Professional Bowlers Association

After starting qualifying dead last with a 144 game, and not bowling competitively for six years, winning the PBA50 Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip was the furthest thing from PBA Hall of Famer Randy Pedersen’s mind.

After his rough start, the 50-year-old color analyst for ESPN and CBS Sports Network PBA Tour telecasts rocketed through the field to win in his PBA50 Tour debut by defeating fellow Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli, 232-226, in the championship match Thursday at Capri Lanes.

“It was a combination of just bowling bad and maybe being on a tough pair of lanes,” Pedersen of his first game. “But after that I bowled a 240, then a 230 and thought, okay, things are getting better.

“It was a combination of things,” he added. “I got some good advice, made the right ball choices and adjustments and then got a good sense pretty quickly for how the lanes were reacting and how I could adjust for it.”

In the championship match, Pedersen won by striking on his first ball in the 10^th frame on a light hit.

“Amleto had lane choice and that left me finishing on the right lane which we both knew was the toughest,” Pedersen said, “but as the match progressed I thought, hey, even though it’s been 11 years since I’ve won, I remember how to do this, so I threw what I thought was a pretty good shot and got a lucky break with the high hit.”

After winning a tournament he admitted to being a little reluctant about even entering, Pedersen plans to continue his PBA50 career by taking it tournament-by-tournament. He was a 13-time PBA Tour winner during a 25-year career (1981-2006-07). Knee injuries after the 2006-07 season and two subsequent surgeries led to his retirement.

Qualifying third for the stepladder finals, Pedersen defeated 2012 USBC Senior Masters winner Mike Edwards of Tulsa, 244-191, in the opening match and then defeated Pasco County Suncoast Open winner Bob Learn Jr. of Erie, Pa., 268-223, in the semifinal.

Throughout the 2013 PBA50 Tour season, players are 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. The top three after five tournaments this season are Walter Ray Williams Jr., Bob Learn Jr., and Lennie Boresch Jr.

The PBA50 Tour takes a short break but will return for the season’s two majors in Las Vegas. The Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Storm will be conducted June 2-7 at the Suncoast Bowling Center and the USBC Senior Masters June 9-14 at the South Point Bowling Center.

PBA50 DAYTON CLASSIC PRESENTED BY ROTO GRIP
Capri Lanes, Kettering Ohio, Thursday

Final Standings

1, Randy Pedersen, Clermont, Fla., $7,500.
2, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, $4,000.
3, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., $2,500.
4, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, $2,000.

Stepladder Results
Match One: Pedersen def. Edwards, 244-191.
Semifinal Match: Pedersen def. Bob Learn Jr., 268-223.
Championship: Pedersen def. Monacelli, 232-226.

Match play results after 32 games

Includes match play record and money won. Top four advanced to stepladder finals.

1, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 9-7, 7,768.
2, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 11-5, 7,748.
3, Randy Pedersen, Clermont, Fla., 12-4, 7,573.
4, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 9-6-1, 7,533.

Missed cut to stepladder finals
5, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 6-9-1, 7,495, $1,800.
6, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 8-8, 7,478, $1,600.
7, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 9-6-1, 7,470, $1,550.
8, Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 8-6-2, 7,460, $1,500.
9, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 11-5, 7,432, $1,475.
10, Dale Csuhta, Wadsworth, Ohio, 8-8, 7,358, $1,450.
11, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 6-9-1, 7,346, $1,425.
12, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 8-8, 7,285, $1,400.
13, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 9-7, 7,226, $1,375.
14, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp, Mich., 7-9, 7,225, $1,350.
15, Hugh Miller, Seattle, 8-8, 7,171, $1,325.
16, John Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 4-11-1, 7,085, $1,300.

Missed cut to final match play round
17, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 3-5, 5,354, $1,200.
18, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 5-2-1, 5,336, $1,180.
19, Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 3-5, 5,310, $1,160.
20, Brad Snell, Mount Prospect, Ill., 5-3, 5,305, $1,140.
21, Nick Morgan, Sacramento, Calif., 2-6, 5,277, $1,120.
22, Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, 4-4, 5,264, $1,100.
23, Don Sylvia, Lady Lake, Fla., 4-4, 5,245, $1,090.
24, Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., 3-5, 5,241, $1,080.
25, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 3-5, 5,193, $1,070.
26, Mark Everette, Aliquippa, Pa., 5-3, 5,169, $1,060.
27, Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 4-4, 5,150, $1,050.
28, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 4-4, 5,149, $1,040.
29, Rick Minier, Houston, Texas, 2-6, 5,125, $1,030.
30, Les Ash, Washington Court House, Ohio, 3-5, 5,093, $1,020.
31, Michael  Tryniski, Fulton, N.Y., 3-5, 5,080, $1,010.
32, Brian Cooper, Henderson, Nev., 2-6, 5,035, $1,000.

