Defending champion Mike Fagan starts strong in title defense at Brunswick Euro Challenge

    03/23/13

    2013 European Bowling Tour #4

    Rolls 1408 series to lead Squad 11 and to move into 23 place overall; four players of Squad 11 make it into the top 52; cut for 52nd place is 1370 (228.33)

    2013EBT04MikeFagan.jpg2013EBT04ChrisLoschetter.jpgTwo-time Brunswick Euro Challenge winner Mike Fagan (pictured left), United States, started off his title defense with a victory in the 11th qualifying squad Friday night at Dream-Bowl Palace in Unterföhring near Munich, Germany.

    The five-time PBA and European Bowling Tour champion, who won his first BEC title in 2009, rolled five games between 234 and 255 and a low game of 183 to move into 23rd place in the overall qualifying standings with 1408 and an average of 234.67.

    PBA Touring Pro Chris Loschetter (right), USA, continued to lead the field of 313 players from 32 countries, 251 men and 62 women, with 1505 total and an average of 250.83. If Loschetter wins the Brunswick Euro Challenge, he will be awarded his first career PBA title.

    2013EBT04DennisEklund.jpg2013EBT04JoonasJehkinen.jpgThe two-time EBT champion is followed by three-time titlist Dennis Eklund (left) of Sweden in second place with 1497. Third place belonged to Joonas Jehkinen (right) of Finland with 1470.

    In the title match of the 2012 Brunswick Euro Challenge Fagan defeated Jehkinen, 279-193, to capture the title and the 15.000 Euro top prize.

    Fagan topped his fellow countryman Brian Hoffman for the top spot in Squad 11 by just one pin. Hoffman leaped into 24th place with 1407. The top 29 players have rolled a six-game series of 1400 and higher.

    2013EBT04ZandraAziela.jpg2013EBT04MartinLarsen2.jpgAnother two players made it into the top 52. Lars Tangermann used high games of 278 and 253 for 1392 series to overtake 35th place. Malaysian national team member Zandra Aziela (left) had 1323 scratch and added 48 pins women's handicap to tie former German international Dirk Dreyer and Indonesian standout Tannya Roumimper at 1371.

    All three players are just one pin above the cut line as multiple World and European champion Martin Larsen (right) currently holds the 52nd and last spot to advance with 1370 or an average of 228.33.

    Qualifying continues Saturday, March 23, with Squads 12-15 scheduled for 8 a.m., noon, 4 and 8 p.m. and concludes with the Desperado Squad slated for 11.30 p.m. (all times Central European Time).

    Photo Album

    BowlingdigitalBanner.gif Bowlingdigital.com will provide Live Coverage and Live Streaming 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).

    2013BECLogo.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.

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

     


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    2013 Brunswick Euro Challenge - Standings after Squad 11/15


    At the end of the qualifying, the top 52 plus the top eight players from a separate leader board of the squads on March 19 & 20 (places 53-60) and the top four of the Desperado Squad (places 61-64) will advance to the finals. The top 12 qualifiers will receive one bye.

     


    300 games (6) - Jason Belmonte, Australia; Joonas Jehkinen, Finland; Manuel Mrosek, Germany; Richard Teece, England; Glenn Morten Pederse, Norway; Chris Loschetter, United States.

     


    Squad 11 Results

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