The Cornerstone Newsletter - May 2007

June Davis — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:59:32 GMT

The Cornerstone

The Foundation Newsletter

Volume 89 May 2007

"The crisis is upon us, friends. Our sport is in trouble. Many of you, that love the game as we do, will look at the crisis like a friend who is in trouble and needs our help. We must not shrink from the task before us, we should welcome it. It is 'our' generation that has been called to the challenge. If not now, when? If not us, who?"

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Letter from the Editor

World Ranking Masters 2007 Coverage

WELCOME
WORLD
RANKING
MASTERS
PARTICIPANTS

In honor of the 2007 World Ranking Masters Tournament being held at the Kegel Training and Tournament Center in Lake Wales, Florida, we are dedicating the May issue of the Cornerstone to tournament coverage.

Good luck to all of the participants.

The World Ranking Masters:

A Brief History

As far as national or international tournaments are concerned, the World Ranking Masters is still relatively new having only been contested six times thus far. So, for those who don’t know what it is or how it works, here is what it’s all about.

The World Ranking Masters is an amateur level singles tournament. The world is divided into three zones by the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA). These zones are the American Zone, the European Zone and the Asian Zone. Throughout the year, bowlers compete in various tournaments to earn “ranking” points. At the end of the year, the top eight men and top eight women in each of the three zones are invited to participate in the World Ranking Masters.

During the World Ranking Masters, bowlers compete on varying lane conditions designed to challenge the bowlers. One day of competition will be on a long pattern, one day of competition will be on a short pattern and during the final day of qualifying competition, bowlers will face both patterns; each pair will have one lane conditioned using the long pattern and one lane conditioned using the short pattern. In order to advance, bowlers must conquer both conditions.

After the three rounds of qualifying, the top eight bowlers in each division advance to a step-ladder style bracket where an eventual winner will emerge.

The first annual World Ranking Masters Tournament was held in 2001 and was hosted by Abu Dhabi, UAE. Jesmine Ho of Singapore claimed the women’s title while Sunny Hui of Hong Kong claimed the men’s title.

In 2002, the World Ranking Masters was hosted by Aalborg, Denmark. Jennifer Tan Bee Leng of Singapore claimed top honors in the women’s division. In the men’s division, Gery Verbruggen of Belguim claimed the top spot.

The Kegel Training and Tournament Center in Lake Wales, Florida USA hosted the 2003 event. The women’s champion was Britt Broendsted of Denmark. The men’s champion was Anders Ohman of Sweden.

The fourth annual even in 2004 was held in Moscow, Russia. Diandra Asbaty of the USA claimed the women’s title while Mohd Khalifa Al-Qubaisi of the UAE claimed the men’s title.

In 2005, the tournament once again traveled to Lake Wales, Florida. The women’s champion was Clara Guerro of Colombia and the men’s champion was Kimmo Lehtonen of Finland.

Kuwait City, Kuwait hosted the sixth annual tournament in 2006. Sara Vargas of Colombia claimed the women’s championship while Khalid Al Dubyan of Kuwait claimed the men’s championship.

The 2007 was originally to be hosted by the Qatar Bowling Federation (QBF) but they withdrew as host. Three countries wanted to step in and sent an application to the WTBA; the United States, Finland and Indonesia. The WTBA decided in favor of the Kegel/USBC bid.

World Ranking Masters: Schedule

Wednesday May 2, 2007

Last day of arrival, Ball check and registration (open all day)

