FeatureTalk-When will sense prevail on the issue of Tenpin Bowling becoming an Olympic sport?

Tenpin bowling is played by over 100 million people worldwide. Over 10 million people worldwide compete at either amateur or professional level. The number of bowling lanes worldwide is now up to 250,000. Petitions have been posted and signed by huge numbers on the internet, including a petition page on Facebook which currently has over 9,000 members. Yet somehow it continues to be snubbed by the Olympic Games.

Tenpin bowling is now probably the biggest sport in the world which is not yet part of the Olympic Games. The Bowling World Cup, which is held annually in destinations around the world, has proven extremely successful. Amateurs love the opportunity to travel the world, to represent their country, to walk out at the opening ceremony with their nation’s flag, to wear the colours of their nation proudly. To do this at the Olympic Games would be a high-point in any bowler’s career, and a moment which they would never forget.

And the tournament has become even more appealing since professionals of the game were allowed to take part. For every amateur, and I know this through personal experience, playing alongside the best players in the world is the most exciting experience you can be involved in, not just in bowling, but in any sport. The Olympics is, admittedly, considered an amateur showcase. However, this should not be a sticking point. Even professional footballers can now take part in the Olympics, with teams allowed to field a certain number of professionals in their side. So this is a non-argument before it is even begun.

Bowling has also seen huge growth in Western Europe over the past two decades, especially in Britain and France. It also has a massive base in Asia now, with one of the American Professional Bowlers Tour events now taking place in Japan, and one of the events of this year’s World Bowling Tour to take place in Thailand. It has a growing popularity base in Eastern Europe, and added to its ever-strong popularity in the Americas, the base for the sport to be included is almost unavoidable now. It simply is too big a sport to ignore.

 In 1979, the International Olympic Committee officially recognised the Fédération Internationale des Qulleurs as the governing body of bowling. The FIQ has been tirelessly lobbying for the sport to be included in the Olympics ever since, but illogically the sport has remained on the sidelines. The closest the sport has come to Olympic status was as a demonstration sport at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.

Tenpin bowling appeals greatly to such a large proportion of the population worldwide. It has also become extremely popular as a disability sport. There is one key reason why its popularity is so widespread: despite subtleties of skill in the professional game it is, in essence, a very simple game. It can essentially be played and enjoyed by anyone, anywhere; a point which is proven by the number of people who play it today.

The sport is also officially recognised as a Paralympic discipline, and it features at numerous disability games throughout the world. However, as with the Olympics, ten pin bowling has never featured at Paralympic Games level. This simply does not make sense. The reasoning behind it has been rationalised by Steffi Klein, from the International Paralympic Association: “Sports or disciplines which are not on the Olympic programme, will not be considered for inclusion on the Paralympic programme, unless it is considered to be a special or distinctive sport for athletes with a disability.”

Apparently ten pin bowling does not fall under the category of “a special or distinctive sport for athletes with a disability”. However, I do not agree with this in the slightest. The introduction of physical aids such as ball-ramps, lane barriers and computerised scoring have made the sport much more competitive, enjoyable and easy to play for bowlers with a range of disabilities. There is also, I believe, enough of a distinction between the sport at able-bodied and disable-bodied level to be considered distinctive for athletes with a disability.

In the all-too-ignored third member of the Olympic family, the Special Olympics, tenpin bowling has a long and illustrious history. It has become one of the biggest sports in the Special Olympics today. So just how long must we wait for the able and disable-bodied alike to get the chance to perform on the world stage?

It is quite clear that the case which is being put forward by such a large number of people involved in tenpin bowling for Olympic status cannot be ignored. 100 million people simply cannot be wrong. It is surely time, then, for the International Olympic Committee to sit up and take notice of the sport, and to give it the respect it deserves.

European Youth Championships-Larkin Shows Just How Much Talent There Is In Irish Bowling

It seems there may be plenty to look forward to in the future for Irish bowling after all, after Ireland's Amanda Larkin put in an incredible performance in today's EYC Masters in Munich to eventually take a bronze medal.

