Finland's two-handed star, Osku Palermaa, 27, won the Shark tournament, the last stop of the PBA World Series to qualify for this year's 1 million PBA Tournament of Champions. He also found out that morning that he is going to be a father, so the victory was twice as sweet.

He was one year old when he started bowling, as his father worked at a bowling center in Finland. Hence, two hands, where he is still comfortable today in his delivery. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Was he ever intimidated by US bowlers when he entered the PBA World Series? "No; they are good but I am also good when I have my best day," he said.

"I was happy bowling well in the World Championship, but finished fourth. I wasn't so happy about how I bowled on TV, but was pleased about how I bowled in the whole tournament." (Note: the top eight finishers from the five "animal" patterns qualified for the World Championship stepladder finals.)

For this week's Tournament of Champions, he was taking it day by day. He led the first three days but slipped out of the top 4 in the second block of match play (eighth round overall) and finished the tournament in seventh place, worth $26,000, missing the cut to the top 4, who advanced to the stepladder finals live on ABC Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern/11:30 a.m. Pacific, by mere 62 pins.

Osku (pictured right with Hank Boomershine, who is Vice President-Sales for Storm and Roto Grip bowling products) is engaged to Veronica Lantto, a lovely Swede whom he met through bowling. He will win a major title in late June this year, "Daddy." The pair met at a junior bowling event.

Does he prefer US or international events? "It depends on how I'm feeling. The best (bowlers) are here (in the United States) but the international tournaments have the best of the best, too." His short term goal was to win the Tournament of Champions with that pretty $250,000 first-place check. Long term? "To be the best of the best."

He has no plans to bowl more frequently at PBA tournaments. He misses being home in Finland "But it's part of the job, and I have to do it (travel)." Being on Storm's International pro staff, what equipment has he been using? "The Prodigy, Marvel and HyRoad (which he used for the Shark Championship)."

 

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