Road trip includes success for Warren family at 2021 Super Senior Classic

Standings: Round 1 | Round 2

LAS VEGAS -
Two things mean more than anything to Chris Warren and his brothers - family and bowling.

This weekend, the six-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion and 2018 United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters winner is enjoying the best of both, though he hasn't yet thrown a single ball.

Since he's not old enough to compete in the Super Senior Classic, which is for USBC members age 60 and older, Warren has filled his time serving a variety of roles for his older brothers Butch and Michael.

Warren's time as a ball rep, caddy and water/soda server paid off Saturday, as Butch and Michael both were able to advance to the Cashers' Round at Sam's Town Bowling Center, but it may not have been his expertise that played the biggest factor. The brotherly camaraderie simply has them relaxed on the lanes.

The three clearly are elated just to be able to spend time together, and likely would be satisfied with the priceless memories, though the $7,500 top prize at the 2021 Super Senior Classic would go a long way toward funding future road trips.

Michael, a 67-year-old right-hander from Dallas, was consistent across 12 games and two variations of the event's 40-foot oil pattern (fresh and burn), and he made a run at the top of the standings Saturday, before finally settling into sixth place with a 2,609 total.

Left-hander Hugh Miller of Mercer Island, Washington, the runner-up at the 2019 Super Senior Classic, finished qualifying with games of 236, 245 and 249 to surge to the top of the standings with a 2,709 total, a 225.75 average.

Tour roommates Glenn Smith of New York (2,697) and Amleto Monacelli of Venezuela (2,677) finished second and third, respectively, and were followed by Ed Silva of Manteca, California (2,632), and Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Oxford, Florida (2,615).

Butch Warren, a 69-year-old right-hander from Frisco, Texas, ended the day in 10th place with a 2,574 total.

Kevin Foley of Reno, Nevada, grabbed the final spot in the Cashers' Round following a one-game roll-off with Gregory Turner of Temple Hills, Maryland, after they tied with a 2,451 total, a 204.25 average. Foley won the match 203-190.

Defending champion Ty Dawson of Sunnyvale, California, was the next player out of the cut, finishing in 42nd place with 2,448.

All rounds of competition at the Super Senior Classic and upcoming USBC Senior Masters are being broadcast live on BowlTV.

"It's awesome to be here, and the best part is because my whole life, these two guys took care of me and made sure that when I bowled, I had everything I needed," said Chris Warren, a 58-year-old right-hander. "To be able to return that means a lot. I now get to watch them bowl, and it's kind of a neat deal. It's something you dream about, and having the chance to take this trip has been so much fun."

Chris Warren recently moved back to Texas from Oregon and is running the pro shop at Plano Super Bowl in Plano, Texas.

They are three of 10 siblings, six of whom are bowlers, with Butch recently returning to the sport after about 20 years away.

Their current adventure began in Brentwood, California, for the PBA50 Senior U.S. Open, where Chris finished fourth and Butch finished 68th among the 78 entries.

"Chris and I both bowled the Senior U.S. Open, and then Mike flew out and met us here, so it's been a really great boys road trip," Butch Warren said. "To us, family is just about everything to us, and bowling, too. It keeps us together three nights a week for league and then on the weekends for tournaments. It always has been a big part of our lives and was something our mother really loved to do."

Butch and Michael both admit that Chris is the best bowler in the family, but his help and support continue to be instrumental, from the time they spend together in the pro shop at home to his eyes and guidance so far this week at Sam's Town.

"Having someone here to advise us and keep us going was great," Michael Warren said. "Our games definitely aren't similar, but we're able to make it work and help each other. It's nice to make the first cut, and we'll hopefully make the next cut, too. That part is special, but really, the whole trip has been special."

The 40 advancing players will bowl an additional six games Sunday morning, beginning at noon Eastern, and their 18-game totals will determine the 12 competitors advancing to round-robin match play.

Those 12 bowlers will be split into two six-player groups and will have a chance to advance to the unique group-stepladder portion of the event and then on to the championship round.

The leaders in each group after match play will earn the top two seeds for the championship round, and the No. 2, 3 and 4 finishers will advance to their respective group stepladders. The two winners will earn the third and fourth seeds for the main stepladder.

The group stepladders will take place Monday at noon Eastern, and the final round will be broadcast live on BowlTV, beginning at 2 p.m. EDT.

In planning the trip, Warren was able to talk his brothers into also bowling in the Senior Masters, and that event will get underway Sept. 14. The field of 250 of the best USBC members age 50 and older will compete for a $20,000 top prize and PBA50 Tour major title.

Warren is one of three bowlers to win both the USBC Masters and Seniors Masters. His Masters victory came in 1990. Monacelli is the defending champion.

The Super Senior Classic and Senior Masters are returning to the 56-lane Sam's Town Bowling Center together for the fifth time, a routine that began in 2016. The Senior Masters will be the final event of the 2021 season.