The Seattle bowler headed east to finish up the PBA Senior Tour season in Jackson, Mich., and Dayton. The 54-year-old, who hadn’t bowled in close to two months, finished 12th at the PBA Senior Jackson Open last Thursday.
Miller collected his second career Senior Tour title at the PBA Senior Dayton Classic Tuesday with a 234-227 win over PBA Hall of Famer Tom Baker in the title match at Capri Lanes.
Miller didn’t have his sights set quite that high when the left-hander made the match play cut.
“I bowled in this tournament twice and made the top 8 and I was swept both times,” Miller said. “Coming in, I just wanted to win a game — one game.”
Miller swept West Carrollton bowler Bill Peters in the Round of 16 and then topped 2008 Dayton Classic champion Keith Sharp in the Round of 8. The eventual champion handed Cincinnati’s Paul Gerard a 268-202 semifinal loss before taking on Baker for the title.
Miller built a hefty lead after Baker left the second frame open but a split in the ninth kept the door open for the four-time PBA Senior Player of the Year.
Baker struck in the ninth but settled for a spare in the 10th frame. It was back in Miller’s hands. A spare and a 9-count was enough for the title 234-227.
Miller’s championship career spans more than three decades. He captured his first PBA Tour title in 1980 and earned six more as well as 31 PBA Regional titles. He won his first Senior Tour title in 2008.
Local placers: The round of 16 proved to be the stopping point for both Peters and Ron Profitt.
Peters, No. 22 heading into match play, took five games to beat No. 27 Kerry Painter in the round of 32 and four games to top No. 11 Don Sylvia.
Profitt, fourth after 16 games, fell to Dale Eagle, who won his 12th career Senior Tour title just two weeks earlier at Decatur, Ill.
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