PBA Bowling Tour: 2008-09 season
Encyclopedia
Season Highlights
On October 1, 2008, the PBA began a three-year sponsorship deal with Lumber Liquidators, making the American hardwood flooring retailer the tour's title sponsor through the 2010-11 season. Denny'sDenny's
Denny's is a full-service coffee shop/family restaurant chain. It operates over 1,500 restaurants in the United States , Canada, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan , Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Denny's is known for always being...
, the title sponsor from 2005 to 2008, remains a PBA sponsor and continued as the title sponsor of the Denny's Dick Weber Open tour stop.
The PBA kicked off its 50th season with a major tournament: the PBA World Championship was moved to the front of the PBA schedule for the first time in history. The tournament was contested October 19–25, 2008 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, with the live televised finals airing Sunday, October 26 on ESPN. The 20-event 2008-09 season concluded with the 66th U.S. Open
U.S. Open (bowling)
The U.S. Open is one of the four major tournaments in the Professional Bowlers Association. The first modern-day U.S. Open tournament in the PBA took place in 1971 and was won by Mike Limongello. With four victories, Pete Weber holds the most modern-day U.S. Open trophies.The U.S...
, March 29-April 5 in North Brunswick, NJ. Other majors in 2008-09 included the Tournament of Champions (January 19–26 at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
) and USBC
United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress is a sports membership organization dedicated to ten-pin bowling in the United States. It was formed in 2005 by a merger of the American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance, and USA Bowling...
Masters (February 8–16 at the Cashman Center
Cashman Center
The Cashman Center or the Cashman Field Center is a complex on a site in Las Vegas, Nevada. Operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority it includes Cashman Field and a convention center...
in Las Vegas).
The Dydo Japan Cup
Dydo Japan Cup
Dydo Japan Cup is an annual PBA and JPBA bowling event. The tournament typically featured the top 16 bowlers from each organization, and has been dominated by PBA Tour professionals since 1989. The last JPBA bowler to win the event was Takeo Sakai in 1988.The tournament celebrated its 25th...
, which typically kicks off the PBA Tour season on ESPN, was delayed until late April, 2009, due to arena issues.
A special "Golden Anniversary Championship" featured 16 Senior PBA bowlers (age 50 or older) who earned entry through a dedicated qualifying round at the Hammond, IN tour stop. The eventual top two Senior bowlers squared off in a live televised final, airing after the final match for the regular touring pros on November 9.
The PBA Women's Series, which began on a limited basis in the 2007-08 season, continued this season with seven events (see article: PBA Women's Series
PBA Women's Series
The PBA Women's Series was a mini-tour for female professional bowlers. It was started in 2007 as a way to bring women's bowling back to television after the Professional Women's Bowling Association disbanded in 2003...
). The series featured head-to-head women's matches airing jointly with six PBA telecasts, plus a mixed doubles event with PBA professionals that aired February 1, 2009.
First Half Highlights
- Norm DukeNorm DukeNorm Duke is an American professional bowler currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition, including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003....
won the season-opening PBA World Championship in Wichita, KS. The major title earned Duke the distinction of being the only PBA bowler in history to win three consecutive majors. (He won the Denny's PBA World Championship and the 65th U.S. Open at the end of the 2007-08 season.)
- Walter Ray Williams Jr. extended his all-time titles lead, winning his 45th at the Lake County Indiana Golden Anniversary Championship. The victory extended his streak of seasons winning at least one title to 16, also a PBA record.
- Brad Angelo, thought by many to be the best bowler on tour without a title, ended six years of frustration with his first title at the PepsiPepsiPepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
Viper Championship. He had been in 13 previous TV finals without winning.
- Wes MalottWes MalottWesley Clint "Big Nasty" Malott is an American professional ten-pin bowler who resides in Pflugerville, Texas. He has six titles in eight full seasons on the PBA tour, having won at least one title in four straight seasons . He also won the 2006–07 Showplace Lanes Megabucks Shootout, which is not...
made the TV finals in four of the first eight events, but came away with only one title (Carmen SalvinoCarmen SalvinoCarmen Salvino is a professional ten-pin bowler and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association . Salvino won 17 PBA Tour titles –- among them the 1962 PBA National Championship. He also won two PBA Senior Tour titles, including the 1984 Senior National Championship...
Scorpion Championship).
