Bowlers Journal International - March 2008 - (Page 22)

TOURNAMENTS A PRETTY PENNY NETS 50,000 DOLLARS It's another victory for the fair sex in a major international tournament as Kirsten prevails in Doha. A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS? How about 5 million pennies? That was Kirsten Penny's reward for winning the 7th annual Qatar International Open. Although the English tenpin star has won numerous titles in recent years, her January triumph in Doha was, by far, her most lucrative. Finalists battled it out in two-game, total-pins matches until the field was pared to the final two — Penny, and top-seeded Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong. Penny got there with a homestretch victory over Malaysian star Shalin Zulkifli in an all-femme affair, 436-418, while Wu advanced to the title tilt with a 421-371 triumph over 2007 Pan-Arab Games triple gold medalist Mubarak Al-Muraikhi. The championship match was aired live on Qatari television, and it turned out that Penny didn't need the eightpins-per-game handicap given to women bowlers. She prevailed by a score of 479-460 to claim the $50,000 first-place prize. "I haven't had the best results with match play in the past," Penny said afterward, "so I like the two-game format. It works better for me, especially with the bonus pins — it's a nice start to each game." Bowlers don't have to wait until 2009 for the 8th annual edition of the Qatar International. It's scheduled for December 4-13 as the final event of the 2008 European Bowling Tour — and the first EBT event to be held outside of Europe. Purzycki has bowled his way to the top of the "megabuck" world once again. And he did it with panache. Needing a mark in the 10th frame to claim the $25,000 title, Purcycki came in light and left the 2-10. Then, barely pausing to get set for his spare shot, he calmly converted the tricky split. "I knew I made the split when I let go," Purzycki said. "I'm so happy. This is the greatest victory of my life." Some would assert that overcoming addiction 11 years ago was BOB PURZYCKI a greater victory. But in the world of amateur bowling, a High Roller triumph certainly is sweet. Runner-up Dave Guindon received $12,500, third-place finisher Don Tesh took home $11,000, and fourthplace finisher Matt Gilman pocketed $10,000. In High Roller's Las Vegas Red Hot, Ed Smaglik snagged the $12,000 first prize by winning the rolloff over Bill Green ($6,000), Shawn Goulding ($3,000) and Willie Wells ($2,000). And in the championship match of The A Game, Ron Mohr defeated Bob Gotchall to claim the $10,000 top prize. what he did, often, en route to the $5,000 top prize. BELMO STRIKES AGAIN Aussie "two-handed" phenom Jason Belmonte blew away his competition in the championship match of the Mini-Eliminator at Texas Station Bowling Center in Las Vegas, earning the $20,000 top prize. The final three bowlers — Belmonte from the 45 and Under Division, Pete Thomas from the 46 and Over Division, and Sol Cericos from the 210 and Under Division — bowled a single game to determine the winner. Belmonte piled up the strikes for a 255 score, while Thomas finished with 215 and Cericos with 192. Thomas received $10,000, while Cericos pocketed $5,000. "Belmo" was one of approximately 100 bowlers who had been banished from the High Roller, a tournament he won in 2007, as organizers of that event sought to even its playing field. But the newlywed still managed to kick off 2008 with a lucrative payday. He also finished 2007 strongly, winning the Brunswick Australian Cup at AMF Tuggeranong Bowl in Canberra. DOWN MEXICO WAY ¡Ole! The 44th edition of the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup is scheduled to be held November 7-15 in Hermosillo, Mexico. The venue will be a new 32-lane center that is owned by the host of 1994 World Cup, Fernando Gutierrez. "I always knew the World Cup was a great tournament," Gutierrez said, "but when we hosted it in 1994, I fell in love with it. I dreamt then of hosting it again, and now that dream is coming true." That 1994 tournament was historic as it marked the first time a 300 game had been rolled in the event. Jack Guay of Canada went into the record HATS OFF TO HALL James Hall captured the $25,000 first-place prize in True Amateur Tournaments' Amateur Nationals, held at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas. In the championship shootout, Hall outscored Chris Johnson ($15,000), Noah Berger ($10,000), Matt O'Grady ($5,000) and William Tessier ($3,500). The companion Ebonite Challenge was won by a man with a name made for bowling: Ray Struck — and that's A PURZYCKI SEQUEL Not many bowlers have had documentaries made about them, but the 2008 Storm February High Roller champion has. We speak of Bob Purzycki, a.k.a. Bob Perry, who won the 1997 Super Bowl High Roller mere days after emerging from rehab for drug and alcohol addiction — a real rags to riches story. Now, 11 years later, the 55-year-old 22 bowlers journal international MARCH 2008

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Bowlers Journal International - March 2008 Contents Leading Off Letters Bowlitically Incorrect Par Bowling The Coach Calendar Inside Line Tournaments The Truth Be Bowled Pro Bowling Back On Track Weber Tales Spares Do Matter Cover Story Up Close USBC Women's Time Capsule Flashback Strategy Session Guest Column Regional Roundup Team USA Trials Military Salute Global Guide No Holes Barred Marketplace Bowling Summit Museum Update Hall Marks Advertisers' Index Rememberance Classified Advertising Intelligencer Business Calendar Business People Strikes Me

Bowlers Journal International - March 2008

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