List of Professional Bowlers Association awards

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) hands out four awards to honor tour competitors for their accomplishments both on and off the lanes after each PBA Tour season.

No awards were given in 2001, as the PBA transitioned from a calendar year format to a "seasonal" (September to March) format, one of the league's many changes as a result of the PBA's sale in March 2000. In 2014, the PBA returned to a calendar year format for each tour season.

Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year

This award was voted by writers of the The Sporting News from 1963 to 1970. Since 1971 (with the exception of 2008 to 2010), the award has been voted on by the players and media. In 1999, the PBA named the award after the long-time play-by-play television announcer for the Professional Bowlers Tour, Chris Schenkel of ABC Sports.

Season Bowler Nationality # of Wins Notes
1963 Billy Hardwick United States 4 Won PBA National Championship
1964 Bob Strampe  United States 1* Won PBA National Championship and BPAA All-Star. Leading money winner.
1965 Dick Weber  United States 2* Won BPAA All-Star and George Young High Average Award (211.90)
1966 Wayne Zahn  United States 3 Won Tournament of Champions and PBA National Championship. George Young High Average Award (208.66)
1967 Dave Davis  United States 6 Won PBA National Championship
1968 Jim Stefanich  United States 5* Leading money winner. Won BPAA All-Star.
1969 Billy Hardwick (2)  United States 6* Won BPAA All-Star and George Young High Average Award (212.96)
1970 Nelson Burton Jr.  United States 4 George Young High Average Award (214.91)
1971 Don Johnson  United States 6 First year awarded by player vote. Won George Young High Average Award (213.98)
1972 Don Johnson (2)  United States 3 Won BPAA U.S. Open and George Young High Average Award (215.29)
1973 Don McCune  United States 6 10-time finalist and leading money winner.
1974 Earl Anthony  United States 6 Won Tournament of Champions, PBA National Championship, and George Young High Average Award (219.39)
1975 Earl Anthony (2)  United States 7 Won PBA National Championship. George Young High Average Award (219.06). Leading money winner.
1976 Earl Anthony (3)  United States 6 George Young High Average Award (215.9) and leading money winner.
1977 Mark Roth  United States 4 George Young High Average Award (218.17) and leading money winner.
1978 Mark Roth (2)  United States 8 George Young High Average Award (219.83) and leading money winner. PBA record 8 wins in a season.[1]
1979 Mark Roth (3)  United States 6 George Young High Average Award (221.66)
1980 Wayne Webb  United States 3 Won Tournament of Champions. Leading money winner.
1981 Earl Anthony (4)  United States 4 Won PBA National Championship.
1982 Earl Anthony (5)  United States 3 Won PBA National Championship. First to surpass $1,000,000 in career earnings.
1983 Earl Anthony (6)  United States 2 Won 6th career PBA National Championship. George Young High Average Award (216.65)
1984 Mark Roth (4)  United States 4 Won BPAA U.S. Open and PBA Touring Players Championship
1985 Mike Aulby  United States 6 Won PBA National Championship. First to win $200,000 in a single season.[2]
1986 Walter Ray Williams Jr.  United States 3 9-time finalist
1987 Marshall Holman  United States 0 First to win award without a tournament victory. 3-time tournament runner-up. George Young High Average Award winner (216.80)
1988 Brian Voss  United States 2 Won PBA National Championship. Leading money winner.
1989 Amleto Monacelli  Venezuela 4 Won PBA Touring Players Championship. Harry Smith Points Leader Award winner.
1990 Amleto Monacelli (2)  Venezuela 3 George Young High Average Award winner (218.16)
1991 David Ozio  United States 4 Won the Tournament of Champions. Leading money winner.[3]
