About
Looking for a new kind of bowling tournament excitement that packs a real punch? Look no further. USBC’s “Clash of Champions” is bowling like you’ve never seen it before!
The ‘Clash’ puts a whole new spin on bowling. All 16 champions (eight men and eight women ranging from teenagers to seniors) from USBC national events during the previous calendar year plus the U.S. Open and the Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year square off in a showdown for a $50,000 first prize and $100,000 total prize fund.
Featuring compelling matchups such as men vs. women, teens vs. adults and pros vs. amateurs, the Clash starts with sudden death, one-ball elimination rounds. The action then moves to one-game, man vs. woman head-to-head matches on national network TV.
It’s definitely not your typical bowling tournament!
The Clash is contested during the USBC Convention, which typically draws about 2,000 people who bring the business and sport of bowling together. Four lanes are constructed on the floor of the convention center for the tournament, which turns into a giant gathering place for industry leaders and stars of the sport who mingle with state and local association representatives and USBC members from across the country who all play a role to help determine the sport’s future.
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Contact
Have a question about the Clash? Contact one of our event staff members and we’ll be happy to help.
Lucas Wiseman
Senior Public Relations Coordinator lucas.wiseman@bowl.com
(800) 514-BOWL
Matt Lawson
Video & Event Production Manager matt.lawson@bowl.com
(800) 514-BOWL
Top Stories
Chris Barnes wins Bowling's Clash of Champions
5/1/2009
By Lucas Wiseman
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Consider the title defended. Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, picked up where his wife, Lynda, left off last year as he claimed the top spot at Bowling's Clash of Champions, a United States Bowling Congress event.
Barnes, who earned his way into the Clash by being the 2007-08 Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year, defeated collegiate bowler Rebekah Diers of Kingston, N.Y., in the man versus woman title match 257-207 Thursday at the Reno Events Center.
A crowd of nearly 1,500 fans watched the special made-for-television event that showcased 16 champions of various events competing for a total prize pool of $100,000. The Clash aired on CBS Sports on May 9 from 4-6 p.m. EDT.
"In this format, with this field, it's tough to have high expectations," said Barnes, whose wife Lynda defeated pro bowler Sean Rash to win last year's inaugural Clash. "I was fortunate that Lynda bowled in this event last year because I knew what I wanted to try and accomplish and it worked."
The victory didn't come easy for Barnes, however, as Diers, who bowls collegiately at McKendree, put him on his heels early in the match.
Diers opened the game with four consecutive strikes before leaving the 2-4-10 split and converting it. In the seventh frame, however, she left the 4-6-7-10 split to effectively end her upset bid.
Barnes, meanwhile, started with a strike and a spare before rattling off six consecutive strikes, one of which was a Brooklyn. Needing a mark in the final frame to win, Barnes crushed the pocket for a strike.
"Rebekah bowled just terrific and her first six frames were way better than my first six frames," Barnes said. "If I don't have that Brooklyn in the fourth frame, she is ahead by almost 20 and there's no pressure on her. She sure didn't seem nervous about bowling me in those first few frames."
Barnes took home $50,000 for his victory, while Diers earned $25,000 for finishing second. It was an experience Diers said she will never forget.
"I just tried to do my best every shot," Diers said. "This is the best day of my life. I got to not only bowl with Chris Barnes, I got to bowl against him."
In the semifinals, Diers eliminated Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., while Barnes took out collegiate bowler Dan Vick of Pittsford, N.Y., 226-223.
All four players advanced to the championship round by surviving one of the most unique formats in the history of bowling. Each player made it through their foursome in the one-ball, sudden-death round, defeating opponents who ranged in age from teenagers to seniors.
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Format 2009
The unique format of Bowling’s Clash of Champions provides the thrills of one-ball, sudden death elimination and more traditional, head-to-head full-game matches.
Round 1 Four players shoot once, lowest pinfall eliminated
All four players will select their starting lane from highest to lowest seed. All four players then throw one shot on the lane they selected. The player with the lowest pinfall is eliminated. If two or more players tie for the lowest pinfall, they throw another shot and the lowest pinfall is eliminated. This continues until three players remain.
The player eliminated earns $1,250 in prize money.
Round 3 Three players shoot once, lowest pinfall eliminated
The three remaining players stay on their selected lane and follow the same format as the previous round until two players remain.
The player eliminated earns $1,250 in prize money.
Round 2 Two players shoot once, lowest pinfall eliminated
The two remaining players stay on their selected lane and follow the same format as the previous round until one player remains. This player advances to semifinals on the second TV show.
The player eliminated earns $1,250 in prize money.
Winners from each group advance to finals
The championship round will have the feel of a more traditional bowling telecast as the players battle for the $50,000 first prize.
Finalists bowl game by gender
The remaining two men and two women will bowl each other in a traditional game of bowling at the same time with the winner of each match advancing to the championship match.
Man and woman bowl for championship
The lanes will be re-oiled and the highest remaining seed will select which pair will be used for the championship. If the two players are the same seed, the tie will be broken by highest seeding round block. If still tied, it will be broken by the highest last game of the eight-game block. If still tied, highest seventh game and so on until the tie is broken.
The two remaining players will bowl each other in a traditional game of bowling to determine the champion.
The players eliminated in the semifinal matches will each earn $5,000. The second-place finisher will earn $25,000 and the winner will earn $50,000.
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BowlTV
See Chris Barnes on BowlTV!
