Big Payday for Michael Fagan in Viernheim Open; wins 25.000 Euro and first international title
09/19/05
In the championship match between two PBA exempt bowlers, Michael Fagan of the United States defeated Tore Torgersen of Norway, two-games-to-none, en route to win the Gutperle Anniversary - 1st Viernheim Open and the 25.000 Euro (app. $30,500) top prize.
Torgersen was consoled with 12.500 Euro. Jason Belmonte of Australia and Jesper Agerbo of Denmark received 5.500 Euro each for finishing third and fourth, respectively.
The picture shows Viernheim Open champion Michael Fagan and Werner F. Gutperle, President of the Gutperle financial group. Click on the picture to enlarge it.
Good news for all the players that bowled in the Gutperle Anniversary 2005 - 1st Viernheim Open and those who missed it:
During the award ceremony, Mr. Gutperle announced that due to the overwhelming success of the tournament with 418 participants - 351 men and 67 women - from 23 countries who bowled record 944 entries, the Gutperle Group will hold the same event in 2006.
The championship match wasn't the strikefest that most of the spectators had expected but it was thrilling till the end that came by surprise.
Michael Fagan, who bowled three 300-games in this tournament, came out of the gates fast with a turkey and never looked back, winning the first game 222-201.
Tore Torgersen (pictured) had a comfortable lead during the first eight frames of game #2 when Fagan found something and struck out in his final two frames. Needing a spare to force a deciding third game, Torgersen left a 2-8-10 split and was unable to convert it to hand the game and the match to Fagan, 203-200.
"This is the biggest event and the biggest prize money I've ever won", said the champion. "It's a great feeling. It gives me confidence for the upcoming PBA Tour season." Fagan finished the 2004-05 PBA Point Rankings in 25th place to earn an exemption for the 2005-06 season.
"I thought I had a little chance to win in two games and I got up and tried to make him do at least something. But I expected to have a third game", was Fagan's comment to the abrupt end.
Bowling Center Viernheim in Viernheim, Germany
September 10-18, 2005
Championship Round:
1st Place Michael Fagan,
United States, 25.000 Euro
2nd Place Tore Torgersen,
Norway, 12.500 Euro
3rd Place Jason Belmonte,
Australia, 5.500 Euro
4th Place Jesper Agerbo,
Denmark, 5.500 Euro
Championship Match:
#1 Michael Fagan (USA) def. #5 Tore Torgersen (NOR), 2-0
(222-201 and 203-200).
Semifinals:
#1 Michael Fagan (USA) def. #8 Jesper Agerbo (DEN), 2-0
(213-205 and 250-215)
#5 Tore Torgersen (NOR) def. #3 Jason Belmonte (AUS), 2-0
(237-217 and 256-202).
L-R Agerbo, Belmonte, Fagan and Torgersen.
1. Michael Fagan, USA, 25.000 Euro
2. Tore Torgersen, NOR, 12.500 Euro
3. Jason Belmonte, AUS, 5.500 Euro
4. Jesper Agerbo, DEN, 5.500 Euro
5. Mikael Braendeskov, DEN, 2.600 Euro
6. Paul Moor, ENG, 2.600 Euro
7. Peter Ljung, SWE, 2.600 Euro
8. Robert Wölki, GER, 2.600 Euro
9. Toni Laine, FIN, 1.300 Euro
10. Ryan Shafer, USA, 1.300 Euro
11. Nick Froggatt, ENG, 1.300 Euro
12. Pasi Uotila, FIN, 1.300 Euro
13. Pete Weber, USA, 1.300 Euro
14. David Canady, GER, 1.300 Euro
15. Hagen Pest, GER, 1.300 Euro
16. Doug Kent, USA, 1.300 Euro
17. Jouni Helminen, FIN, 650 Euro
18. Manfred Zabel, GER, 650 Euro
19. Petri Mannonen, FIN, 650 Euro
20. *Britt Bröndsted, DEN, 650 Euro
21. Ives van Eyken, BEL, 650 Euro
22. Dirk Dreyer, GER, 650 Euro
23. Sami Konsteri, FIN, 650 Euro
24. Jimmy Dan Mortensen, DEN, 650 Euro
25. Kimmo Lehtonen, FIN, 550 Euro
26. Osku Palermaa, FIN, 550 Euro
27. Dennis Eklund, SWE, 550 Euro
28. Lasse Lintilä, FIN, 550 Euro
29. Amedeo Spada, ITA, 550 Euro
30. Maurizio Celli, ITA, 550 Euro
31. Chris Van Damme, BEL, 550 Euro
32. Tobias Gäbler, GER, 550 Euro
33. Lonnie Waliczek, USA, 550 Euro
34. Niki Schröder, AUT, 550 Euro
35. Darren Cundy, ENG, 550 Euro
