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02/11/07

2006-07 PBA Tour #14 

Barnes uses home advantage to win eighth career PBA title

AMF Irving Lanes in Irving, Texas (Feb. 7-11, 2007)

2006PBA14ChrisBarnes.jpg Chris Barnes has had a lot of heartbreak and disappointment on television throughout his career, but all that seems to go away when he bowls in front of his home crowd.

Barnes won his eighth career Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour title Sunday – and his second in the Dallas Metroplex – defeating John May, 235-216, to win the 2007 GEICO Classic at AMF Irving Lanes.

The nine-year veteran came into the day just 7-15 in title matches, but improved to 2-0 in the Metroplex after winning the 2003 Days Inn Open. He has also won back-to-back Motel 6 Roll to Riches crowns, a special event which has been held in the Dallas area the last two seasons and awards a winner-take-all $200,000 top prize.

"Its euphoric any time you win. Finishing second as many times as I have, any time you do win it makes you appreciate it that much more," Barnes said. "Every title is sweet but there's no better environment than winning in front on your family and friends."

The Double Oak, Texas, resident controlled the match from the beginning, striking with his first three shots. After a nine-spare in the fourth, Barnes put together another turkey while May could not keep up. A spare in the 10th frame gave Barnes at least one title in six consecutive seasons.

Barnes advanced to the title match with a 229-192 win over 2005-06 PBA Rookie of the Year Bill O'Neill. O'Neill struck just three times in the match, while an early turkey in frames 2-4 helped Barnes take a lead he never relinquished.

In the second semifinals, May defeated Mike DeVaney, 193-188. May, making his first TV appearance since 2001, had a turkey in frames 3-5 to take the early lead, but DeVaney stayed close until a five-count and an open in the 9th frame. A strike and nine-spare in the 10th by DeVaney meant May only needed count in the 10th frame.

Barnes earned $25,000 and an exemption for the 2007-08 season for the win, while May (Iron Station, N.C.) took home $13,000 for second. O'Neill (Levittown, Pa.) earned $6,500 for third and DeVaney (Temecula, Calif.) earned $5,500 for fourth.

Next week the Denny's PBA Tour heads to Council Bluffs, Iowa for the 2007 Go RVing Classic, Feb. 14-18 at Thunderbowl. The nationally televised ESPN finals take place Sunday, Feb. 18 at 11:30 a.m. CST.


GEICO Classic

AMF Irving Lanes in Irving, Texas (Feb. 7-11, 2007)

Championship Round:
1. Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 464 (2 games), $25,000
2. John May, Iron Station, N.C., 409 (2 games), $13,000
3. Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., 192 (1 game), $6,500
4. Mike DeVaney, Temecula, Calif., 188 (1 game), $5,500

Playoff Results:
First Match: Barnes def. O'Neill, 229-192
Second Match: May def. DeVaney, 193-188
Championship Match: Barnes def. May, 235-216.

This is Barnes' eighth career Denny's PBA Tour title.
Picture courtesy of PBA LLC/Rodriguez.


O'Neill and May target to win first career PBA title


Bill ONeill.jpg A little relaxation and a change in strategy goes a long way on the Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour, at least that's the case for Bill O'Neill in the 2007 GEICO Classic at AMF Irving Lanes.

O'Neill, the 2005-06 PBA Rookie of the Year, credited relaxing and playing his opponent as opposed to playing the lanes for sending him to his first ESPN finals this season and second in his career.

"You have to play your opponent more than you play the lane pattern. I'm starting to learn that a little more," said O'Neill (Levittown, Pa.). "I used to play the lanes (in match play) exactly like I did in qualifying.

"I'm also relaxing a little more when I bowl in match play. I used to put pressure on myself and kept thinking about the next shot instead of the one I'm on."

O'Neill's calm demeanor propelled the 26-year old past Steve Jaros (Yorkville, Ill.), four-games-to-one, in Friday night's Round of 8. It also helped O'Neill, who finished Thursday's Round of 64 ranked No. 2, knock off PBA Hall of Famers Tom Baker (4-3) and Brian Voss (4-2) in the Round of 16 and 32, respectively.

2006ChrisBarnes_small.jpg O'Neill will have to relax Sunday if he plans to win his first career title as he faces off with local favorite Chris Barnes (Double Oak, Texas).

