PBA Tournament of Champions
Encyclopedia
The H&R Block Tournament of Champions is one of the four major PBA (Professional Bowlers Association
) bowling
events. The inaugural event, held by the PBA in 1962, was won by PBA Hall of Famer Joe Joseph.http://news.pba.com/post/2010/08/16/Top-Ten-Moments-in-T-of-C-History.aspx#comment From 1962 to 1993, Firestone Tire
sponsored the Tournament of Champions. From 1965 until 1994, the tournament was contested at Riviera Lanes (now AMF Riviera Lanes) in Fairlawn, Ohio
near the long-time Firestone World Headquarters in Akron, Ohio
. In a notable semi-final match at the 1967 Tournament of Champions, Jack Biondolillo rolled the first-ever nationally televised 300 game.
Since 1994, the Tournament of Champions (or "TOC") has had a variety of sponsors, including General Tire, Brunswick, Dexter and most recently H&R Block
. From 2002 to 2007, the Tournament of Champions was contested in an arena setting at Mohegan Sun Arena
, in Uncasville, Connecticut
. The event was moved to Las Vegas, NV
for the 2007-08 season, and has been contested there ever since.
Prior to 2007-08, a bowler qualified for the Tournament of Champions by being one of the 32 most recent title winners on the regular PBA Tour. The list was expanded in 2008 to include some past winners of the TOC itself, even if they were no longer in the Top 32 most recent PBA winners. The 2009-10 TOC saw its first-ever female competitor, as a spot in the 2010 tournament was given to Kelly Kulick
, winner of the inaugural PBA Women's World Championship in 2009. Kulick made sports history on January 24, 2010 as she defeated Mika Koivuniemi
and Chris Barnes to become the first woman
to win a title against men on the PBA Tour.
The winner of the Tournament of Champions currently earns a two-year PBA Tour exemption, which means they do not have to go through the Tour Qualifying Round (TQR) to make match play each week during the following two seasons.
The TOC is the only PBA major that all-time titles leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. has never won.
The 2010-11 Tournament of Champions took place January 16–22, 2011, and featured a $1 million purse and $250,000 first prize, making it the richest PBA tournament ever. The tournament had an all-new format that included a "Champions Field" and an "Elite Field." The Champions Field (maximum of 180 bowlers) included any past PBA champions with four or fewer titles, plus titleists on the PBA Regional Tour, PBA Women's Series
tour, PBA Senior Tour and PBA Senior Regional Tour who were PBA members at the time of the titles. The Top 90 finishers after 14 qualifying games advanced to bowl against the Elite Field. The Elite Field included all 2010-11 exempt PBA players, any PBA Hall of Famer, any player listed in 2008 as one of the "50 Greatest PBA Players of the Last 50 Years," any PBA player with five or more PBA Tour titles or at least one PBA major title, plus the winners of the 2010 USBC Senior Masters, 2010 PBA Senior U.S. Open, 2010 Regional Players Invitational and 2010 Regional Players Championship. All entrants had to be full-fledged PBA members as of October 1, 2010.
Those who earned entry into the Elite Field bowled 20 games of qualifying to determine the Top 53, who along with the defending champion all cashed a minimum of $2,500. After 16 more games in the Cashers' Round, the Top 24 (based on 36 total games) made the round-robin match play. The Top 4 match play qualifiers then made the live televised finals. Payouts for the TV finals were $250,000 for first, $100,000 for second, $50,000 for third and $40,000 for fourth. (See also: PBA Bowling Tour: 2010-11 season.)
#10 - Marshall Holman's Million-Dollar Win. Hall of Famer Marshall Holman
became the third player in PBA history to top the $1 million mark in career earnings by winning the 1986 event.
#9 - George Branham III Wins Last Firestone. In 1993, George Branham III
became the first (and so far only) African American winner in this tournament, as well as the last to win the tournament while it was sponsored by Firestone.
#8 - Weber Becomes Youngest to 10 Titles. With his win in the 1987 T of C, 24-year old Pete Weber
became the youngest PBA player ever to reach the 10-title plateau.
#7 - Earl Gets Title #30. Hall of Fame left-hander Earl Anthony
became the first PBA player to reach 30 career titles with his win in the 1978 event. The legendary Dick Weber
, who was in the ABC broadcast booth with Chris Schenkel
because analyst Nelson Burton Jr.
had made the TV finals, proclaimed Anthony the "undisputed King of Bowling" after the victory.
