Barnes is PBA player of the year

SEATTLE, May 1 (UPI) -- Chris Barnes, who won two U.S. tournaments and appeared in nine championship rounds this season, has won the PBA's Player of the Year honors.

It is the first player of the year award won by Barnes in 10 years on the Professional Bowlers Association tour. He took the points lead for good with a win in March at the 2008 Don Johnson Buckeye State Classic in Columbus, Ohio.

Barnes was second on the tour with a 225.18 average and fifth on the money list at $142,419.

His final total of 64 points topped runner-up Walter Ray Williams Jr. by 2 points. Williams was looking for a record-breaking seventh PBA player of the year win. He did win his record seventh High Average Award with a 228.34 mark, the second highest in PBA history.

Rhino Page ran away with PBA rookie of the year honors. He set a rookie record for earnings ($84,811) and championship round appearances (five), and was the first first-year player since 1996 to win a tournament.

The PBA's Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award went to Riga Kalfas.