Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, FL, continued his march toward becoming the first player in Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) history to win both the U.S. Open and Senior U.S. Open titles Thursday, expanding his lead as the field of 24 match play finalists headed into Friday’s final rounds of the PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Suncoast at the Suncoast Bowling Center.
The 51-year-old Williams, a second-year PBA Senior Tour competitor, won six of his eight matches Thursday afternoon, averaging 237 for the round to finish with a 35-game total of 8,226 pins, including match play bonus pins, and building a 203-pin lead over two-time Senior U.S. Open winner Wayne Webb of Columbus, Ohio.
While Williams is chasing his slice of U.S. Open history, Webb and Tom Baker of King, NC, are trying to become the first player to win the Senior U.S. Open three times. Webb won in 2008 and 2009. Baker, who was in 16th place after five rounds, won in 2005 and 2006.
Williams, the reigning PBA Senior Tour Rookie of the Year, won the PBA Tour’s U.S. Open titles in 1998 and 2003. A 47-time PBA Tour title winner including eight majors, Williams is the only player in the field who also has won the national tour’s U.S. Open.
“I’m still throwing the ball well,” Williams said. “I had to migrate left a little tonight as the lane condition broke down, but it wasn’t much – which was fine with me. “There are no guarantees heading into tomorrow,” the 47-time PBA Tour title winner said.
“But I like what’s going on. I’d be very happy to have to bowl only one game in the stepladder finals for the title.”
Also in the hunt for the title are 2009 Senior Player of the Year Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, in fourth place, and defending champion Mark Williams of Beaumont, Texas, in ninth.
The remaining 24 players will return Friday for two additional eight-game round-robin match play rounds. After 51 games, the top four bowlers will advance to the stepladder finals at 3:30 p.m. Pacific.
All of Friday’s action will be covered live on Xtra Frame, pba.com’s exclusive video-streaming service.
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The Senior U.S. Open winner takes home a $20,000 first prize and a berth into the Elite Round of the 2012 PBA Tournament of Champions.
2011 PBA SENIOR U.S. OPEN presented by Suncoast
Suncoast Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Nev., June 16 FIFTH ROUND (after 35 games, including match play bonus pins)
1, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 6-2, 8,226.
2, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 6-2, 8,023.
3, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Township, Mich., 6-1-1, 7,997.
4, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 6-2, 7,937.
5, Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 4-4, 7,911.
6, Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 5-3, 7,857.
7, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 5-3, 7,761.
8, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 2-6, 7,722.
9, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 4-3-1, 7,716.
10, Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 3-5, 7,702.
11, Eric Forkel, Las Vegas, 2-6, 7,666.
12, Howard Partell, Las Vegas, 7-1, 7,658.
13, Barry Zimmerman, Grand Forks, N.D., 5-3, 7,657.
14, John Chapman, Canada, 3-5, 7,600.
15, Robert Harvey, Boise, Idaho, 5-3, 7,572.
16, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 4-4, 7,554.
17, David Axon, Bellevue, Neb., 4-4, 7,551.
18, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 3-5, 7,539.
19, Hugh Miller, Seattle, 2-6, 7,518.
20, Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D., 4-4, 7,480.
21, Junichi Yajima, Japan, 3-5, 7,465.
22, Jim Murtishaw, Menifee, Calif., 2-6, 7,454.
23, Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla., 2-6, 7,387.
24, Marv Sargent, Temecula, Calif., 2-6, 7,348.
300 game – Mark Williams.
Other Cashers (after 27 games): 25, Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 5,639, $1,160.
26, Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 5,630, $1,140.
27, Daniel Miyamoto, Mililani, Hawaii, 5,628, $1,120.
28, Ron Winger, Las Vegas, 5,621, $1,100.
29, Pete Thomas, Oklahoma City, Okla., 5,597, $1,080.
30, Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 5,584, $1,070.
31 (tie), Noel Vazquez, Sacramento, CA, & Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, CO, 5,578, $1,055.
33, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 5,576, $1,040.
34, Bill Nichols, Roseville, Calif., 5,561, $1,030.
35, Kerry Fulford, Brownwood, Texas, 5,555, $1,020.
36, Christopher Keane, New City, N.Y., 5,554, $1,010.
37, Mitchell Jabczenski, Novi, Mich., 5,550, $1,000.
38, Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., 5,549, $990.
39, Roger Kossert, Lithia, Fla., 5,541, $985.
40, Russ Freeman, Antioch, Ill., 5,532, $980.
41, Don Moser, Murrieta, Calif., 5,526, $975.
42, Howard Loosbroock, Henderson, Nev., 5,511, $970.
43, Peter Knopp, Germany, 5,497, $965.
44, Jeff Jamison, Boulder City, Nev., 5,492, $960.
45, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 5,487, $955.
46, Emilio Mora Sr., Defiance, Ohio, 5,479, $950.
47, Don Hicks, West Babylon, N.Y., 5,477, $945.
48, John Bennett, Clarkston, Mich., 5,461, $940.
49, Don Sylvia, Reno, Nev., 5,454, $935.
50, John Kirker, Taftville, Conn., 5,421, $930.
51, Karl Simonis, Mesa, Ariz., 5,408, $925.
52, Thomas Ream, Tampa, Fla., 5,400, $920.
53, Jim Moran, Las Vegas, 5,367, $915.
54, Jim Gordin, Modesto, Calif., 5,340, $910.
55, Terry Metzner, Kentwood, Mich., 5,331, $905.
56, Doug Kempt, Monrovia, Calif., 5,319, $900.
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