#6 - Bomb Scare. In 1991, the tournament was delayed 40 minutes due to a bomb threat. David Ozio
eventually won the title on his way to 1991 Player of the Year honors.
#5 - Rhino's 4-Count. Rhino Page
, needing only a 9-spare to defeat Patrick Allen
after striking on the first ball in the 10th frame in the 2009 event, threw an inexplicable 4-count. Missing wide of target, the left-hander's shot cut between the 1 and 4 pins, taking out only the 2, 5, 6 and 8 pins, giving Allen a 267-263 victory.
#4 - Michael Haugen Jr.'s Comeback. Having just qualified for the 2008 T of C earlier that season, Michael Haugen Jr.
trailed Chris Barnes by 53 pins in the 5th frame of the final match, and was still down 41 pins entering the 9th frame. When Barnes missed a 10-pin in the 9th frame, Haugen responded with a strike in the 9th and two strikes plus nine pins in the 10th. Barnes rolled a spare in the 10th, and needed a strike on the fill ball to force extra frames. But Barnes left a 4-pin, giving Haugen a narrow 215-214 victory.
#3 - Couch's Three-Peat. In 2002, Jason Couch
became just the second PBA Player to win the T of C three times (joining Mike Durbin
) and the only one to do so in consecutive seasons.
#2 - Don Johnson's 299 Game. In perhaps the most iconic moment of the PBA's first 50 years, Hall of Famer Don Johnson
had struck on the first nine balls of the final 1970 T of C match, but still needed a mark in the 10th frame to top Dick Ritger
's 268 score. With millions watching on TV, Johnson coolly rolled the first two strikes in the 10th to lock up the title. With an additional $10,000 and a Mercury Cougar automobile on the line for a 300 game, Johnson packed his 12th shot but left a ringing 10-pin for a 299 game. The shot of Johnson lying face-down on the approach in disbelief has been replayed dozens of times on PBA telecasts.
#1 - Kelly Kulick's Historic Win. Up against enormous odds to become the first woman ever to win a standard PBA Tour event, it is hard to argue the historic value of Kelly Kulick
's 2010 T of C win. Said Thomas, "her inspiring come-from-behind run on Friday evening to qualify for the telecast in second place was probably special enough to make this list. But her performance on Sunday, defeating Mika Koivuniemi
and then Chris Barnes with a convincing 265 game in the final with millions watching (the telecast was the PBA's highest-rated show for the year), is a feat that will be remembered for as long as bowling is broadcast on TV."
Professional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
) bowling
Ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
events. The inaugural event, held by the PBA in 1962, was won by PBA Hall of Famer Joe Joseph.http://news.pba.com/post/2010/08/16/Top-Ten-Moments-in-T-of-C-History.aspx#comment From 1962 to 1993, Firestone Tire
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is an American tire company founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles. The company...
sponsored the Tournament of Champions. From 1965 until 1994, the tournament was contested at Riviera Lanes (now AMF Riviera Lanes) in Fairlawn, Ohio
Fairlawn, Ohio
Fairlawn is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States. A suburb of Akron, its population was 7,307 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Fairlawn is located at ....
near the long-time Firestone World Headquarters in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
. In a notable semi-final match at the 1967 Tournament of Champions, Jack Biondolillo rolled the first-ever nationally televised 300 game.
Since 1994, the Tournament of Champions (or "TOC") has had a variety of sponsors, including General Tire, Brunswick, Dexter and most recently H&R Block
H&R Block
H&R Block is a tax preparation company in the United States, claiming more than 22 million customers worldwide, with offices in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Kansas City-based company also offers banking, personal finance and business consulting services.Founded in 1955 by brothers...
. From 2002 to 2007, the Tournament of Champions was contested in an arena setting at Mohegan Sun Arena
Mohegan Sun Arena
The Mohegan Sun Arena is a 10,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Uncasville, Connecticut located inside Mohegan Sun. The arena facility features of configurable exhibition space and a clear span...
, in Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
. The event was moved to Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
for the 2007-08 season, and has been contested there ever since.
Prior to 2007-08, a bowler qualified for the Tournament of Champions by being one of the 32 most recent title winners on the regular PBA Tour. The list was expanded in 2008 to include some past winners of the TOC itself, even if they were no longer in the Top 32 most recent PBA winners. The 2009-10 TOC saw its first-ever female competitor, as a spot in the 2010 tournament was given to Kelly Kulick
Kelly Kulick
Kelly Kulick is an American professional bowler from Union Township, New Jersey. She has won eight professional women's bowling titles and one PBA Tour title.-Bowling accomplishments:...
