Belmonte Blasts Competition in Round Four of Qualifying at PBA World Championship

Top eight players seeded into the Super 16

WICHITA, KAN. (October 24, 2008) — Jason Belmonte of Australia ran over the competition during Round Four of qualifying, leading the field by 240 pins at the PBA World Championship at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.

“I just kept moving left all day and was able to play a part of the lane that most players can’t get to,” said Belmonte who averaged 233 .93 for the 27 games.

Belmonte, who by the end of the qualifying block was lofting the left gutter cap, will be seeded into the Super 16, thus earning two byes in match play.

The top eight bowlers after Round Four of qualifying received automatic berths into the Super 16 and the top 40 bowlers advanced to single-elimination best 4-out-of-7 match play.

In addition to Belmonte, the top eight qualifiers include Norm Duke (Clermont, Fla.), Sean Rash (Wichita, Kan.), Steve Harman (Indianapolis, Ind.), Pete Weber (St Ann, Mo.), Doug Kent (Newark, N.Y.), Parker Bohn III (Jackson, N.J.) and Todd Book (Cantonment, Fla.).

No one was more excited than Book who narrowly secured the coveted eighth spot. Book had to double in the 10th frame in order to finish ahead of Brad Angelo who was on the same pair.

“Brad and I were neck and neck all day, going into the 10th Brad struck in his fill ball, forcing me to get the first two (strikes) in the 10th. Every bowler dreams of being in clutch situations, and I’m glad I was able to come through in the clutch.”

Duke, who can make history this week by winning three consecutive Majors, is seeded second going into match play.

Tommy Delutz Jr. (Flushing, N.Y.) and Randy Weiss (Columbia, S.C.) tied for the 40th spot, forcing a one game roll-off, in which Delutz Jr. came out victorious shooting 234-160.

Friday’s competition continues with the first round of match play at 6 p.m. CT.

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, with the top eight bowlers receiving two byes and an automatic berth into the Super Round of 16. The 40 bowlers 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 Four

1, Jason Belmonte, Orange, NSW,Australia, 6,316, $100
2, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 6,076
3, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan, 6,064
4, Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 6,062
5, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 5,999
6, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 5,991
6, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 5,991
8, Todd Book, Cantonment, Fla, 5,967
9, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 5,958
10, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 5,939
11, Christopher Collins, Fayetteville, N.C., 5,933
12, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 5,929
13, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 5,928
14, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 5,886
15, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 5,871
16, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 5,870
17, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 5,867
18, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 5,858
18, Troy Wollenbecker, Miami, 5,858
20, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 5,838
21, Ryan Abel, Bel Aire, Kan., 5,836
22, Derek Sapp, Keokuk, Iowa, 5,832
23, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 5,830
24, George Lambert IV, Wichita, Kan, 5,827
25, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 5,819
25, Ken Abner, Cincinnati, 5,819
27, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 5,808
28, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 5,806
29, Jeremy Hunt, Sikeston, Mo., 5,773
30, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 5,758
31, Jonathan Van Hees, Newport, R.I., 5,752
32, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 5,746
33, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 5,739, $100
34, Ken Simard, Greenville, S.C., 5,738
35, Mike DeVaney, San Diego, 5,737
36, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 5,718
37, D.J. Archer, Mineral Wells, Texas, 5,715
38, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 5,708
39, Mitch Beasley, Arlington, Texas, 5,707
40, Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, N.Y., 5,696