Sports Reporter
The Nation's Leading Bowling Tournament Newspaper Since 1940
3
Vol. 79 No. 47 January 23 - 29, 2019 25 cents
Kelly Kulick, Chris Barnes and Mika Koivuniemi Elected to USBC Hall of Fame
ARLINGTON, Texas – Kelly Professional Bowlers Association
Kulick, Chris Barnes and Mika (PBA) Tournament of Champions
Koivuniemi will be part of the 2019 title to become the first woman to
United States Bowling Congress Hall win a PBA Tour event.
of Fame class after their election in Following an outstanding colle-
the Superior Performance category. giate career at Morehead State,
The three were among the 10 where she was a three-time National
bowlers on the Superior Performance Collegiate Bowling Coaches
national ballot voted on by a panel of Association (NCBCA) Most
USBC Hall of Fame members, Valuable Player Award winner,
USBC Board members and veteran Kulick captured Professional
bowling writers. Candidates had to Women’s Bowling Association
receive at least 70 percent of the (PWBA) Rookie of the Year honors
votes cast to earn election. PBA photo PBA photo PBA photo in 2000. She would win the first of
Kulick, Barnes and Koivuniemi Kelly Kulick Chris Barnes Mika Koivuniemi her six major titles at the 2003 U.S.
now are part of the 2019 USBC Hall of Fame class that will have seven members. They join Women's Open.
the late John Davis (Meritorious Service), Bob Johnson (Meritorious Service), Larry Kulick also is a 14-time Team USA member. Her international resume includes a then-
Lichstein (Pioneer) and the late Jim St. John (Veterans), who were elected by the USBC Hall record performance in winning gold in singles at the 1999 World Bowling World
of Fame Committee in October 2018. Championships, the first of her 22 career gold medals in international competition.
The 2019 USBC Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place May 1 in Las Vegas as
part of the USBC Convention at The Orleans Hotel and Casino. See USBC page 2
Kulick, 41, of Union, New Jersey, made bowling history in 2010 when she captured the
PBA Tour Begins Points Race to PBA Playoffs in Season Opener Kyle O'Connor Slammed 300
ARLINGTON, Texas – As the Professional Bowlers historic season of television coverage by FOX Sports on its FOX
Association kicked off its 2019 Go Bowling! PBA Tour sea- and FS1 channels, was the first event to offer points. The HOF At Maple Lanes RVC
son with the first round of qualifying in the PBA Hall of Classic, aired live on FS1 and designated as a Tier 3 event because ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY - Cimino 253, and Charlie Torres
Fame Classic at the International Research and Training it includes a limited field (70 players) and an abbreviated format (six Kyle O'Connor fired a 300 game 247.
Center, the race to qualify for the new PBA Playoffs that will qualifying games for all players plus another six qualifying games in the Thursday Mixed League at In the Thursday El Cheapo
be held in April in Portland, Maine, officially begins. for the top 18 to determine the top five stepladder finalists).All qual- Maple Lanes RVC. Mixed League Boris Sosa rolled
During the 2019 season, competition points will be award- ifying rounds were live-streamed by PBA’s online streaming part- Joseph Jhingree rolled 259, 228, John Moran 217, and Sean
ed to all players in all PBA Tour events that are open to all ner, FloBowling. Debra Potasso 255, Anthony McGinn 216.
players, with point values varying according to a three-tier The FOX Sports portion of the 2019 schedule, concluding with
system under a new system being introduced this season. the USBC Masters, will be the basis for qualifying for the PBA Doug Herron 300 at Majestic Lanes
Under the tier system, Tier 1 tournaments are major champi- Playoffs. Of the 24 qualifiers, the top eight players will earn first
HOPELAWN, NJ - Doug Herron Christopher Williams rolled 257-
onships, Tier 2 events are standard PBA Tour events, and round byes for the single-elimination match play playoffs which
fired a 300 game in the Saturday 257-216-730, Brian McAdams
Tier 3 are limited field or abbreviated format events. will reward the winner with a $100,000 prize.
Night Strike Nation League at 234-258-227-719, and Darryl
Here’s how the points system will work: Tier 3 tourna- Competition points also will be important for other reasons:
Majestic Lanes. Brown 225-256-236-717.
ments establish the “base points” values starting with 2,500 • Points earned during the summer tour’s USBC Cup series will
for first place, 1,500 for second, 1,150 for third, 950 for qualify players for the end-of-season PBA China Tiger Cup;
fourth, 850 for fifth, etc. Points decline based upon how a • Points earned in 2019 will qualify players for invitations to the Frank Quatromani 300
player finishes in the event, but all players in the tournament 2020 DHC PBA Japan Invitational;
will earn points. For Tier 2 events, the points values are dou- • The 2019 competition points champion will win the Harry At Farmingdale Lanes
bled. For Tier 1 championship events, points will be worth Smith Competition Points award; FARMNINGDALE, NY - Frank Quatromani
three times the base value (i.e., 7,500 for first place, 4,500 for • 2019 points will be considered in selecting the 2019 Chris fired a 300 game in the Wednesday Early Men
second, etc.) For a complete summary of the PBA’s compe- Schenkel PBAPlayer of the Year and Harry Golden PBARookie Handicap League.
tition points structure and tier values per tournament, visit: of the Year. Daniel Coppola rolled 287, Bill Dutton 278,
https://www.pba.com/SeasonStats/PointsList/114?list=1 • Composite points from 2018 and 2019 will determine the field Shaun Larkin and Mario Caramico 268, an Al
The PBA Hall of Fame Classic, which launches the PBATour’s for the 2019 PBA Tour Finals. Houdlett, Eugene Neal and Craig Lovallo 266.
2 SPORTS REPORTER January 23 - 29, 2019