Sarah Finlay also put in a top performance to make the Masters and finish inside the top 16 as England's Autumn Chamberlain went on to take the crown.

The achievement is put into real prespective when you consider this is the first time Ireland has had two representatives in the Masters at an EYC event since 1983.

Larkin only just managed to qualify for the Masters after finishing in 24th place, the final spot for the Masters. She then knocked out the number one seed before eventually coming up just short at the final stage.

It truly was a terrific performance from Larkin, who at only sixteen years of age showed a mature head on young shoulders to handle all the pressure which comes with playing in the final stages of an international event.

On the boys side of things it was a solid performance from all four, with special mention having to go to Taylor Nally, who started the tournament strongly and unfortunately just ran out of steam in the final stages before the Masters qualification was decided. Nally eventually finished in a very respectable 48th place and there certainly is reason for hope for this young man's future.

To have two players in the Masters section of an EYC event is fantastic news for the prospects of the sport in Ireland, with worries over the last few years that the sport may not even survive on an international level for Irish bowlers due to concerns over the future of the Irish Tenpin Bowling Association.

Hopefully the efforts of Larkin, Finlay and all the members of the girls and boys teams in Munich will show people in this country that there is superb talent coming up in the game, and hopefully re-awaken the appetite of any who have lost their passion and interest for the sport.

Huge congratulations to all involved in the efforts of the Irish teams in the EYC in Munich over the past week and in the preperation over the previous weeks.

For all the results check out www.eyc.bowling-em.de, the official EYC website.

Mika Koivuniemi, Cherie Tan triumph in 4th European Bowling Tour Masters 2011

PBA star Mika Koivuniemi (pictured left), a native Finn who lives in Hartland, Mich., USA, and Singapore international Cherie Tan (right) claimed the men's and women's titles in the 4th European Bowling Tour Masters, the season-ending event of the 2010 European Bowling Tour, Tuesday at Gladiator Arena in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Koivuniemi, who led the 16-player field after day one, battled it out for the men's title with qualifying leader Martin Larsen of Sweden. The frontrunner in the 2010-11 PBA Tour Player of the Year race and sole two-time EBT winner this season led the round robin match play field of 8 after five games (23 overall).

Larsen (left) regained the lead when he fired the tournament's second 300 game but the first on mixed lane conditioning pattern in the penultimate game. Koivuniemi finished in style and rebounded with a perfecto in the last game to finish with 6075 pinfall total including a 6-1 won-loss record and a scratch average of 243.

Larsen countered with a 243 game but lost against Parker Bohn III (right, 266) and had to settle for second place with 6020 (240.80) including a 3-4 match play record. Bohn, a 32-time PBA Tour champion, landed in third place with 5918 (236.72, 4-3).

Cherie Tan, who participated in just one tournament on the 2010 European Bowling Tour, earned 250 ranking points for winning the women's rankings in the EBT Platinum Brunswick Ballmaster Open. Ranked 20th in the 2010 EBT rankings, Tan made it to the Masters due to several withdrawals in the women's division.

The Singaporean made the best out of it, finishing second on medium, first on long and third on mixed oil to earn the No. 1 seed for round robin match play. Tan won her first six games with 220, 267, 201, 237, 235 and 267 to wrap up the title before the final game. Despite losing the seventh game to Mai Ginge Jensen (left) of Denmark, 191-224,

Tan finished atop the women's leaderboard with 5771 pinfall total including 120 bonus pins and an average of 230.84 scratch. Jensen won all but one match in which she was tied with compatriot Kamilla Kjeldsen at 227 to finish second with 5599 (223.96) including 130 bonus.

Joline Persson-Planefors (right), Sweden, who has won two of three qualifying blocks on medium and mixed oil, finished third with 5477 (219.08, 3-4). Kjeldsen, who has won the first three EBT Women's Masters titles, finished in eighth place.

All 16 men and 16 women bowled 18 games preliminaries, six each on medium, long and mixed oil conditioning pattern, to cut to the top 8 for the match play finals. Those 8 men and 8 women determined the champion in seven games round robin match play with the pinfall total from the preliminaries being carried forward.

