Winning the US Open is the Real Deal

Bill O’Neill is the Real Deal. Winning a U.S. Open with a 267 game proves it.

Most knew he was good. Now he’s proven he’s very good.

Sure, a Mike Scroggins win would have been a great story to be one of very few to have won back-to-back opens.

 

But parity is great. The anticipation always draws high interest. We don’t have any video from yesterday’s show but we do have video of him earlier this year bowling Our Town’s Pete Weber at the Dick Weber in California.

The Solution to Restrict US Open Entries

Another US Open is underway at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis, with "Maximum Bob" Robert Smith leading the way after round one averaging 232.67.

OUR TOWN'S Pete Weber is tied for 26th, followed by Jeff Carter in 37th (he bowled on TV there a week after his '07 Open TV appearance in New Jersey).

Scott Lavy from St. Charles is 41st, J.R. Raymond from Belleville in 52nd, Tim Behrendt is tied for 62nd, with Rudy Kasimakis and good friend Jerry Gentry from Topeka.

It's great to see bowlers from our area do well, especially those not well known outside the area.

But the complaint has been raised again - that there are those who bowl the Open who shouldn't be there. BOWLING HOOD agrees. An 800 score for last place proves it.

BH isn't here to throw arrows. We have solutions when we see an issue raised.

Here's our two-part solution to restrict entries for the U.S. Open to produce the real cream-of-the-crop:

1. Start conducting regional and sectional qualifiers.
2. Limit entry into the qualifiers to those who have averaged 200 in a PBA experience league.

Golf's U.S. Open uses that method, requiring a 1.4 handicap index to enter. Period. Then go through regionals and sectionals. http://golf.about.com/od/majorchampionships/f/usopenqualifier.htm

OH - golf does allow exemptions to their Open, but it's pretty restricted: About half of the field is made up of players who are fully exempt from qualifying. There are 17 full exemption categories, including winners of the U.S. Open for the last ten years and the other three majors for the last five years, the top 30 from the previous year's PGA Tour money list, the top 15 from the previous year's European Tour money list, and the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings as of two weeks before the tournament.

Golf's field is 150, meaning 75 have to play their way in. Can't bowling do that? It doesn't have to limit the number to 150, but the event does need a higher quality standard who gets in.

Since the U.S. Open is run by the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA), wouldn't it be a great marketing tool for them to schedule and conduct qualifiers at member local/regional centers, then advance it to sectional qualifying?

Tell me this wouldn't work: Exempt PBA exempt players, winner of the PBA RPI, the points leader in each PBA regional, the PBA Senior Tour points leader, and points leader for PBA senior reginals.

Heck, make it fun. Exemption the USBC Open Championship Eagle winners in the regular division.

Anyone else who wants to bowl the U.S. Open: Require bowlers to average at least 190 in a PBA experience league to qualify for entering the regional/sectional qualifiers. Yours truly bowled one last year and didn't average 190 but I have done so in previous years. Implementing that rule would disqualify me this year because I'm just not good enough to bowl the hardest tournament to win.

Good luck to the bowlers listed above. Having bowled against them, they deserve to be there in Indianapolis. But there are a lot who don't have any business being there.

BOOZE OKed for USBC OPEN TOURNAMENT

The 2010 USBC Open begins tomorrow at the Bowling Stadium in Reno.

Want a cocktail while bowling in the tournament?

Go ahead, it's ok.

Wednesday, the USBC announced bowlers will be able to drink more than just water during the tournament. That includes alcohol.

Tournament manager Duane Hagen told Jeff Richgel's 11th frame the reason for the change.

"USBC's goal is to provide the best possible experience for participants at our championships. Some bowlers come to the tournament for camaraderie and would like to enjoy a drink with their teammates. We believe offering this service will be well received by many of our bowlers while also helping provide some additional revenue for the tournament. If there is an indication this change affects the integrity of the event or negatively impacts the bowlers' experience, USBC will re-evaluate the decision."

No specific business reasons are known why the sudden change just days before the event, it is known that team entries this year are under 15,000 and some speculate the additional revenue from drink sales could make up the difference.

While the news is welcomed by thousands of bowlers, there are purists and bowling leaders who are criticizing the decision. Some say it cheapens the game - at a time during the Winter Olympics when people wonder why curling is played in Vancouver while bowling is not - while others say the last minute change was another under-the-radar decision made by a select few with little input or polling.

We must point out the USBC stresses the decision to allow alcohol is not permanent. The change is being done on a trial basis.

