Sports

MOORESVILLE, N.C. - After 56 games over five days, five competitors have advanced to the championship round of the 2019 U.S. Open.

The quintet conquered four challenging oil patterns at Victory Lanes and now will battle for the for the $30,000 top prize, coveted green jacket and final major championship on the 2019 Professional Bowlers Association Tour schedule live on CBS Sports Network on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

The standings seemed to be on a continuous spin cycle throughout the final round of match play Tuesday evening, with three different people topping the leaderboard during the eight-game block.

Sean Rash of Montgomery, Illinois, a 14-time PBA Tour champion, spent the most time out in front and held a 60-pin advantage over 2016 U.S. Open champion Francois Lavoie of Canada heading into the day-ending position round.

Though Lavoie was able to win the position-round matchup, 217-211, Rash had enough of a lead to claim the top seed for the TV stepladder by 24 pins.

Lavoie held on for the No. 2 spot, which is the same place he qualified the year he won. He and Rash will be joined on the show by Australia's Jason Belmonte, Bill O'Neill of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and Anthony Simonsen of Little Elm, Texas. All five are major champions.

"I have one game to bowl for a title, which is something I've done six, seven or eight times this year, and it's a great feeling," said Rash, who was the No. 1 seed for both of his major titles - the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Masters and 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions. "There's four unbelievable players on the show with me, all major champions, so it's going to be an amazing show. I'm extremely happy right now, but there's still so much left to do."

Rash, who set the pace through 32 games of qualifying and led the final 24 players into the match-play portion of the event, finished with a 56-game pinfall total of 12,379, which included 30 bonus pins for each of his 12 wins in match play. He started match play with seven consecutive losses.

Lavoie finished with a 12,355 total, Belmonte closed with a 266-233 win over Houston's Shawn Maldonado to jump from fifth place to third (12,312), O'Neill finished with 12,303 and Simonsen held on to the final spot with 12,261, just 27 pins ahead of Maldonado.

"Tonight was very much needed and something I felt was coming," said Belmonte, a 22-time PBA Tour champion. "I finished the second round with 279 and realized that game put me back in contention. I was about 100 out of the show and thought I could get there with a couple good games in a row. Through the middle of the last block, I did some of the best bowling I've done in a really long time."

The star-studded stepladder includes some amazing storylines.

Rash is looking for his third title of 2019 and third career major. A win would make Lavoie the first foreign-born player to win the event twice, while he and O'Neill, the 2010 winner, both have a chance to become the 12th bowler in history to win multiple times.

Belmonte and Simonsen both have found the winner's circle in majors this season. Belmonte won the PBA Tournament of Champions and PBA World Series of Bowling X PBA World Championship, and he was the runner-up to Simonsen at the 2019 PBA Players Championship.

Belmonte's win at the 2019 PBA World Championship was the 11th major victory of his career and moved him past PBA Hall of Famers Earl Anthony and Pete Weber on the all-time list. They each own 10 major titles.

Simonsen, who along with O'Neill has won twice this year, is looking to become the youngest player with three majors - he also won the 2016 Masters - and Belmonte is hoping to extend his record. The U.S. Open is the major that has eluded him. The Australian's best finish at the event was a second-place effort in 2013.

"This has put me in a position to have a crack at No. 12, and I'm excited and nervous and can't wait to get out there and leave it all on the lanes," said Belmonte, a four-time champion in 2019. "I'll give it everything I've got, and if the pins want to fall, it'll be my year. I know there will be plenty more U.S. Opens, but I'm kind of hoping they fall for me this time."

Defending champion Dom Barrett of England also made match play this week and finished 14th, one spot ahead of 2017 champion Rhino Page of Orlando, Florida.

The field this week started with 144 players, all of whom bowled 24 games of qualifying over three days (eight games each day). Each round featured a different oil pattern, and a fourth lane condition was introduced for the cashers' round, match play and championship round.

All rounds leading up to the TV show were broadcast live at BowlTV.com and simulcast on FloBowling.

The U.S. Open is conducted jointly by USBC and the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America.

For more information on the U.S. Open, visit BOWL.com/USOpen.

About International Bowling Campus
The International Bowling Campus (IBC) is the headquarters for the bowling industry and directly serves the more than 69 million bowlers in the United States. The IBC houses the resources of the United States Bowling Congress, the governing body and membership organization for the sport; the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America, representing the business interests of bowling centers; IBC Youth Development; Strike Ten Entertainment, the marketing arm for the industry; the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame; the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association; the International Bowling Media Association; the Bowling News Network; the Billiard and Bowling Institute of America; and the International Training and Research Center.

