Kenny Parks looking to defend title at USBC Senior Masters
06/02/09
At 6 feet 8 inches tall, Kenny Parks (pictured) of Hammond, Ind., already stands out among the competitors on the Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour, but during his breakout season last year, he claimed his first professional title and also stood out in every major statistical category.
The 52-year-old right-hander, who was competing in his second year on the PBA Senior Tour, topped two-time defending champion and four-time Senior Player of the Year Tom Baker to win the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters.
Next week, Parks will look to defend his title at the 2009 USBC Senior Masters being held at South Point Casino in Las Vegas from June 8-12.
Although he's off to a slower start through five events this season, Parks is looking forward to the unique format and more challenging lane condition at the Senior Masters, both of which he feels suit his strengths.
"It will be nice to be the defending champion, and I'm looking forward to the three-game match-play format," said Parks, whose best finish this season is an eighth-place effort at the PBA Senior Northern California Classic. "And since this is a major, the conditions are more difficult, and you have to make better shots. I feel like repeating shots is one of my strengths, but we don't see conditions like this all the time. I like to take advantage of it when we do."
The Senior Masters features 15 games of qualifying over three days, after which the top 63 competitors, and Parks, will advance to double-elimination match play. All matches will consist of three games, with total pinfall determining the winner.
"I will try to do the same things I did last year to be successful, and hopefully things will go my way," said Parks, who recently won a PBA regional event in Georgia and turned in a career-best performance, including a 299 game, at the USBC Open Championships. "It has given me a great confidence boost to know I can compete, and if I play my game, I can win, too."
Parks finished the 2008 season tied for first in cashes and match play appearances with nine in nine events, second in points behind Baker, second in earnings behind 2008 Senior Tour Rookie of the Year Wayne Webb and 10th in average with 219.53.
Success on the Senior Tour wasn't instant for the former drywall taper, but now that he's found his stride, Parks hopes to help bring senior bowling into the spotlight.
"When I first came out on the Tour, I didn't have too many expectations, but I quickly realized how many really good players there are out there," said Parks, whose win at the Senior Masters earned him a spot at the recent Bowling's Clash of Champions, which aired on CBS in early May. "I've gotten some attention lately, and it's been great. I just hope that everyone will start taking a look at our players and realize that we have a lot of talent and great personalities on the Tour."
Along with trying to win a second consecutive Senior Masters, Parks also has his sights on getting back in the player of the year race. He also plans to continue bowling year-round and has aspirations of earning an exemption on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour. Had his schedule permitted, he was ready to try his hand at the PBA Tour Trials, which were held in Allen Park, Mich., from May 26-31 and awarded exemptions to the top eight competitors.
"My goal is to bowl all year and compete in as many PBA events as possible," Parks said. "But right now, I am focused on the Senior Tour and what we've got going on right now. And of course, I'd like to win the Senior Masters again."
Qualifying squads for this year's Senior Masters will be held at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Match play will begin Thursday at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Competition will continue Friday at 8 a.m., with the championship match scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
2009 PBA Senior Tour #7
South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev. (June 7-12, 2009)
At 6 feet 8 inches tall, Kenny Parks (pictured) of Hammond, Ind., already stands out among the competitors on the Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour, but during his breakout season last year, he claimed his first professional title and also stood out in every major statistical category.The 52-year-old right-hander, who was competing in his second year on the PBA Senior Tour, topped two-time defending champion and four-time Senior Player of the Year Tom Baker to win the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters.
Next week, Parks will look to defend his title at the 2009 USBC Senior Masters being held at South Point Casino in Las Vegas from June 8-12.
Although he's off to a slower start through five events this season, Parks is looking forward to the unique format and more challenging lane condition at the Senior Masters, both of which he feels suit his strengths.
"It will be nice to be the defending champion, and I'm looking forward to the three-game match-play format," said Parks, whose best finish this season is an eighth-place effort at the PBA Senior Northern California Classic. "And since this is a major, the conditions are more difficult, and you have to make better shots. I feel like repeating shots is one of my strengths, but we don't see conditions like this all the time. I like to take advantage of it when we do."
The Senior Masters features 15 games of qualifying over three days, after which the top 63 competitors, and Parks, will advance to double-elimination match play. All matches will consist of three games, with total pinfall determining the winner.
"I will try to do the same things I did last year to be successful, and hopefully things will go my way," said Parks, who recently won a PBA regional event in Georgia and turned in a career-best performance, including a 299 game, at the USBC Open Championships. "It has given me a great confidence boost to know I can compete, and if I play my game, I can win, too."
Parks finished the 2008 season tied for first in cashes and match play appearances with nine in nine events, second in points behind Baker, second in earnings behind 2008 Senior Tour Rookie of the Year Wayne Webb and 10th in average with 219.53.
Success on the Senior Tour wasn't instant for the former drywall taper, but now that he's found his stride, Parks hopes to help bring senior bowling into the spotlight.
"When I first came out on the Tour, I didn't have too many expectations, but I quickly realized how many really good players there are out there," said Parks, whose win at the Senior Masters earned him a spot at the recent Bowling's Clash of Champions, which aired on CBS in early May. "I've gotten some attention lately, and it's been great. I just hope that everyone will start taking a look at our players and realize that we have a lot of talent and great personalities on the Tour."
Along with trying to win a second consecutive Senior Masters, Parks also has his sights on getting back in the player of the year race. He also plans to continue bowling year-round and has aspirations of earning an exemption on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour. Had his schedule permitted, he was ready to try his hand at the PBA Tour Trials, which were held in Allen Park, Mich., from May 26-31 and awarded exemptions to the top eight competitors.
"My goal is to bowl all year and compete in as many PBA events as possible," Parks said. "But right now, I am focused on the Senior Tour and what we've got going on right now. And of course, I'd like to win the Senior Masters again."
Qualifying squads for this year's Senior Masters will be held at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Match play will begin Thursday at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Competition will continue Friday at 8 a.m., with the championship match scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
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