Sammy Ventura Voted 2019 PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award Winner

CHICAGO (Sept. 30, 2019) – Nine-year PBA50 Tour veteran Sammy Ventura of Syracuse, New York, has been named the 2019 PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award winner as voted on by his fellow competitors on PBA’s tour for players 50 and over.

“It’s an award you always hope to receive not only because it’s voted on by your peers but because of the person it’s named after,” the 61-year-old Ventura said. “I think my intense passion for the sport helps keep my attitude positive and that’s what everyone sees. When you’re fortunate enough to compete at the highest level against great bowlers, how could you not enjoy that experience?”

On the competitive side, the 2019 season was arguably Ventura’s best with two runner-up finishes that matched his career high on the PBA50 Tour.

“The guys (on tour) keep telling me I’m like a fine wine getting better with age,” said Ventura, who finished second in the PBA50 Johnny Petraglia BVL Open and PBA50 South Shore Open. “I’ve had a tendency to throw the ball too hard but within the last year or so my ball speed and rev rate have started to match up better which has resulted in more strikes.

“I’m confident as ever and still determined to win,” the 11-time PBA50 Regional winner added. “The game evolves so you have to be able to learn from your experiences and make the changes to get better.”

The PBA50 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award is named in honor of the PBA legend who won 30 PBA Tour and six PBA50 Tour titles during his Hall of Fame career and was considered one of the sport’s greatest ambassadors. 

Other 2019 PBA50 Tour award winners were Walter Ray Williams Jr., who won his third PBA50 Player of the Year honor; Eugene McCune, Rookie of the Year, and Ron Mohr who won his fourth consecutive PBA60 Player of the Year award. Recipients will be presented their awards at the 2020 Senior U.S. Open in Las Vegas.

PBA50 DICK WEBER SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS

2019 – Sammy Ventura

2018 – Chris Keane

2017 – Ted Staikoff

2016 – Kerry Fulford

2015 - Tom Carter

2014 - Chris Keane

2013 - Robert Harvey

2012 - Dave Soutar

2011 - Ray Randall

2010 - Robert Harvey

2009 - Larry Graybeal

2008 - Fred Baldwin