U.S. American has the lone 1500-series to lead 60 of 192 players into the finals; places 29-60 start with the semifinals Saturday evening; Jimmy Mortensen (DEN) and Robert Andersson (SWE) crack the top 8 in the last squad; Norwegians PÃ¥l Selvnes, Olav J. Olsen move into top 42; cut for 42nd place is 1293 (215.50 average)
Brian Valenta, United States, won the qualifying of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick which concluded Saturday evening with the 18th qualifying squad at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo, Norway. Valenta, who rolled a 1503 series (250.50 average) in Squad 13, survived a strong charge by Jimmy Mortensen (l.) of Denmark and Robert Andersson (r.) of Sweden, who both cracked the top 8 in the last squad to finish qualifying in fourth and seventh place, resp.
Norwegian rolls 1467 block to bump up to fifth place; Mads Sandbækken (NOR) and Robert Andersson (SWE) are the only players to move above the cut line in Squad 17; cut for 42nd place is 1287 (214.50 average)
Tore Torgersen (pictured) made a considerable move toward the top of the standings, going from 23rd to fifth place when he rolled a 1467-block in the penultimate qualifying squad of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick. Bowling in this squad "to find out what I'm doing wrong" Torgersen must have found it out pretty early or he can't have found much at all. Torgersen started the block with 246 and 234 followed by high games of 279 and 253 before he closed things out with 232 and 223, an average of 245.17.
Norwegian misses top 8 by a whisker; takes over 10th place in the qualifying standings; Jenny Wegner totals 1370 to become the top-ranked woman of the 186-player field in 13th place; cut for 42nd place is 1285 (214.17 average)
Kenneth Haukås (l.) of Norway led the 16th qualifying squad Saturday morning to kick off the final qualifying day of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick with 1403 series and an average of 233.83. Haukås, who doesn't use his thumb to deliver the bowling ball, was consistent during the block with games of 236, 212, 258, 233, 231 and 233. Trailing the Norwegian by 33 pins to become the top-ranked female bowler in the field was Jenny Wegner (r.) of Sweden.
"Striking Viking" uses high games of 300, 279, 278 to shoot into second place with 1494; Brian Valenta (USA) holds on to the lead with 1503; cut for 42nd place is up to 1284 (214 average)
Norwegian national team member Svein Ã…ke Ek (pictured) closed the 15th qualifying squad Friday at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo with the third perfecto of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick to shoot into second place in the overall qualifying standings. Ek started the last squad of the penultimate qualifying day with games of 227 and 214 before he set the first highlight with 278 in the third game. After his low game of 196, the "Striking Viking" put on a show and finished with 279 and 300 for 1493 or an average of 248.83 for six games.
Swede averages over 245 on his way to third place; Brian Valenta (USA) continues to lead with 1503 heading into the last squad on Friday; cut for 42nd place is 1260 (210 average)
Daniel Fransson (pictured) of Sweden averaged 245.17 to lead the 14th qualifying squad Friday afternoon at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo with 1471 total and to leap 12 spots into third place in the overall qualifying standings of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick.
Fransson, who was in 15th place with 1326, topped his previous high score by 145 pins behind games of 248, 255, 226, 268, 228 and 246. Two-hander Brian Valenta, United States, continued to lead the field of 157 players from eight countries with 1503 (250.50 avg.).
American two-hander shoots 1503 in Squad 13 to lead the 140-player field from eight countries; cut for 42nd place is 1246 (207.67 average)
Brian Valenta (pictured), United States, rolled the second 300 game of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick and the second by a two-hander to power his way to the top of the 140-player leaderboard Friday afternoon at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo. Valenta, who started the day in 42nd place with 1233, rolled games of 285, 200, 203, 257, 300 and 258 to become the first player who surpassed the 1500-mark with 1503 and an average of 250.50. Previous leader Arnar David Jonsson of Iceland slipped to second place with 1493.