36. Dino Castillo, USA, 550 Euro
37. Peter Knopp, GER, 550 Euro
38. Gery Verbruggen, BEL, 550 Euro
39. Mika Luoto, FIN, 550 Euro
40. Hans-Jürgen Müller, GER, 550 Euro
41. Robert Andersson, SWE, 400 Euro
42. Michael Holzapfel, GER, 400 Euro
43. Stuart Williams, ENG, 400 Euro
44. Dirk Völkel, GER, 400 Euro
45. Thomas Block, GER, 400 Euro
46. *Linda Haglund, SWE, 400 Euro
47. Thomas Dennechaud, GER, 400 Euro
48. Menno van den Heuvel, NED, 400 Euro
49. Tony Fransson, SWE, 300 Euro
50. Harald Punessen, GER, 300 Euro
51. Federico Rossi, ITA, 300 Euro
52. *Jo Harries, ENG, 300 Euro
53. Robert Spigner, USA, 300 Euro
54. Jari Raatia, FIN, 300 Euro
55. Petteri Salonen, FIN, 300 Euro
56. *Tanja Theissen, GER, 300 Euro
57. Martin Larsen, SWE, 250 Euro
58. *Zara Glover, ENG, 250 Euro
59. Rainer Puisis, GER, 250 Euro
60. Dennis Bonnaire, FRA, 250 Euro
61. Günter Melching, GER, 250 Euro
62. Oliver Blase, GER, 250 Euro
63. *Sonja Uhlich, GER, 250 Euro
64. Michael Herweck, GER, 250 Euro
* indicates female bowlers.
Qualifying leader:
Jason Belmonte, AUS 2.500 Euro
Top 5 Women:
1. Britt Bröndsted, DEN, 1.300 Euro
2. Linda Haglund, SWE, 1.000 Euro
3. Jo Harries, ENG, 750 Euro
4. Tanja Theissen, GER, 550 Euro
5. Zara Glover, ENG, 400 Euro
Best Woman in Qualifying:
Sonja Uhlich, Germany, 1.000 Euro
L-R Bröndsted, Uhlich, Haglund, Harries and Glover. Click on the picture to enlarge it.
European Bowling Tour #15
Bowling Alley: Bowling Center Viernheim in Viernheim, Germany
In the championship match between two PBA exempt bowlers, Michael Fagan of the United States defeated Tore Torgersen of Norway, two-games-to-none, en route to win the Gutperle Anniversary - 1st Viernheim Open and the 25.000 Euro (app. $30,500) top prize. Torgersen was consoled with 12.500 Euro. Jason Belmonte of Australia and Jesper Agerbo of Denmark received 5.500 Euro each for finishing third and fourth, respectively.
The picture shows Viernheim Open champion Michael Fagan and Werner F. Gutperle, President of the Gutperle financial group. Click on the picture to enlarge it.
Good news for all the players that bowled in the Gutperle Anniversary 2005 - 1st Viernheim Open and those who missed it:
During the award ceremony, Mr. Gutperle announced that due to the overwhelming success of the tournament with 418 participants - 351 men and 67 women - from 23 countries who bowled record 944 entries, the Gutperle Group will hold the same event in 2006.
The championship match wasn't the strikefest that most of the spectators had expected but it was thrilling till the end that came by surprise. Michael Fagan, who bowled three 300-games in this tournament, came out of the gates fast with a turkey and never looked back, winning the first game 222-201.
Tore Torgersen (pictured) had a comfortable lead during the first eight frames of game #2 when Fagan found something and struck out in his final two frames. Needing a spare to force a deciding third game, Torgersen left a 2-8-10 split and was unable to convert it to hand the game and the match to Fagan, 203-200.
"This is the biggest event and the biggest prize money I've ever won", said the champion. "It's a great feeling. It gives me confidence for the upcoming PBA Tour season." Fagan finished the 2004-05 PBA Point Rankings in 25th place to earn an exemption for the 2005-06 season.
"I thought I had a little chance to win in two games and I got up and tried to make him do at least something. But I expected to have a third game", was Fagan's comment to the abrupt end.
Gutperle Anniversary - 1st Viernheim Open
Bowling Center Viernheim in Viernheim, GermanySeptember 10-18, 2005
Championship Round:
1st Place Michael Fagan,
United States, 25.000 Euro
2nd Place Tore Torgersen,
Norway, 12.500 Euro
3rd Place Jason Belmonte,
Australia, 5.500 Euro
4th Place Jesper Agerbo,
Denmark, 5.500 Euro
Championship Match:
#1 Michael Fagan (USA) def. #5 Tore Torgersen (NOR), 2-0
(222-201 and 203-200).