Second Half Highlights
- Wes MalottWes MalottWesley Clint "Big Nasty" Malott is an American professional ten-pin bowler who resides in Pflugerville, Texas. He has six titles in eight full seasons on the PBA tour, having won at least one title in four straight seasons . He also won the 2006–07 Showplace Lanes Megabucks Shootout, which is not...
continued his dominance in the second half, making four more TV finals (eight total in 2008-09), and picking up his second and third titles of the season (Bayer Earl AnthonyEarl AnthonyEarl Roderick Anthony was a left-handed American professional bowler who amassed records of 41 titles and six bowler of the year awards on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. His title count was amended to 43 in 2008, when the PBA chose to include ABC Masters titles earned by a PBA member...
Medford Classic and Etonic Marathon Open).
- Patrick AllenPatrick Allen (bowler)Patrick Allen is one of the premiere left-handed ten-pin bowlers currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has won 13 PBA titles, including two majors...
made the TV finals in the first three singles events of the half, winning titles in two of the appearances. The second title was a major at the H&R Block Tournament of Champions, where he defeated friend and Tour roommate Rhino PageRhino PageRyan "Rhino" Page is a left-handed bowler on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, and was the 2008 PBA Rookie of the Year. He is also a former U.S. Amateur champion, winning the event in 2005. A San Diego, California native, Page now resides in Dade City, FL...
in the final match, 267-263. The victory also snapped Norm Duke's string of three consecutive major titles.
- In the first PBA mixed doubles tournament since 1998, Liz Johnson and Norm Duke defeated Jennifer Petrick and Steve Harman, 274-180, to claim the title in the Don and Paula Carter Mixed Doubles Championship.
- John Nolen, winner of the Regional Players Invitational (RPI) tournament in December, 2008 but otherwise a relative unknown, won the third major of the season at the USBC MastersUSBC MastersThe USBC Masters is a championship ten pin bowling event conducted by the United States Bowling Congress. The Professional Bowlers Association began recognizing it as a title event in 1998, and it was designated one of the four majors in 2000....
.
- 2007-08 Player of the Year Chris Barnes won back-to-back titles for the first time in his career, capturing both the Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator Championship and the Go RVing Match Play Championship.
- Mike ScrogginsMike ScrogginsMike Scroggins is a left-handed professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association , having joined in 1989. He resides in Amarillo, TX.Profile at www.pba.com He has won eight PBA Tour titles in his career, including two majors. He won the USBC Masters in 2005 and the...
won his second career major title at the season-ending Lumber Liquidators 66th U.S. Open, defeating top seed Norm DukeNorm DukeNorm Duke is an American professional bowler currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition, including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003....
in the final. Duke was aiming to become just the fifth bowler in history to repeat as U.S. Open champion, and would have surpassed Wes Malott in Player of the Year points had he won.
Awards and Leaders
Player Of The Year: Wes MalottWes Malott
Wesley Clint "Big Nasty" Malott is an American professional ten-pin bowler who resides in Pflugerville, Texas. He has six titles in eight full seasons on the PBA tour, having won at least one title in four straight seasons . He also won the 2006–07 Showplace Lanes Megabucks Shootout, which is not...
Rookie Of The Year: Jason Belmonte
Jason Belmonte
Jason Belmonte is one of Australia's and the world's leading ten-pin bowlers. He is known for using the rare two handed "shovel" style to deliver his shot.- Early life :...
High Average Award: Wes Malott
Wes Malott
Wesley Clint "Big Nasty" Malott is an American professional ten-pin bowler who resides in Pflugerville, Texas. He has six titles in eight full seasons on the PBA tour, having won at least one title in four straight seasons . He also won the 2006–07 Showplace Lanes Megabucks Shootout, which is not...
(222.98)
Money Leader: Norm Duke
Norm Duke
Norm Duke is an American professional bowler currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition, including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003....
