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Couch celebrated his first title since 2007 on Sunday, following rehabilitation on his knee which cost him the entire ’07-’08 season. Photo Courtesy of PBA.

In a competition where pure, innate skill is the focus, and adaptability is key, Jason Couch proved he is a master of his craft on Sunday. Couch was the winner of the fourth annual PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship, held at the AMF Thruway Lanes in Cheektowaga, New York.

This was the Team Dexter Pro’s 16^th PBA Title, his first in four years following what has been a slow and difficult recovery from the knee surgery which required him to miss the entire 2007-2008 season.

Couch defeated PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III in Sunday’s championship by a score of 219 to 175. Couch, who resides in Clermont, Florida, was the #1 seed going into the main event.

Established in 2008, the Mark Roth Plastic Ball Tournament brings bowlers back to basics, before the advent of high-tech bowling balls, with each player competing with identical 70’s style polyester balls. The competition offers a level playing field without the use of specialized ball technology, presenting the players with unique challenges for delivery and adaptability to lane conditions. The event is named after the celebrated PBA Hall of Famer, whose special appearance kicked off this year’s festivities.

Lightning almost struck twice for international phenomenon and Team Dexter pro Mika Koivuniemi at the US Open on Sunday, until a missed 10 pin spare cost him the title match to Norm Duke in a heart-wrenching 225-216 finish.

The 68^th US Open, held at Brunswick Zone-Carolier in Brunswick, New Jersey would have been Koivuniemi’s second major title this year, following his PBA Tournament of Champions victory in January.

The Michigan resident, a native of Finland, was the number-three qualifier heading into the stepladder finals. After defeating Ryan Shafer 236-222, Koivuniemi squared off against fellow Team Dexter pro Tommy Jones of South Carolina in the semi-finals, edging out Jones by a score of 241-158. The winner of the 2006 Open, Jones competed on Sunday plagued with a difficult bone spur that will require surgery, but still managed to finish an impressive third.

Congratulations to Mika and Tommy for their  impressive play and fortitude – it’s going to be a great 2011!

Mika Koivuniemi set a PBA record when he became the only player to reach the TV finals of all four major championships in one year. Photo Courtesy of PBA