300 game – Bob Learn Jr.

It was just a year ago that PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia became the first player in PBA history to win a PBA Tour or PBA50 Tour title in six decades by winning the PBA Senior Dayton Classic at Capri Lanes.

Petraglia, who won his eighth career PBA50 Tour title last May in the Dayton Classic, also ended a three-year drought without a win by defeating two-time PBA50 Player of the Year Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, 220-204, in the title match.

He joined PBA legend Dick Weber who also won PBA titles in six decades, however, Weber’s longevity mark included a PBA regional title. Petraglia also owns 14 PBA Tour titles, winning his first at a national tour stop in Ft. Smith, Ark., in 1966 at the age of 19.

Petraglia will be among a field of more than 100 players ages 50-years-and-older who will compete in the fifth stop of the 2013 season when the PBA50 Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip returns to Capri Lanes in Kettering, Ohio, May 13-16.

“I guess it shows how old I am,” Petraglia said jokingly after achieving the milestone, “but this is very special to me because it’s part of history and makes it all worth it.”

As the 2013 Dayton Classic approaches, Petraglia is reminded of the historic significance of the achievement.

“Since then I’ve gotten more media attention and feedback from people than anything else I’ve done in my career,” Petraglia said. “It really hit home when (fellow hall of famer) Carmen Salvino called me to congratulate me and tell me what a great achievement it was.”

The 66-year-old Petraglia is looking forward to returning Capri Lanes in the Dayton suburb of Kettering to defend his title, one of his favorite tournaments on the PBA50 Tour.

“I’m a year older but I’m still competitive,” Petraglia said. “I’ve been bowling well to start this season and it’s one of my favorite tournaments on Tour so I’m looking forward to returning to Capri Lanes. I’m sure it will bring back some nice memories of a year ago.”

Petraglia is among a group of PBA greats that will compete in a tournament that has become a PBA50 Tour tradition including PBA Hall of Famer and PBA Tour ESPN color analyst Randy Pedersen who will make his PBA50 Tour debut, but admits it will be somewhat of trial run.

“I’ve been slowly getting back into bowling shape but in reality this going to be a trial run,” said the 13-time Tour titlist who was voted the 35th greatest player in Tour history. “I was actually a little on the fence about bowling in Dayton but felt I’m probably as ready as I’m going to be. My goal will be to cash and hopefully make match play but after that I’m just going to play it by ear as to what the future holds.”

Also making his PBA50 Tour debut will be two-time PBA Tour winner Jack Jurek.

Admission is $3 per day of competition or $10 for an all-tournament pass. Additional admission and pro-am entry information may be obtained by contacting Capri Lanes at (937) 298-7411.

PBA50 DAYTON CLASSIC PRESENTED BY ROTO GRIP SCHEDULE
Capri Lanes, Kettering, Ohio
(All times Eastern)

Monday, May 13
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. - Practice
Pro-am squads to follow
6 p.m. – Special pro-am squad benefiting Alzheimer Disease

Tuesday, May 14
9 a.m. - A squad qualifying (8 games)
3 p.m. - B Squad qualifying (8 games)

Wednesday, May 15
9 a.m. - B Squad qualifying (8 games)
3 p.m. – A Squad qualifying (8 games)
Top 32 Advance to match play

Thursday, May 16
Match play rounds begin at 9 a.m.
7 p.m. - Top four advance to stepladder finals

Down by more than 30 pins halfway through the title match, Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wis., came back to win the PBA50 Miller High Life Classic presented by Columbia 300 by one pin Wednesday at George Pappas’ Victory Lanes.

Boresch won his second career PBA50 Tour title by defeating Mike Henry of Brunswick, Ohio, 211-210 in the title match. In 2012 Boresch won in his PBA50 Tour debut capturing the Senior Sun Bowl In The Villages title.

After Boresch made his run to take the lead heading into the 10th frame, Henry still had a chance to win by throwing a double in the 10th. He got the first strike but threw a seven count on the second ball handing the win to Boresch.

“I figured I was done but then Mike threw a bad shot and then I started thinking, well, you never know what can happen.” Boresch said. “It was kind of early in the match and I looked up at the scoring monitor and saw I could strike out for 232. I didn’t strike out but I put enough strikes together to put a little pressure on Mike.”

