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Part-time amateur rolls to ABC Masters

Amateur Brett Wolfe used a urethane ball to win the ABC Masters Tournament at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., on Sunday.

Wolfe, 25, from Reno, competing in his first Masters in front of his hometown fans, became the first amateur to qualify as tournament leader and the sixth in 52 years to win the Masters. He defeated Dennis Horan Jr. 269-172 to earn a record-tying $100,000. Mika Koivuniemi received $100,000 for winning the U.S. Open in December.

"I'm glad it wasn't close; I like blowouts," said Wolfe, who does not compete regularly in tournaments and took a few days off from work for the Masters. "Certainly, I planned on making a little money, but not $100,000."

He used a blue urethane ball while most of the 456-player field fired reactive resin hardware. Wolfe bowled a clean game that began with a 3-10 spare in the first frame followed by six consecutive strikes. He defeated four match-play opponents Saturday and survived as the only undefeated player in the double-elimination field (6-0).

"I was thinking maybe Brett would get nervous, this being his first telecast and I could catch up," said Horan, who was looking for his fifth PBA title. "But it didn't take long to realize that wasn't going to happen. He deserved that win -- I think it's awesome."

Horan earned $50,000 for second place. He advanced to the title match by defeating Ricky Ward of North Fort Myers 230-224. Ward, who won his sixth PBA title last week at Medford, Ore., earned $25,000 for third. He beat Steve Jaros 216-190 as Jaros settled for fourth place and $15,000. Ward gained the final four by beating defending champion Parker Bohn III 726-653 in the three-game, total-pins round.

Three of six women entered made the cut to the top 115. Cathy Dorin-Lizzi was the highest woman qualifier in 41st and only the second woman to make match play in ABC Masters history (Dana Miller-Mackie, 2000). She lost to Jaros 736-675 and finished 48th. Dorin-Lizzi's sister, 2001 Professional Women's Bowling Association Player of the Year Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and Sebring's Kendra Gaines made the cut to 115 but lost in match play. Also in the field were PWBA bowlers Tish Johnson, Ann Marie Duggan and Tammy Boomershine.

Palmetto's Kent Wagner was 38th, Tampa's Chris Hayden finished 53rd and Bob Belmont, a former Dunedin resident now residing in Las Vegas, was 69th.

At Medford, Ore., Ward struck on the final ball of the title match to defeat Ryan Shafer 215-214 for his sixth career title and $40,000. Shafer beat Rob Rice 204-169 in the semifinals and Ward beat Bohn 203-190.

Steve Hoskins, 10-time winner from Tarpon Springs, advanced through the round of 32 by beating David Traber 3-2 and Eric Forkel 3-1.

The tour is in Las Vegas this week for the PBA Orleans Casino Open. ESPN will telecast the finals on Sunday from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

SENIOR TOUR SET: The PBA Chillicothe (Ohio) Open on April 27-30 kicks off the 11-stop 2002 senior tour that does not include events at The Villages in North Florida, highlights of the senior tour the past three years.

The ABC Masters is May 24-31 at Tucson, Ariz., and the Senior Suncoast World Championship is June 1-7 at the Suncoast Hotel in Las Vegas. No tournaments will be televised.

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