($199,630)
Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award: Ryan Shafer
Tournament Schedule and Recap
Majors are noted in bold text. The number of titles for tournament winners is noted in parenthesis. The women's title count is for PBA Women's SeriesPBA Women's Series
The PBA Women's Series was a mini-tour for female professional bowlers. It was started in 2007 as a way to bring women's bowling back to television after the Professional Women's Bowling Association disbanded in 2003...
events only.
| Dates | Event | City | Oil Pattern | Swing | Notes / Concurrent Event | ESPN Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 20 | Chris Paul Chris Paul Christopher Emmanuel Paul is an American professional basketball point guard for the New Orleans Hornets.Paul was born and raised in North Carolina. Despite only playing two varsity basketball seasons in high school, he was a McDonald's All-American and accepted a scholarship with nearby Wake... Celebrity Invitational presented by the brands of Ebonite International |
Winston-Salem, NC Winston-Salem, North Carolina Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to... |
Scorpion | n/a | Exhibition event - 5 NBA and 5 PBA players in Baker doubles; WINNERS: Jason Couch Jason Couch Jason Couch is one of the top bowlers on the Professional Bowlers Association tour. A left-handed cranker, he currently resides in Clermont, Florida.-PBA career:... and LeBron James LeBron James LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a... |
Oct. 19 |
| Oct. 19-26 | PBA World Championship | Wichita, KS Wichita, Kansas Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area... |
World Championship | Grand Slam | First time held at start of season (open event); WINNER: Norm Duke Norm Duke Norm Duke is an American professional bowler currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition, including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003.... (30) |
Oct. 26 |
| Oct. 29-Nov. 2 | Pepsi Pepsi Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo... Viper Championship |
Omaha, NE Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River... |
Viper | Versatility | Women's Series; MEN'S WINNER: Brad Angelo (1) WOMEN'S WINNER: Stefanie Nation (1) |
Nov. 2 |
| Nov. 4-9 | Lake County Indiana Golden Anniversary Championship | Hammond, IN Hammond, Indiana Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at .... |
Dick Weber Dick Weber Dick Weber was a famous bowling professional and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association... |
n/a | Senior Division Golden Anniversary Championship PBA TOUR WINNER: Walter Ray Williams, Jr. Walter Ray Williams Walter Ray Williams, Jr. is one of the top-ranking professional ten-pin bowlers in history. He currently holds the record for all-time standard PBA Tour career titles and total PBA earnings... (45) PBA SENIOR WINNER: Timothy Kauble |
Nov. 9 |
| Nov. 9-11 | Ultimate Scoring Championship | Taylor, MI Taylor, Michigan Taylor is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 63,131 at the 2010 census. Taylor was originally known as Taylor Township and residents of the township voted to incorporate as the City of Taylor in May 1968... |
Standard League (TBA) | Extreme | Bowling on standard house conditions to demonstrate its scoring potential WINNER: Mike Wolfe (4) |
Nov. 23 |
| Nov. 12-16 | Chameleon Championship | Taylor, MI Taylor, Michigan Taylor is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 63,131 at the 2010 census. Taylor was originally known as Taylor Township and residents of the township voted to incorporate as the City of Taylor in May 1968... |
Chameleon | Versatility | Women's Series; MEN'S WINNER: Mike Machuga (2); WOMEN'S WINNER: Michelle Feldman Michelle Feldman Michelle Feldman is a right-handed female professional ten-pin bowler and former member of the now-defunct Professional Women's Bowling Association . She hails from Skaneateles, NY, and now resides in nearby Auburn, NY. In her career, she has won 14 professional titles: 12 on the PWBA Tour and... (1) |
Nov. 16 |
| Nov. 26-30 | CLR Calcium Lime Rust Calcium Lime Rust, more commonly known as CLR, is a household cleaning product used for dissolving stains, such as calcium, lime, and iron oxide deposits, from material types found in western-style kitchens or bathrooms.... Carmen Salvino Carmen Salvino Carmen Salvino is a professional ten-pin bowler and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association . Salvino won 17 PBA Tour titles –- among them the 1962 PBA National Championship. He also won two PBA Senior Tour titles, including the 1984 Senior National Championship... Scorpion Championship |
Vernon Hills, IL Vernon Hills, Illinois Vernon Hills is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 20,120 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 23,957 as of 2005... |
Scorpion | Versatility | Women's Series; MEN'S WINNER: Wes Malott Wes Malott Wesley Clint "Big Nasty" Malott is an American professional ten-pin bowler who resides in Pflugerville, Texas. He has six titles in eight full seasons on the PBA tour, having won at least one title in four straight seasons . He also won the 2006–07 Showplace Lanes Megabucks Shootout, which is not... (4); WOMEN'S WINNER: Michelle Feldman Michelle Feldman Michelle Feldman is a right-handed female professional ten-pin bowler and former member of the now-defunct Professional Women's Bowling Association . She hails from Skaneateles, NY, and now resides in nearby Auburn, NY. In her career, she has won 14 professional titles: 12 on the PWBA Tour and... (2) |
