Entries are now open for the third annual PBA World Series of Bowling, a unique two-week, multi-event competition that once again promises to attract a capacity field of 240 of the best bowlers from around the world to South Point Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center in Las Vegas. The PBA extravaganza begins Nov. 4 and concludes on Sunday, Nov. 20.

The 2011 edition of the WSOB will offer eight PBA Tour titles, result in 12 television programs for airing on ESPN, and pay a total prize fund of more than $900,000.

Also included in the World Series will be competition for the 2011-12 PBA Tour season's first major title, the PBA World Championship; a revival of the 2009 "All In Showdown" with a $5,000 entry fee; a pair of special events for PBA regional players, and the inaugural World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA.

The WBT Finals will feature three men and three women who qualified during a series of international tournaments conducted by the World Tenpin Bowling Association.

World Series entries are being accepted on a first-come basis on PBA.com. In 2010, the World Series attracted a sold-out field of 256 players representing 14 different countries.

 

Earl Anthony Tribute Video now playing on "free" XTRA frame

In recognition of the 10th anniversary of PBA legend Earl Anthony's death on Aug. 14, the PBA is presenting a special tribute video on "free" Xtra Frame. The eight-minute video covers the championship match of the 1982 PBA National Championship where Anthony became the first bowler in history to surpass the $1 million milestone in career earnings. It also was the fifth of Anthony's record six PBA National Championship titles.

 

PBA Regional Roundup: Warren continues to scorch PBA Northwest region, wins 33rd career title

Chris Warren (pictured left) of Grants Pass, Ore., continued his torrid season in the PBA Northwest Region Sunday, posting a 6-2 match play record and a 3,998 16-game pinfall total to win his 33nd career regional title in the Ten Down Open at Ten Down Lanes in Roseburg, Ore.

Warren, who earned $2,000 along with his fifth regional title of the 2010-11 season, defeated Adrian Anderson of Roseburg, Ore., by 61 pins for the title. Anderson had a 5-3 match play record and 3,937 pins.

In the PBA Southwest, 13-time PBA Tour champion Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, won his 21st career PBA Regional title in the Plano (Texas) Super Bowl Open Sunday, tripping Dino Castillo of Carrollton, Texas, 236-216, in the title match. It was Barnes' first regional victory of the 2010-11 season and earned him a $2,300 paycheck.

In the PBA Central Region, Riga Kalfas (right) of Florence, Ky., defeated Brett Spangler of Niles, Ohio by 190 pins to win the Elite Motors/Backhaul Direct Open at Crest Lanes in Marion, Ind., on Sunday.

Kalfas finished with a 9-3 match play record and a total of 4,772 pins for 20 games, including match play bonus pins, to top an all-star field. The title was Kalfas' first of the season and the 15th of his career. He also earned $2,500. Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour exempt players Ronnie Russell finished third, Sean Rash fourth, Chris Loschetter sixth, Tom Smallwood seventh and Dan MacLelland eighth.

In the PBA East Region, veteran Sammy Ventura of Syracuse, N.Y., went 4-4 in match play and survived for a three-pin victory over Bob Caruso of Dayton, N.J., to win the Iroquois Lanes Senior Open in Canajoharie, N.Y., Sunday. With his first PBA victory, Ventura joins the roster of players who are eligible to enter the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas next April.

Also earning a Tournament of Champions opportunity was Thomas Patton Jr. of Olathe, Kan., who defeated Duane Kilts of Madison, Wis., 258-235, to win the PBA Midwest Region's St. Charles Lanes Non-Champions Challenge in suburban St. Louis. Patton also earned $1,600 along with his first PBA title.

Next weekend's round of PBA Regional events includes the Central Region Progressive Insurance Senior Classic at Al-Mar Lanes in Bowling Green, Ohio, which will be held Wednesday-Friday, Aug. 17-19, sandwiched between the PBA Senior Decatur (Ill.) Open and the PBA Senior Jackson (Mich.) Open. The biggest Senior Regional of the year in the Central Region will feature a number of national PBA Senior Tour stars and a projected $5,000 top prize.

Also on this weekend's Friday-Sunday regional schedule are:

• the East Region Colony Park Lanes Senior Open in York, Pa.;
• the PBA South Regional Columbia Open at Royal Z Lanes in Columbia, S.C.;
• the Central Region Lefeld Implement Classic at Pla-Mor Lanes in Coldwater, Mich.;
• the Midwest Region's Fast Lane Non-Champions Challenge in Chillicothe, Mo.;
• the Southwest Region Killeen (Texas) Open at Hallmark Lanes, and
• the Northwest Region Dave Husted Open at Milwaukie Bowl in Milwaukie, Ore.

For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, click here.

 

XTRA Frame to cover final two PBA Senior Tour events of 2011 season

Xtra Frame, pba.com's exclusive online video streaming service, will provide coverage of the PBA Central Region Lefeld Implement Classic finals at Pla-Mor Lanes in Coldwater, Ohio, Sunday, followed by coverage of the final two events of the 2011 PBA Senior Tour season.

PBA Senior Tour coverage will air Wednesday-Thursday, Aug. 24-25, from the PBA Senior Jackson Open at Airport Lanes, Jackson, Mich., and Monday-Tuesday, Aug. 29-30, from the season-ending PBA Senior Dayton Classic at Capri Lanes, Kettering, Ohio.

 

Former PBA regional competitor Shane Keefauver dies at age 35

Former PBA member Shane Keefauver of Canton, Ill., who helped Western Illinois University win a pair of Intercollegiate Team Championships in 2001 and 2002, has died at age 35.

Keefauver was a PBA member between 2004 and 2007, winning his only PBA Regional title in Blue Springs, Mo., in June of 2005. He was a first team All-American with Western Illinois in 2001 when he also was selected as college bowling's most valuable player. No further information was available.

 

Quick Notes:

Reminder: PBA Triple Crown winner Chris Barnes will make an appearance on NBC's Today Show on Friday, Aug. 19, offering bowling tips to co-hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb along with their mothers. Barnes also will do a few bowling stunts.

 

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