Jason Belmonte, Pete Weber looking to make history at USBC Masters
02/07/15
2015 PBA Tour #4
Jason Belmonte (pictured left) of Australia and Pete Weber of St. Ann, Missouri, both have their sights set on making history as the 2015 United States Bowling Congress Masters begins to wind down.
Both players went 2-0 in the double-elimination match-play bracket Friday to stay alive in the winners bracket at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Green Bay, Wis. The Masters will conclude with the live ESPN finals on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Belmonte can make history by becoming the first player in the 64-year history of the Masters to win the event three consecutive years. He defeated Kris Koeltzow, 686-605, and Mika Koivuniemi, 702-625, in each of his three-game matches Friday.
"Obviously, this tournament is a little easier to win if you stay in the winners bracket," Belmonte said. "In both my matches today, I was really nervous in the first game, so I need to find a way to calm down because I can't afford to give those early pins away anymore."
Weber (right), who has 37 career Professional Bowlers Association titles including 10 majors, would win the PBA's Grand Slam with a victory this week and become just the third player in history to accomplish the feat, joining Mike Aulby and Norm Duke.
The Grand Slam is made up of the four majors on the PBA Tour - the USBC Masters, PBA Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open and the PBA National/World Championship.
Weber opened match play with a pair of close victories, defeating Christopher Sand, 696-662, after starting with a 161 game, and then throwing the first strike in the final frame to defeat Ildemaro Ruiz, 719-715.
"With the start I had this morning, I wasn't feeling very good," Weber said. "I got a break and my arm swing loosened up, so that helped everything fall into place. I really don't like the matches to be that close."
A total of 16 bowlers still remain in the winners bracket, while another 16 bowlers are still in contention in the elimination portion of the bracket. The players in the winners bracket are just three victories away Saturday from making the TV finals, while the elimination bracket bowlers have a much longer path to the finals.
Among the bowlers still alive in the winners bracket are several current or recent collegiate bowlers, including Francois Lavoie (Wichita State), Matt Gasn (Robert Morris-Illinois), AJ Johnson (McKendree) and Andrew Anderson (Davenport, last season).
Competition in the winners bracket resumes at 9 a.m. Central on Saturday, while the elimination bowlers begin bowling at 10:45 a.m. Central.
The Masters, which features a first-place prize of $50,000, is a major event on the PBA Tour and is part of the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Bowling Tour.
All qualifying and match play rounds of the Masters are being covered live on Xtra Frame, the PBA's online bowling channel. For more information on the Masters, including live scoring, here.
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Double-elimination, three-game matches decided by total pinfall.
(1) Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., def. (64) Christopher Sand, Sterling Heights, Mich., 696-662
(33) Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela def. (32) Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 635-541
(17) E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., def. (48) Geoffrey Young, Keller, Texas, 676-621
(49) Francois Lavoie, Wichita, Kan., def. (16) Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 615-580
(56) Rob Edwards, Vancouver, Wash., def. (9) Andres Gomez, Colombia, 642-560
(24) Zeke Bayt, Henderson, Nev., def. (41) Tom Daugherty, Tampa, Fla., 579-539
(25) Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., def. (40) Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 657-645
(8) Matt Gasn, Laurel, Md., def. (57) Greg Ostrander, Freehold, N.J., 725-653
(5) Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich., def. (60) Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 636-610
