IBMA ELECTS WILLIAMS JR., ROMEO AS SENIOR BOWLERS OF THE YEAR FOR 2012

 

ARLINGTON, Texas, February 19, 2013 - The International Bowling Media Association (IBMA) has elected Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., and Robin Romeo, Newhall, Calif. as Senior Bowlers of the Year for 2012.

Williams Jr. won two senior Professional Bowlers Association titles and had three other top five finishes in nine events. He was runner-up in the Senior US Open and ranked first in money earnings and average. Williams Jr. earned $35,900 and averaged 233.41 for the season. He garnered 310 points in the balloting to outstrip candidates Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., and Bob Learn Jr., Macomb, Mich.by almost 200 points. Williams Jr. was also 2010 Senior Rookie of the Year,winning the first senior event he entered.

Romeo was crowned champion in the inaugural Senior Women's US Open, finished second in the Golden Ladies and seventh in the USBC Senior Queens. She also won the Triple Crown Shootout, a special event for the top ten women who bowled all three of the aforementioned events. "It's the best I've bowled in a long time,"said Romeo of her outstanding year. "I knew it was close between Dana and myself and I was just hoping I would get the honor. I surprised myself this past year and it was very exciting."

Romeo was the top point getter in the election by more than 170 points, outdistancing 2010 Senior Bowler of the Year winner Dana Miller-Mackie of Albuquerque, N.M. and 2008 Senior Bowler of the Year Lucy Sandelin of Tampa, Fla. Romeo had previously been Senior Bowler of the Year in 2009.

Candidates for Senior Bowler of the Year must be 50 years of age by January 1 of the year of competition. The IBMA instituted the male award in 1993 and began the female award in 2000.

Senior Bowlers of the Year

IBMA Male Senior Bowlers of the Year

2012 - Walter Ray Williams, Jr., Ocala, FL

2011 - Ron Mohr, Eagle River, AK

2009 - Ron Mohr, Eagle River, AK
2008 - Wayne Webb, Sacramento, CA
2007 - Tom Baker, King, NC
2006 - Tom Baker, King, NC
2005 - Tom Baker, King, NC
2004 - Bob Glass, Lawrence, KS
2003 - Bob Glass, Lawrence, KS
2002 - Bob Glass, Lawrence, KS
2001 - Bob Glass, Lawrence, KS
2000 - Bob Glass, Lawrence, KS

1999 - Dale Eagle, Lewisville, TX
1998 - Pete Couture, Titusville, FL
1997 - Gary Dickinson, Edmond, OK
1996 - Earl Anthony, Cornelius, WA
1995 - Tommy Evans, Bonaventure, FL
1994 - John Handegard, Las Vegas, NV
1993 - Gary Dickinson, Edmond, OK 


IMBA Female Senior Bowlers of the Year

2012 - Robin Romeo, Newhall, CA

2011 - Paula Vidad, Sun City, CA

2010 - Dana Miller-Mackie, Albuquerque, NM

2009 - Robin Romeo, Newhall, CA
2008 - Lucy Sandelin, Tampa, FL
2007 - (none selected)
2006 - (none selected)
2005 - (none selected)
2004 - Shirley Levens, Titusville, FL
2003 - Shirley Levens, Cocoa, FL
2002 - Shirley Levens, Cocoa, FL
2001 - Fran Deken, Reno, NV
2000 - Linda Kelly, Dayton, OH