Koivuniemi, Dorin-Ballard still lead World Bowling Tour Rankings

    03/02/11

    WBT News

    Americans dominate men's and women's rankings after three events

    201011PBA06MikaKoivuniemi2.jpg2011EBT01CarolynDorinBallard.jpgNine-time PBA champion Mika Koivuniemi (pictured left), a native Finn who lives in the Unites States, and American Carolyn Dorin-Ballard (right) maintained the lead at the top of their respective divisions after three events on the new World Bowling Tour presented by the World Tenpin Bowling Association.

    Koivuniemi's fantastic year continued at the 68th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open, where he finished second to Norm Duke of the United States. Koivuniemi lost in the title match, 225-216.

    The Finnish player has accumulated 125 ranking points based on a victory at the Brunswick Ballmaster Open, a third-place finish at the United States Bowling Congress Masters and his most recent second-place finish.

    2010EBT10PaulMoor.jpg2011EBT01KimmoLehtonen.jpgKoivuniemi holds a sizable lead on Chris Barnes of the United States, who is second with 68 points, while American Sean Rash is third with 65 points. All three players have competed in the first three events.

    Eighth place Paul Moor (left), England, and tenth place Kimmo Lehtonen (right), Finland, are the only non-PBA pros in the top 10.

    On the women's side, Dorin-Ballard finished third among the women at the U.S. Open and leads the rankings with 105 points. She holds a slight edge on Kelly Kulick (below left) of the United States, who won the women's rankings at the U.S. Open and at the USBC Masters. Kulick finished 66th overall at the U.S. Open.

    201011PBAKellyKulick.jpg2011EBT01KristaPollanen.jpgKulick's total of 100 points put her in second, while Liz Johnson of the United States is third with 70 points. Krista Pöllänen (right) of Finland is fourth with 50 points after leading the women at the Ballmaster Open.

    The World Bowling Tour is made up of various events around the world throughout the course of 2011. Players earn points based on how they finish in the event and those points will be tabulated throughout the season to determine the top three men and top three women who will be invited to compete in the World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the Professional Bowlers Association.

    The next stop on the World Bowling Tour is the Brunswick Euro Challenge from March 4-13 in Saint Maximin, France. The Tour continues with the Kuwait Open from March 18-22 in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

    The fall swing includes a stop in Bangkok, Thailand, from Sept. 24-30 and wraps up with the AMF Australian Masters from Oct. 10-22 in Sydney, Australia.

    WBTLogo_small.jpgThe World Bowling Tour finals are scheduled to take place at the PBA's World Series of Bowling in late 2011 and will feature a total prize fund of $40,000. The event will be aired nationally in the United States.

    The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of more than 100 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA and the World Bowling Tour, visit WorldTenpinBowling.com.

     


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