Bowling Balls by Storm - The Bowlers's Company™

Sign In

previous article »

Bowling News USA - January 25, 2012 Barnes Leads at the Masters...Malott Tops the Storm/Roto Grip Staffers

Two-time runner-up Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, moved into the lead after two rounds of qualifying Wednesday at the 2012 Alka Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels United States Bowling Congress Masters.

Barnes has totaled 2,352 over the first two days of the event, averaging 235.2 at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center. He leads a field of 305 of the best players in the world competing for a total prize fund of $250,000 and a spot on the televised finals, which will be broadcast on ESPN on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

After finishing the first round in second place, Barnes moved up to the top spot by virtue of a 246 final game. He started Wednesday with games of 216, 200, 256 and 209. 

"The Masters is my Super Bowl, and it's the most important tournament on my career goal list right now," said Barnes, who finished second in the 2004 and 2010 Masters, losing both times to Walter Ray Williams Jr. "Although it's only qualifying, it's good to know that I'm bowling well heading into match play tomorrow afternoon."

Rick Steelsmith of Wichita, Kan., who sits in second with 2,348, is looking to avenge a crushing exit to last year's Masters, when he left a ringing 10 pin to miss making the championship round.

"This is kind of my tournament, and I have a good vibe coming in every year," said Steelsmith, who won the Masters in 1987. "I'm surprised by how well I've bowled because I've been busy and haven't been practicing a lot. Everything has just fallen into place this week."

The top 77 players after 10 games advanced to Thursday's third round of qualifying, which will determine the top 63 players who will join defending champion Tom Hess of Urbandale, Iowa, in the double-elimination match-play bracket Thursday afternoon. Hess failed to make the first cut but will occupy the No. 64 seed in the bracket as the defending champion.

The USBC Masters is a major on the PBA Tour, and the champion of the event will earn $50,000 for first place. The final four players who survive bracket play will advance to the nationally televised championship round. 

2012 USBC MASTERS 
At Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev. 
Wednesday's Results 
QUALIFYING - ROUND 2 
(10 games) 

1, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,352. 
2, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 2,348. 
3, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 2,315. (Roto Grip)
4, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 2,309. 
5, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 2,287. 
6, Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, 2,276. 
7, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,271. 
8, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 2,268. 
9, Keith Odette, Waipahu, Hawaii, 2,265. (Storm Staff)
10, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 2,262. (Storm Staff) 
11, Steven Badovinac, Parker, Colo., 2,258. 
12, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 2,250. 
13, Alex Aguiar, N. Dartmouth, Mass., 2,247. (Storm Staff)
14, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 2,246. 
15, D.J. Archer, Port Arthur, Texas, 2,238. 
16, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 2,237. 
17, Jon Van Hees, Charlestown, R.I., 2,231. 
18, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,229. 
19, Siu Hong Wu, Hong Kong, 2,219. 
20, Shigeo Saito, Japan, 2,216. 
21, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 2,204. 
22, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 2,201. 
23, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 2,199. 
24, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 2,196. 
25, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 2,194. (Storm Staff)
26, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 2,192. 
27, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 2,191. 
28, Kris Koeltzow, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 2,190. 
29, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2,189. 
29, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 2,189. 
31, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 2,181. 
32, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 2,179. (Storm Staff)
33, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 2,177. 
34, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 2,173. 
35, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 2,169. 
36, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 2,166. (Storm Staff) 
37, Stuart Williams, England, 2,165. 
38, Kyle Barnes, Smyrna, Tenn., 2,164. 
38, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 2,164. (Storm Staff)
38, Jason Duran, Arvada, Colo., 2,164. (Storm Staff)
41, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 2,163. 
42, Matt McNiel, Chanhassen, Minn., 2,161. 
42, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 2,161. 
44, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 2,160. 
44, Missy Parkin, Lake Forest, Calif., 2,160. 
44, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 2,160. 
47, Steven McCracken, Parker, Colo., 2,157. 
48, Cameron Smith, Glendale, Ariz., 2,152. 
49, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 2,151. 
50, Jeff Piroozshad, Coral Springs, Fla., 2,146. 
51, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 2,144. 
52, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 2,137. 
53, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 2,136. 
54, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 2,133. 
54, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 2,133. 
54, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 2,133. 
57, Vernon Peterson, Lake Wales, Fla., 2,131. 
58, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 2,130. 
59, John Slavich IV, Schaumburg, Ill., 2,129. 
59, Mathew Jones, Phoenix, 2,129. 
61, Jason Barnhouse, Maple Grove, Minn., 2,127. 
62, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 2,126. (Roto Grip)
62, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 2,126. 
64, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 2,125. 
65, Eric Espinda, Albuquerque, N.M., 2,120. 
66, Bill Crane III, Mishawaka, Ind., 2,117. 
67, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 2,113. (Roto Grip)
68, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 2,110. 
69, Paul Ashby, Middleburg Hts., Ohio, 2,107. 
70, Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 2,106. 
71, Mike Danielson, Portland, Ore., 2,103. 
71, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 2,103. (Storm Staff)
71, Robert Gotchall, Lincoln, Neb., 2,103. 
74, Michael Herring, Altamonte Springs, Fla., 2,102. (Storm Staff)
75, Eric Forkel, Henderson, Nev., 2,100. (Storm Staff)
76, John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 2,099. 
76, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 2,099. (Storm Staff)

Share this Story:

previous article »

News

News Filter

Filter News

January, 2012