Bowlfest sets stage for Sunday's USBC Masters finals
Unfortunately for faithful Milwaukee Brewers fans, the crowd wasn't on hand to support the hometown team. Instead, it was thousands of excited bowling fans filling the seats along the right field line hoping to get a glimpse of their favorite professional and amateur bowlers in action at the USBC Bowlfest.
For the third consecutive year, Bowlfest helped kick off the USBC Masters finals festivities and gave fans an up-close look at the unique setup that would bring bowling into a Major League Baseball stadium for just the second time.
Masters finalists Sean Rash, Patrick Allen, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Steve Jaros, who will battle for the $100,000 top prize Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN, had the opportunity to practice on the four specially-installed lanes before local high school teams, Team USA members and local media celebrities took over for an exciting Baker match.
"It's been a great week, and it was nice to bowl so well in front of the hometown fans, and anytime I get a chance to bowl as a member of Team USA, no matter where it is, is exciting," said Team USA's Derek Eoff, who finished fifth and was the highest amateur at the Masters this week. "The atmosphere (in Miller Park) is amazing, and this was the first time I've ever bowled anywhere other than a bowling center. I think opportunities like this are a great way to help put bowling on the map."
Fans also had the chance to see USBC High School spokesperson Carolyn Dorin-Ballard take on international star Clara Guerrero of Colombia in a preview of the upcoming Professional Bowlers Association Women's Series, which will be held in conjunction with four Denny's PBA Tour events this fall. Dorin-Ballard opened the match with seven consecutive strikes on the way to a 250-194 victory.
Dorin-Ballard also was introduced as one of the newest members of Team USA 2008 and will be joined on the team by Wendy Macpherson, Liz Johnson, Kelly Kulick, Kim Terrell, Diandra Asbaty and Missy Bellinder. Additions on the men's side include Masters finalists Williams, Allen and Rash, along with fellow Denny's PBA Tour stars Parker Bohn III, Chris Barnes and Tommy Jones.
The night included food, entertainment, autograph opportunities, a trick shot exhibition by Bohn, Barnes, Norm Duke, Brian Voss, Mike Machuga, Bob Learn Jr. and hall of famer Carmen Salvino and a match between Teen Masters champions Ashly Galante and Geoffrey Young, but the highlight of the event was a blast from bowling past as PBA Hall of Famers Marshall Holman and Mark Roth squared off under the TV lights for the first time in more than 20 years.
The pair went toe-to-toe 10 times during their accomplished careers, each winning five times. The last time the two met was in the title match of the 1984 Angle Touring Players Championships, where Roth escaped with a 194-177 victory.
In Sunday's rubber match, the fiery Holman got some long-due revenge with a 176-170 win and took a 6-5 lead in the lifetime series.
But despite being fierce rivals and all business on the lanes, they also are long-time friends. In fact, the two teamed up to win two PBA doubles titles on the way to a combined 56 professional victories.
"We've bowled each other 10 times on TV and each won five times, but as far as I'm concerned, tonight doesn't count and we're still 5-5," Holman said. "The experience of bowling in Miller Park was wonderful, and as far as winning tonight, this was just a fun match and a great opportunity to come see some old friends. We are both fortunate to be a part of bowling history, and to be able to do something like this was amazing."
Once the festivities concluded, fans had the opportunity to bowl on the championship lanes for a $5 donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
The 2007 USBC Masters is a major on the Denny's PBA Tour and the athletes are competing for a top prize of $100,000 and an overall prize fund of $350,000. Nearly 490 of the world's best professional and amateur bowlers took to the lanes this week at AMF Bowlero Lanes.
The finals of the Masters will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern at Miller Park and televised live on ESPN. In 2004, bowling made its Major League debut at Miller Park, and Danny Wiseman topped Allen in the 268-183 title match.
For tickets to the finals, visit tickets.com, the Miller Park box office or call the Miller Park box office at (414) 902-4000. Tickets range in price from $12.50 to $77.50
Time Warner Cable is a presenting sponsor of USBC Masters Bowlfest.
10/27/2007
By Matt Cannizzaro USBC Communications