PBA Bowling Tour: 2009-10 season
Encyclopedia
Tournament Schedule and Recaps
In a cost-cutting move, the PBA held the first half of the 2009-10 season in Allen Park, MI (just outside of Detroit) under the name PBA World Series of Bowling. Preliminary rounds of the televised tournaments were held in August, with television tapings on Labor Day weekend (September 5–7). Qualifying for the first of the PBA's four majors, the PBA World ChampionshipPBA World Championship
The PBA World Championship is one of the four major PBA bowling events. Prior to 2002, the tournament was called the PBA National Championship. The PBA National Championship was first contested in 1960, then called the First Annual National Championship...
, was part of the World Series. The television finals for this event took place live in Wichita, KS, three months after the preliminary rounds.
With one exception, the singles events of the 2009 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...
were all contested at the World Series.
The second half of the season followed a traditional touring format, and included a total of 14 telecasts (11 title events and 3 special non-title events). The three remaining major tournaments (Tournament of Champions, USBC Masters and 67th U.S. Open) were all contested in the second half. The 2010 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...
, contested April 22–25, is also a PBA title event. The final eight for this tournament competed live on Japanese television, but no U.S. TV broadcast has aired.
World Series of Bowling (First Half) Highlights
- Walter Ray Williams Jr. added to his incredible streak of consecutive seasons winning at least one tournament, as he captured the Motor City Open for his PBA-best 46th title overall. Williams, who turned 50 in October, has now won a PBA tournament in 17 straight seasons.
- 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....
took sole possession of 5th place on the PBA's all-time titles list, picking up his 33rd win in the Cheetah Championship. - Bill O'NeillBill O'Neill (bowler)William "Bill" O'Neill is a right-handed professional ten-pin bowler who competes on the PBA Tour in North America. He is a resident of Southampton, Pennsylvania. His nickname on tour is "The Real Deal". O'Neill was the 2009-10 U.S. Open champion, winning the event on February 28, 2010...
, a non-winner on tour despite seven TV Finals appearances in 2008-09, earned his first-ever PBA title in the Chameleon Championship. - 46-year old tour veteran Jack Jurek set a record for the longest drought between PBA titles when he captured his second tour win in the Shark Championship. Jurek's lone previous title had come 14 years, 175 days prior, when he won the 1995 Tums Classic. It took a sudden-death rolloff for Jurek to earn title #2, after he and Michael FaganMichael Fagan (American bowler)Michael Fagan is an American professional bowler and an exempt bowler on the PBA Tour. Known for his high backswing, he is sometimes known as the "King of Swing". He has a high RPM rate, but also has a smooth release, so his style can be classified as either a cranker or a power stroker.Fagan owns...
had tied 218-218 to end the regulation game. - In the feel-good story of the half, rookie Tom SmallwoodTom SmallwoodThomas Smallwood is a ten-pin bowler currently competing on the PBA Tour. On December 13, 2009, the right-hander won his first PBA Tour title and first major in the PBA World Championship, defeating 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott in the final match, 244-228...
made the TV finals in two World Series of Bowling events, winning his first title and first major at the PBA World Championship on December 13. He defeated reigning PBA Player of the Year 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...
, 244-228, in the final match. Smallwood attended the PBA Tour Trials in May, 2009, only because he had been laid off from his auto plant job in December, 2008. The Saginaw, MI resident finished in the Top 8 at the Tour Trials to earn a PBA Tour exemption. - Kelly KulickKelly KulickKelly Kulick is an American professional bowler from Union Township, New Jersey. She has won eight professional women's bowling titles and one PBA Tour title.-Bowling accomplishments:...
, who did not qualify for the PBA Women's Series in 2008-09, picked up two Women's Series titles—including the inaugural PBA Women's World Championship. The major championship rewarded her with a spot in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions, where she was the first-ever female competitor in the event. - Shannon Pluhowsky also won two Women's Series tournaments, giving her three total victories in the series.
Second Half Highlights
- The half featured four first-time PBA Tour winners: Kelly KulickKelly KulickKelly Kulick is an American professional bowler from Union Township, New Jersey. She has won eight professional women's bowling titles and one PBA Tour title.-Bowling accomplishments:...
