Good Start!

A little work goes a long way. At least that’s the case for Denny’s PBA Tour exempt bowler Jeff Carter.Carter, who entered this week’s 64th U.S. Open 42nd on the PBA World Point Rankings, currently sits on top of the 489 bowler field after two days of qualifying at Brunswick Zone Carolier. Carter, who has a 12-game pinfall of 2,673. Carter opened Wednesday’s action with a 235 followed by four consecutive games over the 200 mark, including a 256 in game four, to finish with a six-game total of 1,319.Wes Malott is 30 pins behind Carter in second with 2,643. Malott, who finished with 1,282 in six games on Tuesday, improved with 1,361 on Wednesday. Mika Koivuniemi (Hartland, Mich.) is in third with 2,631 after finishing Wednesday with 1,293. Rounding out the top four is Ritchie Allen. Allen, who was to be exempt on the 2006-07 Denny’s PBA Tour before receiving an injury exemption to the 2007-08 Denny’s PBA Tour, ended Wednesday action with 1,241 for a 12-game total of 2,604.The entire field returns this morning for another six games. The top 25 percent of the field (123) will advance to Friday’s nine-game block Friday morning at 9 a.m. before being cut to the top 24 for round-robin match play. The top four bowlers will advance to Sunday’s live ESPN televised stepladder finals at Noon EST at Brunswick Zone Carolier. The winner will take home $100,000 and a three-season Denny’s PBA Tour exemption.