01/07/07
2006-07 PBA Tour #9
Allen breaks through with win in H&R Block Classic
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, NV (Jan. 3-7, 2007)
After one of the worst stretches of his career, all Patrick Allen, left, needed to get back on track was a ball change and a week on the Chameleon oil pattern. Allen captured his eighth career Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour title – his last three of which have come on the Chameleon, one of five Tour oil patterns – defeating all-time titles leader Walter Ray Williams Jr., 255-247, to win the 2007 H&R Block Classic at the National Bowling Stadium.
Allen has won three of the last four events held on the pattern, including the last two last season. The 2004-05 PBA Player of the Year came into the week 36th in the PBA World Point Rankings and hadn't made a championship round all season.
"There were some issues with me the first half of the season and I made a bold change. Some agreed, some didn't, but I had to do it to get back here. I didn't think it would happen this soon," said Allen, who switched ball companies over the two-week holiday break.
"I've bowled a lot of TV shows, at least for my standards not Walter's, but I've never come up in the 10th frame needing a strike to win. Needing it against Walter Ray is what you dream of. Getting up and doing it is something I'll never forget it as long as I live."
Allen tied a Tour record by going 14-0 in match play this week, equaling the standard Norm Duke set earlier this season.
In the title match, Williams (pictured right) took the early lead with strikes in the first four frames, but a spare in the fifth frame gave Allen an opening. After back-to-back spares in the fourth and fifth, Allen struck six consecutive times to take over. Williams could have struck out to force Allen to double, but instead Williams left a 10-pin with his second shot in the 10th and Allen's first strike in the 10th clinched the win. 
Allen advanced to the title match with a 233-204 win over Pete Weber. The 36-year-old dominated from the start, striking with his first six shots. Weber, left, meanwhile, started with two opens and dug too much of a hole to catch Allen. 
In the first semifinal, Williams defeated Jason Couch, 215-200. Couch, right, led throughout the match until a 4-6-10 split and an open in the 9th. Williams took advantage by breaking a string of five consecutive nine-spares by striking out in the 10th frame to shut Couch out. Allen (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) earned $25,000, while Williams (Ocala, Fla.) took home $13,000 for second. Couch (Clermont, Fla.) earned $6,500 for third and Weber (St. Ann, Mo.) earned $5,500 for fourth.
Next week the Denny's PBA Tour heads to Medford, Ore. for the 2007 Earl Anthony Medford Classic, Jan. 10-14, at Lava Lanes. The nationally televised ESPN finals take place Sunday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. PST.
H&R Block Classic
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, NV (Jan. 3-7, 2007)
Championship Round:
1. Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 488 (2 games), $25,000
2. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 462 (2 games), $13,000
3. Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 200 (1 game), $6,500
4. Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 204 (1 game), $5,500
Playoff Results:
Semi-final Match #1: Williams def. Couch, 215-200
Semi-final Match #2: Allen defeated Weber, 233-204
Championship Match: Allen def. Williams, 255-247.
This is Allen's eighth career Denny's PBA Tour title.
Pictures courtesy of PBA LLC/Benson.
Allen, Couch, Weber, Williams to bowl for first PBA title in 2007
Four bowlers with a combined 95 Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour titles will take the lanes Sunday to duke it out for the title in the 2007 H&R Block Classic at the National Bowling Stadium. All-time Denny's PBA Tour titles leader Walter Ray Williams Jr., who won his record-breaking 42nd career title in the 2006-07 season-opening Dydo Japan Cup, defeated amateur Patrick Flynn III, four-games-to-one, Saturday to advance to his third championship Round of the season. Flynn (Caldwell, Idaho) was looking to become the first amateur to advance to a championship round in a standard Tour event.
Williams (Ocala, Fla.) will face the top seed from qualifying, 13-time titlist Jason Couch (Clermont, Fla.), right, who defeated Brian Kretzer (Dayton, Ohio), 4-1. Couch finished match play with a 12-1 record and will be making his first TV appearance of the season after winning two titles last season. 
Also advancing to his first championship round this season was Patrick Allen (Wesley Chapel, Fla.), left, who finished match play with a perfect 12-0 record. The 2004-05 PBA Player of the Year, who won two titles in 2005-06, will look to become just the second bowler in Tour history to go 14-0 in winning a title. Norm Duke became the first in this season's Lake County Indiana Classic. Allen, who made a career-high six TV appearances last season, advanced to his first this season with a 4-0 sweep of Chris Loschetter (Avon, Ohio). He credited a ball change to Ebonite's Angular One as his key to victory Saturday.
