Some things just seem destined to be. After a rollercoaster Tuesday of bowling, a sixth Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour title was just in the cards for Johnny Petraglia.

Petraglia defeated Hugh Miller, 226-213, to win the 2008 PBA Senior Jackson Open at Airport Lanes for his first since PBA Senior Tour title since 2001.

Pictured from left, Tournament Chairperson Mel Wolf, Airport Lanes General Manager Sue Hines, Petraglia and Airport Lanes Proprietor Mark Myers. Photo Credit: PBA LLC

The 61-year-old PBA Hall of Famer was on the ropes in nearly all of his matches Tuesday, nearly squandering a 2-0 lead to Gary Hiday in the best-of-five Round of 24 and falling behind 1-0 in the best-of-three Round of 8 to Dale Traber. Things looked the most bleak in the title match against Miller, however, as Petraglia trailed by 40 pins in the sixth frame.

Miller, looking for his first career PBA Senior Tour title, struck in six of the first seven frames to open up a big lead, but he left the 4-6 split and opened in the eighth to open the door for Petraglia. The Manalapan, N.J., native responded with four consecutive strikes in the seventh through 10th frames to pull close.

A fifth consecutive strike would have forced Miller to double in the 10th, but Petraglia left a solid 8-pin, meaning Miller only needed a strike to win. Instead, Miller left the 3-6-7 split giving Petraglia the win.

"What an interesting win. I lost three different times today," Petraglia said. "Traber had me dead and I ended up winning. Hiday let me back in the match. And the last game I'm going on a 190 pace in the seventh frame and Hugh's bowling a 239. Then he leaves the 4-9. I had to get up and throw some big strikes there, but when something like that happens, you just have that feeling. You just feel like you're going to do it."

Petraglia indeed threw the big shots when he needed them, not only late in the match against Miller but throughout the day, showing why he won 14 times on the Denny's PBA Tour and was victorious five times in his first four years on the PBA Senior Tour.

"I've had a bunch of seconds since then so it's nice to win again," Petraglia said of the seven years since his last victory, which came in 2001 in Klamath Falls, Ore. "I lost in the title match twice last year, and last week in the Ladies and Legends with Shannon (O'Keefe) I thought we had a good shot to win and we finished third. It looked like the same thing was going to happen here so it's nice to have it turn around."

While he got some breaks along the way, Petraglia did his part to put himself in position to win.

"I bowled well all day and shot good scores," Petraglia said. "I bowled 13 games today and chopped one spare. All my other games were clean so it was a very good day."

Petraglia earned $8,000 for his victory while Miller (Seattle) took home $4,500. Keith Sharp (Orlando, Fla.) who fell to Miller in the semifinals, 237-200, to fall just shy of his second win in three events, and Kenny Parks (East Chicago, Ind.), who fell to Petraglia, 202-180, took home $3,000 each.

The PBA Senior Tour takes a three-week break before returning with the United State Bowling Congress (USBC) Senior Masters, June 8-13, at Golden Pin Lanes in Tucson, Ariz. The USBC Senior Masters is one of two Majors on the PBA Senior Tour.

Croucher earns No. 1 seed for match play in Jackson
Morton sets the pace after Day One in PBA Senior Jackson Open

Single-game match. Winner earns $8,000. Loser earns $4,500.

#15 Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J., def. #16 Hugh Miller, Seattle, 226-213.

Single-game matches. Losers eliminated, earn $3,000.

#16 Hugh Miller, Seattle, def. #5 Keith Sharp, Orlando, Fla., 237-200.
#15 Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J., def. #11 Kenny Parks, East Chicago, Ind., 202-180.

Single elimination, best-of-three games. Losers eliminated, earn $1,700.

#16 Hugh Miller, Seattle, def. #8 Bob Brady, Santa Monica, Calif., 2-0
(257-208. 211-187)

#5 Keith Sharp, Orlando, Fla., def. #4 Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2-1
(233-258. 234-214. 245-184)

#15 Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J., def. #10 Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 2-1
(226-235. 256-239. 232-222)

#11 Kenny Parks, East Chicago, Ind., def. #3 Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., 2-1
(189-246. 229-226. 246-212)

Single elimination, best-of-three games. Losers eliminated, earn $1,300.

