Page 8 - Bowling World Newspaper March 2013

8www.bowlingworld.com– MARCH 2013
Tournament News
Ross Packard Wins
PBA Regional At
Gold Country Lanes
By Jerry Budrick*
Among the 95 bowlers who came to Sutter Creek from five
Western states to compete in last weekend’s 10th annual
PBA West Region Jackson Rancheria Classic, at Gold
Country Lanes, only a few were left-handed and even fewer
were more than 60 years old.
Bowling on the high-scoring Cheetah pattern, most of the
players used speed and maximum rotation to hold their
lines through the oil-free second 30 feet of the lanes. Not
Ross Packard.
Already the owner of 42 regional PBA titles, the first of
which came in 1977, Packard, 65, of San Jose, searched
for, and apparently found, the ideal speed for his rotation,
and he maintained that speed with an uncanny, nearly
magical, consistency.
The original 95 competitors bowled eight games on Sat-
urday to pare their ranks down to only 16 finalists for Sun-
day’s mano-a-mano finals. The highest total on Saturday
was posted by PJ Haggerty, of Roseville, who averaged
254 for the eight games, only to be knocked out by Jason
Tehee in the first round on Sunday.
Local hopeful Robert Harmon, of Sutter Creek, came up
nine pins short of qualifying, though he averaged 230.
Last year’s champion, Gregory Thompson, Jr., of Dublin,
Calif., was second-highest qualifier, averaging 245 on Sat-
urday, and he appeared to be headed to his second con-
secutive title, until he ran into a 49-year-old buzz saw from
Grants Pass, Ore., named Chris Warren, holder of a couple
of national PBA titles and more than 30 regional crowns.
This year’s format made for dramatic spectator action in
Sunday’s matches, as game after game of one-on-one
matches came down to the final frames.
The semifinals featured Packard and Warren on lanes
13 and 14, and left-handed Mike Danielson, of Portland,
Ore., vs. Todd Adams, of Sacramento, on lanes 9 and 10.
In a tortoise and hare match, Warren strung the first six
strikes, while Packard posted two spares to open his game.
However, Warren suffered a painful solid-9 tap in the sev-
enth frame, and watched Packard string nine strikes and a
7-count for 276. Needing two strikes in the final frame,
Warren got one, but not the needed second, losing with a
265.
Meanwhile, on 9 and 10, Danielson knocked out the last
local, Adams, from Mardi Gras Lanes, in Sacramento, 240-
175.
In the all-southpaw final, Danielson’s fastball just couldn’t
carry the 7 pin, which stubbornly clung to its corner six
times, one of which he failed to convert, a fatal error against
the slow-and-steady Ross Packard, who won his 43rd re-
gional title, 268-206.
First prize was an enormous trophy from major sponsor
Jackson Rancheria and Gold Country Lanes, plus a check
for $3,000.
Fagan, Parkin On Top Of World
Bowling Tour Points List
WTBA Announces Daejeon International Open
ARLINGTON, Texas - Team USA members Mike Fagan and Missy
Parkin lead the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Bowling Tour
points list after the recently concluded United States Bowling Congress
Masters.
The World Bowling Tour is made up of various events around the
world and players earn points based on how they finish in each event.
The current points system is based on a continuous two-year cycle, so
points include some events from 2011 and all events from 2012.
Although Fagan did not earn any points at the USBC Masters, which
awarded double points as a major, he leads with 444 points. Sean
Rash of the United States picked up 24 points at the Masters and is
second with 437 points, while Mika Koivuniemi of Finland is third with
428 points.
Jason Belmonte of Australia went undefeated in match play to win
the Masters and earn the maximum 100 points. He now sits in fourth
place overall with 411 points.
Parkin was the top finisher among the women at the Masters, earn-
ing 100 points to boost her total to 506. Kelly Kulick of the United States
is second with 484 points, while Liz Johnson of the United States is
third with 365 points.
The next event on the World Bowling Tour schedule is the Kuwait
Open. The event will take place March 13-17 at Cozmo Bowling Center
in Kuwait City, Kuwait.
The Kuwait Open will be immediately followed by the Brunswick
Euro Challenge from March 19-24 at Dream Bowl Palace in Munich,
Germany.
WTBA has also announced the addition of the 2013 It's Daejeon
International Open to the World Bowling Tour schedule. The major
event will be held in Daejeon, South Korea, from July 7-13.
"Competitive bowling is very popular in Korea, and it is a pleasure to
welcome the 2013 It's Daejeon International Open to the schedule,"
WTBA President Kevin Dornberger said. "The World Bowling Tour
continues to grow at a steady pace, and we look forward to continued
growth in the future."
The mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City, Hong-chul Yum, looks
forward to welcoming the World Bowling Tour.
"Daejeon Metropolitan City is a world-class city of science and tech-
nology, located in the center of the Republic of Korea," Hong-chul Yum
said. "It is the city of festival, culture, art and sports, offering rich attrac-
tions, entertainments and dining. We gladly invite you to the beautiful
Daejeon City. Visit Daejeon this coming July, enjoy nice games with
world-class bowlers, and return with happy memories."
The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of 115
bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more
information on WTBA and the World Bowling Tour, visit WorldTenpin-
Bowling.com.