The players with the highest pinfall total after 25 games including bonus points (20 for a win, 10 for a tie) were crowned men's and women's EBT Masters champion and earned 4.000 Euro each.

 

Martin Larsen, Cherie Tan led top 8 mane and women into match play finals
Mika Koivuniemi, Cherie Tan lead fourth EBT Masters after 12 games preliminaries

 

1. Mika Koivuniemi (center), Finland, 4.000 Euro
2. Martin Larsen (left), Sweden, 3.000 Euro
3. Parker Bohn III (right), United States, 2.000 Euro
4. Gery Verbruggen, Belgium, 1.000 Euro
5. Mike Fagan, United States, 900 Euro
6. Osku Palermaa, Finland, 850 Euro
7. Tore Torgersen, Norway, 800 Euro
8. Mathias Årup, Sweden, 750 Euro
9. Paul Moor, England, 500 Euro
10. Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 500 Euro
11. Perttu Jussila, Finland, 400 Euro
12. Dennis Eklund, Sweden, 400 Euro
13. Mads Sandbækken, Norway, 400 Euro
14. Chris Loschetter, United States, 300 Euro
15. Peter Ljung, Sweden, 300 Euro
16. Jesper Agerbo, Denmark, 300 Euro

Qualifying leader: Gery Verbruggen, Belgium, 400 Euro
Block 1 leader: Osku Palermaa, Finland, 400 Euro
Block 2 leader: Martin Larsen, Sweden, 400 Euro
Block 3 leader: Martin Larsen, Sweden, 400 Euro

 

1. Cherie Tan (center), Singapore, 4.000 Euro
2. Mai Ginge Jensen (left), Denmark, 3.000 Euro
3. Joline Persson-Planefors (right), Sweden, 2.000 Euro
4. Lisanne Breeschoten, Netherlands, 1.000 Euro
5. Krista Pöllänen, Finland, 900 Euro
6. Birgit Pöppler, Germany, 850 Euro
7. Wendy Kok, Netherlands, 800 Euro
8. Kamilla Kjeldsen, Denmark, 750 Euro
9. Nina Flack, Sweden, 500 Euro
10. Helén Johnsson, Sweden, 500 Euro
11. Ghislaine van der Tol, Netherlands, 400 Euro
12. Tina Hulsch, Germany, 400 Euro
13. Rebecka Larsen Jr. Sweden, 400 Euro
14. Nicole Sanders, Netherlands, 300 Euro
15. Rikke Holm Agerbo, Denmark, 300 Euro
16. Nina Manninen, Finland, 300 Euro

Qualifying leader: Joline Persson-Planefors, Sweden, 400 Euro
Block 1 leader: Cherie Tan, Singapore, 400 Euro
Block 2 leader: Joline Persson-Planefors, Sweden, 400 Euro
Block 3 leader: Cherie Tan, Singapore, 400 Euro

Bowling Industry unites to keep Intercollegiate Team Championships on television in 2011

Industry partners have joined together to keep the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships on television for the 10th consecutive year in 2011. The men's and women's finals of the event will air on ESPN2 on May 15 at 2 p.m. Eastern.

The USBC, Bowling Proprietors' Association of America, Professional Bowlers Association, Strike Ten Entertainment, The Bowling Foundation and the YES Fund are all contributing to broadcast college bowling's biggest event.

The YES Fund, a joint initiative of the BPAA and the USBC, is made possible by many of the leading brands in bowling including Brunswick, Columbia 300, Ebonite, 900 Global, Hammer, QubicaAMF, Roto Grip, Storm and Track.

The Intercollegiate Team Championships will feature 16 men's teams and 16 women's teams competing for collegiate national titles from April 21-23 in Columbus, Ga.

"This event is the crown jewel of college bowling, and I'm very excited the bowling industry was able to come together and keep the Intercollegiate Team Championships on television," International Bowling Campus Director of Youth Development Chad Murphy (pictured right) said.

