Entries have more than doubled for 2002 PBA World Championship, Feb. 24-March 3, at Southwyck Lanes in Toledo, Ohio. With less than one week before the official start of the tournament, more than 270 bowlers have entered to compete for the professional bowling record, $120,000 top prize. In 2001, 129 participants competed with Walter Ray Williams Jr. walking away with the $25,000 first prize.

This season will mark the 43rd annual running of the event, formerly known as the PBA National Championship. The name evolved this year to reflect the PBA’s growing global awareness toward the many international bowlers who do, and will, compete in the league. Countries represented in this year’s tournament include: Finland, France, Korea, Mexico, United States and Venezuela. ESPN will televise the finals live in the United States, Sunday, March 3, from 12:30-2 p.m.(ET).

Ballard Jr. looks to finish Triple Crown, Grand Slam

The PBA World Championship is one of four majors on the PBA Tour and represents one-third of bowling's Triple Crown, which includes wins in the PBA Tournament of Champions and bowling’s U.S. Open. The only player entered in this year’s tournament who can complete the Triple Crown is Del Ballard Jr.

Ballard, a 12-time PBA champion, won the U.S. Open in 1987 and 1993 and the Tournament of Champions in 1989. He won the American Bowling Congress (ABC) Masters in 1988, meaning he can also complete the Grand Slam. The Grand Slam is the Triple Crown plus a win in the ABC Masters. Ballard has never made it to the championship round in the PBA World (National) Championship.

The only players in history to complete the Triple Crown are: Billy Hardwick (1969), Johnny Petraglia (1980), Pete Weber (1989) and Mike Aulby (1995). Mike Aulby is also the only player to finish the Grand Slam (1995).

POY race coming to a head

With three tournaments remaining in the 2001-2002 season, the race for prestigious PBA Player of the Year honors is heating up. Parker Bohn III, voted recipient for the first time in 1999, has a leg up on the competition with the lead in nearly every statistical category.

However, since the new, single-elimination match play format took hold in September, Pete Weber won three titles (no one else has repeated), which has promised to make the race interesting. Bohn has won four times total this season, with the only other multi-champions being Ricky Ward (two), Weber (three), and Williams (two). Jason Couch, the season’s early favorite, is beginning to settle in a groove again with three of the last four finals appearances.

A win in the season’s lone remaining major by any of the leading candidates could sway the voting PBA membership. Weber has never won the award in his 22-year, hall-of-fame career. Williams has won the award five times (1986, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98), which ranks second to Earl Anthony’s six. Neither Couch nor Ward has won the honor.

2001-2002 PBA Season Stat Leaders as of 2/19/02

2001-2002 Point Rankings

1, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 354,429. 2, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 309,994. 3, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 290,574. 4, Ryan Shafer, Elmira, N.Y., 287,015. 5, Chris Barnes, Dallas, 284,515. 6, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 279,550. 7, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 267,325. 8, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 264,815. 9, Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, N.Y., 250,640. 10, Patrick Healey Jr., Mexico, 246,515.

2001-2002 Money Leaders

1, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., $204,700. 2, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., $160,375. 3, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., $158,475. 4, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., $153,450. 5, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, $143,050. 6, Chris Barnes, Dallas, $136,365. 7, Ricky Ward, N. Fort Myers, Fla., $132,650. 8, Ryan Shafer, Elmira, N.Y., $124,100. 9, Patrick Healey Jr., Mexico, $118,208. 10, Robert Smith, Simi Valley, Calif., $100,943.

2001-2002 Average Leaders

1, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 221.64. 2, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 221.29. 3, Chris Barnes, Dallas, 217.95. 4, Ryan Shafer, Elmira, N.Y., 217.38. 5, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 217.08. 6, Patrick Healey Jr., Mexico, 217.04. 7, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 216.48. 8, Mike Aulby, Indianapolis, 215.49. 9, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 215.49. 10, Brian Voss, Atlanta, 215.34.