HOPKINSVILLE, Kent.
Be on the lookout for the latest Hammerheads on the 2005-2006 PBA Tour. First-round draft picks, Doug Kent and Tony Reyes, have been snatched up by Hammer Bowling. And, Hammer western regional staff member, Ben Laughlin, rounds out this dynamic trio.

"After a phenomenal year on Tour, Hammer plans to maintain our leadership role in the upcoming season," said Brian Graham, Hammer brand manager. "Doug and Tony are certainly aggressive, talented players and they are both exceptional people off the lanes. Who better to lead the charge?"

Doug, called 'Fresh' by his peers, is one of the most consistent players on Tour.

Formerly a member of the Ebonite pro staff, he became the PBA_s 27th millionaire during the PBA Reno Open. Doug finished the 2005-2006 season ranked 31st in the PBA World Point Rankings. He currently has six titles to his name including the 1991 ABC Masters and was the highest earning player in 2001-2002.

Doug has a unique perspective on the game. In addition to bowling on the professional level for almost 20 years, he is also a bowling center owner. Doug purchased Rose Bowl Lanes in November 1999 and this September, he and his wife, Chrissie, added Doug Kent's Lakeside Lanes, a 16-lane center in Pennyan, New York, to their center roster. Chrissie manages the two centers.

Although Doug had no prior center owner experience, he says he learned as he went and looks forward to the summer months that he spends with his family. His son, Jacob, is 14 and is bowling as a member of his high school team this year. Doug and Chrissie celebrated the birth of Natalie early this summer.
They live in Newark, New York.


Tony is a seven-year Tour pro from San Bruno, California. This past season, he competed in three televised finals, made match play in 16 of 20 events and finished the 2004-2005 season ranked 14th. Prior to joining the Tour, Tony was a first team collegiate All-American in 1993 and 1995 at San Jose State University where he received his Radio/Television/Film degree. When not bowling in the televised shows, Tony helps run the finals in the ESPN truck.

The lone bowler in his family, Tony began bowling in his teens with friends. He joined the Tour in 1997 and began touring in 1999.

In the off season, Tony does coaching clinics and hosts the Don Johnson Memorial Open in Pacifica, California. A charity event held over the Labor Day Weekend benefiting diabetes research, this regional event is close to Tony's heart because his coach, Don Johnson, passed away from the disease in 2002.

A former pro shop owner, Tony sees himself pursuing his degree after retiring from the pro Tour and would like to coach the team at San Jose State.


Ben Laughlin, PBA western regional champion, has entered the ranks of the pro Tour and has joined the Hammer Tour Staff. A member of the Hammer regional staff for the past three years, Ben recently captured the western region exemption with 25 cashes and 20 championship round appearances.

While Ben is new to Hammer pro staff, he's been a Hammerhead since his early twenties. In 1994, while Ben was stationed with the Air Force in Germany, he won the European Masters using the original Blue Hammer ball. Since that win, he has bowled three dozen 300 games and won seven western region titles. He was also the 2000 Rookie of the Year and 2001 Bowler of the Year in his region.

Ben and his wife, Kathy, reside in Maricopa, Arizona, with their two
Daughters: Elizabeth, 15, and Jordan, 12, and their son, Andrew, 14. Ben's favorite ball teams are the Buffalo Bills and the New York Yankees.

"Ben is a very talented player with a great future in bowling," added Graham. "Hammerheads and Tour fans will enjoy watching and supporting this up-and-coming star."

Hammer Bowling is a division of Ebonite International, Inc, a privately-owned company that currently services bowling centers, distributors and retail outlets both domestically and internationally, based in Hopkinsville, Kent.