I would like to personally thank Steve Johnson at BPAA, Stu Upson at USBC, Frank DeSocio at Strike Ten, Fred Schreyer of the PBA and, of course, our YES Fund partners for their efforts to make this a reality."

Dave LaMont will handle play-by-play duties with Team USA and PBA standout Chris Barnes providing color commentary for the televised finals, which will be taped on April 23 when the final two men's and two women's teams meet in their respective brackets.

The format will remain the same as past years with the first team to win two games in the Baker system format matches winning the title.

ESPN2 will provide two hours of coverage for the second consecutive year, bringing college bowling to 100 million homes across the United States. The event will be produced by the PBA for the first time.

Leading up to the finals, BOWL.com will provide free live streaming coverage of the event, including all qualifying and match-play rounds.

ESPN2 also will broadcast coverage of two other major events this year. The finals of the USBC Queens will be shown live on April 27 at 7 p.m. Eastern, while the championship round of Bowling's U.S. Women's Open will be taped for broadcast on July 2 at a time to be determined.

Osku Palermaa overtakes lead in 2011 European Bowling Tour Men's Rankings

 

Three-time European Bowling Tour men's ranking champion Osku Palermaa (2007-09, pictured left) of Finland captured his ninth career EBT title and the first since February 2010 in the 2nd Track Dream-Bowl Palace Open Sunday at Dream Bowl Palace in Munich, Germany.

Besides the 10.000 Euro top prize, the two-hander received 100 ranking points for winning the EBT Silver event en route to leap from fourth to first place in the EBT men's ranking. After the sixth tournament of the 2011 EBT season, Palermaa has 334 total ranking points.

Previous leader Thomas Larsen (right), Denmark, slipped to second place with 308 pints after finishing 27th in the DBPO and 24th in the men's rankings, worth 16 points. Four-time EBT ranking champion Gery Verbruggen, Belgium (2000-03) and Syafiq Ridhwan, Malaysia, did not compete in Munich and fell one spot to third and fourth place with 262 and 250, respectively.

Three-time EBT ranking champion Paul Moor, overtook reigning ranking champion Dominic Barrett thanks to a third-place finish with 245 points, good for fifth place in the 2011 rankings. Barrett, who was injured in an accident during the Saudi Arabia International, did not compete.

On the women's side, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard (left), United States, remained atop the leaderboard with 320 ranking points. The Team USA member did not participate in the DBPO.

Mai Ginge Jensen (right), Denmark, finished third in the women's rankings (70 points) and 22nd overall to leap from fourth to second place with 287 points. Two-time World Champion Clara Juliana Guerrero, Colombia, who has won the EBT Platinum Brunswick Euro Challenge, slipped to third place with 278 points.

World Games champion Krista Pöllänen, Finland, fell to fourth place with 275 points. Rounding out the top five is reigning women's ranking champion Nina Flack, Sweden, with 205 points. Both Pöllänen and Flack did not compete in Munich.

Two-time EBT women's rankiung winner and three-time EBT Masters winner Kamilla Kjeldsen, Denamrk, led the rankings in Munich and received 100 ranking points, her first points of the season, to move into 17th place.

Since the Viborg International in Denmark has been cancelled, the 2011 European Bowling Tour features 21 tournaments in 17 countries, two Platinum, six Gold, seven Silver and six Satellite tournaments. The total prize fund of the 2011 Tour will exceed 1 million Euro.

2011 EBT champions, men's and women's ranking winners and schedule

The top 50 men and the top 50 women in each tournament of the European Bowling Tour cash ranking points no matter from which country or World Tenpin Bowling Association Zone (Europe, Asia, America) he or she comes.

The winner of a Platinum tournament receives 250 ranking points, the winner of a Gold tournament gets 150, the winner of a Silver tournament such as the Track Dream-Bowl Palace Open earns 100, and the winner of a Satellite tournament gets 50 ranking points.

The top 16 men and the top 16 women in the EBT ranking will qualify for the 2012 EBT Masters to be held in conjunction with the 3rd Dream Bowl Palace Open in Unterföhring near Munich, Germany April 30 and May 1, 2012.