, winner of the inaugural PBA Women's World Championship in 2009. Kulick made sports history on January 24, 2010 as she defeated Mika Koivuniemi
Mika Koivuniemi
Mika Juhani Koivuniemi is a Finnish ten-pin bowler, currently on the Professional Bowlers Association tour in the United States, who has won bowling titles in 12 different countries in his career....
and Chris Barnes to become the first woman
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
to win a title against men on the PBA Tour.
The winner of the Tournament of Champions currently earns a two-year PBA Tour exemption, which means they do not have to go through the Tour Qualifying Round (TQR) to make match play each week during the following two seasons.
The TOC is the only PBA major that all-time titles leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. has never won.
The 2010-11 Tournament of Champions took place January 16–22, 2011, and featured a $1 million purse and $250,000 first prize, making it the richest PBA tournament ever. The tournament had an all-new format that included a "Champions Field" and an "Elite Field." The Champions Field (maximum of 180 bowlers) included any past PBA champions with four or fewer titles, plus titleists on the PBA Regional Tour, PBA Women's Series
PBA Women's Series
The PBA Women's Series was a mini-tour for female professional bowlers. It was started in 2007 as a way to bring women's bowling back to television after the Professional Women's Bowling Association disbanded in 2003...
tour, PBA Senior Tour and PBA Senior Regional Tour who were PBA members at the time of the titles. The Top 90 finishers after 14 qualifying games advanced to bowl against the Elite Field. The Elite Field included all 2010-11 exempt PBA players, any PBA Hall of Famer, any player listed in 2008 as one of the "50 Greatest PBA Players of the Last 50 Years," any PBA player with five or more PBA Tour titles or at least one PBA major title, plus the winners of the 2010 USBC Senior Masters, 2010 PBA Senior U.S. Open, 2010 Regional Players Invitational and 2010 Regional Players Championship. All entrants had to be full-fledged PBA members as of October 1, 2010.
Those who earned entry into the Elite Field bowled 20 games of qualifying to determine the Top 53, who along with the defending champion all cashed a minimum of $2,500. After 16 more games in the Cashers' Round, the Top 24 (based on 36 total games) made the round-robin match play. The Top 4 match play qualifiers then made the live televised finals. Payouts for the TV finals were $250,000 for first, $100,000 for second, $50,000 for third and $40,000 for fourth. (See also: PBA Bowling Tour: 2010-11 season.)
Previous PBA Tournament of Champions Winners
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final score (championship match) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Billy Hardwick Billy Hardwick Billy Hardwick is a former right-handed ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association. He currently hails from Florida.-PBA career:... |
Dick Weber Dick Weber Dick Weber was a famous bowling professional and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association... |
484-468 |
| 1966 | Wayne Zahn | Dick Weber Dick Weber Dick Weber was a famous bowling professional and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association... |
203-170 |
| 1967 | Jim Stefanich | Don Johnson Don Johnson (bowler) Don Johnson was an American ten-pin bowler who spent many years on the Professional Bowlers Association tour.-PBA career:... |
227-227 (43-36 in two frame roll-off) |
| 1968 | Dave Davis Dave Davis (bowler) Dave Davis was a successful professional ten-pin bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and now resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.... |
Don Johnson Don Johnson (bowler) Don Johnson was an American ten-pin bowler who spent many years on the Professional Bowlers Association tour.-PBA career:... |
213-205 |
| 1969 | Jim Godman | Jim Stefanich | 266-228 |
| 1970 | Don Johnson Don Johnson (bowler) Don Johnson was an American ten-pin bowler who spent many years on the Professional Bowlers Association tour.-PBA career:... |
Dick Ritger Dick Ritger Dick Ritger , of River Falls, Wisconsin, was a dominating right-handed ten-pin bowler in the Professional Bowlers Association , and now runs Dick Ritger's Bowling Camp.-PBA career:... |
299-268 |
| 1971 | Johnny Petraglia Johnny Petraglia Johnny Petraglia was born in Brooklyn, New York, and now hails from Manalapan Township, New Jersey. He is best known as a left-handed bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association , where he won 14 tour titles. He has also won six Senior PBA Tour titles... |
Don Johnson Don Johnson (bowler) Don Johnson was an American ten-pin bowler who spent many years on the Professional Bowlers Association tour.-PBA career:... |
