Brian Kretzer has wasted no time making a name for himself in the PBA50 ranks.
At 52 years old, Kretzer recently tallied his 11th PBA50 Regional title with a first-place finish at the PBA50 Plaza Lanes Central Midwest Open in Crawfordsville, Indiana. It was his 27th PBA Regional title in a career that spans decades.
“It’s been great,” Kretzer said. “I didn’t win this much when I was on the regular tour – in ’97, ’98, ’99 – but all those years, working hard, learning how to be a better bowler, are paying off.
“I’m physically not as good as I was but, mentally, I have more tools in my tool chest than I have ever had.”
While the Kettering bowler took the top prize, he wasn’t the only Dayton area bowler who had success at Plaza Lanes. Bill Peters, of Kettering, placed second while Neil Kassel, of Beavercreek, was fifth. Vandalia’s Jerry Hicks and Ron Profitt, of Brookville, placed seventh and ninth, respectively, as half of the top 10 placers hailed from the Miami Valley.
Peters and Kretzer, in fact, were roommates for the weekend, even making the drive together.
“When you go with someone, you always say ‘let’s go finish first and second,’ but it never works,” Peters said, smiling. “This time, it worked.”
Peters has been on a roll of late as the 61-year-old has finished in the top three in his last three events, including one title.
“I’m having way more fun than I ever have,” Peters said. “I definitely appreciate things more.”
The seniors are back on the lanes this weekend at the PBA50 Strike Zone Lanes Central Classic in Canton.
State tournament update: Perfect scores have already been posted in the Ohio State United States Bowling Congress State Open Championship. Ed Burbo, of Belleville Michigan, bowled the first 300 game at Beaver-Vu Bowl on the opening weekend of the state tournament and Josh Conner, of Columbus, rolled a 300 at Pla-Mor Lanes.
Dan Higgins, of Westerville, Ohio, bowled the first 800 of the tournament – an 803 – at Pla-Mor Lanes.
The state tournament runs through May 12 at Beaver-Vu and Pla-Mor with more than 5,500 men and women vying for championship titles.
One for the record books: At 91 years, 2 months and 21 days old, Iowa bowler Jim Novak recently became the oldest bowler to roll an 800 series. The previous mark was set by 85-year-old William Lautenschlager, of Stockton, California, in 2016.
Novak rolled a 279-256-268 – 803 in the Young at Heart league at May City Bowl in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Pending USBC verification, it would be Novak’s 21st certified 800 series, but the first in almost two decades.
“Honestly, I’d given up on having another day like that, because an 800 series is really hard to come by,” Novak said. “It feels so good to hold the record. I couldn’t have asked for a better day.”
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