1992 Dave Ferraro  United States 2 Harry Smith Points Leader and George Young High Average (219.70) Award winner. Cashed in 26 of 28 events bowled.[4]
1993 Walter Ray Williams Jr. (2)  United States 7 George Young High Average Award winner (222.98) and leading money winner.[5]
1994 Norm Duke  United States 5 Won the Tournament of Champions. George Young High Average Award (222.83) and leading money winner.[6]
1995 Mike Aulby (2)  United States 1 Won the Tournament of Champions. George Young High Average Award (225.49). Leading money winner.
1996 Walter Ray Williams Jr. (3)  United States 5 George Young High Average Award Winner (225.37) and leading money winner.
1997 Walter Ray Williams Jr. (4)  United States 2 George Young High Average Award Winner (222.95)
1998 Walter Ray Williams Jr. (5)  United States 5 Won the BPAA U.S. Open. George Young High Average Award Winner (226.13)
1999 Parker Bohn III  United States 5 George Young High Average Award Winner (228.04), leading money winner, cashed in 20 of 24 events.[7]
2000 Norm Duke (2)  United States 3 Won PBA National Championship
2002* Parker Bohn III (2)  United States 5 Won 2001 ABC Masters. George Young High Average Award (221.08)[8]
2003 Walter Ray Williams Jr. (6)  United States 3 Won BPAA U.S. Open and PBA World Championship. George Young High Average Award (221.08) and leading money winner.[9]
2004 Mika Koivuniemi  Finland 2 7-time finalist. George Young High Average Award (222.73)[10]
2005 Patrick Allen  United States 3 Top-five finish in all four majors. Won PBA World Championship.[11] Led tour in earnings.[12]
2006 Tommy Jones  United States 4 Won the BPAA U.S. Open. Also won Rookie of the Year.[13]
2007 Doug Kent  United States 2 Won USBC Masters and PBA World Championship. Leading money winner.[14]
2008 Chris Barnes  United States 2 First award based on points system.[15]
2009 Wes Malott  United States 3 8-time finalist. George Young High Average Award (222.98)[16]
2010 Walter Ray Williams Jr. (7)  United States 2 Won USBC Masters. George Young High Average Award (222.89). Tour earnings leader.[17]
2011 Mika Koivuniemi (2)  Finland 1 Won Tournament of Champions. George Young High Average Award (222.50).[10] Award went back to voting.
2012 Sean Rash  United States 1 Won Tournament of Champions. George Young High Average Award. Harry Smith Point Leader Award.[18]
2013 Jason Belmonte  Australia 3 Won USBC Masters and George Young High Average Award (228.81).[19]
2014 Jason Belmonte (2)  Australia 3 Won Tournament of Champions, USBC Masters, George Young High Average Award, and Harry Smith Point Leader Award[20]
2015 Jason Belmonte (3)  Australia 2 Won Tournament of Champions and USBC Masters. Best Bowler ESPY Award.[21]
2016 E.J. Tackett  United States 4 Won PBA World Championship[22]
2017 Jason Belmonte (4)  Australia 6 Won PBA Players Championship, USBC Masters, and PBA World Championship. George Young High Average Award (229.39)[23]
2018 Andrew Anderson  United States 2 Won USBC Masters. 2-time runner-up.[24]
2019 Jason Belmonte (5)  Australia 4 Won Tournament of Champions and PBA World Championship.[25]
2020 Jason Belmonte (6)  Australia 3 Won U.S. Open and PBA World Championship.[26]
2021 Kyle Troup  United States 2 Won PBA Players Championship. Tour earnings leader. Harry Smith PBA Points Leader.[27][28]
2022 Jason Belmonte (7)  Australia 5 Won PBA Players Championship. Harry Smith PBA Points Leader.[29]
2023 E.J. Tackett (2)  United States 5 Won U.S. Open and PBA World Championship. Earned George Young High Average Award (227.18) and Harry Smith PBA Points Leader Award.[30]
2024 E.J. Tackett (3)  United States 2 Won U.S. Open and PBA World Championship. Earned George Young High Average Award (229.37) and Harry Smith PBA Points Leader Award.[30]
  • *Shows official title count at the time. In 2008, BPAA All-Star titles in the PBA era (before 1971) and ABC Masters titles prior to 1998 were retroactively counted as PBA titles if won by a PBA member.