"I was just trying to get my ball to read the lanes sooner," Allen said. "The lanes were a lot tighter today than they had been all week. They played like there was a lot more oil so I needed to get a ball that would hook earlier."Allen will face PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber (St. Ann, Mo.), who will be looking for his second title of the season and the 34th of his career which would tie him for third on the all-time titles list with Mark Roth. Weber defeated Ryan Shafer (Horseheads, N.Y.), 4-2.
The final four will bowl for the $25,000 top prize and an exemption for the 2007-08 season Sunday live on ESPN at 10 a.m. PST at The National Bowling Stadium.
Round of 8
Single-elimination, best-of-seven games, losers eliminated
#30 Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., def. #22 Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 4-2
(178-246, 189-158, 206-229, 179-166, 232-215, 199-166)
Shafer earns, $5,000.
#10 Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., def. #31 Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 4-0
(257-176, 239-188, 244-221, 217-153)
Loschetter earns $3,500.
#1 Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., def. #8 Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 4-1
(205-186, 224-238, 236-176, 259-218, 227-205)
Kretzer earns $3,700.
#5 Walter Ray Williams Jr, Ocala, Fla., def. #4 Patrick Flynn III, Caldwell, Idaho, 4-1
(258-225, 244-259, 239-189, 264-203, 235-181)
Flynn earns $3,500.
300 games – None.
It's down to 8 in H&R Block Classic
A reoccurring theme seems to be resonating from the Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour. The two-week holiday break has apparently helped numerous bowlers return to form in the 2007 H&R Block Classic at the National Bowling Stadium. One of those bowlers, Patrick Allen (right), swept Steve Jaros (Yorkville, Ill.), four-games-to-none, in Friday's Round of 16 to advance to Saturday's Round of 8. It was the second consecutive sweep for the No. 10 seed after he defeated Mike Edwards (Tulsa, Okla.) in the Round of 32. Allen, whose best finish this season in a standard event is 12th in the 2006 Lake County Indiana Classic, credited an equipment switch over the break for his return to form this week. "I was having my worst year in six years, so I decided to throw different balls," said the Wesley Chapel, Fla., native, who was the 2004-05 PBA Player of the Year. "I left the company I was with the first half of the year and have gone back to a company that I used to be with. I had to go back to what was right for me."
Allen will face No. 31 Chris Loschetter (Avon, Ohio), who advanced by defeating No. 15 Tommy Jones (Simpsonville, S.C.), 4-2.
No. 1 Jason Couch (left) also advanced with two consecutive sweeps Friday. Couch (Clermont, Fla.) first ran the table on No. 32 Jeff Carter (Springfield, Ill.) before wiping out No. 16 Mike Wolfe (New Albany, Ind.). Couch will face No. 8 Brian Kretzer (Dayton, Ohio), who defeated No. 24 Steve Rogers (Bourbonnais, Ill.).
The Round of 8 match-ups will feature No. 22 Ryan Shafer, who has already made three TV appearances this season, taking on a PBA Hall of Famer in No. 30 Pete Weber, and No. 5 Walter Ray Williams Jr., also a PBA Hall of Famer, facing an amateur from the Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round in No. 4 Patrick Flynn III.
The top four advance to Sunday's live ESPN televised finals at 10 a.m. PST at The National Bowling Stadium. The winner will take home $25,000 and a one-season Denny's PBA Tour exemption.
Round of 8 Match-ups
Single-elimination, best-of-seven games, losers eliminated
#4 Patrick Flynn III, Caldwell, Idaho vs. #5 Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla.
#22 Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., vs. #30 Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo.