Once you visit BowlTV for the first time you will quickly find that it becomes a part of your daily routine. There you will find advice on how to play the Cheetah or the Scorpion from the pros who won Lumber Liquidator’s PBA Tour tournaments on those very patterns such as Chris Barnes, Rhino Page or Wes Malott, classic videos of legends such as Marion Ladewig, Dick Weber and Barry Asher in their prime, highlights of Team USA competition from around the world, and much, much more.
Chris Barnes
What is your single biggest bowling accomplishment and why?
“Winning the 2004 U.S. Open. It is the toughest tournament with the toughest field on our most difficult pattern. Striking in the 10th frame to win was a career-defining moment for me. It also got me into the Roll to Riches, which I won for $200,000 more the next week.”
What would you like most to accomplish in your bowling career and why?
“I’d like to complete the Grand Slam. It’s something very few have accomplished.”
Why are you going to win Bowling’s Clash of Champions?
“I’ve won two Roll to Riches and two Skills Challenges. I am the gimmick guy and this is my kind of tournament. Besides, my wife was the best of them last year, and I am better than her!”
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Shannon O’Keefe
Resides: Arlington, Texas Born: January 27, 1979 Throws: Right College: Portland State University Family status: Married (Bryan), dogs (Cola, Lincoln)
Notable: Maiden name is Rondeau … Native of Oregon City, Ore. … Nickname is “Shan O’ Mac” … Attended Portland State University in 1997-98 and was a scholarship member of the women’s softball team … At age 15, finished among the top 160 women at the 1996 U.S. Olympic softball team trials … Briefly competed on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour … Husband Bryan is a former collegiate All-American bowler at the University of Nebraska … Serves as World Tenpin Bowling Association/International Coordinator at USBC
Years on Team USA (5): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
CAREER HIGHLIGHTSProfessional
- Competed in the 2008-09 PBA Women’s Series
- Runner-up at 2007 U.S. Women’s Open
- 5th at 2007 USBC Queens
Team USA
- Silver medal (doubles with Mexico’s Adriana Perez) at 2008 Federation Tenpin Bowling Cup
- Three gold medals (all-events, singles, mixed doubles and mixed doubles Masters), one silver (mixed doubles) and one bronze (Masters) at 2008 Pan American Bowling Confederation Championship of the Champions
- Gold (singles) and two silvers (team, trios) medals at 2007 Women’s World Championships
- Five gold medals (singles, doubles, team, all-events, national all-events) and one silver (mixed doubles) at 2006 Tournament of the Americas
- Silver medal (team) at 2005 Women’s World Championships
Other
- 2008 USBC Team USA Trials champion
- 2001 and 2006 Rochester Queens champion
- 2003 Lilac City Women’s Team and Doubles champion
- 2003 Lilac City Mixed Team runner-up
- Runner-up at 2002 Rochester Queens
- 2001 New York State Queens champion
- 4th at 1998 Portland (Ore.) Masters
AWARDS
- 2007-08 Bowlers Journal International All-America team
- Finalist for the 2007 Harry Glickman Professional Athlete of the Year Award, presented to Oregon’s top athlete
- 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006 Rochester Women’s Bowling Association High Average (set record in 2005-06 season with 236)
- 2002 and 2003 Rochester Women’s All-Star Team
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Derek Eoff
What is your single biggest bowling accomplishment and why?
“My biggest bowling accomplishment is winning the 2008 QubicaAMF World Cup. That event meant a lot to me because I was able to represent the United States and bowl against the best bowlers from around the world. Winning that event signified all the hard work, dedication and practice I have put in to try and become a world champion had paid off.”
What would you like most to accomplish in your bowling career and why?
“I would love to bowl in the World Championships for Team USA. Representing your country is just an amazing feeling and I would love to do it with five other guys and win a team gold medal for the United States.”
Why are you going to win Bowling’s Clash of Champions?
“I am going to win the Clash because everyone roots for the underdog. I guess there are some guys named Norm Duke and Chris Barnes who are pretty good and supposed to be the favorites.”
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(Note: Parental consent is required for nominees under the age of 18)The name of the bowler you would like to nominate:
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ClashSubmit@bowl.comThank you for your nomination! While we are unable to respond to each individual submission due to the volume of submissions we receive, we will be contacting you if your nominee is chosen to be featured on bowl.com.Read More
About
Looking for a new kind of bowling tournament excitement that packs a real punch? Look no further. USBC’s “Clash of Champions” is bowling like you’ve never seen it before!
The ‘Clash’ puts a whole new spin on bowling. All 16 champions (eight men and eight women ranging from teenagers to seniors) from USBC national events during the previous calendar year plus the U.S. Open and the Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year square off in a showdown for a $50,000 first prize and $100,000 total prize fund.
Featuring compelling matchups such as men vs. women, teens vs. adults and pros vs. amateurs, the Clash starts with sudden death, one-ball elimination rounds. The action then moves to one-game, man vs. woman head-to-head matches on national network TV.
It’s definitely not your typical bowling tournament!
The Clash is contested during the USBC Convention, which typically draws about 2,000 people who bring the business and sport of bowling together. Four lanes are constructed on the floor of the convention center for the tournament, which turns into a giant gathering place for industry leaders and stars of the sport who mingle with state and local association representatives and USBC members from across the country who all play a role to help determine the sport’s future.
Read More
Top Stories
Chris Barnes wins Bowling's Clash of Champions
Chris Barnes
What is your single biggest bowling accomplishment and why?
Shannon O’Keefe
Resides: Arlington, Texas
Derek Eoff
What is your single biggest bowling accomplishment and why?
