The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten pin bowling in the United States.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the PBA membership consists of over 3,000 members worldwide.

Members include pro shop owners and workers, teaching professionals and bowlers who compete in the various events put on by the Association.

The PBA also oversees competition between professional bowlers at the PBA Tour, the PBA Regional Tour, PBA 50/60 Tours, the PBA World Bowling Tour, the PBA Women’s Regional Tour, the PBA Women’s Series and the PBA Jr., launched for youth bowlers age 17 and under.

New Tournament Announced

The PBA has announced the launch of the 2023 LBC National Championships taking place next summer.

This tournament will crown winners in six divisions across three different events as bowlers from all over the world converge at Bowlero in Wisconsin from June 16, 2023.

Wow! Bowlers will be competing for an estimated $500,000 total prize fund.

Priority entry for the PBA LBC National Championships is not open.

PBA members and members of PBA League Bowler Certification are now eligible to enter a discounted entry fee.

You must have a LeaguePals account to register, and you will be asked to sign up prior to registration.

Select your division, preferred date and squad.

About the Tournament: Singles event will feature six games across 12 lanes, a bowler may enter the singles event only once. Priority entry fee is $100 per bowler for PBA League Bowler Certification and PBA members until December 31, 2022. Nonmembers may enter starting January 1, 2023.

There will be optional Doubles and 4-person team events that bowlers can opt-in to with multiple partners. Bowlers can cash unlimited times in each event. There is an entry fee of $50 per bowler/event.

The inaugural Championships will culminate with a nationally televised event on FOX sports, as winners from each division vie for a $100,000 purse.

The 2023 event has chosen a perfect home in the Midwest, just outside of Milwaukee in the heart of bowling country.

Bowlero Wauwatosa, which will soon undergo substantial upgrades in lane beds, pinsetters and amenities in anticipation of hosting this event, is the largest bowling center in Wisconsin with 72 lanes.

A full list of the 2023 PBA LBC National Championships detail including tournament rules, squad times and registration can be found at pba.com/LBCTOURNAMENT.

Bowling Tip by Mike Luongo

Bowling a curve ball or hook is one of the most effective ways to consistently bowl strikes.

Curve balls can be tricky to learn, however, and require lots of practice.

You should start out with a lighter ball than you would normally use to get the feeling of curving the ball.

A bowling pro shop can even equip you with a special practice ball for this bowling technique.

Let’s get started with the how to’s of hook bowling.

When you start your approach, you want to bring the ball back into swing position and keep your palm somewhat behind the ball. At the bottom of your swing, you will want to release the ball and let it roll off your thumb first.

This allows the ball to roll from the fingers and have more curve power. As the ball rolls from the fingers the hand motion should be upwards to roll rather than glide the ball on the lane. 

For this type of technique, you must have a well fit ball then the thumb hole is not too tight.

Concentrate on getting your thumb out of the ball first and lifting with your fingers up the side of the ball. Do not try to generate a curve with your wrist by coming over top of the ball.

Lift straight up the sides. The motions that this requires may feel awkward at first and, if you use a ball that is not too heavy, you can control the amount of curve you get.

Learning to bowl hook balls can be a large investment time wise in practice, but this investment will be repaid when your average score improves greatly.

Local Highlights

Memory Lanes

(Formerly Port Jervis Bowl)

Monday Night Mixed

Jason Csencsits 235, 673, Clayton Tingle 236, 632, Kyle Mathews 252, 649, Wences Acevedo 299, 756. Jaryl Scott 266, 732, Vinnie Collura 238, 705, Pedro Agapito III a 277, 727, Patti Schmahi 178, 514, Ed Blume 236, Jason Jones Sr. 216, 632, Paul Minton 247, 665, Bill Schubert 277, 727, Kevin Stackhouse 237, 637, Keith Smith 238, 650, Carol Flynn 198, 534, Dan VanAken 279, 731, Jo Jo Van Keuren 255, 717, Serafin Rodriguez III a 247, 665, Michele Macedonio 212, 555.

Tuesday Mixed

Anka Scott 238, 646, T.C. Conklin 232, 616, Robert Jahn 221, 622, Marisa Waehler193, 510, Richard Gaglione 235, 635, Wayne Sniffen 228, 646, Fran Luzzi 217, 629, Kyle Felter 288, 710, Josephine Zych 215, 579, Brett Romer 234, 636.

