Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio, defeated PBA Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli, 259-225, in the title match of the PBA50 Cup presented by DV8 Sunday at Spectrum Lanes in Wyoming, Michigan, to win his first title on PBA’s tour for players 50 and over.

Monacelli jumped out to the early lead with four strikes in a row to start the title match and looked to be well in control with a 20-pin lead in the fifth frame. A turning point in the match came when Kretzer was able to convert the 2-4-10 split in the fifth frame to stay in the match and then went on to finish with seven consecutive strikes for the win. Still in contention in the ninth frame, Monacelli got a bad break when he left a pocket 7-10 split which ended his hopes of winning his fifth PBA50 Tour major title.

Featured photo from left: Host proprietor Mike Eaton, champion Brian Kretzer and Mike Eaton Jr.

“When I left the 2-4-10 in the fifth frame I told myself that the match isn’t over if I can make this split,” Kretzer said. “I was fortunate to make it and then I just had to buckle down. It was up to me to make the right adjustments and make good shots for the rest of the match.”

Kretzer finished second after the qualifying portion of the tournament and put together a 10-6 record in match play earlier in the day Sunday which helped him earn the No. 1 qualifying position for the stepladder finals.

“I had a good feeling the whole tournament,” said the 52-year-old Kretzer (right), who also owns one PBA Tour title. “There was really never a time in the tournament where I felt like I was in trouble. It just seemed like all the ingredients were there to get it done this time.”

Earlier this season Kretzer finished second in the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open and had other top finishes of third in the Security Federal Savings Bank Championship and River City Extreme Open.

Monacelli (left) defeated South Shore Open winner Eugene McCune (right) of Munster, Ind., 250-181, in the semifinal match to advance to the title match against Kretzer. McCune posted a 13-3 record in match play to earn the No. 2 spot for the finals.

In the second match, Monacelli, who qualified third for the finals, beat fellow Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III (left), 237-192, to advance to the semifinal.

It was a memorable fourth-place finish for Bohn after taking a side trip to New York between the first and second rounds to participate in a National Bowling Day segment on “FOX & Friends” Saturday morning in New York City.

He returned just in time to make the second round Saturday afternoon and went on to take top qualifier honors. In Sunday’s match play, he posted a 10-6 record which helped him earn the No. 4 position for the finals.

In the opening stepladder match Bohn defeated No. 5 qualifier PBA Hall of Famer Ron Mohr (right) of Las Vegas, 248-214, to advance to the second match against Monacelli. Bohn was trying for his fifth PBA50 Tour title and Mohr was trying for his 11th.

The 2018 PBA50 Tour season ends Aug. 14-16 with the PBA60 Dick Weber Championship presented by 900 Global for players 60 and over at Pro Bowl West in Fort Wayne, Ind.

The PBA60 Dick Weber Championship will be streamed live on PBA’s online bowling channel PBA Xtra Frame on FloBowling. For subscription information click here.

Related Articles

Parker Bohn III takes top qualifier honors in PBA50 Cup
Dominican Republic’s Rolando Sebelen dominates PBA50 Cup first round qualifying
Newcomer John Marsala beats Haugen to win his first PBA50 Tour title
Norm Duke closes the deal to win PBA50 Security Federal Savings Bank Championship
Hometown favorite Eugene McCune wins PBA50 South Shore Open as “Amateur”
Michael Haugen Jr. wins PBA50 River City Extreme Open
Mika Koivuniemi wins Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open for first PBA50 Tour title
Chris Warren wins 2018 USBC Senior Masters
Mike Dias wins his first PBA60 title in 2018 Super Senior Classic
Ron Mohr wins Northern California Classic for 10th PBA50 Tour title
Michael Haugen Jr. wins second PBA50 Tour title in Johnny Petraglia BVL Open
Brian Voss wins second PBA50 Tour Title in Mooresville Open
Lennie Boresch Jr. wins PBA50 National Championship
Warren Eales out strikes WRW to win PBA50 Lucas Magazine Classic
2018 PBA50 Tour Schedule & Champions

PBA50 Cup presented by DV8 – Stepladder Finals

Spectrum Lanes in Wyoming, Mich., United States (Aug. 9-12, 2018)

Championship Round:
1, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 259 (1 game), $10,000
2, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 712 (3 games), $5,500
3, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 181 (1 game), $3,000
4, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 440 (2 games), $2,500
5, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 214 (1 game), $2,000

Playoff Results:
First Match One: No. 4 Bohn def. No. 5 Mohr, 248-214
Second Match: No. 3 Monacelli def. Bohn, 237-192
Semifinal Match: Monacelli def. No. 2 McCune, 250-181
Championship Match: No. 1 Kretzer def. Monacelli, 259-225.

