2023 PBA50 (AND PBA60) NATIONAL TOUR SCHEDULE

The 2023 PBA50 Tour schedule will feature the greatest bowlers in the world aged 50-and-over competing in 12 title events, including five major championships, from early June to the end of August, with a total purse of more than $1 million.

The Professional Bowlers Association also announced fans will be able watch every PBA50 Tour event start-to-finish, livestreamed on BowlTV.

Highlighting the season will be the first-ever PBA50 World Series of Bowling, at JAX60 in Jackson, Mich., July 15-23. The inaugural senior WSOB will feature four title events including the main-event PBA50 World Championship, which will boast a first-place prize of $25,000, the highest on the senior circuit in more than two decades.

Similar to the PBA Tour’s World Series, the PBA50 WSOB will have multiple oil pattern championship stages leading to the World Championship. 

Another exciting addition to the schedule finds the 2023 PBA50 Tour season concluding with the return of the PBA50 Tournament of Champions (TOC), at Orange Bowl Lanes in Lakeland, Fla., Aug. 26-30. Back for the first time this century, the PBA50 TOC and its $15,000 winner’s check will be open to PBA champions over the age of 50 who have won a PBA title of any kind in their careers from the PBA Tour and PBA50 Tour, including PBA and PBA50 Regional Tour titles.

Last season, legendary PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III earned PBA50 Player of the Year honors, winning four titles and leading the Tour in points and earnings.

Lennie Boresch Jr. won the 2022 Senior U.S. Open, and the victory earned the 10-year PBA50 Tour veteran eligibility into the PBA Hall of Fame, based on his senior Tour accomplishments. Boresch was elected to the HOF by vote and will be inducted in March. 

Andres Gomez, the first Colombian to win a PBA Tour title, will cross the age 50 threshold on July 19, and is expected to compete.

In addition to Bohn and Boresch, PBA Hall of Famers Walter Ray Williams Jr., Chris Barnes, Pete Weber, Jason Couch, Amleto Monacelli, Ron Mohr, Tom Baker and Johnny Petraglia once again figure to be regulars on the PBA50 Tour.

Rounding out the major championships on the 2023 PBA50 Tour schedule are the USBC Senior Masters at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas, the Senior U.S. Open at Highland Park Lanes in Greeley, Colo. and the PBA50 Players Championship at Bowl America Dranesville in Virginia. The Players Championship finals and its record-high $20,000 first place prize will be contested on specially-installed lanes at the home of PBA50 player Bill Moore.

Other cities hosting 2023 PBA50 Tour regular events include Hammond, Ind., Morgantown, W.Va., The Villages, Fla., and Fort Myers, Fla.

The PBA50 Tour schedule will also allow for players to participate in the new PBA LBC National Championships at Bowlero Wauwatosa in Milwaukee, Wis. Depending on which division the PBA50 players choose to enter, the National Championships have a $25,000 first-place prize in the Open Classic division, and $5,000 first in the Men’s Senior Classic division. The top three finishers in the Open Classic division and winner of the men’s Senior Classic division will join winners in other divisions earning trips to the FOX Sports presentation of the PBA LBC National Championships Clash, and its $100,000 purse, from Bayside Bowl in Portland, Maine.

The PBA LBC National Championships will run on weekends from June 3-July 17, with June 24-25, July 1-2 and July 8-9 being ideal weekends for the touring PBA50 players to enter.

Two PBA50 Regional events will also be available along the way for touring players, July 24-26 in Wyoming, Mich.; and July 28-30 in Bowling Green, Ohio. Dozens more PBA50 Regionals around the country will be announced soon.

Two PBA60 National Tour events for players age 60-and-over are also on the schedule, including the season-opening USBC Super Senior Classic in Las Vegas, which will kick things off on May 31, prior to the Senior Masters. PBA60 Tour players will also travel to Ohio for the PBA60 Tristan’s T.A.P.S. Memorial Tournament at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl in July.