Harry Golden PBA Rookie of the Year

Candidates receive votes for this honor by PBA members and media. In 1992, this award was renamed in honor of Harry Golden, longtime PBA tournament director.[31]

Season Bowler Nationality Notes
1964 Jerry McCoy United States Won the Seattle Coca-Cola PBA Open. 3-time runner-up.
1965 Jim Godman United States Finished in 3rd at the PBA Oxnard Open.
1966 Bobby Cooper United States Cashed in 9 tournaments.
1967 Mike Durbin United States Won the Tampa Bay-Sertoma Open and Youngstown Open. Finished 4th at the Tournament of Champions.
1968 Bob McGregor United States
1969 Larry Lichstein United States Runner-up at Bellows-Valvair Open. Finished 3rd at the PBA National Championship.
1970 Denny Krick United States Cashed in 17 tournaments
1971 Tye Critchlow United States
1972 Tommy Hudson United States Qualified for match play in 4 of the first 6 tournaments he entered.
1973 Steve Neff United States Cashed in 21 or 27 events bowled
1974 Cliff McNealy United States
1975 Guy Rowbury United States Runner-up at Tucson Open.
1976 Mike Berlin United States Won the AMF Regional Champions Classic.
1977 Steve Martin United States
1978 Joseph Groskind United States Runner-up at the PBA National Championship.[32]
1979 Mike Aulby United States Won the PBA National Championship (def. Earl Anthony). Runner-up at Amarillo Open.
1980 Pete Weber United States Finished 4th at Long Island Open
1981 Mark Fahy United States Finished 5th at Fair Lanes Open[33] and 4th at Showboat Doubles Classic (with Pete Weber)
1982 Mike Steinbach United States Finished 5th at Miller High Life Open and 4th at Showboat Doubles Classic (with Bill Spigner)
1983 Toby Contreras United States Won AC-Delco Classic
1984 John Gant United States Won the Denver Open.
1985 Tom Crites United States
1986 Marc McDowell United States Runner-up at Ebonite-Firebolt Open. 3rd place at King Louie Open.
1987 Ryan Shafer United States
1988 Rick Steelsmith United States Runner-up at Miller Lite Classic. Cashed in 10 of 15 events.
1989 Steve Hoskins United States Finished 4th at Showboat Atlantic City Open. Cashed in 17 events.
1990 Brad Kiszewski United States 5th place finish at Chevy Trucks Classic. Cashed in 16 events.
1991 Ricky Ward United States 3rd place finish at El Paso Open. Cashed in 10 events.
1992 Jason Couch United States 3rd place finish at Columbia 300 Open and Quaker State Open. Led rookies in earnings and cashes.
1993 Mark Scroggins United States 5th place finish at Tucson Open. Cashed in 9 total events.
1994 Tony Ament Jr. United States Led rookies in earnings, cashes, and match play appearances.
1995 Billy Myers Jr. United States Led rookies in earnings and average (215.70).
Finished 3rd at the Brunswick Johnny Petraglia Open and 5th at the Indianapolis Open.[34]
1996 C.K. Moore United States Rolled a perfect game in his TV debut en route to winning the Columbia 300 Open.[35]
1997 Anthony Lombardo United States Led tour rookies in earnings (over $20,000)[36]
1998 Chris Barnes United States Reached match play in 12 events.
1999 Paul Fleming United States
2000 Joe Ciccone United States Garnered 86% of the votes. Led rookies in average (210.50)[37]
2002 Tommy Jones United States 3rd place at PBA Orleans Casino Open
Top rookie in earnings ($45,440) and points.[38]
2003 Brad Angelo United States
2004 Chris Johnson United States PBA Toledo Open runner-up
2005 Not awarded
2006 Bill O'Neill United States Greater Omaha Classic runner-up
2007 Billy Oatman United States Motel 6 Classic runner-up
2008 Rhino Page United States Won The Go RVing Classic
2009 Jason Belmonte Australia Won The Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic
2010 Anthony LaCaze United States Won the Earl Anthony Memorial Classic
2011 Scott Norton United States Won the World Series of Bowling - Chameleon Championship
2012 Josh Blanchard United States 3rd place - PBA Cheetah Open presented by Ebonite
2013 E.J. Tackett United States 4th place - Lucas Oil PBA Wolf Open
2014 Marshall Kent United States Won two championships (one as an amateur, one as a PBA member)
2015 Jesper Svensson Sweden Won two titles, including PBA Chameleon Championship
2016 François Lavoie Canada Won U.S. Open and PBA Shark Championship
2017 Matt Sanders United States Won the PBA Xtra Frame Billy Hardwick Memorial Open
2018 Kamron Doyle United States Finished 3rd in the Xtra Frame Gene Carter's Pro Shop Classic
2019 Mykel Holliman United States Runner-up at USBC Masters
2020 Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 Matt Russo | United States Won the PBA Jonesboro Open.
2022 Santtu Tahvanainen | Finland Lead all first-year bowlers in earnings and average.
2023 Cortez Schenck | United States Lead all first-year bowlers in points, earnings and average.
2024 Nate Purches |  United States Lead all first-year bowlers in points, earnings and average.

