Maccarone leads at 2015 ITRC Super Senior Classic

First-round standings

GREEN BAY, Wis. -
Sam Maccarone of Blackwood, New Jersey, set the pace through the first round of qualifying Monday at the 2015 International Training and Research Center Super Senior Classic.

The 60-year-old right-hander posted an eight-game total of 1,791, a 223.87 average, to lead the 73-player field at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley. He was consistent throughout the block, with a high game of 237 and low of 212.

Michael Henry of Brunswick, Ohio, is second with a 1,735 total and is followed by USBC Hall of Famer Tom Baker of King, North Carolina (1,733), left-hander Paul McCordic of Sugar Land, Texas (1,713) and Marc Lineberry of Camanche, Iowa (1,685).

Maccarone, a two-time Professional Bowlers Association titlist and one-time PBA50 winner, felt like he bowled well Monday but definitely didn't capitalize on some opportunities along the way.

"I made a lot of good shots today and had a good ball reaction, but I wasn't able to finish games," said Maccarone, who also owns more than a dozen PBA regional titles. "Twice, including the last game, I opened in the 10th, when I could've had a big game. I at least expect myself to make quality shots in those situations, even if I don't strike."

All 73 competitors this week will bowl 16 games of qualifying over two days before the field is narrowed to the top 18 for the cashers' round. An additional four games will determine the five finalists for the stepladder finals.

Qualifying continues Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, and all rounds of competition at the ITRC Super Senior Classic will be broadcast live on BowlTV. The stepladder finals will air Wednesday at noon Eastern.

Maccarone will enter Tuesday's qualifying round with a similar game plan, which is to play the lanes a little bit straighter to start and then move left as the day progresses. A stronger hand position and moving even more left helped him maintain his success late in Monday's block.

Although he hasn't bowled many of the national events in recent years, Maccarone decided that after celebrating his 60th birthday last month, he'd take advantage of the USBC Senior Masters and Super Senior Classic being held back to back in Green Bay, while also hitting a couple of the upcoming PBA50 stops.

He started the trip by making match play at the Senior Masters and hopes to continue that momentum at the Super Senior Classic.

The top prize this week is $4,000 from a total prize fund of more than $25,000.

The Super Senior Classic, the premier event for USBC members age 60 and older, is the second of three events being held in Green Bay this summer.

The action kicked off last week with the USBC Senior Masters, where USBC and PBA Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli of Aventura, Florida, claimed the title and $16,000 top prize with an exciting win over fellow hall of famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Missouri.

The Super Senior Classic will be followed by the USBC Senior Championships, which will bring bowlers from across the United States and Canada.

To watch the Super Senior Classic live, visit YouTube.com/BowlTV.