PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber (pictured left with the trophy) of St. Ann, Mo., claimed the 2013 United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters title in dramatic fashion Friday in Las Vegas.

Weber delivered a clutch finish after USBC Hall of Famer Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wis., gave him an opening in the final frame. Weber struck on his first shot in the 10th frame to lock up the win, 229-205, at the South Point Bowling Center.

"Even though it's a senior tournament, it ranks right up there with all my other wins," said Weber, who turned 50 in August to become eligible to compete on the PBA50 Tour. "I don't care if it's a senior major or a regular major. All majors are what make you great. I just can't wait for the regular Masters to come along now."

Weber was given a chance to take the title after Boresch (right) stepped up in the final frame needing a double to lock up the win but left the 3-4-6-7-10 split. Boresch failed to convert the split, giving Weber the golden opportunity to win.

"I loved the shot off my hand," said Boresch, who made it through match play unbeaten before the stepladder loss. "I was ready to run it out. I must have gotten it a little slow or something. I probably needed to be tighter and firmer on that shot because it just picked up and took off on me. Bummer."

Sitting on the bench, Weber said he didn't expect to see Boresch make a mistake like that in the closing frame.

"I expected Lennie to throw two strikes and win," Weber said. "I let out a big sigh of relief, though, and just got up there, was aggressive and threw a strike."

A USBC Masters victory has always been the missing piece to complete Weber's bowling career, but even though this victory came in the Senior Masters, Weber said he takes pride in it.

"You know what, this does have that Masters name behind it and that does mean a lot to me," said Weber, who owns 10 career major titles on the PBA's national tour. "I'll take another Senior Masters win anytime."

Weber, who earned $16,000 for the win, came into the stepladder finals as the No. 3 seed and had to win three matches to take the title. In the semifinal, he knocked off local favorite Kerry Painter (left) of Henderson, Nev., 204-182.

In his first match of the day, Weber took down fellow Hall of Famer Wayne Webb (right) of Grove City, Ohio, 247-229. Webb defeated No. 5 seed David Axon of Bellevue, Neb., 212-193, to open the stepladder finals.

The PBA50 Tour is in Brentwood, Calif. next week for the PBA50 Northern California Classic presented by Track June 16-19 at Harvest Park Bowl.

 

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2013 USBC Senior Masters - Match Play Bracket

Double elimination, three-game matches decided by total pinfall.

Loser Bracket Round 6

Losers eliminated, earn $1,900.

Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, def. Rod Tramp, Porterville, Calif., 677-599
Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., def. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 697-696
Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, def. Mark McCreary, Livermore, Calif., 641-572
Wayne Webb, Grove City, Ohio, def. Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., 647-644

 

Winners Bracket Round 4

Winners remain in winners bracket. Losers move to losers bracket.

Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., def. Robert Brown, Cody, Wyo., 687-640
Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., def. David Axon, Bellevue, Neb., 665-626

 

Loser Bracket Round 7

Losers eliminated, earn $2,400.

Weber def. Mohr, 718-687
Webb def. McCordic, 751-617

 

Winners Bracket Round 5

Winner top seed for stepladder, loser second seed.

Boresch def. Painter, 615-630

 

Loser Bracket Round 8

Three highest scores advance to stepladder finals, high score is No. 3 seed, second high is No. 4, third high is No. 5, lowest score is eliminated, earns $3,000.

Weber 762, Webb 730, Axon 630, Brown 583

 

United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters - Stepladder Finals

Championship Round:
1. Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 680 (3 games), $16,000
2. Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 205 (1 game), $8,000
3. Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 182 (1 game), $6,000
4. Wayne Webb, Grove City, Ohio, 441 (2 games), $4,600
5. David Axon, Bellevue, Neb., 193 (1 game), $3,700

Playoff Results:
Match One: No. 5 Webb def. No. 4 Axon, 212-193
Match Two: No. 3 Weber def. Webb, 247-229
Match Three: Weber def. No. 2 Painter, 204-182
Championship: Weber def. No. 1 Boresch, 229-205