Exempt Players list finalized for 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour

04/09/10

PBA News

Qualifying opportunities for 2010 World Series of Bowling, PBA World Championship set

LLPBATourLogo.jpgThe Professional Bowlers Association has confirmed 52 of 53 exemptions for the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season, which will get underway in late October.

The exemption list – except for one Golden Umbrella exemption to be awarded later in the year – includes
  • title winners, players from the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour World Ranking Points List
  • seven qualifiers from the 2009 PBA Regional Players Invitational
  • the points leader among Tour Qualifying Round competitors who finished outside of the exempt points list (Dave D’Entremont) and
  • two players who were granted hardship or medical deferments last season (Danny Wiseman, Dave Arnold).

The PBA also announced how exemptions and pre-event qualifying competitions will be used to fill the 96-player field for the 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling and PBA World Championship.

In addition to the 53 PBA Tour exemptions, 20 players will earn berths out of the PBA Regional Players Championship optional qualifying event, 20 more will earn berths in a pre-World Series qualifier, and three spots will be awarded PBA Commissioner’s exemptions.

Here is a complete summary of the exemption and qualifying program for next season:

 


Lumber Liquidator PBA Tour Exemptions for 2010-11


  • Exemptions to bowl full-time as members of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour for the 2010-11 season will be awarded to 53 individuals based upon the following criteria (see below for criteria for 43 additional exemptions that will apply to the 2010 PBA World Series of Bowling):
  • Winners of the PBA’s four major championships, which provide multi-year exemptions: U.S. Open, three years; Tournament of Champions, USBC Masters and PBA World Championship, two years each (based upon any remaining eligibility).
  • Winners of a PBA Tour standard title during the previous season.
  • Placing in the previous season’s World Point Rankings list, minus those who have otherwise earned exemptions, up to a maximum of 42.
  • Leading non-exempt member in the previous season’s World Point Rankings (among players who regularly participate in Tour Qualifying Rounds).
  • Top 7 finishers in the previous season’s PBA Regional Players Invitational.
  • Resuming a previous exemption after a medical or hardship deferment.
  • Receiving a “Golden Parachute” exemption from the PBA (granted to one non-exempt player by the PBA leadership).
  • Weekly exemptions are awarded through a PBA Tour Qualifying Round. The number of exemptions may vary by event.

Exemption criteria is subject to change each year.

Major Championship Title Winners


U.S. Open champions:
Norm Duke (2008 winner; exempt thru 2010-11)
Mike Scroggins (2009 winner; exempt thru 2011-12)
Bill O’Neill (2010 winner; exempt thru 2012-13)

PBA Tournament of Champions winners:
Patrick Allen (2009 winner; exempt thru 2010-11)
Kelly Kulick (2010 winner, exempt thru 2011-12)

PBA World Championship winners:
Norm Duke (2008 winner; already exempt thru 2010-11)
Tom Smallwood (2009 winner; exempt thru 2011-12)

USBC Masters winners:
John Nolen (2009 winner; exempt thru 2010-11)
Walter Ray Williams Jr. (2010 winner; exempt thru 2011-12)

2009-10 PBA Tour Standard Title Winners


  • Norm Duke, Cheetah Championship (major exemption)
  • Walter Ray Williams Jr., Motor City Open (major exemption)
  • Rhino Page, Viper Championship
  • Bill O’Neill, Chameleon Championship (major exemption)
  • Mike DeVaney, Scorpion Championship
  • Jack Jurek, Shark Championship
  • Mike Scroggins, Red, White and Blue Open (major exemption)
  • Anthony LaCaze, Earl Anthony Memorial
  • Mike Fagan, Dick Weber Open
  • Brian Voss, Mixed Doubles
  • Mike Scroggins, Don Johnson Eliminator (major exemption)
  • Brian Kretzer, Match Play Championship
  • Pete Weber, Marathon Open

 


2009 Regional Players Invitational Qualifiers


  • Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif.
  • Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md.
  • Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y.
  • Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis.
  • Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore.
  • David Beres, Greenfield, Wis.
  • Jeff Zaffino, Warren, Pa.

 


2009-10 Non-Exempt Points Leader


Dave D’Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio

 


Golden Parachute Exemption


To be determined

 


2010-11 Exempt Players List (with earned exemptions noted)