MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 5, 2010) - Recently-crowned PBA Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., picked up where he left off at the conclusion of the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season in April by winning the Senior Miller High Life Classic at George Pappas Victory Lanes.
Making his PBA Senior Tour debut, Williams, the regular tour's all-time leader in career titles with 47, notched his first Senior Tour win by defeating Keith Sharp of Orlando, Fla., 267-245 in the championship match.
"It's a little more relaxed out here than the regular tour but that doesn't mean these guys aren't competitive," said Williams, who now owns a record seven PBA Player of the Year honors. "Fortunately I averaged close to 260 today and I needed to bowl that well because I had some tough opponents who were bowling very well including Keith in the final match.
"In general it was a lot of fun and the guys made me feel very welcome out here on the Senior Tour."
In the semifinal match Williams defeated Roger Kossert of Lithia, Fla., 269-211 and Sharp defeated Dave Patchen of Oregon, Ohio, 218-147 to advance to the championship match.
"I didn't bowl as well as I would have liked in qualifying but in match play the condition seemed to be a bit tighter which was a better match up for the ball I was using and where I was playing on the lane," Williams added.
After a three-week break, the Senior Tour will resume with the PBA Senior Northern California Open in Brentwood, May 30-June 2 followed by the PBA Senior U.S. Open and USBC Senior Masters in Las Vegas.
"I'll bowl in Brentwood and the Senior Masters for sure," said the 50-year-old Williams, "Because of my schedule it doesn't look I'll make the Senior U.S. Open and I'll just have to see how things work out during the rest of the summer."
Bob Kelly of Dayton, Ohio, rolled three 300 games in the tournament which tied the record for most 300s by an individual in a tournament with reigning PBA Senior Player of the Year Ron Mohr, who set the mark in last week's Senior Columbus Open. Kelly now has four 300s for the season which also ties that record.
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