Williams Jr. sweeps titles at Cream of the Crop tourney

Professional legend Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala swept the men's singles and doubles titles at the 16th annual Cream of the Crop tournament in New Port Richey.

Williams defeated Tommy Jones, the Professional Bowlers Association's Rookie of the Year, 289-234 in the championship to earn the $6,000 singles purse, and teamed with former PBA pro Jeff Bellinger to share $5,000 as the men's doubles champions.

Jones, who bowled one 300 game in the singles competition and another in mixed doubles, had beaten Williams 224-210 in the stepladder final, but the tournament's format mandated that the top seed would have to be beaten twice to be eliminated. Williams, a five-time PBA player of the year with more than $2.5-million in career earnings, prevailed in the second meeting.

A 299 game helped Tampa's Lucy Sandelin, a member of the Women's International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, to victory and a $3,000 check in a field of 51 entrants in the women's competition, where Sheila Allen had a 300 game. In the mixed doubles ranks, Tampa's Chris Hayden and Bonnie Joel earned a combined $5,000 for taking first place.

The three-day event at Lane Glo Bowl and Lane Glo North in New Port Richey last weekend drew 394 entrants, with a total payout exceeding $150,000.

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