#16 Hugh Miller, Seattle, def. #1 Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 3-1
(226-244. 228-203. 243-185. 269-162)

#8 Bob Brady, Santa Monica, Calif., def. #9 Doug Spicer, Canton, Mich., 3-1
(255-199. 279-226. 194-239. 244-221)

#5 Keith Sharp, Orlando, Fla., def. #12 Rick Vittone, Canada, 3-1
(214-220. 244-201. 212-209. 255-202)

#4 Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., def. #13 Dennis Psaropoulos, Lake Worth, Fla., 3-2
(203-231. 277-214. 236-248. 258-222. 252-244)

#15 Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J., def. #2 Rohn Morton, Vancouver, Wash., 3-0
(234-202. 222-145. 279-191)

#10 Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., def. #7 John Bennett, Clarkston, Mich., 3-1
(258-245. 246-192. 205-247. 238-214)

#11 Kenny Parks, East Chicago, Ind., def. #6 Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, 3-2
(228-245. 229-255. 226-214. 231-191. 280-236)

#3 Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., def. #30 Bob Chamberlain, The Villages, Fla., 3-0
(236-212. 221-204. 256-254)

Single elimination, best-of-three games. Losers eliminated, earn $1,150.

#16 Hugh Miller, Seattle, def. #32 Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 3-1
(235-236. 254-222. 229-223. 217-213)

#9 Doug Spicer, Canton, Mich., def. #24 Norb Wetzel, Fond du Lac, Wis., 3-1
(162-232. 181-180. 230-177. 247-204)

#12 Rick Vittone, Canada, def. #21 Mark Weller, Jonesville, Mich., 3-2
(238-187. 223-225. 243-255. 229-197. 236-177)

#13 Dennis Psaropoulos, Lake Worth, Fla., def. #29 Robert Flaws, Chicago Ridge, Ill., 3-2
(216-208. 224-261. 215-201. 204-238. 183-178)

#15 Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J., def. #18 Gary Hiday, Indianapolis, 3-2
(235-201. 249-214. 227-265. 227-257. 247-234)

#10 Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., def. #23 Sam Zurich, Grant, Fla., 3-2
(226-278. 277-246. 203-257. 258-256. 203-189)

#11 Kenny Parks, East Chicago, Ind., def. #22 Vince Honeycutt, Monroe, Ga., 3-2
(202-214. 225-231. 274-218. 217-198. 256-247)

#30 Bob Chamberlain, The Villages, Fla., def. #14 Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 3-2
(225-223. 258-224. 198-231. 220-261. 213-195)

Single elimination, best-of-three games. Losers eliminated, earn $1,050.

#32 Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., def. #17 Mel Wolf, Jackson, Mich., 3-2
(190-193. 258-193. 204-248. 211-190. 256-188)

#24 Norb Wetzel, Fond du Lac, Wis., def. #25 Mark Roth, Fulton, N.Y., 3-1
(203-278. 238-236. 249-225. 227-207)

#21 Mark Weller, Jonesville, Mich., def. #28 Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3-1
(183-177. 232-223. 168-211. 258-218)

#29 Robert Flaws, Chicago Ridge, Ill., def. #20 Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 3-2
(244-255. 229-169. 267-191. 213-228. 238-235)

#18 Gary Hiday, Indianapolis, def. #31 Mitch Jabczenski, Novi, Mich., 3-0
(255-170. 214-192. 190-168)

#23 Sam Zurich, Grant, Fla., def. #26 John Shreve Sr., Elyria, Ohio, 3-1
(246-238. 236-259. 276-207. 237-206)

#22 Vince Honeycutt, Monroe, Ga., def. #27 Dave Patchen, Oregon, Ohio, 3-0
(253-205. 247-209. 226-179)

#30 Bob Chamberlain, The Villages, Fla., def. #19 Karl Wolf, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 3-0
(289-247. 227-217. 205-198)

300 games – None.

The last time Kevin Croucher put himself in a position to earn two byes in match play, he parlayed that advantage to his first career Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour title.

Croucher will look to repeat the feat Tuesday as he earned the top seed for match play and byes through the Rounds of 32 and 24 by leading the field with a 3,727 18-game pinfall in the 2008 PBA Senior Jackson Open at Airport Lanes.

Last August, Croucher qualified seventh in the PBA Senior Decatur Open in Decatur, Ill., and was one of eight players to earn two byes. He won all four of his matches, including the title match in a one-ball sudden death roll-off after he and Gary Smith tied at 227. This time, Croucher earned the top seed by averaging 233.63 over his eight games on Monday.

"I started the day off well with a 279 and 235 and that got me up there quite a ways," Croucher (Grants Pass, Ore.) said. "The shot was a little different from yesterday. You really had to stay further right. There were some tough pairs so you just had to hang in and shoot 200 on those and then got some big scores when you can. If you're patient enough you could do well on what was out there."