The 2011 European Bowling Tour will be in Ljubljana, Slovenia, this week for the 5th Qubica/AMF Open 2011 to be held at Bowling Center Gladiator in Ljubljana, Slovenia from April 5-10. Immediately following the touranemt ist he 4th EBT Masters.

Bowling Industry showcased as a leader in providing unparalleled customer experience

Steve Johnson speaks at The Conference Board's annual Customer Experience Leadership Conference

The Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA), the non-profit trade association that serves as the voice of the bowling industry, has announced that Executive Director Steve Johnson was among the executives from world class brands to speak at The Conference Board's annual Customer Experience Leadership Conference.

Hosted at the Intercontinental The Barclay in Manhattan from March 23-24, the sold out event highlighted brands that serve as leaders in providing unparalleled experiences to their customers.

As part of a panel on "Implementing Customer Experience Strategies," Johnson addressed the evolution of the bowling industry that has helped drive four years of consecutive growth in the industry; securing bowling's ranking as the #1 participatory sport in the country.

During the prestigious two day event, the BPAA and Johnson were showcased among such leading brands as Ritz-Carlton, GE, Dow Jones, Victoria's Secret, Pitney Bowes, JD Power & Associates, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and Celebrity Cruises, among others.

"There's no factor that has been more important in driving the growth and resurgence of bowling than our industry-wide focus on providing a great experience to our customers. From the 71 million people who bowl every year to the more than 4,000 operators who are members of the BPAA to the major global brands that sponsor bowling - it is the industry's ability to deliver a great experience to all of our stakeholders that has helped fuel our success," said Johnson (pictured right).

Added Johnson, "It is an honor to see our industry receive the recognition that it deserves from corporate America and to have bowling stand shoulder-to-shoulder with such iconic brands as Ritz-Carlton, Victoria's Secret, Southwest Airlines and 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. As any of the proprietors, customers or our corporate partners will tell you, there is just simply no customer experience that beats bowling."

Brunswick Bowling & Billiards president Warren N. Hardie to retire

Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) today announced that Warren N. Hardie (pictured), president – Brunswick Bowling & Billiards, has decided to retire May 1, 2011. Hardie has served in his present capacity since February 2006.

He joined Brunswick in 1997 as senior vice president – Brunswick Indoor Recreation Group, and in 1998 was named as president – Bowling Retail, where he was responsible for the management and performance of more than 100 Brunswick-owned and operated bowling centers around the world.

"Warren has made significant contributions to our bowling retail, bowling products and billiards businesses," stated Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dustan E. McCoy. "We will miss his insight and experience in many areas."

Following Hardie's retirement, Brunswick Bowling & Billiards will report to Peter B. Hamilton, who will continue to serve as Brunswick's senior vice president and chief financial officer.

2011 QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa

2011 BWC

Competition runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 7 at 24-lane Northcliff Bowling Center

John Walker (pictured right), CEO and President of QubicaAMF, has announced that 47th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup will be held from Nov. 30 through Dec. 7, 2011 at Northcliff Bowling Center in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is the second time after 1993 that South Africa will host the BWC.

Northcliff Bowling Center, which belongs to the chain of Let's Go Bowling South Africa, is a state-of-the-art 24-laner with the latest QubicaAMF equipment including SPL lanes and XLi pinspotters.

"It is a wonderful opportunity and a privilege to be able to host bowling's most prestigious tournament here in Johannesburg," Gerald Paluzzi, head of Let's Go Bowling South Africa, said.

"Ever since we hosted the Bowling World Cup in 1993, it has been my dream to bring it back to South Africa. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the world's leading bowlers and we guarantee them, their supporters and visitors a most memorable event and experience."

Anne-Marie Board, QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup Manager, was also very pleased. "I am so happy to be able to take the World Cup back to Johannesburg. I know Gerald and all the team from Let's Go Bowling South Africa will look after us royally, as they did 18 years ago. That was my first tournament as World Cup Manager, so it has a special place in my heart."

The center also boasts a pro shop which services the greater Gauteng Area along with top class coaching facilities.

