United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. (pictured left) of Ocala, Fla., took the first-round lead Monday at the 2012 USBC Senior Masters.

Williams, who has finished second in both of his appearances at the Senior Masters, fired a five-game total of 1,298 (259.6 average) at South Point Bowling Center to lead the field of 283 players. Lennie Boresch Jr. (right) of Kenosha, Wis., is second with 1,221.

"I had a nice reaction to the pocket and my carry was unbelievable," said Williams, who has 47 career PBA Tour titles and three Senior PBA Tour titles. "It was a lot of fun, and hopefully I have a good look on the fresh tomorrow."

Since turning 50 in 2009, Williams has finished second in every major event on the Senior PBA Tour in which he has competed. In addition to two second-place finishes at the Senior Masters, Williams has finished second twice at the PBA Senior U.S. Open. He has won his third Senior Tour title in the PBA Senior Don Carter Memorial Open presented by Ebonite earlier this season.

At last year's Senior Masters, Williams lost in the championship match to Dale Traber (pictured left) of Cedarburg, Wis., 707-695. In 2010, he fell in the final match to Wayne Webb (right) of Grove City, Ohio, 705-628.

This week, Williams got off to a hot start in his quest for his first Senior Masters title. He had games of 256, 257, 279, 227 and 279 in Monday's opening round.

"I'd like to think I will win a major on the Senior Tour one day, but it's tough because there are only two a year," Williams said. "The Senior Masters is harder to win in my opinion because of the format, but hopefully I can do as well this year as I have the past couple years."

Boresch won the PBA Senior Sun Bowl in The Villages presented by Storm in his Senior Tour debut in April. Boresch, who is competing in the Senior Masters for the first time after turning 50 in April, led the opening squad of the tournament and ended up second behind Williams. He put together a solid block with games of 257, 254, 236, 227 and 247 with no open frames.

"There's a long way to go, but it's nice to get off to a good start," Boresch said. "You have to take advantage of it when you have a good look out there and get as many pins as you can. I had a clean day mainly because I didn't get into any trouble out there."

Mike Edwards of Tulsa, Okla., who finished third in the Senior U.S. Open last week, was third with 1,215 and was followed by Ron Winger of Las Vegas in fourth with 1,210 and Ricky Beck of Box Elder, S.D. in fifth with 1,203.

Christer Danielsson (left) of Sweden was the best international player in sixth place with 1,183. Reigning PBA Senior PLyer of the Year, Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, was ninth with 1,163. PBA and USBC Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli (right) of Venezuela, who won his first career Senior title in the Etonic PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Suncoast, was 12th with 1,154

Defending USBC Senior Masters champion Dale Traber, who has the advantage of being guaranteed a spot in bracket play, but who is trying to earn the highest seed possible, finished Round 1 Qualifying with 1,053, good for 91st place.

All participants will bowl 15 games of qualifying before the cut is made to the double-elimination match-play bracket. The top 63 players plus defending champion Traber will take part in bracket play beginning Thursday morning.

Bowling fans can watch every round of the Senior Masters live on BOWL.com's BowlTV. For more information on the event click here.

 

Related Articles

Dale Traber set to defend USBC Senior Masters title
2012 PBA Senior Tour Schedule & Champions

 

