Michael Haugen Jr. (pictured left) of Carefree, Ariz., who won both of his Professional Bowlers Association Tour titles in 2008, will get a chance to end his nearly five-year dry spell when he meets Scott Norton (right) of Mission Viejo, Calif., in the Mark Roth Classic championship match.

Haugen, after qualifying for the Roth Classic match play finals in fifth place earlier Wednesday at Thunderbowl Lanes in Detroit, won seven of his nine match games, tied another, and averaged 241.94 over a span of 17 games to finish with 4,338 total pins, 114 pins ahead of Norton.

Norton, who won his second career title earlier this season in the PBA Chameleon Open, overtook reigning PBA Player of the Year Sean Rash (left) of Montgomery, Ill., by 32 pins in the final game (Norton 243, Rash 192).

"It's been too long. There are two guys on the show and 135 guys who tried to get there, so the odds weren't too good," Haugen said. "I didn't bowl well Tuesday. Today I made some changes, and I did what I needed to do.

"It's been too long. You don't forget how to win, but we'll see what happens. If (Norton) beats me, it's not going to be because I gave him the title. He's going to have to earn it.

"I came out this year as a free agent (without a bowling ball manufacturers' contract), but to be honest, the most motivation I had was not getting drafted in the PBA League. I had the credentials; I can bowl in this building, but for whatever reason, I got overlooked, so the best way to show them was to get on the television show. That was my plan.

"It's very difficult to be one of two guys to make it to television, but I've gotta tell you, it feels sweet."

The Mark Roth Classic championship match, along with the Roth PBA League team stepladder finals, will be contested on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at Thunderbowl Lanes. The finals will air on ESPN on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. ET.

Wednesday afternoon, Michigan native Tom Smallwood (left), who launched his PBA career at Thunderbowl in 2009, helped his Motown Muscle team claim the top stepladder position in the PBA League Mark Roth round finals.

Smallwood, a Saginaw resident, lost his job at General Motors during the auto industry's economic downturn in 2009 and turned his unemployed status into a victory in the PBA World Championship later that same season.

He posted an eight-game total of 1,858 pins to help the Motown Muscle team – owned by Detroit native and former Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Jerome Bettis – to the No. 1 berth in the Mark Roth team qualifying round stepladder finals by 182 pins over Billie Jean King's New York City WTT KingPins.

Actor Jesse Williams' BROOKLYN STyLES locked up the third team stepladder berth with 8,991 pins. The other five teams will compete in a one-ball clash match eliminator round to determine the fourth team that will bowl in the Baker format television finals. In Baker team competition, each of the five players bowls two frames to complete a game.

The Detroit Winter Swing features a unique combination of PBA individual and team competitions. A field of 135 players is competing for individual titles while eight teams of five players are also using their qualifying scores to help their teams qualify in inaugural PBA League competition. Competition continues Thursday with qualifying and match play rounds in the Don Carter Classic and the third 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

Philadelphia Hitmen top inaugural Carmen Salvino qualifying round at PBA League debut
PBA League makes its debut on ESPN Sunday at noon with live first round telecast
Grey's Anatomy star Jesse Williams becomes eighth PBA League owner
Billie Jean King acquires Kelly Kulick in first PBA League trade
Sports icon Billie Jean King becomes first woman PBA League team owner
Comedian/Comedy podcast guru Chris Hardwick becomes a PBA League team owner
Steelers Linebacker LaMarr Woodley becomes fifth PBA League owner
Entries now being accepted for PBA's Detroit Winter Swing
Rhino Page is first pick as Franchise Players select teams for PBA League rosters
Norm Duke wins first pick in inaugural PBA League draft
Historic team bowling concept to debut with 2013 "PBA League"
2012-13 PBA Tour Schedule

 

PBA League Mark Roth 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, Motown Muscle, 9,218
(Mike Fagan 1,770, Tom Smallwood 1,858, Mike Scroggins 1,888, Ronnie Russell 1,827, Jesse Buss 1,875)
2, New York City WTT KingPins, 9,036
(Pete Weber 1,843, Tommy Jones 1,672, Scott Norton 1,912, Jack Jurek 1,823, John Szczerbinski 1,786)
3, BROOKLYN STyLES, 8,991
(Sean Rash 2,029, Ryan Ciminelli 1,860 , Ryan Shafer 1,675, Walter Ray Williams Jr. 1,675, Jason Sterner 1,752)

