Jeff Richgels of the Madison (Wis.) Capital Times, Joel Davis of the Sacramento (Calif.) News and Review, and Fred Groh of International Bowling Industry magazine are top winners in news, editorial and feature categories, respectively, in the 2006 US Bowler Writing Competition. Winners in the 55th annual media awards program, sponsored by the United States Bowling Congress' official membership publication, were announced today during the Bowling Writers Association of America's annual meeting in Las Vegas.
Team USA members Diandra Asbaty and Rhino Page have been selected as the 2007 Amateur Bowlers of the Year by the Bowling Writers Association of America. Asbaty, a Dyer, Ind., native residing in Chicago, was a unanimous selection while Page, a San Diego native living in Topeka, Kan., came one vote short of unanimous in the balloting of the BWAA Amateur Bowler of the Year committee. 
Tom Baker of King, N.C. continued his domination of the Bowling Writers Association of America Senior Bowler of the Year for 2007. Baker (pictured kleft) earned his previous honors in 2006 and 2005. Bob Glass, Lawrence, Kansas, owns the record with five senior honors starting in 2000. Runner-up was another strong senior, David Ozio (right) of Beaumont, Texas. For the second straight year there was no senior woman bowler of the year selected. 
Michael Haugen, Jr., Cave Creek, Ariz., was the overwhelming choice for the Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA) Kegel Bowler of the month for January. In dramatic fashion, Haugen won his first career Major and second career title at the H&R Block Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas. Battling back from a sore throat and swollen tonsils just two days earlier, Haugen overcame a 50-pin deficit to defeat Chris Barnes, 215-214 in the title match.
To be named Bowler of the Year is the highest and most sought-after annual award offered to the sport's top athletes. To win it twice in a three-year span is an exceptionally more remarkable accomplishment. Duplicating their efforts of 2005, Patrick Allen and Liz Johnson have been voted the nation’s top male and female bowlers of 2007 by the Bowling Writers Association of America. The BWAA has named the country’s top male bowler on a calendar year basis since 1941 and the leading female bowler every year beginning in 1948.
Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., has been named the Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA) Kegel Bowler of the Month for December. Bohn, 44, captured his 31st pro title in the Spartanburg Classic Dec. 16 by defeating Rhino Page 267-257. There were 61 events between his 30th and 31st titles. He also finished third in the Great Lakes Classic Dec. 2. Other bowlers receiving votes were: Walter Ray Williams, Jr., Patrick Allen, Rhino Page, and Diandra Asbaty. 
In a closely-contested poll, Walter Ray Williams Jr. (pictured) has been named the Bowling Writers Association (BWAA) Kegel Bowler of the Month for November by a committee of bowling scribes from around the country. Williams, Ocala, Fla., earned his 43rd Denny's PBA title Nov. 4 at the 2007 Motor City Classic tournament in Taylor, Mich. by defeating Eugene McCune in the title match, 214-194.
The International Plaza Hotel in Orlando has been selected as the host site for the June 23-26 2008 Bowling Writers Association of America convention. The annual meeting will be held at the Plaza Tuesday, June 24. The board of directors will meet Monday afternoon, June 23, which will be followed by a welcome reception hosted by BPAA as part of the extensive writer’s Bowl Expo package. 
Mika Koivuniemi was named Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA) Kegel Bowler of the Month for September. "The Big Finn" became the first European player to win the Japan Cup and solidified his standing as one of the world's top bowlers. He defeated fellow Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour star Mike Wolfe, 200-178, to win the 2007 Dydo Japan Cup at the Tokyo Metro Gymnasium. 
Tom Baker, King, N.C., has repeated as Kegel Bowler of the Month for August. The BWAA Bowler of the Month Committee's July award-winner won his eighth PBA Senior Tour title by defeating David Ozio, 256-213, in the Dick Weber Invitational title match. Baker's win in the final event in the 2007 PBA Senior Tour season, not only clinched the award for the second month in a row, but earned him BOM honors for the sixth time in the past four years.
Rick Minier, Houston, Texas, has been named as the Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA)Kegel Bowler of the Month for June, 2007. Minier, a former professional bowler who returned to amateur status, won the 2007 PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Suncoast in Las Vegas.
Hazel McLeary (pictured left) of Victoria, British Columbia was re-elected to a second one-year term as Bowling Writers Association of America president by the BWAA board during the annual convention June 23-28 in Las Vegas, Nev. More than 80 BWAA members attended Bowl Expo, IBPSIA and Coaches Summit activities at Mandalay Bay and 56 were on hand for the BWAA Annual Meeting. 
The Bowling Writers Association of America committee has named Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., as the BWAA Kegel Bowler of the Month for May, 2007. Kulick bested the field of 344 entrants. Kulick defeated Diandra Asbaty of Chicago 192-143 at AMF Carolina Lanes (Charlotte, N.C.) to win the biggest and most prestigious title in women's bowling, the USBC Queens Tournament.
The Bowler of the Month Committee of the Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA) has named Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C. as the BWAA Kegel Bowler of the Month for April, 2007. Jones, 28, garnered his 10th career title and second major with a 257-222 victory over Tony Reyes to win the 2007 PBA Tournament of Champions at Mohegan Sun Arena.
The Bowling Writers' Association of America has named Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., as the BWAA Kegel Bowler of the Month for March, 2007. The 43-year-old won the 64th BPAA U.S. Open Tournament at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick, N.J., tying him with Mark Roth for third on the all-time titles list with 34.
Mike Mineman of Belleville, Ill. has been selected as the Bowling Writers Association of America Kegel Bowler of the Month for February 2007. The 48-year-old right-hander won this year's Bayer Classic and became only the second bowler to win a title after advancing through the Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round.
In a nearly unanimous decision, a select panel of members of the Bowling Writers Association of America has selected Jason Couch of Clermont, Fla. as the BWAA Kegel Bowler of the Month for January 2007. The 37-year-old lefthander became the first since Tommy Jones in 2005 to win back-to-back PBA titles. 
Tom Baker of King, N.C. has been selected as the Bowling Writers Association of America 2006 Senior Bowler of the Year, compiling one of the greatest seasons in PBA Senior Tour history. The 52-year-old New York native became the first PBA Senior to win two "majors" - the USBC Senior Masters and his second consecutive U.S. Open title – in the same year.