Croucher was trailing Sunday's leader Rohn Morton (Vancouver, Wash.) heading into the final game of the night, but he shot 267 to take the overall lead. He'll look to bounce back from a slow start to the season after finishing fifth in the 2007 PBA Senior Point Rankings.

"The first week the shot was very different than it was on that pattern last year and that was one of the first times where I didn't even cash," Croucher said of the season-opening PBA Senior Dayton Classic. "Last week I threw the ball well and cashed but didn't make match play because I couldn't carry. This week my bowling balls really like the condition and I'm just able to knock down more pins."

Morton finished second with 3,700 while rookie Brian Brazeau (Ocala, Fla.) finished third with 3,681. Two-time PBA Senior Tour titlist Henry Gonzalez (Colorado Springs, Colo.) finished fourth with 3,665 while PBA Senior Dayton Classic champion Keith Sharp (Orlando, Fla.) finished fifth with 3,660.

Rounding out the eight bowlers who earned two byes were Ron Profitt (Brookville, Ohio), John Bennett (Clarkston, Mich.) and Bob Brady (Santa Monica, Calif.).

A handful of PBA Hall of Famers advanced to match play including Johnny Petraglia (Manalapan, N.J.) who finished 15th, Dave Soutar (Bradenton, Fla.) who was 20th, Mark Roth (Fulton, N.Y.) who finished 25th and three-time defending PBA Senior Player of the Year Tom Baker (King, N.C.) who was 28th.

Match play gets underway Tuesday with qualifiers 17-32 bowling each other at 9 a.m. EST followed by those winners taking on qualifiers 9-16 at 11 a.m. The Round of 24 winners will face the top eight from qualifying at 1:30 p.m.

The Round of 8 takes place at 6:30 p.m. with the final two bowlers rolling off for the $8,000 top prize Tuesday evening at Airport Lanes.

Morton sets the pace after Day One in PBA Senior Jackson Open

Players with position, hometown and 16-game pinfall. Top 32 advance to match play. Positions 33-53 cash. $700 indicates Super Senior check – 60 years and older.

1, Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 3,727
2, Rohn Morton, Vancouver, Wash., 3,700
3, Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., 3,681
4, Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3,665
5, Keith Sharp, Orlando, Fla., 3,660
6, Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, 3,648
7, John Bennett, Clarkston, Mich., 3,639
8, Bob Brady, Santa Monica, Calif., 3,631
9, Doug Spicer, Canton, Mich., 3,624
10, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 3,620
11, (TIE) Kenny Parks, East Chicago, Ind., and Rick Vittone, Canada, 3,606
13, Dennis Psaropoulos, Lake Worth, Fla., 3,585
14, Dale Eagle, Tavares, Fla., 3,577
15, John Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J., 3,574
16, Hugh Miller, Seattle, 3,567
17, Mel Wolf, Jackson, Mich., 3,561
18, Gary Hiday, Indianapolis, 3,546
19, Karl Wolf, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 3,545
20, Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 3,531
21, (TIE) Mark Weller, Jonesville, Mich., and Vince Honeycutt, Monroe, Ga., 3,528
23, Sam Zurich, Grant, Fla., 3,524
24, Norb Wetzel, Fond du Lac, Wis., 3,522
25, Mark Roth, Fulton, N.Y., 3,517
26, (TIE) John Shreve Sr., Elyria, Ohio, and Dave Patchen, Oregon, Ohio, 3,515
28, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3,513
29, Robert Flaws, Chicago Ridge, Ill., 3,504
30, Bob Chamberlain, The Villages, Fla., 3,493
31, Mitchell Jabczenski, Novi, Mich., 3,486
32, Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 3,485