#10 Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., vs. #31 Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio #1 Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., vs. #8 Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio
Round of 16
Single-elimination, best-of-seven games, losers eliminated
#5 Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., def. #12 Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 4-2
(222-225, 216-205, 257-245, 259-208, 206-244, 258-257) $2,900
#30 Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., def. #19 Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 4-1
(211-203, 279-237, 202-226, 248-242, 300-203) $2,650
#1 Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., def. #16 Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 4-0
(246-199, 235-224, 248-217, 228-227) $2,600
#10 Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., def. #26 Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 4-0
(237-201, 241-197, 244-176, 229-210) $2,550
#22 Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., def. #6 Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 4-0
(179-157, 209-173, 222-191, 254-209) $2,500
#4 Patrick Flynn III, Caldwell, Idaho, def. #20 Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, 4-3
(161-229, 203-150, 192-197, 226-179, 191-192, 268-189, 217-177) $3,000
#31 Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, def. #15 Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 4-2
(208-191, 230-110, 238-226, 175-259, 233-258, 205-191) $2,700
#8 Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, def. #24 Steve Rogers, Bourbonnais, Ill., 4-2
(202-201, 188-174, 191-191, 189-190, 268-224, 248-247) $2,800
300 Games – Pete Weber.
Round of 32
Single-elimination, best-of-seven games, losers eliminated, earn $2,200
#15 Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., def. #18 Chris Collins, Savannah, Ga., 4-2
(192-188, 173-198, 264-194, 207-169, 191-221, 175-167)
#20 Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, def. #13 Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 4-2
(192-201, 201-150, 166-190, 188-183, 218-203, 238-157)
#22 Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., def. #11 Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 4-1
(184-192, 222-196, 211-199, 248-238, 224-207)
#24 Steve Rogers, Bourbonnais, Ill., def. #9 Billy Oatman, Chicago, 4-2
(254-216, 204-194, 247-225, 243-254, 211-269, 195-193)
#26 Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., def. #7 David Tessman, Lake Placid, Fla., 4-1
(231-212, 265-247, 265-225, 235-237, 259-224)
#5 Walter Ray Williams Jr, Ocala, Fla., def. #28 Riga Kalfas, Florence, Ky., 4-0
(235-197, 289-234, 257-244, 259-200)
#30 Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., def. #3 Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 4-3
(184-191, 256-197, 249-186, 211-213, 184-286, 248-201, 236-231)
#1 Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., def. #32 Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 4-0
(245-131, 238-216, 215-202, 264-226)
#31 Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, def. #2 Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 4-0
(266-202, 235-182, 221-206, 267-224)
#4 Patrick Flynn III, Caldwell, Idaho, def. #29 Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 4-2
(277-203, 234-279, 245-168, 182-183, 278-223, 230-194)
#6 Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., def. #27 Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 4-1
(200-207, 232-203, 226-164, 213-199, 196-160)
#8 Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, def. #25 Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 4-1
(232-166, 189-213, 193-179, 225-212, 257-249)
#10 Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., def. #23 Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 4-0
(264-207, 269-156, 257-252, 213-185)
#12 Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., def. #21 Chris Barnes, Flower Mound, Texas, 4-0
(248-227, 233-232, 258-257, 245-244)
#19 Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., def. #14 Vayle Floria, Cerritos, Calif, 4-2
(215-247, 185-224, 258-236, 253-224, 256-213, 264-246)
#16 Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., def. #17 Richard Wolfe, Vienna, Va., 4-0
(252-192, 234-234, 233-216, 255-202)
Couch earns No. 1 seed for Match Play finals in H&R Block Classic
Just like first round leader Brad Angelo, Jason Couch didn't touch a bowling ball over the two week Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour break. His reason, however, was very different. Couch, who like Angelo had a sub-par first half of the season by his standards, led the Round of 64 in the 2007 H&R Block Classic at the National Bowling Stadium Thursday with a 3,471 14-game pinfall.
The 13-time titlist, who won two Denny's PBA Tour titles last season, has a torn meniscus in his knee which forced him to take the entire two weeks off during the holiday break.
"I didn't bowl once. In all my years on Tour prior to this year I practice during the break," said Couch (Clermont, Fla.). "I think if this injury would have come up 10 years ago, I couldn't have handled it mentally, but I think because of the break I was able to clear my head and that's why I was so fresh today."
Couch finished the first seven-game block Thursday with games of 278 and 277 to give him some breathing room heading into the second block. He started the second block with a 300 game and after a 187 in game two of the block – his only game under 200 the entire day – he averaged 253.60 over the final five games to cruise to the lead.
As the top seed, Couch will face No. 32 Jeff Carter (Springfield, Ill.) in Friday's Round of 32. Carter fired a 211 in game 14 to qualify ahead of Eugene McCune (Munster, Ind.) by nine pins.