2023 PBA50 TOUR SCHEDULE RELEASED

May 31-June 4: USBC Super Senior Classic, Sam’s Town, Las Vegas (PBA60)
June 5-11: USBC Senior Masters, Sam’s Town, Las Vegas
June 14-19: Senior US Open, Highland Park Lanes, Greeley, Colo.
July 2-5 (rescheduled from July 4-7): PBA60 Tristan’s T.A.P.S. Memorial Tournament, Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl, Columbus, Ohio (PBA60)
July 10-13: PBA50 South Shore Classic, Olympia Lanes, Hammond, Ind.
July 15-23: PBA50 World Series of Bowling, JAX60, Jackson, Mich.
     July 16, 19: PBA50 Ballard Championship
     July 17, 20: PBA50 Monacelli Championship
     July 18, 21: PBA50 Petraglia Championship
     July 16-23: PBA50 World Championship
July 31 – August 3: PBA50 Morgantown Classic, Suburban Lanes, Morgantown, W.Va.
Aug. 6-10: Bud Moore PBA50 Players Championship, Bowl America Dranesville, Sterling, Va.
Aug. 14-18: PBA50 The Villages Classic, Spanish Springs Lanes, The Villages, Fla.
Aug. 20-23: PBA50 Fort Myers Classic, Lightning Strikes Bowling Lanes, Fort Myers, Fla.
Aug. 26-30: PBA50 Tournament of Champions, Orange Bowl Lanes, Lakeland, Fla.

PBA50 majors are bolded

PBA60 torunaments in RED, majors are italicized 

Weber Surges to the Lead at The PBA50 South Shore Open

Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Pete Weber fired an 846 series in the first three games of second round qualifying Wednesday helping him surge into the lead in the PBA50 South Shore Open presented by DV8 at Olympia Lanes in Hammond, IN.

Weber, trying for his second PBA50 Tour title of the season after a win in the recent Pro Bowl West Fort Wayne Classic, bowled games of 278, 279, 289, 248, 259, 237, 278 and 226 in the second round, finishing qualifying with a 4,047 16-game overall pinfall total (253 average).

Weber led qualifying by 91 pins over two-time PBA Tour winner Jack Jurek who
finished second after qualifying with a 3,956 pinfall. The field was cut to the
top 24 players who advanced to Thursday’s match play rounds.

“How well I bowl really comes down to how relaxed and comfortable I am,” said
Weber, “Usually it’s adjusting to the conditions, finding the right line on the
lane and making sure you have the right ball, but for the past few years it all
comes down to how relaxed I am."

“I used the same equipment I used in the first round and played the lanes the
same way – I really didn’t change anything. I’m in a good rhythm and my timing is right where it should be and that’s really the key to me bowling well right now.”

In the 2013 South Shore Open, Weber, the 2013 PBA50 Rookie of the Year, also dominated qualifying leading eventual winner Walter Ray Williams Jr., who qualified second by more than 300 pins.

“When I walked in the door I immediately felt good about how I was going to bowl here,” added Weber, who owns 37 PBA Tour titles.

As a result of finishing in the top eight, Weber and Jurek earned a first round
bye for match play.

Rounding out the top eight were John Chapman, Canada, 3,921, followed by Hall of Famers Parker Bohn III, Jackson, New Jersey, 3,909; Randy Pedersen, Orlando, Florida, 3,890 and Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3,847. First round leader Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Township, Michigan, 3,839 and Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 3,837 finished seventh and eighth, respectively.

Williams, the two-time defending PBA50 Player of the Year as well as South Shore Open defending champion, finished qualifying in 11th with a 3,795 pinfall.

The final day of the the South Shore Open, which is the second to last
tournament of the 2014 season, can be seen on PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame.  For subscription and schedule information click on the Xtra Frame logo on the pba.com homepage.

PBA50 SOUTH SHORE OPEN PRESENTED BY DV8
Wednesday’s second round results after 16 games
Top 24 advance to match play
At Olympia Lanes
Hammond, Ind.
a-Denotes amateur
s-Denotes super senior out of the regular prize fund cashing for $700

1, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 4,047.
2, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3,956.
3, John Chapman, Canada, 3,921.
4, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,909.
5, Randy Pedersen, Orlando, Fla., 3,890.
6, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3,847.
7, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 3,839.
8, Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 3,837.
9, Don Breeden, Clive, Iowa, 3,799.
10, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 3,797.
11, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,795.
12, Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 3,778.
13, Tracy Teeters, Salem, Ore., 3,774.
14, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3,766.
15, Brad Snell, Mount Prospect, Ill., 3,748.
16, Leroy Johnson, Chicago, 3,739.
17, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 3,737.
18, Rick Thomas, Willowbrook, Ill., 3,715.
19, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 3,708.
20, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 3,704.
21, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 3,663.
22, Christopher Keane, Cape Coral, Fla., 3,660.
23, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,648.
24, Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 3,645.