Missed Cut:
33, Emilio Mora Sr., Defiance, Ohio, 3,479, $900
34, Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 3,467, $900
35, Chuck Haus, Linden, Mich., 3,460, $900
36, James Stanley, Cincinnati, Ohio, 3,457, $900
37, Dave Bernhardt, Shelby Twp., Mich., 3,456, $900
38, (TIE) Don Sylvia, Discovery Bay, Calif., and Ted Hannahs, Zanesville, Ohio, 3,452, $900
40, Matt Buxton, Jefferson City, Mo., 3,434, $900
41, Steven Jansson, Barnes, Wis., 3,429, $900
42, Paul McCordic, Sugarland, Texas, 3,427, $900
43, Michael Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 3,426, $900
44, Michael Truitt, Orland Park, Ill., 3,416, $900
45, Mickey Higham, Bowling Green, Ohio, 3,411, $900
46, (TIE) Roy Buckley, New Albany, Ohio, and Jim Shuck, Huntingdon, Pa., 3,410, $900
48, Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich., 3,402, $900
49, Mark Glover, Woodbridge, Va., 3,394, $900
50, Barry Gurney, West Hills, Calif., 3,393, $900
51, Linda Carter, Rockford, Ill., 3,392, $900
52, Steve Stein, Staten Island, N.Y., 3,387, $900
53, Scott Weston, Auburn, Mich., 3,381, $900
54, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 3,378
55, (TIE) Bill Spigner, Vernon Hills, Ill., and Marc Lineberry, Camanche, Iowa, 3,377
57, (TIE) Jerry Lau, St. Peters, Mo., and Pete Bryan, Laurel, Del., 3,375
59, Ken Waters, Kingsport, Tenn., 3,370, $700
60, Michael Chrzanowski, Shepherd, Mich., 3,367
61, (TIE) Doug Evans, Southgate, Mich., and Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 3,365
63, Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 3,362
64, Michael Longmire, Urbandale, Iowa, 3,356
65, (TIE) Bobby Johnson, Chillicothe, Ohio, and Larry Galloway, Fresno, Calif., 3,353, $700
67, Dannie Hettinger, Circleville, Ohio, 3,351
68, (TIE) Larry Montgomery, Safety Harbor, Fla., and Frank Gallo Jr., Newport News, VA., 3,349, $700
70, Mark Scime, Winter Garden, Fla., 3,348
71, Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 3,344
72, Leo Scantamburlo, Riverview, Mich., 3,337
73, Bob Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 3,332
74, (TIE) Fred McClain, Lincoln Park, Mich., and Ron Garr, Ridgedale, Mo., 3,327, $700
76, Leo Plaia, New Orleans, 3,321, $700
77, Gregg Getzlow, St Peters, Mo., 3,318
78, Doug Arden, Havelock, N.C., 3,316
79, Vince Mazzanti Jr., Levittown, Pa., 3,313
80, (TIE) Perry Keplinger, Amherst, Ohio, and Steve Fulton, Lansing, Mich., 3,309
82, Vic Portalatin, Jackson, Mich., 3,308
83, (TIE) Paul Mielens, Menomonie, Wis., and Robert Harvey, Boise, Idaho, 3,297
85, Mark Fahy, Chicago, Ill., 3,296
86, (TIE) William Keenan, Jr., Orlando, Fla., and Daniel Miner, East Moline, Ill., 3,290
88, (TIE) Randy Rau, Belleville, Ill, and Patrick Cahalan, Maricopa, Ariz., 3,289
90, (TIE) Aron Lipshy, Roseville, Mich., and Jerry Owczarski, South Lyon, Mich., 3,288
92, Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 3,276
93, Barry Mefford, Aurora, Ill, 3,271
94, George Miller III, Grand Rapids, Mich., 3,270
95, Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, 3,260
96, Ray Johnson, Battle Creek, Mich., 3,254
97, Tim Stancil, North Augusta, SC, 3,244
98, Dick Baker, Henderson, Nev., 3,240
99, Teata Semiz, North Brunswick, N.J., 3,239
100, (TIE) Tom Howison, Chillicothe, Ohio, and Bill Hewlett, Meridian, Idaho, 3,231
102, Michael LaRocca, New Hudson, Mich., 3,227
103, John Hunt, Grayling, Mich., 3,226
104, Rod Michael, Florissant, Mo., 3,224
105, Mark Koehler, Saint Clair Shores, Mich., 3,209
106, John McClure, Maumee, Ohio, 3,208
107, Patrick King, Yankton, S.D., 3,200
108, Larry Graybeal, Elizabethton, Tenn., 3,191
109, Allen Meskan, Wood Dale, Ill., 3,188
110, Bill Argenbright, Fisherville, Va., 3,184
111, Brian Miller, Springfield, Ohio, 3,178
112, D.A. Carbone, Broomfield, Colo., 3,172
113, Barry Witmer, St. Charles, Mo., 3,166
114, Timothy Bates, Orlando, Fla., 3,154
115, (TIE) Harley Trumbull, New Boston, Mich., and Bob Oakes, Akron, Ohio, 3,152
117, Chuck Huckelberry, Rockford, Ill., 3,147
118, John Milletics, Sandusky, Mich., 3,143
119, Terry Hockstad, Shelby Twp, Mich., 3,140
120, Steve Rosen, Toronto, Canada, 3,136
121, Fred Kaczmarczyk, Martinez, Calif., 3,124
122, Jamie Lawrence, Camillus, N.Y., 3,122
123, Thomas Kelley Sr., Omaha, Neb., 3,109
124, Dan Clausse, Reno, Nev., 3,108
125, Fred Baldwin, Sturgis, Mich., 3,107
126, Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, 3,104
127, Mark Fordin, Oceanside, N.Y., 3,103
128, Edward Buco, Berlin, Md., 3,083
129, Robert Teeters, Lapel, Ind., 3,079
130, James Scott, Villa Park, Ill, 3,077
131, (TIE) George Lord, Lakeland, Fla., and Jay Aono, Boise, Idaho, 3,071
133, Dale Diamond, Springfield, Ill., 3,065
134, Oliver Mabry, West Bloomfield, Mich., 3,055
135, (TIE) Frank Fiscello, Bloomfield, N.J., and Charles Sitko, Jackson, Mich., 3,051
137, Charlie Juliano, Batavia, N.Y., 3,049
138, Frank Ensweiler, Lowell, Ind., 3,045
139, Don Boone, South Euclid, Ohio, 3,043
140, Douglas Weese, Carson City, Mich., 3,035
141, Mike Schmid, St. Paul, Minn., 3,026
142, Richard Felten, Rockville, Md., 3,016
143, Steve Tetil, Albion, Mich., 3,010
144, Donald Breihan, Columbia, S.C., 3,009
145, Ron Sandusky, Visalia, Calif., 3,007
146, Brian Buczek, Brighton, Mich., 3,004
147, Bob Brissette, Toledo, Ohio, 2,995
148, Bruce Himschoot, Sanford, Fla., 2,985
149, Joseph Venezio, Linden, N.J., 2,965
150, Larry Grandt, Gurnee, Ill, 2,944
151, Jim Hunt, Albion, Mich., 2,938
152, Howard Frostman, Washburn, Wis., 2,937
153, Andy Anderson, Falls Church, Va., 2,919
154, Terence Freeman, Union City, Mich., 2,903
155, Ray Randall, Dearborn, Mich., 2,883
156, Dave Kangas, Gwinn, Mich., 2,850
157, Bob Powers, Port Charlotte, Fla., 2,849
158, Donald Greer, Bourbon, Ind., 1,522 (WD)
159, Harv Pallas, Stevensville, Mich., 1,098 (WD)