Brian Himmler (Cincinnati) finished second with 3,441 and will face No. 31 Chris Loschetter (Avon, Ohio), while Angelo (Lockport, N.Y.) finished third with 3,321 and will face No. 30 PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber.
Qualifier Steve Rogers, who was 43rd heading into the final game and 31 pins out of the cut, fired a 300 game to finish 24th and make the cut. Earlier this season, Rogers became just the third bowler in Tour history to go from the Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round to the championship round when he finished fourth in the Lake County Indiana Classic.
Match play gets underway Friday morning at 9 a.m. PST with the Round of 32 which features best-of-seven games match play. The Round of 16 follows at 2 p.m., while the Round of 8 takes place Saturday at 9 a.m.
The final four will bowl for the $25,000 top prize and an exemption for the 2007-08 season Sunday live on ESPN at 10 a.m. PST at The National Bowling Stadium.
Round of 64
Players with position, hometown and 14-game total. Top 32 advance. Place 33-64 earn $1,800.
1, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 3,471
2, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 3,441
3, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3,321
4, Patrick Flynn III, Caldwell, Idaho, 3,310
5, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,263
6, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,195
6, David Tessman, Lake Placid, Fla., 3,195
8, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3,193
9, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 3,172
10, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, FL, 3,169
11, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 3,162
12, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,149
13, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 3,148
14, Vayle Floria, Cerritos, Calif., 3,142
15, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,135
16, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 3,115
17, Richard Wolfe, Vienna, Va., 3,104
18, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 3,096
19, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 3,085
20, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, 3,074
21, Chris Barnes, Flower Mound, Texas, 3,071
22, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 3,061
22, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,061
24, Steve Rogers, Bourbonnais, Ill., 3,054
25, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 3,053
26, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3,050
27, Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 3,049
28, Riga Kalfas, Florence, Ky., 3,047
29, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 3,042
30, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,040
31, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 3,038
32, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 3,035
Missed Cut:
33, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 3,026
34, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 3,011
35, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,008
36, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 3,007
37, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan, 2,991
38, Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., 2,986
39, Chris Hayden, Orlando, Fla., 2,977
40, Wes Malott, Dallas, 2,975
41, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 2,972
42, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 2,971
43, Troy Wollenbecker, Toledo, Ohio, 2,961
44, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2,935
45, Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., 2,933
46, Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, N.Y., 2,926
47, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 2,909
48, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 2,899
49, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 2,894
50, Mike DeVaney, Temecula, Calif., 2,892
51, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 2,891
52, Paul Fleming, Bedford, Texas, 2,890
53, Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla., 2,882
54, Curtis Woods Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., 2,881
55, Michael Haugen Jr., Cave Creek, Ariz., 2,870
56, David Traber, Hebron, Ill., 2,867
57, John May, Lincolnton, N.C., 2,866
58, Patrick Girard, Canada, 2,856
59, Marv Sargent, Temecula, Calif., 2,839
60, Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, 2,834
61, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 2,833
62, Del Ballard Jr., N. Richland Hills, Texas, 2,798
63, John Slavich IV, Schaumburg, Ill., 2,665
64, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., WD
300 games (6) - Rick Steelsmith, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Jason Couch, Brian Himmler, Eugene McCune, Steve Rogers.
Angelo leads Round 0f 64 after first block in H&R Block Classic
Over the two week Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour break, Brad Angelo did not touch a bowling ball and didn't even think about the game. The Lockport, N.Y., native credited a clear and refreshed mind from the break as the reason for finishing at the top after the first session of the Round of 64 in the 2007 H&R Block Classic at the National Bowling Stadium.
"I didn't even bring any of my stuff home. I left my shoes and everything on the PBA truck during the break," said Angelo, who will take a seven-game pinfall of 1,717 into tonight's second seven-game session.
"During the break I spent time with my kids and celebrated the holidays. Bowling wasn't even on my mind. Sometimes when you are in a slump, the best thing to do is get away from it. You might get yourself in deeper trouble if you try to fix it rather than getting away."
Angelo began the day with his lowest score of 190 before rebounding with a 234. After switching to a Brunswick Red Zone, Angelo posted a 246 and four games of at least 257.
One pin behind Angelo in second is Jason Couch (Clermont, Fla.), who ended the first session with his two highest games of 278 and 277.
Brian Himmler (Cincinnati) rounds out the top three with 1,678, highlighted by a 299 in his fifth game.