, Anthony Lacaze, Brian Kretzer and Brian Ziesig. Kulick's momentous victory in the January 24 Tournament of Champions finals over Chris Barnes, 265-195, made her the first female bowler ever to win a regular PBA Tour event. In addition, Michael FaganMichael Fagan (American bowler)Michael Fagan is an American professional bowler and an exempt bowler on the PBA Tour. Known for his high backswing, he is sometimes known as the "King of Swing". He has a high RPM rate, but also has a smooth release, so his style can be classified as either a cranker or a power stroker.Fagan owns...
won his first career singles title. - 50-year old Walter Ray Williams Jr. won his eighth career major, and 47th title overall, 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....
. He also picked up his seventh career PBA Player of the Year award. - The final major of the year, the 67th U.S. OpenU.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...
, was won by Bill O'Neill over defending champ 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...
. - Pete WeberPete WeberPeter David "Pete" Weber, nicknamed “PDW”, , is a famous bowling professional on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. Weber is one of the sport's most popular active players and is well known for his maverick, rebellious personality...
ended a three-year title drought with his 35th career win at the season-ending Lumber Liquidators Marathon Open, denying top seed Mike Scroggins a Player of the Year award in the process.
Awards
- Chris SchenkelChris SchenkelChristopher Eugene "Chris" Schenkel was an American sportscaster. Over the course of five decades he called play-by-play for numerous sports on television and radio, becoming known for his smooth delivery and baritone voice.-Early life and career:Schenkel began his broadcasting career at radio...
Player of the Year: Walter Ray Williams, Jr. - Harry Smith PBA Points Leader Award: Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (229,124)
- George Young High Average Award: Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (222.89)
- Tour Earnings Leader: Walter Ray Williams, Jr. ($152,670)
- Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award: George Lambert IV
Below is a summary of the 2009-10 season. Career titles for tournament winners are shown in parenthesis. (Titles shown for women are for PBA Women's Series events only.)
| Event | ESPN airdate | City | Preliminary Rounds | Final Round | Oil Pattern | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBA Women's World Championship | October 25, 2009 - 1 PM EDT (with PBA Senior World Championship) |
Allen Park, MI | August 31 - September 4 | September 6, noon EDT | TBA | First women's World Championship under PBA sanction. Winner: Kelly Kulick Kelly Kulick Kelly Kulick is an American professional bowler from Union Township, New Jersey. She has won eight professional women's bowling titles and one PBA Tour title.-Bowling accomplishments:... (1) |
| PBA Senior World Championship | October 25, 2009 - 1 PM EDT (with PBA Women's World Championship) |
Allen Park, MI | August 31 - September 4 | September 6, noon EDT | TBA | Winner: Harry Sullins |
| Motor City Open | November 1, 2009 - 1 PM EST | Allen Park, MI | August 2–6 (Taylor, MI) | September 5, 3:30 PM EDT | TBA | Non-exempt (open) event. Winner: Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (46) |
| Cheetah Championship | November 8, 2009 - 1 PM EST | Allen Park, MI | August 11–12 | August 13 (3 rounds, best 4-of-7) | Cheetah | Exempt event. Match-play format (best 4-of-7 through final head-to-head match). 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.... (33) |
| Viper Championship | November 15, 2009 - 1 PM EST | Allen Park, MI | August 14–16 | September 5, 7 PM EDT | Viper | Exempt event. Women's Series event. 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... (3) Women's Winner: Liz Johnson (2) |
| Chameleon Championship | November 22, 2009 - 1 PM EST | Allen Park, MI | August 18–20 | September 6, noon EDT | Chameleon | Exempt event. Women's Series event. Men's Winner: Bill O'Neill Bill O'Neill (bowler) William "Bill" O'Neill is a right-handed professional ten-pin bowler who competes on the PBA Tour in North America. He is a resident of Southampton, Pennsylvania. His nickname on tour is "The Real Deal". O'Neill was the 2009-10 U.S. Open champion, winning the event on February 28, 2010... (1) Women's Winner: Shannon Pluhowsky (2) |