Barnes, who finished second in last week's Sun City Classic, knocked off Tim Criss (Bel Air, Md.), 4-2. After winning the first game, Barnes dropped the next two to Criss before rebounding with three straight wins, improving his score in each with games of 219, 224 and 257.

Mike DeVaney.jpg The second half of the bracket will feature two bowlers looking to make a name for themselves on the 2006-07 Tour. Mike DeVaney (pictured left; Temecula, Calif.) will take on first-year exempt bowler John May (Iron Station, N.C.).

DeVaney, who is coming off his most successful season on the 2005-06 Tour, defeated Eugene McCune (Munster, Ind.), 4-1, after being taken to seven games by Mike Machuga (Erie, Pa.) in the Round of 16.

May enters Sunday's telecast with two previous TV appearances under his belt, but no titles to show. May is making a case to be favored on Sunday knocking off two of the Tour's hottest bowlers, Tommy Jones (Simpsonville, S.C.) and Wes Malott (Argyle, Texas), in the Rounds of 32 and 16, before knocking off Chris Warren (Grants Pass, Ore.), 4-1, in the Round of 8.

The four bowlers advance to Sunday's live ESPN televised finals at 11:30 a.m. CST at AMF Irving Lanes. The winner will take home $25,000 and a one-season Denny's PBA Tour exemption.


Round of 8

Single-elimination, best-of-seven games, losers eliminated

#3 Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, def.
#22 Tim Criss ($5,000), Bel Air, Md., 4-2
(182-174, 197-218, 204-222, 219-216, 224-211, 257-254)

#2 Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., def.
#7 Steve Jaros ($4,000), Yorkville, Ill., 4-1
(196-155, 221-175, 253-255, 193-146, 247-167)

#1 Mike DeVaney, Temecula, Calif., def.
#25 Eugene McCune ($3,500), Munster, Ind., 4-1
(198-187, 181-203, 225-209, 215-204, 230-173)

#13 John May, Lincolnton, N.C., def.
#21 Chris Warren ($3,700), Grants Pass, Ore, 4-1
(245-191, 204-265, 205-187, 200-199, 211-175)

Round of 16

Single-elimination, best-of-seven games, losers eliminated

#21 Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, def.
#5 Jack Jurek ($2,650), Lackawanna, N.Y., 4-2
(223-156, 163-227, 268-206, 169-265, 259-195, 250-245)

#3 Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, def.
#14 Tommy Delutz Jr. ($2,600), Flushing, N.Y., 4-1
(212-214, 248-225, 254-250, 216-200, 224-218)

#1 Mike DeVaney, Temecula, Calif., def.
#16 Mike Machuga ($2,900), Erie, Pa., 4-3
(209-210, 253-268, 214-214, 237-160, 216-217, 234-196, 205-194)

#22 Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., def.
#27 Walter Ray Williams Jr. ($2,500), Ocala, Fla., 4-0
(202-195, 223-178, 266-255, 258-215)

#7 Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., def.
#10 Brian Kretzer ($2,550), Dayton, Ohio, 4-1
(244-201, 166-208, 239-224, 213-198, 223-154)

#13 John May, Lincolnton, N.C., def.
#4 Wes Malott ($3,000), Argyle, Texas, 4-3
(223-226, 204-237, 235-190, 249-237, 265-244, 223-268, 216-184)

#2 Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., def.
#15 Tom Baker ($2,800), King, N.C., 4-3
(205-202, 224-182, 235-237, 215-221, 220-247, 249-206, 226-193)

#25 Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., def.
#9 Mika Koivuniemi ($2,700), Hartland, Mich., 4-2
(180-234, 207-185, 198-163, 232-210, 225-258, 204-150)

Round of 32

Single-elimination, best-of-seven games, losers eliminated, earn $2,200.

#15 Tom Baker, King, N.C., def.
#18 Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 4-1
(202-190, 202-219, 255-177, 201-192, 225-181)

#13 John May, Lincolnton, N.C., def.
#20 Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 4-2
(219-216, 189-206, 242-185, 237-246, 222-217, 222-221)

#22 Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., def.
#11 Del Ballard Jr., N. Richland Hills, Texas, 4-2
(226-176, 220-223, 205-193, 186-225, 221-210, 246-209)

#9 Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., def.
#24 Jay Ashbaugh III, Round Rock, Texas, 4-0
(237-180, 221-192, 243-184, 243-148)

#7 Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., def.
#26 Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 4-1
(235-230, 263-246, 245-239, 225-265, 259-235)

