Amleto Monacelli Battles Mental Game to Win PBA50 Northern California Classic

bowlingball.com 7/31/2015

BRENTWOOD, Calif. - With his mental game still a work in progress, Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli was able to keep his emotions in check enough to win the PBA50 Northern California Classic presented by MOTIV at Harvest Park Bowl for his fourth career PBA50 Tour title.

The Venezuelan defeated last week's Fountain Valley Open winner Brian LeClair of Delmar, N.Y., 237-225, in the championship match for his first title of the season. With his physical game and his equipment choices in good shape, the 53-year-old Monacelli admits he needs to work on his emotions during the course of a tournament if he wants to be a consistent winner on the PBA50 Tour.

"I still have the tendency to get down on myself and get mad when things aren't going my way," said the 19-time PBA Tour winner. "It's something that I have to keep working on and don't let it get to me. "I think I have too much expectation and just need to relax," he continued. "Sometimes before each squad I will do a little meditation which helps, but finishes as his best.

Two-time major league all-star pitcher John Burkett of Southlake, Texas, established himself as a force to be reckoned with in his new career as a professional bowler finishing fourth for his best finish of the season. He started the stepladder final with a come-from-behind, 226-216, win over Bob Spaulding of McKinney, Texas, but then lost to LeClair in the second match 212-196.

In the five tournaments Burkett has competed in this season he has made the cut to match play in four of them with a previous best finish of 15th in the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open.

LeClair went on to beat PBA50 Tour newcomer Jimmy Hansen of Anchorage, Alaska, 214-202, in the semifinal to advance to the title match against Monacelli.

Article was posted with permission from Stars & Strikes, America's Bowling Newsmagazine. www.starsandstrikesbowling.com