246-169 |
| 1972 | Mike Durbin Mike Durbin Mike Durbin is a former American professional bowler. He became a member of the PBA in 1967, a year in which he won two tournaments and was named PBA Rookie of the Year by Sporting News. He would go on to win a record three Tournament of Champions titles and 14 total PBA titles, amassing over... |
Timmy Harahan | 258-187 |
| 1973 | Jim Godman | Barry Asher | 224-200 |
| 1974 | Earl Anthony Earl Anthony Earl Roderick Anthony was a left-handed American professional bowler who amassed records of 41 titles and six bowler of the year awards on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. His title count was amended to 43 in 2008, when the PBA chose to include ABC Masters titles earned by a PBA member... |
Johnny Petraglia Johnny Petraglia Johnny Petraglia was born in Brooklyn, New York, and now hails from Manalapan Township, New Jersey. He is best known as a left-handed bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association , where he won 14 tour titles. He has also won six Senior PBA Tour titles... |
216-213 |
| 1975 | Dave Davis Dave Davis (bowler) Dave Davis was a successful professional ten-pin bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and now resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.... |
Barry Asher | 201-195 |
| 1976 | Marshall Holman Marshall Holman Marshall Holman is an American professional bowler primarily known for his success on the PBA Tour throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He also served as a color analyst alongside Mike Durbin on several ESPN and ESPN2 bowling telecasts from 1996–2001... |
Billy Hardwick Billy Hardwick Billy Hardwick is a former right-handed ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association. He currently hails from Florida.-PBA career:... |
203-198 |
| 1977 | Mike Berlin | Mike Durbin Mike Durbin Mike Durbin is a former American professional bowler. He became a member of the PBA in 1967, a year in which he won two tournaments and was named PBA Rookie of the Year by Sporting News. He would go on to win a record three Tournament of Champions titles and 14 total PBA titles, amassing over... |
221-205 |
| 1978 | Earl Anthony Earl Anthony Earl Roderick Anthony was a left-handed American professional bowler who amassed records of 41 titles and six bowler of the year awards on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. His title count was amended to 43 in 2008, when the PBA chose to include ABC Masters titles earned by a PBA member... |
Teata Semiz | 237-192 |
| 1979 | George Pappas | Dick Ritger Dick Ritger Dick Ritger , of River Falls, Wisconsin, was a dominating right-handed ten-pin bowler in the Professional Bowlers Association , and now runs Dick Ritger's Bowling Camp.-PBA career:... |
224-195 |
| 1980 | Wayne Webb Wayne Webb Wayne Webb is the son of a Ten-pin bowling alley operator from Rehoboth, Massachusetts, USA and was one of the world's best Ten-pin bowlers from the late 1970s to the end of the 1980s... |
Gary Dickinson | 219-194 |
| 1981 | Steve Cook | Pete Couture | 287-183 |
| 1982 | Mike Durbin Mike Durbin Mike Durbin is a former American professional bowler. He became a member of the PBA in 1967, a year in which he won two tournaments and was named PBA Rookie of the Year by Sporting News. He would go on to win a record three Tournament of Champions titles and 14 total PBA titles, amassing over... |
Steve Cook | 233-203 |
| 1983 | Joe Berardi | Henry Gonzalez | 186-179 |
| 1984 | Mike Durbin Mike Durbin Mike Durbin is a former American professional bowler. He became a member of the PBA in 1967, a year in which he won two tournaments and was named PBA Rookie of the Year by Sporting News. He would go on to win a record three Tournament of Champions titles and 14 total PBA titles, amassing over... |
Mike Aulby Mike Aulby Mike Aulby is a left-handed bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He is one of only three PBA bowlers to win both a Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year award... |
246-163 |
| 1985 | Mark Williams | Bob Handley | 191-140 |
| 1986 | Marshall Holman Marshall Holman Marshall Holman is an American professional bowler primarily known for his success on the PBA Tour throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He also served as a color analyst alongside Mike Durbin on several ESPN and ESPN2 bowling telecasts from 1996–2001... |
Mark Baker Mark Baker Mark Baker may refer to:*Mark Baker , British animator*Mark Allen Baker , American author and historian*Mark M... |
233-211 |
| 1987 | Pete Weber Pete Weber Peter David "Pete" Weber, nicknamed “PDW”, , is a famous bowling professional on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. Weber is one of the sport's most popular active players and is well known for his maverick, rebellious personality... |
