As we near the end of our membership year, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members a Happy Holiday and a Healthy, Prosperous 2008.

January 1 is the beginning of our membership year and I urge all of you to take a minute and renew your membership. Membership in the Bowling Writers Association of America gives you many opportunities to network with others who are working in the bowling arena. BWAA helps you keep on top of what is happening in the bowling scene. Our website and newsletters provide up-to-date information on current BWAA activities as well as news about awards and writing contests.

We have two membership gatherings each year, one at the USBC meeting plus our annual convention that is held at Bowl Expo. Both events offer an opportunity to ‘meet and greet’ as well as to learn more about bowling events and communication skills. Check the website http://bowlingwriters.com/ in January for information about tickets for the BWAA breakfast that will be held in Kansas City during the USBC meeting and information about our June meeting at Bowl Expo.

BWAA will be offering a new membership service for those who are interested in improving their writing skills. A committee of professional journalists will critique submissions ‘on request.’ Further information will be available on the website.

Again, don’t forget to renew your membership. I look forward to seeing you in Kansas City and Orlando.

Hazel McLeary, President Bowling Writers Association of America


Parker Bohn III named December BWAA Kegel Bowler of Month(December)

Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., has been named the Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA) Kegel Bowler of the Month for December.

Bohn, 44, captured his 31st pro title in the Spartanburg Classic Dec. 16 by defeating Rhino Page 267-257. There were 61 events between his 30th and 31st titles. He also finished third in the Great Lakes Classic Dec. 2.

Other bowlers receiving votes were: Walter Ray Williams, Jr., who won his 44th career professional title at the Great Lakes Classic; Patrick Allen, who won the 2007 Lumber Liquidators Championship for his 10th title; Rhino Page, who became the first non-exempt player on the Denny's Professional Bowling Association Tour to advance to two ESPN-televised championship rounds, and Diandra Asbaty, who won her first professional title at the Great Lakes Classic Dec. 2 by defeating USBC Hall of Famer-elect Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, 236-225.

Williams named BWAA Kegel Bowler for November

In a closely-contested poll, Walter Ray Williams Jr. has been named the Bowling Writers Association (BWAA) Kegel Bowler of the Month for November by a committee of bowling scribes from around the country.

Williams, Ocala, Fla., earned his 43rd Denny’s PBA title Nov. 4 at the 2007 Motor City Classic tournament in Taylor, Mich. by defeating Eugene McCune in the title match, 214-194.

The following week, he made it to the championship round at the Etonic Championship in Cheektowaga, N.Y., falling to Mike Wolfe, 256-225.

Finishing close to Williams in the voting was Bill Hoffman, Columbus, Ohio, who became the first American male in 12 years to capture the QubicaAMF World Cup men's division, which was held in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Michael Haugen Jr. finished third in the balloting by winning his first title in 200 starts on the pro bowlers' tour, that coming in the Lake County, Ind. tournament.

History was made in October when for the first time the Bowling Writers Association of America selected co-winners. Liz Johnson and Sean Rash shared the BWAA Kegel Bowler of the Month award.

Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., won the U.S. Women's Open Oct. 14 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. by defeating Shannon O'Keefe, 248-215. The victory was her 12th national title.

The following week, Johnson rolled the highest three-game series (843) in the 2007 USBC Masters in Milwaukee. She finished in the 13-16th place bracket, the highest of the 17 women entered, and also the highest finish by any woman entered in previous Masters.

Rash, Wichita, Kan., won the 2007 USBC Masters Oct. 28 at Miller Park by defeating Steve Jaros, 269-245. The victory kept Rash's TV record perfect with a 7-0 mark in televised match play.

The Masters was Rash's first major, and fourth title. He bested 485 entrants and earned $100,000 plus a two-year exemption on the Denny's Professional Bowlers Association tour.

Jaros, Bolingbrook, Ill., who rolled a 290 game and 814 series during the televised final rounds of the Masters before losing to Rash, received support in October.

