Andover, MA – April 16, 2008 - With the conclusion of the 2007-08 PBA season, it is now time to look back and reflect on the season that was. Thanks to an unwavering commitment to excellence and continued perseverance, Team Dexter was once again well represented on the lanes this season.

Dexter is honored to represent the 2007-08 PBA Tour Player of the Year Chris Barnes. Ever consistent, Barnes continued to develop his reputation, as he won twice this season, making it his seventh consecutive season with at least one title. Chris also finished 5th on the earnings list, and led all PBA players with nine championship round appearances.

Barnes rolled his way to a prolific season, yet narrowly held off PBA Hall-of-Famer Walter Ray Williams, Jr. for Player of the Year honors. Walter Ray won twice more on Tour this season, giving him 44 career singles titles, the most all-time. Williams has recorded at least one win in each of the last 15 seasons. Walter Ray, who turned 48 last October, has showed no signs of slowing down. In fact, he seems to be getting better as the years pass.

Expectations were exceptionally lofty this season for Sean Rash. Many consider him to be one of the emerging superstars in the sport thanks in large part to the success he had during his first two seasons. With a 3rd place finish on the earnings list and his first career major championship victory (USBC Masters), Rash continued to show why so much is expected of the young phenom. He’ll continue his quest to join bowling’s elite in the 2008-09 PBA season.

Team Dexter won nine singles titles during the 2007-08 season, accounting for 43% of all victories on Tour. Williams, Barnes, and Tommy Jones each won twice, while Team Dexter newcomers Rash, Mika Koivuniemi and Patrick Allen each won once this past season. Each member of Team Dexter made it to at least one championship round this past season, collectively totaling an incredible 38 championship round appearances.

Members of Team Dexter were aligned across the top of the PBA Player of the Year standings and the earnings list. Seven Team Dexter staffers finished in the top 14 of the Player of the Year race. Every Team Dexter member finished in the top twenty-six of the earnings list.

Congratulations to Team Dexter on an unforgettable 2007-08 PBA season!

Andover, MA – March 24, 2008 - There’s just something about the television camera that brings out the best in Tommy Jones. Jones improved his career record on television to a superlative 34-8 by winning the 2008 GEICO Classic on Sunday.

The win on Long Island was the twelfth for Tommy in his illustrious, yet relatively young career. All of his victories have come over the last four seasons, a stretch in which the 29-year-old has established himself as one of the top bowlers on Tour.

After a slow start to the 2007-08 season, Jones has responded by appearing on television four times, and winning two titles. But the GEICO Classic win would not come easy as he had to face a determined cast of opponents, as well as an oil pattern on the lanes that usually gives him trouble.

“I typically don’t bowl well on this pattern,” Jones said in regard to the Cheetah oil pattern. “But they hooked a lot and I could throw it hard which is right in my comfort zone. It was an advantage for me because I could create hold where a couple guys couldn’t.”

Tommy had to face Dexter’s own Walter Ray Williams, Jr. in his first match. Jones defeated the PBA Hall-of-Famer and all-time wins leader, 269-226. In his second match, Jones dispatched of another Dexter Pro-Staffer when he defeated hometown favorite Tommy DeLutz, Jr. 268-244. In the title match, Jones squared off against Hall-of-Famer Pete Weber. Weber uncharacteristically threw back-to-back open frames in the 3rd and 4th, giving Jones the opportunity to decimate his opponent early. Tommy wasted no time as he struck in the seventh, eighth and ninth frames to close out Weber 257-191.

Jones looks to follow up his impressive win with another strong performance next week at the U.S. Open, the last major and final stop on the PBA Tour for the 2007-08 season.

Andover, MA – March 3, 2008 - For Chris Barnes, one of the most talented bowlers on the PBA Tour, closing out his opponents never seems to happen easily. On Sunday, in both his semifinal and final match in the Don Johnson Buckeye State Classic, Barnes could only sit back and watch as his opponent had a chance to overtake his lead at the end of the match. This time, Barnes collected on some good fortune – good enough to give him his 10th career Tour title.

