Bowlers Journal International - March 2008 - (Page 38)

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS changed. Barnes left a 10-pin, which he covered, and then Haugen made a ball change and doubled. Still, it was Barnes’ match to lose as all he needed to do was stay clean. Barnes left a 4-pin in the 8th and covered it. Then in the 9th, he left another 10-pin. But this time, he missed it, his spare shot falling into the right gutter. Just like that, Haugen had new life. HERO NODA Ryan Shafer remained "major-less" despite qualifying for the championship round of a major for the 10th time in his career. “I remember thinking, ‘You can’t give me that,’ when Chris missed the 10,” Haugen says. “And I was pretty confident going up for the 9th and 10th because the ball change I’d made had worked.” That renewed confidence turned into three more strikes and a high-9, giving him a final score of 215. Had he carried the 9-pin, he would have forced Barnes to double to avoid defeat. Instead, Barnes stepped up for his 10th frame needing to fill 20 for a tie. Still regrouping from the missed 10, 38 bowlers journal international he came in light on his first shot and left the 2-pin, which he covered. Now it was down to one shot to salvage a tie and force overtime. “His first shot was a little quick, and when he left the 2, I knew he couldn’t beat me,” Haugen says. “And I’m thinking, ‘Now he has to strike just to tie me. How ironic is this?’ Nothing against Chris, but when he went light on that first shot, I just felt he was going to go high on his next one.” He did, leaving the 4-pin, and handing the title to Haugen by one stick, 215214. But let’s not forget Haugen’s role in one of the biggest turnarounds ever in a championship match of a major bowling tournament. He was given an opening, and he took advantage of it. “I got a break when he missed the 10, no question,” Haugen acknowledges. “But I filled my frames the way they needed to be filled, so I kind of feel like I earned this one. “I may not be the best bowler out there, but I’m one of the toughest competitors,” he adds. “I hate to lose, and I don’t like to give anything away. And when you get to a title match, well, that’s the time to step up. It would have been easy for me to just give up after the 5th or 6th frame, but as long as you have even a small chance to win, you have to keep trying.” Never give up: That’s a pretty good three-word summation of Michael Haugen Jr.’s bowling career. It took 200 tournaments for Haugen to record his first PBA Tour title. Interestingly, a 10-pin also played a pivotal role in that triumph. Just eight stops before the Tournament of Champions, Haugen won the Lake County Indiana Classic in Merrillville, Ind., defeating Wes Malott in the championship match, 247-239. Malott needed a strike on his first shot in the 10th frame to prevail, but left the 10. Haugen had made a ball change on that telecast as well. He says that when he needs to adjust, that’s his preferred M.O. “I generally like to change balls so that I can play the lanes as close to one another as possible. I’m just better at changing balls than changing lines.” So, while some perceived his decision to switch balls in the title match THE RECAP PBA H&R BLOCK TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS January 23-27, 2008 Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Nev. 1. Michael Haugen Jr., $50,000; 2. Chris Barnes, $25,000; 3. Ryan Shafer, $10,000; 4. Pete Weber, $7,000. ESPN Finals: Shafer def. Weber, 215-213; Barnes def. Shafer, 257-205; Haugen def. Barnes, 215-214. 32-Game Totals (Including 30 Bonus Pins for Each Match Won): 1. Michael Haugen Jr., 15-3, 7985; 2. Chris Barnes, 8-10, 7832; 3. Ryan Shafer, 7701; 4. Pete Weber, 7673; 5. Parker Bohn III, 9-9, 7672, $5,000; 6. Michael Machuga, 11-7, 7648, $4,500; 7. Wes Malott, 10-8, 7625, $4,200; 8. Patrick Allen, 12-6, 7623, $3,900; 9. Walter Ray Williams Jr., 89-1, 7601, $3,600; 10. Randy Pedersen, 7-9-2, 7552, $3,300; 11. Sean Rash, 8-9-1, 7541, $3,100; 12. Robert Smith, 8-10, 7539, $2,900; 13. Danny Wiseman, 125-1, 7479, $2,800; 14. Mike Scroggins, 7-10-1, 7459, $2,700; 15. Tommy Delutz Jr., 6-12, 7312, $2,600; 16. Eugene McCune, 7-10-1, 7261, $2,500. 23-Game Totals (Including 30 Bonus Pins for Each Match Won): 17. Mike DeVaney, 3-6, 5284, $2,390; 18. Bryon Smith, 5-3-1, 5283, $2,280; 19. Steve Cook, 5-4, 5246, $2,260; 20. Brian Voss, 4-5, 5213, $2,240; 21. David Ozio, 2-6-1, 5208, $2,220; 22. Tony Reyes, 5-4, 5188, $2,200; 23. Tom Baker, 3-6, 5186, $2,180; 24. Bryan Goebel, 3-6, 5179, $2,160; 25. Brian Himmler, 3-6, 5163, $2,130; 26. Ernie Schlegel, 6-3, 5163, $2,130, $1,960; 27. (tie) John Petraglia (3-5-1) and Mika Koivuniemi (3-5-1), 5113, $2,090 each; 29. Doug Kent, 3-5-1, 5080, $1,925; 30. Ritchie Allen, 35-1, 5068, $2,040; 31. Jason Hurd, 3-6, 5034, $2,020; 32. Rick Lawrence, 3-6, 4930, $1,860. Lane Pattern: Tournament of Champions. 14-Game Cut Score (32nd Place): 3029. Leading Qualifier: Wes Malott, 3350. BALL CHECK HAUGEN: AMF Maximum Velocity, Radar Lock and Radar Alert. BARNES: Columbia 300 Momentum. SHAFER: Storm Rapid Fire. WEBER: Storm Rapid Fire. HERO NODA Pete Weber was seeking to become the first bowler to accomplish a "double-triple" — i.e., completing the PBA's Triple Crown twice — but came up short against Shafer. 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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