Missed Cut:
25, John Dudak, Orland Park, Ill., 3,641, $900.
26, (tie) George Lord, Lakeland, Fla., and Jeff Richgels, Madison, Wis., 3,620.
28, s-Ted Staikoff, Black Hawk, S.D., 3,613, $700.
29, a-Bob Markiewicz, San Diego, 3,612.
30, s-Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 3,611, $700.
31, William Peters, Dayton, Ohio, 3,608.
32, Kevin Foley, Reno, Nev., 3,595.
33, Rick Francis, Linden, Calif., 3,587.
34, s-Bill Idzior, Crown Point, Ind., 3,586, $700.
35, Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 3,577.
36, s-Dale Eagle, Newport Beach, Calif., 3,576, $700.
37, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., 3,568.
38, Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla., 3,554.
39, s-Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., 3,546, $700.
40, s-Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 3,527, $700.
41, Darron Peters, Murrieta, Calif., 3,522.
42, s-Richard Hunt, Valparaiso, Ind., 3,521, $700.
43, Bob Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 3,510.
44, Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 3,506.
45, Dean Billings, Rootstown, Ohio, 3,485.
46, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 3,459.
47, Terry Metzner, Kentwood, Mich., 3,442.
48, Bill Neumann, Rensselaer, N.Y., 3,436.
49, William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 3,431.
50, Emilio Mora Sr., Defiance, Ohio, 3,426.
51, Patrick King, Yankton, S.D., 3,425.
52, Paul Mielens, Menomonie, Wis., 3,417.
53, Mark Medler, Waterloo, Ind., 3,407.
54, Larry Salvati, Canada, 3,406.
55, (tie) Harv Pallas, Stevensville, Mich., and Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 3,394.
57, (tie) Galen Keas, Alda, Neb., and Dave Bernhardt, Romeo, Mich., 3,393.
59, Steve Stein, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,391.
60, Ken Waters, Kingsport, Tenn., 3,372.
61, Rich Wilkinson, Bennington, Neb., 3,368.
62, a-Mike Schmid, St. Paul, Minn., 3,353.
63, Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 3,322.
64, Tim Pierce, Portland, Ore., 3,313.
65, Robert Kicmal, LaGrange, Ill., 3,310.
66, Rick Woloszyn, Griffith, Ind., 3,279.
67, Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., 3,268.
68, Lyle Zikes, Arlington Heights, Ill., 3,258.
69, Brendan Bierch, Grafton, Mass., 3,256.
70, Gary Kammes, Winfield, Ill., 3,255.
71, Don Holmes, Itasca, Ill., 3,235.
72, Peter Brainard, Tampa, Fla., 3,145.
73, Lee Brosius, Ashburn, Va., 3,130.
74, Larry Helton, Bolingbrook, Ill., 3,115.
75, Kevin Vostry, Bolingbrook, Ill., 3,093.
76, Allen Meskan, Addison, Ill., 2,994.
77, Rich Kleinman, Reno, Nev., 2,929.

Parker Bohn III Sets USBC 8-Game Series Record in PBA Northwest Region Win

On his way to winning his 21st PBA Regional title Sunday May 21st in Puyallup, WA, PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III of Jackson, NJ, rolled the highest eight-game series in United States Bowling Congress (USBC) history.

 

Bohn rolled games of 267, 278, 300, 300, 289, 258, 279 and 258 for a 2,229 series in the round-robin match play portion of the PBA Chevrolet Northwest Open at Daffodil Bowl. He averaged 278.62 in breaking the USBC overall record of 2,203 set by women’s hall of famer Tish Johnson in Panorama City, CA, in 1990. Bohn said he had one open frame in the series – an unconverted 7-10 split – and actually lost one of his eight matches.

 

The series is certified by USBC under the PBA’s blanket-certification program, but PBA scoring records involve PBA Tour and PBA50 Tour events only; the PBA doesn’t track records for regional competition. The PBA Tour 8-game record is the oldest scoring record remaining in the PBA record book: a 2,165 bowled by the late Billy Hardwick in the 1968 Japan Cup.

 

Bohn, who was in the area on a business trip, used his stunning series to run away from Blaine Weninger of Happy Valley, OR, by 469 pins for the Puyallup title, finishing with a 16-game total of 4,495 pins, including match play bonus pins.

 

In the companion PBA50 U.S. Foods Northwest Open at Daffodil Bowl, Bob Davidson of Mountlake Terrace, WA, went 4-2 in match play and knocked down 3,601 total pins for 14 games to top Kurt Bogner of Longview, WA, for his first PBA50 Northwest title. Bogner had a 4-2 match play record and 3,427 pins.