Nov. 30 |
| Dec. 3-7 | Cheetah Championship | Cheektowaga, NY | Cheetah | Versatility | Women's Series; MEN'S WINNER: Parker Bohn III Parker Bohn III Parker Morse Bohn III is a left-handed American professional bowler and has been a member of the Professional Bowlers Association since 1984. He currently ranks sixth all-time with 32 career PBA titles, and has earned over $2.7 million in PBA events—good for fourth on the all-time list... (32) WOMEN'S WINNER: Carolyn Dorin-Ballard Carolyn Dorin-Ballard Carolyn Dorin-Ballard is one of the top female ten-pin bowlers in the World. She was a member of the PWBA and has bowled in PBA Tournaments as well. She was an exempt competitor in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 PBA Women's Series seasons, which were sponsored by the United States Bowling Congress... (2) |
Dec. 7 |
| Dec. 10-14 | Lumber Liquidators Shark Championship | Baltimore, MD | Shark | Versatility | Women's Series; MEN'S WINNER: Rhino Page Rhino Page Ryan "Rhino" Page is a left-handed bowler on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, and was the 2008 PBA Rookie of the Year. He is also a former U.S. Amateur champion, winning the event in 2005. A San Diego, California native, Page now resides in Dade City, FL... (2) WOMEN'S WINNER: Jodi Woessner (1) |
Dec. 14 |
| Holiday break | ||||||
| Jan. 4-6 | Don Don Carter (bowler) Don Carter was a right-handed American professional bowler. Learning the game while working a childhood job as a pinsetter, Carter went on to become one of the legends of ten-pin bowling and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association in 1958. He was 6-time bowler of the year... and Paula Carter Mixed Doubles Championship |
Reno, NV Reno, Nevada Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area... |
Shark | n/a | Companion event with Women's Series; WINNERS: Norm Duke Norm Duke Norm Duke is an American professional bowler currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition, including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003.... (31) and Liz Johnson (1) |
Feb. 1 |
| Jan. 7-11 | National Bowling Stadium National Bowling Stadium The National Bowling Stadium is a ten-pin bowling stadium in Reno, Nevada. The stadium is recognizable for an aluminum geodesic dome in its facade, built to resemble a large bowling ball.... Championship |
Reno, NV Reno, Nevada Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area... |
Cheetah/Shark | n/a | WINNER: Patrick Allen Patrick Allen (bowler) Patrick Allen is one of the premiere left-handed ten-pin bowlers currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has won 13 PBA titles, including two majors... (11) |
Jan. 11 |
| Jan. 14-18 | Bayer Earl Anthony Earl Anthony Earl Roderick Anthony was a left-handed American professional bowler who amassed records of 41 titles and six bowler of the year awards on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. His title count was amended to 43 in 2008, when the PBA chose to include ABC Masters titles earned by a PBA member... Medford Classic |
Medford, OR Medford, Oregon Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon... |
Earl | Versatility | Debut of "Earl" pattern; Women's Series MEN'S WINNER: Wes Malott Wes Malott Wesley Clint "Big Nasty" Malott is an American professional ten-pin bowler who resides in Pflugerville, Texas. He has six titles in eight full seasons on the PBA tour, having won at least one title in four straight seasons . He also won the 2006–07 Showplace Lanes Megabucks Shootout, which is not... (5); WOMEN'S WINNER: Wendy Macpherson Wendy Macpherson Wendy Macpherson is an American ten-pin bowler.Macpherson was born in Walnut Creek, California and currently lives in Henderson, Nevada. She won twenty titles with the Professional Women's Bowling Association between 1986 and 2003 and was a four-time Bowling Writers Association of America Female... (1) |
Jan. 18 |
| Jan. 21-25 | H&R Block H&R Block H&R Block is a tax preparation company in the United States, claiming more than 22 million customers worldwide, with offices in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Kansas City-based company also offers banking, personal finance and business consulting services.Founded in 1955 by brothers... Tournament of Champions |
Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous... |
Tournament of Champions | Grand Slam | Invitational event WINNER: Patrick Allen Patrick Allen (bowler) Patrick Allen is one of the premiere left-handed ten-pin bowlers currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has won 13 PBA titles, including two majors... (12) |
Jan. 25 |
| Feb. 3-8 | Denny's Dick Weber Dick Weber Dick Weber was a famous bowling professional and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association... Open |
Fountain Valley, CA Fountain Valley, California Fountain Valley is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 55,313 at the 2010 census. A classic bedroom community, Fountain Valley is a middle-class residential area.- History :... |
