Earns berth in the $1 million PBA Tournament of Champions 2011
Riga Kalfas (pictured) of Florence, Ky., revived his game just in time to win the PBA Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. Kalfas, a 42-year-old truck driver by day and bowling pro shop operator by night, defeated Chris Collins of Savannah, Ga., 236-216, to complete a near-perfect day and claim the $7,500 first prize along with a guaranteed berth in the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, a record $1 million event with a $250,000 first prize. Coming into the Detroit area event, however, Kalfas was on the brink of giving up the game.
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich. (May 28-31, 2010)
Jonathan Van Hees (l.) of Charlestown, R.I., and Matt White (r.) of Warren, Pa., maintained their one-two positions to lead the field of 32 finalists into the match play finals of the PBA Regional Players Championship. Van Hees averaged 231.12 for 16 qualifying games, topping the field of 172 non-exempt PBA members with a total of 3,698 pins. White finished with a 3,607 total, The field was cut to the top 32 for Monday’s single-elimination match
play finals.
Jonathan Van Hees (pictured) of Charlestown, R.I., averaged 237 to take the first round lead in the Professional Bowlers Association Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes Saturday by 44 pins over Matt White of Warren, Pa. Van Hees finished the first eight qualifying games with a total of 1,896 pins. White had a 1,852 total. The field of 172 non-exempt PBA members will bowl another eight games Sunday, after which the field will be cut to the top 64 for single-elimination match play competition on Monday.
Berth in PBA Tournament of Champions at stake in Allen Park, Mich., May 28-31
Winning the 2009 PBA Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes in suburban Detroit, became a life-changing experience for Joe Ciccone (pictured) of Buffalo, N.Y. Along with the RPC title, Ciccone earned his first trip to the PBA Tournament of Champions, an $8,000 prize and a boost in confidence that helped him also regain his Tour exemption the following week in the PBA Tour Trials. The PBA Regional Players Championship returns to Thunderbowl May 28-31 at Thunderbowl as a stand-alone event.
Miami teen tops field of PBA stars to win in Jupiter, Florida
Two days after graduating from Miami's Gulliver Prep High School, 18-year-old Andrew Koff of Miami defeated David Boyd of Coconut Creek, Fla., 243-199, to win the Professional Bowlers Association South Region's Jupiter Lanes Open Sunday. Koff, competing as an amateur, will receive the $2,500 first prize in the form of scholarship money deposited into his United States Bowling Congress SMART account. He will not receive formal credit for winning a PBA title, nor will he become eligible for the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, because of his amateur status.
The Professional Bowlers Association has announced the season-ending awards for the 2009-10 PBA Regional Tour season. Each of the seven PBA regions recognized a Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Patterson Award winner. Four regions also recognized a Senior Player of the Year. Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards are voted on by the regional managers and John Weber, Director of the Senior and Regional Tours. The Pat Patterson Awards were selected by the respective regional managers.
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., May 28-31, 2010
Expanding upon its preview of the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season unveiled a week earlier, the Professional Bowlers Association announced Wednesday it will integrate its 2010 World Series of Bowling into a five-stage PBA World Championship, creating a multi-faceted showcase of bowling to launch the PBA Tour's 52nd season. The road to the World Championship will begin at the PBA Regional Players Championship which returns to Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., May 28-31.
Top 7 players earn exemptions for the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
Scott Norton (left) of San Francisco overtook Bobby Hall II of Landover, Md., in the final round to win the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational at the National Bowling Stadium Thursday. Norton averaged 216 over 30 games for a total of 6,482 pins and a 65-pin cushion over Hall, who had led the previous three rounds. As Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational champion, Norton earned a $7,500 prize and a berth in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas in addition to an exemption to bowl on tour during the 2010-11 season.
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. (Dec. 15-17, 2009)
Bobby Hall II of Landover, Md., held onto the lead as the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational headed into its final round Thursday night at the National Bowling Stadium. Hall, who turns 40 in March, averaged 218.8 through 24 games – six games on each on the Professional Bowlers Association's Cheetah, Chameleon, Viper and Scorpion lane conditioning patterns – for a total of 5,252 pins and a 95-pin lead over San Francisco's Scott Norton heading into the Shark round.
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. (Dec. 15-17, 2009)
Bobby Hall II of Landover, Md., who jumped into the lead after two rounds of the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational at the National Bowling Stadium, retained the top spot after the third round of competition. Hall finished the six-game round Wednesday night on the Chameleon oil contioning pattern with an 18-game total of 4,032 pins – a 224 average – and a 69-pin lead over Jeff Zaffino of Warren, Pa. The complete field will bowl two more six-game rounds on the PBA Scorpion and Shark patterns, respectively, Thursday.