4, Philadelphia Hitmen, 8,898
(Bill O'Neill 1,826, Mika Koivuniemi 1,921, Chris Loschetter 1,897, Mike DeVaney 1,695, Dick Allen 1,559)
5, Silver Lake Atom Splitters, 8,775
(Chris Barnes 1,721, Dom Barrett 1,840, Josh Blanchard 1,792, Stuart Williams 1,590, Nathan Bohr 1,832)
6, Dallas Strikers, 8,738
(Norm Duke 1,852, Rhino Page 1,633, Amleto Monacelli 1,777, Bryon Smith 1,728, Mike Machuga 1,748)
7, L.A. X, 8,659
(Jason Belmonte 1,756, Wes Malott 1,814, Andres Gomez 1,646, Parker Bohn III 1,663, Dave Wodka 1,780)
8, Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits, 8,592
(Osku Palermaa 1,742, Martin Larsen 1,727, Dan MacLelland 1,637, Patrick Allen 1,704, Thomas Larsen 1,782)

 

PBA League Thunderbowl Finals Qualifying Standings

Standings after 16 of 32 team games; top five teams advance to live ESPN Baker format stepladder finals Sunday at noon ET.

1, Motown Muscle, Detroit (owner Jerome Bettis), 18,189
2, Philadelphia Hitmen, Philadelphia (owner Kevin Hart), 17,992
3, New York City WWT KingPins, New York (owner Billie Jean King), 17,966
4, BROOKLYN STyLES, Brooklyn, N.Y. (owner Jesse Williams), 17,747
5, Silver Lake Atom Splitters, Silver Lake, Calif. (owner Chris Hardwick), 17,615
6, L.A. X., Los Angeles (owner Chris Paul), 17,555
7, Dallas Strikers, Dallas (owner Terrell Owens), 17,397
8, Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits, Pittsburgh, Pa. (owner LaMarr Woodley), 17,341

 

PBA Mark Roth Classic

Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. (Jan. 23, 2013)

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

1, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 7-1-1, 4,338
2, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 7-2, 4,224

Other Match Play Cashers:
3, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 4-5, 4,192, $6,000
4, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 5-4, 4,125, $4,500
5, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 4-4-1, 4,065, $4,000
6, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 4-4-1, 4,056, $3,500
7, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 6-3, 4,017, $3,000
8, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 4-4-1, 4,012, $2,500
9, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3-5-1, 3,984, $2,200
10, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 2-6-1, 3,972, $2,000
11, Dom Barrett, England, 4-3-2, 3,971, $1,900
12, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 5-4, 3,968, $1,800
13, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 3-6, 3,951, $1,800
14, Ronnie Sparks JR, Ecorse, Mich., 4-5, 3,944, $1,600
15, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2-7, 3,927, $1,650
16, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 4-5, 3,788, $1,500

Other Cashers (after 8 games):
17, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,832, $1,000
18, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,829, $950
19, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 1,827, $900
20 (tie), Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., and Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,826, $835
22, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 1,823, $800
23, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 1,821, $790
24, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 1,816, $780
25, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,814, $770
26, B.J. Moore II, Apex, N.C., 1,813, $760
27, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 1,809, $750
28, Mark Milasinovich, Macomb, Mich., 1,804, $740
29, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 1,802, $730
30, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 1,801, $720
31, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 1,799, $710
32, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 1,798, $700