(28) Robert Smith, Moorpark, Calif., def. (37) Shuichi Heki, Japan, 656-639
(44) Chad Nelson, Owatonna, Minn., def. (21) Mike Fagan, Fort Worth, Texas, 720-585
(12) A.J. Johnson, Oswego, Ill., def. (53) Jeremy Sonnenfeld, Sioux Falls, S.D., 710-554
(13) Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., def. (52) Dom Barrett, England, 674-672
(45) Martin Larsen, Sweden, def. (20) Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 640-618
(29) Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., def. (36) Chad Kloss, Cudahy, Wis., 651-636
(61) Dan MacLelland, Saginaw, Mich., def. (4) John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 676-612
(3) Chad Roberts, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, def. (62) Matthew Heesaker, Green Bay, Wis., 718-587
(30) Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., def. (35) Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 669-665
(19) Matthew O'Grady, Matawan, N.J., def. (46) Greg Thomas, New Berlin, Wis., 640-615
(51) Nicholas Pate, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., def. (14) Matt Russo, Millstone Township, N.J., 622-607
(11) Austin Boulds, Creal Springs, Ill., def. (54) Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 615-598
(22) Kristopher Prather, Milton, Fla., def. (43) William Guszczo, Orland Park, Ill., 700-588
(38) Perry Crowell IV, Hoquiam, Wash., def. (27) Cameron Weier, Federal Way, Wash., 679-676
(59) Mike DeVaney, Winchester, Calif., def. (6) Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 653-628
(7) Stuart Williams, England, def. (58) John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 658-590
(26) Tom Baker, King, N.C., def. (39) Robert Gotchall, Lincoln, Neb., 649-574
(42) Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., def. (23) Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 670-629
(10) Jason Belmonte, Australia, def. (55) Kris Koeltzow, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 686-605
(15) Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Pasadena, Texas, def. (50) Greg Young, Viera, Fla., 642-603
(18) Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., def. (47) Nick Kruml, Downers Grove, Ill., 701-619
(31) Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., def. (34) Devin Bidwell, Wichita, Kan., 620-552
(2) Patrick Girard, Canada, def. (63) Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, 562-562 (20-18)
Winners remain in winners bracket. Losers move to losers bracket.
Weber def. Ruiz, 719-715
Lavoie def. Tackett, 678-646
Bayt def. Edwards, 590-511
Gasn def. Angelo, 699-692
Anderson def. R. Smith, 730-593
Johnson def. Nelson, 636-629
Larsen def. McCune, 680-584
MacLelland def. Valenta, 660-584
Roberts def. Blanchard, 686-649
O'Grady def. Pate, 652-570
Boulds def. Prather, 674-649
DeVaney def. Crowell, 648-564
Baker def. Williams, 771-713
Belmonte def. Koivuniemi, 702-625
Lavery-Spahr def. Smallwood, 648-625
Wodka def. Girard, 604-567
Winners remain in losers bracket. Losers eliminated, earn $1,350.
B. Smith def. Sand, 635-537
Ostrander def. Waliczek, 588-566
Jones def. Geoffrey Young, 666-522
Daugherty def. Gomez, 613-526
Loschetter def. Heki, 587-556
Szczerbinski def. Kloss, 649-618
Fagan def. Sonnenfeld, 729-643
Barrett def. Troup, 637-621
Johnson def. Heesaker, 652-598
Bohr def. Weier, 648-552
Russo def. Thomas, 637-573
Russell def. Guszczo, 608-539
Janawicz def. Gotchall, 638-576
Bidwell def. Bigelow, 628-597
T. Larsen def. Koeltzow, 641-570
Kruml def. Greg Young, 644-615
Winners remain in losers bracket. Losers eliminated, earn $1,500.
B. Smith def. Pate, 734-566
Ostrander def. Prather, 696-606
Blanchard def. Jones, 636-597
Daugherty def. Crowell, 646-603
Loschetter def. Koivuniemi, 699-668
Szczerbinski def. Smallwood, 703-702
Williams def. Fagan, 784-694
Barrett def. Girard, 644-571
Johnson def. Tackett, 705-700
Edwards def. Bohr, 665-640
Ruiz def. Russo, 640-615
Angelo def. Russell, 756-537
Nelson def. Janawicz, 654-514
McCune def. Bidwell, 657-600
R. Smith def. T. Larsen, 706-705
Valenta def. Kruml, 717-549
Winners remain in losers bracket. Losers eliminated, earn $2,000.
