Barnes, Rash hope to end international domination in GEICO Shark Open finals
02/29/12
Chris Barnes (pictured left) of Double Oak, Texas, and Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling star Sean Rash (right) of Montgomery, Ill., hope to end the international domination of the World Series TV finals in the tape-delay broadcast of the GEICO Shark Open eliminator finals Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The GEICO Shark Open was the last of four PBA "animal pattern" championships conducted in November 2011 during the PBA World Series of Bowling at South Point Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.
Barnes, a 13-time PBA Tour titlist, averaged 235 over 14 games to earn the top qualifying position in the Shark finals. He'll be joined by Australia's Jason Belmonte, winner of the Chameleon Open, the second event of the World Series; Rash, who qualified for a record six World Series finals, and reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi, a native of Finland who now lives in Hartland, Mich.
Sunday's ESPN eliminator-format finals will feature three one-game rounds. All four players bowl the opening game, with the lowest-scoring player being eliminated. In the two rounds to follow, the same "low man out" format applies.
In the title match, the two surviving players bowled for a $15,000 first prize, a PBA Tour title and, with the exception of Belmonte, a berth in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions. Belmonte already has clinched a Round of 36 berth with his Chameleon Open victory.
While Barnes and Rash bowedl for American pride, Belmonte (left) and Koivuniemi (right) tried to extend the string of World Series titles won by international player to five (not including the World Bowling Tour men's title - a non-PBA event - won by Koivuniemi to kick off the World Series).
A Shark Open pre-event show will be webcast at no cost on pba.com's Xtra Frame online bowling channel starting Wednesday, with a follow-up post-game show immediately following Sunday's ESPN telecast.
Chris Barnes leads GEICO Shark Open Qualifying
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Final PBA World Series of Bowling "animal pattern" championship airs Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN
Chris Barnes (pictured left) of Double Oak, Texas, and Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling star Sean Rash (right) of Montgomery, Ill., hope to end the international domination of the World Series TV finals in the tape-delay broadcast of the GEICO Shark Open eliminator finals Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. The GEICO Shark Open was the last of four PBA "animal pattern" championships conducted in November 2011 during the PBA World Series of Bowling at South Point Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.
Barnes, a 13-time PBA Tour titlist, averaged 235 over 14 games to earn the top qualifying position in the Shark finals. He'll be joined by Australia's Jason Belmonte, winner of the Chameleon Open, the second event of the World Series; Rash, who qualified for a record six World Series finals, and reigning PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi, a native of Finland who now lives in Hartland, Mich.
Sunday's ESPN eliminator-format finals will feature three one-game rounds. All four players bowl the opening game, with the lowest-scoring player being eliminated. In the two rounds to follow, the same "low man out" format applies.
In the title match, the two surviving players bowled for a $15,000 first prize, a PBA Tour title and, with the exception of Belmonte, a berth in the Round of 36 for the end-of-season PBA Tournament of Champions. Belmonte already has clinched a Round of 36 berth with his Chameleon Open victory. While Barnes and Rash bowedl for American pride, Belmonte (left) and Koivuniemi (right) tried to extend the string of World Series titles won by international player to five (not including the World Bowling Tour men's title - a non-PBA event - won by Koivuniemi to kick off the World Series).
A Shark Open pre-event show will be webcast at no cost on pba.com's Xtra Frame online bowling channel starting Wednesday, with a follow-up post-game show immediately following Sunday's ESPN telecast.
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Chris Barnes leads GEICO Shark Open Qualifying
2011-12 PBA Tour #1-4 "Animal Pattern" Finals Note: These scores have not been broadcast on television yet.
2011-12 PBA Tour Schedule & Champions
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