300 games (1) – Kenny Parks

Rohn Morton averaged 236.50 over his eight games Sunday to take the lead after the first day of qualifying in the 2008 PBA Senior Jackson Open at Airport Lanes.

Morton was the No. 3 ranked player in the 2007 PBA Senior Point Rankings but came up empty in his search for his second career PBA Senior Tour title. His first and only title came in the 2001 National/Senior Doubles event.

On Sunday, Morton started off slowly with a 191 but bounced back in a big way with a 267 in game two. He stayed steady over the next three games with scores of 224, 215 and 225 before nearly reaching perfection in game six with a 290. After a 201 in game seven, Morton strung another big game together with a 279 to close out the block and take the overall lead.

"I got off to a really slow start but I made some good ball changes and got half my score over three games and just stayed steady the rest of the time," Morton (Vancouver, Wash.) said. "It's been a long time since I've won and it sure would be nice to get another one. I've always bowled well in Jackson so this would be a nice week to do it."

Morton finished second in the 2000 PBA Senior National Championship when the event was held at Airport Lanes. He also led qualifying throughout the 2002 PBA Senior Jackson Open before falling in match play.

PBA Senior Tour titlist Gary Hiday (Indianapolis) finished second with 1,889, just shy of Morton's 1,892. Like Morton, Hiday has been searching a while for his second title and his first came in the 2004 PBA Senior Clarksville Open.

PBA Hall of Famer Mark Roth (Fulton, N.Y.) finished third after firing the only 300 game of the day which came in his eighth and final game of the block. He finished with 1,883. Brian Brazeau (Ocala, Fla.) was fourth with 1,875 while Doug Spicer (Canton, Mich.) and Bob Brady (Santa Monica, Calif.) tied for fifth with 1,859.

Qualifying continues Monday with two squads bowling another eight-game block each with B squad getting underway at 9 a.m. ET and A squad rolling at 4 p.m. ET. The top 32 will advance to single elimination match play on Tuesday.

The final two bowlers will roll-off for the $8,000 top prize Tuesday evening at Airport Lanes.