Henson Wins PBA60 Dick Weber Super Senior Open For First PBA50 Tour Title

bowlingball.com 9/15/2015

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - In a back-and-forth championship match, Bill Henson defeated PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia, 244-233, to win the PBA60 Dick Weber Super Senior Open presented by Pro Bowl West and Hammer for his first career PBA50 Tour title.

Henson, whose previous best finish was second in the 2009 PBA Senior Decatur Open, needed at least a strike and then nine-spare in the 10th frame, but was able to throw a double to seal the win at Pro Bowl West.

Qualifying fourth for the finals, Henson, of Westerville, Ohio, had to win three consecutive matches to meet top qualifier Petraglia in the title match of the final tournament of the season.

In the opening stepladder match, Henson defeated Dale Csuhta of Wadsworth, Ohio, 247-214, and then went on to beat Mike Henry of Brunswick, Ohio, 256-225.

In the semifinal match, Henson beat Kerry Painter of Henderson, Nev., in another 256-225 match to advance to the title match.

"That stepladder final was tall and steep," said the 63-year-old Henson. "There was a lot of great talent ahead of me. I had no choice but to take it one shot at a time."

In the title match, Henson got off to a shaky start with an open in the second frame but then recovered with a string of strikes. Petraglia nearly left the door wide open in the ninth frame when he left the 1-3-7-9 washout, but he was able to make the spare to keep the match close.

"I had all the confidence in the world in my equipment and the way I was throwing the ball," Henson said. "I just needed to keep my mental game together. When I stepped up in the 10th, I just kept telling myself I've done this before, I can do it again."

The 68-year-old Petraglia, who has won 14 times on the PBA Tour and eight times on the PBA50 Tour, would have been the oldest player to win a PBA50 Tour title with a victory.

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