Baker wins record third consecutive PBA Senior Player of the Year Award
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) has announced its season-ending awards for the 2007 PBA Senior Tour season, voted on by PBA membership and national media. Tom Baker was named the PBA Senior Player of the Year while Sam Zurich (r,) was named PBA Senior Rookie of the Year. Baker (l.) was named PBA Senior Player of the Year for a record third consecutive season.
West County Lanes, Ballwin, MO (August 17-21, 2007)
It was only fitting the 2007 PBA Senior Tour season came down to a match-up between PBA Hall of Famers Tom Baker (l.) and David Ozio (r.). After months of taking turns as the front-runner for the award, it was Baker who once again came out on top, possibly securing a record third consecutive PBA Senior Player of the Year award with a 256-213 win over Ozio in a match that was much closer than the final score indicated.
Spare Time Lanes, Decatur, IL (August 11-14, 2007)
It took two extra frames, but Kevin Croucher (l.) finally came away with his first career PBA Senior Tour title. Croucher won a sudden death roll-off, 20-18, over Gary Smith after the two tied at 227 through 10 frames Tuesday to win the 2007 PBA Senior Decatur Open at Spare Time Lanes. Smith (r.) came into the match on fire, averaging 279.67 in his previous three games, but he cooled off enough for Croucher to pull even with him with three clutch strikes in the 10th frame.
Don Sylvia (left) waited a long time for his second PBA Senior Tour title, but it was well worth the wait. Sylvia captured his first title since his rookie season in 2003, defeating Roger LeClair, 226-211, in the title match of the 2007 PBA Senior Lake County Open Thursday at Olympia Lanes. The win was particularly painful for LeClair (r.), who again came up just short in his quest for his first career PBA Senior Tour title.
Thunderbowl, Council Bluffs, IA (July 30-August 2, 2007)
Dave Patchen used a little karmic retribution Thursday to take home his first career PBA Senior Tour title. After throwing a perfect shot in the ninth frame and leaving a stone 9-pin when a strike would have given him the lead, Patchen watched as Henry Gonzalez left a 2-10 split and opened in the 10th frame needing only a mark to win, giving Patchen a 202-196 win in the title match of the 2007 PBA Senior Council Bluffs Open at Thunderbowl. The 53-year-old was moved to tears by winning his first title, which didn't come easy on Thursday.
National Bowling Stadium, Reno, NV (July 8-13, 2007)
Tom Baker (left) of King, N.C., capitalized on the USBC Senior Masters' double-elimination format and bounced back to become the second player in tournament history to win the event in back-to-back years. The two-time defending Professional Bowlers Association Senior Player of the Year fell to Shannon Starnes of Fort Worth, Texas, 664-614, but because he was undefeated entering the final, Baker had a second chance to claim the coveted crown and did so with a 658-625 victory in the second three-game match.
The Epicenter Bowling Complex, Klamath Falls, OR (June 24-27, 2007)
While he hadn't won a Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour title in the last four years, Ernie Schlegel had no qualms in beating the top seed from qualifying in the 2007 PBA Senior Epicenter Classic at The Epicenter Bowling Complex in Klamath Falls. In a battle of PBA Hall of Famers, Schlegel defeated top-seed David Ozio (Beaumont, Texas), 235-215, to claim his first PBA Senior Tour title since the 2003 PBA Senior Northern California Classic in Brentwood, Calif.
Suncoast Bowling Center, Las Vegas, NV (June 17-22, 2007)
In a battle of two Texans, it was an amateur who came out on top over a PBA Hall of Famer in the 2007 PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Suncoast. Rick Minier (right, with Mike Monyak, general manager for Coast Casinos bowling centers), Houston, Texas, put together a string of six consecutive strikes to defeat David Ozio, Beaumont, Texas, 240-223, in the title match of the stepladder finals to capture his first career PBA Senior Tour title.
In a match that looked like he might be done in early, Ross Packard battled back to defeat Bob Chamberlain, 190-168, to earn his second career Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour title in the 2007 PBA Senior Tucson Open. The win marked Packard's second career PBA Senior Tour Title after winning the 2005 PBA Senior Northern California Classic. Packard took home $8,000 for the victory, while Chamberlain earned $4,500 for second. The PBA Senior Tour heads to Las Vegas next for the first of two Majors of the season.
For the second consecutive week, a two-time Denny’s Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour titlist captured his first career PBA Senior Tour title. And for the second consecutive week, that bowler’s name was Sam. A week after Sam Zurich won his first career PBA Senior Tour title in just his second event, Sam Maccarone won his first title in his fourth career event, defeating Rohn Morton, 268-167, to win the 2007 PBA Senior Dayton Classic Tuesday at Capri Bowling Lanes.
Sam Zurich was so surprised with his performance this week, he could hardly find the words. The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour rookie won a title in just his second career event, defeating Michael Henry, 205-200, Wednesday to win the 2007 PBA Senior Northern Illinois Classic at Sunset Bowl. Zurich, who owns two Denny's PBA Tour titles, led the tournament from start to finish and took home $8,000 for the win.
The Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Ill. (May 5-10, 2007)
It took 11 years, but Liz Johnson finally repeated as the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Ladies and Legends champion. Johnson, who teamed up with Mike Kench to win the last Ladies and Legends event in 1996, this time teamed up with Roger Kossert to take home the 2007 PBA Hammer Ladies and Legends presented by the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors Association at The Cherry Bowl Thursday with a 247-235 win over top-seeded Johnny Petraglia and Olivia Sandham.
