Legends Were There & Mixed With Area Bowlers
The Professional Bowling Association (PBA) bowling legends were there last Sunday, March 4, and mixed freely with the 11 Sullivan County bowlers attending the finals of the 64th U.S. Open PBA Championship at the Brunswick Zone Carolier bowling lanes in North Brunswick, New Jersey.
Making the trip to the U.S. Open (one of four Major Tournaments) the PBA puts on in its yearly tour from November to the first week in April, were this columnist, John Hoffmann from Monticello, Tom and Steve Belgiovene from Wurtsboro, Paul Minton from Liberty, Jaryl Scott from South Fallsburg, Dean Shattuck and wife Kelly from Monticello and Debbie Durland and two children from Rock Hill.
Also in attendance earlier in the week were Mike Luongo and his son Mickey Luongo from Mike's Pro Shop in Middletown.
Two of the greatest legends in the sport of professional bowling , Carmen Salvino and Johnny Petraglia , were seen daily (we were there Friday, Saturday and Sunday) walking through the crowd and always stopping to sign autographs or just talk.
Gentlemen legends like these two bring so much to the table and contribute volumes of top-notch PR to this great sport.
Wow.......what a venue to be at where you meet new folks and make new friends.....it just doesn't get any better then this.....and what crowds came out on a daily basis to watch a field of 492 bowlers (249 PBA entries and 243 amateur bowlers) make their bid to become a PBA U.S. Open champion.
This 64th U.S. Open makes the 35th Denny's PBA Tour event held in the state of New Jersey and the 14th event at Brunswick Zone Carolier.
This event is a very difficult tournament in that you bowl 51 games (total pins) to determine what four bowlers will get to the TV championship round on Sunday.
Bowlers faced a very difficult lane pattern this week and in an upcoming column we will feature Mike Sabatine, who oils the lanes on the Denny's PBA Tour and who we sat down with at North Brunswick to learn what he does each week........a very interesting interview.
There are few things Pete Weber has yet to accomplish in his Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of Fame career, but surprisingly he has never been named PBA Player of the Year.
With a win in the most grueling tournament of the season last Sunday afternoon, hes one step closer to that elusive award.
Weber defeated Wes Malott, 210-204, Sunday to win the 64th U.S. Open , his fourth career U.S. Open crown and record-tying eighth career Major title. The win also put Weber, who has two titles this season, in a tie with Mark Roth for fourth on the all-time titles list with his 34th career Dennys PBA Tour title.
Brunswick Zone Carolier was where Weber found out two years ago that his legendary father, Dick, passed away on February 14, 2005. With his win Sunday, Pete joined his father and Don Carter as the only bowlers to win the U.S. Open or BPAA All-Star the U.S. Opens predecessor four times.
"This was one of my dreams, to be one of the guys to win four U.S. Opens. I might not be done, I might have six or seven before my career is over," Weber said. "My dad and Don Carter are the only two to win this event four times so I am joining an elite group. Even though the All-Star was not an official title, to me it is, and it is in dads book and Dons book. So to me, we have 12 U.S. Open titles among us."
Pete in a closed-door interview with bowling writers (including bowling writer legend Chuck Pezzano of Stars and Strikes) told us he was able to position himself into a real good zone and "the only pressure is what I put on myself," Weber said.
Weber explained that he doesn't watch other bowlers he is bowling against because "what they do then doesn't effect me." "I have to concentrate on what I have to do and then go do it," Pete stated.
Weber struck in his first five frames in the title match after starting with the first eight in his semifinal win, leaving the 10-pin both times. Malott had a couple chances to get back in the match, particularly after Weber opened in the 8th, but Malott struck and spared in the 10th meaning Weber only needed six pins in the 10th frame for the win.
In the semifinal, Weber came close to the first televised 300 game of his career, with eight straight strikes until leaving the 10-pin. The match was decided early on as Jeff Carter, making his first career TV appearance, struck just once in frames 3-7 as Weber went on to the 267-192 win.
In the first match Carter defeated Dave DEntremont, 185-183.
Weber (St. Ann, Mo.) took home $100,000 and a three-season Dennys PBA Tour exemption for the win. Malott (Argyle, Texas) earned $50,000 for second, Carter (Springfield, Ill.) took home $25,000 for third while DEntremont (Middleburg Heights, Ohio) earned $15,000 for fourth.
The Dennys PBA Tour takes a one-week break before the final three events of the season, starting with the 2007 Pepsi Championship March 14-18 at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis, Ind. The live ESPN televised finals take place Sunday, March 18, at 12:30 p.m. EST.
This column is provided by Bowling Highlights Columnist and Consultant to the Professional Sports of Bowling Ed Townsend. If you have a topic that would make good reading or have league scores or tournament information, please call Ed at 439-8177 or send an e-mail to bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com. Visit our BLOG at http://bght.blogspot.com
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