Playing two entirely different shots in the championship match, Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Mark Williams (pictured) won the 2010 PBA Senior U.S. Open Friday 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. (pictured right) "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.

 

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2010 PBA Senior U.S. Open

Suncoast Suncoast Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev. (June 6-11, 2010)

Championship Round:
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

Playoff Results:
Match One: #3 Ferraro def. #4 Moser, 194-177
Semifinal Match: #2 Williams def. Ferraro, 221-188
Championship: Williams def. #1 Mohr, 198-181.

 

Standings after Match Play Round Three (Seventh Round overall)

Players with position, hometown, match play record (won-loss-tie) and 51-game total including bonus pins. The top 4 advance to championship round. Places 5-24 show earnings.

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

Missed Cut:
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)