Also considered was Team America (Tim Mack, Bill Hoffman, Tommy Jones, Chris Barnes, Doug Kent) which won the eighth annual Weber Cup, described as "The Ryder Cup” of bowling when a United States team bowls against Team Europe. Coming from a virtually insurmountable four-point deficit, the team won seven of the next eight points to win the cup, defending last year's victory.

"The Big Finn" became the first European player to win the Japan Cup and solidified his standing as one of the world's top bowlers. He defeated fellow Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour star Mike Wolfe, 200-178, to win the 2007 Dydo Japan Cup at the Tokyo Metro Gymnasium.

The victory was the eighth PBA Tour title of Koivuniemi's career, and gave him a victory in 11 countries. The Finland native, now residing in Hartland, Mich., has been bowling on the Tour for nine years after spending 10 years with Team Finland.

Other bowlers receiving votes were: Missy Bellinder, who became the first woman to win two PBA Regional Tour championships; Diandra Asbaty, who became the first player in the history of the World Tenpin Bowling Association Women's World Championships to win two Masters titles, and Shannon O'Keefe, who became the second woman to win a gold medal in singles at the Women's World Championships as well as helping Team USA to a silver medal finish there and joining Lynda Barnes and Tennelle Milligan for a silver medal in trios.

BAKER REPEATS AS KEGEL BOWLER OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST
Tom Baker, King, N.C., has repeated as Kegel Bowler of the Month for August. The BWAA Bowler of the Month Committee’s July award-winner won his eighth PBA Senior Tour title by defeating David Ozio, 256-213, in the Dick Weber Invitational title match.

Baker’s win in the final event in the 2007 PBA Senior Tour season, not only clinched the award for the second month in a row, but earned him BOM honors for the sixth time in the past four years.

The victory was especially significant because Baker and Ozio are the top contenders in the PBA Senior Player of the Year battle.

Other significant vote-getters were Shannon O'Keefe, who led the USBC U.S. Women's Open qualifying after 32 games with a 214 average on four different PBA conditions, and Michele Feldman, a former pro who led the field of 16 women who qualified for this fall’s PBA Women’s Series, totaling 6,790 pins for 32 games over four days on four different PBA oil patterns.

TOM BAKER IS BWAA KEGEL JULY BOWLER OF THE MONTH
In a closely-contested decision, the Bowling Writers Association of America has named Tom Baker, King, N.C., as the BWAA Kegel Bowler of the Month for July.

Baker, a contender for 2007 PBA Senior Player of the Year, set a PBA Senior Tour record with his fourth career Major title and became just the second bowler to win back-to-back United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters titles, defeating Shannon Starnes, 658-625, to win the 2007 title at the National Bowling Stadium.

Two weeks prior, Baker defeated Mark Glover, 245-221, to win the 2007 PBA Senior Northern California Classic.

Other top candidates were Rhino Page and Tennelle Milligan. Page won singles and doubles gold medals at the Pan American Games, as well as the 2007 High Roller tournament and the Bowling This Month singles tournament.

Milligan also won gold in the singles and doubles at the Pan American games.

Minier, a former professional bowler who returned to amateur status, won the 2007 PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Suncoast in Las Vegas. He topped a field of 289 senior bowlers to defeat David Ozio, Beaumont, Texas, in the championship round 240-223. The win was good for $20,000. Ozio won this event in 2004.

"This is definitely the biggest title I've ever won," said Minier. "It doesn't get any better than this."

Other bowlers receiving first-place votes were: Todd Book, who came out on top of four of the five rounds of the PBA tour trials, and Ernie Schlegel, who won his second Senior title at the 2007 PBA Senior Epicenter Classic.

Kulick, who a year ago made history by becoming the first woman to earn full-time exemption on the Denny's Professional Bowlers Association Tour, defeated Diandra Asbaty of Chicago 192-143 at AMF Carolina Lanes (Charlotte, N.C.) to win the biggest and most prestigious title in women's bowling, the USBC Queens Tournament. She took home $30,000 for first place in addition to the Queens’ tiara, pendant and crystal trophy.

