Amateur Russ Davies of Las Vegas won the most memorable match of his career by defeating PBA Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. to win the PBA50 South Point West Open presented by Track regional Monday at the South Point Bowling Plaza.

The 60-year-old Davies defeated Williams 217-206 in the title match for his first PBA title in the concluding event of the inaugural PBA South Point Fall Classic.

“This is unbelievable,” said Davies, primarily a local league and tournament bowler who is a member of the Southern Nevada Bowling Association Hall of Fame. “It’s the highlight of my career for sure. There’s nothing like winning a PBA title especially when you can do it by beating one of the all-time greats.”

Davies got off to an early lead in the title match by starting with the first three strikes and was able to hold off Williams for the rest of the match. Williams struck on the final ball of the 10th frame, forcing Davies to mark. The lefthander left a 6-pin and then picked up the spare in the final frame to clinch the win.

“Let’s face it, I’m the underdog so I was pretty calm for most of the match,” said Davies, who finished 22nd in the 1974 Showboat Invitational as an amateur. “When it came down to having to pick up that 6-pin for the win, I’ll admit I got a little nervous.”

In the semifinal match, Williams defeated Jeff Jamison of Boulder City, Nev., 248-234, and Davies beat Mike Kanada of Camarillo, Calif., 229-224 to advance to the title match.

The entire PBA South Point Fall Classic, which also included the PBA Team Challenge, PBA Xtra Frame South Point Las Vegas Open, South Point PBA West Challenge Regional and preliminary rounds of the Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship presented by Storm, was broadcast by PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame.

For Xtra Frame subscription information visit pba.com.

PBA50 SOUTH POINT WEST OPEN PRESENTED BY TRACK
Final Results, Monday

Championship Round (one-game)

Russ Davies, Las Vegas ($1,500) def. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., ($900), 217-206.

Semifinal Round (one-game matches, losers earn $700)
Williams def. Jeff Jamison, Boulder City, Nev., 248-234.
Davies def. Mike Kanada, Camarillo, Calif., 229-224.

Round of 8 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, earn $550)
Williams, def. Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 2-0.
Davies, def. Dan Miyamoto, Mililani, Hawaii, 2-1.
Kanada, def. Eric Forkel, Henderson, Nev., 2-0.
Jamison, def. Dave Bolles, Modesto, Calif., 2-1.

Round of 16 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, earn $450)
Mohr def. Kelly O'Driscoll, Herriman, Utah, 3-2.
Forkel def. Edward Silva, Manteca, Calif., 3-0.
Williams def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3-2.
Davies def. Dale Eagle, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 3-1.
Bolles def. Chris Warren, Grants Pass, Ore., 3-2.
Kanada def. Troy Kendrick, Coto de Caza, Calif., 3-1.
Jamison def. Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3-0.
Miyamoto, def. Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3-2.