Swedish Two-Hander Jesper Svensson Averages 247 to Lead PBA Chameleon Championship Qualifying
Bill Vint
Professional Bowlers Association
RENO, Nev. – Sweden’s Jesper Svensson averaged a stunning 247 to win the qualifying round of the Professional Bowlers Association’s Chameleon Championship presented by HotelPlanner.com Thursday in the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling VII presented by Silver Legacy at the National Bowling Stadium.
The Chameleon Championship is the third of four PBA “animal pattern” championships that serve as qualifying legs of the Rolltech PBA World Championship.
Svensson, who is trying for his second PBA Tour title and first on American soil, fired games of 226, 279, 204, 246, 247, 259, 268, 235 and 259 for a 2,223 total to race into a 62-pin lead over Denmark’s Thomas Larsen. After making his professional debut in PBA WSOB VI in Las Vegas last fall, the slender 20-year-old won his first PBA title in the PBA International-World Bowling Tour Kingdom of Bahrain Open in March.
“I actually got lined up in the first game,” Svensson said of Thursday’s round. “I had some problems early in the third game, but I got some strikes late and saved it. After that, it was pretty good.”
Like most of the emerging young two-handed players, Svensson said he started bowling with two hands at a very young age because, “I couldn’t throw the ball with one hand, so I used two, and I continued on. I’ve been a full-time bowler for a year now. I like coming to the World Series because it’s a good learning experience. It’s great to be here. I’m going to come back for many years.”
After three animal pattern qualifying rounds to make the 61-player cut for the Rolltech PBA World Championship, England’s Stuart Williams was bowling at a 236.5 pace to take a 103-pin lead over Canada’s Patrick Girard. Rookie Jakob Butturff of Chandler, Ariz., was in third place followed by 2013 PBA Rookie of the Year EJ Tackett of Huntington, Ind., and two-time 2015 title winner Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y. Friday’s nine-game Scorpion Championship round will determine the cashers for the World Championship.
Thursday’s Chameleon round proved to be the most challenging for Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts, who is bowling in professional competition for the first time in Reno. Betts averaged 190.2 for the round, finishing in a tie for 204th place in the 246-player field.
“I was really frustrated with myself,” Betts said. “My mechanics aren’t good. I’d throw it good for a while, but I was not very consistent. I feel like I’m understanding what I need to do, but physically I’m not repeating shots and you can’t compete in any sport if you can’t repeat. That’s what I’m really frustrated about.”
The top 24 players in each of the four “animal pattern” championships that are part of the WSOB advance to best-of-five-game match play elimination rounds that will take place next Monday and Tuesday. The top 61 players based on 36-game pinfall totals after the four animal pattern legs will advance to the cashers’ round of the PBA World Championship on Saturday.
All qualifying and match play rounds of the WSOB are being covered live, exclusively by PBA’s online video streaming service, Xtra Frame. For subscription information, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame link. Real-time results also will be posted on pba.com under its “live scoring” link.
CHAMELEON CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY HOTELPLANNER.COM
National Bowling Stadium, Reno, Nev., Thursday
Final Qualifying Standings (after nine games; top 24 advance to best-of-five-game single-elimination match play Tuesday, Dec. 15; top 8 receive first round bye):
1, Jesper Svensson, Sweden, 2,223.
2, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 2,161.
3, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 2,154.
4, Jakob Butturff, Chandler, Ariz., 2,130.
5, Stuart Williams, England, 2,128.
6 (tie), n-Warren Crawford, McKinleyville, Calif., and Pascal Winternheimer, Germany, 2,121.
8, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 2,119.
9, Gary Faulkner Jr., Memphis, Tenn., 2,114.
10, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 2,100.
11, Matthew McNiel, Prior Lake, Minn., 2,098.
12, Patrick Girard, Canada, 2,087.
13, Kim Bolleby, Thailand, 2,084.
14, n-Ronnie Sparks Jr., Ecorse, Mich., 2,078.
15, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 2,066.
16, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 2,058.
17 (tie), Anthony Pepe, Elmhurst, N.Y.; Rhino Page, Orlando, Fla., and Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 2,055.
20, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 2,054.
21, n-Zeke Bayt, Henderson, Nev., 2,051.
