Bowlers Journal International - November 2008 - (Page 48) ProBowling Results, Schedules and More REGIONAL ROUNDUP The Scramble Was on for ‘RPI’ Invitations A new route to the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour goes through Reno in December. BY LYLE ZIKES PBA’s five primary lane condition patterns. Total pins will determine the final standings. Scrambling for position on the point list was a priority for many players as the Sept. 30 deadline to earn an RPI spot neared. In the West Region, Mason Sherman leaped to the top of the point list with a 239-238 title-game victory over Jason Williams in the 2008 Pain Center Arizona Open in Sun City West. Meanwhile, Wayne Garber (fifth in points) collected his third regional title of 2008 at the Roxy Ann Lanes Open in Medford, Ore., and reigning TOC champ Michael Haugen Jr. outscored Mike DeVaney, 260-215, for the title in the Havasu Lanes Open in Lake Havasu, Ariz. In the Northwest, P.J. Haggerty moved to third on the region’s point list after prevailing over newly exempt Chester Rogers Jr. by 144 pins in a roundrobin match play format in East Wenatchee, Wash. Coming off a recent national Senior Tour victory, Mark Williams stopped a much younger George Lambert, 247-192, to win the $2,500 top prize in the Young & Pratt Norm Duke Austin (Texas) Open. As an exempt player, Mike Scroggins cannot earn regional points, but he’s certainly eligible to collect titles. He captured his third regional title of 2008 and 30th of his career at the Silva Lanes Albuquerque Open. Meanwhile, David Anthony heads to the RPI as the Southwest’s runaway point leader. In the South, Lee Vanderhoef slipped into a narrow point list lead after defeating Scott Newell, 213-197, to win the Brian Voss Spartanburg (S.C.) Open. Chris Collins was the top qualifier and eventual match play winner at the Oak Ridge (Tenn.) Open. The winner of the Tom Baker Senior Marion (N.C.) Open was Tom Baker. In a shootout reminiscent of his record-breaking 1981 Denver Open performance, in which he averaged 247, Baker rolled at 246 clip for this title, outdistancing Steve Lickliter by 128 pins. In contrast, Dale Csuhta averaged 203 in capturing his second senior regional title in three weeks by going 5-0 in match play at the Mel Westrich/Delphos Recreation Senior Open in Delphos, Ohio. Fred McClain topped Mitch Jabczenski, 245-191, for the title at the Taylor Lanes Senior Classic in Taylor, Mich. Eugene McCune stopped Brian Waliczek’s pursuit of three straight regional victories, grinding out a 186-179 final game victory at the Herrin Bowl Open in Energy, Ill. Waliczek leads the Central Region in points, while Derek Sapp claims that distinction in the Midwest. Chris Loschetter slipped past Bill O’Neill, 204-203, to top a field of 134 at the 222 Dutch Lanes Open in Ephrata, Pa. Gary Shultis stopped Johnny Petgralia in the semi-final, 268-225, before beating Chris Fedden, 226-214, to win the Bill Allen/Material Solutions Senior Open in Howell, N.J. Veteran Brian LeClair owns the most points in the East. T he 40th annual PBA Resident Pro Invitational, featuring the country’s top regional players who do not own a national exemption, will be far different than the first 39. In fact, the tournament, scheduled for Dec. 9-11 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, is now a dual purpose event. The winner picks up $7,500 plus a spot in the Tournament of Champions in January. In addition, eight players will earn exemptions to the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour. Who will be competing? The top five from each region’s point list have their travel expenses paid, including hotel rooms at the sponsoring Sands Regency. Those 35 bowlers, plus Regional Players Championship winner Sean Swanson, also will compete for national tour exemptions without a separate entry fee. Meanwhile, all others who finished among the top 25 in their region’s 2007-08 point standings have the opportunity to enter the RPI at their own expense, with an option of paying an additional $750 to take part in the Tour Trials portion. All entrants will bowl a six-game block on each of the AROUND THE REGIONS NOVEMBER 14, 2008 West Region Non-Champions Tournament, South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Nev. NOVEMBER 14-16, 2008 West Region Wayne Zahn Member/NonMember Doubles, South Point Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Nev. NOVEMBER 21-23, 2008 East Region Parker Bohn III Blue Valley Lanes Open, Wind Gap, Pa. NOVEMBER 26-28, 2008 Southwest Region David Ozio Beaumont (Texas) Open, Crossroads Bowling Center. NOVEMBER 28-30, 2008 Southwest Region Port Arthur (Texas) Open, Megaplay Entertainment; South Region Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) Open, Walton Beach Bowl. DECEMBER 5-7, 2008 South Region Norfolk Naval Station Open, S&S Pierside Bowling Center, Norfolk, Va. DECEMBER 12-14, 2008 South Region Tommy Jones Surfside Beach (S.C.) Open, Surfside Lanes; Tri-Region Sands Regency Open, National Bowling Stadium, Reno, Nev. 48 Bowlers Journal International | November 2008 www.bowlersjournal.com http://www.bowlersjournal.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.