Parker Bohn III Wins His First PBA50 Title Defeating Pete Weber

Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III of Jackson, NJ, finished the championship match of the PBA50 Miller High Life Classic presented by Columbia 300 with six consecutive strikes to win his first PBA50 Tour title Wednesday at George Pappas’ Victory Lanes.

Overcoming a 4-6-7-8-10 split and open in the third frame, Bohn defeated fellow Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, 232-229 in the championship match. With Weber finishing the match first, Bohn needed a double and eight pins in the 10th frame to win but threw three solid strikes to pull out the victory.

“It was a good example of never giving up,” said Bohn, who ranks sixth on the
PBA Tour career titles list with 33 wins. “I trailed the whole game until the
last ball. All you can ask for is an opportunity and I was able to take
advantage of it.

“For the fans, that’s what they come to see,” the two-time PBA Player of the
Year continued. “In a match that comes down to the last shot for the title, you
can’t ask for much more than that.”

Early in the match, Bohn was wrestling with two issues, struggling with the shot
on the left lane and getting a clean release from the ball he was using.

“I was going back and forth between the two balls I had but finally I just had
to go with the one that would release off my hand the best,” he said.

Bohn’s win came after fifth and fourth-place finishes in the first two
tournaments of the season.  He is also the third consecutive Hall of Famer to
win a PBA50 Tour tournament with Amleto Monacelli winning the season-opening Pasco County (FL) Open and Norm Duke winning last week’s UnitedHealthcare Sun Bowl In The Villages.

In the semifinals, Bohn defeated three-time PBA50 Tour winner Harry Sullins,
247-224, to advance to the title match. Weber, who dominated qualifying and was trying for his third PBA50 Tour title, beat Hall of Famer and four-time PBA50 Player of the Year Tom Baker, 189-161.

“With the competition out here the way it is, I didn’t imagine it would happen
this early,” Bohn said. “Whenever you bowl another Hall of Famer you have to
bring it all to the table and that’s what I had to do tonight.”

The PBA50 Tour takes a four-week break before returning for the tour’s two
majors in Las Vegas. The Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Dexter will be conducted June 1-6 at the Suncoast Bowling Center to be followed by the USBC Senior Masters June 8-13 at the South Point Bowling Center.

PBA50 MILLER HIGH LIFE CLASSIC PRESENTED BY COLUMBIA 300
Wednesday’s Final Results At George Pappas’ Victory Lanes Mooresville, N.C.

Championship Match Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J. ($7,500) def. Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo. ($4,000), 232-229.

Semifinal Round (one-game matches, losers earn $2,500)
Bohn def. Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 247-224.
Weber def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 189-161.

Round of 8 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, earn $1,700)
Weber def. Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 2-1.
Baker def. Gary Morgan, Marrietta, Ga., 2-0.
Bohn def. Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 2-0.
Sullins def. Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 2-0.

Round of 16 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, earn $1,300)
Weber def. Terry Metzner, Kentwood, Mich., 3-0.
Boresch def. Bob Learn Jr., Macomb, Mich., 3-0.
Sullins def. Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn., 3-1.
Bohn def. Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 3-1.
Morgan def. Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3-2.
Baker def. Dennis Rakauskas, Apopka, Fla., 3-2.
Mohr def. Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 3-2.
Parks def. Walter Ray Williams, Ocala, Fla., 3-2.

Round of 24 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, earn $1,150)
Boresch def. Tommy Brodowski, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 3-2.
Metzner def. Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 3-0.
Rakauskas def. Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3-1.
Duke def. Roy Brunt Jr., Ft. Pierce, Fla., 3-0.
Mohr def. Chuck Walker, Blaine, Tenn., 3-0.
Goebel def. Greg McMahan, Dandridge, Tenn., 3-1.
Parks def. Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, 3-2.
Lane def. Dale Csuhta, Wadsworth, Ohio, 3-2.

Round of 32 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, earn $1,075)
Brodowski def. Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 2-0.
Metzner def. Dick Gran, Hartville, Ohio, 2-1.
Jurek def. Tom Ream, Tampa, Fla., 2-1.
Duke def. Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 2-0.
Walker def. Tim Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 2-0.
McMahan def. Stony Baker, Canton, Ga., 2-1.
Parks def. Ken Gibson, Greenville, S.C., 2-1.
Csuhta def. Chris Keane, Cape Coral, Fla.,  2-0

Round of 40 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, earn $1,000)
Brodowski def. Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., 2-0.
Metzner def. David Kneas, Annapolis, Md., 2-0.
Ream def. Doug O’Bryant, Jasper, Ga., 2-0.
Ventura def. Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 2-1
Walker def. Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., 2-1.
McMahan def. Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 2-0.
Parks def. Steve Easterday, Strasburg, Ohio, 2-0.
Keane def. Joe Biscardi, Wantagh, N.Y., 2-1.

