Two successful days in a row for Jason Mahr
03/20/08
Jason Mahr got the two most difficult tasks of his week accomplished Tuesday and Wednesday. He figures the rest of his week should be easy in comparison. Photo PBA.
A night after proposing to his girlfriend at a New York Rangers game – and her accepting – Mahr led Wednesday's Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour Qualifying Round for the 2008 GEICO Classic at AMF Babylon Lanes to advance to Thursday's Round of 64.
Mahr (Spring Hill, Fla.), who was born in nearby West Islip and lived in North Babylon until he was five, chose this week to bowl in his first career Denny's PBA Tour event, mostly because it took place on his favorite of the five standard PBA oil patterns – the Cheetah.
"I wanted to make a good showing. This is my favorite pattern and everyone in the South Region knows how well I bowl on this pattern," Mahr said. "I figured, why not come up here and bowl and hang out with the family. When I found out it was going to be on the Cheetah pattern, it couldn't have worked out any better."
Mahr started off strong with games of 226 and 269, the latter of which was his high game of the day. After another 226, Mahr finished with games of 247, 234, 203 and 235 to finish ahead of the 135-bowler field, the second-largest field ever for a Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round.
The PBA Regional Tour champion said after the nerves and excitement over last night's engagement, he was in a good frame of mind for the qualifier.
"Having gone through all that last night with the nerves and the butterflies, that definitely kept me relaxed for today. There was really no comparison," Mahr said of seeing his name on the scoreboard at Madison Square Garden.
"For a few months I've been planning to come up here and planning to ask her and so far two things have worked out: I qualified and got engaged. As far as bowling, the hardest part is over. The qualifier is so tough with so many guys and so little spots. Now I can enjoy the week and let the pins fall where they may."
A record 14 PBA members advanced to the Round of 64 in addition to one amateur. Finishing second behind Mahr was Jonathan Van Hees (Newport, R.I.) who fired a 300 in game seven to move into the cut. Lee Vanderhoef (Greenville, S.C.) finished third with 1,586.
A week after winning the Go RVing Classic to become the third bowler ever to win a title after qualifying through the TQR, Rhino Page (Topeka, Kan.) showed no signs of a let up, finishing fourth to advance for the 12th time in 15 tries this season. Page has put together the best rookie season in PBA history, wining one title, making five championship round appearances and breaking nearly every TQR record in the books.
Among the other bowlers advancing was Edward VanDaniker Jr. (Essex, Md.), who earned the final spot in Thursday's Round of 64, finishing 15th with 1,529, just four pins ahead of James Wallace for the final spot. VanDaniker advanced for the 11th time this season and also extended his PBA record by qualifying for the eighth consecutive time.
The Round of 64, which features two seven-game qualifying blocks, gets underway Thursday at 10 a.m. EST. The top 32 will advance to match play on Friday.
The top five after Friday's round robin match play will advance to Sunday's championship round live on ESPN at 1 p.m. EST. The winner receives $25,000 an exemption for the 2008-09 Denny's PBA Tour.
Players with position, hometown and seven-game pinfall. Top 14 PBA members (1-12 and 14-15) and top amateur (13) advance. Places 16-33 cash.
