USBC Masters players to watch in 2010

The 2010 United States Bowling Congress Masters will feature a field of the country’s top professional and amateur players competing for one of bowling’s most prestigious titles.

Here’s a quick look at the top 10 players from the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour points list, who are all expected to be in the hunt for the 2010 Masters title.

CHRIS BARNES

Hometown: Double Oak, Texas
2008-09 Rank: 1
Notable: Owns 12 PBA Tour titles including two majors…One of three bowlers to win both PBA Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors…Won back-to-back titles in second half of 2008-09 season and made run at defending Player of the Year honors.

BILL O’NEILL
Hometown: Southampton, Pa.
2008-09 Rank: 2
Notable: Won first PBA Tour title at the World Series of Bowling in August… Named the 2005-06 PBA Rookie of the Year… Finished second twice and third three times during the 2008-09 season and cashed in all 20 events entered.

WES MALOTT
Hometown: Argyle, Texas
2008-09 Rank: 3
Notable: Owns six PBA Tour titles, including three in 2008-09 on his way to PBA Player of the Year honors…Personal best nine championship-round appearances in 2008-09…Won the George Young High Average Award in 2008-09 with 222.98.

NORM DUKE

Hometown: Clermont, Fla.
2008-09 Rank: 4
Notable: Owns 33 career PBA Tour titles, fourth all-time…Six career majors ranks sixth on the all-time list…Won the 1993 Masters… PBA Player of the Year in 1994 and 2000… Inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 2009.

MIKE SCROGGINS

Hometown: Amarillo, Texas
2008-09 Rank: 5
Notable: Owns seven PBA Tour titles including the Pepsi Red, White and Blue Open presented by USBC in December…Won Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open, the final event of the 2008-09 season, for his second major title…Won the 2005 USBC Masters.

WALTER RAY WILLIAMS JR.

Hometown: Ocala, Fla.
2008-09 Rank: 6
Notable: Owns 46 PBA Tour titles, the most in Tour history, seven of which are major titles… Won the 2004 USBC Masters… Six-time PBA Player of the Year… Won the 2009-10 season-opening Motor City Open… Has won titles in a record 17 consecutive seasons.

BRAD ANGELO

Lockport, N.Y.
2008-09 Rank: 7
Notable: Won the Pepsi Viper Championship in 2008 for his first PBA Tour title… Had three championship-round appearances in 2008-09… PBA Rookie of the Year in 2002-03… Harry Smith Point Leader Award in 2003-04.

PETE WEBER
Hometown: St. Ann, Mo.
2008-09 Rank: 8
Notable: Is tied for third all-time with Mark Roth with 34 career PBA Tour titles, including eight major titles which ranks tied for second all-time…Had three television appearances in 2008-09, with best finish of second in GEICO Plastic Ball Championship.

MICHAEL FAGAN

Hometown: Patchogue, N.Y.
2008-09 Rank: 9
Notable: Owns one PBA Tour title, the PBA Exempt Doubles Classic in 2007-08 with Danny Wiseman… Finished second in Denny’s Dick Weber Open and Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic for his best finishes of the 2008-09 season.

PATRICK ALLEN

Hometown: Wesley Chapel, Fla.
2008-09 Rank: 10
Notable: Owns 13 PBA Tour titles including two majors… Won three titles, including second major, during the 2008-09 season… Finished third in average in 2008-09 with 222.75… 2004-05 PBA Player of the Year.