It marked the second week in a row that the title match was decided by one pin. Hall of Famer Tom Baker defeated Bryan Goebel 227-226 to win last week’s Greater Birmingham Open.

“I thought Mike would get that double in the 10th frame after he got the first one because he was generally bowling pretty well,” Boresch added. “You just never know in this game.”

Henry, who was also trying for his second career PBA50 Tour title, was hoping to end a three-season winless streak dating back to 2010 when he won the Senior Lake County (Ind.) Open.

Boresch’s win was a confidence builder after a slow start to the season and having thoughts about taking this week off to work on his game.

“I’ll be honest I had some work to do,” Boresch said. “I thought about taking this tournament off and coming back home to work on my game but then I decided after bowling a little better in the second tournament of the season I could maybe work through it and that’s what happened. It’s nice to win again and not have to worry that you’ll be a one-hit wonder.”

In the semifinal, Boresch defeated seven-time PBA Tour and three-time PBA50 Tour winner Hugh Miller of Seattle, 205-191 and Henry defeated Dale Csuhta of Wadsworth, Ohio, 241-138 to advance to the title match.

Boresch’s win makes it four different winners in the first four tournaments of the season. The next stop for the PBA50 Tour will be Capri Lanes in Kettering, Ohio, for the PBA50 Dayton Classic presented by Roto Grip May 13-16.

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

Final Results

Championship Match
Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis. ($7,500) def. Mike Henry, Brunswick, Ohio ($4,000), 211-210.

Semifinal Round (one-game matches, losers earn $2,500)
Boresch Jr. def. Hugh Miller, Seattle, 205-191.
Henry def. Dale Csuhta, Wadsworth, Ohio, 241-138.

Round of 8 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, earn $1,700)
Boresch Jr. def. Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2-0.
Miller def. Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 2-1.
Csuhta def. Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 2-1.
Henry def. Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 2-1.

Round of 16 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, earn $1,300)
Miller def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3-0.
Goebel def. Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp. Mich., 3-2
Boresch def. Tim Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 3-0.
Gonzalez def. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3-1.
Petraglia def. Michael Long, High Point, N.C., 3-0.
Csuhta def. Dennis Rakauskas, Apopka, Fla., 3-1.
Mohr def. Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 3-1.
Henry def. Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 3-1.

Round of 24 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, earn $1,150)
Baker def. Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 3-0.
Dias def. Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 3-1.
Kauble def. Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 3-0.
Gonzalez def. William Peters, Dayton, Ohio, 3-1.
Long def. Steve Neff, Homosassa Springs, Fla., 3-1.
Rakauskas def. Gary Shultis, Levittown, N.Y., 3-0.
Traber def. Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 3-2.
Henry def. Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 3-1.

Round of 32 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, earn $1,050)
Tapp def. Don Sylvia, Lady Lake, Fla., 2-0.
Sullins def. Jeff Bellinger, Columbia, S.C., 2-1.
Kauble def. Michael Shequin, Orange City, Fla., 2-0.
Gonzalez def. Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 2-0.
Long def. Joe Scarborough, Charlotte, N.C., 2-0.
Shultis def. Greg McMahan, Dandridge, Tenn., 2-0.
Traber def. Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 2-0.
Henry def. Patrick King, Fayetteville, N.C., 2-1.

Round of 40 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, earn $975)
Sylvia def. Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., 2-1.
Bellinger def. Mark Scime, Winter Garden, Fla., 2-1.
Kauble def. Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 2-0.
Eagle def. Robert Harvey, Boise, Idaho, 2-0.
Long def. Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio 2-0.
Shultis def. Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 2-0.
Traber def. Bob Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 2-1.
Henry def. Sal Borngiorno, Hollywood, Fla., 2-0.

Four-time PBA50 Player of the Year Tom Baker converted a spare and then bowled a nine-count on his fill ball in the 10^th 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, Kan., 227-226, in the title match for his 10^th career PBA50 Tour title and his first since winning the PBA Senior Pepsi Open in Decatur, Ill. 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 10^th frame forcing Baker to at least get a spare and nine-count in the 10^th 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 10^th 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.

PBA50 GREATER BIRMINGHAM OPEN PRESENTED BY EBONITE
Lightning Strikes Lanes, Trussville, Ala., Wednesday

Final Results
a-amateur

Championship Match
Tom Baker, King, N.C. ($7,500) def. Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan. ($4,000), 227-226.

Eliminator Round 5 (two-game totals, top two advance)
Baker, 525.
Goebel, 504.

Failed to advance, each earned $2,500
Hugh Miller, Seatle, 488.
Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 427.

Eliminator Round 4 (three-game totals, top four advance)
W.R. Williams, 780.
Miller, 720.
Goebel, 715.
Baker, 704.

Failed to advance, each earned $1,700
Robert Harvey, Boise, Idaho, 699.
Mike Edwards, Tulsa, 673.
Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 641.
Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 589.

Eliminator Round 3 (three-game totals, top eight advance)
Baker, 763.
Boresch, 742.
W.R. Williams, 714.
Harvey, 714.
Monacelli, 711.
Miller, 690.
Goebel, 686.
Edwards, 677.

Failed to advance, each earned $1,300
Nick Morgan, Sacramento, Calif., 646.
Brian Cooper, Henderson, Nev., 632.
Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 619.
Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 616.
Jeff Schrum, Cherryville, N.C., 584.
Tim Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 582.
Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 582.
Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 571.

Eliminator Round 2 (three-game totals, top eight advance)
Goebel, 739.
Boresch, 732.
Kauble, 719.
Parks, 695.
Mohr, 691.
Sullins, 666.
M. Williams, 656.
Cooper, 646.

Failed to advance, each earned $1,100
Charlie Tapp, Kalamzoo, Mich., 640.
Chris Keane, Cape Coral, Fla., 639.
Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 627.
Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 627.
Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 627.
Stoney Baker, Canton, Ga., 620.
Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 583.
Marc Lineberry, Camanche, Iowa, 560.

Eliminator Round 1 (three-game totals, top eight advance)
Webb, 797.
Boresch, 743.
Cooper, 723.
Lineberry, 694.
Baker, 678.
Tapp, 655.
M. Williams, 644.
Keane, 631.

Failed to advance, each earned $1,000
Mark Scime, Winter Garden, Fla., 627.
Rick Minier, Houston, Texas, 606.
Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 603.
Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 595.
Todd Haney, Spartanburg, N.C., 593.
a-David White, Collier, Tenn. 583.
Sal Bongiorno, Hollywood, Fla., 535.
Bob Brady, Santa Monica, Calif., 491.

With the announcement Monday in Sports Illustrated that NBA player Jason Collins is the first athlete in a major team sport to publicly acknowledge that he is gay, PBA star Scott Norton knows firsthand what the realities can be for an athlete who comes out.

As an athlete who is gay, the 2012-13 PBA Player of the Year contender knows very well what the ramifications of being openly gay can mean to someone who makes a living in sports. During the 2012-13 PBA World Series of Bowling, Norton won the Chameleon Championship for his second career title. Long before the media storm after Collins’ announcement, Norton’s victory gained national media attention when he embraced his husband Craig Woodward during the victory celebration on the ESPN telecast.

“It takes massive courage, so of course I applaud Jason for making the announcement,” Norton said. “But I believe it’s something that an athlete has to decide for himself or herself. I believe it’s up to each individual on how they want to handle it.”

On May 19, 2011, Norton announced publicly on pba.com that he was gay shortly after Phoenix Suns CEO and President Rick Welts also went public with his sexuality.

“I can’t speak specifically for Jason or anyone else for that matter, but in my case it wasn’t about me,” Norton said of his decision to make the announcement. “It was for the people around me, the community and a movement. It’s who you represent, not personally what you gain from it – at least that was the case for me.

“If there is a disappointment that I have, it’s maybe that what happened to me and others didn’t get the hype that Jason is getting,” said Norton who is also a practicing attorney in California. “I think you see that by the way they’re positioning Jason’s announcement as the first in a major team sport to come out when in fact there other athletes in other sports who have already done it.”

After winning the Chameleon Championship earlier this season by defeating Jason Belmonte, 227-223, Norton went on to win the Earl Anthony Players Championship for his third career title, defeating Sean Rash, 219-191, in the championship match. He also was part of the New York City WTT KingPins presented by GEICO team, owned by tennis legend Billie Jean King, that won the Elias Cup to conclude the inaugural PBA League season.

Norton did feel it was important to clarify that his situation was a little different than Collins’, however.

“In my case, it was a little different because I never hid the fact that I was gay since I was 17 years old,” Norton said. “It can be different for everyone. It’s understandable for an athlete to be hesitant because they don’t know exactly how it will affect their career. But one thing I think an athlete will find is that if they do feel that it is appropriate to come out, they will have a lot of support. I know I have had a great deal of support from among my fellow competitors.”