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. (Dec. 15-17, 2009)
Bobby Hall II of Landover, Md., jumped one spot to grab the lead after two rounds of the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational at the National Bowling Stadium Wednesday. Hall, who trailed Dave Beres of Waukesha, Wis., by 24 pins after the first six games on the PBA's Cheetah lane conditioning pattern, finished the six-game Viper round Wednesday afternoon with a 12-game total of 2,790 pins – a 232.5 average – and a 46-pin lead over Jeff Zaffino of Warren, Pa.
235.6 average on Cheetah pattern good for 24-pin edge
Dave Beres of Waukesha, Wis., averaged 235.6 on the Professional Bowlers Association's Cheetah lane condition pattern Tuesday to take the early lead in the Sands Regency Regional Players Invitational at the National Bowling Stadium. Beres held a 24-pin lead over Bobby Hall II of Landover, Md. David Anthony of Austin, Texas, was in third place with 1,367 pins. In addition to a $7,500 first prize and a berth in the 2010 PBA
Tournament of Champions for the winner, the players also compete for seven PBA Tour Exemptions for the 2010-11 season.
Winner earns a berth in 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions
A field of 90 bowlers, many with aspirations of becoming full-time competitors on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour for the 2010-11 season, will compete in the 41st annual Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., Dec. 15-17, 2009. The event will award seven players an exemption for the 2010-11 PBA Tour season. The RPI also offers a $7,500 first prize plus a berth in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas Jan. 19-24, 2010.
Berth in PBA Tournament of Champions, seven exemptions for 2010-11 PBA Tour season at stake
Top players from the Professional Bowlers Association's seven regions are preparing to invade Reno for the 41st anniversary PBA Regional Players Invitational Dec. 15-17 in pursuit of the next level in their professional bowling careers. At stake in the three-day, 30-game tournament are a $7,500 first prize, a berth in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas and exemptions to bowl full-time on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour during the 2010-11 season for the top seven finishers.
December tournament will fulfill PBA Tour dreams for top seven competitors
The dream of bowling as a full-time competitor on the PBA’s national tour will be realized in mid-December when the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational returns to the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. The 41st annual RPI, open to the 25 points leaders in each of the PBA’s Regions, offers a $7,500 first prize plus a berth in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions. In addition to prize money the top seven players will earn exemptions to bowl full-time on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour for the 2010-11 season.
Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. (May 22-25, 2009)
Joe Ciccone (pictured) of Buffalo, N.Y., defeated Jim Tomek Jr. of Camp Hill, Pa., 184-161, to win the Professional Bowlers Association Regional Players Championship and its $9,000 first prize at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. In the semifinals, Ciccone defeated Stuart Williams (left), England, 245-179 and Tomek eliminated Mitch Beasley (right), Puyallup, Wash., 225-180. Tomek earned $5,000 for second place while Williams and Beasley pocketed $2,800 each.
Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. (May 22-25, 2009)
Chris Collins (pictured left) of Savannah, Ga., averaged 219.9 for 16 qualifying games Sunday to lead a field of 64 players into Monday's match play finals in the Professional Bowlers Association Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes. Collins, a nine-time PBA Regional titlist and winner of the 2006 Pepsi Championship on the PBA Tour, posted a 3,519 total for a 10-pin lead over Thomas Smallwood of Flushing, Mich. The top 64 RPC qualifiers advance to best-of-five-game single-elimination match play rounds on Monday.
The Professional Bowlers Association has announced the season-ending awards for the 2008-09 PBA Regional Tour season. Each of the seven PBA Regions recognized a Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Pat Patterson Award winner. The awards for Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year are voted on by the seven Regional Managers and John Weber, Director of the Senior and Regional Tours. The Pat Patterson Awards were selected by the respective Regional Managers.
Eight players earn exemptions for the 2009-10 PBA season
John Nolen (pictured left) had his mind set on playing in the Tournament of Champions (TOC) in Las Vegas next month, and he did everything in his power to make sure that happened. Nolen led all but one Round of the three-day, five round tournament and finished atop the field to earn his ticket into the TOC as well as an exemption for the 2009-10 PBA season. This is the first year in its 40-year existence that the tournament offers eight Lumber Liquidator's PBA Tour exemptions to the top regional players.
To highlight its 50th anniversary celebration and recognize its all-time greats, the PBA has added one of the 50 Greatest Players names to each PBA Regional Tour event in all seven of its regions for the upcoming season. The names and selections were based on each Greatest Player's home region. "In a year in which we are celebrating our rich history and honoring our past and present greats, it seems only appropriate to honor our top bowlers in this fashion," said PBA Commissioner and CEO Fred Schreyer. "We are confident it will add to the fans' enjoyment of what will be an exciting and momentous season."
Riga Kalfas (pictured) of Florence, Ky., revived his game just in time to win the PBA Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. Kalfas, a 42-year-old truck driver by day and bowling pro shop operator by night, defeated Chris Collins of Savannah, Ga., 236-216, to complete a near-perfect day and claim the $7,500 first prize along with a guaranteed berth in the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, a record $1 million event with a $250,000 first prize. Coming into the Detroit area event, however, Kalfas was on the brink of giving up the game.
