World Bowling Tour Finals to be Televised as Part of World Series of Bowling

The first World Bowling Tour schedule will culminate with a special made for television event featuring the top three men and top three women in the season-ending points list.

The World Tenpin Bowling Association World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the Professional Bowlers Association will be taped for broadcast during the PBA’s World Series of Bowling. The one-hour long event will feature a total prize fund of $40,000 and be broadcast on national television in the United States.

“Holding this special season-ending event to the World Bowling Tour adds even more value to those tournaments who are on board with the Tour,” WTBA President Kevin Dornberger said. “It also presents incentive to all of the world’s top bowlers to compete in all of the World Bowling Tour events for a chance to compete in this special event.”

The World Bowling Tour is made up of various events around the world throughout the course of 2011. Players earn points based on how they finish in the event and those points will be tabulated throughout the season to determine the players eligible for the World Bowling Tour Finals.

“The PBA is proud to present the World Bowling Tour Finals as the culminating event for the top points getters on the WBT, both male and female,” said Tom Clark, PBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer. “The PBA is a strong supporter of the growth of international bowling and hosted one of the greatest collections of international talent at the PBA World Series of Bowling this season. It is a great sign of unity among the leading bowling organizations in the world that the WTBA World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA will be an ESPN telecast emanating from next season’s PBA World Series of Bowling.”

Mika Koivuniemi of Finland leads the World Bowling Tour men’s points list after one event. Koivuniemi won the Brunswick Ballmaster Open at Tali Bowling in Helsinki, Finland last month to earn 50 points.

Koivuniemi defeated fellow Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour exempt player Sean Rash, 236-191, to win the title and the 12,000 Euro (approximately $16,500 USD). Two weeks later, Koivuniemi won $250,000 at the PBA’s Tournament of Champions.

In the women’s rankings, Krista Pollanen of Finland was the high female finisher at the Ballmaster Open. Pollanen finished in ninth place overall in the event.
The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of more than 100 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA, visit WorldTenpinBowling.com.
WORLD BOWLING TOUR POINTS
Top 25 after one event
(Pos., Name, Country, Points)
MEN
1, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 50.
2, Sean Rash, USA, 40.
3, Paul Moor, England, 35.
4, Kimmo Lehtonen, Finland, 30.
5, Chris Barnes, USA, 25.
6, Martin Paulsson, Sweden, 24.
7, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 23.
8, Ronnie Russell, USA, 22.
9, Karl Wahlgren, Finland, 21.
10, Peter Hellstrom, Sweden, 20.
11, Rasmus Hagelberg, Sweden, 15.
12, Frederik Ohrgaar, Denmark, 15.
13, Kristoffer Hagelberg, Sweden, 14.
14, Matias Arup, Sweden, 14.
15, Ville Holmstrom, Finland, 13.
16, Jussi Lindgren, Finland, 13.
17, Mika Heino, Finland, 12.
18, Dennis Eklund, Sweden, 12.
19, Jesse Lindholm, Finland, 11.
20, Jouni Helminen, Finland, 11.
21, Toni Palermaa, Finland, 8.
22, Tore Torgersen, Sweden, 8.
23, Tomas Leandersson, Sweden, 8.
24, Raymond Teece, England, 8.
25, Petri Lehtonen, Finland, 8.
WOMEN
1, Krista Pollanen, Finland, 50.
2, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, USA, 40.
3, Nina Flack, Sweden, 35.
4, Nicki Ainge, England, 30.
5, Heidi Manninen, Finland, 25.
6, Marija Tkachenko, Latvia, 24.
7, Rebecka Jr. Larsen, Sweden, 23.
8, Joline Persson Planefors, Sweden, 22.
9, Jazreel Tan, Singapore, 21.
10, Diana Zavjalova, Latvia, 20.
11, Patricia Luoto, Germany, 15.
12, Marjo Pontine, Finland, 15.
13, Laura Beuhtner, Germany , 14.
14, Nina Manninen, Finland, 14.
15, Darya Kovalova, Russia, 13.
16, Jenni Keranen, Finland, 13.
17, Jenni Makela, Finland, 12.
18, Elin Adolfsson, Sweden, 12.
19, Reija Lunden, Finland, 11.
20, Laura Tuomisalo, Finland, 11.
21, Helvi Makipaa, Finland, 8.
22, Hannele Impola, Finland, 8.
23, Roosa Lunden, Finland, 8.
24, Mari Nurmilo, Finland, 8.
25, Anja Hilpinen, Finland, 8.