ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Just a year ago, Joe Ciccone of Buffalo, N.Y., had lost his exemption to bowl on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour, and with his exemption gone, his dream of one day winning a PBA Tour title was severely limited.

Winning the 2009 PBA Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes in suburban Detroit, however, became a life-changing experience. Along with the RPC title, Ciccone earned his first trip to the PBA Tournament of Champions, an $8,000 prize and a boost in confidence that helped him also regain his Tour exemption the following week in the PBA Tour Trials.

The PBA Regional Players Championship returns to Thunderbowl May 28-31 at Thunderbowl as a stand-alone event. There won’t be a PBA Tour Trials as a companion event this time around, but the ultimate prize at the end of the RPC rainbow is brighter than ever.

The RPC, a tournament open exclusively to non-exempt PBA members, is one of two PBA Regional majors, rewarding the winner a projected $8,000 prize, but even more valuable will be a paid entry into the $1 million PBA Tournament of Champions – the richest tournament in bowling history.

For a $295 entry fee, the RPC winner will get a shot at a record $250,000 first prize. A long shot for a bowler dreaming of one day becoming a PBA star? Certainly – but you can ask Tom Smallwood or Kelly Kulick about having big dreams. Smallwood, an out-of-work auto industry employee, won the 2009 PBA World Championship for his first title. Kulick, the first woman ever to get a chance to bowl in the Tournament of Champions, converted her opportunity into a historic victory for women bowlers in the 2010 Tournament of Champions.

The 2010 RPC will be a contest among the nation’s top non-exempt PBA players. For some, it will be a yardstick to measure their skills against the field, and figure out what they need to do to elevate their games to a higher plateau. For some, it’s just great competition. For others, it’s the first step in pursuit of a dream.

For bowlers who are not yet members of the PBA, but would like to become eligible for the RPC, click on any of the pba.com home page tabs (News, Bowlers, Schedule) and look for the “Join PBA” link in the upper right corner. For RPC entry information, visit pba.com and look for the “PBA Regional Players Championships” link under the Schedules tab.

For Xtra Frame subscribers, the final day of RPC competition on Monday, May 31, will be covered live on the PBA’s exclusive online video streaming service. If you are not a subscriber, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo for more information.

PBA REGIONAL PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., May 28-31

FRIDAY, MAY 28
8 a.m. – Squad A practice
11:30 a.m. – Squad B practice
3 p.m. – Sweeper
7 p.m. – Pro-Am squad

SATURDAY, MAY 29
8 a.m. – Squad A, 8 qualifying games
3:30 p.m. – Squad B, 8 qualifying games

SUNDAY, MAY 30
8 a.m. – Squad B, 8 qualifying games
3:30 p.m. – Squad A 8 qualifying games
Top 64 advance to RPC Match Play Finals

MONDAY, MAY 31
8 a.m. – Round of 64 (best of 5 games)
Noon – Round of 32 (best of 5 games)
2 p.m. – Round of 16 (best of 3 games)
Immediately following – Round of 8 (best of 3 games)
Immediately following – Round of 4 (one game)
Immediately following – Championship (one game)

View full post on Professional Bowlers Association

Alienware Laptops are one of the costliest gaming laptops available in the market. If it is difficult for you to get a brand new Alienware gaming laptop you can check out for other options. Alienware Refurbished Laptops come at affordable rates. You may be biased about buying a second – hand laptop. A refurbished laptop is different from a “second-hand laptop.”

Buying an Alienware refurbished laptop for a much lower price is no different than purchasing a new laptop. There are few things to look at before you go for a refurbished Alienware laptop.

•    Alienware refurbished laptops run several hundred dollars less than the exact same model being sold as new.
•    Alienware refurbished laptops are fully inspected and tested by the third party sellers.
•    In most cases, warranty is provided with every purchase of Alienware refurbished laptop.
•    Before you buy an Alienware refurbished laptop, check the date of purchase so that you could determine when it was sent to the vendor for revamping and when it was marked refurbished and sent again to the market for resale.
•    Hardware usually becomes obsolete in a span of 5 years. Never go for a refurbished laptop older than 2 years.
•    Remember, there is a difference between a used laptop and refurbished laptop. Used laptops can be found anywhere at very low prices but there is no warranty of the product unlike Alienware refurbished laptops, which are certified and fully inspected for resale.
•    When a laptop is refurbished, it is likely that the model has been upgraded. So, check out the new upgraded features of the Alienware refurbished laptop before you take it home.
•    Warranty period for a brand new Alienware laptop and refurbished Alienware laptop may vary. Instead of a 1 year warranty for a new laptop, most companies offer a 3-4 month warranty on refurbished laptops.
•    Compare the price of the Alienware refurbished laptop with any laptop having same features. You will still find Alienware refurbished laptop better.
•    Transact with reputable vendors or credible sources only or you may end up wasting your hard earned money.

Getting an Alienware refurbished laptop is no more a struggle. A huge range of top end Alienware refurbished laptops is available in the market including Alienware M5500i R3, Alienware Area 51 series  including 5620p, m9750, m3450, m 766 etc. to name a few. The premium Alienware refurbished laptops are not just for the gamers and enthusiasts but to cater the needs of all who are eager to use its highly specialized technology.

You can check out for detail at – Service.Ztronics.com to get one of the masterpieces you have always dreamt of.