California Thursday February 16, 2017 7502Bo Florence Ave, Downey, CAww 90240 • Website: lingCaliforniaBowlingNews.com • Email: [email protected] news • Office: (562) 807-3600 Fax: (562) 807-2288 Belmonte Wins Barbasol PBA Players Championship for Seventh Major Title Australian defeats Anthony Simonsen 221-204 in championship match to end two-year winless streak COLUMBUS, Ohio – ter he won his record third time because believe me, was trying for his first Tour Three-time Professional straight USBC Masters people will remind you,” singles title, teamed with Bowlers Association Player and his second consecutive he added. Simonsen to win the 2016 of the Year Jason Belmonte PBA Tournament of Cham- The 20-year-old Simon- Roth/Holman PBA Dou- of Australia captured his pions back-to-back in Feb- sen, who qualified second bles for his first title. seventh major title and end- ruary of 2015. Going into for the finals, was trying to In the opening steplad- ed a two-year streak with- the Players Championship become the youngest play- der match, Pickford de- out a Tour win by winning he had a string of 16 tour- er to win two PBA Tour feated Team USA member the Barbasol PBA Players naments in which he made majors. He won the 2016 and former Wichita State Championship Sunday at the top five but failed to USBC Masters at 19 to be- bowling star AJ Chapman, Wayne Webb’s Columbus win. He finished second in come the youngest to win a 243-154. Chapman was Bowl. five of those events. PBA major. trying to become only the In a championship “It’s a brand new start,” “I didn’t make my best third player to win a Tour match between two play- Belmonte said of the new shots in that match,” said title in his first tournament ers who use the unique season. “I was successful Simonsen. “There were as a PBA member. two-handed delivery, the staying focused the whole probably a couple of shots In the second match, Jason Belmonte back in the winners circle. top seeded Belmonte de- tournament from start to where I should have reset Pickford defeated Martin feated Anthony Simonsen finish. I’ve learned that if frame that was too much time to wait (for a win), es- myself. I’ll just use it as a Larsen of Sweden 266-182 of Austin, Texas, 221-204, you look ahead or behind for Simonsen to overcome. pecially considering all the learning experience.” to advance to the semifinal. to notch his second Play- you’re not staying in the “It feels fantastic,” said times I had made TV. In the semifinal match, With four career runner-up ers Championship win and moment.” the 33-year-old Belmonte, “I’ve always believed in Simonsen beat Connor finishes, Larsen was trying 13th PBA Tour title overall. In the title match, Bel- who won his first major in myself but I’ll admit there’s Pickford of Plano, Texas, for his first Tour win. Belmonte’s win broke monte held a command- the 2011 Players Champi- a lot of weight off of my 204-191, to advance to the The PBA Tour travels a dry spell that started af- ing 37-pin lead in the fifth onship. “Two years is a long shoulders now after all that title match. Pickford, who continued on page 2 Illinois Bowler 50th Anniversary of Jack Biondolillo’s Sam Esposito Historic Televised 300 Game Approaches NORWALK — On April television audience of 25 in a two-frame roll-off after rance, Calif., on Jan. 31, 1, 1967, the PBA’s post- million viewers according they tied at 227. 1987. Parker Bohn III Records 900 Series tournament news release to PBA’s release – occurred As the 50th anniversary bowled #13 in the USBC ARLINGTON, Texas – reported, “Jack Biondolillo during the Firestone PBA of his historic feat closes Masters in Reno, Nev., on Prior to lacing up for league socked the biggest 300 in Tournament of Champions in, Biondolillo, a Houston May 9, 1998. Norm Duke Friday evening at Strike N the history of the game. His at Riviera Lanes in Ak- native, attended the Main bowled #16 in Tacoma, Spare II in Lockport, Ill., came before the American ron, Ohio, during a first- Event Terrell Owens PBA Wash., on Jan. 5, 2003. Sam Esposito of Homer Broadcasting Company’s game 300-216 win over Super Clash on Super Bowl Jason Belmonte recorded Glen, Ill., had two United national colored televi- Les Schissler. Biondolillo Sunday in Katy, Texas, # 21 in Las Vegas on Nov. States Bowling Congress- sion cameras for which he then defeated Mike Durbin, where he posed with four 19, 2011. certified 300 games to his collected a cool ten grand 188-181, before losing in other PBA members who Including Biondolillo’s credit. ($10,000)…” the semifinal