Jerry Schneider
Professional Bowlers Association

Noel Vazquez of Sacramento, Calif., won the PBA50 Northern California Classic presented by MOTIV Wednesday for his first career PBA50 Tour title and in the process ended Pete Weber’s record run of consecutive PBA50 Tour titles at four.

Vazquez, who has won two PBA regional and six PBA50 regional titles, defeated Weber 255-224 in the title match at Harvest Park Bowl.

“I’m shocked and at a loss for words,” said the 56-year-old Vazquez. “To bowl against the greatest bowlers in the game is unbelievable and something you only dream about.”

Vazquez, who qualified third for the finals, took an 11-pin lead in the fifth frame and then threw five consecutive strikes which were too much for Weber, who was the finals top qualifier, to overcome.

“I just had to keep thinking to stay within myself and make the shots I’m capable of,” Vazquez said. “You bring your “A” game and win or lose you can take satisfaction that you did your best.

“I’m pretty goal oriented,” Vazquez added. “That’s what helped me win my regional titles and it helped me get this win. I’ve always kidded my friends that if I won a national title I’d retire but I’m rethinking that right now.”

Vazquez’s previous best PBA50 Tour finish was 11th in the 2015 Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open.

Weber, a 37-time winner on the PBA Tour, which includes a record-tying 10 majors, was trying for his ninth career PBA50 Tour win. His streak of four wins started with the UnitedHealthcare Sun Bowl In The Villages in April which was followed by wins in the Mooresville Ford Open, Johnny Petraglia BVL Open and his second consecutive Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open win.

“My hat is off to Noel,” said Weber, who is the defending PBA50 Player of the Year. “He broke the streak by bowling great and deserved to win.”

Vazquez reached the title match by beating Ty Dawson of Sunnyvale, Calif., who was also making his first finals appearance, 213-195, in the semifinal.

In the opening stepladder match two-time PBA50 Player of the Year and eight-time PBA50 Tour winner Ron Mohr of Las Vegas defeated Brian LeClair of Delmar, N.Y, 256-238, who was trying for his second title. In the second match, Dawson defeated Mohr 279-235 to advance to the semifinal.

The PBA50 Tour returns to Las Vegas for the USBC Super Senior Classic June 16-19 followed by the USBC Senior Masters June 19-25 at Sam’s Town Bowling Center.

PBA50 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CLASSIC PRESENTED BY MOTIV

Harvest Park Bowl, Brentwood, Calif., Wednesday

 

Final Standings

1, Noel Vazquez, Sacramento, Calif., $8,000.

2, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., $4,500.

3, Ty Dawson, Sunnyvale, Calif., $2,700.

4, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, $2,200.

5, Brian LeClair, Delmar, N.Y., $1,800.

 

Stepladder Results

Match One – Mohr def. LeClair, 256-238.

Match Two – Dawson def. Mohr, 279-235.

Semifinal Match – Vazquez def. Dawson, 213-195.

Championship – Vazquez def. Weber, 255-224.

 

Modified Match Play Round 2 (after six games. Pinfall including match play bonus pins and money earned. Top five advanced to stepladder finals)

 

1, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 5-1, 1,648.
2, Noel Vazquez, Sacramento, Calif., 4-2, 1,567.
3, Ty Dawson, Sunnyvale, Calif., 5-1, 1,548.
4, Brian LeClair, Delmar, N.Y., 4-2, 1,539.
5, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 4-2, 1,525.
6, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 3-3, 1,502, $1,500.
7, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3-3, 1,467, $1,500.
8, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 2-4, 1,413, $1,500.
9, Robert Brown, Cody, Wyo., 3-3, 1,409, $1,350.
10, Warren Nelson, Middleburg, Fla., 3-3, 1,389, $1,350.
11, Craig Miller, Tracy, Calif., 2-4, 1,379, $1,350.
12, Chuck Richardson, The Villages, Fla., 2-4, 1,369, $1,350.
13, Eddie Graham, Centerville, Ohio, 2-4, 1,357, $1,350.
14, Brian Cooper, Henderson, Nev., 2-4, 1,345, $1,350.
15, Sam Maccarone, Blackwood, N.J., 2-4, 1,335, $1,350.
16, Mark McCreary, Livermore, Calif., 2-4, 1,302, $1,350.

 

Modified Match Play Round 1 (after five games. Pinfall including match play bonus pins and money earned)

17, John Burkett, Southlake, Texas, 2-3, 1,258, $1,200.
18, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 4-1, 1,255, $1,200.
19, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 3-2, 1,224, $1,200.
20, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 3-2, 1,223, $1,200.
21, Christopher Keane, Cape Coral, Fla., 3-2, 1,202, $1,200.
22, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 2-3, 1,200, $1,200.
23, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3-2, 1,197, $1,200.
24, John Dudak, Orland Park, Ill., 3-2, 1,186, $1,200.
25, Skip Pavone, San Jose, Calif., 3-2, 1,160, $1,100.
26, Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 1-4, 1,156, $1,100.
27, Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 1-4, 1,141, $1,100.
28, Joe Goldstein, San Bruno, Calif., 1-4, 1,132, $1,100.
29, Dave Arnold, Elk Grove, Calif., 0-5, 1,109, $1,100.
30, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 1-4, 1,076, $1,100.
31, Jim Horan, Mountain View, Calif., 1-4, 1,015, $1,100.
32, Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., 0-5, 977, $1,100.

 

Other Cashers (after five-game cashers round)

33, ss-n-Sam Carter, Ben Lomond, Calif., 1,104, $1,000.
34, ss-n-Terry Leong, Las Vegas, 1,085, $1,000.
35, ss-Lee Brosius, Ashburn, Va., 1,043, $1,000.
36, James Hansen, Anchorage, Alaska, 1,039, $1,000.
37, ss-Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., 1,031, $1,000.
38 ss-n-Dennis Jones, Fremont, Calif., 1,030, $1,000.
39, Peter Knopp, Germany, 1,025, $1,000.
40, Wayne Webb, Columbus, Ohio, 989, $1,000.
41, Bill Hewlett, Las Vegas, Nev., 988, $1,000.
42, Bill Nichols, Bella Vista, Calif., 958, $1,000.
43, Galen Keas, Alda, Neb., 954, $1,000.
44, Dale Eagle, New Port Beach, Calif., 944, $1,000.

ss-denotes PBA60 player; n-denotes non-member