22, n-Chris Drewes, Wichita, Kan., 2,049.
23, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 2,048.
24, Cameron Weier, Tacoma, Wash., 2,047.
Other Cashers:
25, Anthony Simonsen, Princeton, Texas, 2,046, $600.
26, J.R. Raymond, Bay City, Mich., 2,043, $600.
27, Dom Barrett, England, 2,037, $600.
28, n-Jon Trzcinski, Bay Shore, N.Y., 2,030, $600.
29, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 2,020, $500.
30, B.J. Moore III, Apex, N.C., 2,018, $500.
31, Joonas Jehkinen, Finland, 2,017, $500.
32, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 2,010, $500.
Failed to Cash:
33, Nathan Bohr, Austin, Texas, 2,009.
34, Tobias Boerding, Germany, 2,008.
35 (tie), Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., and Shawn Maldonado, Houston, 2,007.
37, Kristopher Prather, Milton, Fla., 2,006.
38, Ryan Graywacz, Feeding Hills, Mass., 2,004.
39, n-Jimmy Cook, Indianapolis, 2,003.
40, Josh Blanchard, Mesa, Ariz., 1,999.
41 (tie), Devin Bidwell, Wichita, Kan., and Gerald Marrs, Huntley, Ill., 1,992.
43 (tie), Manuel Otalora, Colombia, and Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 1,986.
45, n-Anton Ahlgren, Sweden, 1,983.
46, Lee Vanderhoef, Canton, Ga., 1,982.
47, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 1,980.
48, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,979.
49, n-Christopher Sand, St Clair Shores, Mich, 1,978.
50, n-Wankang Qi, China, 1,977.
51, Myles Duty, Modesto, Calif., 1,973.
52, Joe Goldstein Sr., San Bruno, Calif., 1,968.
53, D.J. Archer, Friendswood, Texas, 1,963.
54, Joseph Hostetler, Louisville, Ohio, 1,959.
55 (tie), Jake Peters, Henderson, Nev., and Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 1,956.
57, Dennis Horan Jr., Oakley, Calif., 1,955.
58, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 1,954.
59, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 1,951.
60, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 1,949.
61, Carsten Hansen, Denmark, 1,948.
62 (tie), Mitch Beasley, Nashville, Tenn., and T.J. Schmidt, Mishawaka, Ind., 1,947.
64, David Maycock, Bermuda, 1,945.
65, Paul Moor, England, 1,943.
66, Paul LeMond, Jasper, Ind., 1,942.
67, n-Erik Vermilyea, Eagan, Minn., 1,939.
68 (tie), Daisuke Nakamura, Japan; Tim Foy Jr., Seaford, Del., and Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,938.
71 (tie), Hashim Guinomla, Philippines, and n-Kamron Doyle, Brentwood, Tenn., 1,937.
73, Zhongli Mi, China, 1,933.
74, Mike DeVaney, Winchester, Calif., 1,930.
75, Chris Arcaro, Wilmington, N.C., 1,928.
76 (tie), Shota Kawazoe, Japan; n-Charles Easton, Sylvania, Ohio, and Jaime Gonzalez, Colombia, 1,927.
79, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,921.
80, n-Eric Fritton, Waukesha, Wis., 1,920.
81 (tie), Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., and Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 1,919.
83, J.T. Jackson, Sherman Oaks, Calif., 1,915.
84, Clint Land, Houston, 1,913.
85 (tie), Brian LeClair, Delmar, N.Y., and Andrew Suscreba, Clifton, N.J., 1,912.
87, Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., 1,911.
88 (tie), Santiago Mejia, Colombia, and Will Barnes, Wichita, Kan., 1,909.
90 (tie), Mark Sullivan, Indianapolis, and Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 1,908.
92, Joonas Jahi, Finland, 1,907.
93, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,906.
94, Noel Vazquez, Sacramento, Calif., 1,901.
95, n-Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 1,892.
96 (tie), Keven Williams, Springfield, Mo., and Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 1,891.
98, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 1,890.
99, Craig LeMond, Jasper, Ind., 1,889.
100 (tie), Dave Wodka, Beavercreek, Ohio, and Jason Sterner, Covington, Ga., 1,886.
102 (tie), f-Inngellimar Beasley, Venezuela, and Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,883.
104, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 1,882.
105 (tie), Jon VanHees, Charlestown, R.I., and John Furey, Freehold, N.J., 1,879.
107, Cris Ferreira, Visalia, Calif., 1,876.
108, Eddy Smith, Stanwood, Wash., 1,874.
109 (tie), Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., and Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 1,872.
111, Joachim Karlsson, Sweden, 1,869.
112 (tie), Patrick Allen, Mount Kisco, N.Y.; Terrance Bright, Atlanta, and f-Liz Kuhlkin, Rotterdam, N.Y., 1,866.
115 (tie), n-Matt Gasn, Laurel, Md., and Aaron Lorincz, Belleville, Mich., 1,864.
117 (tie), Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., and n-Carlos Tobon, Colombia, 1,863.
119 (tie), n-Trey Ford III, Bartlesville, Okla., and Pontus Andersson, Sweden, 1,862.
121 (tie), Kevin Donovan, Painted Post, N.Y., and Anthony LaCaze, Hoffman Estates, Ill., 1,859.
123 (tie), Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., and Austin Hunt, Kennewick, Wash., 1,858.
125, Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 1,857.
126, Casey Knutson, Femley, Nev., 1,854.
127, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 1,853.
128, Magnus Johnson Jr., Sweden, 1,851.
129, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,849.
130, Jeremy Mooney, West Palm Beach, Fla., 1,848.
131, Sam Cooley, Australia, 1,847.
132 (tie), Jonathan Sellers, Stratford, Conn., and Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 1,844.
134, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 1,843.
135, David Canady, Germany, 1,841.
136, Markus Jansson, Sweden, 1,840.
137 (tie), Jeff Evans, Supply, N.C., and n-Matthew Farber, Plainview, N.Y., 1,838.
139, Julio Cesar Blancas, Mexico, 1,836.
140 (tie), Shuichi Heki, Japan, and Brad Miller, Maryland Hts, Mo., 1,833.
142, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 1,832.
143 (tie), Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio; Richie Teece, England, and n-Jianchao Du, China, 1,831.
146, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,830.
147 (tie), Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind.; Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., and Josh Conner, Columbus, Ohio, 1,828.
150, Pat Nolan, Japan, 1,827.
151 (tie), Connor Pickford, Charlotte, N.C., and Will Garber, Modesto, Calif., 1,825.
153, A.J. Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 1,824.
154, Chad Lusche, Parker, Colo., 1,821.
155, n-Rob Edwards, Vancouver, Wash., 1,820.
156, Brandon Novak, Chillicothe, Ohio, 1,817.
157, Jordan Jung, Canada, 1,815.
158, Zhiyong Wang, China, 1,814.
159, f-Yuka Tsuchiya, Japan, 1,812.
160, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 1,811.
161 (tie), Miguel Lopez, Wichita, Kan., and Jonathan Hocsman, Argentina, 1,808.
163, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 1,807.
164, Brian Nicodemus, Akron, Ind., 1,806.
165, Luke Matthys, Whitestown, Ind., 1,804.
166, Lin Yao, China, 1,802.
167, Ernest Lukacs Jr., Manville, N.J., 1,799.
168 (tie), Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, and Chen Huang, China, 1,797.
170, n-Jason Munkberg, Redding, Calif., 1,796.
171, Toby Contreras, Lee's Summit, Mo., 1,795.
172, Ray Cobb, Highland, Calif., 1,792.
173, Shigeo Saitoh, Japan, 1,786.
174, n-Benjamin Canfield, Tempe, Ariz., 1,785.
175, Harrison Jarvis, San Antonio, Tex, 1,781.
176, f-Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 1,780.
177, Dave Bernhardt, Romeo, Mich., 1,778.
178, Dean Richards, Tacoma, Wash., 1,774.
179, Chuck Tillson, Santa Rosa, Calif., 1,773.
180, Bob Spaulding, Colorado Springs, Colo., 1,769.
181, Will Vidulich, Parsippany, N.J., 1,768.
182, Greg Ostrander, Freehold, N.J., 1,767.
183 (tie), John Szczerbinski, N. Tonawanda, N.Y., and Christopher Yoshimura, Rochester, Minn., 1,766.