Two-hander leads Squad 12 with 1404 to move into fourth place; Glenn Morten Pedersen (NOR), Frode Jørgen Aaneby (NOR), Daniel Fransson (SWE), and Patcharin Torgersen (NOR) crack the 1300-bar; Brian Valenta (USA) is "on the bubble" in 42nd place with 1233 (205.50 average)
Finnish two-hander Osku Palermaa (pictured) rolled the first 300-game of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick in Squad 12 Thursday evening at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo, Norway, en route to move into a three-way tie for fourth place with 1404. Arnar David Jonsson of Iceland leads the field of 128 players from seven countries since Squad 2 with 1493 and an average of 248.83. Another four players, Glenn Morten Pedersen, Frode Jørgen Aaneby, Daniel Fransson and Patcharin Torgersen cracked the 1300-bar.
Olavesen overtakes 13th place in qualifying with 1319; Norwegian U-21 national team members Sandra Bakken, Sigbjørn Eide move into the top 42; cutoff number now is 1217 (202.83 average incl. hdcp)
Ronny Olavesen (l.) and Audun Boye Hansen (r.) set the pace in the 11th qualifying squad of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick en route to improve their previous high series Thursday evening in Oslo. Heading into the sixth game the Norwegians were tied at 1106. Olavesen finished with 213 to lead the squad with 1319 (219.83) and to move into 13th place in the overall qualifying standings. Hansen closed with 183 and 1289 (214.83), good for 22nd place.
Norwegian becomes the second female squad leader and the second-best woman in the 118-players field in 18th place; cut for 42nd place is 1205 (200.83 average)
Jeanett Haavelmoen Johansen (l.) led the 10th qualifying squad of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick as the Norwegian hit 1300 on nose Thursday afternoon at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo. Johansen had games of 258, 192, 236, 153, 168 and 245, an average of 208.67, and added 48 pins women's handicap en route to move into 18th place in the overall qualifying standings. Joakim Biehl (r.), Norway, used a 1271 series (211.83) to leap into 26th place.
Norwegian rolls 1301 series to move into 8th place with 1349 total; Iceland's Arnar David Jonsson holds on to the lead with 1493; cut for 42nd place is 1184 (197.33 average incl. hdcp)
Heidi Thorstensen (pictured left) became the first woman in the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick who cracked the 1300-bar when she rolled a 1301-series Tuesday in Squad 8 at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo. The Norwegian added 48 pins handicap, a standard for women on the European Bowling Tour, to move into eighth place in the overall qualifying standings with 1349 total. Arnar David Jonsson of Iceland continued to lead the field of 107 players with 1493 and an average of 248.83 for six games.
Audun Boye Hansen leads the squad with 1271; Arnar David Jonsson (ICE) continues to lead the 100-player field with 1493; cut for 42nd place is 1180 (196.67 average)
There were no changes to the leaderboard Monday as only six bowlers took to the lanes at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo for the seventh qualifying squad of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick. Arnar David Jonsson (pictured) of Iceland continued to lead the field of 100 players from Iceland, Sweden and Norway with 1493 and an average of 248.83 for six games. Audun Boye Hansen of Norway led Squad 6 with 1271 and an average
of 211.83 but did not improve his high series to remain in 18th place
with 1274.
Swedes move into fourth and seventh place in the qualifying standings; Arnar David Jonsson (ICE) leads the 97-player field with 1493; cut for 42nd place is currently 1175 (195.83 average)
Swedes Mikael Roos and Kevin Karlsson set the tone in Sunday's Squads 5 in the and 6 at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo, Norway, en route to move into fourth and seventh place in the qualifying of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick. Karlsson (r.) rolled games of 204, 235 , 206, 268, 237 and 225 to lead Squad 5 with 1375 (229.17 average). Roos (l.), who was second with 1334, improved by 70 pins in Squad 6 to jump into fourth place with 1404 (234 avg.).
PBA star defeats fellow Finn Pasi Uotila in the title match to win his 12th career PBA title, his 8th European Bowling Tour title and the 7.000 Euro top prize
Mika Koivuniemi (pictured with tournament director Thomas Gross, left) defeated fellow Finn Pasi Uotila (r.), 258-237, Sunday evening Oct. 6 at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria, to win the 11th Columbia 300 Vienna Open and the 7.000 Euro top prize. Koivuniemi captured his 8th European Bowling Tour title and his 12th Professional Bowlers Association Tour title.
