At the end of qualifying for the PBA Senior South Shore Open on Wednesday, the leaderboard looked like a PBA Tour leaderboard of a quarter century ago.
Except my name usually was not up that high. (Insert laughter here.)
Otherwise, check out these names in the top 10: Bob Learn Jr., Wayne Webb, Tom Baker, Mark Williams, Lennie Boresch Jr., Mike Edwards, and Walter Ray Williams Jr.
The first six names on that list plus Ron Profitt and myself are the top eight, who get two byes in Thursday’s match play competition at Olympia Lanes in Hammond, Ind.
Boresch and I finished with games in the 250s to knock Walter Ray to ninth, so he will get just one bye as the 32 finalists compete in head-to-head matches.
Learn added 1,837 Wednesday to his 1,874 Tuesday for a 16-game total of 3,711 (231.9 average), edging Webb by six pins.
“During both rounds I’ve had the opportunity to play all parts of the lane which should prepare me well for match play,” Learn said in this PBA news release. “The lanes played a little tighter today but I was able to make the adjustments I needed to make to get back on track.
“In match play you can bowl on a lane condition totally different from what you experience in qualifying, but I’m confident I’ll be ready for whatever condition is out there.”
The lanes definitely were tighter on Wednesday compared to Tuesday, although they still hooked a ton.
Basically, there just was a little more skid, something Amleto Monacelli and I noticed in just our first couple of practice shots.
There was enough added skid that I was able to go with my REIGN SUPREME from the start, crossing just right of 10-board at the arrows trying to go out to about 5.
I had a similar look with an IQ TOUR I had shined up but elected to go with the REIGN SUPREME because it has a pin above the fingers and the IQ TOUR has a pin under the fingers. I wanted that higher pin for the extra skid and flip it provides.
I used both fingers and thumb the first game and was cruising at a 210-pace when I used a touch of EZ Slide to try to get my fingers into the ball better — it was very warm in the center and it has been a struggle all week to get a comfortable fit.
Unfortunately, that caused me to lose a couple of shots, one that missed the headpin and another that was a big 4 split as I stumbled to 199.
In game two, I decided to go back to my “one-finger sling” shot — using just my middle finger and thumb.
I wanted to avoid that if I could because it puts a lot more strain on my creaky, three-operation wrist, but I needed the extra skid the one-finger shot gives me.
Despite a couple of spare misses, a few terrible shots, and some untimely pocket splits, I bowled well enough to get to the top eight: I followed the 199 with 233, 222, 222, 247, 217 and 206 before a big 257 finish.
The 206 in game seven could have been a big game, but for a 4-9 on a double, and when I started the last game with a strike and a pocket 7-10, I was looking at missing the top eight.
Fortunately, I found a little extra energy, focused and rolled an 8-bagger.
If I can find a way to get my wrist loose enough to make decent shots Thursday, I have a decent chance to win as my look on the fresh was fairly good both days.
One prediction I will make is to watch out for Monacelli, who qualified 16th at 3,474 but had about the worst ratio of good breaks to bad breaks I’ve ever seen. As we discussed after qualifying was over, Monacelli easily could have finished ahead of me and I beat him by about 150! His carry was comically poor, and if he finds better carry in match play he could run through the field.
PBA SENIOR SOUTH SHORE OPEN PRESENTED BY DV8
Olympia Lanes, Hammond, Ind., Wednesday
(16 games)
Top 32 advance to Thursday’s match play rounds
ss-indicates super seniors out of the regular prize fund cashing for $700
a-indicates amateur
1, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 3,711.
2, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 3,705.
3, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,631.
4, Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, 3,627.
5, Jeff Richgels, Madison, Wis., 3,625.
6, (tie) Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, and Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 3,606
8, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,603.
9, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 3,568.
10, Rick Minier, Houston, Texas, 3,555.
11, Jim Knoblauch, Waukesha, Wis., 3,537.
12, Dale Csuhta, Wadsworth, Ohio, 3,532.
13, Hugh Miller, Seattle, 3,526.
14, Robert Flaws, Chicago Ridge, Ill., 3,515.
15, Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 3,488.
16, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3,474.
17, Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 3,468.
18, Patrick King, Yankton, S.D., 3,452.
19, Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 3,446.
20, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 3,445.
21, Ron Winger, Las Vegas, 3,442.
22, a-Doug Spicer, Canton, Mich., 3,436.
23, Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 3,428.
24, John Chapman, Canada, 3,401.
25, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 3,399.
26, Dave Bernhardt, Romeo, Mich., 3,392.
27, Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn., 3,381.
28, Don Sylvia, Reno, Nev., 3,376.
29, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 3,365.
30, Christopher Keane, New City, N.Y., 3,363.
31, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 3,359.
32, Dave Sill, Titusville, Fla., 3,354.
Did not advance
33, Vince Mazzanti Jr., Levittown, Pa., 3,353, $900.
34, Bruce Hall, Los Altos Hills, Calif., 3,349, $900.
35, William Peters, Dayton, Ohio, 3,347, $900.
36, Ted Staikoff, Black Hawk, S.D., 3,339, $900.
37, Robert Harvey, Boise, Idaho, 3,328, $900.
38, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 3,319, $900.
39, Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 3,314, $900.
40, Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla., 3,307, $900.
41, Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 3,306, $900.
42, Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D., 3,298.
43, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 3,296.
44, Peter Knopp, Germany, 3,294.
45, ss-Roy Buckley, New Albany, Ohio, 3,293, $700.
46, ss-Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., 3,292, $700.
47, ss-Michael Truitt, Orland Park, Ill., 3,278, $700.
48, ss-Harley Trumbull, New Boston, Mich., 3,275, $700.
49, (tie) Freddie Childress, Bassett, Va., and Mark Everette, Aliquippa, Pa., 3,266.
51, Rick Woloszyn, Griffith, Ind., 3,265.
52, ss, a-Jake Greene , Chicago, Ill., 3,261, $700.
53, ss-Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3,259, $700.
54, ss-Larry Graybeal, Elizabethton, Tenn., 3,254, $700.
55, ss, a-Peter Minaudo, Chesterfield, Mich., 3,248, $700.
56, John Shreve Sr., Elyria, Ohio, 3,240.
57, Larry Popp, Marion, Ohio, 3,236.
58, Mark Jones, Amelia, Ohio, 3,234.
59, a-Kevin Humble, Lake Mary, Fla., 3,228.
60, Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 3,227.
61, Don Holmes, Itasca, Ill., 3,225.
62, Marc Lineberry, Camanche, Iowa, 3,221.
63, Michael Camerano, Brookfield, Ill., 3,220.
64, (tie) Bob Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, and Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 3,219.
66, Bill Neumann, Rensselaer, NY, 3,218.
67, Tim Pierce, Portland, Ore., 3,217.
68, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 3,215.
69, Vince Honeycutt, Buford, Ga., 3,214.
70, Emilio Mora Sr., Defiance, Ohio, 3,203.
71, Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 3,202.
72, Bill Sell, Menasha, Wis., 3,198.
73, Bill Nichols, Roseville, Calif., 3,194.
74, Barry Gurney, West Hills, Calif., 3,192.
75, Daniel Miner, East Moline, Ill., 3,188.
76, (tie) Gary Hiday, Indianapolis, and Dick Gran, Hartville, Ohio, 3,186.
78, Richard Nardozza, Clearfield, Pa., 3,181.
79, Richard Hunt, Valparaiso, Ind., 3,178.
80, Brendan Bierch, Grafton, Mass., 3,177.
81, Tom Howison, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,176.
82, Dannie Hettinger, Circleville, Ohio, 3,169.
83, (tie) R.J. Alman, Murrysville, Pa., and William Banks, Laurel Hill, N.C., 3,159
85, Ron Garr, Ridgedale, Mo., 3,144.
86, a-Norm Ginsberg, Kissimmee, Fla., 3,140.
87, Joel Carlson, Omaha, Neb., 3,139.
88, Rudy Garcia, Ft. Worth, Texas, 3,138.
89, Harv Pallas, Stevensville, Mich., 3,135.
90, Dave Osim, Roscommon, Mich., 3,133.
91, Bill Spigner, Vernon Hills, Ill., 3,127.
92, Frank Gallo Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 3,124.
93, Bob Andersen, Forest City, N.C., 3,118.
94, Rich Wilkinson, Bennington, Neb., 3,113.
95, Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 3,110.
96, Norb Wetzel, Fond du Lac, Wis., 3,104.
97, Andy Anderson, Falls Church, Va., 3,089.
98, Bill Idzior, Crown Point, Ind., 3,088.
99, William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., 3,071.
100, John Dudak, Orland Park, Ill., 3,070.
101, Todd Kjell, Roscoe, Ill., 3,065.
102, Barry Witmer, St. Charles, Mo., 3,061.
103, Frank Miceli, Elk Grove Vlg, Ill, 3,052.
104, Donald Breihan, Columbia, S.C., 3,016.
105, Sam Perrotta, Lincoln Park, N.J., 3,001.
106, (tie) Ken Waters, Kingsport, Tenn., and Galen Keas, Alda, Neb., 2,983.
108, Keith Hennricks, Green Bay, Wis., 2,980.
109, Dave Dunphy, Canada, 2,945.
110, Garry Blanton, Owensboro, Ky., 2,939.
111, Randy Shewmake, Ft. Worth, Texas, 2,932.
112, Jim Sanford, Painesville, Ohio, 2,930.
113, James Souder, Greeneville, Tenn, 2,924.
114, Edward Szklarski, Burbank, Ill, 2,872.
115, Dan Clausse, Reno, Nev., 2,867.
116, a-William Zwit, Galesburg, Ill., 2,843.
117, Allen Meskan, Addison, Ill., 2,804.
118, a-Bill Carpenter, Middletown, Ohio, 2,767.
119, Ronald Gustainus, Lake Worth, Fla, 2,703.
120, Ray Randall, Dearborn, Mich., 2,681.
121, Allen Brothers, Punxsutawney, Pa., 2,648.
122, George Lord, Lakeland, Fla., 2,446 (WD)
123, Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 1,576 (WD)
124, Bob Teeters, Lapel, Ind., 1258 (WD)
300 Games - Paul McCordic