19:00 - 20:00 - Players briefing at the Kegel Training and Tournament Center

Thursday May 3, 2007

09:00 - 11:00 - Ball check final registration

10:00 - 10:30 - Second players briefing for any late arrivals

11:00 - 12:00 - Official practice: Men

12:00 - 12:30 - Lane maintenance

12:30 - 13:30 - Official practice: Women

13:30 - 14:00 - Lane maintenance

14:00 - 14:30 - Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception

Qualification games

14:30 - 19:30 - Squad 1: Men, 8 games on long oil

Friday May 4, 2007

Qualification games

09:00 - 14:00 - Squad 1: Women, 8 games on long oil

14:00 - 14:30 - Lane maintenance

14:30 - 19:30 - Squad 2: Men, 8 games on short oil

Saturday May 5, 2007

Qualification games

09:00 - 14:00 - Squad 2: Women, 8 games on short oil

14:00 - 14:30 - Lane maintenance

14:30 - 19:30 - Squad 3: Men, 8 games on short/long oil

Sunday May 6, 2007

Qualification games

09:00 - 14:00 - Squad 3: Women, 8 games on short/long oil

14:00 - 14:30 - Lane Maintenance/score confirmation

Cut to the top 8 Women and top 8 Men for Play Offs

14:30 - 16:00 – Quarterfinals: Men, best-of-three game matches

16:00 - 16:30 - Lane Maintenance

16:30 - 18:00 – Quarterfinals: Women, best-of-three game matches

18:00 - 18:30 - Lane Maintenance

18:30 - 20:00 – Men’s and Women's semi-finals, best-of-three game matches

Monday May 7, 2007

12:00 - 13:30 – Final: Women TV Show, best-of-three game match

13:30 - 14:00 - Lane Maintenance

14:00 - 15:30 – Final: Men TV show, best-of-three game match

15:30 - 16:00 - Award ceremony

19:00 - ????? - Victory Banquet

Tuesday May 8, 2007

Departure all day

The schedule for May 7, 2007 might be changed dependent of an eventual TV transmission.

The ball check will be a combination of a voluntarily ball check before the squads and a selective/random ball check during the squads and the single elimination.

World Ranking Masters: Men’s Field

The participants for the Men’s field are listed below by zone.

American Zone

Arturo Hernandez, Venezuela: 2004/2006 American Zone Ranking Champion; 1997/2001 Bolivarian Champion; 1994/1996/2004/2005/2006 South American Champion; 2004 Tournament of the Americas Singles and Doubles Champion; 2004 Punta Cana Open Champion; 2007 American Zone World Ranking Masters Qualifying Champion

Luis Rodriguez, Puerto Rico: High Game: 300 (11); High Series: 807; 2006 Kuwait WRM 3^rd All Events and 6^th in quarter finals; 3^rd All Events Centeramerican Games Cartagena; 2006 Puerto Rico Bowler of the Year

Mark Buffa, Canada: High Game: 300 (6) High Series: 832; 2006 WRM 9^th Place; 2005 All American Honorable Mention Wichita State; 2004-05 Canadian Youth Team Member; 2004 Team Canada Member

David Romero, Colombia: 2002 CACG Masters, Trios, and Team Gold Medalist, Doubles Silver Medalist and All Events Bronze Medalist, 1999 Pan-American Champion, 2001 Bolivarian Champion and 2003 Centro American Champion.

Francisco Colon, Puerto Rico: High Game: 300 (20); High Series: 841; 3 Gold and 1 Bronze Medal in Central American Olympic Games (1998, 2006); Five time Puerto Rico National Champion; 1999 Riechert Cup Champion - PBA Tour Tournament of Champions; 1996/2000 Puerto Rico Bowler of the Year

Rolando Antonio Sebelen, Dominican Republic: High Game: 300 (28); High Series: 835; 2006 Pan-American Team Gold Medalist, All Events Silver Medal; 11 time Dominican Republic Bowler of the Year

Manuel Otalora, Colombia: High Game: 290; High Series: 827; Colombian National Team Member since 1998; 1998 Junior South American Champion; 2004 Colombian National Champion; Member of the University of Nebraska Bowling Team

Jaime Monroy, Colombia: High Game: 299; High Series: 804; Silver medal in doubles Abu Dhabi’s World Cup 1999; National champion 2006, Colombian National Team since 1999

Asian Zone

Remy Ong, Singapore: High Game: 300 (6); 2006 World Men’s Championships, Singles- Gold, All Events – Gold; 2004 AMF World Cup 3^rd place, 2004 Guam Open Champion, 2004 Qatar Open Champion; 2004 World Ranking Masters 3^rd place; 2002 Asian games triple Gold Medalist; 2002 AMF World Cup 2^nd place; 2002 Asian ranking Champion

Ryan Lalisang, Indonesia: High Game: 300 (14); High Series: 825; 2006 Asian Games Singles Gold Medal; 2006 WRM Kuwait 4^th Place; 2006 Asia Tenpin Bowling Championships Singles Gold Medal; 2005 SEA Games Singles Gold Medal

Wu Siu Hong, Hong Kong: 2004 Guam World Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships Masters 3^rd place; ABF Tour – TOC/Indonesia Champion; 2006 Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships –Gold Medal- Men Masters; 2006 Vienna Open – Vienna, Austria Men Singles – Champion

Alex Liew, Malaysia: 1998 World Youth Masters Gold Medalist; 2003 World Tenpin Team Cup Champion; 2006 World Men’s Championship Team Silver Medalist; 2006 Indonesia International Open Masters Champion; 19^th Asian Championship 2006 Team Gold Medalist; 29^th Malaysian International Open 2006 Champion; Asian Bowling Tour Tournament of Champions 2006 Champion