2012 USBC Senior Masters - Round 1 Qualifying

Players with position, hometown and 5-game total

1, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 1,298
2, Lennie Boresch, Kenosha, Wis., 1,221
3, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 1,215
4, Ron Winger, Las Vegas, Nev., 1,210
5, Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D., 1,203
6, Crister Danielsson, Sweden, 1,183
7, David Axon, Bellevue, Neb., 1,174
8, Joel Carlson, Omaha, Neb., 1,173
9, Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 1,163
10, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 1,159
11, Brian Brazeau, Ocala, Fla., 1,159
12, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 1,154
13, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield, Mich., 1,144
14, Howard Partell, Las Vegas, Nev., 1,144
15, Ziggy Czaja, Fontana, Calif., 1,143
16, Donald R Robinson, Houston, Texas, 1,134
17, Charles Moore, Redding, Calif., 1,132
18, Mitch Jabczenski, Novi, Mich., 1,132
19, Don Patterson, Lakewood, Colo., 1,131
20, Larry Popp, Marion, Ohio, 1,125
21, Jack Nelson, Bismarck, N.D., 1,125
22, Dave Bernhardt, Romeo, Mich., 1,123
23, Tim Ruelle, Racine, Wis., 1,122
24, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 1,120
25, Don Hicks, W. Babylon, N.Y., 1,120
26, John Dudak, Orlin Park, Ill., 1,118
27, Max Shellabarger, Layton, Utah, 1,118
28, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 1,116
29, Paul Appling, Camarillo, Calif., 1,116
30, David Flemming, Fairborn, Ohio, 1,114
31, Jim Knoblauch, Waukesha, Wis., 1,111
32, Wayne Webb, Grove City, Ohio, 1,111
33, Bob Markiewiz, San Diego, Calif., 1,110
34, Jeff Shaw, Kennesaw, Ga., 1,108
35, Charles Best, Buda, Texas, 1,107
36, Bill Nichols, Roseville, Calif., 1,102
37, Mike Clemence, Las Vegas, Nev., 1,101
38, Gary Dickinson, Edmond, Okla., 1,100
39, Roger Kossert, Lithia, Fla., 1,097
40, Ted Staikoff, Black Hawk, S.D., 1,097
41, Skip Sansone, Tucson, Ariz., 1,096
42, Alden Anderson, Falls Church, Va., 1,095
43, Mel Shirey, Sun City West, Ariz., 1,095
44, Ron Hosler, Denver, Colo., 1,094
45, Rick Minier, Houston, Texas, 1,094
46, Howard Loosbroock, Henderson, Nev., 1,094
47, Marc Lineberry, Camanche, Iowa, 1,090
48, John Bennett, Clarkston, Mich., 1,087
49, Isaac Amkie, Mexico, 1,084
50, Robert Amoruso, Glenview, Ill., 1,082
51, Barry Zimmerman, Grand Forks, N.D., 1,082
52, Don Lane, Oakland, Calif., 1,080
53, Terry Norton, Omaha, Neb., 1,079
54, Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 1,078
55, Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 1,078
56, Daniel Miyamoto, Mililani, Hawaii, 1,078
57, Marv Sargent, Temecula, Calif., 1,078
58, Phil Mann, Hazen, N.D., 1,078
59, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 1,077
60, Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 1,076
61, Dave Shaw, Sun Prairie, Wis., 1,075
62, Tony Rodriguez Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 1,074
63, Mark McCreary, Livermore, Calif., 1,073
64, Warren Nelson, Plummer, Idaho, 1,072
65, Koichiro Tamaki, Japan, 1,072
66, Michael Hastings, Millsboro, Del., 1,071
67, Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 1,070
68, Rick Childers, Aurora, Colo., 1,069
69, Tony Maresca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,069
70, Pete Thomas, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1,068
71, Charlie Tapp, Portage, Mich., 1,067
72, Robert Brown, Cody, Wyo., 1,067
73, Arturo Hernandez, Venezuela, 1,067
74, Peter Knopp, Germany, 1,066
75, David Chew, Brentwood, Calif., 1,066
76, Eric Forkel, Henderson, Nev., 1,065
77, Dale Eagle, Laguna Miguel, Calif., 1,064
78, Henry Dawson, Elma, Wash., 1,063
79, Brad Newhouse, Henderson, Nev., 1,063
80, Christopher Keane, New York, N.Y., 1,063
81, Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., 1,063
82, Terry Leong, Henderson, Nev., 1,061
83, Tish Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo., 1,060
84, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 1,060
85, Dave Kucera, Urbandale, Iowa, 1,060
86, Noel Vazquez, Sacramento, Calif., 1,059
87, Glenn Morgan, Carson City, Nev., 1,058