Asbaty earned $18,000 for finishing second.

Other bowlers receiving first-place votes in May were: Asbaty, who won the women's division of the world Ranking Masters Tournament; Men's Team USA, named the U.S. Olympic Committee's Team of the Month for May after sweeping all six gold medals in the American Zone Championships, and Dave Ozio, who captured his second PBA Senior Tour title at the PBA Manassas Open, and who is the current points leader on the senior tour.

TOMMY JONES IS BWAA KEGEL BOWLER OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL
The Bowler of the Month Committee of the Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA) has named Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C. as the BWAA Kegel Bowler of the Month for April, 2007.

Jones, 28, garnered his 10th career title and second major with a 257-222 victory over Tony Reyes to win the 2007 PBA Tournament of Champions at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Additionally, Jones won his 10 titles in two years, six months and seven days, breaking the PBA record for shortest time between first and 10 titles by four days. PBA legend Dick Weber held the record for 45 years until Jones salvaged what he considered a down year.

Runnerup in the monthly voting was Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., who won the exclusive invitational Motel 6 Roll to Riches for $150,000 top prize.

PETE WEBER IS KEGEL BOWLER OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH
The Bowling Writers' Association of America has named Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., as the BWAA Kegel Bowler of the Month for March, 2007.

The 43-year-old won the 64th BPAA U.S. Open Tournament at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick, N.J., tying him with Mark Roth for third on the all-time titles list with 34. He also joined his late father, Dick Weber, and Don Carter as the only bowlers to win the U.S. Open or BPAA All-Star Tournament(the U.S. Open's predecessor)four times. Weber defeated Wes Malott, Argyle, Texas, 210-204 in the title match to earn a three-season Denny's PBA Tour exemption and $100,000.

Other bowlers distinguishing themselves in March were: Doug Kent, who won the Denny's World Championship Tournament for his second major title of the season; Norm Duke who won the Pepsi Championship, and Jeff Carter who finished third twice, appearing in the televised final rounds in both the U.S. Open and Pepsi Championship.

MINEMAN BWAA KEGEL STAR FOR FEBRUARY
Mike Mineman of Belleville, Ill. has been selected as the Bowling Writers Association of America Kegel Bowler of the Month for February 2007.

The 48-year-old right-hander won this year's Bayer Classic and became only the second bowler to win a title after advancing through the Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round (the first was Sean Rash nearly one year ago). Mineman defeated Mike Machuga, 223-202, while appearing in his 41st career tour event. He earned $25,000 and an exemption for the 2007-08 season.

Other bowlers garnering votes (in order of points total) were: Kari Schwager (first woman to win the Mini Eliminator), Chris Barnes (2007 Geico Classic), Patrick Allen (2007 GoRVing Classic) and Mika Koivuniemi (2007 Sun City Classic).

COUCH BWAA KEGEL STAR FOR JANUARY
In a nearly unanimous decision, a select panel of members of the Bowling Writers Association of America has selected Jason Couch of Clermont, Fla. as the BWAA Kegel Bowler of the Month for January 2007.

The 37-year-old lefthander won back-to-back Denny's PBA Tour Titles with the Dick Weber Open in Fountain Valley, Calif. Jan. 21, followed by the Motel Six Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. Jan. 28. Couch, who earned his 15th career Denny's PBA Tour title in as many years on tour, became the first since Tommy Jones in 2005 to win back-to-back.

Other bowlers garnering votes were Patrick Allen (H&R Block Classic in Reno) and Sean Rash (Earl Anthony Medford, Ore. Classic). There was a write-in vote for both Lynda Barnes and David O'Sullivan, who won US Amateur titles and berths on Team USA.
(10-12-2007)

2004
December — Brian Voss
November — Jason Hurd
October — Danny Wiseman
September — Tommy Jones
August — Shirley Levens
July — Rick Benard
June — Mike Edwards
May — Dave Ozio
April — Gary Dickinson
March — Tom Baker
February — Pete Weber
January — Walter Ray Williams