1, Jason Mahr, Spring Hill, Fla., 1,640
2, Jonathan Van Hees, Newport, R.I., 1,618
3, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 1,586
3, Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan, 1,586
5, Paul Molnar, Commack, N.Y., 1,576
6, Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., 1,575
6, Norm Ginsberg, Kissimmee, Fla., 1,575
8, Walter Schaub II, Schaumburg, Ill., 1,569
9, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,554
10, Bryan Paul, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,552
10, Steve Rogers, Bourbonnais, Ill., 1,552
12, Bob Oakes, Akron, Ohio, 1,544
13, Bill Beck, RonKonKoma, N.Y., 1,535
14, Steven Silverman, W. Babylon, N.Y., 1,531
15, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 1,529
16, James Wallace, Hicksville, N.Y., 1,525, $1,000
17, Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 1,521, $800
18, Rudy Kasimakis, Baldwyn, Miss., 1,520, $600
19, William Barlow, Edgewood, Md., 1,516, $500
20, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 1,512, $480
21, Bill Ireland, Absecon, N.J., 1,502, $460
22, Joe Biscardi, Wantagh, N.Y., 1,500, $440
23, Stephen Frazzetto, Port Jeff Station, N.Y., 1,497, $420
24, Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 1,496, $390
24, Michael Cimba, Monroeville, Pa., 1,496, $390
26, Jeremy Gilbert, Carlisle, Pa., 1,494, $365
26, Richard Jerome Jr., Baltimore, 1,494, $365
28, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,493, $345
28, Tom Sorce, Blasdell, N.Y., 1,493, $345
30, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,490, $330
31, Jeffrey Voght, Canojahaire, N.Y., 1,487, $315
31, PJ Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 1,487, $315
33, Ray Edwards, Middle Island, N.Y., 1,470, $300
34, Tommy Brodowski, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,467
35, Peter Maduri, Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,466
36, Michael Markis, Hawley, Pa, 1,462
37, Jeff Wright, Orange, Texas, 1,460
38, Matthew O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J., 1,456
39, Matthew Vega, Bronx, N.Y., 1,454
39, D.J. Archer, Mineral Wells, Texas, 1,454
41, Jose Cepin, Corona, N.Y., 1,453
42, Timothy Regan, East Northport, N.Y., 1,451
43, Tom Daugherty, Tampa, Fla., 1,449
44, Christopher Lucchese, Middle Village, N.Y., 1,447
45, Ryan Kohlmeier, Webster, N.Y., 1,446
46, Michael Dioguardo, Patchogue, N.Y., 1,444
47, Tom Lemanski, Hazlet, N.J., 1,441
48, Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 1,439
49, Rick Lawrence, Waxahachie, Texas, 1,433
49, Stephen Gregg, Yaphank, N.Y., 1,433
51, Alex Cavagnaro, N.Massapequa, N.Y., 1,431
52, Thomas Bragg, Baiting Hollow, N.Y., 1,420
52, Adam Chase, Seaford, N.Y., 1,420
54, Al Spano, Massapequa Park, N.Y., 1,413
55, John Slavich IV, Schaumburg, Ill., 1,412
56, Norm Ginsberg Jr., Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y., 1,404
57, Scott Santos, Ledyard, Conn., 1,403
57, Noel Vega, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,403
59, Robert Volk, Ridge, N.Y., 1,402
60, Steven Miglino, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,401
61, Matthew Sulzer, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., 1,400
62, Rich Ferraro, Webster, N.Y., 1,397
63, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,393
64, Chris Blaison, Newburgh, N.Y., 1,391
65, Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, N.Y, 1,388
66, Joseph Truchan Jr., Ringwood, N.J., 1,385
67, Sunil Kochar, Jericho, N.Y., 1,378
68, Humberto Vazquez, San Pedro, Mexico, 1,377
69, Derek James, Wyandanch, N.Y., 1,375
70, Frankie Ciannella, Stroudsburg, Pa., 1,373
71, Jason Wertheimer, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,372
71, Kevin Bandrowski, Speonk, N.Y., 1,372
73, John Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J., 1,369
73, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 1,369
75, Michael Healy, Yonkers, N.Y., 1,361
76, Chris Tashik, Midland Park, N.J., 1,359
77, Frank Gallo Jr., Newport News, Va., 1,358
78, Billy Plane, Springfield, Mich., 1,354
79, Christopher Keane, New City, N.Y., 1,353
79, Frank Villardi, East Yaphank, N.Y., 1,353
81, Peter Rodriguez, Westbury, N.Y., 1,350
82, Joey Serrapica, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,349
83, Lou Gigante Jr., White Plains, N.Y., 1,348
84, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,345
84, Thomas Zientarski, Rockville Centre, N.Y., 1,345
86, Jason Lundquist, Hawley, Pa, 1,344
87, Frank Fiscello, Bloomfield, N. J., 1,342
88, Yon-Gyo Phark, Flushing, N.Y., 1,338
