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1-Step and 3-Step Drills
This time, after a period of having to stop bowling, I'm approaching the comeback with a bit more knowledge and taking the time to set myself up with a better execution of my game. Of course, using these techniques don't have to be after a period of non-bowling.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art176499.asp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bill Vint | PBA Media Relations
Professional Bowlers Association | 719 Second Avenue, Suite 701 | Seattle, WA 98104

PBA Spare Shots

¡°PBA24¡± MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM HELPS JUMP START ROB GOTTERBARN¡¯S PBA CAREER

Rob Gotterbarn first experienced PBA-level competition as a 19-year-old amateur when he bowled his first PBA East Region tournament in 2010. The Garden City South, N.Y., resident finished 39th, out of the money.

He tried again in 2011, when he improved to 37th ¨C still short of the cash line, but closer.

Then the former St. John¡¯s University collegiate bowler tried the 2012 U.S. Open, finishing in a tie for 80th place and picking up his first PBA check ¨C for $1,145. It was a turning point.

¡°Bowling in the U.S. Open was an awesome experience,¡± Gotterbarn said. ¡°It really made me want to be a PBA24 member.¡±

The new PBA24 membership program, inviting new players to experience PBA competition for a modest $49 membership fee, was just what Gotterbarn needed to take the next step.

¡°It was a great opportunity for me,¡± he said. ¡°I can¡¯t say enough about the program. College bowling helped me a lot, but the only reason I¡¯m bowling regionals is because I get to bowl with the best bowlers in the world and see what they do. I really enjoy watching them and I¡¯m learning a lot. Without the PBA24 program, it would have made it a lot harder for me to be out here.¡±

Since becoming a PBA24 member, Gotterbarn has bowled in three East Region tournaments, cashing in two events (Catskill, N.Y., and Rockaway, N.J.). With two cashes, he was required to move up to full PBA membership, which he happily did.

¡°I definitely want to get there (on the national tour). I¡¯m working every day towards it. That¡¯s my goal, my dream,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m learning how to play the patterns. At the last regional I bowled, I had to grind it out, but I¡¯m watching Patrick Allen and Brad Angelo and Ryan Shafer and Johnathan Bower, and it¡¯s crazy to see what those guys can do when they get lined up on the pattern with the right equipment. I need to learn how to do that. I¡¯m burning into my memory everything those guys are doing.¡±

Gotterbarn is one of 33 young bowlers, all ages 24 and younger, who have taken advantage of the PBA24 opportunity so far. Additional players who want to test their skills at an affordable price are expected to join as the PBA regional program kicks into high gear over the summer months.

For more information about this program and other PBA membership opportunities, visit pba.com and click on the ¡°join PBA¡± link.

XTRA FRAME RESUMES LIVE COVERAGE WITH SENIOR DAYTON CLASSIC

Live Xtra Frame programming returns May 15-17 with coverage of the PBA Senior Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip from Capri Lanes in Dayton, Ohio.

Xtra Frame, the PBA¡¯s exclusive online bowling channel, will coverage qualifying rounds at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, and Wednesday, May 16, along with full coverage of round-robin match play rounds on Thursday at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., leading into the four-player stepladder finals at 7 p.m. All times are Eastern.

Also on the Xtra Frame calendar will be the live announcement of the 2011-12 PBA Player of the Year from the PBA Summer Shootout in Chicago at noon ET on Monday, May 28.

Preliminary summer webcasts on the Xtra Frame schedule include the Luci Bonneau Memorial Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles from Palace Lanes in Houston, Texas, July 21-22; the South Point Mixed Doubles from Las Vegas, July 28-29, and the Teen Masters Grand Championships from Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal in New York City, Aug. 5-8.

To subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame link.

If you would like information on how to get your event covered live on Xtra Frame, contact PBA Multimedia Specialist Mike Jakubowski (email: mike.jakubowski@pba.com or call: 414-651-6965).

INTERNATIONAL PBA STARS TO COMPETE FOR WORLD GAMES BERTHS

Mixed doubles teams from 19 WTBA American Zone countries will compete for berths in the 2013 World Games during the Pan American Bowling Confederation Champion of Champions event May 9-12 at Kegel Training Center in Babson Park, Fla.