88, Kerry Fulford, Bedford, Texas, 1,056
89, Darryl Bower, Middletown, Pa., 1,056
90, Steven Davis, Manteca, Calif., 1,055
91, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 1,053
92, Bob Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 1,053
93, Darwin Wimer, Mesquite, Nev., 1,053
94, Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 1,053
95, Rohn Morton, Portland, Ore., 1,051
96, Fred Cole, Visalia, Calif., 1,051
97, Bill Argenbright, Waynesboro, Va., 1,050
98, Timothy Kauble, Marion, Ohio, 1,050
99, Don Sylvia, Lady Lake, Fla., 1,047
100, Randy Shewmake, Ft. Worth, Texas, 1,047
101, Brian Cooper, Fresno, Calif., 1,046
102, Thomas Ream, Tampa, Fla., 1,046
103, Danny Roberts, Brentwood, Calif., 1,046
104, Sam Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 1,045
105, Jerry Calvin, Thousand Oaks, Calif., 1,045
106, Gary Hiday, Indianapolis, Ind., 1,043
107, Todd Kjell, Roscoe, Ill., 1,043
108, Edward Roberts Jr., Braintree, Mass., 1,042
109, Greg Laughman, Las Vegas, Nev., 1,040
110, George Patel, England, 1,039
111, Jim Gordin, Modesto, Calif., 1,037
112, Don Robinson, Boise, Idaho, 1,035
113, Michael Chzanowski, Shepard, Mich., 1,035
114, Ken Holets, Crystal , Minn., 1,034
115, Greg Waldron, Sun City West, Ariz., 1,030
116, Daniel Miner, East Moline, Ill., 1,028
117, Junichi Yajima, Japan, 1,028
118, Paul McCordic, Sugarland, Texas, 1,025
119, Jeff Garrison, Hawthorne, Calif., 1,025
120, Dave Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., 1,025
121, Gary Simon, Bridgeport, W.Va., 1,024
122, Jeff Jamison, Boulder City, Nev., 1,023
123, Ron Profitt, Brookville, Ohio, 1,023
124, Dean Jones, McKinney, Texas, 1,023
125, Dick Selgo, Archbold, Ohio, 1,022
126, Ralph Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo., 1,022
127, Jeff Suma Sr, Auburn Hills, Mich., 1,020
128, John Wing, Gurnee, Ill., 1,020
129, Pete McCordic, Katy, Texas, 1,020
130, Vince Mazzanci, Langhorn, Pa., 1,019
131, Richard Abboud, Omaha, Neb., 1,018
132, Gary Skidmore, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,018
133, Robert Harvey, Boise, Idaho, 1,017
134, Mike McHugh, Southlake, Texas, 1,017
135, Robert Anderson, San Antonio, Texas, 1,016
136, Ross Zeigler, Las Vegas, Nev., 1,014
137, Frank De Filippo, Las Vegas, Nev., 1,013
138, James Lee, Rogersville, Tenn., 1,013
139, Mike Saraiva, Fairfield, Calif., 1,012
140, Ron Garr, Ridgedale, Mo., 1,011
141, Dick Baker, Henderson, Nev., 1,010
142, Scott Lindsey, Omaha, Neb., 1,009
143, Randy Jackman, Hammond, Ind., 1,007
144, Fred Kouri, Las Vegas, Nev., 1,006
145, Dave Houck, Castro Valley, Calif., 1,004
146, Charles Schuette, Bettendorf, Iowa, 1,002
147, Robert Pazur, Venice, Fla., 1,002
148, Dave Erickson, McFarland, Wis., 1,001
149, Jace Peterson, Elkhorn, Wis., 1,001
150, Rudy Moreno, Reno, Nev., 1,001
151, William Block, Pembroke, Fla., 1,000
152, Edwin Case, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,000
153, Les Shirwindt, Las Vegas, Nev., 999
154, Masato Hanamoto, Japan, 998
155, Kevin Foley, Reno, Nev., 996
156, D.A. Wright, Palm Desert, Calif., 995
157, Ed Silva, Manteca, Calif., 995
158, Sal Bongiorno, Hollywood, Fla., 995
159, Bill Stempke, Burbank, Calif., 992
160, Jay Boyle, Boothwyn, Pa., 990
161, Kiyoshi Nakarai, Japan, 989
162, Tony Churchey, Madison, Ala., 987
163, Laney Royal Jr., Carrollton, Texas, 987
164, Danny Carbone, Broomfield, Colo., 987
165, Don Jackson, Bonita, Calif., 986
166, Bruce Lang, Lenore, Idaho, 985
167, Lucien Casagrande, Canada, 984
168, James Moran, Henderson, Nev., 984
169, Kenny Parks, Hammond, Ind., 983
170, Marc Clyburn, Pittsburg, Calif., 979
171, Jerry Overman, Casper, Wyo., 978
172, Kent Gray, Bakersfield, Calif., 978
173, Ted Balleras, Carlsbad, Calif., 977
174, Chris Caseman, Tacoma, Wash., 977
175, Timothy Bates, Orlando, Fla., 975
176, Mike Raleigh, Clyde, Mich., 975
177, Bob Priess, Las Vegas, Nev., 974
178, Anthony Majcher, Rolling Meadow , Ill., 972
179, Edward Campbell, Denham Springs, La., 972
180, David Sill, Rockledge, Fla., 971
181, Randy Niehaus, Rockford, Ill., 971
182, Randy Peterson, Carrington, N.D., 971
183, George Lord, Mulberry, Fla., 970
