Four-time Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion Sean Rash (pictured left) of Montgomery, Ill., averaged 236.14 to lead after two rounds in the PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship Thursday at AMF Thruway Lanes.

The Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, which requires players to use identical "throwback" polyester (plastic) ball technology, is named in honor of the PBA Hall of Famer who dominated the plastic ball era in the 1970s.

The concept behind the plastic ball tournament is to put a premium on knowledge of changing lane conditions, subtle adjustments in hand positions and delivery techniques, and other skills rather than relying on advanced bowling ball technology.

Rash had a 3,306 14-game pinfall total and leads 15-time Tour titlist Jason Couch of Clermont, Fla., in second with 3,275. After a 1,689 seven-game pinfall in Thursday's first round, Rash followed it up with 1,617 in the second round on games of 227, 266, 193, 226, 259, 227 and 219.

"This is the one tournament of the year where we're all on the same playing field," Rash said. "You need to have a lot of things going for you right from the start – the ball has to feel good in your hand, you need to be lined up and fill frames.

"When you're in the lead everyone's gunning for you. A lot of guys bowled well that second block, especially Jason (Couch). Moving into match play the emphasis is going to be winning matches and if I can get off to a strong start like I did in the first two rounds I'll be in good shape."

Couch came from 16th in the first round up to second with a 1,742 pinfall (248.8 average) in the second round.

"I grew up in the plastic ball era so I know how you have to adjust with this equipment," Couch said. "I've done well in this event the past two years so I'm hopeful my good fortune will continue."

California attorney Scott Norton (left) of Costa Mesa, Calif., who has won his first PBA title earlier this season in the PBA World Series of Bowling Chameleon Championship, was third with 3,201. Rounding out the top 4 was Joe Ciccone (right), Buffalo, N.Y., with 3,197.

Defending champion Brian Ziesig (left) of Levittown, N.Y., the first amateur ever to win a standard PBA Tour event, made the cut in 10th place tied with Australian Jason Belmonte at 3,084.

The frontrunners in the PBA Player of the Year race, Mika Koivuniemi (right, 2,957 of Hartland, Mich. and Bill O'Neill (3,081) of Southampton, Pa., both survived the first cut in 31st and tied for 13th place, respectively.

The field of 64 has been cut to 32 players who advance to Friday morning's match play round which cuts the field to the top 16. Friday evening's match play round will determine the top four who will advance to Sunday's finals to be telecast live on ESPN at 1 p.m. Eastern.

 

Related Articles

Sean Rash is first round leader in PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship
Chris Collins paces PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship Tour Qualifying Round
PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship focuses on player skill
2011 PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship to benefit bowling's charities

 

Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship - Round Two Qualifying

Players with position, hometown and 14-game total. The top 32 advance to Friday's match play.

1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3,306
2, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 3,275
3, Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 3,201
4, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,197
5, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,144
6, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 3,123
7, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 3,121
8, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 3,101
9, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 3,091
10, (tie) Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., and Jason Belmonte, Australia, 3,084
12, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 3,082
13, (tie) Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 3,081
15, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,069
16, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 3,050
17, (tie) John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., and Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,048
19, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 3,040
20, Mike Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 3,023
21, Tommy Gollick, Oberlin, Pa., 3,021
22, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 3,016
23, Tommy Jones, Greenville, S.C., 3,012
24, Christopher Collins, Savannah, Ga., 3,001
25, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 2,993
26, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 2,975
27, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 2,974
28, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 2,970
29, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 2,962
30, Mike DeVaney, Murrieta, Calif., 2,960
31, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 2,957
32, Mike Rose Jr, West Henrietta, N.Y., 2,946

Missed Cut:
33, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,926, $1,300
34, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 2,923, $1,300
35, John Nolen, Waterford, Mich., 2,912, $1,300
36, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 2,895, $1,300
37, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 2,883, $1,200
38, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2,882, $1,200
39, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 2,871, $1,200
39, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 2,871, $1,200
41, (tie) Andres Gomez, Colombia, 2,867, and Bobby Hall II, Landover, Md., 2,867, $1,200
43, David Beres, Waukesha, Wis., 2,860, $1,200
44, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 2,858, $1,200
45, Stevie Weber, Chalmette, La., 2,852, $1,200
46, Jesse Buss, Wichita, Kan., 2,842, $1,200
47, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 2,832, $1,200
48, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,831, $1,200
49, Stuart Williams, England, 2,826, $1,200
50, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 2,809, $1,200
51, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 2,803, $1,200
52, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,795, $1,200
53, Jeff Carter, Springfield, Ill., 2,770, $1,200
54, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 2,738, $1,200
55, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 2,733, $1,000
56, Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 2,732, $1,000
57, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 2,721, $1,000
58, Johnny Petraglia Jr., Jackson, N.J., 2,719, $1,000
59, Mitch Beasley, Puyallup, Wash., 2,715, $1,000
60, Jeff Zaffino, Warren, Pa., 2,707, $1,000
61, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 2,690, $1,000
62, Bob Learn Jr., Macomb, Mich., 2,662, $1,000
63, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 2,235, $1,000
64, Matthew O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J., 990, $1,000