Amateur Patrick Flynn III (Caldwell, Idaho), who led Wednesday's Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round, is in fourth with 1,676.
All 64 bowlers return at 6 p.m. PST for another seven games. The top 32 from today's rounds advance to Friday's single-elimination match play with the Round of 32 scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. PST.
The top four bowlers will advance to Sunday's live ESPN televised finals at 10 a.m. PST at The National Bowling Stadium. The winner will take home $25,000 and a one-season Denny's PBA Tour exemption.
Round of 64 - Block 1
Players with position, hometown and 7-game total.
1, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 1,717
2, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 1,716
3, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 1,678
4, Patrick Flynn III, Caldwell, Idaho, 1,676
5, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,650
6, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,639
7, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1,636
8, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,629
9, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 1,610
10, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 1,609
11, Vayle Floria, Cerritos, Calif., 1,604
11, David Tessman, Lake Placid, Fla., 1,604
13, Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, N.Y., 1,592
14, Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 1,582
15, Patrick Allen, Tarrytown, N.Y., 1,579
16, Troy Wollenbecker, Toledo, Ohio, 1,574
17, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 1,558
18, Richard Wolfe, Vienna, Va., 1,551
19, Billy Oatman, Chicago, 1,542
20, Riga Kalfas, Florence, Ky., 1,539
21, Michael Fagan, Greenlawn, N.Y., 1,538
21, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 1,538
23, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 1,537
24, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 1,535
24, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,535
24, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 1,535
24, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 1,535
28, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan, 1,527
29, John May, Lincolnton, N.C., 1,510
30, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,509
31, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,504
32, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, 1,494
33, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 1,489
34, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 1,488
35, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 1,487
36, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,485
37, Chris Barnes, Flower Mound, Texas, 1,475
38, David Traber, Hebron, Ill., 1,473
39, Marv Sargent, Temecula, Calif., 1,472
40, Paul Fleming, Bedford, Texas, 1,471
41, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 1,470
42, Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., 1,467
42, Michael Haugen Jr, Cave Creek, Ariz., 1,467
42, Mike DeVaney, Temecula, 1,467
45, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 1,466
45, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,466
47, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,462
48, Steve Rogers, Bourbonnais, Ill., 1,460
49, Del Ballard Jr, N. Richland Hills, Texas, 1,458
50, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,457
51, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 1,456
52, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 1,455
53, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,448
54, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 1,442
54, Chris Hayden, Orlando, Fla., 1,442
56, Wes Malott, Dallas, 1,440
57, Patrick Girard, Canada, 1,439
58, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 1,427
59, Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla., 1,411
60, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,396
61, Curtis Woods Jr, Santa Rosa, Calif., 1,385
62, Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, 1,373
63, John Slavich IV, Schaumburg, Ill., 1,315
64, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 0
300 Games (2) - Rick Steelsmith, Walter Ray Williams Jr.
Amateur leads H&R Block Classic Qualifying Round
Patrick Flynn III became the first amateur to lead a Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour Qualifying Round this season, finishing with a 1,660 seven-game pinfall to lead nine qualifiers into the 2007 H&R Block Classic at the National Bowling Stadium. Picture courtesy of PBA.Non-PBA members earn just one spot into the Round of 64 each week. This week was the most competitive among the non-members this season as three of the top six finishers were amateurs.
Flynn started strong with games of 234 and 245 but had a low of 186 in game three. He bounced back with a high of 265 in game four and his 223 in game seven pushed him past Troy Wollenbecker for the overall lead.
"I've never bowled on this pattern before so I just tried to go out and execute the shots," Flynn said. "The first couple games I felt relaxed and calm and then I started watching the scores. The third game I struggled so after that I just regrouped and made the best shots possible."
A former Junior Team USA member who bowled at Central Missouri State University and Vincennes University, Flynn (Caldwell, Idaho) was a PBA member from 2003-04 during which he won a PBA Regional Tour title.
This week, eight PBA members advanced to the Round of 64 as no Commissioner's Exemption was awarded and exempt bowlers Patrick Healey Jr., Amleto Monacelli and Jim Pratt withdrew.
Liz Johnson (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) finished tied for eighth to earn a spot in the Round of 64 for the second time this season and the fifth time in her career. Johnson was the first woman to qualify for a Denny's PBA Tour event back in November 2004 and finished second in the 2005 Banquet Open. She finished seventh earlier this season in the Etonic Championship and currently leads the non-exempt points race.