Semifinals:
#1 Michael Fagan (USA) def. #8 Jesper Agerbo (DEN), 2-0
(213-205 and 250-215)
#5 Tore Torgersen (NOR) def. #3 Jason Belmonte (AUS), 2-0
(237-217 and 256-202).
L-R Agerbo, Belmonte, Fagan and Torgersen.
Viernheim Open - Final Standings
Top 64 with position, country and earnings1. Michael Fagan, USA, 25.000 Euro
2. Tore Torgersen, NOR, 12.500 Euro
3. Jason Belmonte, AUS, 5.500 Euro
4. Jesper Agerbo, DEN, 5.500 Euro
5. Mikael Braendeskov, DEN, 2.600 Euro
6. Paul Moor, ENG, 2.600 Euro
7. Peter Ljung, SWE, 2.600 Euro
8. Robert Wölki, GER, 2.600 Euro
9. Toni Laine, FIN, 1.300 Euro
10. Ryan Shafer, USA, 1.300 Euro
11. Nick Froggatt, ENG, 1.300 Euro
12. Pasi Uotila, FIN, 1.300 Euro
13. Pete Weber, USA, 1.300 Euro
14. David Canady, GER, 1.300 Euro
15. Hagen Pest, GER, 1.300 Euro
16. Doug Kent, USA, 1.300 Euro
17. Jouni Helminen, FIN, 650 Euro
18. Manfred Zabel, GER, 650 Euro
19. Petri Mannonen, FIN, 650 Euro
20. *Britt Bröndsted, DEN, 650 Euro
21. Ives van Eyken, BEL, 650 Euro
22. Dirk Dreyer, GER, 650 Euro
23. Sami Konsteri, FIN, 650 Euro
24. Jimmy Dan Mortensen, DEN, 650 Euro
25. Kimmo Lehtonen, FIN, 550 Euro
26. Osku Palermaa, FIN, 550 Euro
27. Dennis Eklund, SWE, 550 Euro
28. Lasse Lintilä, FIN, 550 Euro
29. Amedeo Spada, ITA, 550 Euro
30. Maurizio Celli, ITA, 550 Euro
31. Chris Van Damme, BEL, 550 Euro
32. Tobias Gäbler, GER, 550 Euro
33. Lonnie Waliczek, USA, 550 Euro
34. Niki Schröder, AUT, 550 Euro
35. Darren Cundy, ENG, 550 Euro
36. Dino Castillo, USA, 550 Euro
37. Peter Knopp, GER, 550 Euro
38. Gery Verbruggen, BEL, 550 Euro
39. Mika Luoto, FIN, 550 Euro
40. Hans-Jürgen Müller, GER, 550 Euro
41. Robert Andersson, SWE, 400 Euro
42. Michael Holzapfel, GER, 400 Euro
43. Stuart Williams, ENG, 400 Euro
44. Dirk Völkel, GER, 400 Euro
45. Thomas Block, GER, 400 Euro
46. *Linda Haglund, SWE, 400 Euro
47. Thomas Dennechaud, GER, 400 Euro
48. Menno van den Heuvel, NED, 400 Euro
49. Tony Fransson, SWE, 300 Euro
50. Harald Punessen, GER, 300 Euro
51. Federico Rossi, ITA, 300 Euro
52. *Jo Harries, ENG, 300 Euro
53. Robert Spigner, USA, 300 Euro
54. Jari Raatia, FIN, 300 Euro
55. Petteri Salonen, FIN, 300 Euro
56. *Tanja Theissen, GER, 300 Euro
57. Martin Larsen, SWE, 250 Euro
58. *Zara Glover, ENG, 250 Euro
59. Rainer Puisis, GER, 250 Euro
60. Dennis Bonnaire, FRA, 250 Euro
61. Günter Melching, GER, 250 Euro
62. Oliver Blase, GER, 250 Euro
63. *Sonja Uhlich, GER, 250 Euro
64. Michael Herweck, GER, 250 Euro
* indicates female bowlers.
Qualifying leader:
Jason Belmonte, AUS 2.500 Euro
Viernheim Open - Special Ladies Award
Top 5 Women:1. Britt Bröndsted, DEN, 1.300 Euro
2. Linda Haglund, SWE, 1.000 Euro
3. Jo Harries, ENG, 750 Euro
4. Tanja Theissen, GER, 550 Euro
5. Zara Glover, ENG, 400 Euro
Best Woman in Qualifying:
Sonja Uhlich, Germany, 1.000 Euro
L-R Bröndsted, Uhlich, Haglund, Harries and Glover. Click on the picture to enlarge it.