Azidi Ameran, Malaysia: 2003 World Tenpin Team Cup Champion; 2006 World Men’s Championship Team Silver Medalist; 19^th Asian Championship 2006 All-Event Gold Medalist; 19^th Asian Championship 2006 Team Gold Medalist; Selangor International Open 2006 Masters Champion

Biboy Rivera, Philippines: High Game: 300 (29); High Series: 834; 2006 Master’s Champion Philippine International Open; 2006 Gold Masters World Championships; 2006 Philippine Sports Writers Association – Athlete of the Year

Yannaphon Larpapharat, Thailand: 2002 World Youth Championships 2 Gold Medals; 2004 World Youth Championships 1 Gold Medal; 2006 Asian Games 1 Bronze Medal

Zulmazran Zulkifli, Malaysia: 2003 World Tenpin Team Cup Champion; 13^th Asian Youth Championship 2006 Team Gold Medalist; 2006 ABF Tour – Thailand Leg Champion; 2006 ABF Tour – Kuwait Leg Champion; 9^th World Youth Championship 2006 All-Events Gold Medalist; 2006 World Men’s Championship Team Silver Medalist

European Zone

Paul Moor, England: High Game: 300 (24); High Series: 857; European Rankings Champion (2004, 2005, 2006); 2005 World Bowling Writers World Bowler of the Year; 2007 Bronzen Schietspoel Tournament Champion; 2007 Luxembourg Open Champion; “City of Barcelona” Open Champion (2004, 2006); 2006 Istanbul Open Champion; 2006 Oltremare Championships Champion; 2005 Norwegian Open Champion; 2005 Championship Golden Bowl Champion; 2004 Malta Open Champion; 2002 British Open Champion

Osku Palermaa, Finland: 3rd in 2006 World Ranking Masters; Finnish National Junior and Youth Championship Champion; Finnish National Championships; 2006 World Cup; Finnish Bowler of the Year 2006; Finnish Sportsman of the Year 2006

Peter Ljung, Sweden: 1986 AMF World Cup champion; 3 titles on the European tour:

Hungarian Open 2005, Husqvarna International 2006, Olympia Tournament 2006

Stuart Williams, England: High Game: 300 (29); High Series: 835; 2004 Aalborg International Champion; 2004 Irish Open Champion; 2003 Barcelona International Champion; 2003 English National Champion; 2002 Scott Banks Memorial Champion

Martin Larsen, Sweden: High Game: 300 (13); 2003 World team cup silver medalist;

2002 World Youth Championships team gold medalist and Masters bronze medalist;

2002 EU Team Cup silver medalist; 2006 Swedish Bowler of the year

Thomas Gross, Austria: 3 times German team champion (with 3 different teams); member of national team since 1996; two time WRM participant; FIC-Medals: Second Place ECI 2006 in Germany; Bronze Medal 2001 Doubles in Aalborg (European Championships), Bronze Medal Team 2005 in Oskau (European Championships)

Jason Belmonte, Australia: 2007 High Roller Champion; 2006 ABF Tour Tournament of Champions Runner-up; 7^th Annual MILO International All Stars Champion; 2005/2006 Brunswick Australian Cup Champion; 9^th World Youth Championships Gold Medalist; 2006 Brunswick Euro Challenge Champion

Kai Virtanen, Finland: High Game: 300 (20); 2004 World Cup Champion; 2005 World Games Champion; 3 Time National Champion

Host Country Selection

Bill Hoffman, United States: 1999/2003 US National Amateur Champion; 1997/2002 World Team Challenge Grand Champion; Malta Open Champion; Barcelona Open Champion; Weber Cup Champion; Pharaohs’ Open Champion

World Ranking Masters: Women’s Field

The participants for the Women’s field are listed below by zone.

American Zone

Rocio Restrepo, Colombia: 2003 World Championships Silver Medalist; 2004 Pan-American Youth Championships All Events Gold Medalist; 2005 Colombian National Champion

Caroline Lagrange, Canada: High Game: 300 (5); High Series: 792 (Sport Shot); 2004-05 Canadian Bowler of the Year; 2004 Canadian National Amateur Champion; 2004-06 Team Canada Member

Paola Gomez, Colombia: High Game: 300; 1998 World Youth Championships Singles Bronze Medalist; 2001 FIQ American Zone Championships Doubles Silver Medalist; 2001 Collegiate National Champions University of Nebraska; Member of Colombian National Team 1994-2007

Sara Vargas, Colombia: 2006 World Ranking Masters Champion; 2006 Colombian National Champion; 2002 Collegiate National Championships 2^nd place Wichita State University; FIQ Gold and Silver Medalist

Alicia Marcano, Venezuela: High Game: 300 (2); 2007 Central American Champion (doubles); 2006 South American Sport Games Champion (All Events); 6^th place at 2004 World Ranking Masters

Karen Marcano, Venezuela: 2007 Central American Champion; 2006 South American Sport Games Champion; 2006 Central American Sport Games Champion; Five time National Champion

Lynne Gauthier, Canada: High Game: 300; High Series: 825 (current Canadian Women’s Record); 2006 Canadian National Championships Vancouver Champion; 2006 TSN Canadian Bowling Championships Champion; 2007 American Zone Ranking Finals Punta Cana 7^th;Two Time Team Canada Member 2003 & 2007

Aumi Guerra, Dominican Republic: High Game: 300 (2); High Series: 768; 5^th Place in 2007 Qubica-AMF World Cup; 2006 Central American Games Trios Silver Medalist;

Five Time Dominican National Champion and Bowler of the Year

Asian Zone

Putty Armein, Indonesia: High Game: 300; High Series: 744; 2006 Asian Games Singles Silver Medalist; Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships Singles Gold Medalist, All Events Gold Medalist, Doubles Silver Medalist; 2006 WRM Runner Up; 2004 Hong Kong Open Champion

Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia: 2003 World Tenpin Team Cup Champion; 15^th World Championships 2003 Team Gold Medalist; 2006 Thailand International Open Masters Champion; 2006 ABF Tour – Thailand Leg Champion; 2006 Kuwait International Open Women’s Masters Champion; 15^th Doha Asian Games 2006 Team Gold Medalist; 2001 Thailand International Open Champion; 2001 World Tenpin Masters Champion; Philippine Open Champion; AVIVA ABT Grand Slam 2003 Champion

Esther Cheah, Malaysia: 2005 World Women Championship Singles Gold Medalist; 2^nd Commonwealth Youth Games 2005 – Masters Gold Medalist; SEA Games 2005 Team Gold Medalist; 13^th Asian Youth Championship 2006 Team Gold Medalist; 9^th World Youth Championship 2006 All-Events and Doubles Gold Medalist; 15^th Doha Asian Games 2006 – Singles and Team Gold Medalist, Doubles, All-Events and Masters Silver Medalist

Lai Kin Ngoh, Malaysia: 15^th Worl Championship 2003 Team Gold Medalist; 2003 World Tenpin Team Cup Champion; 2005 SEA Games Team Gold Medalist; 2002 Asian Games Masters Silver Medalist; PBap Philippines Storm Invitation Open Championships Masters Champion; 2002 Korean Open Master Open 2^nd runner-up; 2001 Kong Open Masters Champion

Zandra Aziela, Malaysia: 13^th Asian Youth Championship 2006 Team Gold Medalist; SEA Games 2005 Team Gold Medalist; 9^th World Youth Championship 2006 Doubles Gold Medalist; 15^th Doha Asian Games Team Gold Medalist

Choy Poh Lai, Malaysia: 2003 World Tenpin Team Cup Champion; 15^th World Championships 2003 Team Gold Medalist; SEA Games 2005 Team Gold Medalist; 15^th Doha Asian Games Team Gold Medalist

Wendy Chai, Malaysia: 2003 World Tenpin Team Cup Champion; 2003 World Championships Team Gold Medalist; 2005 World Ranking Masters 3^rd Place; 2005 SEA Games Team Gold Medalist; 2006 Sinai International Open Women’s Masters Champion; 15^th Doha Asian Games 2006 Team Gold Medalist; 2006 ABF Tour Tournament of Champions Champion; 2001 Philippines International Open Masters 1^st runner-up; 2001 Korean Asian Bowling Tour Champion; 2001 Sea Games Trios Bronze and Team Gold Medalist; 2002-2003 Singapore International Open Masters Champion

Tannya Roumimper, Indonesia: 2006 Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships Singles and Team Silver Medalist

European Zone

Britt Brondsted, Denmark: 2003 World Ranking Masters Champion; 2004, 2005, 2006 European Ranking Champion; 2004 Greece Brunswick Euro Challenge Champion; 2004 Qatar International Champion

