Australia's Jason Belmonte was the overwhelming choice as 2019 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year for a fifth time, Professional Bowlers Association CEO Colie Edison and PBA Commissioner Tom Clark announced in a special FloBowling livestreaming event recently from FloSports headquarters in Austin, Texas.

Belmonte, 36, not only had another dominant season to earn Player of the Year honors, but continued his assault on the PBA record book, winning the PBA Tournament of Champions for a record-tying third time and then winning the PBA World Championship to set the PBA record with 11 career major titles. He also became the first player to reach the championship finals in four majors in a single season for the second time, finishing second in the PBA Players Championship and fourth in the U.S. Open to equal a feat he first accomplished in 2013.

The Australian two-handed star was the only player to win four Go Bowling! PBA Tour titles in 2019, led the PBA Tour in earnings ($288,290) and competition points, and finished in the top five 12 times in the 18 tournaments he entered.

In addition to his two majors, Belmonte also won the DHC PBA Japan Invitational and the PBA Chameleon Championship during PBA World Series of Bowling X to improve his PBA Tour career titles total to 22. Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Arizona, was a distant second in the voting.

In winning Player of the Year for a fifth time, Belmonte is along in third place among the career POY award winners. Walter Ray Williams Jr. won the honor seven times and Earl Anthony was a six-time winner. The four award winners will be recognized during the PBA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 18, as part of the PBA Hall of Fame Classic tournament weekend.

Ed's Outlook

Bowling is going through a major transition.

League bowling used to generate about 70 percent of a bowling center's business, due to societal and lifestyle changes, it now generates only about 40 percent of overall bowling business.

During the 1997-98 year, the United States Bowling Congress reported 4.1 million members of the ABC, YABC and WIBC league bowling organizations. That membership declined by 36 percent to 2.6 million in the 2006-07 year.

White Hutchinson recently completed a socioeconomic/lifestyle analysis of today's bowlers. It indicated that while 40 percent of all U.S. households are upper-middle and higher income white collar, 56 percent come from that lifestyle group. Upper-middle and higher income families with children had some of the highest participation rates with one married family with children upscale socioeconomic/lifestyle group having the very highest rate of all groups.

What we see today are two distinctly different types of bowling centers. There's the fast-dying old style bowling alleys of yesterday, compared to the new contemporary designed centers that cater to the open-play center. These include the new adult-oriented bowling lounges and bowling-based multi-anchored family or adult entertainment centers.

But it's not all bad news for bowling as indications are that bowling is gaining popularity, perhaps due to the improved condition of bowling centers.

The more centers that match the tastes and values of upscale consumers, the more those consumers will come out to bowl.

Bowling Tip

By Mike Luongo

Do you find yourself unable to finish your delivery in a strong balanced position?

We offer this week's tip for any bowler who ends up out of balance at the foul line while delivering your bowling ball.

Out of balance may be a result of your follow through.

It is very important that when you follow through on your delivery you do not reach out with your arm but reach up with your follow through.

Bowlers who reach out find that the weight of the ball will pull their upper body forward and may cause them to lose their balance.

If you reach up you stay planted in a strong solid position and are able to deliver your bowling ball with accuracy and leverage.

Mike Luongo is a Certified IBPSIA Pro Shop Operator, Master Instructor, USBC Silver Level Coach and an Advisor-Special Events Assistant with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. Have a question, email him at mike.luongo@stormbowling.com.

BOWLING SCORES

BEECHWOODS LANES

Monday Villa Roma Ladies

Diane Staves 151, Barbara Cady 151, 154, Pat Peters 175, Laurie Brockner 154, Tracy Puerschner 160, 166, 176, 502, Danielle Meyer 178, Sue Naughton 156, Pam Wayne 175, Lillian Zieres 166, 172.

PORT JERVIS BOWL

Thursday Night Ladies

Erin McDonagh 163, 184, 168, 515, Carol Flynn 166, 202, 126, 494, Linda Drew 151, 157, 183, 490, Celeste Fitzpatrick 181, 170, 136, 487, Carmela Montaperto 153, 151, 181, 485, Sherri Laird 186.

FOX BOWLING CENTER

Wed. Men's Independent

Andrew Bullis 277, 267, 733, Audy Boice 227, 201, 614, Brandon Drumm 209, 203, 605, Dick Layton 212, 233, 622, Dick Price 237, 612.

Thursday Night 3

Ray Cornwell 238, 236, 224, 698, Bill Gleim 227, 232, 635, Dan Wormuth 201, 214, 212, 617, Greg Keesler 236, 209, 612.

Friday Mixed

Jay Wormuth 214, 211, 222, 647, Dennis Leonard 222. 204, 614, Linda Ferris 183, 204, 566, Dale Conklin 209, 231, 221, 661, Shawn Card 243, 226, 665.

Saturday Mixed Youth

Ronnie Ellis 226, 131, 120, 477, Landon Fuller 122, 109, 117, 348, Ashbee Gately 187, Alex Mosher 138, 123.

Sunday Mixed Fun

Don Marino 269, 226, 209, 704, Wilbur McAdams 225, 586, Mike Bowker 213, 533.

KIAMESHA LANES

Monday Men's

Tom Skiff III a 226, 209, 255, 690, Pedro Agapito IIII a 237, 237, 257, 753, Russell Bivins 211, 244, 219, 674, Eddie Lake 225, 234, 206, 665, Jaryl Scott 244, 222, 192, 658, Billy Schubert 246, 215, 224, 685, Ryan Lepke 229, 222, 190 641.

Tuesday Mixed Firefighter

Kyle Giordano 191, 248, 279, 718, Jon Wilhelm 221, 285, 198, 704, Trasey Barres 166, 181, 175, 522, Mary Lee Williams 158, 169, 193, 520, Jack Rustic 171, 264, 257, 692.

Friday Mixed

Keith Smith 202, 279, 253, 734, Mikayla DeGraw 191, 189, 171, 547, Nicole Feller 183, 223, 139, 545, Bill Schubert 248, 223, 247, 718, Eddie Lake 223, 211, 225, 659, Pedro Agapito 228, 300, 212, 740.

Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the sport of bowling and brings over 60 plus years of sports journalism experience writing and compiling the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, bowl a 300 game or 800 series, let Ed know at 845-439-8177, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax to 845-205-4474. View this column and Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.