After defeating his Tour roommate (and Dexter teammate) Mika Koivuniemi 222-213 in the semifinals, Barnes changed his general approach. Barnes addressed both lanes in the same fashion during his semifinal match, yet in the final, he played to the far left on the left lane while opting for a more straight-ahead attack on the right lane. “The lanes were just plain hard,” Barnes said after the match. “I felt like I was just tricking them all day.”

Barnes controlled most of the title match against Ken Simard, a powerful 28-year-old making his first television appearance. Needing only 9 pins for his fill in the tenth frame to shut out Simard, Barnes left the 2-8-10 split and a glimmer of hope for Simard. Needing to strike out for a one-pin victory, Simard struck once, but then came in high on his second attempt, leaving the 3-10, and a victory for Barnes.

This win was the 10th career PBA Tour victory for Barnes. Not only was this milestone significant for his career landscape and his place in PBA History, but Barnes also leapfrogged fellow Dexter Pro Staffer Walter Ray Williams, Jr. for a slim four-point advantage in the 2007-08 PBA Tour Player of the Year Rankings. There are only 3 events remaining on this year’s schedule, but Barnes isn’t about to declare himself the victor just yet.

“It’s by no means over,” Barnes said. “We all know he’s (Walter Ray) been the best out here year in and year out.”

“I don’t ever write him off.”

Barnes will try to extend his small lead with Williams undoubtedly gunning for him at next week’s Go RVing Classic in Norwich, CT.

Andover, MA – February 11, 2008 - Sometimes the disappointment and shock stemming from a difficult loss can stay with a person for a long time. It looks as though the stinging defeat Chris Barnes suffered at the H&R Block Tournament of Champions two weeks ago has served him as a motivational tool, instead of a haunting reminder of what could have been.

Barnes dominated en route to his ninth career Denny’s PBA Tour Title by winning the 2008 Bayer Classic on Sunday. The victory vaulted Barnes to the top of the rankings in the 2007-08 PBA Player of the Year race.

In the semifinals, Barnes defeated his Tour roommate and fellow Dexter staffer Mika Koivuniemi 240-198. Chris avenged his loss in last year’s title match to his good friend Mika. In the final, Barnes squared off against another Dexter Pro Staffer, Tommy Jones. While Barnes has historically struggled in title matches (an 8-18 record coming into Sunday), Jones has built his reputation as one of the most clutch bowlers on Tour. His .818 winning percentage (11-2 record) in title matches is tops in the PBA.

Barnes rolled three consecutive strikes to open against a couple of spares and an open frame for Jones. Tommy then began to claw his way back into the match before leaving the difficult 2-8-10 split in the 7th frame. Barnes seized the opportunity and closed out Jones 241-158 in the final.

“Getting away from all the drama was the most important thing,” said Barnes in reference to his heartbreaking loss from two weeks ago. “You can make a lot of what you see in 20 minutes on TV and forget about the 15 hours during the week it took to get there.”

Barnes, arguably the most consistent bowler on the PBA Tour, finally broke through on his 8th championship round appearance of the season. His calm demeanor and penchant for going deep in tournaments will continue to give him chances to win on the PBA Tour.

Barnes won $25,000 and an exemption for the 2008-09 Season with his win. Jones took home $13,000 for his 2nd place finish and Koivuniemi corralled $6,000 for coming in 3rd place.

Team Dexter Dominating in Points Standings

Andover, MA - January 29, 2008 - The Team Dexter Pro Staffers have gotten off to an incredible start to the 2007-08 season. Nine members of Team Dexter are in the top 30 in points, including the top three in the standings (Walter Ray Williams, Patrick Allen and Chris Barnes, respectively). The top four earnings leaders, Sean Rash, Williams, Allen and Mika Koivuniemi (slots one through four on the money list, respectively), are all endorsed by Dexter Bowling. With a collection of bowlers this talented, Dexter anticipates continued success on the lanes throughout the season.