185, Junia Yoshida, Japan, 1,762.
186 (tie), Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., and Scott Robertson, Australia, 1,758.
188, Adam Ferri, Jeannette, Pa., 1,751.
189 (tie), Warren Burr, Wilmington, Del., and Andre Eubanks, Los Angeles, 1,750.
191 (tie), Cody Copeland, Abilene, Texas, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 1,749.
193, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,747.
194, f-Jacqueline Carbonetto, Blauvelt, N.Y., 1,744.
195, John Austin Jr., Friendswood, Texas, 1,742.
196 (tie), f-Elise Bolton, Merritt Island, Fla., and Chris Colella, Templeton, Mass., 1,739.
198, Blake Demore, Springfield, Mo., 1,738.
199, Craig Auerbach, Sunrise, Fla., 1,735.
200, Nobuhito Fujii, Japan, 1,730.
201, Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.Va., 1,728.
202, n-Michael Villarreal, Lakewood, Calif., 1,727.
203, David Shinn, West Columbia, S.C., 1,714.
204 (tie), n-David Labinski, Milwaukee, and n-Mookie Betts, Boston, 1,712.
206, Brijesh Patel, Hollywood, Calif., 1,706.
207 (tie), Armando Santacruz, Ecuador; Glenn Morgan, Carson City, Nev., and f-April Lord Wittig, Steilacoom, Wash., 1,702.
210, Bryan Osborne, Cypress, Calif., 1,699.
211, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 1,698.
212 (tie), Derek Handy, Redmond, Wash., and n-Carl-Oskar Palmer, Sweden, 1,695.
214 (tie), Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C.; David Haynes, Las Vegas, and Daniel Fransson, Sweden, 1,685.
217, n-Nelson Sand, Maple Valley. Wash., 1,682.
218, Alvar Cardona, Spain, 1,678.
219, Matt Dammann, Canada, 1,677.
220, Peng Zhang, China, 1,670.
221, Wes Newman, Panama City, Fla, 1,668.
222 (tie), Mark Fennell, Seattle, and n-Stephen Bennett, Hampton, Va., 1,661.
224, David Sevier, Gilbert, Ariz., 1,658.
225, Steve Adams, Grass Valley, Calif., 1,655.
226, n-Bill Fong, Plano, Texas, 1,651.
227, Mateo Hernandez, Argentina, 1,645.
228, Jeff Roche, Dearborn, Mich., 1,641.
229, n-Don Allen III, Vancouver, Wash., 1,610.
230, Mike Watson, Grass Valley, Calif., 1,599.
231, Akiko Suzuki, Japan, 1,592.
232, n-Harold Hill Jr., San Diego, 1,569.
233, Tommy Barna, Westminster, Md., 1,562.
234, n-Thomas Musante, San Mateo, Calif., 1,547.
235, Steve Ford, Seaside, Ore., 1,545.
236, Jean Perez, Puerto Rico, 1,515.
237, n-Michael Duran, Banning, Calif., 1,491.
238, Jimmy Smith, Puyallup, Wash., 1,472.
239, Adrian McCoy, British Virgin Islands, 1,467.
240, Matthew Graham, Stockton, Calif., 1,466.
241, n-John Leathers, Anaconda, Mont., 1,464.
(Five players have withdrawn)
n-denotes non-member; f-denotes female
300 Games: Zeke Bayt.
ROLLTECH PBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
National Bowling Stadium, Reno, Nev., Thursday
Qualifying Standings (after 27 games in Cheetah, Viper and Chameleon Championships; top 61 after 36 games advance to cashers’ round on Saturday at 10 a.m. PT):
1, Stuart Williams, England, 6,386.
2, Patrick Girard, Canada, 6,273.
3, Jakob Butturff, Chandler, Ariz., 6,220.
4, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 6,186.
5, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 6,181.
6, Jesper Svensson, Sweden, 6,165.
7, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 6,143.
8 (tie), Thomas Larsen, Denmark, and Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 6,141.
10, Gary Faulkner Jr., Memphis, Tenn., 6,140.
11, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 6,139.
12, Joonas Jehkinen, Finland, 6,123.
13, Matthew McNiel, Prior Lake, Minn., 6,118.
14, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 6,087.
15, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 6,083.