Kelly Kulick (USA) wins the women's ranking in Vienna; Joline Persson-Planefors widens lead in 203 EBT Women's Point Ranking
Seven-time European Bowling Tour champion Dominic Barrett (pictured left) of England rolled a 1514 series in the second round of the finals in the 11th Columbia 300 Vienna Open to lead the top 18 players into the third round at Plus Bowling in Vienna. Barrett, who was second in qualifying with 1587 and bypassed the first round this morning, rolled games of 267, 235, 238, 248, 279 and 247, an average of 252.33 for six games, and has the advantage that the pins will carry over to the next round.
Danish two-hander rolls 1464 series to lead the top 22 players into a second-round clash with the top eight qualifiers; Kelly Kulick (USA) and Martina Schütz (GER) will battle it out for the women's ranking title in Vienna
Markus Bergendorff (l.) of Denmark averaged 244 Sunday morning at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria, en route to lead the first round of the finals in the 11th Columbia 300 Vienna Open with 1464. Trailing Bergendorff by 53 pins to finish in second place was 12-time European Bowling Tour titlist Paul Moor (r.) of England with 1411. They lead the top 22 players into the second round, where they will meet the top eight qualifiers, who received a first-round bye.
Icelander has 1493 series in squad 2 to take the lead after Day Two Qualifying; cut for 42nd place is currently 1111 (185.17 average)
Arnar David Jonsson (center) of Norway started Squad 2 on Saturday at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo with a 276 game en route to take the pole position in the qualifying of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick with 1493 total or an average of 248.83. Norwegian international Bjørn Einar Rudshagen (l.) was 47 pins behind Jonsson to move from third to second place with 1446. Lars-Christian Nygård (r.) was further 33 pins behind to overtake third place with 1413.
Finnish two-hander sets a European Bowling Tour record for six games with 1614 and an average of 269; cut for 51st place is 1377 (229.50 average); Palermaa and Pasi Uotila win the Doubles competition with tournament record 3006 (250.50 average)
Osku Palermaa (l.) of Finland led a field of 272 players from 25 countries with European Bowling Tour record 1614, an average of 269, en route to win the qualifying of the 11th Columbia 300 Vienna Open Saturday night at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. Traditionally, the qualifying was contested as a doubles competition.Palermaa won the event with fellow Finn Pasi Uotila (r.) with tournament record 3006 pins and an average of 250.50 en route to split the 1.600 Euro top prize.
Dominic Barrett leads the penultimate qualifying squad 19 with 1479; Anthony Pepe (USA) moves into 8th place; Laura Beuthner (GER) becomes the fifth woman above the cutline; two-hander Markus Bergendorff (DEN) is the 39th player who cracked the 1400-mark; cut for 51st place is 1377 (229.50 average)
Osku Palermaa of Finland and Dominic Barrett of England (l-r), who lead the qualifying of the 11th Columbia 300 Vienna Open with 1614 (269 average) and 1587 (264.50) teamed in the penultimate qualifying squad 19 en route to overtake second place in the Doubles competition with 2946 or an average of 245.50. Anthony Pepe, United States (8th, 1468), Germany's Laura Beuthner (25th, 1430) and Danish two-hander Markus Bergendorff (31st, 1416) moved into the top 51.
Czech bowler overtakes 14th place with 1449; another four players surpass the 1400-mark; cut for 51st place is 1370 (228.33 average)
Marek Talpa (l.) of the Czech Republic closed out the 18th qualifying squad of the 11th Columbia Vienna Open with the tournament's fourth 300 game en route to leap into 14th place in the overall qualifying standings with 1449 and an average of 241.50. Another four players cracked the 1400-mark. Finland's Osku Palermaa (r.) continued to lead the field of 271 players from 24 countries with European Bowling Tour record 1614 pins and an average of 269.
Brian Valenta, United States, won the qualifying of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick which concluded Saturday evening with the 18th qualifying squad at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo, Norway. Valenta, who rolled a 1503 series (250.50 average) in Squad 13, survived a strong charge by Jimmy Mortensen (l.) of Denmark and Robert Andersson (r.) of Sweden, who both cracked the top 8 in the last squad to finish qualifying in fourth and seventh place, resp.
