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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 1, 2006 Bowling is Back: Weber’s out, so who will rise up to the occasion? By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Medford will be without one of its favorite stars when the Denny’s Professional Bowlers Association Tour returns this week. And, although the absence of colorful Hall of Famer Pete Weber will dent curb-side appeal, it might also help accelerate the reputation of the fifth-year event as being underdog-friendly. Weber is taking an extra week off during the holiday break to spend time with family. His father, Dick, one of bowling’s all-time greats, passed away last year. The Earl Anthony Medford Classic will be Wednesday through Sunday at Lava Lanes, culminating in nationally televised finals on ESPN. Original seating is sold out for the finals, but overflow bleachers are available, says Ric Donnelly, general manager of the center. Advertisement The bulk of the competition will be on Thursday, when all players in the field compete in morning and evening qualifying sessions, and Friday, when match play will whittle the field from 32 to the four finalists. Wednesday will be filled with practice for the exempt players, a qualifying session for non-exempt members and amateurs and a pro-am. Among the locals who will try to qualify are Jerome Lee of Medford and Chuck and Matt Eilenberger of Central Point. Saturday, the best day for fans to interact with the players, is reserved for pro-ams and there is no charge for admittance. All-day passes range from $15 to $35 the first three days, and finals seating is in the same range. The best ticket deal is a weeklong long pass, excluding Sunday, for $30. Lava Lanes this year took over control of ticket and pro-am pricing and the scheduling of pro-ams. In doing so, costs have come down, pro-am squads are filling fast and ticket sales are on record pace, says Donnelly. It doesn’t hurt, he adds, that the tournament returned to a post-Christmas slot in the schedule. Last season, it was held in mid-December. "It’s real exciting," says Donnelly, adding that out-of-town fan interest appears to be climbing. "Right now, it’s looking like it could be one of the best events ever, so to speak." It would be better, of course, with Weber, the spark plug from St. Ann, Mo., who is No. 2 in career earnings ($2.7 million), No. 2 in major victories (seven) and No. 4 in career titles (32). He is also one of four former Medford champions, having bucked the trend of unsung winners when he defeated Tommy Delutz in the January 2004 tournament. "It’s our misfortune, obviously," says Donnelly. "He’s a good person, we’ve always got along real well and he’s got a lot of fans in this area. But this is the first holiday season without his father, and I’m sure it’s pretty emotional for him. We certainly understand why he’s not attending." Pete Weber paid an emotional tribute to his father, who died in February, when he won the BowlersParadise.com Classic last month. Dick Weber claimed 26 career titles, was inducted into the Hall of Fame 30 years ago and was considered one of the game’s greatest ambassadors. He followed his son’s career very closely, and there was no questioning their bond. Pete Weber’s first tournament of the second-half swing will be the Dick Weber Open Jan. 10 in Fountain Valley, Calif. The Sunday prior, someone will be crowned Medford’s fifth champion. "I’m looking forward to seeing who’s going to rise to the occasion again," says Donnelly. "It’s kind of been long shots who have won this tournament." When someone makes it their first career win, as Mike Wolfe did last season, "then they’re going to remember Medford for a long time," says Donnelly. "That’s the fun thing about hosting this tournament." The other two victors — veterans Ricky Ward and Bryan Goebel — claimed the first two championships after having done little leading up to the event. Neither is on tour now. Donnelly would like to see the pattern of dark-horse winners continue. He’s partial to Oregon bowlers, such as Marshall Holman of Medford and Roseburg’s Blaise Bedolla and Bryon Smith. Holman received the commissioner’s exemption and will again compete, and Bedolla returned to the tour this season after failing to make it in 2004-05. Smith, the 2003 Masters winner, didn’t qualify for the tour this season after 11 years on the circuit. He’ll attempt to bowl his way into the field Wednesday. Another person who would fit the criteria of breaking through here is Brad Angelo, the best player on tour who has yet to win. The 2003 rookie of the year and 2004 season points leader has gone 68 career events without a victory. Of his nine TV finals, two have been here, where he’s suffered semifinal losses to Delutz and Norm Duke the past two seasons. At the conclusion of the finals Sunday, the Skills Challenge will be filmed at Lava Lanes for airing during later tournaments. Eight players will pair off in trick-shot competitions. The cost is $15 for the roughly four-hour contest, but Medford league bowlers get in free. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail Bowling is Back: Weber�s out, so who will rise up to the occasion? ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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