ProfessionaL Bowlers Association Announces PBA50 Schedule for 2014

The Professional Bowlers Association has announced a 12-tournament PBA50 Tour schedule for 2014 which includes two new venues, a new PBA50 Super Senior event and traditional major championships – the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Dexter and United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters – back-to-back in Las Vegas in June.

For the second consecutive year, a season-long point competition will qualify the top three players for the televised PBA50 Tour Finals which will be conducted during the 2014 PBA World Series of Bowling VI in November.

In addition, selected PBA50 Tour events will again be webcast live on the online bowling channel, Xtra Frame. Details regarding the televised finals and Xtra Frame schedule will be announced later.

For the second consecutive year, the season begins with the PBA50 Pasco County Open at Lane Glo Bowl in New Port Richey, FL, April 12-15, and concludes with the PBA50 Treasure Island Resort and Casino Open presented by Hammer in Welch, MN, Aug. 10-13.

New stops on the schedule include the PBA50 Dick Weber Super Senior Classic presented by Storm (July 18-20) and the PBA50 Pro Bowl West Fort Wayne Classic presented by Ebonite (July 20-23) at Pro Bowl West in Fort Wayne, IN. Only players 60 years of age and older will be eligible to enter the super senior event.

The other new venue on the schedule will be Cave Man Bowl in Grants Pass, OR, which will host the PBA50 Grants Pass Open presented by Track June 20-23.

The Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Dexter will be held June 1-6 at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino to be followed by the USBC Senior Masters at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center June 8-13.

The 2014 PBA50 Tour season will see a new crop of top-level players from the PBA Tour eligible to compete, including PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III of Jackson, NJ.

PBA will begin taking entries for PBA50 events beginning Feb. 10.

Baker Wins PBA50 Greater Birmingham Open

Four-time PBA50 Player of the Year Tom Baker 
converted a spare and then bowled a nine-count on his fill ball in the 10th 
frame of the championship match to win the PBA50 Greater Birmingham Open 
presented by Ebonite by one pin Wednesday at Lightning Strikes Lanes.

The PBA Hall of Famer defeated 10-time PBA Tour titlist Bryan Goebel of Shawnee, 
KS, 227-226, in the title match for his 10th career PBA50 Tour title and his 
first since winning the PBA Senior Pepsi Open in Decatur, IL. in August of 
2010. His 10 PBA50 titles now matches his 10 PBA Tour titles.

“I knew it was just a matter of time before I’d win again, I just didn’t think 
it would take this much time,” said the 58-year-old Baker. “Over the past few 
years I was always qualifying well, but couldn’t seal the deal in match play. I 
finally got it done today.”

Goebel, trying for his first PBA50 Tour win, finished the match first with three 
strikes in the 10th frame forcing Baker to at least get a spare and nine-count 
in the 10th for the win which is just what he did.  It would have been slightly 
easier for Baker had he struck on his first ball in the 10th but he left a solid 
nine-pin.

“That took the wind out of my sails a little,” said Baker, who is the only 
player to win four consecutive PBA50 Player of the Year crowns, “but I was 
confident that if I made the spare I could make the shot I needed on the last 
ball to win.”

Both Baker and Goebel advanced to the title match by being the top two scorers 
in the fifth eliminator round. Baker had a 525 two-game total and Goebel, 504, 
eliminating three-time PBA50 Tour titlist Hugh Miller (488) and PBA50 Player of 
the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr. (427) who won last week’s Sun Bowl In the 
Villages.

“This is the first time we’ve used this eliminator format and I enjoyed it,” 
Baker said. “Your mindset is a little different because you’re bowling for score 
more than you are an opponent.”

The next stop for the PBA50 Tour will be Mooresville, N.C., for the PBA50 Miller 
High Life Classic presented by Columbia 300 May 5-8. PBA’s online bowling 
channel Xtra Frame will provide start-to-finish coverage of the tournament 
beginning with qualifying on May 6. For subscription and schedule information 
visit the pba.com homepage and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

Throughout the 2013 PBA50 Tour season, players will be competing for the 
opportunity to advance to the nationally-televised PBA50 Tour Finals which will 
be conducted as part of the World Series of Bowling V in Las Vegas in November. 
The top three players in points at the conclusion of the season will advance to 
the PBA50 Tour Finals.