B. Smith def. Ostrander, 693-645
Blanchard def. Dougherty, 596-534
Szczerbinski def. Loschetter, 713-708
Barrett def. Williams, 581-565
Edwards def. Johnson, 744-638
Angelo def. Ruiz, 642-602
Nelson def. McCune, 645-618
R. Smith def. Valenta, 612-536
Both players went 2-0 in the double-elimination match-play bracket Friday to stay alive in the winners bracket at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Green Bay, Wis. The Masters will conclude with the live ESPN finals on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Belmonte can make history by becoming the first player in the 64-year history of the Masters to win the event three consecutive years. He defeated Kris Koeltzow, 686-605, and Mika Koivuniemi, 702-625, in each of his three-game matches Friday.
"Obviously, this tournament is a little easier to win if you stay in the winners bracket," Belmonte said. "In both my matches today, I was really nervous in the first game, so I need to find a way to calm down because I can't afford to give those early pins away anymore."
Weber (right), who has 37 career Professional Bowlers Association titles including 10 majors, would win the PBA's Grand Slam with a victory this week and become just the third player in history to accomplish the feat, joining Mike Aulby and Norm Duke.The Grand Slam is made up of the four majors on the PBA Tour - the USBC Masters, PBA Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open and the PBA National/World Championship.
Weber opened match play with a pair of close victories, defeating Christopher Sand, 696-662, after starting with a 161 game, and then throwing the first strike in the final frame to defeat Ildemaro Ruiz, 719-715.
"With the start I had this morning, I wasn't feeling very good," Weber said. "I got a break and my arm swing loosened up, so that helped everything fall into place. I really don't like the matches to be that close."
A total of 16 bowlers still remain in the winners bracket, while another 16 bowlers are still in contention in the elimination portion of the bracket. The players in the winners bracket are just three victories away Saturday from making the TV finals, while the elimination bracket bowlers have a much longer path to the finals.
Among the bowlers still alive in the winners bracket are several current or recent collegiate bowlers, including Francois Lavoie (Wichita State), Matt Gasn (Robert Morris-Illinois), AJ Johnson (McKendree) and Andrew Anderson (Davenport, last season).
Competition in the winners bracket resumes at 9 a.m. Central on Saturday, while the elimination bowlers begin bowling at 10:45 a.m. Central.
The Masters, which features a first-place prize of $50,000, is a major event on the PBA Tour and is part of the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Bowling Tour.All qualifying and match play rounds of the Masters are being covered live on Xtra Frame, the PBA's online bowling channel. For more information on the Masters, including live scoring, here.
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2015 USBC Masters - Match Play Results
Double-elimination, three-game matches decided by total pinfall.
(1) Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., def. (64) Christopher Sand, Sterling Heights, Mich., 696-662
(33) Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela def. (32) Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 635-541
(17) E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., def. (48) Geoffrey Young, Keller, Texas, 676-621
(49) Francois Lavoie, Wichita, Kan., def. (16) Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 615-580
(56) Rob Edwards, Vancouver, Wash., def. (9) Andres Gomez, Colombia, 642-560
(24) Zeke Bayt, Henderson, Nev., def. (41) Tom Daugherty, Tampa, Fla., 579-539
(25) Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., def. (40) Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 657-645
(8) Matt Gasn, Laurel, Md., def. (57) Greg Ostrander, Freehold, N.J., 725-653
(5) Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich., def. (60) Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 636-610
(28) Robert Smith, Moorpark, Calif., def. (37) Shuichi Heki, Japan, 656-639
(44) Chad Nelson, Owatonna, Minn., def. (21) Mike Fagan, Fort Worth, Texas, 720-585
(12) A.J. Johnson, Oswego, Ill., def. (53) Jeremy Sonnenfeld, Sioux Falls, S.D., 710-554
(13) Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., def. (52) Dom Barrett, England, 674-672
