Monacelli Wins PBA50 Northern California Classic For Eighth Career PBA50 Tour Title

6/16/2017

BRENTWOOD, Calif. – Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli kept his focus after a split and open in the seventh frame of the championship match to win the PBA50 Northern California Classic presented by MOTIV for his eighth career PBA50 Tour title.

The 55-year-old Monacelli won his first title of the season by beating stepladder finals top qualifier Hugh Miller of Mercer Island, Wash., 229-198, at Harvest Park Bowl.

“It was a good test because I didn’t let bother me,” said Monacelli, who left the 6-7 split in the seventh frame. “I let it go real quick and kept myself pumped up. I had the lead at that point but I was able to recover and did what I needed to do in the last three frames to win.” Miller, who was trying for his fourth PBA50 Tour title, rocketed to the tournament lead when he rolled back-to-back 300 games in the first two games of the final match play round and posted a 6-0 record. He was still in contention in the title match until he also left a split (4-6) in the seventh frame and was unable to challenge Monacelli after that.

Monacelli, who won the 2015 Northern California Classic, advanced to the title match by defeating Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio, in the semi-final 9-6 in a one-ball roll-off after tying 233-233.

The second match was a strike-fest with Monacelli defeating Chris Warren of Grants Pass, Ore., 296-280. Monacelli and Warren set a new mark for highest scoring match in a PBA50 Tour championship round eclipsing the previous high scoring match set by tournament winner John Hricsina who defeated Mike Durbin 276-267 in the 1998 Vermont PBA Senior Classic. Monacelli’s bid for a 300 fell short when he left the 1-2-8-10 washout on the final shot of the 10th frame.

“Even after all the years I’ve been bowling professionally, I’m still learning,” said Monacelli, who also owns 20 PBA Tour titles. “Everything changes so quickly and it’s a challenge to keep up with those changes. That’s why I work so hard on both my mental and physical game.”

In the opening stepladder match, Warren beat two-time PBA50 Player of the Year Ron Mohr of Las Vegas, 245-213. Warren, a four-time PBA Tour winner was trying for his first PBA50 Tour title and Mohr was trying for his ninth PBA50 Tour win.

The PBA50 Tour travels to Las Vegas for the USBC Super Senior Classic, for players 60 and over, at Sam’s Town which begins with qualifying on June 2 and concludes with the stepladder finals on June 4 at 11 a.m. PT. Following the Super Senior Classic will be the USBC Senior Masters, the season’s second major, which begins with qualifying on June 6 and concludes with the stepladder finals onJune 11 at 10 a.m.

After the Senior Masters, the PBA50 Tour moves across town to the Suncoast Bowling Center for the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Storm, the season’s final major, which begins with qualifying on June 12 and concludes June 16 with the stepladder finals scheduled for 4 p.m.

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