It isn’t often that a PBA tour event winner produces a human interest story. However, Tom Smallwood’s win in the PBA World Championship at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Ks., was just that. Smallwood defeated PBA player of the year Wes Malott 244-228 to claim the prize.
Smallwood, a 32-year old former unemployed assembly line worker who was laid off from his job nearly a year ago, won his first PBA title, his first major title, a $50,000 first prize and a two-year exemption to continue his PBA Tour career. His win also gave him a chance to compete in January’s PBA Tournament of Champions.
Smallwood said he used the period of unemployment to hone his game. He also said he had no desire to go on the road, but the old saying, “if you’re hungry, you gotta eat” weighed heavily on his mind.
His practice paid off. He entered the PBA Tour Trials in Detroit, where a finish in the top eight meant a full year’s exemption to bowl. When he finished third, he got his exemption and a chance to compete on the tour.
Recently, Smallwood received a phone call from General Motors that offered him a chance to return to work. He politely refused and told the caller he decided to try professional bowling and would be on TV over the weekend. His comment was met with some disbelief, but there was another person who was (is) a bowler and she confirmed his statements.
Smallwood’s victory boded well for his PBA stats. He is currently 1st in earnings with $69,100, tied for 1st with Bill O’Neil for player of the year points with 28 and 4th in tour points with 85,166.
ä Cow Ninja’s (Megan Burwell and Derick Krajci) won the 2nd session of the Bud Light Mixed Doubles that competes at Ten-Pin Alley. They edged out Good Properties (Leonor Davis and Steve Quillen) by a 1/2 point (63-62 1/2).
Going into the position round, Good Properties held a 3 1/2 point lead (55 1/2 - 52) and both teams bowled each other. However, an 11-7 point win by Cow Ninja’s was the difference. Handicap was not a factor as both teams received 13 pins per-game.
Although both teams shot well, and all bowlers were above their average, Cow Ninja’s came away with 1275 pins to 1233 for Good Properties. For Good Properties, Davis had 523 while Quillen had 671. For Cow Ninja’s, Burwell had 523 while Krajci had 710.
Team season high scores are as follows. High scratch game: (1) Good Properties (521); (2) Sons of American Legion (476); (3) Splitz Lounge (474). High handicap game: (1) Good Properties (547); (2) Sons of American Legion (520); (3) Keystone (509).
High scratch series: (1) Good Properties (1303); (2) Keystone (1272); (3-tie) Splitz Lounge and Our Gangs (1267). High handicap series: (1) Dragonfly (1421). Team members are Stephanie Lengyel and Ron Haun Sr. (2) Our Gangs (1375); (3) Sons of American Legion.
Individual men’s season highs are held by the following. High scratch game: (1) Krajci (299); (2) Steve Quillen (289); (3-tie) Ben Ferencik and Frank Negrea (279). High handicap game: (1) Negrea (311); (2) Krajci (299); (3) Steve Quillen (298). High scratch series: (1) Krajci (781); (2) Ferencik (772); (3) Steve Quillen (759). High handicap series: (1) Ferencik (808); (2) Steve Quillen (795), (3) Krajci (787).
Individual women’s season high’s go to the following. High scratch game: (1) Davis 255; (2) Karen Quillen (245); (3) Betty Marshall (243). High handicap game: (1) Davis (302); (2) Marshall (293); (3) Karen Quillen (289). High scratch series: (1) Davis (607); (2) Karen Quillen (603); (3) Marshall (600). High handicap series: (1) Lengyl (795); (2) Marshall (753); (3) Davis (748).
Krajci has high men’s average with 230. Steve Quillen is 2nd with 214 and Ferencik is 3rd with 212.
The women are led by Karen Quillen with 173. Davis is 2nd with 172.93 and Debbie Schuller is 3rd with 172.03.
Gabe D’Angelo is a local bowler and member of the Professional Bowler Writers Association who writes this weekly column for The Herald
