D.J. Archer (pictured left) of Friendswood, Texas, will bowl defending champion Andres Gomez (right) of Colombia in his quest for his first Professional Bowlers Association Tour title in the Carmen Salvino Classic finals Saturday at Thunderbowl Lanes.

Archer, a 32-year-old former West Texas A&M collegiate star, assured himself of his highest finish in a PBA Tour event when he led the field in the match play finals of the Salvino Classic Tuesday night, posting a 5-1-3 match play record and a 17-game total of 4,381 pins.

Archer averaged 246.24 for 17 games to finish 76 pins ahead of Gomez, who totaled 4,305 pins including the field-best 6-2-1 won-loss-tie record. The Colombian, who started match play in eighth place, won his only PBA Tour title in the 2012 Carmen Salvino Classic in Las Vegas.

Earlier Tuesday, in the opening event of the multi-tournament PBA Detroit Winter Swing, Bill O'Neill (left) of Langhorne, Pa., helped his Philadelphia Hitmen team earn the top qualifying position in the inaugural round of PBA League competition.

The Detroit Winter Swing features a unique PBA competition, with the field of 135 players competing for individual titles while eight teams of five players each also are using their qualifying scores to help their teams qualify in PBA League competition.

Archer's previous best PBA Tour finish was fourth place in the 2004 United States Bowling Congress Masters in his only prior PBA television appearance. "It's kind of a monkey off my back, but it's been so long since my first TV show, I'm just very excited," Archer said. "Hopefully the outcome will be a lot better than it was before.

"With only two people making a show, the odds are kind of like winning the lottery. It's something I've been working toward. I'd like to win. I absolutely never gave up the dream.

"I'll keep bowling until it's no fun anymore," he added. "I love the game, I love the challenges, I love to compete, so adding a win would be excellent."

During Tuesday's afternoon qualifying round, O'Neill led his balanced five-player Philadelphia Hitmen team – owned by actor/comedian Kevin Hart) – into the top position for the PBA League stepladder finals that will precede the Salvino Classic championship match Saturday.

The Hitmen finished with a combined total of 9,094 pins to earn the top berth by 123 pins over the Motown Muscle, owned by Detroit native and former Pittsburgh Steelers star Jerome Bettis. Billie Jean King's New York City WTT KingPins clinched the No. 3 berth in the stepladder finals. The other five teams will bowl a one-ball "Clash Match" eliminator round to determine the fourth berth in the stepladder finals.

O'Neill, who posted an eight-game total of 1,915 pins, got help from Hitmen teammates Mika Koivuniemi (left, 1,817), Chris Loschetter (right, 1,797), Mike DeVaney (1,845) and Dick Allen (1,720).

"It was way different than bowling other PBA events," O'Neill said. "I bowled a couple of pairs away from (Hitmen teammates Mike) DeVaney and (Dick) Allen (left), so I was kind of watching them.

We're bowling against each other for the Salvino title, but I'm still cheering for them. We want to win the team thing. That would be awesome."

The Salvino Classic title match will conclude the ESPN telecast that will include the Salvino PBA League stepladder finals. The finals will be conducted Saturday at Thunderbowl at noon ET for delayed telecast on ESPN on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. ET.

The Detroit Winter Swing continues Wednesday at Thunderbowl Lanes with qualifying and match play rounds in the Mark Roth Classic along with the second day of PBA League competition.

All preliminary rounds of Winter Swing competition are being covered live, exclusively on PBA's online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.

 

Related Articles

Ronnie Sparks leads 10 qualifiers advancing into PBA Detroit Winter Swing
2012-13 PBA Tour Schedule

 

PBA Carmen Salvino Classic

Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. (Jan. 22, 2013)

Final match play standings after 17 games, including match play bonus pins; top two advance to championship match.

1, D.J. Archer, Friendswood, Texas, 5-1-3, 4,381
2, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 6-2-1, 4,305

Other Match Play Cashers:
3, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 5-3-1, 4,240, $6,000
4, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 6-2-1, 4,213, $4,500
5, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 6-3, 4,173, $4,000
6, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 5-4, 4,133, $3,500
7, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 5-3-1, 4,110, $3,000
8, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 5-4, 4,056, $2,500
9, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 4-4-1, 4,052, $2,200
10, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 2-4-3, 4,026, $2,000
11, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 3-5-1, 3,957, $1,900
12, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 5-4, 3,900, $1,800
13, Frankie Calca, Elmont, N.Y., 4-5, 3,854, $1,700
14, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2-7, 3,825, $1,600
15, Tyler Wilds, Three Rivers, Mich., 2-7, 3,750, $1,550
16, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 1-8, 3,667, $1,500

Other Cashers (after 8 games):
17, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 1,817, $1,000
18, Mason Brantley, Detroit, 1,808, $950
19, Dom Barrett, England, 1,806, $900
20, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 1,805, $850
21, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,801, $820
22, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 1,797, $800
23 (tie), Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., and Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, 1,796, $785
25, Stuart Williams, England, 1,790, $770
26, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,789, $760
27, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,786, $750
28, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,784, $740
29, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 1,783, $730
30, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 1,782, $720
31, Gregory Thompson Jr., Dublin, Calif., 1,781, $710
32, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 1,779, $700