#5 Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., def.
#28 Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 4-3
(204-213, 202-176, 204-168, 192-300, 191-233, 217-207, 244-235)

#3 Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, def.
#30 Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 4-0
(300-202, 276-167, 236-209, 249-224)

#1 Mike DeVaney, Temecula, Calif., def.
#32 Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 4-1
(173-199, 187-178, 258-224, 219-187, 242-176)

#2 Bill O'Neill, Levittown, Pa., def.
#31 Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 4-2
(217-205, 192-237, 213-233, 214-202, 236-233, 216-204)

#4 Wes Malott, Argyle, Texas, def.
#29 Richard Wolfe, Vienna, Va., 4-3
(227-257, 195-237, 280-212, 256-200, 223-235, 195-174, 248-175)

#27 Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., def.
#6 Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 4-3
(212-236, 225-239, 258-236, 204-234, 234-171, 236-227, 279-235)

#25 Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., def.
#8 Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 4-2
(243-228, 235-250, 222-279, 267-237, 238-225, 205-180)

#10 Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, def.
#23 Patrick Healey Jr., Denton, Texas, 4-3
(215-188, 175-193, 237-174, 202-217, 248-224, 193-212, 256-211)

#21 Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore, def.
#12 Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 4-3
(232-204, 266-192, 218-232, 204-252, 237-192, 206-213, 225-190)

#14 Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, N.Y., def.
#19 Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 4-1
(215-158, 238-207, 228-224, 244-246, 248-209)

#16 Mike Machuga, Erie, Pa., def.
#17 Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 4-1
(289-158, 218-162, 180-258, 236-227, 237-227)

300 Games - (2) Chris Barnes, Brian Himmler.


DeVaney earns top seed for GEICO Classic single elimination match play by closest possible margin


Mike DeVaney.jpg Mike DeVaney knows as much as anyone that all the hard work Thursday isn't worth a thing if you don't make it count on Friday. DeVaney led Thursday's Round of 64 in the 2007 GEICO Classic at AMF Irving Lanes with a 3,001 14-game pinfall to earn the top seed for Friday's single elimination match play.

The one-time Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour titlist has advanced to match play in the single elimination format in seven of nine tries this season, but has just a 3-6 match record. He also earned the top seed for the 2006 Etonic Championship, but fell to Chris Loschetter in the Round of 16.

"I just grinded it out and took advantage of the good pairs I had, but whatever happens Thursday is irrelevant. It's what you do Friday that matters," DeVaney (Temecula, Calif.) said. "I played a part of the lane today that no one else played. I played the second arrow when everyone else was playing way inside of that."

DeVaney will look to improve on his season-best ninth-place finish, but he'll first have to get by Joe Ciccone (Buffalo, N.Y.), who finished 32nd with 2,802 to earn the final spot in match play by two pins over Patrick Girard (Jonquiere, Quebec).

The 2005-06 PBA Rookie of the Year Bill O'Neill (Levittown, Pa.) finished second with 3,000. O'Neill, looking for his first career Tour title, will face No. 31 Brian Voss (Alpharetta, Ga.), a PBA Hall of Famer with 24 career titles.

The Round of 32 will feature a match-up between two of the greatest bowlers of all time as PBA Hall of Famers Pete Weber (St. Ann, Mo.) and Walter Ray Williams Jr. (Ocala, Fla.) will go head-to-head Friday morning. The last time the two faced each other Williams defeated Weber, 289-236, in the title match of the Dydo Japan Cup 2006 to capture his record-breaking 42nd career Tour title.

A total of five local bowlers advanced to match play including seven-time Tour titlist and Double Oak, Texas resident Chris Barnes who finished third with 2,959. Barnes will face No. 30 Doug Kent (Newark, N.Y.). Also advancing were Wes Malott (Argyle, Texas), Del Ballard Jr. (North Richland Hills, Texas), Dino Castillo (Carrollton, Texas) and Patrick Healey (Denton, Texas).

Friday's Round of 32 gets underway at 9 a.m. CST, followed by the Rounds of 16 and 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively. The final four bowlers advance to Sunday's live ESPN televised finals at 11:30 a.m. CST. The winner will take home $25,000 and an exemption for the 2007-08 Denny's PBA Tour season.


Round of 64 after the second 8-game block


Top 32 advance to match play. Places 33-64 earn $1,800.


300 game - None.


