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CLOUDY Temp: 45 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, February 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 11, 2003 PBA Notes New faces take PBA to new places By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune The cash isn’t always greener on the other side. That’s how many top amateur bowlers felt about the Professional Bowlers Association Tour prior to 2000. Not enough chinga to bring ya. However, the face and the faces of the PBA have changed dramatically since. A new ownership group took over in April 2000, providing greater earning potential and luring about 20 leading amateurs into the fold. Before that, many of the world’s best bowlers shied away from the PBA but still made handsome livings in megabucks tournaments, the most renowned of which is the Las Vegas High Roller series. Amateurs competed less frequently and against much softer competition, yet income for the top players rivaled that of their PBA counterparts. They were called "professional amateurs" and maintained amateur status because they didn’t belong to a professional organization. In some circles, they were also called "rich." Brian Kretzer, for example, a PBA member for less than two years who was the Medford Open’s top first-round qualifier, routinely made six figures as an amateur and more than once reported earnings of well over $200,000. He figures he was the most prolific amateur earner and made more than all but the top few pros. "Truth be told, I bowl because it’s a job, and it was an easier way to make money," said the 36-year-old, who earned in excess of $1 million as an amateur. "I was going against real good league bowlers who happened to go to Vegas three weeks a year. Would you rather go against Roger Clemens or a double-A baseball player?" Mike Wolfe, who made the TV finals last week in Tacoma, Wash., bowled his first big amateur event at age 15 and was one of the top players on the amateur circuit for about a half-dozen years, over which time he brought home nearly $100,000 annually. The occupation listed on his tax forms was "amateur bowler." "It was kind of tricky when 1099 time came," laughs the 26-year-old. Chris Barnes, now among the PBA’s biggest stars, once made $60,000 over two days and admitted he gained more notoriety as an amateur competitor and in four years with Team USA than he has on the PBA Tour. They are just a few examples of the changing landscape. Mike DeVaney, last week’s Earl Anthony Classic winner, would be another. So, too, Brad Angelo, who rolled a 300 game at Lava Lanes Friday. And reigning rookie of the year Tommy Jones. And Mike Machuga, Mika Koivuniemi and Patrick Allen. "One of the first things I said when I joined the tour and saw the field," said Wolfe, "was that this is like a big High Rollers but with a lot better bowlers." It isn’t just younger amateurs responsible for the influx. A few players who had relatively long PBA careers, then left the tour, have returned because it’s worth their while and, in some cases, will prepare them for the Senior Tour. But the young guns have had the greatest impact. The reason for the migration begins with the stronger PBA. It increased its prize fund last year 140 percent over the 2000 campaign and bumped the top prize for majors to $100,000. Moreover, it guaranteed the top 64 — a "lenient" number, said Wolfe — a paycheck of at least $1,000. PBA membership promptly enjoyed a 25-percent spike and tournament entries rose 35 percent since last season. About the same time, however, the High Rollers was changing, at least for the best amateurs. A saturation of tournaments forced prize funds down, and the number of sweepers — side tournaments of high risk but high yield — declined. In a sweeper, you plunk down your entry fee, bowl two games and see how it compares to the field at the end of the day. In the High Rollers, it’s a one-game, single-elimination bracket format. It was in sweepers that Barnes made that big chunk of change. He won two $25,000 first-place prizes and earned $10,000 in others. In the actual High Roller event, he lost his second-round match. "Sweepers were where we made all our money," said Barnes, who went to Las Vegas in the summer planning to net at least $20,000 for the week. Brad Edelman, president of High Rollers Inc. of Las Vegas, will stage one of his biggest tournaments, the Super Bowl High Rollers, later this month at Castaways Hotel/Casino & Bowling Center. It will attract 1,400 bowlers, he said, and it will take 11 straight victories to claim the $100,000 winner’s check. "The top amateur players who have joined the PBA, it was very rare for them not to earn a good payday at one of our tournaments," said Edelman. "But there’s still luck involved to get up to the really big money. That’s one of the reasons they joined the PBA; they bowl more weeks a year, and they like the long format." He doesn’t begrudge the fact he’s lost players to the PBA. Far from it. "We’re not shooting to get the big guns," he said. "I’m glad they’re in the PBA. It makes my job easier getting true amateurs to come in." And it gives the PBA a new look. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S