Despite dropping a ball on his foot a few days ago, Sean Rash (center, with Thunderbowl proprietor Connie Ratliff, left, and sponsor Ted Baer, right) of Montgomery, Ill., persevered to win the PBA Xtra Frame Iowa Midwest Open Sunday at Thunderbowl in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Rash won his first title of the season and ninth of his career by defeating PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber (right) of St. Ann, Mo., 219-217, in the championship match. It was an emotional win for me for a number of reasons," said Rash, who was the 2011-12 PBA Player of the Year.

"First, I wasn't sure I'd be bowling this weekend, then, having to bowl against one of the all-time greats for the title and finally having won on my grandmother's birthday made this win very special."

Rash dropped a ball on his foot while unloading a ball bag from his car just prior to getting some last minute practice in before traveling to Council Bluffs.

"Fortunately, all I had to do was ice it down a lot so it got to a point where it was feeling well enough that I could bowl with not much problem," Rash added.

In the title match, Rash, who qualified first for the finals, was able to shut out Weber in the 10th frame with a spare and eight count on the final shot.

"He's (Weber) one of the best ever and if you want to be considered one of the best you have to beat the best," said Rash, whose last win came in the 2014 PBA Wolf Open. "It's nice to be in the winner's circle again."

In the opening stepladder match, PBA Tour rookie A.J. Johnson of Oswego, Ill. defeated three-time Tour winner Dick Allen (right) of Columbia, S.C., 231-209, to advance to the semifinal.

In the semifinal, Weber, trying for his 38th career title to tie fellow Hall of Famer Norm Duke for third on the all-time list, beat Johnson 213-187 to advance to the title match against Rash. Weber was trying for his first title since winning the 2013 Barbasol Tournament of Champions.

The PBA Tour moves to Las Vegas Oct. 19-25 for the PBA South Point Bowling Plaza Fall Classic. PBA's online bowling channel Xtra Frame will capture all the action. For schedule and subscription information click www.xtraframe.tv/pba.

 

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PBA Xtra Frame Iowa Midwest Open - Stepladder Finals

Thunderbowl in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States (October 9-11, 2015)

Championship Round:
1. Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 219 (1 game), $10,000
2, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 430 (2 games), $6,000
3. A.J. Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 418 (2 games), $3,200
4. Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 209 (1 game), $2,400

Playoff Results:
First Match: No. 4 Johnson def. No. 3 Allen, 231-209
Second Match: No. 2 Weber def. Johnson, 213-187
Championship: No. 1 Rash def. Weber, 219-217.

 

PBA Xtra Frame Iowa Midwest Open - Standings after Match Play

Players with position, hometown, 20-game pinfall totals including bonus pins, match play record and money earned. Top 4 advance to the stepladder finals. a-denotes amateur

1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 10-2, 4,641
2, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 6-6, 4,580
3, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 8-3-1, 4,472
4, A.J. Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 8- 3-1, 4,467

Missed Cut:
5, Brad Miller, St. Charles, Mo., 10-2, 4,462, $1,700
6, Michael Haugen, Jr., Phoenix, 8-4, 4,438, $1,500
7, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 5-7, 4,388, $1,400
8, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 6-6, 4,342, $1,300
9, J.R. Raymond, Bay City, Mich., 4-8, 4,336, $1,275
10, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 7-5, 4,330, $1,250
11, a-Tony Manna, Omaha, Neb., 7-5, 4,328, $1,225
12, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 5-7, 4,301, $1,200
13, Anthony Simonsen, Princeton, Texas, 3-9, 4,297, $1,175
14, Connor Pickford, Charlotte, N.C., 2-10, 4,266, $1,150
15, Aaron Lorincz, Saginaw, Mich., 3-9, 4,251, $1,125
16, Brandon Curtis, Manson, N.C., 3-9, 3,993, $1,100