O'Neill leads first seven-game block for third time this

Bill ONeill.jpg Bill O'Neill is hoping the third time is a charm. The 2005-06 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Rookie of the Year led Friday's first seven-game block in the Round of 64 in the 2007 GEICO Classic at AMF Irving Lanes, marking the third time he has done so this season.

O'Neill, who is still looking for his first championship round appearance this season, began the day with a 215 and 178 before rebounding with games of 236, 232 and 266. The 25-year old ended the block with scores of 202 and 208 to finish with a 1,537 seven-game pinfall.

"It's nice to not bowl in a score fest. You can bowl a bad game and still rebound," said O'Neill (Levittown, Pa.). "Since it's not a round-robin tournament, I don't think about leading. I just try to bowl my game and pick up as much wood as possible."

One pin behind O'Neill is last week's 2007 Sun City Classic winner Mika Koivuniemi (Hartland, Mich.). The Finland native finished with a 234 in his seventh game.

Chris Barnes, who Koivuniemi defeated in last week's final, is in third. The Double Oak, Texas resident is just three pins behind O'Neill with 1,534.

Brad Angelo (Lockport, N.Y.) rounds out the group who are on the heels of O'Neill's top spot with 1,530.

Former Major League Baseball star John Burkett (Southlake, Texas) is in 59th with 1,285.

All 64 bowlers return Thursday evening for another seven games at 6 p.m. CST. The top 32 will advance to Friday's single-elimination match play beginning at 9 a.m.

The top four bowlers will advance to Sunday's live ESPN televised finals at 11:30 a.m. CST at AMF Irving Lanes. The winner will take home $25,000 and a one-season Denny's PBA Tour exemption.


Round of 64 – First Block of seven games



300 games - None.


Castillo leads PBA Tour Qualifying Round for the second consecutive week

2006PBA13DinoCastillo.jpg Just four weeks ago, Dino Castillo was 59th in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) World Point Rankings, third among non-exempt bowlers.

Now the Carrollton, Texas, resident is ranked 36th among all bowlers on the Denny’s PBA Tour and has opened up what might be an insurmountable lead over the rest of the non-exempt pack.

One of the hottest bowlers on Tour – exempt or non-exempt – Castillo led the Denny’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round for the second consecutive week, finishing Wednesday with a 1,522 seven-game pinfall to advance to the Round of 64 in the 2007 GEICO Classic at AMF Irving Lanes.

Castillo has now qualified through the TQR four consecutive times – tied for the Tour record – and has made the Round of 64 a Tour-best seven times this season. He has made match play in each of the last three events, finishing 14th, ninth and fifth to move into the top 40 in the world rankings, 11 spots ahead of where he finished last season as an exempt bowler.

Bowling in his home center where he bowled for 20 years growing up, Castillo came on strong over the course of the seven games Wednesday. He started with games of 210, 204 and 223 before games of 232 and 247 to challenge for the lead. A 215 in game seven pushed him to the top of the standings.

“Looking back over the last six or seven weeks it’s just been a good feeling so I’ve been riding that feeling,” Castillo said. “I’m just making some of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life for this long of a stretch,”

Last week, Castillo just missed making the championship round for the first time in his career, falling to eventual champion Mika Koivuniemi in the Round of 8 in the Sun City Classic in El Paso, Texas, four-games-to-three, but the close call did not get to the 35-year-old.

“Last week didn’t bother me. I had a lot of good breaks and a lot of bad breaks. The biggest thing was I bowled well and still made good decisions,” Castillo said. “I was happy with the outcome. Everyone would like to make the finals but someone has to lose and someone has to win.”

Also advancing to Thursday’s Round of 64 were Greg Thompson Jr. (Dayton, Ohio), Chad Kloss (Greenfield, Wis.), Edward VanDaniker Jr. (Essex, Md.), D.J. Archer (Mineral Wells, Texas) and Steve Weber (Chalmette, La.).

VanDaniker, currently second among non-exempt bowlers in the point rankings, also lost in the Round of 8 last week. Should Castillo remain in the top 40 the rest of the season, VanDaniker would also earn an exemption for 2007-08.

Finishing as the high amateur and earning a spot in Thursday’s play was Jay Ashbaugh III (Round Rock, Texas) who finished seventh overall.

The top four bowlers in the 2007 GEICO Classic advance to Sunday’s live ESPN televised finals at 11:30 a.m. CST. 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, seven-game total and average. Top six PBA members (1-6) and top amateur (7) advance. Places 8-23 cash.



* Non PBA member.


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