dale Eagle as the 2007 Classic Division (60+) Player of the Year; Mark Roth as the 2007 Comeback Player of the Year and Vinnie Atria as the 2007 Rookie of the Year. The announcement was made by Steve Sanders, Founder of the GPBT, which awarded more than $800,000 in prize money during its inaugural 17 event season. "We congratulate our award winners as well as all of our members for an exciting season," said Sanders (left). "Although David and Dale were certainly the dominant performers, the competition week in and week out was fierce, as more than 25 bowlers earned over $10,000 and 12 different bowlers captured a title. The pressure will certainly be on both David and Dale to defend their player of the year honors next season." David Ozio (right) dominated the circuit, winning his 50-59 division 10 times out of 16 events and capturing titles in Toledo, New Jersey and Austin. He earned $86,300 in prize money, the most ever by a senior player. He also set a new single season average record of 231.5 for 486 games, and he did it under very trying personal circumstances. While he was traveling with the tour, his wife Lisa was at home in Texas battling breast cancer. In the end, David having the greatest season ever for a senior bowler was dwarfed by the news that Lisa's cancer is in remission."As a competitor, I was a little disappointed winning only three times in 10 chances, but it was a great tour," said Ozio. "The GPBT has stood for progress and delivered the opportunity for senior players to compete at the highest level under a well run organization that has a passion for the sport. I urge all of them to refocus their dedication to the sport and support this tour in the future."
Dale Eagle (left) was the obvious choice to be honored as the top performer in the Classic Division. He won three titles of his own in Providence, Stuart, Fl. and Lansing. Eagle, who turned 61 on April 22, earned $73,050 in prize money, much more than he made as PBA Senior Bowler of the Year in 1999. One of the highlights of the inaugural season of the GPBT was the return of Mark Roth (right). Four years removed from competition, Roth stepped-up at the Tour's inaugural event in Bay City to capture his 37th career title and first on the GPBT. Roth finished fourth in the round-robin competition and then defeated Mark Weller (226-167), Dennis Psaropoulos (258-192) and Ozio (255-235) in the step-ladder finals. In all, the lefty earned $32,000 and posted a 222.51 average and cashed at 14 of the 15 GPBT events in which he bowled. Vinnie Atria (left), a former 'megabuck' bowler launched a new career in the pro ranks in grand fashion winning the first GPBT event he bowled in Jackson. The Louisville, native finished the season winning the tour's final event in Houston. In all, the "rookie" competed in eight GPBT events, posting a 220.6 average for 237 games and earning $43,500.