Mark Williams Plays Two Different
Shots to Win 2010 PBA Senior U.S. Open

Playing two entirely different shots in the championship match, Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Mark Williams won the 2010 PBA Senior U.S. Open Friday June 11 at the Suncoast Bowling Center for his first major Senior Tour title.

Using the same ball and playing the right lane from an extreme outside angle and the left lane much farther inside, Williams defeated reigning Senior Player of the Year Ron Mohr of Eagle, River, Alaska, 198-181, to also win his third career Senior Tour title.

“I’m comfortable playing anywhere on the lane even in a one-game match, from the gutter to the sixth or seventh arrow,” said the 52-year-old Williams. “I wasn’t getting one good reaction on the championship pair so I practiced hitting the two- or three-board on the right lane and the third arrow on the left. My goal in practice is to focus on finding that one area of the lane that will get me to the pocket.”

Williams, of Beaumont, Texas, advanced to the championship match by defeating fellow Hall of Famer Dave Ferraro of Kingston, N.Y., in the semi-final 221-188.

The demanding Senior U.S. Open lane conditions and format were well-suited for Williams who bowled two 300 games, the only perfect games of the tournament.

“If I could design a tournament for the way I bowl, this would be it so I had a lot of confidence,” said Williams who earned $15,000 for the win. “I like a longer format and I don’t mind playing different areas of the lane.”

Williams, who finished third in last year's Senior U.S. Open, also owns seven Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titles including the 1985 and 1988 PBA Tournament of Champions.

Williams impressed a lot people with the way he played the championship pair, especially Mohr.

“All I can say is that I’m very impressed—he did a phenomenal job,” Mohr said.

Mohr’s second-place finish broke a match play drought where he had not won a match in the first four tournaments of the season.

“Obviously I’m disappointed I didn't win but I’m encouraged with how I bowled overall here,” Mohr said. “I won some big matches to get this far. Hopefully I’ve turned the corner for the rest of the season.”

In the opening match, Ferraro defeated amateur and former touring player Don Moser of Murrieta, Calif., who was also competing in his first Senior Tour event, 194-177.

The U.S. Open format is one of the most demanding in the sport. To get to the championship round a bowler must advance through four qualifying rounds and three-match play rounds for a total of 51 games.

The Senior Tour moves across town for the second major of the season, the USBC Senior Masters at South Point Bowling Center June 13-18.

2010 PBA SENIOR U.S. OPEN
Suncoast Bowling Center, Las Vegas, Friday

Final Standings
1, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas 419 (two games) $15,000.
2, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska 181 (one game) $8,500.
3, Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y. 382 (two games) $7,000.
4, Don Moser, Murrieta, Calif. 177 (one game) $5,000.

Stepladder Results
Match One – Ferraro def. Moser, 194-177; Semifinal match – Williams def. Ferraro, 221-188;
Championship – Williams def. Mohr, 198-181.

SEVENTH ROUND (51 games)
(Includes match play record, total pins and money earned. Top four advance to championship round)

1, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 18-6, 11,742.
2, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 16-8, 11,704.
3, Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 16-8, 11,687.
4, Don Moser, Murrieta, Calif., 11-11-2, 11,376.
5, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Township, Mich., 13-10-1, 11,364, $4,000.
6, Bob Handley, Winter Park, Fla., 16-8, 11,353, $3,400.
7, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 9-13-2, 11,351, $3,100.
8, Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., 13-11, 11,232, $2,800.
9, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 11-11-2, 11,220, $2,500.
10, Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla., 13-10-1, 11,206, $2,300.
11, Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 14-10, 11,199, $2,200.
12, Koichiro Tamaki, Japan, 16-8, 11,157, $2,100.
13, Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 9-15, 11,155, $2,000.
14, Dennis Psaropoulos, Lake Worth, Fla., 15-8-1, 11,122, $1,900.
15, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 12-12, 11,115, $1,850.
16, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 14-8-2, 11,062, $1,800.
17, Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 12-12, 10,988, $1,750.
18, Nick Morgan, Sacramento, Calif., 9-14-1, 10,949, $1,700.
19, Bob Brady, Santa Monica, Calif., 8-16, 10,687, $1,650.
20, Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 11-13, 10,664, $1,600.
21, Russ Freeman, Antioch, Ill., 7-17, 10,606, $1,575.
22, Bill Spigner, Vernon Hills, Ill., 8-16, 10,597, $1,550.
23, Rick Pollard, Versailles, Ind., 7-17, 10,468, $1,525.
24, Jorge Gutierrez, Las Cruces, N.M., 4-20, 10,086, $1,500.

300 Games - Mark Williams (2)