Zara Glover, England: High Game: 300 (3) High Series: 819; 2005 1^st Women’s European Masters Champion; Three time World Champion Gold Medalist; World and European Tenpin Team Cup Champion; 2005/2006 Indonesian Open Champion; 2005/2006 San Marino Open Champion; 2004 Oltremare Naples Champion

Nina Flack, Sweden: High Game 300; 2005 Super Six Tournament Winner (2^nd woman ever); National Team member since 2005; 2005 Winner Super Six ladies-final; 2001 Nordic Youth Champion Singles

Isabelle Saldjian, France: High Game: 300 (2); High Series: 836; French Champion 1993/95/96/97/98/99/00/01/02/03/04/05 (12 TITLES); 2000 European Cup Individual 1^st place; 2005 World Games Mixed 1^st Place

Helen Johnsson, Sweden: High Game: 300 (4); 2003 Team World Cup Silver Medalist; 2001 EC Team Gold Medalist; 1997/1999 Swedish Masters Champion; 1999 EU Cup 3^rd place

Anna Mattsson-Baard, Sweden: 3rd in Doubles in YWC in Thailand 2002; 3^rd in WEC in Germany 2006; 1994 EYC Singles Champion

Patricia Schwarz, Germany: High Game: 300 (5); High Series: 806; 1997 World Games Champion; 1999 German Open Champion; 1999/2001 Ladies Open Champion;

2^nd Place in 2003 World Ranking Masters

Ivonne Gross, Austria: German Team Champion 2007; Member of National Team since 1999; 3 time participant at World Cup

Host Country Selection

Diandra Asbaty, United States: 2006 AMF World Cup Champion; 1999/2006 National Amateur Champion; 2004 World Ranking Masters Champion; 2000/2003 Bowlers Journal Amateur of the Year; 2000 World Tenpin Team Cup Gold Medalist; World Championship 2003 Masters Gold Medalist, Doubles and All Events Silver Medalist, Trios Bronze Medalist; Nine Time Team USA Member

World Ranking Masters: Prize Fund

Women’s Prize List

1st Place $10,000

2nd Place $5,000

3rd Place $3,000

4th Place $3,000

5th Place $1,500

6th Place $1,500

7th Place $1,500

8th Place $1,500

9th Place (1st not in final) $1,000

10th Place (2nd not in final) $500

Winner of squad 1 $1,000

Winner of squad 2 $1,000

Winner of squad 3 $1,000

Winner of the qualification $1,000

Men’s Prize List

1st Place $10,000

2nd Place $5,000

3rd Place $3,000

4th Place $3,000

5th Place $1,500

6th Place $1,500

7th Place $1,500

8th Place $1,500

9th Place (1st not in final) $1,000

10th Place (2nd not in final) $500

Winner of squad 1 $1,000

Winner of squad 2 $1,000

Winner of squad 3 $1,000

Winner of the qualification $1,000

Membership Report

We have members in all 50 states,
and the District of Columbia

We have members in 49 countries, including the United States:

Argentina Australia Bahrain Belgium Brazil Canada China Columbia Costa Rica Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Great Britain Greece Guam Guatemala Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea Latvia Malaysia Mexico The Netherlands N. Ireland Netherlands Antilles
New Zealand Panama Philippines Puerto Rico Peru Qatar Scotland Singapore Slovenia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey U.A.E. Ukraine Venezuela

Corporate Sponsors

The problems that exist in our Sport are “industry-wide” problems that must be addressed by the entire Industry. The Foundation does all that they can to help, but we can NOT do it alone.

The Foundation has well over 1000-Members who have joined-in to assist. Some Members (Founding and Charter) have paid to show their support. Some Members (Associates) have just lent their “voice”. ALL of the members are important.

Even though The Foundation has NOT actively solicited bowling-related companies for help, some realize the importance of our “Mission” and have come forward with donations. We recognize the following companies for their loyalty and support to bowling.

KEGEL

KAT Travel

I.B.P.S.I.A.

EBN Services

Storm Bowling

Classic Products

Bobs’ Business, Inc.

Vincennes University

BowlersParadise.com

Virtualtournaments.com

Wichita State University

David Driscoll & Associates

International Bowling Industry Magazine

Stars and Strikes Bowling Newsmagazine

_________________________________________

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The Cornerstone,

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The Foundation

c/o Kegel

6800 US 27 North

Sebring FL 33870

Phone: 863-382-2643

Email: savrsprt@yahoo.com

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The Cornerstone Newsletter - May 2007