Among the early entries for PBA World Series of Bowling IV, set for Nov. 2-11 at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas, is Iceland's Hafthor Hardarson (pictured), the first player from his country to enter the annual multi-event international bowling showcase that will kick off the PBA Tour's 2012-13 season. Entries received to date by the PBA office include players from nine countries - Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Mexico, Sweden, the U.S. and Venezuela in addition to Iceland. World Series III drew players from a record 15 countries.
Team USA members Chris Barnes (l.), Tommy Jones (r.) and Kelly Kulick, along with Shannon O'Keefe, are representing the United States in the inaugural World Tenpin Bowling Association World Singles Championships in Cyprus. International PBA Tour competitors who are bowling for their home countries in the event include: Canada's Dan MacLelland, Colombia's Andres Gomez, England's Stuart Williams and Finland's Osku Palermaa.
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. 
PBA Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli (l.), a two-time Player of the Year on the PBA Tour, was selected as the 2012 PBA Senior Rookie of the Year, becoming the first international player to earn the award. Hall of Famer Dave Soutar (r.) of Bradenton, Fla., who retired after more than 50 years of competing on the PBA Tour and Senior Tour, was voted the winner of the Senior Tour's Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award.
PBA Senior Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr. (l.) of Ocala, Fla., won Sunday's PBA South Region Scorpion Open at Cherokee Lanes in Canton, Ga., but it was 14-year-old amateur Kamron Doyle (r.) of Brentwood, Tenn., who continued to dazzle the bowling world with another eye-opening performance. It was Williams' 31st standard PBA Regional title and 85th overall PBA title. He eliminated Doyle in the semifinal, 226-214.
Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Dave Soutar (pictured with wife Judy) ended his career in PBA competition in appropriate fashion during the final day of qualifying of the PBA Senior Decatur Open presented by Brunswick Monday — before a big crowd and throwing three strikes in the 10th frame of his last game. It brought an end to more than a half-century of PBA competition for the 72-year-old who won 18 titles on the PBA Tour and seven on the Senior Tour.
Harry Sullins (l.) of Chesterfield Twp., Mich., retained his lead after the second round of the PBA Senior Decatur Open Monday at Spare Time Lanes while PBA Senior Player of the Year contenders Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Mike Edwards advanced to match play in the final tournament of the season. Sullins, a three-time Senior Tour titlist, ended qualifying with a 3,663 16-game pinfall total (228.9 average) to lead 32 players advancing to Tuesday's match play rounds. The top eight qualifiers receive two byes for match play.
The PBA Senior Tour will be re-named as the PBA50 Tour beginning with the 2013 season, PBA Commissioner Tom Clark announced today from the PBA Senior Decatur Open presented by Brunswick, the concluding tournament of the 2012 Senior Tour season. "The word 'senior' is outdated and the title PBA50 more accurately reflects the vibrancy of the players and our competition in this age group," Clark said. The change in name is underscored by the continuing stream of stars to the over-50 circuit.
Three-time PBA Senior Tour titlist Harry Sullins (l.) of Chesterfield Twp., Mich., averaged 237.7 to emerge as the first round leader Sunday in the PBA Senior Decatur Open presented by Brunswick at Spare Time Lanes. Sullins bowled a 1,902 eight-game pinfall total with games of 221, 237, 265, 213, 279, 251, 216 and 220 to hold a 61-pin lead over Hall of Famer Wayne Webb (r.) of Columbus, Ohio, in the final tournament of the 2012 season.
The 2012 PBA Senior Tour season concludes with the PBA Senior Decatur Open presented by Brunswick Aug. 11-14 from Spare Time Lanes in Decatur, Ill.. The race for PBA Senior Player of the Year and PBA great Dave Soutar final tournament of his career remain two of the major storylines heading into the tournament. Bowling fans can catch all the action from the Senior Decatur Open from
start-to-finish on PBA's online bowling channel Xtra Frame. 
Hugh Miller (l.) of Seattle won the PBA Senior South Shore Open Thursday for his third career Senior Tour title and in the process became a contender for Senior Player of the Year heading into the final tournament of the 2012 season. Miller defeated 2007 Senior U.S. Open winner Rick Minier (r.) of Houston, 198-172, in the championship match to move into second on the Senior Player of the Year points list, 12 points behind Walter Ray Williams Jr.
Entries are now open for PBA World Series of Bowling IV, which is set for Nov. 2-11 at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas. The fourth annual multi-event program is open to PBA "full" members and PBA International members. The $750 entry fee includes entry into the PBA Cheetah, Viper, Scorpion and Chameleon Championships along with the PBA World Championship. The field is limited to the first 240 entrants. 
