USBC Masters

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The USBC Masters is a championship ten pin bowling event conducted by the United States Bowling Congress. The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) began recognizing it as a title event in 1998, and it was designated one of the four majors in 2000.

History

Prior to 2005 the tournament was known as the ABC Masters, conducted by the American Bowling Congress (which merged with the WIBC and YABA, becoming the USBC in 2005). The Masters began as an invitational event showcasing national and local bowling stars and has grown to become one of bowling's most prestigious events.

While the event has evolved over the years, its trademark qualifying and double-elimination match play format has remained largely unchanged. All bowlers compete in 15 games of qualifying, with the top 63 qualifiers joining the previous year's champion in the double elimination match play bracket. All head-to-head matches consist of 3 games, highest total pinfall wins.[1]

Hundreds of competitors turn out for the Masters each year with their sights set on a prize fund that has recently been as high as $350,000, including a $50,000 top prize.[2] The field, which now includes women, also features representatives from all 50 states and a handful of foreign countries.

The Masters is open to any USBC member and is a part of the World Bowling Tour.

After the Masters in January 2004, the tournament was moved to the fall, resulting in two Masters events during 2004. (The first was part of the 2003–04 PBA season, and the second was part of the 2004–05 season.) Then in 2008, the tournament was moved back to the spring, which is why there was no Masters during 2008.

2015 Event

On February 8, 2015, Jason Belmonte became the first player in history to win three consecutive USBC Masters championships. Number 2 seeded Belmonte defeated top seed A.J. Johnson in the final match to capture the 2015 USBC Masters championship.[3]

2015 Results

A five-player stepladder final round was used.

  • Match #1: (4) Pete Weber def. (5) Martin Larsen, 237-223
  • Match #2: Weber def. (3) Mike Devaney, 211-204
  • Semifinals: (2) Jason Belmonte def. Weber, 232-210
  • Finals: Belmonte def. (1) A.J. Johnson, 202-157

1. Jason Belmonte (Australia), $50,000
2. A.J. Johnson (USA), $25,000
3. Pete Weber (USA), $15,000
4. Mike Devaney (USA), $10,000
5. Martin Larsen (Sweden), $8,000

2016 Event

It was announced on August 18, 2015 that the 2016 USBC Masters would be at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis, slated for February 8–16. The original plan was for the event to be at Brunswick Zone Carolier during the same time period in which the event was a full field in 2013 and 2014. Jason Belmonte will look to become the only bowler in Masters history to win the event four times.

Past Champions

NOTE: In May 2008, the PBA announced it was revising its all-time records to include ABC Masters championships prior to 1998 as PBA titles (and majors), if the champion was a PBA member at the time.[4]

External links

References

  1. ↑ Official Masters website
  2. ↑ "New formats for new era." Article at www.pba.com, August 4, 2008.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ All-time Denny's PBA Tour Titlists at www.pba.com
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