PBA Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award

The PBA's sportsmanship award honors PBA founding member and Hall of Famer Steve Nagy. The award has been awarded since 1966, the year of Nagy's passing.

Season Bowler Nationality
1966 Johnny Guenther United States
1967 Johnny Guenther United States
1968 Ralph Engan United States
1969 Ralph Engan United States
1970 Johnny Guenther United States
Dave Soutar United States
Dick Ritger United States
1971 Mike Orlovsky United States
1972 Gary Dickinson United States
1973 Gary Dickinson United States
Dick Ritger United States
1974 Gary Dickinson United States
1975 Jim Frazier United States
1976 Tommy Hudson United States
Les Schissler United States
Les Zikes United States
1977 Don Johnson United States
1978 Gil Sliker United States
1979 Alvin Lou United States
1980 Tom Baker United States
1981 Alvin Lou United States
1982 Sam Zurich United States
1983 Rich Gradley United States
1984 Jimmie Pritts Jr. United States
1985 Steve Martin United States
1986 Steve Martin United States
1987 Steve Martin United States
1988 Dave Husted United States
1989 Dave Husted United States
1990 Parker Bohn III United States
1991 Parker Bohn III United States
1992 Parker Bohn III United States
1993 Parker Bohn III United States
1994 Mike Aulby United States
1995 Mike Aulby United States
1996 Curtis Odom United States
1997 Rick Steelsmith United States
1997 Rick Steelsmith United States
1998 Tim Criss United States
Butch Soper United States
1999 Justin Hromek United States
2001 Justin Hromek United States
2002 Justin Hromek United States
2003 Jason Queen United States
2004 Tim Criss United States
2005 Jason Queen United States
2006 Jack Jurek United States
2007 Richard Wolfe United States
2008 Riga Kalfas United States
2009 Ryan Shafer United States
2010 George Lambert IV Canada
2011 Jack Jurek United States
2012 Martin Larsen Sweden
2013 Ryan Shafer United States
2014 Brett Spangler United States
2015 Josh Blanchard United States
2016 Tom Smallwood United States
2017 Chris Loschetter United States
2018 Tom Smallwood United States
2019 Martin Larsen Sweden
2020 Brad Miller United States
2021 Jake Peters United States
2022 Jake Peters United States
2023 BJ Moore United States
2024 Richie Teece United Kingdom

Source[39]

Tony Reyes Community Service Award

Awarded annually to a PBA member who exemplifies extraordinary community service, charitable and/or educational contributions over the course of a tour season. Created in 2013 by the PBA to honor and continue the legacy of Tony Reyes.[40]

Season Bowler
2013 Parker Bohn III
2014 Missy Parkin
2015 Ed Godbout
2016 Rhino Page
2017 Del Ballard Jr.
2018 Chris Barnes
2019 Chuck Garner
2020 Danny Wiseman
2021 Warren Eales
2022 Ryan Shafer
2023 Johnny Petraglia
2024 Kyle Troup

Statistical Awards

The following awards are earned solely on statistics of the bowler, whereas the above are given based on voting by the media and PBA members.