PBA50 Cup presented by DV8 – Fourth Round Results

Players with position, hometown and 32-game total, including match play record and total pinfall including bonus pins. Top five advance to stepladder finals. n-non-member

1, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 10-6, 7,316
2, n-Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 13-3, 7,252
3, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 10-6, 7,238
4, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 10-6, 7,233
5, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 10-6, 7,216

Missed Cut:
6, Brian LeClair, Albany, N.Y., 12-4, 7,212, $1,800
7, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 13-3, 7,142, $1,700
8, Greg Thomas, Irmo, S.C., 11-5, 7,067, $1,650
9, Rolando Sebelen, Dominican Republic, 9-7, 7,047, $1,600
10, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 11-5, 7,046, $1,550
11, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 8-8, 7,004, $1,500
12, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 10-6, 6,978, $1,450
13, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 8-7-1, 6,902, $1,400
14, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 8-7-1, 6,866, $1,375
15, Brian Voss, Centennial, Colo., 8-8, 6,851, $1,350
16, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 7-9, 6,792, $1,325
17, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 6-10, 6,772, $1,300
18, Tony Johnson, Canton, Ohio, 8-8, 6,739, $1,275
19, Keith Lesko, Prosper, Texas, 5-11, 6,732, $1,250
20, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 5-10-1, 6,728, $1,240.
21, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 7-9, 6,712, $1,230
22, John Burkett, Southlake, Texas, 8-8, 6,706, $1,220
23, n-Michael Kereluk, Warren, Mich., 6-10, 6,613, $1,210
24, Scott Greiner, Sunrise Beach, Mo., 5-11, 6,577, $1,200
25, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 6-10, 6,543, $1,190
26, Mark Sullivan, Indianapolis, 5-11, 6,531, $1,180
27, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 4-11-1, 6,517, $1,170
28, David Axon, Bellevue, Neb., 5-11, 6,489, $1,160
29, Tony Rodriguez Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 7-9, 6,475, $1,155
30, Tom Carter, Columbus, Ohio, 1-7, 6,101, $1,150

PBA50 Cup presented by DV8 – Third Round Results

Players with position, hometown and 24-game total, including match play record and total pinfall including bonus pins. All players advance to fourth round. n-non-member

1, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 5-3, 5,457
2, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 5-3, 5,412
3, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 7-1, 5,350
4, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 4-4, 5,348
5, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 5-3, 5,320
6, Brian LeClair, Albany, N.Y., 6-2, 5,305
7, n-Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 7-1, 5,301
8, Rolando Sebelen, Dominican Republic, 4-4, 5,258
9, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 4-3-1, 5,257
10, Greg Thomas, Irmo, S.C., 5-3, 5,231
11, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 5-3, 5,186
12, Tony Johnson, Canton, Ohio, 5-3, 5,153
13, Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill., 4-4, 5,134
14, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 4-3-1, 5,124
15, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 4-3-1, 5,112
16, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 5-3, 5,107
17, Brian Voss, Centennial, Colo., 3-5, 5,098
18, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 6-2, 5,087
19, (tie) Tom Baker, King, N.C., 4-4, and
John Burkett, Southlake, Texas, 4-4, 5,048
21, Keith Lesko, Prosper, Texas, 1-7, 5,023
22, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 3-4-1, 5,017
23, n-Michael Kereluk, Warren, Mich., 2-6, 5,009
24, Mark Sullivan, Indianapolis, 3-5, 4,983
25, Peter Knopp, Germany, 2-6, 4,966
26, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 2-6, 4,923
27, Scott Greiner, Sunrise Beach, Mo., 2-6, 4,898
28, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 2-6, 4,896
29, David Axon, Bellevue, Neb., 2-6, 4,824
30, Tony Rodriguez Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 3-5, 4,818