88, Jack Nealon, Bowie, Md., 1,338
90, Bob Andretta Jr., New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,332
91, Charlie Bruno, Deptford, N.J., 1,325
92, Gene Speenburgh, Athens, N.Y., 1,324
93, Fabrizio Cerutti, Plainview, N.Y., 1,320
94, Sun Kim, Flushing, N.Y., 1,319
95, Craig Koppell, Huntington Station, N.Y., 1,311
96, Robert O'Connor, Seaford, N.Y., 1,310
97, Brian Dailey, West Hempstead, N.Y., 1,301
98, Joseph Pepitone, Medford, N.Y., 1,300
99, Vinny D'Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,298
99, Judge Abruzzese, Bronx, N.Y., 1,298
101, Michael Ziomber, Dearborn, Mich., 1,297
101, Kevin Andes, Somerset, Mass., 1,297
103, Tony Caraker, Hoffman Estates, Ill, 1,295
104, Chris Paroly, Plainview, N.Y., 1,292
105, Shawn Harris, Queens, N.Y., 1,289
106, Chris Liotta, Dix Hills, N.Y., 1,288
107, Trey Field, Metairie, La., 1,287
108, Paul Viesto, Sandy Hook, Conn., 1,280
109, Mark Cise, Summit, N.J., 1,277
110, Alan Liu, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,271
111, Neil Binder, Shelton, Conn, 1,263
112, Bill Gardner, Centereach, N.Y., 1,262
113, Matthew Brockett, Clinton, Conn., 1,259
114, Ralph Ehrlich, N.Massapequa, N.Y., 1,253
115, Pedro Salcedo Jr., Lynbrook, N.Y., 1,244
116, Ron Evans, College Park, Ga., 1,228
117, Alan Mojado, Fallbrook, Calif., 1,220
118, Luigi Cornacchio Jr., Shirley, N.Y., 1,217
119, Roy Cadoo Jr., Staten Island, N.Y., 1,209
120, Mark Fordin, Oceanside, N.Y., 1,208
121, Joshua Kogod, Industry, Pa, 1,206
122, Douglas Sass, Nottingham, Md., 1,202
123, Shane Holbert, East Lansdowne, Pa., 1,194
124, Wayne Kilmer, Barre, Vt., 1,182
125, Thomas Taylor III, Greencastle, Pa, 1,164
126, Victor Taraborelli, Copiague, N.Y., 1,160
127, Louis Barbera, North Bellmore, N.Y., 1,140
128, Richard Patson, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,135
128, Noel Rivera, Pt Jefferson Sta., N.Y., 1,135
130, Michael Benzinger, Flushing, N.Y., 1,126
131, Daniel Passarella, Brentwood, N.Y., 1,101
132, Stephen Nelson, Leeds, N.Y., 1,088
133, Joshua Noble, Selden, N.Y., 1,079
134, Anthony Lupo, Bethpage, N.Y., 1,055
135, Jeffrey Madonia, Westbury, N.Y., 1,000
300 games (1) – Jonathan Van Hees.
2007-08 Denny's PBA Tour #20
AMF Babylon Lanes in West Babylon, NY (March 19-23, 2008)
Jason Mahr got the two most difficult tasks of his week accomplished Tuesday and Wednesday. He figures the rest of his week should be easy in comparison. Photo PBA.A night after proposing to his girlfriend at a New York Rangers game – and her accepting – Mahr led Wednesday's Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour Qualifying Round for the 2008 GEICO Classic at AMF Babylon Lanes to advance to Thursday's Round of 64.
Mahr (Spring Hill, Fla.), who was born in nearby West Islip and lived in North Babylon until he was five, chose this week to bowl in his first career Denny's PBA Tour event, mostly because it took place on his favorite of the five standard PBA oil patterns – the Cheetah.
"I wanted to make a good showing. This is my favorite pattern and everyone in the South Region knows how well I bowl on this pattern," Mahr said. "I figured, why not come up here and bowl and hang out with the family. When I found out it was going to be on the Cheetah pattern, it couldn't have worked out any better."
Mahr started off strong with games of 226 and 269, the latter of which was his high game of the day. After another 226, Mahr finished with games of 247, 234, 203 and 235 to finish ahead of the 135-bowler field, the second-largest field ever for a Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round.
The PBA Regional Tour champion said after the nerves and excitement over last night's engagement, he was in a good frame of mind for the qualifier.
"Having gone through all that last night with the nerves and the butterflies, that definitely kept me relaxed for today. There was really no comparison," Mahr said of seeing his name on the scoreboard at Madison Square Garden.
"For a few months I've been planning to come up here and planning to ask her and so far two things have worked out: I qualified and got engaged. As far as bowling, the hardest part is over. The qualifier is so tough with so many guys and so little spots. Now I can enjoy the week and let the pins fall where they may."
A record 14 PBA members advanced to the Round of 64 in addition to one amateur. Finishing second behind Mahr was Jonathan Van Hees (Newport, R.I.) who fired a 300 in game seven to move into the cut. Lee Vanderhoef (Greenville, S.C.) finished third with 1,586.
