Josh Hyde is a Honorary PBA Volume 7 Member since 2001 and a Special Edition BWAA Member since 2006. February 2015 Practice Pair 1999, 2000, 2002 1972, 1982, 1984 (no TOC in 2001) Hello, Bowling Fans! The only three 3-time TOC winners: Jason Couch (left) and Mike Durbin (right). Welcome to this special edition of History Josh Hyde’s Bowling Newsletter. This month I will be going to the 50th Anni- Joe Joseph won the first Tourna- 10 PBA career titles. In ’93 (the last year versary of the Tournament of Champions. ment of Champions in 1962. Jack Bion- that Firestone sponsored the tourna- This tournament was the greatest profes- dollio bowled the first televised 300 ment), George Branham III would be- sional tournament in the PBA’s Golden game in 1967. Don Johnson would come the first African-American bowler Age. In this special edition bowling fans make five consecutive shows from ’67- to win the TOC by defeating Parker Bohn can enjoy history and statistical data ’71 including his famous 299 game III 227-214. Two years later, Mike Aulby from the Tournament of Champions. against Dick Ritger’s 268-game. This would become the fourth bowler to com- Every pro-bowler wanted to win the TOC, would be the highest scoring match plete the Triple Crown and the first to so take a look with me at some great PBA that would be a record for 23 years. Jim complete the Grand Slam. In 2000, Jason history in the Tournament of Champions. Godman would become the first bowler Couch was the first bowler to successfully to win the TOC Tournament twice. Just defend his TOC title. Two years later, Enjoy this special edition of Josh two years later after his ‘73 win, Dave Couch would make bowling history to Hyde’s Bowling Newsletter! Davis would become the second pro- three-peat the TOC and join Mike Durbin bowler to win twice. This was followed as the only bowlers to have three TOC -Josh Hyde by Earl Anthony in ‘78 who would be- titles and he earned his tenth career PBA Senior Editor of Josh Hyde’s Bowling Newsletter come the third pro-bowler to win twice, Tour Title. In ’08, the greatest comeback also becoming the first bowler with 30 in TOC history occurred when Michael career titles. It would take five years Haugen Jr. came back from a 50 pin defi- before another pro-bowler, Mike cit to win the TOC title against Chris Bar- History 1 Durbin, would win the TOC twice. Just nes 215 to 214. In ’10, Kelly Kulick made two years later, Mike Durbin would history by becoming the first woman to write bowling history as he became the win a PBA title, defeating Chris Barnes Non-Champions in the CRA 2 first bowler to have three TOC titles on 265-195. In ‘11, Mika Koivuniemi would his resume. Marshall Holman would win the largest paycheck in PBA history Riviera Lanes Roster 2 become the third pro-bowler to surpass ($250K). In the semifinals, he bowled a the $1 million mark in career winnings 299 game while Tom Daugherty bowled when he won the ‘86 Tournament of the lowest game (100) in television his- TOC Facts 3 Champions, allowing him to become tory. In 2013, Pete Weber become the the fifth pro-bowler to have multiple first player to complete the Triple Crown 2015 TOC Storylines 4 wins at the TOC. The following year, twice joining Earl Anthony with the most Pete Weber would win his first major major titles (10) and the longest span TOC Champion Statistics 4 and become the fastest bowler to win between TOC titles. TOC Champion Statistics (Cont.) 5 MISSIONISSION STATEMENT: To provide bowling fans important bowling news, thoughtful analysis, and keen observations about professional and regional bowling tournaments. Final Thoughts 6 - Final TOC Word VISIONISION: - Quotes from former Champions To be the highest quality bowling publication that the author can create using the best of his knowledge and observation. Volume 7, Special Edition Page 2 Non-Champions in CRA Riviera Lanes Roster At one time, The Tourna- Even the greatest bowler has “Through these doors pass ment of Champions was at the had his share of bad luck when the world’s finest bowlers”, pinnacle of professional bowl- it came to the championship read the sign above the en- ing. As one of the four Majors, round in the TOC. In 1989, he trance to the Rivera Lanes. the TOC was at tournament was the Tournament leader in Bowlers knew that they were that pro bowlers yearned to the championship match. He about to enter their “Augusta”. win. Furthermore, if a bowler would eventually lose to Del It was some place special for a made the championship round, Ballard, Jr. 254-218. The