Baker tops qualifying at 2015 ITRC Super Senior Classic
August 04, 2015
Complete standings
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Tom Baker of King, North Carolina, didn't know what to expect from his first International Training and Research Center Super Senior Classic, but the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer now is the player to beat after qualifying at the 2015 event at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley.
The 60-year-old right-hander entered the second round of qualifying in third place and averaged more than 228 over eight games to catapult to the top of the standings. His 1,831 effort Tuesday gave him a 16-game total of 3,564, just 18 pins better than Willie Wells of Brandon, Florida, who led briefly Tuesday and finished qualifying with a 3,546 total.
"I bowled well at the (USBC) Senior Masters last week, and I've got a great ball reaction with the equipment I've got, though the carry has been tough at times," said Baker, a 10-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion and 12-time PBA50 Tour winner. "This is my first tournament for 60-year-olds, and I didn't know what to expect, but I'm happy with how things are going so far."
First-round leader Sam Maccarone of Blackwood, New Jersey, is third with 3,467 and is followed by 2013 ITRC Super Senior Classic champion Kerry Painter of Henderson, Nevada (3,420) and Michael Lucente of Warren, Michigan (3,328).
All 73 competitors this week bowled 16 games of qualifying over two days before the field was narrowed to the top 18 for the cashers' round. Ed Roberts of Braintree, Massachusetts, earned the final spot with a 3,156 total, a 197.25 average.
Baker will lead the 18 qualifiers back onto the lanes Wednesday at 9 a.m. Eastern for an additional four games, after which, the top five, based on their 20-game pinfall totals, will advance to the stepladder finals live on BowlTV at noon Eastern.
The top prize this week is $4,000 from a total prize fund of more than $25,000.
"With only four games to go, it looks good for the top few guys, and that feels pretty good, but there's still a lot of bowling to do," said Baker, who is 240 pins ahead of sixth place after 16 games. "I'm confident heading into tomorrow. The lanes have been fair and consistent here, but sometimes I still have hold my breath a little when I hit the pocket to see if it's going to carry."
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.
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Tom Baker of King, North Carolina, didn't know what to expect from his first International Training and Research Center Super Senior Classic, but the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer now is the player to beat after qualifying at the 2015 event at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley.
The 60-year-old right-hander entered the second round of qualifying in third place and averaged more than 228 over eight games to catapult to the top of the standings. His 1,831 effort Tuesday gave him a 16-game total of 3,564, just 18 pins better than Willie Wells of Brandon, Florida, who led briefly Tuesday and finished qualifying with a 3,546 total.
"I bowled well at the (USBC) Senior Masters last week, and I've got a great ball reaction with the equipment I've got, though the carry has been tough at times," said Baker, a 10-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion and 12-time PBA50 Tour winner. "This is my first tournament for 60-year-olds, and I didn't know what to expect, but I'm happy with how things are going so far."
First-round leader Sam Maccarone of Blackwood, New Jersey, is third with 3,467 and is followed by 2013 ITRC Super Senior Classic champion Kerry Painter of Henderson, Nevada (3,420) and Michael Lucente of Warren, Michigan (3,328).
All 73 competitors this week bowled 16 games of qualifying over two days before the field was narrowed to the top 18 for the cashers' round. Ed Roberts of Braintree, Massachusetts, earned the final spot with a 3,156 total, a 197.25 average.
Baker will lead the 18 qualifiers back onto the lanes Wednesday at 9 a.m. Eastern for an additional four games, after which, the top five, based on their 20-game pinfall totals, will advance to the stepladder finals live on BowlTV at noon Eastern.
The top prize this week is $4,000 from a total prize fund of more than $25,000.
"With only four games to go, it looks good for the top few guys, and that feels pretty good, but there's still a lot of bowling to do," said Baker, who is 240 pins ahead of sixth place after 16 games. "I'm confident heading into tomorrow. The lanes have been fair and consistent here, but sometimes I still have hold my breath a little when I hit the pocket to see if it's going to carry."
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.