George Young Memorial High Average Award

This award is earned by the bowler who has the highest average during a season with a minimum of 180 games bowled in PBA competition. The award is named after American Bowling Congress (ABC) Hall of Famer George Young, who had a lifetime 202 average in ABC tournament play from 1942 to 1958, the highest of any competitor during that era covering over 20 tournaments.[41]

Season Bowler Average
1962 Don Carter 212.84
1963 Billy Hardwick 210.35
1964 Ray Bluth 210.51
1965 Dick Weber 211.90
1966 Wayne Zahn 208.66
1966 Wayne Zahn 212.14
1967 Wayne Zahn 212.14
1968 Jim Stefanich 211.90
1969 Billy Hardwick 212.96
1970 Nelson Burton, Jr. 214.91
1971 Don Johnson 213.98
1972 Don Johnson 215.29
1973 Earl Anthony 215.80
1974 Earl Anthony 219.39
1975 Earl Anthony 219.06
1976 Mark Roth 215.97
1977 Mark Roth 218.17
1978 Mark Roth 219.83
1979 Mark Roth 221.66
1980 Earl Anthony 218.54
1981 Mark Roth 216.70
1982 Marshall Holman 212.84
1983 Earl Anthony 216.65
1984 Marshall Holman 213.91
1985 Mark Baker 213.72
1986 John Gant 214.38
1987 Marshall Holman 216.80
1988 Mark Roth 218.04
1989 Pete Weber 215.43
1990 Amleto Monacelli 218.16
1991 Norm Duke 218.21
1992 Dave Ferraro 219.70
1993 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. 222.98
1994 Norm Duke 222.83
1995 Mike Aulby 225.49
1996 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. 225.37
1997 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. 222.95
1998 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. 226.13
1999 Parker Bohn III 228.04
2000 Chris Barnes 220.93
2002* Parker Bohn III 221.08
2003 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. 224.94
2004 Mika Koivuniemi 222.73
2005 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. 227.07
2006 Norm Duke 224.29
2007 Norm Duke 228.47
2008 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. 228.34
2009 Wes Malott 222.98
2010 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. 222.89
2011 Mika Koivuniemi 222.50
2012 Sean Rash 228.13
2013 Jason Belmonte 228.81
2014 Jason Belmonte 226.71
2015 Jason Belmonte 225.40
2016 Jesper Svensson 226.07
2017 Jason Belmonte 229.39
2018 Jason Belmonte 221.38
2019 Jason Belmonte 225.62
2020 Not awarded
2021 Not awarded
2022 E.J. Tackett 225.27
2023 E.J. Tackett 227.18
2024 E.J. Tackett 229.37