Failed to Cash:
33, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,768
34 (tie), Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., and Jeffrey Edwards, Sterling Heights, Mich., 1,767
36 (tie), Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., and Mike Fagan, Dallas, 1,764
38 (tie), Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan.; Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., and Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,763
41, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 1,758
42, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Ecorse, Mich., 1,756
43, Mark Milasinovich, Macomb, Mich., 1,750
44, Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo., 1,747
45, B.J. Moore II, Apex, N.C., 1,746
46, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 1,740
47, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 1,734
48, Nick Kokenos, St. Clair Shores, Mich., 1,730
49, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1,726
50 (tie), Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., and Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 1,725
52 (tie), Todd Book, Russells Point, Ohio, and Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 1,723
54, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,720
55 (tie), Kevin Brophy, Oakhurst, N.J.; Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., and E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 1,718
58, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 1,713
59, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,709
60, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,708
61 (tie), Martin Larsen, Sweden, and Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 1,707
63, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 1,704
64, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,702
65, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,696
66, Justin Bychkowski, Fairfield, Conn., 1,695
67, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 1,692
68, Bob Learn Jr., Macomb, Mich., 1,687
69, Patrick Girard, Canada, 1,686
70, Ryan Appel, Cinnaminson, N.J., 1,682
71, Jerry Sikora, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., 1,679
72, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,676
73, Jon VanHees, Charlestown, R.I., 1,674
74, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 1,673
75 (tie), Corey Miller, Grand Blanc, Mich., and Dan MacLelland, Canada, 1,670
77, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 1,669
78, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,668
79, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 1,663
80, Julio Cesar Blancas, Mexico, 1,660
81, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,653
82, John Furey, Freehold, N.J., 1,652
83, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 1,648
84 (tie), Justin Neiman, Warren, Mich., and Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,646
86 (tie), Thomas Larsen, Denmark, and Keith Caldwell, Detroit, 1,643
88, Rick Graham, Lancaster, Pa., 1,640
89, Craig LeMond, Jasper, Ind., 1,637
90, Jesse Smith, Garfield Heights, Ohio, 1,634
91 (tie), Josh Lewis, Asheville, N.C., and Carleton Chambers, Detroit, 1,628
93, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,624
94 (tie), Michael Calhoun, Wyandotte, Mich.; Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., and Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 1,623
97, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 1,616
98, Mitch Beasley, Nashville, Tenn., 1,612
99, Mike Williams II, Montgomery, Ala, 1,606
100 (tie), Justin Stevens, Aiea, Hawaii; Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., and Chad Reiffer, Kentwood, Mich., 1,600
103, Brad Miller, St. Charles, Mo., 1,599
104, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,598
105, Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 1,594
106, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 1,593
107, David Shinn, West Columbia, S.C., 1,592
108, Mike Keily, Golden, Colo., 1,582
109, Michael Stocks, Leesburg, Va., 1,576
110, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 1,575
111, Brian Gunn, Chicago, 1,570
112, Christopher Colosimo, Elkhorn, Wis, 1,568
113, Kasey Normandin, Canada, 1,563
114, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 1,561
115, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 1,559
116, Tony Campagna Jr., Hendersonville, Tenn., 1,556
117, Chris Cundiff, Lake Station, Ind., 1,555
118, Rick Zakrajsek, Lorain, Ohio, 1,544
119, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,543
120, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 1,533
121, Stephen Pavlinko Jr., Sewell, N.J., 1,530
122, Jeff Roche, Dearborn, Mich., 1,525
123, Kirby Allen, Ironton, Ohio, 1,521
124, Kenneth Bland Jr., Germany, 1,519
125, BJ Satkowski, Jackson, Mich, 1,509
126, Eric Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 1,499
127 (tie), Jonathan Russell, Rockwood, Tenn., and David Tullos, Spring, Texas, 1,482
129, Andrew Horodecki, Norcross, Ga., 1,473
130, Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.V., 1,447
131, Dustin Baker, Melbourne, Ky, 1,421
132, J.T. (Action) Jackson, Sherman Oaks, Calif., 1,361
133, Gradie Merritt-Foster, Park Forest, Ill., 1,349
134, Phillip Vallar, Southgate, Mich., 1,292
135, Thomas Biniek Jr., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 840

300 Games: Patrick Allen, Bill O'Neill.

 

PBA League Qualifying Standings

Standings after 8 games; the top three teams advance to Baker format stepladder finals, teams four to eight will bowl a one-ball clash match eliminator round for the fourth stepladder position.

1, Philadelphia Hitmen, 9,094
(Bill O'Neill 1,915, Mika Koivuniemi 1,817, Chris Loschetter 1,797, Mike DeVaney 1,845, Dick Allen 1,720)
2, Motown Muscle, 8,971
(Mike Fagan 1,764, Tom Smallwood 1,953, Mike Scroggins 1,726, Ronnie Russell 1,859, Jesse Buss 1,669)
3, New York City WTT KingPins, 8,930
(Pete Weber 1,874, Tommy Jones 1,789, Scott Norton 1,941, Jack Jurek 1,624, John Szczerbinski 1,702)

4, L.A. X, 8,896
(Jason Belmonte 1,758, Wes Malott 1,708, Andres Gomez 1,881, Parker Bohn III 1,767, Dave Wodka 1,782)
5, Silver Lake Atom Splitters, 8,840
(Chris Barnes 1,763, Dom Barrett 1,806. Josh Blanchard 1,718. Stuart Williams 1,790, Nathan Bohr 1,763)
6, BROOKLYN STyLES, 8,756
(Sean Rash 1,886, Ryan Ciminelli 1,668, Ryan Shafer 1,801, Walter Ray Williams Jr. 1,676, Jason Sterner 1,725)
7, Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits, 8,749
(Osku Palermaa 1,783, Martin Larsen 1,707, Dan MacLelland 1,670, Patrick Allen 1,946, Thomas Larsen 1,643)
8, Dallas Strikers, 8,659
(Norm Duke 1,648, Rhino Page 1,600, Amleto Monacelli 1,768, Bryon Smith 1,707, Mike Machuga 1,936)