Tore Torgersen (pictured) made a considerable move toward the top of the standings, going from 23rd to fifth place when he rolled a 1467-block in the penultimate qualifying squad of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick. Bowling in this squad "to find out what I'm doing wrong" Torgersen must have found it out pretty early or he can't have found much at all. Torgersen started the block with 246 and 234 followed by high games of 279 and 253 before he closed things out with 232 and 223, an average of 245.17.
Kenneth Haukås (l.) of Norway led the 16th qualifying squad Saturday morning to kick off the final qualifying day of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick with 1403 series and an average of 233.83. Haukås, who doesn't use his thumb to deliver the bowling ball, was consistent during the block with games of 236, 212, 258, 233, 231 and 233. Trailing the Norwegian by 33 pins to become the top-ranked female bowler in the field was Jenny Wegner (r.) of Sweden.
Norwegian national team member Svein Ã…ke Ek (pictured) closed the 15th qualifying squad Friday at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo with the third perfecto of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick to shoot into second place in the overall qualifying standings. Ek started the last squad of the penultimate qualifying day with games of 227 and 214 before he set the first highlight with 278 in the third game. After his low game of 196, the "Striking Viking" put on a show and finished with 279 and 300 for 1493 or an average of 248.83 for six games.
Daniel Fransson (pictured) of Sweden averaged 245.17 to lead the 14th qualifying squad Friday afternoon at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo with 1471 total and to leap 12 spots into third place in the overall qualifying standings of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick.
Fransson, who was in 15th place with 1326, topped his previous high score by 145 pins behind games of 248, 255, 226, 268, 228 and 246. Two-hander Brian Valenta, United States, continued to lead the field of 157 players from eight countries with 1503 (250.50 avg.).
Brian Valenta (pictured), United States, rolled the second 300 game of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick and the second by a two-hander to power his way to the top of the 140-player leaderboard Friday afternoon at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo. Valenta, who started the day in 42nd place with 1233, rolled games of 285, 200, 203, 257, 300 and 258 to become the first player who surpassed the 1500-mark with 1503 and an average of 250.50. Previous leader Arnar David Jonsson of Iceland slipped to second place with 1493.
Finnish two-hander Osku Palermaa (pictured) rolled the first 300-game of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick in Squad 12 Thursday evening at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo, Norway, en route to move into a three-way tie for fourth place with 1404. Arnar David Jonsson of Iceland leads the field of 128 players from seven countries since Squad 2 with 1493 and an average of 248.83. Another four players, Glenn Morten Pedersen, Frode Jørgen Aaneby, Daniel Fransson and Patcharin Torgersen cracked the 1300-bar.
Ronny Olavesen (l.) and Audun Boye Hansen (r.) set the pace in the 11th qualifying squad of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick en route to improve their previous high series Thursday evening in Oslo. Heading into the sixth game the Norwegians were tied at 1106. Olavesen finished with 213 to lead the squad with 1319 (219.83) and to move into 13th place in the overall qualifying standings. Hansen closed with 183 and 1289 (214.83), good for 22nd place.
Jeanett Haavelmoen Johansen (l.) led the 10th qualifying squad of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick as the Norwegian hit 1300 on nose Thursday afternoon at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo. Johansen had games of 258, 192, 236, 153, 168 and 245, an average of 208.67, and added 48 pins women's handicap en route to move into 18th place in the overall qualifying standings. Joakim Biehl (r.), Norway, used a 1271 series (211.83) to leap into 26th place. 
André Geelen of Belgium and Jacqueline Boissiere of France (pictured, r-l) won the women's and men's title in the 10th and last stop of the 2013 International Seniors Bowling Tour to conclude the season with victory in the French Senior Open at Planet Bowling in Lomme. Due to the cancellation of the ISBT stop in England, the 2013 season ended in France. The next event will be the first from the 2014 calendar, the Plaza Senior Open, which will be held January 23-26 in Reims, France.
