Beasley gets 'confidence booster' in PBA Regional Players Invitational

National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. (December 5-7, 2006)

Though he's currently on active duty in the Air Force, Mitch Beasley hasn't completely put his bowling career on hold. Beasley defeated Tyler Jensen, 201-193, to win the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Regional Players Invitational (RPI) at the National Bowling Stadium, one of two Major events on the PBA Regional Tour. Picture courtesy of PBA Tour.

Beasley earned $10,000 for the win and a spot in the 2007 PBA Tournament of Champions, the final Major of the 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour season which features the 28 most recent Denny's PBA Tour titlists, as well as the two Major winners from the PBA Regional Tour and PBA Senior Tour.

The 38-year-old Beasley earned an exemption for the 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour by winning the PBA Southwest Region, but he deferred the exemption until 2007-08 due to his Air Force commitments.

On Wednesday, Beasley came on strong late just to make the match play cut, finishing 15th after two rounds of qualifying to make match play by just eight pins. He won four matches to earn the title, defeating No. 2 Ken Abner in the Round of 16, No. 10 Dave Wodka in the Round of 8 and No. 14 Brian Waliczek in the semifinals before knocking off No. 12 Jensen.

" My first match against Ken, he had probably the best look of anyone in the house and he threw it great, but I was fortunate enough to beat him," said Beasley, who beat Abner, four-games-to-two, including a 236-235 win in game six. "And Tyler threw it well against me too, it was just a carry contest. He threw a really good shot in the 10th and had a chance to win, but it just didn't carry."

Beasley, who owns 11 PBA Regional Tour titles, will rejoin the Denny's PBA Tour next season with an added boost of confidence. "This win definitely helps because I haven't been throwing the ball a lot lately and when I have I really haven't been throwing the ball well. It's definitely a confidence booster."

The 22-year-old Jensen earned $6,000 for second, while PBA Hall of Famer Ernie Schlegel finished third and earned $3,200. Brian Waliczek finished fourth, also taking home $3,200.

2006 PBA Regional Players Invitational

National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. (December 5-7, 2006)

Championship Match
Single-game match. Loser eliminated, earns $6,000.
#15 Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas, def. #12 Tyler Jensen, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 201-193

Round of 4
Single-game matches. Losers eliminated, earn $3,200.
#12 Tyler Jensen, Wheat Ridge, Colo., def. #8 Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash., 245-192.
#15 Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas, def. #14 Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, Mich., 231-206.

Round of 8
Single-elimination match play, best of five. Losers eliminated, earn $1,600.
#8 Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash., def. #1 Roger Kossert, Riverview, Fla., 3-1
(203-203, 233-203, 211-243, 226-223)
#12 Tyler Jensen, Wheat Ridge, Colo., def. #13 Kip D. Roberts, Glen Allen, Va., 3-2
(265-224, 172-237, 226-189, 174-238, 265-245)
#14 Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, Mich., def. #6 Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 3-2
(278-236, 184-280, 180-219, 248-203, 220-199)
#15 Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas, def. #10 Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 3-0
(239-216, 249-164, 213-198)

Round of 16
Single-elimination match play, best-of-seven games. Losers eliminated, earn $1000.
#1 Roger Kossert, Riverview, Fla., def. #16 Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 4-0
(247-228, 239-232, 232-201, 240-237)
#6 Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., def. #11 David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 4-0
(183-163, 210-185, 224-185, 244-231)
#8 Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash., def. #9 Dave Arnold, Dublin, Calif., 4-2
(214-223, 247-196, 232-182, 210-258, 235-214, 245-216)
#10 Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., def. #7 Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 4-3
(220-155, 253-192, 179-156, 203-233, 204-239, 176-185, 238-227)
#12 Tyler Jensen, Wheat Ridge, Colo., def. #5 Dave Patchen, Oregon, Ohio, 4-1
(266-255, 213-225, 223-219, 223-222, 211-180)
#13 Kip D. Roberts, Glen Allen, Va., def. #4 Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 4-1
(258-206, 224-235, 236-223, 269-224, 250-169)
#14 Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, Mich., def. #3 Steve Harman, Camby, Ind., 4-1
(244-222, 235-168, 232-268, 221-211, 263-187)
#15 Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas, def. #2 Ken Abner, Cincinnati, Ohio, 4-2
(175-223, 202-165, 195-279, 244-227, 237-200, 236-235)

Final Standings - Players with position, hometown, match-play record, total pinfall and earnings

1, Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas, 9-2, 6,227, $10,000
2, Tyler Jensen, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 8-4, 6,542, $6,000
3, Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash., 7-4, 6,349, $3,200
4, Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, Mich., 7-4, 6,327, $3,200
5, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 6-3, 5,929, $1,600
6, Kip Roberts, Glenallen, Va., 6-4, 6,193, $1,600
7, Roger Kossert, Brandon, Fla., 5-3, 5,825, $1,600
8, Dave Wodka, Las Vegas, 4-6, 5,935, $1,600
9, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 3-4, 5,290, $1,000
10, Ken Abner, Cincinnati, 2-4, 5,322, $1,000
11, Dave Arnold, Reno, Nev., 2-4, 5,188, $1,000
12, Steve Harman, Camby, Ind., 1-4, 5,048, $1,000
13, Tom Daugherty, Tampa, Fla., 1-4, 5,008, $1,000
14, Dave Patchen, Oregon, Ohio, 1-4, 5,039, $1,000
15, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 0-4, 4,633, $1,000
16, Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 0-4, 4,702, $1,000
17, Dennis Horan Jr., Temecula, Calif., 3,797, $750
18, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 3,794, $700
19, Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, 3,787, $675
20, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 3,786, $650
21, Peter Dohan Jr., Tampa, Fla., 3,785, $625
22, Nicholas Wissinger IV, Utica, Mich., 3,774, $600
23, Paul Fleming, Bedford, Texas, 3,772, $575
24, Darron Peters, Murrieta, Calif., 3,769, $550
25, Larry Verble, Greenville, Pa., 3,762, $525
26, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 3,761, $500
27, Don Allen III, Vancouver, Wash., 3,757, $495
28, Chet Rogers, Milwaukie, Ore., 3,745, $490
29, David Leverage, Peoria, Ariz., 3,738, $485
30, Curtis Woods Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., 3,737, $480
31, Kevin Mitchell, Tulsa, Okla., 3,734, $475
32, Jon Brandon, Santa Clarita, Calif., 3,720, $467.50
33, Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo., 3,720, $467.50
34, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 3,712, $460
35, Walter Schaub II, Schaumburg, Ill., 3,699, $455
36, Jeff Richgels, Madison, Wis., 3,694, $450
37, Chad Maas, Brookfield, Wis., 3,678, $445
38, Vince Wood, Moreno Valley, Calif., 3,669, $440
39, Stoney Baker, Canton, Ga., 3,643, $435
40, Thomas Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 3,641, $430
41, David Anthony, Austin, Texas, 3,634, $425
42, Bill Machin, Thousand Oaks, Calif., 3631, $420
43, Ed Oakes, Winter Park, Fla., 3,629, $412.5
44, Ray Edwards, Middle Island, N.Y., 3,629, $412.50
45, Christopher Blackmore, Alexandria, Va., 3,613, $405
46, Kenneth E. Lowe Jr., Oxon Hill, Md., 3,587, $400
47, Corey Husted, Clackamas, Ore., 3,584, $400
48, Richie Brown, Marion, Ohio, 3,580, $400
49, Steven Taylor, Pekin, Ill., 3,563, $390
50, Brian Osteen, Boiling Springs, S.C., 3,536, $390
51, Nicholas Miseno, Amsterdam, N.Y., 3,529, $390
52, Sam Maccarone, Glassboro, N.J., 3,517, $390
53, Corey Atkinson, Conroe, Texas, 3,508, $385
54, Barry Tate, Wenatchee, Wash., 3,463, $385
55, Paul Smith, Canyon Country, Calif., 3,430, $385
56, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 3,337, $385

Kossert earns No. 1 seed for PBA RPI Finals

Though he earned the top seed for match play in the 2006 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Regional Players Invitational (RPI), Roger Kossert is more concerned about his fellow PBA South Region bowlers.

Kossert took the overall lead after two rounds of qualifying, finishing Wednesday with a 3,995 18-game pinfall to earn the top seeds for Thursday's best-of-seven games Round of 16. The 53-year-old, who bowls on the PBA Senior Tour, is concerned over his regional teammates. The top eight bowlers from each of the PBA's seven regions compete in the event, with awards going to the region whose bowlers finish in the highest standing.

"Being the top seed for match play is good, but the bad part is the four best bowlers in the Southern region are all bowling each other tomorrow," said Kossert (Riverview, Fla.). "As for myself, I feel confident and I'm bowling really well. We'll just see how it goes."

Kossert started the day with a 192 before averaging 233.71 over the next seven games, including a high of 277 in game five. He will face No. 16 Ken Simard (Greenville, S.C.) who earned the final spot in match play by just seven pins over Dennis Horan Jr. (Temecula, Calif.).

