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View Full Version : Duke moves closer to history books; Wichita’s Sean Rash finished atop final qualifyin



onefrombills
10-24-2008, 01:32 AM
WICHITA, KAN. (October 23, 2008) — Norm Duke is one step closer to making history but he’s not necessarily thinking about it. Duke --- who is attempting to become the first bowler in the 50 years of the PBA’s existence to win three consecutive Majors --- easily advanced to Friday’s Semifinals with a 26th place finish following the three-day qualifying that pared the 195-field down to 53 on Thursday at the PBA World Championship at Northrock Lanes.

“I try not to think about it (making history),” Duke said. “I’ve made history a few times as a by-product of not thinking about it. When you get ahead of yourself, that’s when you lose your focus. Yesterday I had a bad day and today I could have been eliminated. My game plan was to have a good enough round to not have to look at that cut number. My goal was to be proud of my play and that wasn’t the case the past two days. I’m still not up to my expectations. My sights are going to be on eighth keeping 40th (Friday’s cut to Match Play) in mind. I want to be here until the end.”

Duke’s historical journey began with him winning the final two Majors of the 2007-2008 season. After being on the verge of losing his exemption, Duke rallied back from injuries to fashion one of the greatest late-season runs in PBA history, winning titles in both the Denny’s World Championship and the 65th Denny’s U.S. Open.

Duke of Clermont, Fla. owns 29 career Lumber Liquidators PBA titles, tied for seventh all-time and his five career Majors ranks sixth on the all-time list and is just one of two bowlers to complete the “Grand Slam,” a win in the USBC Masters, Tournament of Champions, U.S. Open and World Championship.

“I have the mindset that you define your career with Major titles,” Duke said. “Great players will go down in history as players who have the ability to win Majors.”

“At my age, I don’t really get excited over the regular tournament wins anymore,” the 44-year-old veteran added. “Last year’s U.S. Open gave me the feeling that I didn’t think I could have anymore. I was giddy and screaming like a Smurf. I want that feeling again.”

Wichita’s own Sean Rash finished atop the standings with a score of 4,115 over the 18-game block, averaging 228.61.

“I was a little shocked to see my name at the top (following the second session) because I knew Troy (Wollenbecker) was bowling well,” Rash said. “I had a bad fourth game (157) but in qualifying you have to let it go. I was searching for ball reaction in game three and four and I made the right ball change when I needed to. I think the better guys in the sport don’t think about the 150 games.”

Jason Sterner, John Nolen and Jeff Carter tied for the 52nd spot forcing a one-game roll-off with two advancing to Friday’s semifinals. In a very close match, Sterner struck out in the 10th, shooting 239 and Carter threw the first strike in the 10th to shoot 231, both advancing over Nolan’s 222.

Australia’s Jason Belmonte and Dino Castillo of Carrollton, Texas both shot a 300 during the second game of their third qualifying block Thursday afternoon.

Friday’s competition continues with semifinal play.

PBA World Championship Format:
There are three squads of qualifying (A, B and C). Each squad will bowl one 6-game block each day over three days, completing 18 total games of qualifying. The field will then be cut to the top 53 on Thursday night, Oct. 23. Bowlers making the cut will return on Friday morning, Oct. 24 for nine games of semi finals. Upon completion of the nine games, the field will then be cut to the top 40 bowlers who will then compete in a best 4-out-of-7 single elimination match play format starting Friday at 6 p.m. and continuing on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. until four bowlers remain. The top four finalists will advance to the live ESPN finals on Sunday, Oct. 26 at noon. All times CT.

Qualifying Round – Block 3 (A, B and C Squads combined)

1, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan, 4,115
2, Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, 4,114
3, Christopher Collins, Fayetteville, N.C., 4,105
4, Jason Belmonte, Orange, NSW,Australia, 4,098, $100
5, George Lambert IV, Wichita, Kan, 4,097
6, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 4,055
7, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 4,048
7, Todd Book, Cantonment, Fla, 4,048
9, Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 4,044
10, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 4,034
11, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 4,023
12, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 4,011
13, Derek Sapp, Keokuk, Iowa, 3,966
14, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,958
15, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 3,957
16, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 3,952
17, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 3,950
17, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 3,950
19, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,948
20, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 3,946
21, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,941
22, Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 3,939
23, Jeremy Hunt, Sikeston, Mo., 3,927
24, Mike DeVaney, San Diego, 3,926
25, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 3,923
26, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3,914
27, Brian LeClair, Athens, N.Y., 3,911
28, Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 3,908
29, Ken Abner, Cincinnati, 3,906
30, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,885
31, D.J. Archer, Mineral Wells, Texas, 3,873
32, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,870
33, Jay Futrell, Derby, Kan., 3,865
34, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 3,860
35, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,844
36, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,835
37, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 3,832
38, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3,831
39, Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, N.Y., 3,827
40, Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas, 3,820
40, Jonathan Van Hees, Newport, R.I., 3,820
42, Chris Johnson, Garland, Texas, 3,815
43, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,808
44, Lucas Legnani, BA, Argentina, 3,801
45, Jason Poli, West Des Moines, Iowa, 3,799
46, Craig Tuholski, Washougal, Wash., 3,795
47, Yannaphon Larpapharat, Thailand, 3,791
48, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 3,788
49, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 3,787
50, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 3,784, $100
51, Chad Kloss, Greenfield, Wis, 3,777
52, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 3,776
53, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 3,776