Dick Weber | n/a | Open event WINNER: Norm Duke Norm Duke Norm Duke is an American professional bowler currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition, including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003.... (32) |
Feb. 8 |
| Feb. 10-15 | USBC Masters USBC Masters The USBC Masters is a championship ten pin bowling event conducted by the United States Bowling Congress. The Professional Bowlers Association began recognizing it as a title event in 1998, and it was designated one of the four majors in 2000.... |
Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous... |
Masters | Grand Slam | Open event WINNER: John Nolen (1) |
Feb. 15 |
| Feb. 18-22 | GEICO GEICO The Government Employees Insurance Company is an auto insurance company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway that as of 2007 provided coverage for more than 10 million motor vehicles owned by more than 9 million policy holders. GEICO writes private passenger automobile insurance... Plastic Ball Championship |
Wheat Ridge, CO Wheat Ridge, Colorado The City of Wheat Ridge is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Wheat Ridge is a western suburb of Denver. The Wheat Ridge Municipal Center is approximately west-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver... |
Cheetah | Extreme | PBA assigns two plastic balls to each player to equalize competition WINNER: Jeff Carter Jeff Carter (bowler) Jeff Carter is a right-handed American professional ten-pin bowler, member of the Professional Bowlers Association. He joined the PBA in 1999.-PBA career:... (1) |
Feb. 22 |
| Feb. 25-Mar. 1 | Etonic Marathon Championship | Indianapolis, IN Indianapolis Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... |
All Tour patterns | Extreme | Open event; 54 games in 5 days including two 18-game days; different oil pattern each day; top qualifier chooses pattern for finals WINNER: Wes Malott Wes Malott Wesley Clint "Big Nasty" Malott is an American professional ten-pin bowler who resides in Pflugerville, Texas. He has six titles in eight full seasons on the PBA tour, having won at least one title in four straight seasons . He also won the 2006–07 Showplace Lanes Megabucks Shootout, which is not... (6) |
Mar. 1 |
| Mar. 2-8 | Don Johnson Don Johnson (bowler) Don Johnson was an American ten-pin bowler who spent many years on the Professional Bowlers Association tour.-PBA career:... Buckeye State Eliminator Championship |
Columbus, OH Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city... |
Viper/Scorpion | Extreme | Semifinals and TV use Eliminator format WINNER: Chris Barnes (11) |
Mar. 8 |
| Mar. 18-22 | Go RVing Match Play Championship | Norwich, CT Norwich, Connecticut Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing... |
Chameleon/Cheetah | Extreme | 64-bowler match play event seeded by Tour Points WINNER: Chris Barnes (12) |
Mar. 22 |
| Mar. 25-29 | The Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic | West Babylon, NY West Babylon, New York West Babylon is a census-designated place in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 43,452 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Babylon is located at .... |
Viper/Shark | n/a | Winner can earn a bonus for also winning the US Open WINNER: Jason Belmonte Jason Belmonte Jason Belmonte is one of Australia's and the world's leading ten-pin bowlers. He is known for using the rare two handed "shovel" style to deliver his shot.- Early life :... (1) |
Mar. 29 |
| Mar. 29-Apr. 5 | Lumber Liquidators 66th U.S. Open | North Brunswick, NJ | US Open | Grand Slam | Open field WINNER: Mike Scroggins Mike Scroggins Mike Scroggins is a left-handed professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association , having joined in 1989. He resides in Amarillo, TX.Profile at www.pba.com He has won eight PBA Tour titles in his career, including two majors. He won the USBC Masters in 2005 and the... (6) |
Apr. 5 |
| Apr. 23-26 | Dydo Japan Cup Dydo Japan Cup Dydo Japan Cup is an annual PBA and JPBA bowling event. The tournament typically featured the top 16 bowlers from each organization, and has been dominated by PBA Tour professionals since 1989. The last JPBA bowler to win the event was Takeo Sakai in 1988.The tournament celebrated its 25th... |
Tokyo, Japan | Custom | n/a | Field included Japanese, Korean and American bowlers WINNER: Patrick Allen Patrick Allen (bowler) Patrick Allen is one of the premiere left-handed ten-pin bowlers currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has won 13 PBA titles, including two majors... (13) |
PBA.com Xtra Frame only |
Exemptions for 2008-09
The following is a breakdown of the 58 bowlers who received a PBA exemption for most tournaments in the 2008-09 season:- 40 - Current Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour (previous season champions and 2007-08 point leaders among non-champions)
- 6 - Point leaders from PBA regions
- 7 - 2008 Lake County Indiana Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour Trials
- 1 - Non-exempt Points Leader from the 2007-08 Denny's PBA Tour (+)
- 4 - Deferred Exemptions from the 2007-08 Denny's PBA Tour
(+) Rhino Page
Rhino Page
Ryan "Rhino" Page is a left-handed bowler on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, and was the 2008 PBA Rookie of the Year. He is also a former U.S. Amateur champion, winning the event in 2005. A San Diego, California native, Page now resides in Dade City, FL...
