6
- FEBRUARY 2014
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
Belmonte Headlines
Sold-Out
USBC Masters Field
By Lucas Wiseman
ARLINGTON, Texas - Australian two-handed star
Jason Belmonte will look to continue his tidal wave of
success when he takes on a sold-out field of 468 of
the world's best bowlers next week at the United
States Bowling Congress Masters.
As the reigning Masters champion and current Pro-
fessional Bowlers Association Player of the Year,
Belmonte will be the man to beat when the event
takes place at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North
Brunswick, N.J. The Masters begins Tuesday,
Feb.18, with qualifying.
Belmonte, who last month won the Barbasol PBA
Tournament of Champions, defeated Wes Malott of
Pflugerville, Texas, 258-245, in last year's Masters
championship match to win his first PBA major title.
Successfully defending the Masters title has proven
to be an extremely difficult task in the 63-year history
of the tournament. It's only happened twice and not
since 1965. Billy Welu won the event in 1964 and
1965, while Dick Hoover was the first to win con-
secutive titles in 1956 and 1957.
"It's so difficult to win any event back-to-back, but
with a three-game, knock-out format, you can come
up against the wrong guy at the wrong time and be
knocked out,"
Belmonte said. "Last year, I focused purely on my
own game, and this year I'll be doing the same
thing."
Belmonte will have one advantage on the field
when he takes to the lanes next week. As the reign-
ing champion, he is guaranteed a spot in the 64-
player double-elimination match-play bracket. He will
bowl qualifying to try to earn the highest seeding
position possible.
All players will bowl 15 games of qualifying over
three days to determine the match-play field. The top
63 players will join Belmonte in the unique three-
game,
double-elimination bracket.
The top five players at the conclusion of the bracket
will advance to the stepladder finals and compete in
the live two-hour championship round on ESPN on
Sunday, Feb.23, at 3 p.m. ET.
The Masters, which features a first-place prize of
$50,000 and a total prize fund of $315,000, is a ma-
jor event on the PBA Tour and is part of the World
Tenpin Bowling Association World Bowling Tour for
the third consecutive season.
All qualifying and match play rounds of the Masters
will be covered live on Xtra Frame, the PBA's online
bowling channel. For subscription information, visit
pba.com.
In addition to the Masters finals, the PBA will con-
duct the Elias Cup championship match in the 2014
PBA League series at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb.
23, at Carolier. The Elias Cup finals will air on ESPN
on Sunday, April 13, at 2 p.m. ET.
2014 USBC MASTERS
At Brunswick Zone Carolier, North Brunswick, N.J.
SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern)
Monday, Feb. 17
10:30-11:45 a.m. - Practice session (Squad A and
Squad B players with last names A-L)
1:15-2:30 p.m. - Practice session (Squad B players
with last names M-Z and Squad C)
Tuesday, Feb. 18
8 a.m. - Round 1, 5 qualifying games (Squad A)
Noon - Round 1, 5 qualifying games (Squad B)
5 p.m. - Round 1, 5 qualifying games (Squad C)
Wednesday, Feb. 19
8 a.m. - Round 2, 5 qualifying games (Squad B)
Noon - Round 2, 5 qualifying games (Squad C)
5 p.m. - Round 2, 5 qualifying games (Squad A)
Thursday, Feb. 20
8 a.m. - Round 3, 5 qualifying games (Squad C)
Noon - Round 3, 5 qualifying games (Squad A)
5 p.m. - Round 3, 5 qualifying games (Squad B)
(Top 63 players and defending champion Jason Bel-
monte advance to three-game, double-elimination
match-play bracket)
Friday, Feb. 21
9 a.m. - Double-elimination match play, three games
total pinfall (five rounds)
Saturday, Feb. 22
9 a.m. - Double-elimination match play, three games
total pinfall (two rounds)
1:30 p.m. - Winners bracket final match (two surviving
undefeated players, three
games to determine No. 1 and No. 2 seeds for ESPN
stepladder finals)
2:45 p.m. - Three-game match, final four losers bracket
survivors (top three players
advance to ESPN stepladder finals as No. 3, No. 4 and
No. 5 seeds based upon pinfall totals)
Sunday, Feb. 23
3 p.m. - Five players, ESPN stepladder finals (live)
Executive Director
Stu Upson Resigns
From USBC
By Jason Overstreet
ARLINGTON, Texas – United States Bowling Congress
(USBC) Executive Director Stu Upson has resigned his
position with the organization effective immediately.
―On behalf of USBC, I want to thank Stu for all he has
done for the organization and our sport,‖ USBC Presi-
dent Andrew Cain said. ―Under Stu’s leadership we
have been able to accomplish a number of important
goals in furthering our strategic plan. As we enter the
next phase of our program, we will be looking to new
leadership to further enhance bowling and serve the
millions of Americans who enjoy our sport.‖
USBC plans to announce an Interim Executive Director
in the coming days and will conduct a national search
for a permanent replacement.
―I have enjoyed working with the USBC Board, execu-
tive team and our members to help advance the sport
we all love,‖ Upson said. ―While there is still more work
to do, I am confident that I am leaving the USBC in a
stronger and better position. I am grateful for the sup-
port and friendships I have gained during my tenure
and know that great things are ahead for both the lead-
ership and members of USBC.‖
Chad Murphy Named USBC
Interim Executive
ARLINGTON, Texas – Chad Murphy has been named
Interim Executive Director of the United States Bowling
Congress (USBC) by President Andrew Cain. Murphy
currently serves as the International Bowling Campus
(IBC) Managing Director of Youth Development, a posi-
tion he’s held since January of 2012. Murphy will con-
tinue in his role supervising IBC Youth Development in
addition to Interim Executive Director duties for USBC.
Murphy served as Director of Youth for the Bowling
Proprietors’ Association of America before being ele-
vated to his role with IBC Youth Development.
Prior to joining the IBC, Murphy held management posi-
tions at Columbia Industries and Ebonite. Earlier in his
career, he worked as a team member on the Profes-
sional Bowlers Association and Professional Women’s
Bowling Association tours for Columbia 300. He is a
former member of Team USA and his playing honors
include a silver medal at the 1998 World Tenpin Team
Cup in Amsterdam and he was also part of the Ebonite
Nitro/R's team that won two Grand Championships at
the Brunswick World Team Challenge Series in 1994
and 1996.
Murphy replaces Stu Upson, who resigned from USBC
on February 4. The USBC Board of Directors will con-
duct a national search for a permanent replacement.