2019 U.S. Open
At Victory Lanes, Mooresville, N.C.

Tuesday's results

MATCH PLAY
(56 games, 30 bonus pins for a win, 15 bonus pins for a tie)
     
      1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 12-12-0, 12,379. 2, Francois Lavoie, Wichita, Kan., 15-8-1, 12,355. 3, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 13-11-0, 12,312. 4, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 13-10-1, 12,303. 5, Anthony Simonsen, Princeton, Texas, 14-10-0, 12,261.

TELEVISED STEPLADDER FINALS
(Will be live Wednesday on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. Eastern)

Match No. 1: O'Neill vs. Simonsen
Match No. 2: Belmonte vs. Match No. 1 winner
Semifinal: Lavoie vs. Match No. 2 winner
Final: Rash vs. semifinal winner

DID NOT ADVANCE:

      6, Shawn Maldonado, Houston, 15-9-0, 12,234. 7, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 18-6-0, 12,221. 8, Tom Daugherty, Riverview, Fla., 14-10-0, 12,207. 9, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 13-11-0, 12,169. 10, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 12-12-0, 12,121. 11, Chris Via, Springfield, Ohio, 11-11-2, 12,105. 12, Jesper Svensson, Sweden, 12-12-0, 12,087.
      13, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 13-11-0, 11,993. 14, Dominic Barrett, England, 12-12-0, 11,991. 15, Rhino Page, Orlando, Fla., 12-12-0, 11,958. 16, AJ Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 11-13-0, 11,920. 17, Kim Bolleby, Thailand, 11-12-1, 11,899. 18, Kyle Sherman, O'Fallon, Mo., 11-12-1, 11,860.
      19, Brandon Novak, Chillicothe, Ohio, 10-14-0, 11,838. 20, Kristopher Prather, Plainfield, Ill., 8-16-0, 11,797. 21, Greg Ostrander (a), Freehold, N.J., 11-12-1, 11,764. 22, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 7-17-0, 11,612. 23, Thomas Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 8-16-0, 11,542. 24, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 8-15-1, 11,494.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

On Wednesday (Oct. 30) there is a carryover of $1,381 and a guaranteed pool of $5,000 for the Pick-5 wager that day.

The pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available courtesy of Trackmaster on the USTA’s website or by direct download by clicking here.

The Pick-5 wager begins in race one and runs through race five. It is a 50-cent base wager and if all five winners aren’t selected, the carryover amount will move to the Friday (Nov. 1) program.

Post time for the first race Wednesday is 5 p.m.

Photo of Black Is Back with driver Dave McNeight III.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

It was a simple plan for Black Is Back. Take the lead, steal the half and cruise home for the win. And that's exactly what he did in the $12,500 Open I Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 26). 

Black Is Back (Dave McNeight III) left unchallenged and set early fractions of :27.3 and :57 flat to the half. Down On My Luck (Drew Monti) was in the breeze first-over at that point and continued to gain ground on the leader up the backstretch and to the three-quarters. 

As they headed around the far turn and into the stretch Down On My Luck was pacing hard and trying to make up the 1-½ length deficit, but Black Is Back was the better horse this night and hung on for the win by one-length in 1:53.4. 

It was the 10th win of the year for Black Is Back ($3.10) who has now earned $75,050 for owners Curtis Edholm and Mihajlo Zdjelar Sr.; Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. does the training.

The $11,000 Open II Handicap pace saw I’m So Handsome (Denny Bucceri) leave from post one, slow the half to :58.2 and then come home in back to back :28.2 quarters to hold off a fast closing Sir Pugsley (Drew Monti) and win by a length in 1:55.

I’m So Handsome ($10.80) scored his sixth win of the year for owner Mike Torcello and trainer Gerry Sarama. 

The $10,000 Open III pace turned an unexpectedly fast mile when Charmbo Orbit (Denny Bucceri) drafted third for a half before pulling first-over heading to the three-quarters to run down the leading Thisjetsabookin (Dave McNeight III) and hold off a late rush from Brunello N (Drew Monti) in the stretch to win by a neck in 1:53.4.

It was a new seasonal mark for Charmbo Orbit ($21.20) who is owned by Keith Pinkowski and trained by Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. 