References

  1. ^ "PBA Tour Records". pba.com. Professional Bowlers Association. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  2. ^ Gulick, Phil (30 Oct 2003). "After this season, it's a normal life for Aulby". tampabay.com. Tampa Bay Times.
  3. ^ Snyder, Don (8 Jan 1992). "BOWLING PBA TOURNAMENT AT TORRANCE : Ozio's Big Rise Began With This Competition". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ Witt, Kevin (29 Mar 2001). "Tour has no lure for retired Ferraro". recordonline.com. Times Herald-Record.
  5. ^ "PBA picks Williams as bowler of the year". recordnet.com. The Record. 31 Dec 1993.
  6. ^ "Bowling". oklahoman.com. The Oklahoman. 11 Jan 1995.
  7. ^ "Bohn named PBA Player of the Year". upi.com. United Press International. 28 Dec 1999.
  8. ^ "Bohn's Second Player of the Year Award is No Fluke". espn.com. ESPN. 6 May 2002.
  9. ^ "Cast your ESPY vote: Best Bowler". espn.com. ESPN. June 2003.
  10. ^ a b Machniak, Christofer (9 May 2011). "Latest Link: Hartland Pro Bowler Wins Player of the Year Award". patch.com. Patch Media.
  11. ^ Bigham, Terry (13 Dec 2019). "DiRupo, Allen elected to USBC Hall of Fame". bowl.com. United States Bowling Congress.
  12. ^ "Cast your ESPY vote: Best Bowler". espn.com. ESPN. June 2005.
  13. ^ Cannizzaro, Matt (27 Oct 2019). "Newly elected PBA Hall of Famer Tommy Jones in contention at 2019 U.S. Open". bowl.com. United States Bowling Congress.
  14. ^ Brignall, Alan (22 May 2007). "Local pro bowler wins top PBA award". fltimes.com. Finger Lakes Times.
  15. ^ "Barnes is PBA player of the year". upi.com. United Press International. 1 May 2008.
  16. ^ Kubena, Brooks (24 Sep 2016). "Austin's Malott hopes to bowl over competition, take PBA world title". statesman.com. Austin American-Statesman.
  17. ^ Pryson, Mike (26 Jul 2010). "Professional Bowlers Association star Walter Ray Williams to make his debut at the Jackson Senior Open". mlive.com. Jackson Citizen Patriot. Walter Ray Williams, the reigning Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year...
  18. ^ Bragg, Beth (28 May 2012). "Alaska-grown bowler named PBA's Player of the Year". adn.com. Anchorage Daily News.
  19. ^ Williams, Don (29 June 2019). "Belmonte brings elite game to Lubbock". lubbockonline.com. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. He's been named PBA player of the year four times since 2013...
  20. ^ Cook, Michelle (27 Jan 2015). "Jason Belmonte wins back-to-back PBA Player of the Year awards". Central Western Daily.
  21. ^ Clark, Christian (30 Jan 2016). "Australian bowler brings two-handed technique to PBA Tournament of Champions in Shawnee". oklahoman.com. The Oklahoman.
  22. ^ "EJ Tackett". huntingtoncountyhonors.org. Huntington County Honors. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  23. ^ Vint, Bill (11 Jan 2018). "Belmonte Dominates End-Of-Year PBA Stats". bowl.com. United States Bowling Congress.
  24. ^ Spezia, Mark (3 Dec 2018). "Talent to Spare Holly Native Andrew Anderson". mycitymag.com. My City Magazine.
  25. ^ Manoloff, Dennis (1 Feb 2020). "Jason Belmonte set to defend PBA Tournament of Champions title at Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn". cleveland.com. Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  26. ^ Laufer, Jill (24 Dec 2020). "Jason Belmonte Earns Sixth Career PBA Player Of The Year Honor" (PDF). californiabowlingnews.com. FloBowling.
  27. ^ "Pro with the fro". wdrb.com. WDRB. 12 Mar 2024.
  28. ^ "Kyle Troup Wins 2021 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award". taylorsvilletimes.com. The Taylorsville Times. 18 Dec 2021.
  29. ^ "Jason Belmonte earns 7th PBA PLAYER OF THE YEAR award". tenpin.org.au. Tenpin Bowling Australia. 7 Nov 2022.
  30. ^ a b Cohn, Justin (12 Dec 2024). "Northeast Indiana's E.J. Tackett wins PBA Player of Year for 3rd time". journalgazette.net. The Journal Gazette.
  31. ^ "Golden, former head of bowlers tour, dies at 79". lasvegassun.com. Las Vegas Sun. 25 May 2004.
  32. ^ "Nelson Captures Bowling Tourney". The New York Times. 19 June 1978.
  33. ^ "Fair Lanes Open Championship Round History" (PDF). ncausbca.org. Bowl Magazine. April 1987.
  34. ^ "Aulby takes top PBA honors..." upi.com. United Press International. 9 Jan 1996.
  35. ^ Wertheim, L. Jon (27 Jan 1997). "AN UNORTHODOX CALLING MINISTER C.K. MOORE JOINED THE PBA TOUR AND BECAME 1996 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR". vault.si.com. Sports Illustrated.
  36. ^ "SOME PBA FACTS AND FIGURES FOR TRIVIA CONTESTANTS". mcall.com. The Morning Call. 15 Feb 1998.
  37. ^ "Duke and Ciccone are honored with PBA's Schenkel, Golden awards". mcall.com. The Morning Call. 24 Dec 2000.
  38. ^ "Jones Selected Top Rookie". espn.com. 21 May 2002.
  39. ^ "Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award". pba.com. Professional Bowlers Association. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  40. ^ Hughes, Nolan (3 Oct 2022). "Remembering Tony Reyes and His Everlasting Smile". pba.com. Professional Bowlers Association.
  41. ^ "George Young Hall of Fame Bio". bowl.com. United States Bowling Congress. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.