Heidi Thorstensen (pictured left) became the first woman in the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick who cracked the 1300-bar when she rolled a 1301-series Tuesday in Squad 8 at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo. The Norwegian added 48 pins handicap, a standard for women on the European Bowling Tour, to move into eighth place in the overall qualifying standings with 1349 total. Arnar David Jonsson of Iceland continued to lead the field of 107 players with 1493 and an average of 248.83 for six games.
There were no changes to the leaderboard Monday as only six bowlers took to the lanes at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo for the seventh qualifying squad of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick. Arnar David Jonsson (pictured) of Iceland continued to lead the field of 100 players from Iceland, Sweden and Norway with 1493 and an average of 248.83 for six games. Audun Boye Hansen of Norway led Squad 6 with 1271 and an average
of 211.83 but did not improve his high series to remain in 18th place
with 1274. 
Swedes Mikael Roos and Kevin Karlsson set the tone in Sunday's Squads 5 in the and 6 at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo, Norway, en route to move into fourth and seventh place in the qualifying of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick. Karlsson (r.) rolled games of 204, 235 , 206, 268, 237 and 225 to lead Squad 5 with 1375 (229.17 average). Roos (l.), who was second with 1334, improved by 70 pins in Squad 6 to jump into fourth place with 1404 (234 avg.).
Mika Koivuniemi (pictured with tournament director Thomas Gross, left) defeated fellow Finn Pasi Uotila (r.), 258-237, Sunday evening Oct. 6 at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria, to win the 11th Columbia 300 Vienna Open and the 7.000 Euro top prize. Koivuniemi captured his 8th European Bowling Tour title and his 12th Professional Bowlers Association Tour title.
Seven-time European Bowling Tour champion Dominic Barrett (pictured left) of England rolled a 1514 series in the second round of the finals in the 11th Columbia 300 Vienna Open to lead the top 18 players into the third round at Plus Bowling in Vienna. Barrett, who was second in qualifying with 1587 and bypassed the first round this morning, rolled games of 267, 235, 238, 248, 279 and 247, an average of 252.33 for six games, and has the advantage that the pins will carry over to the next round.
Markus Bergendorff (l.) of Denmark averaged 244 Sunday morning at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria, en route to lead the first round of the finals in the 11th Columbia 300 Vienna Open with 1464. Trailing Bergendorff by 53 pins to finish in second place was 12-time European Bowling Tour titlist Paul Moor (r.) of England with 1411. They lead the top 22 players into the second round, where they will meet the top eight qualifiers, who received a first-round bye.
Arnar David Jonsson (center) of Norway started Squad 2 on Saturday at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo with a 276 game en route to take the pole position in the qualifying of the Norwegian Open 2013 by Brunswick with 1493 total or an average of 248.83. Norwegian international Bjørn Einar Rudshagen (l.) was 47 pins behind Jonsson to move from third to second place with 1446. Lars-Christian Nygård (r.) was further 33 pins behind to overtake third place with 1413.
Osku Palermaa (l.) of Finland led a field of 272 players from 25 countries with European Bowling Tour record 1614, an average of 269, en route to win the qualifying of the 11th Columbia 300 Vienna Open Saturday night at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. Traditionally, the qualifying was contested as a doubles competition.Palermaa won the event with fellow Finn Pasi Uotila (r.) with tournament record 3006 pins and an average of 250.50 en route to split the 1.600 Euro top prize.
Osku Palermaa of Finland and Dominic Barrett of England (l-r), who lead the qualifying of the 11th Columbia 300 Vienna Open with 1614 (269 average) and 1587 (264.50) teamed in the penultimate qualifying squad 19 en route to overtake second place in the Doubles competition with 2946 or an average of 245.50. Anthony Pepe, United States (8th, 1468), Germany's Laura Beuthner (25th, 1430) and Danish two-hander Markus Bergendorff (31st, 1416) moved into the top 51.
Marek Talpa (l.) of the Czech Republic closed out the 18th qualifying squad of the 11th Columbia Vienna Open with the tournament's fourth 300 game en route to leap into 14th place in the overall qualifying standings with 1449 and an average of 241.50. Another four players cracked the 1400-mark. Finland's Osku Palermaa (r.) continued to lead the field of 271 players from 24 countries with European Bowling Tour record 1614 pins and an average of 269.