Hermann Wimmer from Germany emerged as the winner of the 2nd Austria Senior Open 2008, which was held July 10-13 at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria. Wimmer, who was third after qualifying overtook the lead in the Round of 32 and never looked back.

L-R Plus Bowling proprietor Helmut Schmekal and 2008 ASO winner Hermann Wimmer.

"Hermann, the German" finished with 2754 12-game total including handicap, a scratch average of 219.50, en route to win the 10th stop of the European Bowling Proprietors' Association (EBPA) Senior Tour 2008 and the 2.000 Euro top prize.

Wimmer was able to weather a strong challenge by Austrian Walter Rieger and Jürgen Preuss, Germany, who came up strong in the final two games in the Round of 8. Preuss rolled a 253 game in game #1 (11th overall) to leap into second place while Rieger slipped to third with 214 (no handicap), while Wimmer maintained his lead with a 221 (including 10 handicap).

Rieger rebounded with a 233 in the final game to overtake Preuss (207) but to fall seven pins short of Wimmer, who secured the victory with a 199 game. Rieger finished second with 2747 and received 1.000 Euro, while Preuss landed in third place at 2740, worth 700 Euro.

Miroslav Chylo, Germany, was fourth with 2681, with defending champion Sergio Bellini, Italy, in fifth place, 2642. Rounding out the top 8 were Gert Gröpler, Germany; Dan Ahlquist, Sweden and Timo Mäkelä, Finland.

Pictured right are the top 8 players in the 2008 Austria Senior Open.

66 players over 50 years of age from 11 countries - Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, United States and Austria - Participated in the 2nd Austria Senior Open 2008, which offered total prize fund of 9.200 Euro.

The top 28 from the qualifying plus the top 4 from the Desperado Squad advanced to the finals. Those 32 bowled six games starting from scratch to cut to the top 16, who bowled another 4 games with the pinfall from Round 1 being carried forward. The top 8 advanced to the final round and bowled two more games to decide the champion.