Jim Murtishaw | 222-190 |
| 1988 | Mark Williams | Tony Westlake | 237-214 |
| 1989 | Del Ballard Jr. Del Ballard Jr. Delmas Perry "Del" Ballard Jr. is a professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association. He was a 2009 inductee into the PBA Hall of Fame, and a 2011 inductee into the USBC Hall of Fame. Del is the husband of top female bowler Carolyn Dorin-Ballard with whom he has one... |
Walter Ray Williams Jr. | 254-218 |
| 1990 | Dave Ferraro | Tony Westlake | 226-203 |
| 1991 | David Ozio David Ozio David Ozio of Beaumont, TX is a right-handed ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He won 11 titles on the PBA Tour. He was the 2004 Senior PBA Rookie of the Year, winning the 2004 Senior U.S. Open. Through 2008, he has won five titles on the Senior and Generations... |
Amleto Monacelli Amleto Monacelli Amleto Monacelli of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, is a renowned ten-pin bowler and winner of 19 titles on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour.-PBA career:... |
236-203 |
| 1992 | Marc McDowell | Don Genalo | 223-193 |
| 1993 | George Branham III George Branham III George Branham III is a professional ten-pin bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He began his career in 1984 and retired at the end of the 2003 season... |
Parker Bohn III Parker Bohn III Parker Morse Bohn III is a left-handed American professional bowler and has been a member of the Professional Bowlers Association since 1984. He currently ranks sixth all-time with 32 career PBA titles, and has earned over $2.7 million in PBA events—good for fourth on the all-time list... |
227-214 |
| 1994 | Norm Duke Norm Duke Norm Duke is an American professional bowler currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition, including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003.... |
Eric Forkel | 217-194 |
| 1995 | Mike Aulby Mike Aulby Mike Aulby is a left-handed bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He is one of only three PBA bowlers to win both a Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year award... |
Bob Spaulding | 237-232 |
| 1996 | Dave D'Entremont | Dave Arnold | 215-202 |
| 1997 | John Gant | Mike Aulby Mike Aulby Mike Aulby is a left-handed bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He is one of only three PBA bowlers to win both a Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year award... |
208-187 |
| 1998 | Bryan Goebel Bryan Goebel Bryan Goebel is a professional bowler who currently resides in Shawnee, Kansas.At the PBA Medford Open, held January 8–12, 2003, Goebel won his tenth PBA title, defeating Danny Wiseman 257-212... |
Steve Hoskins | 245-235 |
| 1999 | Jason Couch Jason Couch Jason Couch is one of the top bowlers on the Professional Bowlers Association tour. A left-handed cranker, he currently resides in Clermont, Florida.-PBA career:... |
Chris Barnes | 197-193 |
| 2000 | Jason Couch Jason Couch Jason Couch is one of the top bowlers on the Professional Bowlers Association tour. A left-handed cranker, he currently resides in Clermont, Florida.-PBA career:... |
Ryan Shafer | 198-166 |
| 2001 | Tournament not held in 2001 | ||
| 2002 | Jason Couch Jason Couch Jason Couch is one of the top bowlers on the Professional Bowlers Association tour. A left-handed cranker, he currently resides in Clermont, Florida.-PBA career:... |
Ryan Shafer | 266-224 |
| 2003 | Patrick Healey, Jr Patrick Healey, Jr Patrick Healey, Jr is a bowler on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour and resides in Denton, Texas with wife, Teresa and his stepson Victor. Healey has been a member of the PBA since 1998 and in his free time enjoys playing golf. His wife Teresa is also an accomplished bowler and has... |
Randy Pedersen Randy Pedersen Randy Pedersen is a professional bowler and color analyst for ESPN's coverage of the PBA Tour. He works alongside play-by-play commentator Rob Stone. Pedersen grew up in Southern California, but relocated to Clermont, Florida in the early 1990s, where he has resided ever since... |
222-188 |
| 2004 | Tournament not held in 2004 | ||
| 2005 | Steve Jaros | Norm Duke Norm Duke Norm Duke is an American professional bowler currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition, including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003.... |
248-242 |
| 2006 | Chris Barnes | Steve Jaros | 234-227 |
| 2007 | Tommy Jones | Tony Reyes | 257-222 |
| 2008 | Michael Haugen Jr. Michael Haugen Jr. Michael Haugen Jr. is a right-handed professional ten-pin bowler residing in Carefree, Arizona.http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2007/11/19/sports/top_sports/doc41772abf7d22a26b862573980004b7cd.txt He is a member of the Professional Bowlers Association , having joined in 1994... |