bowl- pro-bowler to go to. If they they knew that they were one ing world has been anticipat- went there, they knew that Josh Hyde’s Bowling Newsletter of the best. Making the cham- ing Walter Ray Williams, Jr. to they were one of the best on Carmen Salvino pionship round was indeed an capture a T.O.C title (if not the PBA Tour. It also meant honor. Great bowlers like Dick multiple titles) to go along with that they had a PBA title. It was Weber and Parker Bohn III are his 47 PBA wins. an elite bowling center where a two frontrunners poised to Parker Bohn III is one of high-caliber bowler could enter make the championship round the greatest left-handed bowl- a tournament knowing they in the TOC They were legends ers of all time. In 1995, he had a guaranteed check. No of the PBA Tour in their era. became the 14th bowler to matter how bad they bowled, Dick Weber was the first super- earn over a million dollars in they made money. More im- star of the PBA Tour and was career earnings. He has a total portantly, it was for the pres- one of the charter members of of 3 TOC championship rounds tige of bowling in a major tour- the PBA. In the TOC, he fin- and he came close to winning nament. They would automati- ished second two consecutive in 1993. cally be invited back by winning Dave Soutar years. At that time, bowling Ryan Shafer is perhaps the the tournament. fans might have expected him greatest bowler without a Some of the greatest to win the Tournament of Major he is always threat in the bowlers have had the honor of Champions. Then, when Pete Majors. Ryan had back to back bowling a number of times at Weber won in 1987, that solidi- runner-up finishes in 2000 and Rivera Lanes: Carmen Salvino, fied the “Weber Dynasty” on 2002 - his only lose was to Dave Soutar, Mike Durbin, Dick the PBA Tour. Jason Couch. Weber, and Gary Dickinson. The greatest bowler in All of the great bowlers They are all in the PBA Hall of PBA history, Walter Ray who have made the TOC cham- Fame. Carmen Salvino was one Williams, Jr. has never won the pionship round are indeed the of the Charter members of the Tournament of Champions. superstars in PBA history. PBA. Dick Weber was another PBA Charter member. All of these bowlers are some of the George Pappas best bowlers in PBA history. If a bowler bowled at Riviera Lanes more than ten times, they were inching closer to their PBA Hall of Fame induction. The TOC was held at Riviera Lanes for almost 30 years. Carmen Salvino had Walter Ray the most appearances with Williams, Jr. 26, which is an astonishing accomplishment for a bowler. Mike Durbin had made the most champion- ship rounds at Riviera Lanes with 8. About one third of the times that he bowled in the TOC at Riviera, he made the championship round. Riviera Lanes to bowl- ers was the equivalency of Dick Weber Augusta for golfers. TOC Facts Page 3 Don Johnson and Dick Ritger had the highest scoring highest first place prize of $250,000 in 2011. match in a championship game (299-268); a record that The average winning game to win the tournament is held for 23 years. 238.65. Mike Aulby made five shows (1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989) before winning (1995) In 1984 Mike Durbin become the first player to be in- George Branham III became the first African-American ducted in the PBA Hall of Fame the same year that he bowler to win the TOC (1993) won his third Tournament of Champions. Willie Willis became the first African-American to qual- In 1995, Parker Bohn III became the 14th bowler to sur- ify for the 1980 Firestone TOC when he won the Na- pass the one million dollar in career earnings when he tional Resident Pro Championship (1979) made the championship round of the 1995 Brunswick Josh Hyde’sJosh Bowling Newsletter Pete Weber made shows over three decades (1985, World Tournament of Champions. 1987, 1994, 2008, 2013, 2014) and won 26 years apart Host cities history...Indianapolis:1962, 2013, 2015; Ak- (1987, 2013) ron/Fairlawn: 1965-1994; Lake Zurich: 1995, 1996, 2000; Eight bowlers have won as a rookie: Joe Joseph (1962), Reno: 1997; Overland Park :1998, 1999; Uncasville: 2002- Billy Hardwick (1965), Johnny Petraglia (1971), Marshall 2007; Las Vegas: 2008-2012; Detroit: 2014 Holman (1976), Mike Berlin (1977), Mark Williams Left to Right -Norm Duke, Don John- (1985), Michael Haugen Jr. (2008), Kelly Kulick (2010) son, Dick Ritger, Wayne Webb, Mike Earl Anthony became the first bowler to reach 30 titles Aulby, George Branham III, Mark Wil- when he won his second Firestone TOC in 1978.