PBA Interview

One week ago, Sean Rash made history by becoming the first non-exempt Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) member to win a Denny's PBA Tour event when he captured the 2006 West Virginia Championship after qualifying for the event through the Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round. The 23-year-old from Wichita, Kan., sat down last week to talk about his journey from struggling qualifier to Tour champion.


Question: What were your thoughts when the PBA went to an all-exempt field for the 2004-05 season?
Sean Rash: The first year the PBA decided to do the exempt field I spoke to my parents, as well as Chris Barnes and Brunswick ball rep Rick Benoit, about coming out on Tour and not finishing school. I was at Wichita State University at the time and we just won the National Championship in 2003 and I had two years of school left. I felt I had an opportunity to make the exempt field and I didn't want to give that up. I was thinking about bowling on Tour then taking classes in the summer. You're looking for job security and trying to pay bills, but Chris and Rick said 'Get your degree and then move on.' So I considered coming out here three or four years ago.

Question: Did the fact there are only 58 exempt bowlers ever concern you?
Sean Rash: I never thought about that. I told myself I belong out here and some of the guys out here felt like I belonged too. Some people might feel like I'm taking spots away, but I feel like I've worked hard and I belong. It's not easy out here. Next year is a big test for me. The biggest thing is to make sure I stay in the points race and get enough to stay exempt for the next season. This is just the beginning. It's a dream come true early, but there's more work to be done. It doesn't stop here. Look at the guys who have been out here a long time and have had to go to Tour Trials. Guys like Brian Kretzer, he's gone back twice. It's a relief that I don't have to go to back this year.

Question: When did you decide to become a PBA member?
Sean Rash: I got my card right before Tour Trials last year. Overall, I felt like it was a good experience. I had an opportunity to make it into the top 10 every day. I was never too far out to where I couldn't get there. I had a couple games the first two days early in the block that hurt me, but I stayed right there most of the week. It was a good experience but I'm glad I don't have to go back and live it again. That's 45 games of real tough bowling. It's mentally and physically draining. The relief is unbelievable. No matter what, I get to bowl 16 weeks next season. The pressure is off now.

Question: When did you decide to bowl all the Tour Qualifying Rounds?
Sean Rash: Once I didn't get through Tour Trials, and they made the announcement that the highest non-exempt bowler in the points would earn an exemption for 2006-07, I figured the odds were good that maybe 10 of us would bowl every event. I thought I would have made it out of more Qualifying Rounds that I have, but I learned I wasn't exactly ready for the Tour, for all the different patterns and the transitions you have to make. But my confidence has really come back the last few weeks.

Question: After so many close-calls early in the season - missing out through the TQR by one spot three times - how did you keep your confidence?
Sean Rash: The support I got from guys like Dino Castillo, Chris Barnes, Wes Malott and Tommy Jones helped me through. Those guys mean the most to me. They gave me a hard time early on, but it was more motivation like 'Hey you're close. You're going to get there. You'll get over the hump.' Without their help, I don't know if I would have been able to do what I did. That definitely helped.

Question: Even prior to winning your title, what benefits did you see from bowling the Qualifying Rounds?
Sean Rash: If you don't make it through Tour Trials you have the Regional Tour and the Qualifying Rounds. We haven't heard yet if the exemption for the top non-exempt bowler will be back again, but the best way to do get an exemption is to be out here and learn from the best and figure out how to compete with these guys each week. It's the opportunity of a lifetime. If it's a dream to bowl on Tour then why not come out and do it. Just because you bowl on Wednesdays doesn't mean your not part of Tour.

Question: So you still felt like you were "On Tour" when you bowled the Qualifying Rounds?
Sean Rash: I still felt like I belonged out here and was part of the PBA because of the guys out here. They accepted me early on. Guys like Tommy and Wes; they let me go along to dinner and movies with them. I was able to hang out with them and that made it easier to relax.

Question: What have you learned from bowling the Qualifying Rounds?
Sean Rash: Since I turned pro the biggest things I've learned are reading the patterns and the transitions, and knowing what the players do to the lanes. I've changed my game a lot to adapt out here. I made a lot of ball roll and grip span changes I never thought I would make. The help of Rick Benoit was big for me. He saw something he thought might improve my game. His coaching has helped me be successful, no question. All the things I have changed this season are things I would have normally waited to do in the off season, but it was important to do those things to be successful so I had to make the changes immediately. And so far it's helped.

Question: Will you still bowl the Qualifying Rounds now that you are exempt?
Sean Rash: I'm going to bowl the next two weeks, especially Akron because my mom will be there. I'm not bowling in Taylor because I'll be bowling the USBC Open Championship. It's my last year to compete in that and I've got a good partner and I want to experience it one more time. I'll definitely bowl the Denny's World Championship but I'm not sure about Grand Rapids yet. I still have a lot to learn out here so I'm definitely going to keep bowling this season.

Question: What impact do you think your title will have on the Qualifying Rounds?
Sean Rash: I feel like me winning that title is going to make the Qualifying Rounds full every week because now people see that it can happen. It's realistic now. Everyone thought it was a fairy tale. But now the fairy tale has come true. I think it's a good idea. It gives people who are not exempt an opportunity to compete and get back on Tour, guys like Bob Learn Jr. or Eric Forkel, who can still compete.

Question: What meant most to you: the exemption, the money or a spot in the Tournament of Champions?
Sean Rash: The biggest thing was the exemption. Money is great and the Tournament of Champions is great because you're most likely locked in for at least two years. It's a big honor to be in that group of guys. Those are 32 guys that are very successful in this sport. That will be a pleasure to be in their company and hopefully I can win a match or two. The exemption is what matters the most though, easily.

Question: How soon did you expect this sort of success to come to you?
Sean Rash: I've always had the philosophy that you're not going to enter a tournament out here unless you think you're going to win and that's how I've always felt. Some people think that's arrogance, but I just think that's confidence. You have to have that to be successful out here. Tommy Jones, Chris Barnes, Walter Ray (Williams Jr.), they feel like they'll win every event too. I didn't really expect it to happen this soon, but luckily it came earlier that later.