Therefore, BOWLING HOOD's opinion will wait. We'll wait to see the conduct of bowlers during the tournament. Get drunk and disorderly and mess up what's always a top-notch way to compete, and Bowling Hood will side with prohibition.

Behave, and it's a win-win for everyone. Change is ok. Change can be good. Next time, let's hope the USBC opens the process a bit more and more in advance of a deadline.

MORE OPEN CHANGES: From the USBC

The changes include new Scale Room procedures, the allowance of beverages while competing, special check-in accommodations for team captains with four or more teams, opportunities for team captains registered for both 2010 and 2011 and a fully-automated registration process.

Bowlers have traditionally had all of their bowling balls weighed and checked prior to both team and doubles and singles, but the procedure has been adapted. All balls still must be checked prior to bowling team, but only balls not present during team must be checked before doubles and singles competition. All bowlers are still required to report to the squad room with their equipment, however.

Behind the scenes, team captains with four or more teams will be able to enjoy a stress-free check-in experience in the tournament's new VIP check-in area, which is set away from the general check-in counter.

In addition, captains are encouraged to register for 2011 so they can begin reaping the benefits of the Eagle's Nest, a special club for dedicated captains.

Eagle's Nest members will receive a monthly 'E-Nest' Newsletter - a monthly e-newsletter featuring tournament tips, latest bowling trends and special offers from Reno sponsors, USBC Travel and the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority.

All Eagle's Nest members also will be eligible to win one of five cars or trucks that will be awarded at the 2011 Open Championships, airfare and lodging for the 2011 event or one of the high-performance Storm bowling balls awarded each day during the 2011 tournament.

Captains with four or more teams also will be eligible for free upgrades on lodging in 2011.

Any current or potential team captains interested in registering for 2011 now can do so using USBC's fully-automated registration system on USBCopen.com. This option was introduced earlier this month, and the step-by-step process has proven to be simple and quick.

SIMON SEZ: Moehrle retires, USBC approved Bumper Bowling Awards

One thing tremendously under the radar in St. Louis is the fact that one of our hometowners is a USBC board member.

Steve Moehrle has elected not to run for another term on the board. The accounting professor at UMSL who is an accomplished bowler himself with a 220 average in the Press Radio TV league at Olivette Lanes, tells Bowling Hood he wants to spend more time with his family and may consider a similar office several years from now.

Steve leaves the board at the same time the tenure of another leader with St. Louis roots steps down. Jeff Boje's term as USBC President ends this year although he will remain on the board as the immediate Past President.

Also, the USBC has changed the way it processes and elects board members.

Locally, the St. Louis USBC meeting is Saturday April 17 at Tropicana Lanes, beginning at 1 p.m. The main order of business that day will be to elect new officers. One of the positions to be filled is the board position formerly held by the late Dave Harmon.

Go to St. Louis USBC for more association information.

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USBC Board approves bumper bowling awards, high school memberships


By Mark Miller
USBC Communications

Special achievement awards for youth competing in bumper bowling leagues and a new membership product for high school bowlers were recently approved by the United States Bowling Congress Board of Directors.

Bumper bowling league competitors rolling 50, 75 and 100 games and/or 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 series are immediately eligible to earn Bowlopolis emblems in those categories. These awards can be earned regardless of the bowler's bumper league average and will continue to be earned on the same progressive merit basis.

"Since USBC does not recognize bumper league averages, our youngest members were not eligible to earn youth awards," said USBC Director of Youth Development Brian Graham. "This meant the only way they could obtain an award was through our purchasable awards program.

"To address this disparity and provide a consistent youth awards benefit to our youngest members, we proposed to extend the eligibility for the Bowlopolis-themed youth awards to participants in certified bumper bowling programs without the average requirement."

The new USBC High School membership, which becomes effective Aug. 1, is available to those interscholastic high school bowlers who are not USBC Youth members. Bowlers may apply for the membership any time during the current interscholastic schedule. The cost for the new High School membership will be $5.

"Many bowlers on high school teams do not bowl in USBC leagues so this gives them a way to become connected to USBC," said USBC High School Manager Breanne Eoff. "This membership will allow acceptance of all games bowled by that individual during the current season in recognized interscholastic competitions between two or more schools toward the establishment of a USBC official average."

The USBC High School membership will provide the following benefits:

* USBC Youth membership card

* USBC official average

* Eligible to bowl in USBC-certified tournaments when qualified

* Eligible to apply for USBC scholarships

* Eligible for nomination to the Dexter USBC High School All-American team

Membership and final average processing will utilize the Youth Online Membership processing system with the member being responsible for collection of average and award data and providing that to the processor. Membership eligibility is extended to all recognized interscholastic competitions.

