Dave Wodka (pictured left) of Henderson, Nev., emerged at the top of the qualifying pile after six lead changes in the final six games in the Lucas Oil PBA Bear Open Monday at AMF Bowlero in Wauwatosa, Wis., averaging 223.5 to lead the field of 24 players who advanced to Tuesday's match play rounds.

Wodka, 42, is trying for his first title since he won the 1999 Greater Detroit Open for his only PBA Tour win. He finished qualifying in front of a packed house at AMF Bowlero with a 10-game total of 2,235 pins on a demanding lane condition, rolling games of 229, 210, 216, 206 and 246 Monday night to take a 27–pin lead over Chris Barnes (right) of Double Oak, Texas.

Qualifying third was PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., with 2,000 pins followed by 2013 Intercollegiate Singles Champion Aaron Lorincz of Belleville, Mich., with a 2,195 total and Mike Fagan (right) of Dallas with 2,184 pins.

"I really had only one bad game," Wodka said. "I finished the first round with a 176. After that, I came in with a game plan of doing nothing other than making one good shot at a time. I know you're always supposed to do that, but I really focused on that, and I only had two opens in the second block. Both of those were in the same game, but I still bailed out a 205 and that's just as important when scores are like they were as anything."

Wodka would love to end his 14-year winless drought, but isn't getting ahead of himself.

"It's been a lot of years (since I won), but there are a lot of games left," he said. "It's going to be a long day (Tuesday) and winning matches is going to be of utmost importance. Getting those 30 bonus pins for winning matches when the scores are as low as they are will be huge."

The Bear Open is being contested on a flat 40-foot oiling pattern which is similar to the U.S. Open lane condition, considered the most challenging scoring environment on the PBA Tour schedule.

Six PBA international players advanced to the Bear Open match play rounds. Canadian Dan MacLelland (left) was the top foreign bowler in 11th place with 2,148. He was followed by two-time PBA champion Andres Gomez, Colombia, in 13th place (2,129) and three-time titlist Osku Palermaa, Finland, in 18th place (2,098). Places 21 to 23 belonged to Patrick Girard, Canada (2,086), Jason Belmonte, Australia (2,085) and Dom Barrett, England (2,082).

Also advancing was Missy Parkin (right) of Laguna Hills, Calif., the first woman PBA member and the first woman to win two PBA Regional titles, in 20th place with 2,090. Andrew Graff of Las Vegas took the 24th and last place to advance with 2,075.

The Bear Open is the third of four events that compose the GEICO PBA Summer Swing presented by Lucas Oil, and it was the final qualifying event for the Milwaukee Open which begins Wednesday at AMF Bowlero.

The top 28 qualifiers based on total pinfall after 30 qualifying games from the Badger, Wolf and Bear "animal pattern" events advance to the five-game Milwaukee Open cashers which will be contested on the Bear pattern at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Based on 35 games, the top 24 will then advance to three eight-game match play rounds at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday (Bear pattern), and 11 a.m. (Wolf pattern) and 5:30 p.m. (Badger pattern) on Thursday. There will be no competition on Friday.

Leading the Milwaukee Open qualifiers was Bill O'Neill (left) of Langhorne, Pa., who averaged 229.1 for a 30-game total of 6,873 pins. Surviving the cut in 28th place was reigning PBA Player of the Year Sean Rash (right) of Montgomery, Ill., who qualified 27th. As in the Bear Open qualifying, the final berth (28th place) in the Milwaukee Open went to Andrew Graff of Las Vegas by seven pins over Brett Cunningham of Clay, N.Y.

Advancing from the international contingent were Gomez (7th; 6,709), MacLelland (10th; 6,626), Girard (T23; 6,513), Palermaa (25th; 6,509) and two-time PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi, a native Finn who lives in Hartland, Mich. (26th; 6,472).

Five-player stepladder finals for the Badger, Wolf, Bear and Milwaukee Opens, plus the GEICO Summer King of the Swing special event, will be taped over two days by the CBS Sports Network Saturday and Sunday at AMF Bowlero for airing on five consecutive Tuesdays at 7 p.m. ET beginning June 11.

The GEICO Summer King of the Swing will include the four Summer Swing event champions plus the next highest points leader who hasn't won a title. Those five will compete in a $25,000 stepladder final for a $10,000 first prize, concluding the summer series on June 2.

 

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PBA Bear Open - Final Qualifying Standings

Players with position, hometown and 10-game total. The top 24 advance to round robin match play.

1, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 2,235
2, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,208
3, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 2,200
4, Aaron Lorincz, Belleville, Mich., 2,195
5, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 2,184
6, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 2,169
7, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 2,167
8, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 2,165
9, Jon VanHees, Charlestown, R.I., 2,155
10, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 2,149
11, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 2,148
12, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,146
13, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 2,129
14, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 2,117
15, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 2,109
16, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 2,100
17, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 2,099
18, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 2,098
19, Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.Va., 2,095
20, Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 2,090
21, Patrick Girard, Canada, 2,086
22, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 2,085
23, Dom Barrett, England, 2,082
24, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 2,075

