Shark Champions Crowned
December 06, 2009
The Professional Bowlers Association's historic World Series of Bowling at Thunderbowl Lanes concluded on an appropriately historic note Sunday as Jack Jurek ended a 14-year span between titles with a roll-off victory over Michael Fagan, who was looking for the first singles title of his career.
Jurek, who won his last title on March 25, 1995 at the PBA Tums Classic, needed a strike followed by a 9-count and a spare in the tenth frame of the 2009 PBA Shark Championship title match, but fell short with a 3-6-10 leave after striking on his first ball. Fagan quickly responded with a clutch double and, needing one more strike to take the title, watched a messenger barely miss a stubborn ten-pin to send the game into a 218-218 tie and a roll-off. Jurek took full advantage of his second chance with a flush strike as Fagan sent his first ball wide to leave the 1-2 and lose the roll-off 10-8.
Earlier in the evening USBC Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard chased some history of her own in an attempt to become the first-ever player to win a title in three straight Women's Series seasons, losing a grueling match against Kelly Kulick in which the two compiled five open frames between them. Dorin-Ballard narrowly avoided a 5-7-10 split in the 8th frame and instead left a 7-10 for the first of two consecutive opens in the 8th and 9th, the other being a baby split that she failed to convert. Though struggling throughout the match, Kulick changed balls and moved deeper inside for the tenth frame and took control of the match with a double and an 8-count for the title.
In the men's semifinal reigning PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott left an open frame in the 8th that put Jack Jurek out of reach, losing to the eventual 2009 PBA Shark Champion by a score of 255-213. In the other men's semifinal match, an animated Jason Couch recovered from an open frame in the first with a double before losing his strike shot for a few frames as Fagan kept things close with an open of his own in the 4th. With six of seven possible strikes through his first seven frames, Fagan ultimately proved too strong for Couch in a 224-201 victory over the 3-time PBA Tournament of Champions winner.
All winners of the "animal pattern" events on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour this season qualify to compete in the PBA Experience Showdown presented by BOWL.com, which will air in April.
Jurek, who won his last title on March 25, 1995 at the PBA Tums Classic, needed a strike followed by a 9-count and a spare in the tenth frame of the 2009 PBA Shark Championship title match, but fell short with a 3-6-10 leave after striking on his first ball. Fagan quickly responded with a clutch double and, needing one more strike to take the title, watched a messenger barely miss a stubborn ten-pin to send the game into a 218-218 tie and a roll-off. Jurek took full advantage of his second chance with a flush strike as Fagan sent his first ball wide to leave the 1-2 and lose the roll-off 10-8.
Earlier in the evening USBC Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard chased some history of her own in an attempt to become the first-ever player to win a title in three straight Women's Series seasons, losing a grueling match against Kelly Kulick in which the two compiled five open frames between them. Dorin-Ballard narrowly avoided a 5-7-10 split in the 8th frame and instead left a 7-10 for the first of two consecutive opens in the 8th and 9th, the other being a baby split that she failed to convert. Though struggling throughout the match, Kulick changed balls and moved deeper inside for the tenth frame and took control of the match with a double and an 8-count for the title.
In the men's semifinal reigning PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott left an open frame in the 8th that put Jack Jurek out of reach, losing to the eventual 2009 PBA Shark Champion by a score of 255-213. In the other men's semifinal match, an animated Jason Couch recovered from an open frame in the first with a double before losing his strike shot for a few frames as Fagan kept things close with an open of his own in the 4th. With six of seven possible strikes through his first seven frames, Fagan ultimately proved too strong for Couch in a 224-201 victory over the 3-time PBA Tournament of Champions winner.
All winners of the "animal pattern" events on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour this season qualify to compete in the PBA Experience Showdown presented by BOWL.com, which will air in April.