Wollenbecker (Toledo, Ohio) finished second with 1,646, while Vayle Floria (Cerritos, Calif.) finished fourth with 1,588. Steve Rogers (Bourbonnais, Ill.), who finished fourth in the Lake County Indiana Classic after advancing through the Qualifying Round earlier this season, finished fifth with 1,584.
Rounding out the qualifiers were Ronnie Russell (Indianapolis), Curtis Woods Jr. (Santa Rosa, Calif.), Chad Kloss (Greenfield, Wis.) and John Slavich IV (Schaumburg, Ill.).
Thursday's Round of 64 features two seven-game qualifying blocks, the first of which gets underway at 11 a.m. PST. The top 32 will advance to single elimination match play on Friday. The final four advance to Sunday's live ESPN televised finals at 10 a.m. PST. The winner will take home $25,000 and an exemption for the 2007-08 Denny's PBA Tour season.
Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round
Players with position, hometown and seven-game total and average. Top eight PBA members and top amateur advance.
1, Patrick Flynn III, Caldwell, Idaho, 1,660, Advanced
2, Troy Wollenbecker, Toledo, Ohio, 1,646, Advanced
3, Andrew Cain, Scottsdale, Ariz., 1,598, $1,000
4, Vayle Floria, Cerritos, Calif., 1,588, Advanced
5, Steve Rogers, Bourbonnais, Ill., 1,584, Advanced
5, David O'Sullivan, Orlando, Fl, 1,584, $800
7, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 1,573, Advanced
8, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,548, Advanced
8, Curtis Woods Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., 1,548, Advanced
10, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis., 1,530, Advanced
11, Rhino Page, Clovis, Calif., 1,510, $600
12, John Slavich IV, Schaumburg, Ill., 1,504, Advanced
13, Shawn Boyd, Southampton, Pa., 1,502, $500
14, Gregory Thompson Jr., Dayton, Ohio, 1,501, $400
15, DJ Archer, Mineral Wells, Texas, 1,494
16, Allen Blansette, Willits, Calif., 1,490
17, Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif., 1,488
17, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,488
19, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,487
20, James Wallace, Hicksville, N.Y., 1,477
21, Ivan Miyasato, Fresno, Calif., 1,475
22, Bill Machin, Simi Valley, Calif., 1,470
22, Jim Tomek Jr., Camp Hill, Pa., 1,470
24, Don Allen III, Vancouver, Wash., 1,453
25, Corey Husted, Clackamas, Ore, 1,446
26, Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,444
27, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 1,438
28, Dave Arnold, Dublin, Calif., 1,437
29, Adam Monks, Oakland, N.J., 1,436
30, Chris Pitts, Clovis, Calif., 1,427
31, Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 1,416
32, M McCrary, Silt, Colo., 1,394
33, Elliott Morris, Sun Valley, Nev., 1,390
34, Don Simonian, Carson City, Nev., 1,374
35, Noah Berger, Berkeley, Calif., 1,369
36, Jason Ross, San Jose, Calif., 1,367
37, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 1,362
38, P.J. Haggerty, Lincoln, Calif., 1,357
39, Aaron Pawloski, Brentwood, Calif., 1,354
40, Jordan Groenlund, Kuna, Idaho, 1,352
41, Jack Renshaw, Rifle, Colo., 1,350
42, Gary Ezell, Kenner, La., 1,329
43, Kris Netherton, Sacramento. Calif., 1,322
44, Wayne Richards, Fernley, Nev., 1,321
44, Dean Buchanan Jr., Snohomish, Wash., 1,321
46, Charles Fick, Vancouver, Wash., 1,312
47, Eddie Kunkle, Daly City, Calif., 1,306
48, Steve Weber, Chalmette, La., 1,297
49, Mike Keough, Stockton, Calif., 1,279
50, Paul Chavez, Whittier, Calif., 1,255
51, Rob Forest, Reno, NV, 1,236
52, Joseph Shaman, Danville, Calif., 1,180
53, Yasutomo Bannai, Japan, 1,176
54, Michael Bellefeuille, Duluth, Minn., 1,164
55, Tracy Swindle, Vallejo, Calif., 1,152
56, Robert Robinson, Pahoa, Hawaii, 1,129
300 games - None
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