Barnes, Shafer Show Well in Major

At the H&R Block Tournament of Champions, Team Dexter Staffers Chris Barnes and Ryan Shafer displayed why they are among the top bowlers on the PBA Tour. Chris Barnes came perilously close to winning his third career major title. Michael Haugen, Jr. narrowly edged out Barnes 215-214 in the final match. Shafer, who lost to Barnes in the semifinals, still collected an impressive third place finish. Shafer has now finished in the top-5 in major tournaments an incredible 10 times throughout his successful career.

Pros Impressed with New Dexter SST8

Recently, Dexter gave some of its bowlers the new SST8, a revolutionary performance shoe. Among a myriad of other fantastic features, the SST8 features interchangeable slide and traction soles for a comfortable, customizable bowling experience. The results have been overwhelming. Tommy DeLutz said, “It’s the only shoe I’ll wear!” Doug Kent, Mika Koivuniemi and Walter Ray Williams have all tried it and raved about it. Visit your local pro shop or online retailer around the beginning of June to check out our new SST8!

Andover, MA – January 7, 2008 – The beginning of the 2007-08 season has been a struggle for Tommy Jones. This past weekend’s ConstructionJobs.com Championship figured to give Jones more trouble as the lanes were oiled in the Shark pattern, the only one of the five major patterns on which Jones had never won. On Sunday, Jones surprised everyone, including himself, when he rolled his way to a 254-214 win in the championship match over his good buddy and fellow Dexter staffer Patrick Allen.

Tommy became only the second player on the PBA Tour to win on all 5 of the major oil patterns (Team Dexter’s Mika Koivuniemi is the other). Tommy also seized bragging rights and a lead in his friendly rivalry over Patrick Allen with his win on Sunday. Jones now has 11 career PBA Tour wins as Allen is nipping at his heels with 10 career victories.

“It’s been a year of struggles and fortunately, I got a lot of breaks today,” said Jones after his victory Sunday. “It’s a good start to the New Year and maybe it’s the start of another trend like the last couple years.”

Patrick Allen continues his impressive 2007-08 season with his second place finish. Team Dexter member Ryan Shafer lost to Tommy Jones in the semifinal 223-210, but that was good enough to earn him a strong fourth place finish.

Andover, MA – December 10, 2007 - In less than a decade of competition on the PBA Tour, Patrick Allen has already made himself eligible for the PBA Hall of Fame. Allen defeated Wes Malott 247-217 in the final match of the 2007 Lumber Liquidators Championship on Sunday to give him his 10th career PBA Tour victory.

Thanks to a fantastic week of match play, Allen earned the #1 seed. In the final, Allen jumped out to an early lead, but left the door ajar for Wes Malott with consecutive spares in the sixth and seventh frames. However, Malott could not take advantage, and Allen struck with his first ball in the 10th frame to seal the victory.

Patrick Allen, who joined the Tour in 1999 at age 29, seems to relish and understand his place in PBA history. “There are a lot of great bowlers out there who have won 10 titles or more and are not in the Hall of Fame – Steve Hoskins, Del Ballard Jr., Bryan Goebel – and now I’m in that group. Just because you have 10 titles doesn’t mean it’s a lock you’ll end up there, but it’s out of my hands now.”

Dexter Pro Staffers Walter Ray Williams, Jr. and Chris Barnes finished in 6th and 8th place, respectively.

Andover, MA – November 5, 2007 - It was a special weekend for two of the biggest stars in professional bowling history. Walter Ray Williams, Jr. secured his PBA Tour record 43rd career win by defeating Eugene McCune 214-194 in the final match of the 2007 Motor City Classic. Meanwhile, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, a 20-time winner on the now-defunct Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA), claimed victory at the first ever PBA Women’s Series event by beating top-seed Missy Bellinder, 233-192.

Walter Ray set a PBA Tour record by notching a victory in fifteen consecutive seasons, a mark that speaks to his unbelievable display of consistency throughout his career. He felt fortunate to even be in a position to win on Sunday. After his match, Walter Ray said, “It was a real grind. I really felt like I bowled much better games than my scores indicated, but that’s part of the game. If someone had told me ‘you’re going to shoot 217-214 and win,’ I’d have laughed at them.”

