Dale Traber (pictured left) of Cedarburg, Wis., went undefeated in the double-elimination match-play bracket to win his second career United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters title Friday.

Traber, who also won the event in 2009, defeated USBC Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., 707-695 in the championship match at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl. He won a total of seven matches en route to the title.

"This is very unexpected and surprising, but breaks have to go your way at the right time to win a tournament like this," Traber said. "For me, the stars all aligned at the right time." Traber said the victory was especially sweet because of his lack of success on the Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour this season.

"Trust me, I didn't expect to win given the way I've been bowling," Traber said. "I did my hotel reservation for this week night-by-night. I was planning to go to the stock car races tonight in Wisconsin, not be bowling."

Williams (right) actually took a one-pin lead, 238-237, after one game in the three games, total pins match, but Traber roared back 267-201 to take a 65-pin lead into the final game. Williams mounted a comeback, but came up short the final game, 256-203, failing to make up enough ground.

Williams finished as the runner-up for the second consecutive year at the Senior Masters, one of two majors on the PBA Senior Tour. He also finished second at this year's other major - the Senior U.S. Open.

"This is the third major in a row where I have finished second," Williams said. "I bowled really well this week, and I guess second isn't that bad. It's better than finishing 41st or something."

Traber earned $14,000 for first place, while Williams took home $7,000. Defending champion Wayne Webb (left) of Grove City, Ohio, finished third after losing in the semifinals to Williams, 666-600.

The USBC Senior Masters attracted a field of 249 of the top bowlers in the country age 50 and higher and featured a total prize fund of more than $110,000.

 

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2011 USBC Senior Masters Match Play

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

Brackets (PDF File)

 

Losers Bracket Round Five

Winners remain in the Losers Bracket, losers eliminated, earn $1,150

(20) Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, def. (37) Marty Berke, Allentown, Pa., 712-594
(1) Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., def. (56) Don Sylvia, Reno, Nev., 602-571
(49) Keith Sharp, Orlando, Fla., def. (55) Mike Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 642-582
(62) Peter Thomas, Oklahoma City, def. (43) Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D., 615-562

 

Losers Bracket Round Six

Winners remain in the Losers Bracket, losers eliminated, earn $1,800

Hensen def. (7) Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 588-540
(19) Charlie Tomey, Spartanburg, S.C., def. Croucher, 569-494
Sharp def. (61) Brad Snell, Mount Prospect, Ill., 623-573
(40) Ron Garr, Ridgedale, Mo., def. Thomas, 566-534

 

Winners Bracket Round Four

Winners remain in the Winners Bracket, losers move to the Losers Bracket

(17) Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., def. (53) Chris Fedden, Albany, N.Y., 619-558
(2) Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., def. (6) Wayne Webb, Grove City, Ohio, 693-567

 

Losers Bracket Round Seven

Winners remain in the Losers Bracket, losers eliminated, earn $2,400

Tomey def. Henson, 636-572
Garr def. Sharp, 603-587

 

Losers Bracket Round Eight

Winners remain in the Losers Bracket, losers eliminated, tie for fifth, earn $3,200

Webb def. Garr, 684-582
Tomey def. Fedden, 688-561

 

Winners Bracket Round Five

Winner advances to championship match, loser move to the Losers Bracket

Traber def. Williams, 631-629

 

Losers Bracket Round Nine

Winner remain in the Losers Bracket, loser eliminated, finishes fourth, earns $4,200

Webb def. Tomey, 701-628

 

Losers Bracket Round Ten

Winner advances to championship match, loser eliminated, finishes third, earns $5,500

Williams def. Webb, 666-600

 

Championship

Winner earns $14,000, loser finishes second, earns $7,000

Traber def. Williams, 707-695.