Mika Koivuniemi shows exceptional early pace at Brunswick Euro Challenge

    03/20/13

    2013 European Bowling Tour #4

    Multiple EBT and PBA champion shoots 1453 (242.17) series in opening squad of the EBT "Platinum" and World Bowling Tour event

    201213PBAMikaKoivuniemi.jpg2012ECCYoanAlix3.jpgFinnish-American Mika Koivuniemi (pictured left) averaged 242.17 in the opening squad Tuesday at Dream-Bowl Palace in Munich, Germany to lead a field of 69 players from fifteen countries after the first day of qualifying in the Brunswick Euro Challenge.

    The 11-time PBA champion and seven-time EBT titlist, who won the Bahrain Open and finished second in the Kuwait Open in the past two weeks, had games of 236, 246, 223, 254, 236 and 258 to set the pace with 1453 total.

    201213PBASeanRash.jpg20130122JazreelTan1.jpgFrench national team member Yoan Alix (above right) was 37 pins behind to sit in second place with 1416. Reigning PBA Player of the Year, Sean Rash (left), who won his sixth PBA title in Kuwait last Sunday, was third with 1395.

    Squad 2 leader Kai Günther of Germany and Singapore's Jazreel Tan (right) were next with 1391. Günther (233) is the best bowler from the host country in fourth place due to the higher last game than Tan (205), who was the best of ten women in the first two of fifteen qualifying squads.

    Qualifying continues Wednesday with two squads scheduled for 4 and 8 p.m. Central European Time.

    2013BECLogo_small.jpg The Brunswick Euro Challenge is the fourth tournament on the 2013 European Bowling Tour schedule and one of only two "Platinum" events this season, the EBT's highest tournament category. The BEC is also the seventh stop of the World Bowling Tour and the second of three WBT events in Europe in 2013.

    For the first time in 10 years of BEC competition, Europe's richest tournament will be contested at Europe's biggest bowling center, 52-lane Dream-Bowl Palace in Unterföhring near Munich, Germany.

    The 106.000 Euro tournament, which runs from March 19-24, offers a 15.000 Euro top prize and a PBA International title if won by a PBA member.

    BowlingdigitalBanner.gif Bowlingdigital.com will provide Live Coverage and Live Streaming commencing Wednesday, March 20, all the way through to the stepladder finals, which will be broadcast live on Bowlingdigital TV on Sunday, March 24, from 18:30 to 19:30 Central European Time (starts at 1.30 p.m. EST or Monday, March 25, at 1.30 a.m. Hong Kong Time).

    Click here for more detailed Tournament Information; EBT & WBT Schedule and Ranking and to review a video of the 2012 BEC stepladder finals.

     


    2013 Brunswick Euro Challenge - Standings after two Qualifying Squads

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