Gerald Paluzzi went on the mention the other attractions of South Africa. "This country has been one of the hottest properties on the world's tourist schedules and we invite one and all to avail themselves of the wonderful country and its people and experience unsurpassed African hospitality."

QubicaAMF has also announced that full details will follow including special deals with South African Airways.

UMES claims MEAC Bowling Championship

As the careers draw to an end for three University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) seniors it is ending up the same as it started, with a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship.

The Lady Hawks captured the 2011 title Sunday, March 20th in Greensboro, their fifth overall and the second for three All-American seniors in Kristina Frahm (right; Oswego, Ill.), Martha Perez (Bogota, Colombia) and Maria Rodriguez (Ibague Tolima, Colombia). UMES defeated Morgan State 4-0 to capture the crown.

The Hawks, rolling all the way through the winner's bracket made short work of the Bears, 4-0 (206-162, 161-157, 170-138, 187-134) to capture the match in straight games.

"What took us over was the fact that we were able to make our spares. I constantly drive into the young ladies that we have to make spares and it proved to be worth it today," said head coach Sharon Brummell (left).

Despite the solid play of the three seniors, it was a junior, Paula Vilas (right; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) who came up big, being named the Most Outstanding Performer of the championship.

"It feels amazing, I did not expect this award," stated Vilas, "When they called my name I was in shock, but I appreciate the honor." Vilas aided her team throughout the tournament and bowled a high of 193 against Norfolk State during the qualifying rounds.

Also claiming an award was Brummell, who was named Outstanding Coach of the championship. It was her fifth time receiving this honor.

"This fifth championship was very special for me because of our three seniors (Frahm, Perez and Rodriguez). This was their last MEAC Bowling Championship. They were a part of the 2008 National Championship team and they really wanted to go out with a win and they were able to achieve that," Brummell said.

Morgan State, the sixth seed, topped second-seeded Delaware State earlier on Sunday in the semifinal round, 4-2. They were led in the tournament by Danielle Hale, Devin Revels and Keisheena Waldron. Hale averaged a 181 in the event while Revels and Waldron were named to the All-Tournament Team.

The MEAC Bowling Championship finale will air in a tape-delayed format on Monday, March 28 at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

Up next for UMES are the hopes for an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships April 14-16 in Taylor, Mich. A spot will be the eighth straight selection for the Hawks.

Ovid-Elsie wins Tri-Valley Conference championships in girls bowling; Alma's Hannah Chase takes individual honors

Hannah Chase got rolling early at Saturday's Tri-Valley Conference Championships at Crooked Creek Bowling Lanes, finishing the first game of her series with a tournament-high 255 game.

Chase added a 172 and 213 and her 640 series was good enough to win top individual honors at the 15-team tournament. Ovid-Elsie won the team title with 2,802 pins, beating runner-up Ithaca by 99 pins. Alma finished third with a 2,667 score for the three games.

Chase edged Hemlock's Tori Ludu by five pins. Ludu rolled a series-best 237 in her first game and finished with 635. Ludu's Huskies teammate, Shauna Treib, finished third with a 630 while Ithaca's Farrand Schenider was fourth with a 615.

Birch Run captures Tri-Valley Conference Championship in boys bowling

The Birch Run boys bowling team won the Tri-Valley Conference championship on Saturday at Crooked Creek Bowling Lanes, scoring 3,231 in the three-game series to easily beat runner-up Ovid-Elsie by 113 pins.

Birch Run junior Andy Williams captured the individual title in the boys tournament, rolling a 731. Eric Kniebbe (664) and Matt Hogan (645) each finished in the top 15 for the Panthers, who landed four of their bowlers on the All-Tri-Valley East first team.

"This was Andy's first year of any organized bowling," Birch Run coach Bob McKinnon said. "He put a lot of work in, went to camps and was in the bowling ally two or three times a week.

"He deserved it."

Bowling challenge raises money, fosters awareness for Big Brothers, Big Sisters

Brandan Adams serves as an assistant bowling coach at Birch Run High School, and has been bowling since his own high school days.

