From PBA.com
Magnificent Mika
Seattle, WA - May 18, 2004
The PBA announced today that Mika Koivuniemi won the 2004 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award, Chris Johnson won the 2004 Harry Golden PBA Rookie of the Year Award and Tim Criss took home the 2004 Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award.
Koivuniemi, Ann Arbor, Mich., led the PBA Tour with a 222.73 average, $238,590 in Tour earnings and tied Chris Barnes with a Tour-best seven championship round appearances. The six-year pro tossed the 16th televised perfect game in Tour history in the 2003 PBA Cambridge Credit Classic in Windsor Locks, Conn., en route to his first career PBA Player of the Year Award.
“This is the biggest honor. It’s a dream come true. This was one of my biggest goals, and it will keep me going and even more motivated for next year,†Koivuniemi said. “I know it wasn’t easy because there were a couple of other guys who could have won.â€
The owner of four career PBA Tour titles, including two last season (PBA Cambridge Credit Classic and PBA Reno Open), Koivuniemi finished the year on a high note, placing second in the 2004 PBA World Championship. In addition, he led Team Geico to a first place finish in the season-long PBA Team Championship.
Steve Jaros, who won a Tour-best three titles last season, was second in PBA Player of the Year voting, followed by Pete Weber, who won the 61st U.S. Open presented by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. Other players receiving votes were Brad Angelo, Tom Baker, Chris Barnes, Michael Haugen Jr., Patrick Healey Jr. and Walter Ray Williams Jr.
Johnson, Garland, Texas, led all rookies with $45,260 in season earnings, eight match play appearances and two championship round appearances. The 6-2, 199-pounder became the first rookie to appear in multiple televised championship round appearances since Healey accomplished the feat in 1998.
Johnson’s 12 cashes in 19 events tied him with Tom Smallwood for tops among all rookies. His second place finish in the 2003 PBA Toledo Open was the top finish among all rookies while his 104,800 point total also led all rookies.
“It’s an honor because of all the people who have won it in the past,†Johnson said. “I’m surprised. There were some good rookies out there this year.â€
Sweden native Tore Torgersen was second in PBA Rookie of the Year voting while Smallwood placed third. Other rookies receiving votes included Shannon Buchan, Brandon Hilgendorf and Tim Mack.
Criss, Bel Air, Md., wins the PBA Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award for the second time in his 20-year career, having also won the award in 1998. He finished 30th in the PBA World Point Rankings last season with 118,455 points. The five-time PBA Tour title winner has been nominated for this award on numerous occasions.
“Just the fact that I’ve been nominated almost every year has been real honor,†said Criss. “Winning it after so many years shows that people know I’m a good sport off the lanes regardless of whether I do well or don’t do well on the lanes.â€
Jason Queen, the 2003 Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award winner, finished second in voting while Richard Wolfe was third. Justin Hromek and Tim Mack also received votes.
The PBA Player of the Year Award is named after the long-time television play-by-play announcer Chris Schenkel. Schenkel provided commentary for the PBA tour for 36 years and was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame in 1976.
The PBA Rookie of the Year Award is named after Harry Golden. Golden, who retired in 1990, served as the PBA Tour’s Tournament Director for 30 years. The PBA Hall of Famer passed away May 10 after battling a long illness.
Steve Nagy, a member of the American Bowling Congress and PBA Hall of Fame, is the namesake of the PBA’s Sportsmanship Award. The Award is given annually to the PBA professional who demonstrates the highest degree of sportsmanship on Tour.
All three PBA Tour Awards are voted on by PBA members after the completion of the season.
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