Jonathan Van Hees (l.) of Charlestown, R.I., and Matt White (r.) of Warren, Pa., maintained their one-two positions to lead the field of 32 finalists into the match play finals of the PBA Regional Players Championship. Van Hees averaged 231.12 for 16 qualifying games, topping the field of 172 non-exempt PBA members with a total of 3,698 pins. White finished with a 3,607 total, The field was cut to the top 32 for Monday’s single-elimination match
play finals. 
Winning the 2009 PBA Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes in suburban Detroit, became a life-changing experience for Joe Ciccone (pictured) of Buffalo, N.Y. Along with the RPC title, Ciccone earned his first trip to the PBA Tournament of Champions, an $8,000 prize and a boost in confidence that helped him also regain his Tour exemption the following week in the PBA Tour Trials. The PBA Regional Players Championship returns to Thunderbowl May 28-31 at Thunderbowl as a stand-alone event.
Two days after graduating from Miami's Gulliver Prep High School, 18-year-old Andrew Koff of Miami defeated David Boyd of Coconut Creek, Fla., 243-199, to win the Professional Bowlers Association South Region's Jupiter Lanes Open Sunday. Koff, competing as an amateur, will receive the $2,500 first prize in the form of scholarship money deposited into his United States Bowling Congress SMART account. He will not receive formal credit for winning a PBA title, nor will he become eligible for the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, because of his amateur status.
The Professional Bowlers Association has announced the season-ending awards for the 2009-10 PBA Regional Tour season. Each of the seven PBA regions recognized a Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Patterson Award winner. Four regions also recognized a Senior Player of the Year. Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards are voted on by the regional managers and John Weber, Director of the Senior and Regional Tours. The Pat Patterson Awards were selected by the respective regional managers. 
Expanding upon its preview of the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season unveiled a week earlier, the Professional Bowlers Association announced Wednesday it will integrate its 2010 World Series of Bowling into a five-stage PBA World Championship, creating a multi-faceted showcase of bowling to launch the PBA Tour's 52nd season. The road to the World Championship will begin at the PBA Regional Players Championship which returns to Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., May 28-31.
Scott Norton (left) of San Francisco overtook Bobby Hall II of Landover, Md., in the final round to win the Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational at the National Bowling Stadium Thursday. Norton averaged 216 over 30 games for a total of 6,482 pins and a 65-pin cushion over Hall, who had led the previous three rounds. As Sands Regency PBA Regional Players Invitational champion, Norton earned a $7,500 prize and a berth in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas in addition to an exemption to bowl on tour during the 2010-11 season.
Joe Ciccone (pictured) of Buffalo, N.Y., defeated Jim Tomek Jr. of Camp Hill, Pa., 184-161, to win the Professional Bowlers Association Regional Players Championship and its $9,000 first prize at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. In the semifinals, Ciccone defeated Stuart Williams (left), England, 245-179 and Tomek eliminated Mitch Beasley (right), Puyallup, Wash., 225-180. Tomek earned $5,000 for second place while Williams and Beasley pocketed $2,800 each.
Chris Collins (pictured left) of Savannah, Ga., averaged 219.9 for 16 qualifying games Sunday to lead a field of 64 players into Monday's match play finals in the Professional Bowlers Association Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes. Collins, a nine-time PBA Regional titlist and winner of the 2006 Pepsi Championship on the PBA Tour, posted a 3,519 total for a 10-pin lead over Thomas Smallwood of Flushing, Mich. The top 64 RPC qualifiers advance to best-of-five-game single-elimination match play rounds on Monday. 
The Professional Bowlers Association has announced the season-ending awards for the 2008-09 PBA Regional Tour season. Each of the seven PBA Regions recognized a Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Pat Patterson Award winner. The awards for Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year are voted on by the seven Regional Managers and John Weber, Director of the Senior and Regional Tours. The Pat Patterson Awards were selected by the respective Regional Managers.
John Nolen (pictured left) had his mind set on playing in the Tournament of Champions (TOC) in Las Vegas next month, and he did everything in his power to make sure that happened. Nolen led all but one Round of the three-day, five round tournament and finished atop the field to earn his ticket into the TOC as well as an exemption for the 2009-10 PBA season. This is the first year in its 40-year existence that the tournament offers eight Lumber Liquidator's PBA Tour exemptions to the top regional players.
To highlight its 50th anniversary celebration and recognize its all-time greats, the PBA has added one of the 50 Greatest Players names to each PBA Regional Tour event in all seven of its regions for the upcoming season. The names and selections were based on each Greatest Player's home region. "In a year in which we are celebrating our rich history and honoring our past and present greats, it seems only appropriate to honor our top bowlers in this fashion," said PBA Commissioner and CEO Fred Schreyer. "We are confident it will add to the fans' enjoyment of what will be an exciting and momentous season."