USBC Masters
Encyclopedia
The USBC Masters is a championship ten pin bowling event conducted by the United States Bowling Congress
. The Professional Bowlers Association
(PBA) began recognizing it as a title event in 1998, and it was designated one of the four majors in 2000.
Prior to 2005 the tournament was known as the ABC Masters, conducted by the American Bowling Congress (which became the USBC in 2005). The Masters began as an invitational event showcasing national and local bowling stars and has grown to become one of bowling’s most prestigious events.
While the event has evolved over the years, its trademark qualifying and double-elimination match play format has remained largely unchanged. All bowlers compete in 10 games of qualifying, with the top 25 percent of the field returning for five additional games to determine the top 63. Those qualifiers join the previous year’s champion in the match play bracket. All head-to-head matches consist of 3 games, highest total pinfall wins.
Hundreds of competitors turn out for the Masters each year with their sights set on a prize fund that has recently been as high as $350,000, including a $50,000 top prize (plus a two-year PBA Tour exemption for PBA members). The field, which now includes women, also features representatives from all 50 states and a handful of foreign countries.
The Masters is open to any USBC league member who has averaged 190 or higher for 21 games during the past two seasons, any non-USBC league member who is classified by the PBA as a Full Member, any bowler who has averaged 190 or higher in his/her past five ABC/WIBC/USBC Tournaments, and any state/provincial representatives who have placed first or second in the all-events category of their association tournament.
After the Masters in January 2004, the tournament was moved to the fall, resulting in two Masters events during 2004. (The first was part of the 2003-04 PBA season, and the second was part of the 2004-05 season.) Then in 2008, the tournament was moved back to the spring, which is why there was no Masters during 2008.
The 2011 USBC Masters was held at the National Bowling Stadium
in Reno, Nevada
, and won by Tom Hess. It was Hess's first career PBA title. The 2012 event is scheduled for January 23-29, and will be held in Henderson, Nevada
.
NOTE: In May, 2008, the PBA announced it was revising its all-time records to include ABC Masters championships prior to 1998 as PBA titles (and majors), if the champion was a PBA member at the time.
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...
. The Professional Bowlers Association
Professional 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...
(PBA) began recognizing it as a title event in 1998, and it was designated one of the four majors in 2000.
Prior to 2005 the tournament was known as the ABC Masters, conducted by the American Bowling Congress (which became the USBC in 2005). The Masters began as an invitational event showcasing national and local bowling stars and has grown to become one of bowling’s most prestigious events.
While the event has evolved over the years, its trademark qualifying and double-elimination match play format has remained largely unchanged. All bowlers compete in 10 games of qualifying, with the top 25 percent of the field returning for five additional games to determine the top 63. Those qualifiers join the previous year’s champion in the match play bracket. All head-to-head matches consist of 3 games, highest total pinfall wins.
Hundreds of competitors turn out for the Masters each year with their sights set on a prize fund that has recently been as high as $350,000, including a $50,000 top prize (plus a two-year PBA Tour exemption for PBA members). The field, which now includes women, also features representatives from all 50 states and a handful of foreign countries.
The Masters is open to any USBC league member who has averaged 190 or higher for 21 games during the past two seasons, any non-USBC league member who is classified by the PBA as a Full Member, any bowler who has averaged 190 or higher in his/her past five ABC/WIBC/USBC Tournaments, and any state/provincial representatives who have placed first or second in the all-events category of their association tournament.
After the Masters in January 2004, the tournament was moved to the fall, resulting in two Masters events during 2004. (The first was part of the 2003-04 PBA season, and the second was part of the 2004-05 season.) Then in 2008, the tournament was moved back to the spring, which is why there was no Masters during 2008.
The 2011 USBC Masters was held at the 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....
in Reno, Nevada
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...
, and won by Tom Hess. It was Hess's first career PBA title. The 2012 event is scheduled for January 23-29, and will be held in Henderson, Nevada
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
.
Recent Champions
- 2011 Tom Hess
- 2010 Walter Ray Williams, Jr.
- 2009 John Nolen
- 2008 not contested due to PBA schedule change
- 2007 Sean RashSean RashSean Rash is a right-handed ten-pin bowler from Anchorage, AK, and is considered one of the brightest young players on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He now resides in Montgomery, Illinois.Rash joined the PBA in 2005...
- 2006 Doug KentDoug KentDoug Kent is a right-handed American professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association . In the 2006-07 season, Kent became just the sixth bowler in PBA history to win two major championships in one tour year as he captured titles in the USBC Masters and Denny's PBA...
- 2005 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...
- Oct. 2004 Danny WisemanDanny WisemanDaniel Albert "Danny" Wiseman is a right-handed, professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association .Wiseman is a resident of Baltimore, Maryland, USA.-PBA career:...