Kossert was one of three PBA Senior Tour bowlers in the top eight. Dave Patchen (Oregon, Ohio) finished fifth with 3,938 while PBA Hall of Famer Ernie Schlegel (Vancouver, Was.) finished eighth with 3,901.

"I think it's just experience," said Kossert. "It was a tough condition out there and we were able to overcome that and bowl well."

Ken Abner (Cincinnati) finished second with 3,993 while Tuesday's leader Steve Harman (Camby, Ind.) finished third with 3,992.

Thursday's Round of 16 begins at 9 a.m. PST followed by the best-of-five games Round of 8. The Round of 4 Thursday evening features single-game matches with the final two bowling a single match for the title immediately following.

The winner takes home $10,000 and a spot in the 2007 PBA Tournament of Champions.

Round Two Qualifying

Players with position, hometown, and 18-game pinfall. Top 16 advance to single elimination match play. Positions 17-56 cash.

1. Roger Kossert, Riverview, Fla., 3,995
2. Ken Abner, Cincinnati, Ohio, 3,993
3. Steve Harman, Camby, Ind., 3,992
4. Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,951
5. Dave Patchen, Oregon, Ohio, 3,938
6. Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 3,931
7. Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 3,903
8. Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash., 3,901
9. Dave Arnold, Dublin, Calif., 3,899
10. Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 3,884
11. David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 3,869
12. Tyler Jensen, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 3,866
13. Kip D. Roberts, Glen Allen, Va., 3,823
14. Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, Mich., 3,816
15. Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas, 3,805
16. Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 3,804

Missed Cut:
17. Dennis Horan Jr., Temecula, Calif., 3,797, $750
18. Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 3,794, $700
19. Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, 3,787, $675
20. Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 3,786, $650
21. Peter M. Dohan Jr., Tampa, Fla., 3,785, $625
22. Nicholas Wissinger IV, Utica, Mich., 3,774, $600
23. Paul L Fleming, Bedford, Texas, 3,772, $575
24. Darron Peters, Murrieta, Calif., 3,769, $550
25. Larry Verble, Greenville, Pa., 3,762, $525
26. Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 3,761, $500
27. Don Allen III, Vancouver, Wash., 3,757, $495
28. Chet Rogers, Milwaukie, Ore., 3,745, $490
29. David A. Leverage, Peoria, Ariz., 3,738, $485
30. Curtis Woods Jr., Rohnert Park, Calif., 3,737, $480
31. Kevin M. Mitchell, Tulsa, Okla., 3,734, $475
32. Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo., 3,720, $467.50
33. Jon Brandon, Santa Clarita, Calif., 3,720, $467.50
34. Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 3,712, $460
35. Walter L. Schaub II, Schaumburg, Ill., 3,699, $455
36. Jeff Richgels, Oregon, Wis., 3,694, $450
37. Chad Maas, Brookfield, Wis., 3,678, $445
38. Vince Wood, Moreno Valley, Calif., 3,669, $440
39. Stoney Baker, Canton, Ga., 3,643, $435
40. Thomas C Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 3,641, $430
41. David Anthony, Austin, Texas, 3,634, $425
42. Bill Machin, Thousand Oaks, Calif., 3,631, $420
43. Ray J. Edwards, Middle Island, N.Y., 3,629, $412.50
44. Ed Oakes, Winter Park, Fla., 3,629, $412.50
45. Christopher Blackmore, Alexandria, Va., 3,613, $405
46. Kenneth E. Lowe Jr., Oxon Hill, Md., 3,587, $400
47. Corey Husted, Clackamas, Ore., 3,584, $400
48. Richie Brown, Marion, Ohio, 3,580, $400
49. Steven Taylor, Pekin, Ill., 3,563, $390
50. Brian Osteen, Boiling Springs, S.C., 3,536, $390
51. Nicholas A. Miseno, Amsterdam, N.Y., 3,529, $390
52. Sam Maccarone, Sewell, N.J., 3,517, $390
53. Corey Atkinson, Montgomery, Texas, 3,508, $385
54. Barry Tate, Wenatchee, Wash., 3,463, $385
55. Paul Smith, Canyon Country, Calif., 3,430, $385
56. Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 3,337, $385

300 games - Larry Verble.

Harman takes early lead in PBA Regional Players Championship

Steve Harman knows better than to switch into cruise control despite taking the overall lead Tuesday in the 2006 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Regional Players Invitational (RPI) at the National Bowling Stadium.

Harman was in a familiar position two years ago, sitting second after the first day of qualifying before falling in the Round of 16 in his only other RPI appearance. He'll go into the second day of qualifying with a much different attitude after leading the field with a 2,045 nine-game pinfall.