P.J. City League

Matthew Terwilliger 245, 654, Derick Brown 254, 609, Jeff Brown 222, Shrek 263, 724, Stewart Stevens 222, 609, Derek Delaney 289, 763, Kyle Stevens 267, 663, John Dietz 246, 677, John Jashembowski 237, 654, Steven Fairweather 233, 651, Chris Morgan Sr. 299, 770, Billy Van Wie 246, 653, Pedro Agapito III a 279, 703, Will Townsend 242, 616, Rich O’Neill 210, 604, Victor Claisse Jr. 258, 674, Brittney Morgan 214, 597, Chris Morgan Jr. 227, 632, Brian Pastor 222, 607, Joe Kaufman 244, 656, Marcus Guzman 216, 632, Mike Holt 258, 686, Tommy Palmer 229, 608. 

Justin Traynor Scores Big 805

Justin Traynor , bowling for the Pin Punisher Pro Shop team in the Wednesday Port Jervis City League at Memory Lanes scored a nice 805 series Dec. 7 off single games of 258, 279 and 268. He maintains a 217 average in this league.

Thursday Women’s

Michelle Macedonio 240, 593, Erin McDonagh 202, 559, Carol Flynn 170, 469, Rachel Rivera 166, 471, Kim DeGarmo 164, 468, Sandy Short-Marchese 191.

Ray Willis Sr. Memorial League

Brigette Willis 180, Jacob Loske 248, 737, Marisa Waehler 233, 579, Josephine Zych 248, 599, Wayne Sniffen Jr. 268, 715, J.R. Drew 267, 667, Brooke Csencsits 201, 201, 544, Kyle Matthews  242, 618, Jason Csencsits 215, 605, Otto Banghart 234, Anka Scott 246, 604, Jaryl Scott 279, 728, Steve Knapp 236, 652, Kaitlyn Yennie 227, 504, Lincoln Ranich 237, 620, Justin Traynor 279, 768, Sean Pittack 223, 624, Neal Bensley 235, 652, Greg Robinson 277, 738, Sherri Laird 212, 540, Bryan Shauger 215, 618, Matt Shauger 243, 622, Victor Claisse Jr. 255, 705, Karen Willis 190, Jason Markle 232, 686, Greg Conklin 232, 650.

Fox Bowling Center

Wednesday Independent

Doc Bolduc 266, 734, Andrew Bullis 239, 678, Shane Dirig 251, 617, Brandon Drumm 246, 642, Mike Dufton 257, 631, Logan Emerich 224, 620, Chad Gardepe 225, 612, Jack Hazen 223, 615, Rob Johnson 226, 671, Jerry Kulakosky 223, 619, Mike Robinson 222, 605, Brian Tiffany 263, 665, Zuke Wormuth 266, 696, Scott Wormuth 279, 653.

Thursday Night 3

Bob Cady 183, 206, 551, Dale Conklin 214, 609, Ray Cornwell 247, 636, Shane Dirig 205, 563, Paul Gordon 205, 585, Lori Kimmes 185, Dennis Leonard 225, 556, Rick Mills 223, 595, Shane O’Brien 232, Mike Robinson 221, 550, Anthony Seely 230, 580, Fred Shakelton 216, 607, Jen Smith 198, Chris Wadeson 237, 605, Scott Wahl 228, 588, Dan Wormuth  256, 657, Jay Wormuth 222, 562.

Friday Couples

Jalene Allen 181, 503, Andy Bullis 223, 622, Jessica Bush 189, Shane Dirig 246, 652, Missy Dunlap 184, Paul Fritz 241, 633, Gino Jones 216, 625, Hope Jones 222, 560, Dennis Leonard 225, 612, Julie Martin 506, Brianna Meres 194, 529, Tia Robinson 181, Brooke Rosengrant 194, 502, Dan Wormuth 268, 721, Jay Wormuth 224,  627, Jeremy Wormuth 257, 720.

Sunday Mixed Fun

John Lanner 223, 547, Justin Lanner (youth) 161, 436, Don Marino 265, 745, Wilber McAdams 243, 674, Dave Mills 223, 570, Malena Moore (youth) 124, 105.

Fox Youth Mixed

Jayen D’Elia 133, 310, Joshua Dunlap 169, 368, Emma Files 105, 255, Preston Johnston 116, 324, Bentley Kille 112, 274, Talan Kille 160, 368, Landyn Robinson 146, 379, Livian Robinson 114, 278, Justin Roney 129, 335, Blake Stanton 122, 340, Cooper Wormuth 183, 505.

Quinnz Pinz Middletown

Wednesday 3 Person

J.J. Wilhelm 202, 560, Jon Wilhelm 202, 570, Steven Belgiovene 214, Larry Whipple 190, Bill Schubert 201, Keith Smith 276, 699, Kevin Stackhouse 269, 714.