H&R Block Tournament of Champions Showdown at Red Rock Lanes
01/21/09
The most talented contemporary stars of the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour will face off against some of the legends of the sport when the PBA H&R Block Tournament of Champions gets underway Wednesday at Red Rock Lanes.
At stake in the second “major” championship on the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is a $50,000 first prize and a three-year exemption to compete on the PBA Tour.
The centerpiece of the PBA’s 50th anniversary celebration week in Las Vegas will feature a 60-player field of PBA champions. Leading the pack of current stars will be Norm Duke (pictured right) of Clermont, Fla., who will be trying to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive “major” title. Legends in the field include Mark Roth, Mike Aulby, Carmen Salvino, Nelson Burton Jr. and others.
Also in the field are 2008 PBA Senior U.S. Open champion Wayne Webb (left), 2008 United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters champion Kenny Parks, six past Tournament of Champions winners, a slew of PBA hall of famers, the most recent PBA Tour champions and two top players from the PBA’s Regional ranks - Regional Players Championship winner Sean Swanson of Springfield, Mo., and Regional Players Invitational champion John Nolen of Waterford, Mich.
Another highlight will be the PBA’s 50th Anniversary Gala presented by the Bowling Foundation which will take place Saturday, Jan. 24 from 7-11 p.m. at the Red Rock Resort, Casino and Spa.
The 50 greatest players in PBA history will be honored, and the top player in PBA history, as selected by a national panel of bowling experts, will be announced. While 48 of the 50 have been announced, the two bowlers still in contention for No. 1 in the voting are the late Earl Anthony (left) and Walter Ray Williams Jr (right).
During the Gala, Norm Duke, Del Ballard Jr. and John Handegard will be inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame.
Las Vegas area adults and youth league bowlers will have an opportunity on Saturday to bowl in a special pro-am event at Red Rock Lanes, bowling with three different PBA stars in that special event. For pro-am information, contact Red Rock Lanes (telephone: 702-797-7467).
The live ESPN-televised finals of the H&R Block Tournament of Champions at 9:30 a.m. PT, 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 25, will conclude the week.
PBA H&R Block Tournament of Champions week will be one for the ages
Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C.
Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y.
Mike Aulby, Indianapolis
Tom Baker, King, N.C.
Del Ballard Jr., N. Richland Hills, Texas
Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas
Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J.
Roy Buckley, Westerville, Ohio
Nelson Burton Jr., Stuart, Fla.
Steve Cook, Granite Bay, Calif.
Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla.
Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Mike DeVaney, San Diego
Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla.
Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla.
Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y.
Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y.
Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan.
Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz.
Brian Himmler, Cincinnati
Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla.
Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore.
Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill.
Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C.
Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y.
Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y.
Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich.
Larry Laub, Lincoln, Calif.
Rick Lawrence, Waxahachie, Texas
Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa.
Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas
Don McCune, Las Vegas
Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind.
Mike Mineman, Collinsville, Ill.
Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela
John Nolen, Waterford, Mich.
Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan.
Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind.
John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J.
Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan.
Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif.
Mark Roth, Fulton, N.Y.
Carmen Salvino, Schaumburg, Ill.
Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash.
Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas
Teata Semiz, North Brunswick, N.J.
Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y.
Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio
Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla.
Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo.
David Traber, Hebron, Ill.
Brian Voss, Kennesaw, Ga.
Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore.
Wayne Webb, Sacramento, Calif.
Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo.
Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas
Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla.
Danny Wiseman, Baltimore
Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind.
Tuesday, January 20
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. - Practice Session
Wednesday, January 21
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. - Qualifying Round 1 (8 Games)
5 – 10 p.m. - Qualifying Round 2 (8 Games)
Thursday, January 22
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Qualifying Round 3 (8 Games)
Cut to top 24
5 – 8 p.m. - Match Play Round 1 (8 Games)
Friday, January 23
11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Match Play Round 2 (8 Games)
5 - 8:30 p.m. - Match Play Round 3 (8 games, top 4 advance to ESPN finals)
Saturday, January 24
Pro-Am Events and PBA Fan Day
9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m.- Pro-am squads
2 – 3 p.m. - Ultimate Autograph Session featuring the PBA's Top 50 bowlers of all time
7-11 p.m. - PBA’s 50th Anniversary Gala/Hall of Fame Ceremony
Sunday, January 25, 2009
9:30 a.m. (Pacific; 12:30 p.m. Eastern) - ESPN television finals
2008-09 PBA Tour #12
Contemporary PBA Stars and Legends to Battle in Second Major of 2008-09 Season
The most talented contemporary stars of the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour will face off against some of the legends of the sport when the PBA H&R Block Tournament of Champions gets underway Wednesday at Red Rock Lanes. At stake in the second “major” championship on the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is a $50,000 first prize and a three-year exemption to compete on the PBA Tour.
