Allen strong again in Reno

Jan 5, 2008 - 6:20 AM RENO, Nevada (Ticker) -- Although his 14-game winning streak at the National Bowling Stadium ended Friday morning, Patrick Allen continued to be the king of the arena.

The defending champion who made history here last year, Allen won both of his matches Friday to advance to the round of eight in the 2008 ConstructionJobs.com Championship.

Allen tied a PBA record here in 2007, when he went 14-0 en route to the title in the 2007 H&R Block Classic, defeating Hall of Famers Pete Weber and Walter Ray Williams Jr. in the finals. Although he lost his first game in the round of 32 on Friday to end the streak, Allen came back to defeat Riga Kalfas, 4-2, and advance to the round of 16.

The 10-time titlist then jumped to a 3-0 lead over Norm Duke before his opponent came back to win the next three games. Allen topped the 26-time champion in the seventh and deciding game, 246-201, to advance to Saturday's round of eight.

"I just bowled well again this week. In fact, this is the best I've bowled in about three or four years," Allen said. "I don't think the lanes are all that easy, and I've made them look like they're somewhat easy."

Allen is off to a strong start this season, a contrast to 2006-07, when he did not make a television appearance in the first nine events until his breakout in Reno. In the first nine events this season, Allen has one title and three TV appearances, including back-to-back championship rounds to close out the first swing.

"The left side was just really good for two weeks, and I took advantage of it," the lefthander said of his performances in Baltimore and Spartanburg. "I knew I still needed to throw it better. Even though I made the show in Spartanburg, the lanes were easy.

"The condition this week makes you focus more, and if you throw it badly, the lane is going to tell you immediately. A lot of guys are throwing it well because you really have to concentrate and think in order to execute, rather than in easier weeks when you don't have to pure it every shot to throw a seven-bagger."

Allen next will face 53-year-old Roger Kossert, a surprise finalist who advanced through Wednesday's qualifying round. A three-time PBA Senior Tour champion, Kossert defeated No. 1 Steve Harman in the round of 32, 4-1, and No. 16 Ken Simard, 4-2, in the round of 16.

In Saturday's other matches, No. 28 Joe Ciccone takes on No. 20 Danny Wiseman, No. 31 Ryan Shafer battles 2006-07 Player of the Year and seventh seed Doug Kent, and No. 11 David Traber meets No. 19 Tommy Jones, the 2005-06 Player of the Year.

Saturday's action gets underway at 12 noon EST. The final four bowlers will advance to Sunday's championship round, which will be televised live on ESPN at 1 p.m. EST.

The winner receives $25,000 and an exemption for the 2008-09 season.