Finnish national team player
Mika Koivuniemi, an 11-time PBA champion, who lives in Hartland, Mich., posted a 1404-series Tuesday evening lead the sixth qualifying squad and to take the overall lead in the 43rd Brunswick Ballmaster Open currently underway at Tali Bowling Center in Helsinki, Finland. The 45-year-old right-hander rolled games of 237, 244, 228, 226, 192 and 277, and average of 234.00, to become the first player this year to crack the 1400-bar. The projected cut was revised from 1277 to 1296.
Long-time Finnish national team members Reija Lundén (l.) and Mika Luoto led the fourth and fifth qualifying squad of the 43rd Brunswick Ballmaster Open Sunday at Tali Bowling Center in Helsinki, Finland, en route to move into second and fourth place, respectively, in the overall standings. Three-time winner Lasse Lintilä (r.) continued to pace the 238-player field after five squads with 1351 total and an average of 225.17.
Long-time Team Finland anchor Lasse Lintilä (pictured) leads a field of 146 players including 144 Finns after three qualifying squads in the 43rd Brunswick Ballmaster Open in Helsinki, Finland. The former World and European champion, who has won the Ballmaster Open three times in his illustrious career (2006, 2003, 1988), started Squad 3 on Saturday afternoon with two huge games (276 & 266) followed by 234 and 223, but had to settle for 1351 total and an average of 225.17 after finishing with 192 and 160.
68 Finns kicked off the qualifying of the 43rd Brunswick Ballmaster Open Friday evening at Tali Bowling Center in Helsinki, Finland. Perttu Jussila (pictured) set the early pace with 1340 including games of 225, 200, 231, 231, 230 and 223. The Finnish national team member averaged 223.33. The Ballmaster is the season-opening event of the 2013 European Bowling Tour and the third stop of the 2013 World Bowling Tour, which started with two events at the end of 2012. Qualifying continues Saturday with squads 2 & 3.
The 43rd Brunswick Ballmaster Open is the season-opening event of the 2013 European Bowling Tour and also the third stop of the 2013 World Bowling Tour. The tournament will be held from Jan. 4-13, 2013 at 36-lane Tali Bowling Center in Finland's capital city Helsinki. Players will compete for total prize money of up to 110.300 Euro with 12.000 Euro going to the winner. Four-time PBA champion Bill O'Neill is the defending champion.
Valcke Bowling and Brunswick have announced today that the Brunswick Euro Challenge, a European Bowling Tour Platinum event and Europe's richest tournament, will move from Paris, France, to Munich, Germany, in 2013. The 10th anniversary tournament will be held from March 19 to 24 at 52-lane Dream-Bowl Palace in suburban Munich. The tournament schedule has been adjusted due to the new location and registration will open December 15.