Failed to Cash:
33, Frankie Calca, Elmont, N.Y., 1,796
34, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,794
35, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 1,792
36, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 1,791
37, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,786
38, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 1,782
39, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 1,780
40, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,777
41, Justin Neiman, Warren, Mich., 1,775
42, Mike Williams II, Montgomery, Ala, 1,772
43, Patrick Girard, Canada, 1,771
44, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 1,770
45, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 1,769
46, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 1,766
46, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,766
48, Rick Graham, Lancaster, Pa., 1,763
49, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 1,756
50, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 1,752
51, D.J. Archer, Friendswood, Texas, 1,749
52, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,748
53, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 1,742
54, Corey Miller, Grand Blanc, Mich, 1,740
55 (tie), Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., and Jesse Smith, Garfield Heights, Ohio, 1,736
57, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 1,728
58, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 1,727
59 (tie), Craig LeMond, Jasper, Ind., and Brian Gunn, Chicago, 1,723
61, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,721
62, Todd Book, Russells Point, Ohio, 1,715
63 (tie), Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., and Mason Brantley, Detroit, 1,714
65 (tie), Rick Zakrajsek, Lorain, Ohio, and Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.V., 1,710
67, Kirby Allen, Ironton, Ohio, 1,708
68, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 1,706
69, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,704
70, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 1,700
71 (tie), Bob Learn Jr., Macomb, Mich., and Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo., 1,696
73 (tie), Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., and John Furey, Freehold, N.J., 1,695
75, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,694
76, Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, 1,693
77, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 1,681
78, Gregory Thompson Jr., Dublin, Calif., 1,678
79 (tie), Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., and Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,675
81 (tie), Michael Stocks, Leesburg, Va.; Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz.; Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., and Kevin Brophy, Oakhurst, N.J., 1,672
85, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 1,671
86, Stephen Pavlinko Jr., Sewell, N.J., 1,669
87, Jeff Roche, Dearborn, Mich., 1,668
88, Jeffrey Edwards, Sterling Heights, Mich., 1,664
89, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,663
90, Christopher Colosimo, Elkhorn, Wis., 1,660
91, Chad Reiffer, Kentwood, Mich., 1,659
92, Keith Caldwell, Detroit, 1,655
93, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 1,646
94, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,641
95 (tie), David Tullos, Spring, Texas, and Dan MacLelland, Canada, 1,637
97, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 1,633
98, Brad Miller, St. Charles, Mo., 1,632
99, Jon VanHees, Charlestown, R.I., 1,631
100, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 1,629
101, Eric Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 1,627
102, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 1,621
103, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 1,620
104, Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 1,619
105, Julio Cesar Blancas, Mexico, 1,616
106, Ryan Appel, Cinnaminson, N.J., 1,614
107, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,611
108, Tyler Wilds, Three Rivers, Mich., 1,610
109, Jerry Sikora, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., 1,594
110, Stuart Williams, England, 1,590
111, J.T. "Action" Jackson, Sherman Oaks, Calif., 1,584
112, Michael Calhoun, Wyandotte, Mich., 1,582
113, Tony Campagna Jr., Hendersonville, Tenn., 1,575
114, BJ Satkowski, Jackson, Mich, 1,567
115, Josh Lewis, Asheville, N.C., 1,566
116, Justin Stevens, Aiea, Hawaii, 1,565
117, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 1,564
118, Jonathan Russell, Rockwood, Tenn., 1,561
119, Phillip Vallar, Southgate, Mich., 1,560
120, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,559
121, Chris Cundiff, Lake Station, Ind., 1,550
122, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,541
123, Justin Bychkowski, Fairfield, Conn., 1,531
124, Andrew Horodecki, Norcross, Ga., 1,528
125, Mike Keily, Golden, Colo., 1,526
126, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 1,524
127, Nick Kokenos, St. Clair Shores, Mich., 1,521
128, David Shinn, West Columbia, S.C., 1,505
129, Kasey Normandin, Canada, 1,497
130, Carleton Chambers, Detroit, 1,484
131, Kenneth Bland Jr., Germany, 1,449
132, Dustin Baker, Melbourne, Ky, 1,402
133, Mitch Beasley, Nashville, Tenn., withdrew
134, Gradie Merritt-Foster, Park Forest, Ill., withdrew

300 Game: Rick Zakrajsek, Jesse Buss

 

Earl Anthony PBA Players Championship Qualifying Leaders

Top 32 players after 16 of 32 games; the top 16 after 32 games advance to round robin match play Friday night.

1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3,915
2, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 3,853
3, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 3,811
4, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 3,741
5, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 3,738
6, D.J. Archer, Friendswood, Texas, 3,726
7 (tie), Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, and Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,717
9, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 3,694
10, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 3,686
11, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,684
12, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,650
13, Dom Barrett, England, 3,646
14, Frankie Calca, Elmont, N.Y., 3,636
15, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,620
16, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 3,619
17, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 3,615
18, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 3,614
19, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 3,610
20, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 3,595
21, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Ecorse, Mich., 3,590
22, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 3,570
23, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 3,566
24, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 3,562
25, B.J. Moore II, Apex, N.C., 3,559
26, Mark Milasinovich, Macomb, Mich., 3,554
27, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3,545
28, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 3,544
29, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 3,540
30, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 3,538
31, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 3,534
32, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 3,533