Missed Cut:
25, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 2,068, $600
26, Kenneth Kempf, Appleton, Wis., 2,059
27, Mike Dole, Loves Park, Ill., 2,056
28, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 2,052
29, William Guszczo, Orland Park, Ill., 2,040
30, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 2,037
31, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 2,032
32, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 2,031
33, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 2,024
34, Andrew DeCaluwe, Mt. Prospect, Ill., 2,022
35, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 2,017
36, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,016
37, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 2,014
38 (tie), Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., and Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 2,013
40, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 2,010
41, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 2,005
42, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 2,000
43, Bill Monce, Waukesha, Wis., 1,997
44, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 1,991
45, Christopher Glaz, Elmwood Park, Ill., 1,989
46, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 1,985
47, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 1,983
48, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,980
49, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 1,979
50 (tie), Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga.; Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., and Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 1,978
53, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,972
54, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,970
55, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,968
56, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 1,959
57, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 1,954
58, Shannon Buchan, Waterloo, Iowa, 1,953
59, T.P. Peterson, Evergreen Park, Ill., 1,951
60, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 1,947
61, Joseph Tomassoni, Iron Mountain, Mich., 1,939
62, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 1,935
63, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 1,934
64, Greg Thomas, Oak Creek, Wis., 1,931
65, Julio Cesar Blancas, Mexico, 1,902
66, Justin Bychkowski, Fairfield, Conn., 1,899
67, Chris Cundiff, Lake Station, Ind., 1,891
68, Aaron Ramsden, Pleasant Valley, Mo., 1,889
69, Matt Beyer, Manawa, Wis., 1,879
70, Brian Gunn, Chicago, 1,875
71, Jonathan Russell, Rockwood, Tenn., 1,874
72, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 1,863
73, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 1,858
74, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 1,857
75, Erik Gulbrandson, Superior, Wis., 1,854
76, Paul Moor, England, 1,849
77, Stephen Pavlinko Jr., Sewell, N.J., 1,836
78, Gary Exner Jr., Racine, Wis., 1,822
79, Kenneth Bland Jr., Lorton, Va., 1,808
80, Scott Radtke, Milwaukee, 1,808
81, Jacob Rubach, West Bend, Wis., 1,788
82, Michael Zylius, Highland Park, Ill., 1,786
83, Riley Smith, Kenosha, Wis., 1,784
84, Van McNeil, West Allis, Wis., 1,766
85, Dale Renken, St. Jacob, Ill., 1,759
86, Quinton Bohlen, Decorah, Iowa, 1,740
87, Andrew Glass, Racine, Wis., 1,738
88, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,737
89, Sam Figarino, Sussex, Wis., 1,726
90, Brad Miller, St. Charles, Mo., 1,711
91, Zack Carter, Chicago, 1,710
92, Scott Weber, La Salle, Ill., 1,704
93, Nick Kruml, Downers Grove, Ill., 1,699
94, Armando Santacruz, Ecuador, 1,683
95, Brandon Gronwoldt, LeRoy, Minn., 1,647
96, Ron Williams, Austin, Texas, 1,635
97, Lindell Woolard, Tallahassee, Fla., 1,614
98, Ralleigh Grandberry III, Maryland Hts., Mo., 1,524

 

PBA Milwaukee Open - Final Qualifying Standings

Players with position, hometown and 30-game total in Badger, Wolf and Bear Opens; the top 28 advance to cashers round.

1, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 6,873
2, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 6,829
3, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 6,812
4, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 6,752
5, Aaron Lorincz, Belleville, Mich., 6,738
6, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 6,710
7, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 6,709
8, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 6,705
9, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 6,693
10, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 6,626
11, Jon VanHees, Charlestown, R.I., 6,612
12, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 6,608
13, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 6,604
14, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 6,602
15 (tie), Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., and Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 6,583
17, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 6,578
18, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 6,544
19, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 6,537
20, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 6,534
21, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 6,531
22, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 6,528
23 (tie), Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., and Patrick Girard, Canada, 6,513
25, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 6,509
26, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 6,472
27, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 6,452
28, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 6,428

Missed Cut:
29, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 6,421
30, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 6,412
31, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 6,407
32 (tie), Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., and Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 6,400
34, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 6,398
35, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 6,389
36, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 6,364
37, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 6,353
38, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 6,351
39, William Guszczo, Orland Park, Ill., 6,331
40, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 6,328
41, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 6,327
42, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 6,320
43, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 6,316
44, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 6,302
45, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 6,297
46, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 6,286
47, Dom Barrett, England, 6,267
48, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 6,246
49, Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.Va., 6,232
50, Mike Dole, Loves Park, Ill., 6,231
51, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 6,202
52, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 6,173
53, Kenneth Kempf, Appleton, Wis., 6,167
54, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 6,164
55, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 6,125
56, T.P. Peterson, Evergreen Park, Ill., 6,070
57 (tie), Greg Thomas, Oak Creek, Wis., and Paul Moor, England, 6,057
59, Julio Cesar Blancas, Mexico, 6,030
60, Brad Miller, St. Charles, Mo., 6,019
61, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 5,989
62, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 988
63, Brian Gunn, Chicago, 5,982
64, Christopher Glaz, Elmwood Park, Ill, 5,947
65, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 5,936
66, Andrew DeCaluwe, Mt. Prospect, Ill., 5,901
67, Erik Gulbrandson, Superior, Wis., 5,876
68, Quinton Bohlen, Decorah, Iowa, 5,837
69, Aaron Ramsden, Pleasant Valley, Mo., 5,798
70, Gary Exner Jr., Racine, Wis., 5,767
71, Chris Cundiff, Lake Station, Ind., 5,764
72, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 5,756
73, Justin Bychkowski, Fairfield, Conn., 5,678
74, Kenneth Bland Jr., Lorton, Va., 5,674
75, Dale Renken, St. Jacob, Ill., 5,639
76, Stephen Pavlinko Jr., Sewell, N.J., 5,614
77, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 5,563
78, Armando Santacruz, Ecuador, 5,481
79, Matt Beyer, Manawa, Wis., 5,467
80, Jonathan Russell, Rockwood, Tenn., 5,397
81, Van McNeil, West Allis, Wis., 5,222
82, Lindell Woolard, Tallahassee, Fla., 5,062
83, Ralleigh Grandberry III, Maryland, Hts., Mo., 4,995
84, Brandon Gronwoldt, LeRoy, Minn., 4,898