184, Ron Boroff, Mansfield, Texas, 968
185, Emilio Mora, Defiance, Ohio, 966
186, Lou Moretti, Las Vegas, Nev., 964
187, Trent Zabelle, Portland, Ore., 963
188, Darrel Curtis, Las Vegas, Nev., 958
189, Bernard Iwasczyszyn, N. Las Vegas, Nev., 958
190, Dan Ahlquist, Sweden, 956
191, MIke Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 956
192, Jeffrey Schlehuber, Highlands, Colo., 954
193, Cliff Connors, Tempe, Ariz., 954
194, Phil Gesner, Spring, Texas, 953
195, Robert Worrall II, Colorado Springs, Colo., 950
196, Gary Johnson, Las Vegas, Nev., 950
197, Rodney Garrick, San Francisco, Calif., 949
198, D Keith Sharp, Altamonte Springs, Fla., 948
199, Dean Hebner, Vancouver, Wash., 948
200, George Tucker, Henderson, Nev., 948
201, Raymond Torres, Cathedral City, Calif., 948
202, Craig Hosey, Casper, Wyo., 947
203, Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 947
204, John Cocchi, Las Vegas, Nev., 947
205, M. Bradley Harrison, San Marcos, Texas, 946
206, Butch Hrouda, Dickinson, N.D., 946
207, Steven Spurlock, N Las Vegas, Nev., 945
208, Thomas King, Georgetown, Texas, 944
209, Dale Rider, Las Vegas, Nev., 944
210, Mike Lucente, Warren, Mich., 943
211, Ron Gales, Las Vegas, Nev., 943
212, Larry O'Neill, Annandale, Va., 941
213, Dennis Amato, Pine Brook, N.J., 941
214, Richard Campbell, Phippsburg, Maine, 940
215, Tim Racette, Brooklyn Center, Minn., 940
216, Joe Colley, El Cajon, Calif., 940
217, Char Hammel, Las Vegas, Nev., 939
218, Tony Krejci, Omaha, Neb., 939
219, Leif Sjoberg, Sweden, 937
220, Ron Schmidt, Whittier, Calif., 937
221, Lee Tucker, Camarillo, Calif., 936
222, Bill Hewlett, Eagle, Idaho, 934
223, Diogenes Perez, New York, N.Y., 934
224, Wayne Garren, Candler, N.C., 934
225, Robert Michaux Jr., Detroit, Mich., 932
226, Mark Scime, Winter Garden, Fla., 931
227, Ken Waltman, Tokeland, Wash., 929
228, Bob Knipple, Long Beach , Calif., 929
229, Ken Ball, Avon, N.Y., 926
230, Stan Winters, Simi Valley, Calif., 926
231, Mike Schmid, Arden Hills, Minn., 925
232, Herbye Mitchell, Granbury, Texas, 924
233, Joe Salvemini, Henderson, Nev., 922
234, Greg Popham, Crestview Hills, Ky., 920
235, David Schultz, Jackson, Wis., 919
236, Tim Pierce, Portland, Ore., 916
237, Daniel Lockman, Poynette, Wis., 916
238, Lee Rucker, Ft. Myers, Fla., 914
239, Jim Gochis, Mundelein, Ill., 912
240, Roger Vreeland, Roseburg, Ore., 911
241, Al Rezendes, Aurora, Colo., 910
242, Larry Jordan, Lebanon, Ore., 906
243, Frank Gallo Jr, Jacksonville, Fla., 905
244, Barry Gurney, West Hills, Calif., 903
245, Rich Cutler, Valley Springs, Calif., 901
246, Van Fenner, Reno, Nev., 900
247, Gene Rivers, San Antonio, Texas, 898
248, Rico Pura, S. Lake Tahoe , Calif., 898
249, Kent Whitson, Sausalito, Calif., 898
250, Norb Wetzel, Fond Du Lac, Wis., 896
251, Leon Uzelac, Price, Utah, 890
252, Chip Willett, San Diego, Calif., 888
253, John Reed, Pueblo, Colo., 887
254, Donald Breihan, Columbia, S.C., 887
255, Dennis Keas, Alda, Neb., 884
256, Gus Yannaras, Waukesha, Wis., 881
257, Greg Stauffacher, Madison, Wis., 880
258, Jim Stevens, Eagan, Minn., 879
259, Allyn Hayes, Sunriver, Ore., 878
260, Jeff Walker, N Las Vegas, Nev., 878
261, Steve Martin, San Antonio, Texas, 873
262, Ray Shuel, Canada, 870
263, Jerry Ernst, Garden Grove, Calif., 864
264, Sean Sullivan, Exeter, R.I., 861
265, Carl Hendrickson, Cloquet, Minn., 858
266, Jim Cote, Spokane, Wash., 856
267, Len Mawson, Albany, Ore., 856
268, Douglas Thompson, Aberdeen, S.D., 854
269, Gerry Chinn, Castaic, Calif., 851
270, Sam Perrotta, Lincoln Park, N.J., 833
271, Gary Graff, Austiin, Texas, 832
272, Dustin Johnson, Chatsworth, Calif., 830
273, Rick Hytrek, Mills, Wyo., 826
274, James Boucher, San Diego, Calif., 817
275, Ray Randall, Dearborn, Mich., 816
276, Ross Larsen, Riverside, Calif., 810
277, Rickey Smith, Gulf Breeze, Fla., 806
278, Mark Sabatine, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 805
279, Carl Wilson, Venus, Texas, 804
280, Herbert Bashor, Casper, Wyo., 793
281, Fred Baldwin Jr., Sturgis, Mich., 758
282, Walt Kastern, Tempe, Ariz., 757
283, Stephen Mosher, Cortland, N.Y., 722