Bowl America Manassas in Manassas, Va. (April 28-May 1, 2007)
After bowling part-time on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour the last three seasons, David Ozio showed Tuesday night a full season of the PBA Hall of Famer could be a scary predicament for the rest of the Tour. Ozio captured the season-opening PBA Senior Manassas Open at Bowl America Manassas, knocking off fellow PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia, 258-232, to win his second career PBA Senior Tour title.
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) has announced its season-ending awards for the 2007 PBA Senior Tour season, voted on by PBA membership and national media. Tom Baker was named the PBA Senior Player of the Year while Sam Zurich (r,) was named PBA Senior Rookie of the Year. Baker (l.) was named PBA Senior Player of the Year for a record third consecutive season.
It was only fitting the 2007 PBA Senior Tour season came down to a match-up between PBA Hall of Famers Tom Baker (l.) and David Ozio (r.). After months of taking turns as the front-runner for the award, it was Baker who once again came out on top, possibly securing a record third consecutive PBA Senior Player of the Year award with a 256-213 win over Ozio in a match that was much closer than the final score indicated.
It took two extra frames, but Kevin Croucher (l.) finally came away with his first career PBA Senior Tour title. Croucher won a sudden death roll-off, 20-18, over Gary Smith after the two tied at 227 through 10 frames Tuesday to win the 2007 PBA Senior Decatur Open at Spare Time Lanes. Smith (r.) came into the match on fire, averaging 279.67 in his previous three games, but he cooled off enough for Croucher to pull even with him with three clutch strikes in the 10th frame.
Don Sylvia (left) waited a long time for his second PBA Senior Tour title, but it was well worth the wait. Sylvia captured his first title since his rookie season in 2003, defeating Roger LeClair, 226-211, in the title match of the 2007 PBA Senior Lake County Open Thursday at Olympia Lanes. The win was particularly painful for LeClair (r.), who again came up just short in his quest for his first career PBA Senior Tour title.
Dave Patchen used a little karmic retribution Thursday to take home his first career PBA Senior Tour title. After throwing a perfect shot in the ninth frame and leaving a stone 9-pin when a strike would have given him the lead, Patchen watched as Henry Gonzalez left a 2-10 split and opened in the 10th frame needing only a mark to win, giving Patchen a 202-196 win in the title match of the 2007 PBA Senior Council Bluffs Open at Thunderbowl. The 53-year-old was moved to tears by winning his first title, which didn't come easy on Thursday.
Tom Baker (left) of King, N.C., capitalized on the USBC Senior Masters' double-elimination format and bounced back to become the second player in tournament history to win the event in back-to-back years. The two-time defending Professional Bowlers Association Senior Player of the Year fell to Shannon Starnes of Fort Worth, Texas, 664-614, but because he was undefeated entering the final, Baker had a second chance to claim the coveted crown and did so with a 658-625 victory in the second three-game match.
While he hadn't won a Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour title in the last four years, Ernie Schlegel had no qualms in beating the top seed from qualifying in the 2007 PBA Senior Epicenter Classic at The Epicenter Bowling Complex in Klamath Falls. In a battle of PBA Hall of Famers, Schlegel defeated top-seed David Ozio (Beaumont, Texas), 235-215, to claim his first PBA Senior Tour title since the 2003 PBA Senior Northern California Classic in Brentwood, Calif.
In a battle of two Texans, it was an amateur who came out on top over a PBA Hall of Famer in the 2007 PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Suncoast. Rick Minier (right, with Mike Monyak, general manager for Coast Casinos bowling centers), Houston, Texas, put together a string of six consecutive strikes to defeat David Ozio, Beaumont, Texas, 240-223, in the title match of the stepladder finals to capture his first career PBA Senior Tour title.
In a match that looked like he might be done in early, Ross Packard battled back to defeat Bob Chamberlain, 190-168, to earn his second career Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour title in the 2007 PBA Senior Tucson Open. The win marked Packard's second career PBA Senior Tour Title after winning the 2005 PBA Senior Northern California Classic. Packard took home $8,000 for the victory, while Chamberlain earned $4,500 for second. The PBA Senior Tour heads to Las Vegas next for the first of two Majors of the season. 
For the second consecutive week, a two-time Denny’s Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour titlist captured his first career PBA Senior Tour title. And for the second consecutive week, that bowler’s name was Sam. A week after Sam Zurich won his first career PBA Senior Tour title in just his second event, Sam Maccarone won his first title in his fourth career event, defeating Rohn Morton, 268-167, to win the 2007 PBA Senior Dayton Classic Tuesday at Capri Bowling Lanes. 
Sam Zurich was so surprised with his performance this week, he could hardly find the words. The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour rookie won a title in just his second career event, defeating Michael Henry, 205-200, Wednesday to win the 2007 PBA Senior Northern Illinois Classic at Sunset Bowl. Zurich, who owns two Denny's PBA Tour titles, led the tournament from start to finish and took home $8,000 for the win. 
It took 11 years, but Liz Johnson finally repeated as the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Ladies and Legends champion. Johnson, who teamed up with Mike Kench to win the last Ladies and Legends event in 1996, this time teamed up with Roger Kossert to take home the 2007 PBA Hammer Ladies and Legends presented by the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors Association at The Cherry Bowl Thursday with a 247-235 win over top-seeded Johnny Petraglia and Olivia Sandham.
After bowling part-time on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour the last three seasons, David Ozio showed Tuesday night a full season of the PBA Hall of Famer could be a scary predicament for the rest of the Tour. Ozio captured the season-opening PBA Senior Manassas Open at Bowl America Manassas, knocking off fellow PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia, 258-232, to win his second career PBA Senior Tour title. 