- Jan. 2004 Walter Ray Williams, Jr.
- 2003 Bryon Smith
- 2002 Brett Wolfe
- 2001 Parker Bohn IIIParker Bohn IIIParker 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...
- 2000 Mika KoivuniemiMika KoivuniemiMika Juhani Koivuniemi is a Finnish ten-pin bowler, currently on the Professional Bowlers Association tour in the United States, who has won bowling titles in 12 different countries in his career....
- 1999 Brian Boghosian
- 1998 Mike AulbyMike AulbyMike Aulby is a left-handed bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He is one of only three PBA bowlers to win both a Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year award...
- 1997 Jason Queen
- 1996 Ernie Schlegel
- 1995 Mike AulbyMike AulbyMike Aulby is a left-handed bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He is one of only three PBA bowlers to win both a Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year award...
- 1994 Steve Fehr
- 1993 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....
- 1992 Ken JohnsonKen Johnson-Sports personalities:*Ken Johnson , defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals, played 1970–1977*Ken Johnson , defensive end for the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs...
- 1991 Doug KentDoug KentDoug Kent is a right-handed American professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association . In the 2006-07 season, Kent became just the sixth bowler in PBA history to win two major championships in one tour year as he captured titles in the USBC Masters and Denny's PBA...
- 1990 Chris WarrenChris WarrenChris Warren may refer to:*Chris Warren , American football running back*Chris Warren American basketball player out of the University of Mississippi, currently playing for the Adelaide 36ers...
- 1989 Mike AulbyMike AulbyMike Aulby is a left-handed bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He is one of only three PBA bowlers to win both a Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year award...
- 1988 Del Ballard, Jr.
- 1987 Rick Steelsmith
- 1986 Mark Fahy
- 1985 Steve Wunderlich
- 1984 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...
- 1983 Mike Lastowski
- 1982 Joe Berardi
- 1981 Randy Lightfoot
- 1980 Neil Burton
- 1979 Doug Myers
- 1978 Frank Ellenburg
- 1977 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...
- 1976 Nelson Burton, Jr.
- 1975 Ed Ressler, Jr.
- 1974 Paul Colwell
- 1973 Dave SoutarDave SoutarDavid Soutar was a successful professional ten-pin bowler on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He won 18 times on the regular PBA Tour, and seven more times on the Senior PBA Tour...
- 1972 Bill BeachBill BeachWilliam Beach was a professional Australian sculler. He was unbeaten as World Sculling Champion from 1884 to 1887.Born on 6 September 1850 at Chertsey, Surrey, England, to Alexander Beach, blacksmith, and his wife Mary, née Gibbons...
- 1971 Jim Godman
- 1970 Don Glover
- 1969 Jim Chestney
- 1968 Pete Tountas
- 1967 Lou Scalia
- 1966 Bob StrampeBob StrampeRobert Edwin "Bob" Strampe is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1972...
- 1965 Billy WeluBilly WeluBilly Welu was a famous professional bowler, executive for the Professional Bowlers Association , bowling broadcaster, and a great ambassador for the sport. A founding member of the PBA, he won four PBA titles, including two ABC Masters championships...
- 1964 Billy WeluBilly WeluBilly Welu was a famous professional bowler, executive for the Professional Bowlers Association , bowling broadcaster, and a great ambassador for the sport. A founding member of the PBA, he won four PBA titles, including two ABC Masters championships...
- 1963 Harry SmithHarry SmithHarry Smith may refer to:* Sir Harry Smith, 1st Baronet , British soldier* Harry Smith , British politician in Falkirk Burghs* Harry Smith , Canadian* Harry B...
- 1962 Billy Golembiewski
- 1961 Don CarterDon CarterDon Carter may refer to:*Don Carter *Don Carter , basketball entrepreneur*Don Carter...
- 1960 Billy Golembiewski
- 1959 Ray Bluth
- 1958 Tom Hennessey
- 1957 Dick HooverDick HooverDick Hoover was an American professional bowler. He won two American Bowling Congress Masters titles in 1956 and 1957, and helped start the PBA in 1958 with founder Eddie Elias....
- 1956 Dick HooverDick HooverDick Hoover was an American professional bowler. He won two American Bowling Congress Masters titles in 1956 and 1957, and helped start the PBA in 1958 with founder Eddie Elias....
- 1955 Buzz FazioBuzz FazioBasil "Buzz" Fazio nicknamed the "Buzzer" was a pioneer and early American bowling star during the mid-20th century....
- 1954 Eugene Elkins
- 1953 Rudy Habetler
- 1952 Willard Taylor
- 1951 Lee Jouglard
NOTE: In May, 2008, the PBA announced it was revising its all-time records to include ABC Masters championships prior to 1998 as PBA titles (and majors), if the champion was a PBA member at the time.