The centerpiece of the PBA’s 50th anniversary celebration week in Las Vegas will feature a 60-player field of PBA champions. Leading the pack of current stars will be Norm Duke (pictured right) of Clermont, Fla., who will be trying to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive “major” title. Legends in the field include Mark Roth, Mike Aulby, Carmen Salvino, Nelson Burton Jr. and others. Also in the field are 2008 PBA Senior U.S. Open champion Wayne Webb (left), 2008 United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters champion Kenny Parks, six past Tournament of Champions winners, a slew of PBA hall of famers, the most recent PBA Tour champions and two top players from the PBA’s Regional ranks - Regional Players Championship winner Sean Swanson of Springfield, Mo., and Regional Players Invitational champion John Nolen of Waterford, Mich. Another highlight will be the PBA’s 50th Anniversary Gala presented by the Bowling Foundation which will take place Saturday, Jan. 24 from 7-11 p.m. at the Red Rock Resort, Casino and Spa.
The 50 greatest players in PBA history will be honored, and the top player in PBA history, as selected by a national panel of bowling experts, will be announced. While 48 of the 50 have been announced, the two bowlers still in contention for No. 1 in the voting are the late Earl Anthony (left) and Walter Ray Williams Jr (right).During the Gala, Norm Duke, Del Ballard Jr. and John Handegard will be inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame.
Las Vegas area adults and youth league bowlers will have an opportunity on Saturday to bowl in a special pro-am event at Red Rock Lanes, bowling with three different PBA stars in that special event. For pro-am information, contact Red Rock Lanes (telephone: 702-797-7467).
The live ESPN-televised finals of the H&R Block Tournament of Champions at 9:30 a.m. PT, 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 25, will conclude the week.
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PBA H&R Block Tournament of Champions week will be one for the ages
H&R Block Tournament of Champions Roster (in alphabetical order)
Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C.
Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y.
Mike Aulby, Indianapolis
Tom Baker, King, N.C.
Del Ballard Jr., N. Richland Hills, Texas
Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas
Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J.
Roy Buckley, Westerville, Ohio
Nelson Burton Jr., Stuart, Fla.
Steve Cook, Granite Bay, Calif.
Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla.
Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Mike DeVaney, San Diego
Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla.
Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla.
Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y.
Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y.
Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan.
Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz.
Brian Himmler, Cincinnati
Jason Hurd, Titusville, Fla.
Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore.
Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill.
Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C.
Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y.
Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y.
Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich.
Larry Laub, Lincoln, Calif.
Rick Lawrence, Waxahachie, Texas
Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa.
Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas
Don McCune, Las Vegas
Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind.
Mike Mineman, Collinsville, Ill.
Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela
John Nolen, Waterford, Mich.
Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan.
Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind.
John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J.
Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan.
Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif.
Mark Roth, Fulton, N.Y.
Carmen Salvino, Schaumburg, Ill.
Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash.
Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas
Teata Semiz, North Brunswick, N.J.
Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y.
Robert Smith, Columbus, Ohio
Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla.
Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo.
David Traber, Hebron, Ill.
Brian Voss, Kennesaw, Ga.
Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore.
Wayne Webb, Sacramento, Calif.
Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo.
Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas
Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla.
Danny Wiseman, Baltimore
Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind.
PBA H&R Block Tournament of Champions Schedule
Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Nev.Tuesday, January 20
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. - Practice Session
Wednesday, January 21
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. - Qualifying Round 1 (8 Games)
5 – 10 p.m. - Qualifying Round 2 (8 Games)
Thursday, January 22
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Qualifying Round 3 (8 Games)
Cut to top 24
5 – 8 p.m. - Match Play Round 1 (8 Games)
Friday, January 23
11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Match Play Round 2 (8 Games)
5 - 8:30 p.m. - Match Play Round 3 (8 games, top 4 advance to ESPN finals)
Saturday, January 24
Pro-Am Events and PBA Fan Day
9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m.- Pro-am squads
2 – 3 p.m. - Ultimate Autograph Session featuring the PBA's Top 50 bowlers of all time
7-11 p.m. - PBA’s 50th Anniversary Gala/Hall of Fame Ceremony
Sunday, January 25, 2009
9:30 a.m. (Pacific; 12:30 p.m. Eastern) - ESPN television finals