16, Rhino Page, Orlando, Fla., 6,055.
17, Paul Moor, England, 6,054.
18 (tie), Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., and Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 6,053.
20, n-Warren Crawford, McKinleyville, Calif., 6,049.
21, Kim Bolleby, Thailand, 6,047.
22, John Furey, Freehold, N.J., 6,043.
23, n-Ronnie Sparks Jr., Ecorse, Mich., 6,031.
24, Sam Cooley, Australia, 6,028.
25, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 6,021.
26, Anthony Pepe, Elmhurst, N.Y., 6,012.
27, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 6,008.
28, B.J. Moore III, Apex, N.C., 6,007.
29, Josh Blanchard, Mesa, Ariz., 6,000.
30, Kristopher Prather, Milton, Fla., 5,998.
31, Ryan Graywacz, Feeding Hills, Mass., 5,997.
32, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 5,979.
32, J.R. Raymond, Bay City, Mich., 5,979.
34, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 5,976.
35, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 5,953.
36, n-Matt Gasn, Laurel, Md., 5,950.
37, Magnus Johnson Jr., Sweden, 5,948.
38, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 5,946.
39, Devin Bidwell, Wichita, Kan., 5,932.
40, Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 5,931.
41, Markus Jansson, Sweden, 5,928.
42 (tie), Pascal Winternheimer, Germany, and Tobias Boerding, Germany, 5,924.
44, Daisuke Nakamura, Japan, 5,912.
45, Manuel Otalora, Colombia, 5,899.
46 (tie), Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, and T.J. Schmidt, Mishawaka, Ind., 5,890.
48, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 5,887.
49, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 5,876.
50, n-Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 5,870.
51, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 5,862.
52, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 5,860.
53, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 5,857.
54, Dom Barrett, England, 5,852.
55 (tie), n-Zeke Bayt, Henderson, Nev.; Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., and Anthony LaCaze, Hoffman Estates, Ill., 5,843.
58, Cameron Weier, Tacoma, Wash., 5,837.
59 (tie), Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., and Jake Peters, Henderson, Nev., 5,833.
61, n-Jon Trzcinski, Bay Shore, N.Y., 5,828.
62, Joseph Hostetler, Louisville, Ohio, 5,826.
63, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 5,823.
64, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 5,818.
65, Mark Sullivan, Indianapolis, 5,817.
66, D.J. Archer, Friendswood, Texas, 5,813.
67, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 5,807.
68, Nathan Bohr, Austin, Texas, 5,801.
69, Dennis Horan Jr., Oakley, Calif., 5,800.
70, Patrick Allen, Mount Kisco, N.Y., 5,799.
71, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 5,787.
72, Carsten Hansen, Denmark, 5,785.
73, Anthony Simonsen, Princeton, Texas, 5,776.
74, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 5,768.
75, n-Christopher Sand, St Clair Shores, Mich, 5,767.
76, n-Eric Fritton, Waukesha, Wis., 5,762.
77, Patrick Dombrowski, Parma, Ohio, 5,754.
78, Zhongli Mi, China, 5,735.
79 (tie), Richie Teece, England, and Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif., 5,729.
81, n-Erik Vermilyea, Eagan, Minn., 5,728.
82, David Maycock, Bermuda, 5,726.
83, n-Kamron Doyle, Brentwood, Tenn., 5,724.
84, n-Jimmy Cook, Indianapolis, 5,722.
85, Aaron Lorincz, Belleville, Mich., 5,720.
86, Mitch Beasley, Nashville, Tenn., 5,711.
87, Santiago Mejia, Colombia, 5,710.
88 (tie), Joe Goldstein Sr., San Bruno, Calif., and Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 5,703.
90, Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., 5,701.
91, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 5,698.
92 (tie), n-Charles Easton, Sylvania, Ohio, and Dave Wodka, Beavercreek, Ohio, 5,694.
94 (tie), n-Chris Drewes, Wichita, Kan., and Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 5,687.
96, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 5,682.
97, Craig LeMond, Jasper, Ind., 5,678.
98, Jaime Gonzalez, Colombia, 5,677.
99, Dean Richards, Tacoma, Wash., 5,671.
100 (tie), Shota Kawazoe, Japan, and Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 5,670.