Led by tournament-leading Brad Angelo of Lockport, several bowlers from Western and Central New York are still in contention after three days of competition in the U.S. Open at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J.
Angelo, looking for his first Denny's PBA Tour victory, amassed 4,015 pins for 18 games of qualifying over the first three days of the tournament -- a 223 average. His pinfall topped the list of 488 bowlers who entered the event. He is looking to become the 18th bowler in PBA history to win a Major for his first title.
A quarter of the field (122 bowlers) advanced to today's round of nine more games. The field then will be cut to the top 24 who will compete in round robin match play to determine the four bowlers for Sunday's televised finals.
Non-PBA member Mike Rose Jr. of Rochester stood in fourth place with a 216 average and last year's PBA Player of the Year Doug Kent of Newark finished the 18-game qualifier in 17th place with a 211 average.
Other area bowlers advancing were Ryan Shafer of Horseheads (21st, 210); Jack Jurek of Lancaster (29th, 208); former Buffalonian Tom Baker (36th, 207); Brian LeClair of Athens (60th, 202); Tom Sorce of Blasdell (61st, 202), and Joe Ciccone of Buffalo (109th, 197).
In this year's Player of the Year race, Chris Barnes and Walter Ray Williams Jr. made late surges Thursday to stay alive. The pressure is still on Williams (Ocala, Fla.), who will have to make up a lot of ground today. Williams must finish at least fifth to have a chance at making up the two-point deficit that separates he and Barnes (Double Oak, Texas).
Should Barnes and Williams both miss the top 24, Mike Scroggins could take the POY title by winning the tournament.
Defending champion Pete Weber (St. Ann, Mo.), who is looking to win his record-breaking ninth Major and fifth U.S. Open, was sitting in 122nd going into the final game but he fired a 237 the final game to move up to 97th and keep his hopes alive.
Four of the 10 women entered advanced to today including Union, N.J., native Kelly Kulick, who finished 49th.. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard (North Richland Hills, Texas) was the top female after the first 18 games, sitting 32nd.