A week after winning the Go RVing Classic to become the third bowler ever to win a title after qualifying through the TQR, Rhino Page (Topeka, Kan.) showed no signs of a let up, finishing fourth to advance for the 12th time in 15 tries this season. Page has put together the best rookie season in PBA history, wining one title, making five championship round appearances and breaking nearly every TQR record in the books. Among the other bowlers advancing was Edward VanDaniker Jr. (Essex, Md.), who earned the final spot in Thursday's Round of 64, finishing 15th with 1,529, just four pins ahead of James Wallace for the final spot. VanDaniker advanced for the 11th time this season and also extended his PBA record by qualifying for the eighth consecutive time.The Round of 64, which features two seven-game qualifying blocks, gets underway Thursday at 10 a.m. EST. The top 32 will advance to match play on Friday.
The top five after Friday's round robin match play will advance to Sunday's championship round live on ESPN at 1 p.m. EST. The winner receives $25,000 an exemption for the 2008-09 Denny's PBA Tour.
Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round
Players with position, hometown and seven-game pinfall. Top 14 PBA members (1-12 and 14-15) and top amateur (13) advance. Places 16-33 cash.
1, Jason Mahr, Spring Hill, Fla., 1,640
2, Jonathan Van Hees, Newport, R.I., 1,618
3, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 1,586
3, Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan, 1,586
5, Paul Molnar, Commack, N.Y., 1,576
6, Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., 1,575
6, Norm Ginsberg, Kissimmee, Fla., 1,575
8, Walter Schaub II, Schaumburg, Ill., 1,569
9, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 1,554
10, Bryan Paul, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,552
10, Steve Rogers, Bourbonnais, Ill., 1,552
12, Bob Oakes, Akron, Ohio, 1,544
13, Bill Beck, RonKonKoma, N.Y., 1,535
14, Steven Silverman, W. Babylon, N.Y., 1,531
15, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 1,529
16, James Wallace, Hicksville, N.Y., 1,525, $1,000
17, Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 1,521, $800
18, Rudy Kasimakis, Baldwyn, Miss., 1,520, $600
19, William Barlow, Edgewood, Md., 1,516, $500
20, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 1,512, $480
21, Bill Ireland, Absecon, N.J., 1,502, $460
22, Joe Biscardi, Wantagh, N.Y., 1,500, $440
23, Stephen Frazzetto, Port Jeff Station, N.Y., 1,497, $420
24, Joseph Costanzo, Plainview, N.Y., 1,496, $390
24, Michael Cimba, Monroeville, Pa., 1,496, $390
26, Jeremy Gilbert, Carlisle, Pa., 1,494, $365
26, Richard Jerome Jr., Baltimore, 1,494, $365
28, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,493, $345
28, Tom Sorce, Blasdell, N.Y., 1,493, $345
30, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,490, $330
31, Jeffrey Voght, Canojahaire, N.Y., 1,487, $315
31, PJ Haggerty, Clovis, Calif., 1,487, $315
33, Ray Edwards, Middle Island, N.Y., 1,470, $300
34, Tommy Brodowski, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,467
35, Peter Maduri, Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,466
36, Michael Markis, Hawley, Pa, 1,462
37, Jeff Wright, Orange, Texas, 1,460
38, Matthew O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J., 1,456
39, Matthew Vega, Bronx, N.Y., 1,454
39, D.J. Archer, Mineral Wells, Texas, 1,454
41, Jose Cepin, Corona, N.Y., 1,453
42, Timothy Regan, East Northport, N.Y., 1,451
43, Tom Daugherty, Tampa, Fla., 1,449
44, Christopher Lucchese, Middle Village, N.Y., 1,447
45, Ryan Kohlmeier, Webster, N.Y., 1,446
46, Michael Dioguardo, Patchogue, N.Y., 1,444
47, Tom Lemanski, Hazlet, N.J., 1,441
48, Matt Freiberg, Somerset, N.J., 1,439
49, Rick Lawrence, Waxahachie, Texas, 1,433
49, Stephen Gregg, Yaphank, N.Y., 1,433
51, Alex Cavagnaro, N.Massapequa, N.Y., 1,431
52, Thomas Bragg, Baiting Hollow, N.Y., 1,420
52, Adam Chase, Seaford, N.Y., 1,420