Bob Learn Overcomes a Strong Field to Win PBA50 Pasco County Suncoast Open Benefiting Wounded Warriors

Overcoming a back injury suffered in qualifying, Bob Learn Jr. of Erie, PA, won the
PBA50 Pasco County Suncoast Open Benefiting Wounded Warriors Wednesday at Lane Glo Bowl for his second career PBA50 Tour title.

In the first tournament of the 2013 PBA50 Tour (formerly Senior Tour) season, Learn defeated PBA Hall of Famer Wayne Webb of Columbus, Ohio, 226-206, in the championship match.

Learn, also a five-time PBA Tour winner, injured his back when he slipped slightly on his approach during the fourth frame of the first game of Tuesday’s second round of qualifying which caused a sprain in his lower back. He managed to struggle through the rest of the round but didn’t know how long he would last.

With the help of Gulf Coast Spinal Center, one of the tournament’s sponsors, Learn was able get treatment on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning to at least make an effort to bowl in Wednesday’s match play.

“I thought I might have to withdraw after a couple games in the second round of qualifying but I managed to struggle through it,” said the 51-year-old Learn. “The treatment helped to the point where I felt good enough to at least start match play but I had no idea how far I could go after that. The expectation was not to win but maybe make it through a match or two.

“I felt about 20 percent yesterday but felt about 80 percent today,” said Learn, who had to win five matches to get to the championship match.

“I was actually getting better as the day went on and was probably in my best shape when I had some of my toughest matches toward the end of the day.”

One of those matches was the semifinal where Learn defeated Hall of Famer and reigning PBA50 Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, FL, 229-216, to advance to the championship match.

Webb, who was trying to win his sixth PBA50 Tour title, defeated Tim Kauble of Marion, Ohio, in the other semifinal match, 245-206.

Woman amateur standout Lucy Sandelin of Tampa, who qualified third, was eliminated in the Round of 16, losing to Mike Dias of Lafayette, CO, 3 games to 1.

The United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer was making a bid to become the first woman to win a PBA50 Tour tournament.

The next stop for the PBA50 Tour will be The Villages, FL, for the PBA50 Sun Bowl In The Villages presented by Hammer April 20-23.

Monacelli Leading After Round 2 of PBA50 Pasco County Suncoast Open Benefiting Wounded Warriors

Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli retained his lead in the PBA50 Pasco County Suncoast Open benefiting Wounded Warriors after Tuesday’s second round but standout woman amateur Lucy Sandelin of Tampa made a statement by finishing qualifying in third.

Monacelli, the 2012 PBA50 Senior Rookie of the Year, finished qualifying with a 3,819 16-game pinfall total (238.6 average) to outdistance PBA Hall of Famer and four-time PBA50 Player of the Year Tom Baker by 117 pins who was second with 3,702.

In Monacelli’s second eight-game round Tuesday, he bowled games of 276, 269,
245, 255, 239, 235, 181 and 266. He leads a field of 40 players who advanced to Wednesday’s match play rounds.

“Overall I’m bowling real well and I feel good,” said Monacelli, who won the
2012 Senior U.S. Open and is a 19-time PBA Tour champion. “My whole life I’ve worked hard to stay in shape and combine that with the right amount of practice which is working well for me now."

“Another thing that is working well for me is to not wasting time making a
change whether it be with my equipment or with ball speed and where to play on the lane,” he added.

Sandelin, a member of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, qualified third with a 3,651 pinfall total (228.1 average) and will be hoping to add another chapter to Professional Bowlers Association history as she tries to become the first woman to win a PBA50 Tour (formerly known as PBA Senior Tour) tournament. She had games of 236, 224, 211, 242, 216, 257, 258 and 214 in the second round.

Her job will be made easier as she earned byes for three match play rounds as a
result of finishing in the top eight in qualifying.

“When I entered the tournament I was hoping to make match play because I
thought, hey, I can make it to the top 40,” said Sandelin, who was the 1996
women’s national amateur champion and United States Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year for bowling in 1992 and 1996. “But then as qualifying went on I was bowling better and I thought maybe I can make the top 30 or top 20 but here I am in the top eight."

“One thing that really helped today was I studied my equipment and knew when I needed to throw which ball,” the 10-time Team USA member added. “I wasn’t having to fish for what balls would work during the second block. Heading into match play I need to continue to be smart about my equipment and just stay in the moment.”