match to Don also bowled nationally- historic 300, there have By the end of the night, The first nationally- Johnson, 228-172. Jim Ste- televised 300 games. been a total of 26 national- the 26-year-old right-hand- Sam Esposito televised 300 game in PBA fanich then won the TOC, Pete McCordic bowled ly-televised perfect games er added three more perfect “After I got the second history – witnessed by a defeating Johnson, 43-36, televised 300 #4 in Tor- in PBA competition. games to his collection on one, I thought if I could his way to becoming the get the first few strikes of 31st bowler to roll a 900 Game 3, I would be able to series. shake some of the nerves Sam Esposito connected and have a chance at doing on 36 consecutive strikes it,” said Esposito, who had during the Friday Classic two 800 series with a high league at Strike N Spare of 822 prior to Friday’s II to join Andrew Mank of performance. “My friends Belleville, Ill., as the sec- and teammates were trying ond bowler from Illinois to keep me calm, talking to achieve the score. Mank about work and keeping my recorded his 900 series in mind off of what was hap- March 2010. pening.” After getting through the Upon arriving to the first two games, Esposito 10th frame, Esposito stuck relied on his teammates and to the process that already friends to keep the pressure had got him 33 consecu- at bay as he continued to tive strikes to start his set get closer to having a per- and was unfazed by his sur- fect evening. continued on page 12 300’s Bowled on TV (L-R) Pete McCordic, Parker Bohn III, Jack Biondolillo, Jason Belmonte and Norm Duke Page 2 CaliforniaBowlingNews.com February 16, 2017 Michelle’s Place - Breast Cancer Resource Center Annual “Bowl For A Cause” Tournament by Frank Weiler MURRIETA — Mark down this date: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25. This is the date Michelle’s Place will conduct it’s annual “Bowl For a Cause” Tournament. The tournament is conducted to raise funds to provide free ser- vices to women with breast cancer, and their families. 2017 XF PBA Tour Storm Cup to Provide The details concerning this worthy event follow: Location: Cal Oaks Bowl in Murrieta Registration: 5 P.M. Added Incentives for PBA Players Start Time: 6 P.M. Cost: $30. Season-long points competition gets underway March 17-19 in Tamarac, Florida Three Games Handicap at 90% of 220. CHICAGO – The Professional Bowlers Association’s third full season of Xtra Frame PBA Tour competition, fea- CASH PRIZES. PLEASE PARTICIPATE. turing a series of high-profile tournaments covered exclusively on PBA’s live streaming online bowling channel, Xtra RVSP: [email protected] or 951-699-5455. Frame, will include enhanced cash incentives, including a season-long $50,000 XF PBA Tour Storm Cup competition points bonus program. PBA PLAYERS continued from page 1 The eight-tournament series, which will include stops in Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee, Vir- to Shawnee, Okla., for the FireLake PBA Tournament of ginia, Delaware and Ohio, will offer PBA Tour titles and enhanced prize funds. It gets underway March 17-19 with the Champions Feb. 13-19, the second major of the season. PBA Xtra Frame Reality Check Classic at Sawgrass Lanes in Tamarac, Fla., a tournament that was postponed from 2016 PBA’s Big February on ESPN continues with live finals due to Hurricane Matthew. telecasts of the Tournament of Champions on Feb. 19 at “The Xtra Frame Tour was created for the PBA’s fans,” said PBA CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark. “The Xtra 10 a.m. and back-to-back telecasts of the USBC Masters Frame Tour gets the PBA into more markets all around the country, offering more fans a chance to watch the PBA in finals and World Bowling Tour Men’s and Women’s Finals person and bowl in pro-ams. The XF Tour also means more live coverage, start-to-finish including stepladder finals, of presented by the PBA Feb. 26 beginning at 10 a.m. all the events on XtraFrame.TV, for all our subscribers. In addition to the lineup of live telecasts, the State “Also, the Xtra Frame Tour is for the best players in the PBA and for regional players to test themselves against the Farm CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational, which was taped on best with PBA national titles on the line. More great bowling centers and hosts, different conditions. Jan. 17 at Lucky Strike L.A. Live in Los Angeles, will air “We thank Storm for recognizing the value of the Xtra Frame Tour and for initiating and funding the Storm Cup, on Friday, Feb.