Chris Barnes | 215-214 |
| 2009 | Patrick Allen Patrick Allen (bowler) Patrick Allen is one of the premiere left-handed ten-pin bowlers currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has won 13 PBA titles, including two majors... |
Rhino Page Rhino Page Ryan "Rhino" Page is a left-handed bowler on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, and was the 2008 PBA Rookie of the Year. He is also a former U.S. Amateur champion, winning the event in 2005. A San Diego, California native, Page now resides in Dade City, FL... |
267-263 |
| 2010 | Kelly Kulick Kelly Kulick Kelly Kulick is an American professional bowler from Union Township, New Jersey. She has won eight professional women's bowling titles and one PBA Tour title.-Bowling accomplishments:... |
Chris Barnes | 265-195 |
| 2011 | Mika Koivuniemi Mika Koivuniemi Mika Juhani Koivuniemi is a Finnish ten-pin bowler, currently on the Professional Bowlers Association tour in the United States, who has won bowling titles in 12 different countries in his career.... |
Tom Smallwood Tom Smallwood Thomas Smallwood is a ten-pin bowler currently competing on the PBA Tour. On December 13, 2009, the right-hander won his first PBA Tour title and first major in the PBA World Championship, defeating 2008-09 PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott in the final match, 244-228... |
269-207 |
Jason Thomas' Top 10 Moments in T of C History
In 2010, PBA.com writer Jason Thomas listed his Top 10 moments in the 48-year history of the Tournament of Champions.#10 - Marshall Holman's Million-Dollar Win. Hall of Famer Marshall Holman
Marshall Holman
Marshall Holman is an American professional bowler primarily known for his success on the PBA Tour throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He also served as a color analyst alongside Mike Durbin on several ESPN and ESPN2 bowling telecasts from 1996–2001...
became the third player in PBA history to top the $1 million mark in career earnings by winning the 1986 event.
#9 - George Branham III Wins Last Firestone. In 1993, George Branham III
George Branham III
George Branham III is a professional ten-pin bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He began his career in 1984 and retired at the end of the 2003 season...
became the first (and so far only) African American winner in this tournament, as well as the last to win the tournament while it was sponsored by Firestone.
#8 - Weber Becomes Youngest to 10 Titles. With his win in the 1987 T of C, 24-year old Pete Weber
Pete Weber
Peter David "Pete" Weber, nicknamed “PDW”, , is a famous bowling professional on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. Weber is one of the sport's most popular active players and is well known for his maverick, rebellious personality...
became the youngest PBA player ever to reach the 10-title plateau.
#7 - Earl Gets Title #30. Hall of Fame left-hander Earl Anthony
Earl Anthony
Earl Roderick Anthony was a left-handed American professional bowler who amassed records of 41 titles and six bowler of the year awards on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. His title count was amended to 43 in 2008, when the PBA chose to include ABC Masters titles earned by a PBA member...
became the first PBA player to reach 30 career titles with his win in the 1978 event. The legendary Dick Weber
Dick Weber
Dick Weber was a famous bowling professional and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association...
, who was in the ABC broadcast booth with Chris Schenkel
Chris Schenkel
Christopher Eugene "Chris" Schenkel was an American sportscaster. Over the course of five decades he called play-by-play for numerous sports on television and radio, becoming known for his smooth delivery and baritone voice.-Early life and career:Schenkel began his broadcasting career at radio...
because analyst Nelson Burton Jr.
Nelson Burton Jr.
Nelson "Bo" Burton, Jr. is a professional ten-pin bowler and former longtime analyst for the Professional Bowlers Tour on ABC Television. He is the son of Nelson Burton, Sr., who himself was a successful bowler in his day, competing with the likes of Glenn Allison and Billy Welu...
had made the TV finals, proclaimed Anthony the "undisputed King of Bowling" after the victory.
#6 - Bomb Scare. In 1991, the tournament was delayed 40 minutes due to a bomb threat. David Ozio
David Ozio
David Ozio of Beaumont, TX is a right-handed ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He won 11 titles on the PBA Tour. He was the 2004 Senior PBA Rookie of the Year, winning the 2004 Senior U.S. Open. Through 2008, he has won five titles on the Senior and Generations...
eventually won the title on his way to 1991 Player of the Year honors.