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The PBA Midwest Regional Senior tournament schedule is ramping up again. This weekend's stop is one of the favorites in recent years at Short Stop (formerly New North) Lanes in Taylorville, Il. This is where Dick Weber won in 2003 giving him titles in 6 decades, the only individual professional athlete that's ever accomplished that feat.

There are still a few openings left - contact regional director Rich Weber at (636) 233 4304 or email him at rich.weber@pba.com.

Harry Sullins leads the points race by a commanding 21,000 over Dale Traber - Gregg Getzlow of St. Charles, winner of last summer's event in Springfield, Il. is having a strong year and is 7th on the list. Tom Carter, who underwent hernia surgery a month ago, is not on the roster at Taylorville, but this week returned to PBA experience league action - shooting a 300 game and 790 series. No word if the surgeons did additional tweaks on Tom for his bowling game! Nice shooting Tom.

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The St. Louis USBC Open is underway, action starting last weekend at Pacific, this weekend is the final weekend, Bowling Hood will provide results when available.

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Visit BowlingHood.com and support publicity of the game we love. Tom Clark, PBA Deputy Commissioner, is featured on the Newsmakers page with Part One of our interview with him - Part Two to come shortly.

And if you have news or info for Bowling Hood, send it to our new email address:

bowlinghood@bowlinghood.com. I can't publicize it if you don't tell me.

WRW Wins USBC Masters

By Lucas Wiseman USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., won his second United States Bowling Congress Masters title Sunday, defeating top seed Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, 290-217, at the National Bowling Stadium.

The victory was Williams' 47th on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour, extending his record for the most in PBA Tour history, while also moving him up to a tie for second with eight career major titles.

"This is just another little feather, it's just awesome," said Williams, who defeated Barnes, 268-239, to win the January 2004 USBC Masters also at the National Bowling Stadium. "It's hard to explain it better than that. To win any tournament is awesome, and the bigger ones are even better."

Williams is now tied with Pete Weber and Mike Aulby with eight career major titles, but all three players trail USBC and PBA Hall of Famer Earl Anthony, who won 10 majors and 43 total titles.

"I really don't envision that I can get to 10, but I'm not giving up yet," said Williams, who turned 50 in 2009. "I'm going to go out there and plug along as good as I can, and the year that I'm no longer exempt out here, that's when I will have had enough."

In the title match against Barnes, Williams got off to a shaky start, going high on his first shot, breaking up a split and leaving a 7 pin. From there, he was perfect, finishing with 11 consecutive strikes to take home the $50,000 prize and two-year PBA Tour exemption.

Williams said the turning point in the match was when Barnes left a 10 pin in the fourth frame, but he managed to carry a similar shot in the fifth frame.

"Chris left that weak 10 pin after a scout came over and touched it but didn't knock it over, and then I step up and leave a 10 pin but the scout comes over and gets it," Williams said. "That helped me get a little more comfortable, and from that point, every one of my strikes was high flush."
Looking back on the loss, Barnes said he thought he threw the ball well, but it was the way the lanes broke down in practice that had a major impact.

"I lost this one in the practice session," said Barnes, who finished second in the season's second major, losing to Kelly Kulick, 265-195, in the PBA Tournament of Champions three weeks ago. "He played further right than I anticipated. When I broke them down, it made the lanes pretty good for me, but it had no affect on him."

When Williams and Barnes met for the Masters title in 2004, the scenario set up the same way. Barnes was the top seed, while Williams was No. 2.

"The last two Masters here in Reno, I've gone undefeated in match play, I haven't lost a three-game match, yet I haven't won either tournament," said Barnes, who made it through the double-elimination bracket unscathed in both events. "TV is one of the best things the sport has going for it, but it is probably the worst thing I have going for me personally."'

To reach the championship match, Williams defeated No. 3 seed Ryan Ciminelli of Buffalo, N.Y., 258-224. Ciminelli advanced with a 246-229 victory over fourth seed Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, in the opening match.

The 2010 USBC Masters featured a field of 267 of the top professional and amateur bowlers in the world, competing for an overall prize fund of $255,000.

For more information on the USBC Masters, visit BOWL.com

2010 USBC MASTERS
At National Bowling Stadium, Reno, Nev.
Sunday's results
Final standings
1, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 548 (two games), $50,000.
2, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 217 (one game), $25,000.
3, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 470 (two games), $15,000.
4, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 229 (one game), $10,000.
Stepladder results
Match One - Ciminelli def. Scroggins, 246-229
Match Two - Williams def. Ciminelli, 258-224
Championship Match - Williams def. Barnes, 290-217