Adams currently works at the Birch Run Arby’s, and when he was approached to be on a team for the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Flint’s Bowling Challenge, it seemed like a no-brainer.

“I enjoy bowling a lot,” Adams said. “I figured if I could raise some doing it, why not?”

Adams’ team was one of about 520 who participated in the 32nd annual challenge, donating money to Big Brothers, Big Sisters in the process.

The organization’s biggest fundraiser began Thursday and ran through Sunday at Galaxy Lanes in Grand Blanc, 2226 E. Hill Road.

The goal was for around 600 teams to sign up and raise about $160,000, but the organization is still happy with the results, said Reta Stanley, president of Big Brothers, Big Sisters. The fundraiser provides the organization with about 20 percent of its operating budget, which goes toward helping at-risk youth find mentors.

“We've had a steady flow of people throughout the weekend,” Stanley said. “That's why we're here, for the kids in the community.”

Each team member was responsible for raising $45 in pledged donations.

The team from the Birch Run Arby’s was one of 27 from Arby’s around the Genesee County area. Shelly McKinnon organized the Birch Run team after she was approached to put one together for the first time from her store.

“You have to love it,” McKinnon said. “It’s going to a good cause.”

While they may have fallen a bit short of the goal of 600 teams, Stanley said the turnout was still excellent.

She said the diversity of the teams is greater than in years past, when organizations like General Motors and the United Auto Workers would bring very large groups to the challenge. Many bowlers also raised more than the required $45, Stanley said.

The event can serve as a recruiting tool for the organization, an event for members to attend or just a community event, Stanley said.

“It connects people stronger to the agency,” she said. “It gives them a better understanding of what we’re doing.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters officials were still hopeful they’d reach their goal through the challenge, but donations will be accepted through March 31, Stanley said.

“We want people to know even though the event at Galaxy Lanes ends, the campaign doesn’t,” Stanley said.

Kennewick's Blackketter heads to state bowling

Kennewick senior Brittany Blackketter will be among 144 individual bowlers vying for a piece of the state pie as the 4A and 3A/2A girls bowling championships begin at 10 a.m. today at Narrows Plaza Bowl in University Place.
Blackketter rolled a 552 series (173-167-212) to finish second overall among 3A/2A contenders Jan. 26 in the District 5/6 regional tournament at Spare Time Lanes in Kennewick.
Blackketter earned the first of two individual allocations, and West Valley junior Miki Campbell rolled a 548 series (145-169-234) to place third among the 3A individuals and take the region's other 3A individual entry.
Meanwhile, the Moses Lake squad, which qualified for state with a first-place regional finish of 3,468 pins, will arrive with seven seniors -- Crystal Balderas, Shanice Brice, Brittney Ledbetter, Bianca Martinez, Andrea Moreno, Ashlann Starkweather and Brittany Simpson.
The Chiefs will compete against eight other 4A teams as they mark their first state bowling appearance since 2007, when they finished fourth overall with a 7,080 pin count.
According to the WIAA website, all bowlers will roll against a middle road oil pattern.
Moses Lake coach Billy Brice said the pattern will pose challenges.
"It's more of something you'd see at a higher level, professional or college-type level," Brice said of the surface design, which he sees as an equalizer.
"Everybody has the same condition. It's not like they're unfair, (but) it's a lot more pressure on the girls to bowl on something they haven't bowled on all year."

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.

Pakistan names Tenpin Bowling squad for Asian Games

A four-man bowling squad will represent Pakistan at the upcoming Asian Games, the Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation announced on Friday.

The squad includes Ijaz-ul-Rehman, Khalid Saeed Butt, Mohammad Hussain and Saleem Baig.
“The ongoing Islamabad Premium Bowling League is a part of practice regimen for the Asian Games,” Secretary of Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation Ijaz-ul-Rehman told APP.

“Tenpin bowling was not initially part of Pakistan’s plans for the Asian Games but the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) granted permission to us (Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation) to participate at the last moment.”

Pakistan’s tenpin bowling team has previously participated in the Tenpin Bowling World Cup in France.