54, Al Spano, Massapequa Park, N.Y., 1,413
55, John Slavich IV, Schaumburg, Ill., 1,412
56, Norm Ginsberg Jr., Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y., 1,404
57, Scott Santos, Ledyard, Conn., 1,403
57, Noel Vega, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,403
59, Robert Volk, Ridge, N.Y., 1,402
60, Steven Miglino, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,401
61, Matthew Sulzer, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., 1,400
62, Rich Ferraro, Webster, N.Y., 1,397
63, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,393
64, Chris Blaison, Newburgh, N.Y., 1,391
65, Justin Warhol, Sound Beach, N.Y, 1,388
66, Joseph Truchan Jr., Ringwood, N.J., 1,385
67, Sunil Kochar, Jericho, N.Y., 1,378
68, Humberto Vazquez, San Pedro, Mexico, 1,377
69, Derek James, Wyandanch, N.Y., 1,375
70, Frankie Ciannella, Stroudsburg, Pa., 1,373
71, Jason Wertheimer, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,372
71, Kevin Bandrowski, Speonk, N.Y., 1,372
73, John Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J., 1,369
73, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 1,369
75, Michael Healy, Yonkers, N.Y., 1,361
76, Chris Tashik, Midland Park, N.J., 1,359
77, Frank Gallo Jr., Newport News, Va., 1,358
78, Billy Plane, Springfield, Mich., 1,354
79, Christopher Keane, New City, N.Y., 1,353
79, Frank Villardi, East Yaphank, N.Y., 1,353
81, Peter Rodriguez, Westbury, N.Y., 1,350
82, Joey Serrapica, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,349
83, Lou Gigante Jr., White Plains, N.Y., 1,348
84, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,345
84, Thomas Zientarski, Rockville Centre, N.Y., 1,345
86, Jason Lundquist, Hawley, Pa, 1,344
87, Frank Fiscello, Bloomfield, N. J., 1,342
88, Yon-Gyo Phark, Flushing, N.Y., 1,338
88, Jack Nealon, Bowie, Md., 1,338
90, Bob Andretta Jr., New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1,332
91, Charlie Bruno, Deptford, N.J., 1,325
92, Gene Speenburgh, Athens, N.Y., 1,324
93, Fabrizio Cerutti, Plainview, N.Y., 1,320
94, Sun Kim, Flushing, N.Y., 1,319
95, Craig Koppell, Huntington Station, N.Y., 1,311
96, Robert O'Connor, Seaford, N.Y., 1,310
97, Brian Dailey, West Hempstead, N.Y., 1,301
98, Joseph Pepitone, Medford, N.Y., 1,300
99, Vinny D'Ambrosio III, Staten Island, N.Y., 1,298
99, Judge Abruzzese, Bronx, N.Y., 1,298
101, Michael Ziomber, Dearborn, Mich., 1,297
101, Kevin Andes, Somerset, Mass., 1,297
103, Tony Caraker, Hoffman Estates, Ill, 1,295
104, Chris Paroly, Plainview, N.Y., 1,292
105, Shawn Harris, Queens, N.Y., 1,289
106, Chris Liotta, Dix Hills, N.Y., 1,288
107, Trey Field, Metairie, La., 1,287
108, Paul Viesto, Sandy Hook, Conn., 1,280
109, Mark Cise, Summit, N.J., 1,277
110, Alan Liu, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,271
111, Neil Binder, Shelton, Conn, 1,263
112, Bill Gardner, Centereach, N.Y., 1,262
113, Matthew Brockett, Clinton, Conn., 1,259
114, Ralph Ehrlich, N.Massapequa, N.Y., 1,253
115, Pedro Salcedo Jr., Lynbrook, N.Y., 1,244
116, Ron Evans, College Park, Ga., 1,228
117, Alan Mojado, Fallbrook, Calif., 1,220
118, Luigi Cornacchio Jr., Shirley, N.Y., 1,217
119, Roy Cadoo Jr., Staten Island, N.Y., 1,209
120, Mark Fordin, Oceanside, N.Y., 1,208
121, Joshua Kogod, Industry, Pa, 1,206
122, Douglas Sass, Nottingham, Md., 1,202
123, Shane Holbert, East Lansdowne, Pa., 1,194
124, Wayne Kilmer, Barre, Vt., 1,182
125, Thomas Taylor III, Greencastle, Pa, 1,164
126, Victor Taraborelli, Copiague, N.Y., 1,160
127, Louis Barbera, North Bellmore, N.Y., 1,140
128, Richard Patson, Lindenhurst, N.Y., 1,135
128, Noel Rivera, Pt Jefferson Sta., N.Y., 1,135
130, Michael Benzinger, Flushing, N.Y., 1,126
131, Daniel Passarella, Brentwood, N.Y., 1,101
132, Stephen Nelson, Leeds, N.Y., 1,088
133, Joshua Noble, Selden, N.Y., 1,079
134, Anthony Lupo, Bethpage, N.Y., 1,055
135, Jeffrey Madonia, Westbury, N.Y., 1,000
300 games (1) – Jonathan Van Hees.