Team USA will be presented by amateur Steve Smith of San Diego and two-time PBA Women¡¯s Series titlist Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y. Venezuela¡¯s team will include PBA Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli, PBA Tour titlist Andres Gomez will bowl for Colombia, and PBA Tour competitor Dan MacLelland will be on Team Canada. At stake are eight spots in the World Games, which will be held in Cali, Colombia.

The Champion of Champions event will award medals in men's and women¡¯s singles, mixed doubles, men's and women¡¯s all-events, national all-events, men¡¯s and women's Masters, and mixed doubles Masters. The top eight teams in the national all-events will join Colombia in qualifying for the World Games, an international showcase for more than 30 sports that are not included in the Olympics Games.

PBA¡¯S LEDDY, HAGGERTY EXCHANGE VOWS IN CALIFORNIA

Janay Leddy, PBA Director of Community Relations/Events, and four-time PBA Regional title winner P.J. Haggerty were married Friday in Roseville, Calif.

Leddy, a graduate of Washington State University, joined the PBA in 2003 as a member of the media relations staff. Haggerty, who has regularly bowled on the PBA Tour since 2007, is a former Fresno State University Collegiate All-American and three-time member of Junior Team USA. In addition to bowling in PBA competition, Haggerty operates a pro shop in Roseville.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP: CELMER WINS FIRST TITLE IN PBA EAST REGION KING PIN OPEN

Travis Celmer of Wernersville, Pa., defeated Brad Angelo of Lockport, N.Y., 258-213, to win his first PBA East Region title in the King Pin Open presented by Brunswick at King Pin Lanes in Rome, N.Y., Sunday. Celmer also earned $2,500 for the win.

In Junction City, Kan., amateur Russ Wilson from Lawrence, Kan., defeated David Williams Jr. of Omaha, Neb., 192-173, to win the fifth annual PBA Southwest/Midwest Region Junction City Bowl Open, presented by Hammer, at Junction City Bowl Sunday. Wilson led qualifying and then won all seven games in his four single-elimination matches on his way to the $2,500 first prize. Because he¡¯s an amateur, he doesn¡¯t receive credit for a PBA title.

This weekend features the PBA Northwest Sunset Chevrolet Open and the Puyallup Senior Open presented by U.S. Foods, both at Daffodil Bowl in Puyallup, Wash.

PBA Regional activity heats up over the May 18-20 weekend when four ¡°animal pattern¡± championship events are on the calendar: the PBA Central Region Baldo Campana Viper Open (and Senior Open) benefitting Lorain County Kids Fund at Rebman Recreation in Lorain, Ohio; the PBA Midwest Region Stars and Strikes Scorpion Open presented by Ebonite at Scott AFB, Illinois; the PBA Southwest Region Fort Sill (Okla.) Viper Open at Twin Oak Lanes, and the PBA West Region Battle at Black Oak Casino Cheetah Open at Black Oak Lanes in Tuolumne, Calif. Also on the May 18-20 calendar is the PBA East Region Iroquois Lanes Senior Open in Canajoharie, N.Y.

For complete PBA Regional schedule and entry information, visit pba.com and click on ¡°Regional Tours¡± under the Schedules tab.

QUICK NOTES

¡ñ Sweden¡¯s Martin Larsen nipped Finnish veteran Mika Koivuniemi, 49-40, in a 10th frame roll-off to win the 2012 European Bowling Tour Masters in Munich, Germany, after the two international PBA Tour competitors battled to a 25-game, 5,819-pinfall tie. Sean Rash finished third with 5,796 pins.

¡ñ As of May 1, Mika Koivuniemi retained his lead in the WTBA World Bowling Tour men¡¯s points standings with 358 points. Three American players were right behind in the race for the top three spots for the second annual WBT Finals presented by the PBA which will be held as part of the 2012 PBA World Series of Bowling at South Point in Las Vegas. Mike Fagan was second with 327 points, Chris Barnes was third at 248 and Sean Rash was fourth at 223.

The top four women¡¯s points leaders following the USBC Queens were all American players: Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, 276; Liz Johnson, 250; Missy Parkin, 233, and Kelly Kulick, 219. The WBT standings are based points earned in designated WTBA World Bowling Tour events over a cumulative span of two seasons.

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