Those back to back wins for Denny Bucceri were two of the three he won on the card, giving him a hat trick for the evening. Drew Monti also won three races on Saturday night. 

With no Pick-5 winner on Saturday, there is a $1,381 carryover and a $5,000 guaranteed pool will be offered on the Pick-5 wager on Wednesday (Oct. 30) when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m.

The guaranteed pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering program and as such, there will be free program pages for races one through five available on the USTA website starting this morning (Oct. 27).

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

After winning in impressive style from post one in the track’s feature trot last week, Joey Pro moved out to post eight through assignment this week and won again in the $12,500 Open I Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 25). 

Joey Pro (Renaldo Morales III) left from the outside gate and finally took the top from CR Blazin Beauty (John Cummings Jr.) by the quarter in :28.1. But right after he cleared, CR Blazin Beauty came right back from second on the give and go to take command once again. The group then went with positions unchanged to the half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:27.

Rounding the last turn CR Blazin Beauty was still trotting strong on the point but Morales tipped Joey Pro out and started rolling down the center of the track. Joey Pro was in full flight and gaining ground with every stride and got the advantage under the wire where he won by ½ length in 1:57.2. 

It was the 13th win of the year for Joey Pro ($15.40) who has now earned $72,580 this year for owner Mark Wamp. John Hallett trains the winner.

In the $11,000 Open II Handicap trot Rockefeller Lindy (Jim Morrill Jr.) drafted along third for most of the mile until finding his way clear in the stretch and out-sprinting the leading Arnold (Dave McNeight III) to the wire to win by three lengths in 1:58. 

It was the first Batavia Downs win for Rockefeller Lindy ($3.10) who is owned by the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. James Clouser Jr. is the conditioner.

Several horsemen had multiple win nights on Friday. Drivers included Billy Davis Jr. with three and Jim Morrill Jr., Dave McNeight III and Mike Baumeister with two apiece. Training leaders were Per Henriksen, Ron Baumeister and Rock C. Vinci who all doubled up. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Oct. 26) at 6 o'clock.

Photo of HP Sissy with driver Drew Monti.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

She went on tour for two weeks an won an upper class conditioned race at Yonkers Raceway in the process, but HP Sissy proved that there is no place like home and after winning her now third straight $12,500 fillies and mares Open I Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Oct. 23). 

HP Sissy (Drew Monti) and Gia’s Surreal (Jim Morrill Jr.) played give and take with the lead to the :27.4 quarter before “Sissy” came back out to reclaim the lead again past that station and this time, it was for good. With the short but select field of five followers in single-file pursuit, HP Sissy cruised through fractions of :57.4 and 1:26.3 with the greatest of ease.

Coming off the far turn, Gia’s Surreal pulled the pocket she occupied throughout the mile and took her best shot at the leader. But with no more than a reminder from Monti, HP Sissy paced strong through the lane and won by a measured length in 1:55.4. 

Having the year of her life, HP Sissy ($4.10) registered her 13^th win of the year and boosted her earnings to $109,493 for owner Finocchario’s Dream Stable and trainer Mike Ohol. 

The $11,000 fillies and mares Open II Handicap pace saw Who’s Got The Move (Dave McNeight III) turn a garden-spot trip behind Machin Marley (Billy Davis Jr.) into a neck victory at the wire over her cover in a time of 1:56.4. Although she set a lifetime mark last week and drew post one here, Who’s Got The Move returned a surprising $19.80 for the win. The 5-year-old Shadyshark Hanover mare is owned by Richard and Lynn Fisher, who also trains the winner. 

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. Was red hot on Wednesday, getting the Grand Slam on the card. Morrill won with Magdalana Royalty (2:02.1, $5.40), Jus Chillin It (2:00.1, $21), Lyra (1:57.3, $5) and Southfield Spirit (2:00.4, $10). 

Morrill, who is in second place in the dash win category behind Billy Davis Jr., closed the gap with those four wins and is now only 14 behind with 27 nights of racing left. Morrill has a Universal Driver Rating (UDR) of .404 for the meet and has already broken the track record for earnings by a driver in a single season at Batavia Downs with over $880,000 banked this meet. 

There was no winner of the Pick-5 on Wednesday and as a result, there is a $916 carryover and a guaranteed $3,000 pool for the Pick-5 on Friday (Oct. 25) when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs. Post time on Friday is 6 p.m.

Information provided by Ryan Paddock.