Sandelin is trying to become the first woman to win a PBA50 Tour tournament. The highest finishes by women in a PBA50 event are ninth by Linda Kelly in the 2006 Senior Decatur Open and Robin Romeo who finished 22nd in the 2007 USBC Senior Masters.
Kelly Kulick of Union, NJ became the only woman to win a PBA Tour event when she won the PBA Tournament of Champions in 2010.

PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame is providing start to finish coverage

of the Pasco County Suncoast Open. For subscription and schedule information visit the pba.com homepage and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

Match play continues all day Wednesday with championship rounds scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. ET.

PBA50 PASCO COUNTY SUNCOAST OPEN BENEFITING WOUNDED WARRIORS  Lane Glo Bowl, New Port Richey, Fla., Tuesday

Second Round Qualifying (after 16 games)
Top 40 advance to match play
a-amateur, s-super seniors out of the regular prize list cashing for $700

1, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3,819.
2, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,702.
3, a-Lucy Sandelin, Tampa, Fla., 3,651.
4, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp, Mich., 3,629.
5, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 3,579.
6, Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 3,560.
7, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 3,554.
8, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 3,548.
9, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,544.
10, John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 3,540.
11, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 3,539.
12, Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 3,506.
13, John Shreve Sr., Elyria, Ohio, 3,475.
14, a-Widmar Vargas, Riverview, Fla., 3,465.
15, Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 3,457.
16, Peter Knopp, Germany, 3,445.
17, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 3,442.
18, Nick Morgan, Sacramento, Calif., 3,439.
19, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 3,386.
20, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 3,375.
21, Dave Bernhardt, Romeo, Mich., 3,365.
22, Joel Carlson, Omaha, Neb., 3,358.
23, Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 3,356.
24, Steve Neff, Homosassa Springs, Fla., 3,351.
25, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 3,349.
26, William Peters, Dayton, Ohio, 3,347.
27, a-Larry Barwick, Wauchula, Fla., 3,346.
28, Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 3,327.
29, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 3,324.
30, Robert Harvey, Boise, Idaho, 3,316.
31, Bob Brady, Santa Monica, Calif., 3,300.
32, Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 3,292.
33, Dennis Rakauskas, Apopka, Fla., 3,284.
34, Doug O'Bryant, Jasper, Ga., 3,270.
35, Tom Howison, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,265.
36, Marc Lineberry, Camanche, Iowa, 3,264.
37, Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 3,262.
38, (TIE) Todd Kjell, Roscoe, Ill., and Joe Scarborough, Mars Hill, N.C., 3,260.
40, Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 3,254.