| Scorpion Championship | November 29, 2009 - 1 PM EST | Allen Park, MI | August 23–25 | September 6, 3:30 PM EDT | Scorpion | Exempt event. Women's Series event. Men's Winner: Mike Devaney (2) Women's Winner: Shannon Pluhowsky (3) |
| Shark Championship | December 6, 2009 - 1 PM EST | Allen Park, MI | August 27–29 | September 6, 7 PM EDT | Shark | Exempt event. Women's Series event. Men's Winner: Jack Jurek (2) Women's Winner: Kelly Kulick Kelly Kulick Kelly Kulick is an American professional bowler from Union Township, New Jersey. She has won eight professional women's bowling titles and one PBA Tour title.-Bowling accomplishments:... (2) |
| PBA World Championship PBA World Championship The PBA World Championship is one of the four major PBA bowling events. Prior to 2002, the tournament was called the PBA National Championship. The PBA National Championship was first contested in 1960, then called the First Annual National Championship... |
December 13, 2009 - 1 PM EST | Wichita, KS | August 30 - September 4 (Allen Park, MI) | Live | TBA | Non-exempt (open) event. First major of the season. Winner: Tom Smallwood Tom Smallwood Thomas Smallwood is a ten-pin bowler currently competing on the PBA Tour. On December 13, 2009, the right-hander won his first PBA Tour title and first major in the PBA World Championship, defeating 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott in the final match, 244-228... (1) |
| Holiday Break | ||||||
| Pepsi Pepsi Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo... Red, White and Blue Open, presented by 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... |
January 10, 2010 - 1 PM EST | Wichita, KS | December 7–12 | December 13 | Red, White, Blue | Non-exempt (open) event. Taped following the live PBA World Championship finals on December 13. 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... (7) |
| 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... Memorial |
January 17, 2010 - 1 PM EST | Dublin, CA | January 12–16 | Live | Earl Anthony | Exempt event. Women's Series event. Men's Winner: Anthony Lacaze (1) Women's Winner: Stefanie Nation (2) |
| PBA Tournament of Champions | January 24, 2010 - 1 PM EST | Las Vegas, NV | January 19–23 | Live | T of C | Invitational event. Second major of the season. Winner: Kelly Kulick Kelly Kulick Kelly Kulick is an American professional bowler from Union Township, New Jersey. She has won eight professional women's bowling titles and one PBA Tour title.-Bowling accomplishments:... (1) |
| One-A-Day Dick Weber Dick Weber Dick Weber was a famous bowling professional and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association... Open |
January 31, 2010 - 1 PM EST (ESPN2) | Fountain Valley, CA | January 26–30 | Live | Dick Weber | Non-exempt (open) event. Winner: Michael Fagan Michael Fagan (American bowler) Michael Fagan is an American professional bowler and an exempt bowler on the PBA Tour. Known for his high backswing, he is sometimes known as the "King of Swing". He has a high RPM rate, but also has a smooth release, so his style can be classified as either a cranker or a power stroker.Fagan owns... (2) |
| 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... PBA Celebrity Invitational |
February 7, 2010 - 2 PM EST | Kenner, LA | September 25 | September 25 | TBA | Invitational event. Taped to fill the ESPN TV slot on Super Bowl Super Bowl The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather... Sunday. Winners: 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... and 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 :... (non-title event) |
| 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.... |
February 14, 2010 - 3 PM EST | Reno, NV | February 9–13 | Live | Masters | Open event administered by the PBA for the 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... . Third major of the season. Winner: Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (47) |
| Bayer Bayer Bayer AG is a chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in Barmen , Germany in 1863. It is headquartered in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and well known for its original brand of aspirin.-History:... 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... & Paula Carter Mixed Doubles |
February 21, 2010 - 1 PM EST | Wheat Ridge, CO | February 16–20 | Live | TBA | Mixed PBA and PBA Women's Series event. Winner: Brian Voss Brian Voss Brian Voss of Kennesaw, GA, is a professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association since 1982. The right-hander currently owns 25 PBA titles... (25) and Diandra Asbaty Diandra Asbaty Diandra Hyman Asbaty is a bowler currently representing Team USA and is the current United States Amateur Champion. She is also an official youth bowling spokesperson for the United States Bowling Congress... (2) |