"We're facing tough conditions out there so anything can happen. I just need to keep my head in it," said Harman (Camby, Ind.), who bowls in the PBA's Central Region. "Two years ago I relaxed after the first day and put it on cruise control and fell out of it, so I won't do that tomorrow. (Leading) does loosen your arm swing, but there are too many good bowlers out there to relax."

Harman, who owns one PBA Regional Tour title, started slowly averaging 201.33 over the first three games. He made a ball change to Ebonite's "The Big One" in the 10th frame of game four and averaged 243.60 over the final four games.

PBA Hall of Famer Mark Williams (Beaumont, Texas) is second with 2,014. Williams, who won seven PBA Tour titles in his Hall of Fame career, retired in 1999 before returning to action recently.

Ken Abner (Cincinnati), who currently leads the PBA Central Region, is third with 2,010, while Tom Daugherty (Tampa, Fla.) is fourth with 2,004. Daugherty was exempt on the Denny's PBA Tour in 2005-06 and is currently second in the PBA South Region. The point leader in each of the PBA's seven regions earns a full-season exemption on the 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour.

All bowlers return for another nine games of qualifying Wednesday before the field is cut to the top 16. Thursday features a best-of-seven games Round of 16 followed by a best-of-five games Round of 8. The Round of 4 Thursday evening features single-game matches with the final two bowling a single match for the title immediately following.

The RPI features the top eight bowlers from each of the PBA's seven regions. The winner takes home $10,000 and a spot in the 2007 PBA Tournament of Champions. Picture courtesy of PBA.

Round One Qualifying

Players with position, hometown, and seven-game pinfall

1. Steve Harman, Camby, Ind., 2,045
2. Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 2,014
3. Ken Abner, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2,010
4. Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 2,004
5. Jon Brandon, Santa Clarita, Calif., 1,985
6. Roger Kossert, Riverview, Fla., 1,982
7. Dave Patchen, Oregon, Ohio, 1,973
8. Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 1,968
9. Paul L Fleming, Bedford, Texas, 1,966
10. Bill Machin, Thousand Oaks, Calif., 1,964
11. Peter M. Dohan Jr., Tampa, Fla., 1,955
12. Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 1,949
13. Curtis Woods Jr., Rohnert Park, Calif., 1,948
14. Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,940
15. Ed Oakes, Winter Park, Fla., 1,938
16. Kip D. Roberts, Glen Allen, Va., 1,936
17. Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash., 1,929
18. Tyler Jensen, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 1,927
19. Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, 1,925
20. Brian Waliczek, Birch Run, Mich., 1,925
21. Kevin M. Mitchell, Tulsa, Okla., 1,925
22. Kenneth E. Lowe Jr., Oxon Hill, Md., 1,918
23. Chet Rogers, Milwaukie, Ore., 1,906
24. Larry Verble, Greenville, Pa., 1,905
25. Jeff Richgels, Oregon, Wis., 1,898
26. Vince Wood, Moreno Valley, Calif., 1,898
27. Thomas C Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,892
28. Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 1,878
29. Stoney Baker, Canton, Ga., 1,876
30. Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 1,873
31. Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 1,871
32. Nicholas Wissinger IV, Utica, Mich., 1,869
33. Dave Arnold, Dublin, Calif., 1,866
34. Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo., 1,857
35. David Anthony, Austin, Texas, 1,847
36. Walter L. Schaub II, Schaumburg, Ill., 1,845
37. Darron Peters, Murrieta, Calif., 1,845
38. Richie Brown, Marion, Ohio, 1,844
39. Corey Husted, Clackamas, Ore., 1,844
40. Don Allen III, Vancouver, Wash., 1,824
41. David A. Leverage, Peoria, Ariz., 1,823
42. David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 1,822
43. Brian Osteen, Boiling Springs, S.C., 1,821
44. Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 1,805
45. Dennis Horan Jr., Temecula, Calif., 1,804
46. Christopher Blackmore, Alexandria, Va., 1,791
47. Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas, 1,789
48. Steven Taylor, Pekin, Ill., 1,788
49. Sam Maccarone, Sewell, N.J., 1,781
50. Barry Tate, Wenatchee, Wash., 1,775
51. Ray J. Edwards, Middle Island, N.Y., 1,765
52. Chad Maas, Brookfield, Wis., 1,755
53. Paul Smith, Canyon Country, Calif., 1,712
54. Nicholas A. Miseno, Amsterdam, N.Y., 1,711
55. Corey Atkinson, Montgomery, Texas, 1,682
56. Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,678

300 games - None.

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12/08/06