FAILED TO ADVANCE
41, a-Duane Podgorski, Lakeland, Fla., 3,250
42, (TIE) Randy Robertson, Evansville, Ind., s-Frank Gallo Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 3,231, $700
44, David Zelger, Red Lion, Pa., 3,227.
45, s-Bob Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 3,226, $700.
46, Terry Metzner, Kentwood, Mich., 3,224.
47, s-Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 3,223, $700.
48, (TIE) Lee Rucker, Fort Myers, Fla., and Michael Owen, Gainesville, Fla., 3,209
50, Jeffrey Herman, Bonaire, Ga., 3,208.
51, a-Jeffery Roberson, Land O'Lakes, Fla., 3,206.
52, Kevin Foley, Reno, Nev., 3,189.
53, (TIE)a-Edgar Gomez, Colombia, and Ron Dixon, Boynton Beach, Fla., 3,185.
55, s-Rick Minier, Houston, Texas, 3,179, $700.
56, (TIE) Christopher Keane, New City, N.Y., and s-Thomas Ream, Tampa, Fla., 3,178, $700.
58, Gary Morgan, Marietta, Ga., 3,166.
59, Tom Kennedy, Shepherdsville, Ky., 3,165.
60, s-Lee Brosius, Ashburn, Va., 3,164, $700.
61, a,s-Robert Morrison, New Port Richey, Fla., 3,161, $700.
62, (TIE) Ted Staikoff, Black Hawk, S.D., a-Patrick Trudeau, St. Petersburg, Fla., 3,158.
64, Wayne Bolin, Lumberton, N.C., 3,154.
65, s-Nick Panicaro, Ocala, Fla., 3,142, $700
66, Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3,139.
67, Sal Bongiorno, Hollywood, Fla., 3,134.
68, Richard Esposito, Clearwater, Fla., 3,129.
69, Vince Mazzanti Jr., Levittown, Pa., 3,128.
70, Bob Handley, Winter Park, Fla., 3,127.
71, Dan Ahlquist, Sweden, 3,118.
72, Leif Sjoberg, Sweden, 3,095.
73, Ed Cutter, Manassas Park, Va., 3,088.
74, a-Philip Frey, Lutz, Fla., 3,087.
75, Ron Woods, Hudson, Fla., 3,084.
76, Larry Graybeal, Elizabethton, Tenn., 3,056.
77, Don Sylvia, Lady Lake, FL, 3,048.
78, Dale Lee, Brandon, Fla., 3,044.
79, Ken Waters, Kingsport, Tenn., 3,042.
80, Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 3,038.
81, Chuck Gardner, Charlotte, N.C., 3,037.
82, Dave Sill, Titusville, Fla., 3,034.
83, Keith Glasgow, St. Petersburg, Fla., 3,024.
84, Michael Truitt, Orland Park, Ill., 3,022.
85, (TIE) Paul Lemond, Jasper, Ind, and Andy Ippolito, Forest Hills, N.Y., 3,012.
87, William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 3,000.
88, (TIE) Mark Scime, Winter Garden, Fla., and Brian Cooper, Visalia, Calif., 2,995.
90, Garry Blanton, Owensboro, Ky., 2,988.
91, Peter Brainard, Tampa, Fla., 2,985.
92, Bob Chamberlain, The Villages, Fla., 2,968.
93, a-Dave Titer, Land O' Lakes, Fla., 2,958.
94, Ron Glick, Morganville, N.J., 2,947.
95, John Younger, Ledyard, Conn., 2,940.
96, Sam Perrotta, Lincoln Park, N.J., 2,934.
97, Timothy Bates, Orlando, Fla., 2,932.
98, Dave Schultz, Jackson, Wis., 2,925.
99, a-Donald Helsel, Tampa, Fla., 2,920.
100, Tommy King, Oakdale, N.Y., 2,909.
101, Danny Gould, Palm Bay, Fla, 2,908.
102, Patsy DellaPenna, Palm Harbor, Fla., 2,907.
103, Steven Boxerman, University City, Mo., 2,903.
104, Daniel Miner, East Moline, Ill., 2,900.
105, Steve Stein, Staten Island, N.Y., 2,899.
106, a-Nicholas Crisafulli, Tarpon Springs, Fla., 2,857.
107, Don Michaelsen Sr., Plant City, Fla., 2,855.
108, Bob Pazur, Venice, Fla, 2,844.
109, Douglas Weese, Carson City, Mich., 2,838.
110, Larry Montgomery, Safety Harbor, Fla., 2,837.
111, Jim Heintz, St. Charles, Mo., 2,801.
112, George Lord, Lakeland, Fla., 2,779.
113, Dan Howsmon, Lutz, Fla., 2,775.
114, Bob Andersen, Forest City, N.C., 2,770.
115, Steve Bova, Massapequa, N.Y., 2,760.
116, Stephen Lippman, Palm Harbor, Fla., 2,749.
117, Lindell Woolard, Tallahassee, Fla., 2,718.
118, Dennis Amato, Pine Brook, N.J., 2,704.
119, Ray Randall, Dearborn, Mich., 2,585.
120, a-Rolando Sebelen, Dominican Republic, 2,490.

 300 Games, 1 - Todd Kjell

PBA Renames Senior Tour

The Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour will be re-named as the PBA50 Tour beginning with the 2013 season, PBA Commissioner Tom Clark announced today from the PBA Senior Decatur Open presented by Brunswick, the concluding tournament of the 2012 Senior Tour
season.

“The word ‘senior’ is outdated and the title PBA50 more accurately reflects the
vibrancy of the players and our competition in this age group,” Clark said.

The change in name is underscored by the continuing stream of stars to the over-50 circuit.

During the 2012 season alone, players including Lennie Boresch Jr., Mike Edwards, Bob Learn Jr. and Amleto Monacelli immediately won titles in their first year of Senior Tour eligibility. Monacelli, the 2012 Senior U.S. Open winner, and Edwards, the 2012 USBC Senior Masters winner, also remain active – and competitive - on the PBA Tour, along with other 50-plus members.

On the PBA50 Tour eligibility horizon are PBA Hall of Famers Pete Weber (Aug. 21), Parker Bohn III (July 13, 2013) and ESPN analyst Randy Pedersen (turned 50 on May 28). Also on the list of future PBA50 competitors are PBA Tour champions Jack Jurek (April 23), Chris Warren (Aug. 27, 2013), David Traber (Jan. 18) and Robert Lawrence (Sept. 29).