#5 - Rhino's 4-Count. Rhino Page
Rhino Page
Ryan "Rhino" Page is a left-handed bowler on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, and was the 2008 PBA Rookie of the Year. He is also a former U.S. Amateur champion, winning the event in 2005. A San Diego, California native, Page now resides in Dade City, FL...
, needing only a 9-spare to defeat Patrick Allen
Patrick Allen (bowler)
Patrick Allen is one of the premiere left-handed ten-pin bowlers currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has won 13 PBA titles, including two majors...
after striking on the first ball in the 10th frame in the 2009 event, threw an inexplicable 4-count. Missing wide of target, the left-hander's shot cut between the 1 and 4 pins, taking out only the 2, 5, 6 and 8 pins, giving Allen a 267-263 victory.
#4 - Michael Haugen Jr.'s Comeback. Having just qualified for the 2008 T of C earlier that season, Michael Haugen Jr.
Michael Haugen Jr.
Michael Haugen Jr. is a right-handed professional ten-pin bowler residing in Carefree, Arizona.http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2007/11/19/sports/top_sports/doc41772abf7d22a26b862573980004b7cd.txt He is a member of the Professional Bowlers Association , having joined in 1994...
trailed Chris Barnes by 53 pins in the 5th frame of the final match, and was still down 41 pins entering the 9th frame. When Barnes missed a 10-pin in the 9th frame, Haugen responded with a strike in the 9th and two strikes plus nine pins in the 10th. Barnes rolled a spare in the 10th, and needed a strike on the fill ball to force extra frames. But Barnes left a 4-pin, giving Haugen a narrow 215-214 victory.
#3 - Couch's Three-Peat. In 2002, Jason Couch
Jason Couch
Jason Couch is one of the top bowlers on the Professional Bowlers Association tour. A left-handed cranker, he currently resides in Clermont, Florida.-PBA career:...
became just the second PBA Player to win the T of C three times (joining Mike Durbin
Mike Durbin
Mike Durbin is a former American professional bowler. He became a member of the PBA in 1967, a year in which he won two tournaments and was named PBA Rookie of the Year by Sporting News. He would go on to win a record three Tournament of Champions titles and 14 total PBA titles, amassing over...
) and the only one to do so in consecutive seasons.
#2 - Don Johnson's 299 Game. In perhaps the most iconic moment of the PBA's first 50 years, Hall of Famer Don Johnson
Don Johnson (bowler)
Don Johnson was an American ten-pin bowler who spent many years on the Professional Bowlers Association tour.-PBA career:...
had struck on the first nine balls of the final 1970 T of C match, but still needed a mark in the 10th frame to top Dick Ritger
Dick Ritger
Dick Ritger , of River Falls, Wisconsin, was a dominating right-handed ten-pin bowler in the Professional Bowlers Association , and now runs Dick Ritger's Bowling Camp.-PBA career:...
's 268 score. With millions watching on TV, Johnson coolly rolled the first two strikes in the 10th to lock up the title. With an additional $10,000 and a Mercury Cougar automobile on the line for a 300 game, Johnson packed his 12th shot but left a ringing 10-pin for a 299 game. The shot of Johnson lying face-down on the approach in disbelief has been replayed dozens of times on PBA telecasts.
#1 - Kelly Kulick's Historic Win. Up against enormous odds to become the first woman ever to win a standard PBA Tour event, it is hard to argue the historic value of Kelly Kulick
Kelly Kulick
Kelly Kulick is an American professional bowler from Union Township, New Jersey. She has won eight professional women's bowling titles and one PBA Tour title.-Bowling accomplishments:...
's 2010 T of C win. Said Thomas, "her inspiring come-from-behind run on Friday evening to qualify for the telecast in second place was probably special enough to make this list. But her performance on Sunday, defeating Mika Koivuniemi
Mika Koivuniemi
Mika Juhani Koivuniemi is a Finnish ten-pin bowler, currently on the Professional Bowlers Association tour in the United States, who has won bowling titles in 12 different countries in his career....
and then Chris Barnes with a convincing 265 game in the final with millions watching (the telecast was the PBA's highest-rated show for the year), is a feat that will be remembered for as long as bowling is broadcast on TV."