| Lumber Liquidators 67th US Open | February 28, 2010 - 12:30 PM EST | Indianapolis, IN | February 22–27 | Live | TBA | Non-exempt (open) event. Fourth major of the season. Winner: Bill O'Neill Bill O'Neill (bowler) William "Bill" O'Neill is a right-handed professional ten-pin bowler who competes on the PBA Tour in North America. He is a resident of Southampton, Pennsylvania. His nickname on tour is "The Real Deal". O'Neill was the 2009-10 U.S. Open champion, winning the event on February 28, 2010... (2) |
| Etonic 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:... Eliminator |
March 7, 2010 - 2 PM EST | Columbus, OH | March 2–6 | Live | TBA | Exempt event. 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... (8) |
| Go RVing Match Play Championship | March 21, 2010 - 1 PM EDT | Norwich, CT | March 17–20 | Live | TBA | Exempt event. Winner: Brian Kretzer (1) |
| 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... Mark Roth Mark Roth Mark Roth is a former professional bowler. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. As a youth he resided in Meiers Corners, Staten Island, New York City, New York.-Bowling career:... Plastic Ball Championship |
March 28, 2010 - 2 PM EDT | West Babylon, NY | March 24–27 | Live | Modified house | Exempt event. Bowlers must bowl with PBA-supplied plastic bowling balls. Winner: Brian Ziesig (amateur) (1) |
| Lumber Liquidators Marathon Open | April 4, 2010 - 1 PM EDT | Baltimore, MD | March 29 - April 3 | Live | Multiple patterns | Non-exempt (open) event. Players bowl on 7 patterns during qualifying. Top seed chooses pattern for TV finals. Winner: Pete Weber Pete Weber Peter David "Pete" Weber, nicknamed “PDW”, , is a famous bowling professional on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. Weber is one of the sport's most popular active players and is well known for his maverick, rebellious personality... (35) |
| PBA Experience Showdown | April 11, 2010 - 1 PM EDT | Arlington, TX | April 6–8 | April 8 | TBA | Post-season special (non-title) event for five winners of the PBA oil-pattern championships, plus one amateur qualifier from a PBA Experience league. 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... |
| PBA Women's Series Showdown | April 18, 2010 | Arlington, TX | April 6–8 | April 8 | TBA | Post-season special event for winners of the Women's Series championships. 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... |
| Japan Cup 2010 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... |
TBA | Tokyo, Japan | April 22–25 | TBA | TBA | Annual combination event with Japan PBA. Winner: Tommy Jones (13) |
PBA Xtra Frame League
During the touring schedule (January–April 2010), 32 exempt bowlers will compete in a traveling singles league. All matches will be taped for airing on the PBA's Xtra Frame pay-per-view web video service.2009-10 PBA Tour Trials
The PBA Tour Trials, which determined the eight additional exempt bowlers for the upcoming season, concluded May 31, 2009 in Allen Park, MI. The trials consisted of 45 games bowled over nine days on various PBA oil patterns. The eight qualifiers include:- Joe Ciccone
- George Lambert IV
- Tom SmallwoodTom SmallwoodThomas Smallwood is a ten-pin bowler currently competing on the PBA Tour. On December 13, 2009, the right-hander won his first PBA Tour title and first major in the PBA World Championship, defeating 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott in the final match, 244-228...
- Cassidy Schaub
- Mitch Beasley
- Stuart WilliamsStuart Williams (Ten-pin Bowling)Stuart Williams, from England, is one of the world's leading Ten-pin bowlers. He is one of the most active tour players in the sport. Williams, along with the store owner father Dave, runs a Ten-pin Bowling Pro-Shop at Chester Megabowl, called MCS Bowling ....
- Stevie Weber
- Tim Mack
Both Ciccone and Beasley regained exemptions they had lost by not earning enough points during the 2008-09 season. Schaub is now the second two-handed bowler (joining 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 :...
) to earn a PBA Tour exemption. Williams becomes the first British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
ten-pin bowler ever to bowl full-time on the PBA Tour.