Carolyn decimated her opponent Missy Bellinder early in their match by striking in four of her first five frames. Carolyn’s advantage quickly grew as Bellinder had a difficult time stringing strikes together until their match was all but decided. Of winning the first PBA Women’s Series event, Carolyn said, “It’s overwhelming. We’ve been off for four years and I didn’t think we’d see the day where there would be any type of tour for us again. I consider myself very lucky to be the first Women’s Series champion.”

“What can I say about Walter Ray and Carolyn that hasn’t already been said?” proclaimed Bud Clapsaddle, National Sales Manager for Dexter Bowling. “They are both fierce competitors, and wonderful ambassadors to the sport of bowling. Wins like these only add to their already storied legacies, and we’re proud they choose to represent Dexter.”

The victory was Walter Ray’s third career win at Taylor Lanes, as he won the 2002 Greater Detroit Open and the 2003 World Championship there. Dexter Pro Staffer Mika Koivuniemi finished third, giving him yet another impressive finish early in the 2007-08 season.

Andover, MA – October 29, 2007 – Sean Rash must really enjoy the spotlight, because his record on television is flawless. Sean won the USBC Masters in Milwaukee on Sunday, giving him a 7-0 championship televised record. This is Sean’s first Major title, and his fourth title in four television appearances.

“Every time you shoe them up you want to win, and you especially want to win the Majors,” said Rash soon after he beat fourth-seeded Steve Jaros 269-245 in the championship round of this year’s event. Sean has had remarkable success early in his young career, and he always tries to elevate his game when majors roll around. “That’s what you dream of, and to win one is a great feeling,” Sean said victoriously on Sunday.

Sean’s impressive record on television, and the caliber of bowlers he continues to face is not lost on the confident 25-year-old. Said of bowling on TV, Sean said, “The advantages and breaks you get, if you don’t capitalize, you don’t win. Steve (Jaros) bowled almost 820 and lost. That’s unheard of. But being undefeated on TV, I love it. It’s where you want to be on Sundays.”

With Sean’s victory at the USBC Masters, Dexter Bowling superstars have now won the first two tournaments of the 2007-08 PBA season. New Dexter Pro Staffer Mika Koivuniemi won the Japan Cup to open the season.

“I guess it’s got to be the shoes,” said National Sales Manager for Dexter Bowling, Bud Clapsaddle with a playful smile. “Seriously, though, all of our bowlers are hard-working, professional and respectful to the game. Their success is a testament to how diligent they are about improving their game, and we’re proud to be able to help them continue with their success.”

Dexter Pro Staffers Patrick Allen and Walter Ray Williams, Jr. finished 3rd and 4th, respectively, in this year’s USBC Masters tournament. Sean Rash now holds the title, making him the second consecutive USBC Masters champion sponsored by Dexter. Doug Kent won the title in 2006.

Sean will try to continue his winning ways next week at the Motor City Classic in Taylor, Michigan.

Andover, MA – October 25, 2007 – In August 2007, the World Tenpin Bowling Association voted to allow members of professional organizations to compete in international events. This prompted the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) to change their selection procedures for Team USA in 2008; good news for Team Dexter.

Dexter Pro Staffers and PBA stars Walter Ray Williams, Jr., Chris Barnes, Tommy Jones, Patrick Allen and Sean Rash have all been selected to represent Team USA in 2008 in international competition. Parker Bohn III, a proud Brunswick supporter, has also been selected to Team USA.

“What an honor it is for our bowlers and our brand,” said Bud Clapsaddle, National Sales Manager for Dexter Bowling. “To be selected to represent your country is high praise for these guys, and all of it is deserved. It’s an honor for Dexter to be represented by these skilled bowlers.”

These six PBA Tour players will join David Haynes, Bill Hoffman, David O’Sullivan and Rhino Page to comprise Team USA’s “Dream Team”. Four more players will eventually be added to Team USA.

Six members will represent Team USA at the Men’s World Championships scheduled for August 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand.