Professional Bowlers Association

Don Sylvia waited a long time for his second PBA Senior Tour title, but it was well worth the wait.

Sylvia captured his first title since his rookie season in 2003, defeating Roger LeClair, 226-211, in the title match of the 2007 PBA Senior Lake County Open Thursday at Olympia Lanes.

The 2003 PBA Senior Rookie of the Year qualified 21st after 16 games and had to bowl five matches to get the title match while LeClair, who qualified third, had to win just three.

The day, like the four years since his last title, wasn’t easy for Sylvia, who after sweeping his best-of-five Round of 32 match, three-games-to-none, had to come from behind in his next two matches to win. He fell in an 0-2 hole to No. 12 Mark Jones in the Round of 24 before bouncing back to win the final three games, then lost the first game to No. 5 Michael Henry in the Round of 16 before winning three in a row again.

Sylvia had an easier time in the best-of-three Round of 8, sweeping Bob Chamberlain, 2-0, then knocked off his roommate Henry Gonzalez, 210-192, in the one-game semifinal to reach the title match.

The 54-year-old jumped out to an early lead against LeClair, who opened in the second, but Sylvia opened in the fourth to give LeClair the lead. Sylvia responded with five consecutive strikes, while LeClair was burned by a ringing 10-pin in the eighth frame after a double. The Discovery Bay, Calif., resident wrapped up the title with a nine-spare in the 10th frame.

“I’ve been waiting so long for this,” Sylvia said. “The first title is always great. I came out my rookie year and was very fortunate to win, but believe me the second one is much tougher. The second one proves I really do belong out here. This is just a taste of honey.”

Sylvia, who dedicated the win to his late father who passed away two years ago, took home $8,000 for the win.

The win was particularly painful for LeClair (Clackamas, Ore.), who again came up just short in his quest for his first career PBA Senior Tour title. The 2005 PBA Senior Rookie of the Year runner-up to PBA Hall of Famer Tom Baker, LeClair also finished second at Olympia Lanes two years ago.

LeClair took home $4,500 for second, while Gonzalez (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Gary Smith (E. Peoria, Ill.) took home $3,000 for third and fourth.

The PBA Senior Tour heads to Decatur, Ill., next week for the 2007 PBA Senior Decatur Open, Aug. 11-14 at Spare Time Lanes. The winner will take home $8,000.




PBA Senior Tour
PBA Senior Lake County Open
Olympia Lanes
Hammond, Ind.
Thursday, Aug. 9

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

(Single-game match. Winner earns $8,000. Loser earns $4,500.)

#21 Don Sylvia		X		9/		X		63		X		X		X		X		X		9/9
		20		40		59		68		98		128		158		187		207		226
#3 Roger LeClair		X		s8-		X		X		9/		X		X		9/		9/		XX8
		18		26		55		75		95		124		144		163		183		211

ROUND OF 4

(Single-game matches. Losers eliminated, earn $3,000.)

#9 Henry Gonzalez		192
#21 Don Sylvia		210
Sylvia Advances
#10 Gary Smith		171
#3 Roger LeClair		185
LeClair Advances

ROUND OF 8

(Single elimination, best-of-three-games. Losers eliminated, earn $1,700.)

#1 Tom Baker		192		171
#9 Henry Gonzalez		192 (10)		248
Gonzalez Advances
#21 Don Sylvia		220		205
#4 Bob Chamberlain		194		130
Sylvia Advances
#15 Don Blatchford		178		203
#10 Gary Smith		242		221
Smith Advances
#6 Roger Kossert		200		205
#3 Roger LeClair		209		242
LeClair Advances

ROUND OF 16

(Single elimination, best-of-five-games. Losers eliminated, earn $1,300.)

#32 Jeff Bellinger		174		212		174		155
#1 Tom Baker		223		206		248		266
Baker Advances
#9 Henry Gonzalez		239		203		247		224
#8 James Brenner		196		234		203		194
Gonzalez Advances
#5 Michael Henry		235		195		179		187
#21 Don Sylvia		198		198		249		238
Sylvia Advances
#4 Bob Chamberlain		200		181		193		175		207
#13 Rohn Morton		203		175		175		206		177
Chamberlain Advances
#15 Don Blatchford		247		204		190		187		236
#2 David Ozio		228		179		254		224		235
Blatchford Advances
#10 Gary Smith		216		233		232		236
#7 Tim Kauble		221		156		201		234
Smith Advances
#6 Roger Kossert		221		226		191		224
#11 Dale Eagle		210		200		215		183
Kossert Advances
#3 Roger LeClair		213		234		197		243
#30 Bill Henson		187		201		214		192
LeClair Advances

ROUND OF 24

(Single elimination, best-of-five-games. Losers eliminated, earn $1,100.)

#32 Jeff Bellinger		235		243		255
#16 Frank Gallo Jr.		225		203		195
Bellinger Advances
#25 Ray Johnson		168		228		216		194
#9 Henry Gonzalez		257		218		234		243
Gonzalez Advances
#12 Mark Jones		190		239		179		163		207
#21 Don Sylvia		176		167		191		233		226
Sylvia Advances
#13 Rohn Morton		172		209		255		220		178
#29 George Lord		195		246		183		162		174
Morton Advances
#18 Sam Zurich		267		214		227		194		215
#15 Don Blatchford		200		235		167		215		258
Blatchford Advances
#23 Ron Garr		185		191		226
#10 Gary Smith		217		236		243
Smith Advances
#11 Dale Eagle		268		189		235		239
#27 John Shreve Sr.		255		214		218		235
Eagle Advances
#14 Tom Carter		196		219		189		167
#30 Bill Henson		225		193		246		225
Henson Advances

ROUND OF 32

(Single elimination, best-of-five-games. Losers eliminated, earn $1,000.)

#17 Steven Jansson		203		160		216		165
#32 Jeff Bellinger		174		211		227		176
Bellinger Advances
#25 Ray Johnson		212		204		222		214
#24 Bob Brady		159		205		209		207
Johnson Advances
#21 Don Sylvia		199		170		241
#28 Mike Pullin		168		162		159
Sylvia Advances
#29 George Lord		169		182		194		209		193
#20 Vince Mazzanti Jr.		192		170		177		218		174
Lord Advances
#18 Sam Zurich		191		237		158
#31 Barry Mefford		165		221		153
Zurich Advances
#26 Bill Spigner		178		207		242
#23 Ron Garr		209		237		263
Garr Advances
#22 Norb Wetzel		181		190		221
#27 John Shreve Sr.		184		219		255
Shreve Advances
#30 Bill Henson		195		185		223		200
#19 Kevin Croucher		185		210		204		178
Henson Advances