The 64th Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour’s road to the PBA Playoffs begins in January with the first of 13 official events.

PBA players will battle for titles and positioning until April when the top 16 bowlers on the points list earn a trip to the Playoffs.

Every match of the PBA Playoffs elimination bracket will be televised with the ultimate finals on FOX Broadcast Channel May 15. 

Guaranteed Rate, one of the top retail mortgage lenders in the United States, continues as title sponsor of the PBA Tour and will serve as the PBA World Series of Bowling XIII’s presenting sponsor.

Fox Sports is the primary television home of PBA Tour season coverage for the fourth consecutive year, with more than 50 hours upcoming on FS1, and eight hours on Fox Broadcast Channel.

Among the 13 regular season Tour events are five major championships, each awarding $100,000 first place prizes, with the Playoffs winner also collecting $100,000 for a record six events paying six figure first prizes. 

In total, players will be vying for a season purse of approximately $4 million.

On January 15 the PBA Players Championship once again starts things off with five regional qualifying locations for PBA members and the finals in Euless, Texas.

In early February, the prestigious U.S. Open returns to the famed Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis.

At the end of February, the PBA’s signature event, the PBA Tournament of Champions is back at historic AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn, Ohio.

In March, the PBA World Championship is the main event of World Series of Bowling XIII which is being held for the first time in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

April starts with the conclusion of the always exciting double elimination play of the USBC Masters in Las Vegas, where the final Playoffs field and seedings will be decided.

Bowling Tip by Mike Luongo

Ending up out of balance at the foul line is not good for your bowling standards.

Get in the game and finish with a strong balanced position and it all comes down to a clean solid follow through. 

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

The reason?

If you reach out, the weight of the ball will pull your upper body forward. This may cause you to lose your balance. If you reach up, you can stay planted in a strong, solid position to deliver your bowling ball with accuracy and leverage. 

Local Highlights

Memory Lanes

(Formerly Port Jervis Bowl)

Monday Night Mixed

JoJo VanKeuren  247, 711, Serafin Rodriguez III 214, 617, Marisa Waehler 196, 522, Ron Lemon 214, 600, Kelly Shattuck 189, 514, Richard Winters 212, 619, Charlie Tuttle 231, 644, Jason Csencsits 246, 702, Kyle Mathews 269, 680, Wences Acevedo 247, 718, Jaryl Scott 234, Pedro Agapito III 244, 637, Susan Scuderi 181, Mike Scuderi 230, Ed Blume 259, 638, Paul Minton 225, 633, Barb Merton 181, Marianna Monaco 243, 694, Bill Schubert 278, 626, Kevin Stackhouse 280, 687, Keith Smith 246, 641, Carol Flynn 193, 539, Dan VanAken 243, 604.

Tuesday Mixed

TC Conklin 214, 633, Pedro Agapito III 247, 691, Marisa Waehler 177, 516, Richard Gaglione 237, Wayne Sniffen 236, 654, Mark Steinhaus  235, Samantha Bruno 180, 181, Karin Willis 211, 542, Fran Luzzi 235, 638, Brett Romer 257, 736, Brigette Willis 192. 

P.J. City League

Jeff Morgan 221, Brian Pastor 216, Gary Kinne 226, Marcus Guzman 215, 610, Tommy Palmer 227, Matthew Terwilliger 254, 659, Jeff Brown 214, 637, Shrek 248, 694, Derek Delaney 245, 698, Frank Eichenlaub 241, 608, Ryan Fairweather 225, 619, Michael Bianchi 246, 666, Justin Traynor 237, 619, Cort Morgan 224, Pat Morgan 220, 619, Pedro Agapito III 269, 699, Will Townsend 220, 618, Alphonso Jones 214, 607, Victor Claisse Jr. 221, 601, Gregory Conklin 268, 671, Shelly Morgan 197, 581, Chris Morgan Jr. 248, 682.

Thursday Women’s

Erin McDonagh 213, 592, Carol Flynn 188, 518, Sandy Short-Marchese 204, 502, Rachel Rivera 172, 497, Michele Macedonia 179, 445, Kristin Banse173.

Ray Willis Sr. Memorial League

Ray Willis Jr. 227, 603, Jerianne Baumgardner 193, 504, Sherri Laird 201, 531, Greg Robinson 246, Matt Shauger 224, 603, Doug Romer Jr. 268, 721, Brigette Willis 209, 561, Brett Romer 288, 734, Josephine Zych 196, 500, Jordan Drew 242, 646, Brooke Csencsits 202, 544, Kyle Matthews 247, 705, Jaryl Scott 232, Anka Scott 200, 528.

Fox Bowling Center

Wednesday Independent

Doc Bolduc 224, 648, Andrew Bullis 212, 630, Shane Dirig 239, 666, Mike Dufton 226, 630, Craig Gehrig 266, 639, Bill Gleim 233, Jack Hazen 226, Rob Johnson 232, Scott Lacy 212, 601, Donnie Marino 214, Mitch Persbacker 265, 706, Zach Russell 223, Bob Sobas 240, 611, Roger Widmann 202, 214, Zuke Wormuth 247, 627.

Thursday Night 3

Ray Cornwall 235, 619, Shane Dirig 248, 676, Scott Ellis 215, 594, Dan Keesler 216, 605, Dennis Leonard 247, 651, Ed Milk Jr. 220, 615, Anthony Seely 235, 622, Fred Shakelton 255, 680.

Friday Couples

Andy Bullis 224, 630, Shane Dirig 244, Mike Dufton 254, Brianna Meres 227, 607, Chris Meres 210, Rick Mills 246, 661, Brooke Rosengrant 211, 528, Jeremy Wormuth 212, 614.

Quinnz Pinz Middletown

Wednesday 3 Person

Tom Belgiovene 210, 208, Steven Bilgiovene 234, Larry Whipple 255, 744, Kevin Stackhouse 237, 626, J.J. Wilhelm 237, 637, Jon Wilhelm 214, 612.