topped all non-exempt bowlers during the 2007-08 season. But because Page also won a title, this exemption went to the next-highest non-exempt bowler, Edward VanDaniker Jr..
This leaves six spots that can be earned each week through the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour Qualifying Round (TQR), for a total starting field of 64 bowlers. If a bowler from any of the aforementioned categories does not take his or her spot in a given week, the next-place bowler beyond 6th place in the TQR will take the spot.
There are some exceptions to this breakdown. The PBA World Championship, Dick Weber
Dick Weber
Dick Weber was a famous bowling professional and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association...
Open and PBA Marathon Championship events are open to the entire PBA membership in 2008-09. The U.S. Open and USBC Masters events are open to the entire PBA membership plus qualifying USBC amateurs.
Newly Exempt Bowlers for 2008-09
The following six bowlers received 2008-09 tour exemptions by finishing with the most points in their respective PBA Regions (the East Region points leader declined his exemption). This is the last year that points alone will qualify a Regional bowler for an exemption (see main article, Professional Bowlers AssociationProfessional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
).
- Ken Abner (Central Region)
- Nathan Bohr (Southwest Region)
- Andrew Cain (West Region)
- Chester Rogers Jr. (Northwest Region)
- Jason Sterner (South Region)
- David Traber (Midwest Region)
In late May 2008, the PBA held the 2008 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour Trials to determine the final seven bowlers who would attain exempt status for the 2008-09 season. At the Tour Trials, six-time PBA titlist Dave D'Entremont led the field with a 45-game pinfall of 10,051 (223.4 average) to regain the tour exemption he lost following the 2007-08 season. Below are the seven bowlers with the largest pin totals, who received exempt status for the 2008-09 season:
- Dave D'Entremont
- Craig Tuholski
- Chad Kloss
- Joe Bailey
- Jason LundquistJason LundquistJason Lundquist is an American professional bowler formerly of the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. To date, his total PBA earnings exceed $36,200 dollars and include 19 cashes...
- Randy Weiss
- Terrance Reeves
2008-09 Finals Formats
The 2008-09 season used a combination of bracketed and stepladder finals, plus some newly-introduced finals formats. The four-player bracketed format was used four times during the season, a four-player stepladder format was used nine times, and a five-player stepladder format was used five times. In addition:- The Don JohnsonDon Johnson (bowler)Don Johnson was an American ten-pin bowler who spent many years on the Professional Bowlers Association tour.-PBA career:...
Buckeye State Classic (March 8) featured an "Eliminator" format. In the opening match, the top four bowlers from match play competed with the low bowler being eliminated. In the next match, the low bowler was again be eliminated from the remaining three. The final match was standard: two bowlers faced each other, with the winner crowned champion. - Inspired by NCAA Basketball's "March MadnessNCAA Men's Division I Basketball ChampionshipThe NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
," the PBA Match Play Championship (March 22) started by ranking the Top 64 bowlers in points through this point of the season. The first round paired the 1st-ranked bowler against the 64th-ranked, 2nd-ranked versus 63rd-ranked, and so on in single-game match play to cut the field to 32. Using the same seedings, the field was cut from 32 to 16, from 16 to 8, from 8 to 4, and from 4 to 2. Only two bowlers remained for the televised final. These two bowled three games each, with total pinfall deciding the champion.