Pavilion/York beat North Rose Wolcott 3 sets to 1 in boys volleyball on Saturday.  The team then lost to Midlakes three sets to zero.

Pavilion/York is now 10-6 on the season.

Cameron Milligan sets single match & single-season records for the program against NRW with his 43 kills tallying 374 for the season. Both records were previously held by his cousin Luke Milligan. Luke continues to hold the career kills record with 1,313. Cameron added 18 kills against Midlakes to set his career mark at 796 and counting.

Stats vs. NRW:

• Cameron 43 kills 23 digs 6 blocks 
• Cole Tillotson 45 assists 4 kills 
• Dan Nichols 9 digs 6 aces 

Vs Midlakes 

• Cameron Milligan 18 kills 4 blocks 
• Dan Nichols 10 digs 
• Charlie Urbanczyk 5 digs 

Photo of Down On My Luck in front, driven by Drew Monti.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Drew Monti was on top of his game Saturday night (Oct. 19) at Batavia Downs, winning five races on the card including the weekly pacing feature with Down On My Luck who moved up to the top class $12,500 Open I Handicap after taming the Open II pacers in handy fashion last week.

Down On My Luck took back to fifth while Tullow N (John Cummings Jr.) and Mr. Euroman (Billy Davis Jr.) fought hard for the lead, parked two-wide to the quarter in :27.2 and the half in :56.1. Monti pulled there and Down On My Luck was now second-over in the breeze following Mr. Euroman, who had been out the entire mile. 

Tullow N was still rolling on the point and hit three-quarters in 1:24.3 and it was there Down On My Luck tipped three-wide around the tiring Mr. Euroman. Black Is Back (Dave McNeight III) was also three-deep in the flow and was now in play for the stretch run. When the race came off the turn, Down On My Luck took the lead by a length but Black Is Back was closing fast behind him. Positions remained unchanged to the wire and Down On My Luck won by a quarter-length in 1:53.4. 

It was the fifth win in six Batavia Downs starts this meet for Down On My Luck ($5.50) who is owned by Robert Woodburn and is trained by Patrick Shepherd.  

Monti completed his five win night with Cultural Paradise (1:54.4, $11), Howmac Dancer (1:55.1, $4.20), Brunello N (1:55, $7.30) and Cheyenne Louie (1:57.2, $5.30). 

Fool Me Once (Renaldo Morales III) won the $11,000 Open II pace after leaving from post eight to lead at every station en route to a 1:55.2 victory. It was the fifth win of the year for the overlooked Fool Me Once ($26.80) who is owned by Triple S Equine and trained by Patrick Shepherd. 

Billy Davis Jr. and Renaldo Morales III each had driving triples on Saturday while trainers Patrick Shepherd, JD Perrin and Maria Rice all had two victories each. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 23) at 5 p.m.

(Photo of Joey Pro with driver John Cummings Jr.)

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

After stringing three straight wins at the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono prior to finishing sixth chasing a 1:52.3 mile last week, Joey Pro ventured north to Batavia Downs and ran away with the $12,500 Open I Handicap trot on Friday night (Oct. 18). 

BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) rushed off the gate for the lead and looked like he would go unchallenged for a while. But Joey Pro (John Cummings Jr.) who was now third, was quickly pulled and brushed to the front in a :28 first quarter and then opened up a gapped 2-½ length lead rounding the second bend. The chasing field stayed in single file trying to keep up with Joey Pro who went to the half in :56.3 and three-quarters in 1:25.3.

Joey Pro was 3-½ lengths on top heading into the last turn and the only horse with a shot was Wheels A Turning (Denny Bucceri) who had distinguished himself from the trailing pack and continued his chase down the lane. But the best he would do this night was second as Joey Pro was the best in here and won by 2-¼ lengths in 1:56.1.

It was the 12th win of the year for Joey Pro ($4.80) who has now banked $66,330 for owner Mark Wamp. John Hallett trains the winner. 

In the $11,000 Open II trot, Keystone Apache (Billy Davis Jr.) dropped down for the top class and toured the facility on the point from gate to wire and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.2. Keystone Apache ($12.40) snared his ninth win of the season for owner Vogel and Wags Nags Stable, Jack Rice and Adelphi Bloodstock. Maria Rice trains the winner.

John Cumming Jr. and BIlly Davis Jr. both had driving triples on Friday. Trainer Dave Russo led all conditioners with two victories. 

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Oct. 19) at 6 o'clock.