USBC Masters
The USBC Masters is a championship ten pin bowling event conducted by the United States Bowling Congress. The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) began recognizing it as a title event in 1998, and it was designated one of the four majors in 2000.
Prior to 2005 the tournament was known as the ABC Masters, conducted by the American Bowling Congress (which became the USBC in 2005). The Masters began as an invitational event showcasing national and local bowling stars and has grown to become one of bowling's most prestigious events.
While the event has evolved over the years, its trademark qualifying and double-elimination match play format has remained largely unchanged. All bowlers compete in 15 games of qualifying, with the top 63 qualifiers joining the previous year's champion in the double elimination match play bracket. All head-to-head matches consist of 3 games, highest total pinfall wins.[1]
Hundreds of competitors turn out for the Masters each year with their sights set on a prize fund that has recently been as high as $350,000, including a $50,000 top prize.[2] The field, which now includes women, also features representatives from all 50 states and a handful of foreign countries.
The Masters is open to any USBC member and is a part of the World Bowling Tour.
After the Masters in January 2004, the tournament was moved to the fall, resulting in two Masters events during 2004. (The first was part of the 2003–04 PBA season, and the second was part of the 2004–05 season.) Then in 2008, the tournament was moved back to the spring, which is why there was no Masters during 2008.
Champions
- 2013 Jason Belmonte
- 2012 Mike Fagan
- 2011 Tom Hess
- 2010 Walter Ray Williams, Jr.
- 2009 John Nolen
- 2008 not contested due to PBA schedule change
- 2007 Sean Rash
- 2006 Doug Kent
- 2005 Mike Scroggins
- Oct. 2004 Danny Wiseman
- Jan. 2004 Walter Ray Williams, Jr.
- 2003 Bryon Smith
- 2002 Brett Wolfe
- 2001 Parker Bohn III
- 2000 Mika Koivuniemi
- 1999 Brian Boghosian
- 1998 Mike Aulby
- 1997 Jason Queen
- 1996 Ernie Schlegel
- 1995 Mike Aulby
- 1994 Steve Fehr
- 1993 Norm Duke
- 1992 Ken Johnson
- 1991 Doug Kent
- 1990 Chris Warren
- 1989 Mike Aulby
- 1988 Del Ballard, Jr.
- 1987 Rick Steelsmith
- 1986 Mark Fahy
- 1985 Steve Wunderlich
- 1984 Earl Anthony
- 1983 Mike Lastowski
- 1982 Joe Berardi
- 1981 Randy Lightfoot
- 1980 Neil Burton
- 1979 Doug Myers
- 1978 Frank Ellenburg
- 1977 Earl Anthony
- 1976 Nelson Burton, Jr.
- 1975 Ed Ressler, Jr.
- 1974 Paul Colwell
- 1973 Dave Soutar
- 1972 Bill Beach
- 1971 Jim Godman
- 1970 Don Glover
- 1969 Jim Chestney
- 1968 Pete Tountas
- 1967 Lou Scalia
- 1966 Bob Strampe
- 1965 Billy Welu
- 1964 Billy Welu
- 1963 Harry Smith
- 1962 Billy Golembiewski
- 1961 Don Carter
- 1960 Billy Golembiewski
- 1959 Ray Bluth
- 1958 Tom Hennessey
- 1957 Dick Hoover
- 1956 Dick Hoover
- 1955 Buzz Fazio
- 1954 Eugene Elkins
- 1953 Rudy Habetler
- 1952 Willard Taylor
- 1951 Lee Jouglard
NOTE: In May 2008, the PBA announced it was revising its all-time records to include ABC Masters championships prior to 1998 as PBA titles (and majors), if the champion was a PBA member at the time.[3]
External links
References
- ↑ Official Masters website
- ↑ "New formats for new era." Article at www.pba.com, August 4, 2008.
- ↑ All-time Denny's PBA Tour Titlists at www.pba.com
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