(45) Martin Larsen, Sweden, def. (20) Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 640-618
(29) Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., def. (36) Chad Kloss, Cudahy, Wis., 651-636
(61) Dan MacLelland, Saginaw, Mich., def. (4) John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 676-612
(3) Chad Roberts, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, def. (62) Matthew Heesaker, Green Bay, Wis., 718-587
(30) Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., def. (35) Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 669-665
(19) Matthew O'Grady, Matawan, N.J., def. (46) Greg Thomas, New Berlin, Wis., 640-615
(51) Nicholas Pate, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., def. (14) Matt Russo, Millstone Township, N.J., 622-607
(11) Austin Boulds, Creal Springs, Ill., def. (54) Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 615-598
(22) Kristopher Prather, Milton, Fla., def. (43) William Guszczo, Orland Park, Ill., 700-588
(38) Perry Crowell IV, Hoquiam, Wash., def. (27) Cameron Weier, Federal Way, Wash., 679-676
(59) Mike DeVaney, Winchester, Calif., def. (6) Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 653-628
(7) Stuart Williams, England, def. (58) John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 658-590
(26) Tom Baker, King, N.C., def. (39) Robert Gotchall, Lincoln, Neb., 649-574
(42) Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., def. (23) Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 670-629
(10) Jason Belmonte, Australia, def. (55) Kris Koeltzow, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 686-605
(15) Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Pasadena, Texas, def. (50) Greg Young, Viera, Fla., 642-603
(18) Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., def. (47) Nick Kruml, Downers Grove, Ill., 701-619
(31) Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., def. (34) Devin Bidwell, Wichita, Kan., 620-552
(2) Patrick Girard, Canada, def. (63) Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, 562-562 (20-18)
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Winners Bracket Round One
Winners remain in winners bracket. Losers move to losers bracket.
Weber def. Ruiz, 719-715
Lavoie def. Tackett, 678-646
Bayt def. Edwards, 590-511
Gasn def. Angelo, 699-692
Anderson def. R. Smith, 730-593
Johnson def. Nelson, 636-629
Larsen def. McCune, 680-584
MacLelland def. Valenta, 660-584
Roberts def. Blanchard, 686-649
O'Grady def. Pate, 652-570
Boulds def. Prather, 674-649
DeVaney def. Crowell, 648-564
Baker def. Williams, 771-713
Belmonte def. Koivuniemi, 702-625
Lavery-Spahr def. Smallwood, 648-625
Wodka def. Girard, 604-567
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Losers Bracket Round One
Winners remain in losers bracket. Losers eliminated, earn $1,350.
B. Smith def. Sand, 635-537
Ostrander def. Waliczek, 588-566
Jones def. Geoffrey Young, 666-522
Daugherty def. Gomez, 613-526
Loschetter def. Heki, 587-556
Szczerbinski def. Kloss, 649-618
Fagan def. Sonnenfeld, 729-643
Barrett def. Troup, 637-621
Johnson def. Heesaker, 652-598
Bohr def. Weier, 648-552
Russo def. Thomas, 637-573
Russell def. Guszczo, 608-539
Janawicz def. Gotchall, 638-576
Bidwell def. Bigelow, 628-597
T. Larsen def. Koeltzow, 641-570
Kruml def. Greg Young, 644-615
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Losers Bracket Round Two
Winners remain in losers bracket. Losers eliminated, earn $1,500.
B. Smith def. Pate, 734-566
Ostrander def. Prather, 696-606
Blanchard def. Jones, 636-597
Daugherty def. Crowell, 646-603
Loschetter def. Koivuniemi, 699-668
Szczerbinski def. Smallwood, 703-702
Williams def. Fagan, 784-694
Barrett def. Girard, 644-571
Johnson def. Tackett, 705-700
Edwards def. Bohr, 665-640
Ruiz def. Russo, 640-615
Angelo def. Russell, 756-537
Nelson def. Janawicz, 654-514
McCune def. Bidwell, 657-600
R. Smith def. T. Larsen, 706-705
Valenta def. Kruml, 717-549
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Losers Bracket Round Three
Winners remain in losers bracket. Losers eliminated, earn $2,000.
B. Smith def. Ostrander, 693-645
Blanchard def. Dougherty, 596-534
Szczerbinski def. Loschetter, 713-708
Barrett def. Williams, 581-565
Edwards def. Johnson, 744-638
Angelo def. Ruiz, 642-602
Nelson def. McCune, 645-618
R. Smith def. Valenta, 612-536
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