PBA Senior Dayton Classic at a glance
Where: Capri Lanes, 2727 South Dixie Drive, Kettering
When: Today (8 games qualifying): 9 a.m. — B squad; 4 p.m. — A squad
Admission: $3
KETTERING — Some people dread the big 5-0. Lennie Boresch is not one of those people.
“I was looking forward to it,” Boresch said. “It opens a lot more doors.”
One of those doors was to the Senior PBA Tour and Boresch, who just turned 50 on April 19, becoming eligible for the tour, has taken full advantage of that opportunity. In his Senior Tour debut in late April, Boresch won the PBA Senior Sun Bowl In The Villages in Florida.
“I thought I could compete out here, but winning my first one came as a surprise,” Boresch said. “I caught some breaks for sure.”
The rookie senior has also found success at the PBA Senior Dayton Classic. Boresch bowled a consistent eight-game first round on Tuesday at Capri Lanes with games of 226, 235, 289, 257, 254, 230, 245 and 268 for a 2,004 pinfall total. The Wisconsin bowler climbed to the top of the leader board with a 250.50 average and was +404 pins after eight games.
“It’s always nice to see your name on the top,” Boresch said. “But really, you just want to get all of the pins you can.”
While he is new to the Senior Tour, success is nothing new to Boresch. He has been a tour bowler for more than three decades, winning 25 PBA Regional titles.
Less than a week after his win at The Villages, Boresch was inducted into the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame.
“It was really a dream week for me,” he said. “I was really overwhelmed by the hall of fame induction. It still hasn’t really sunk in.”
Boresch knows he can’t rest on his laurels. The Dayton Classic field had 11 bowlers at +300 pins or better after the first day of qualifying. But the rookie does have youth on his side.
“I’m one of the ‘kids’ for now,” he said. “This is a tough group to bowl against and it’s only going to get more difficult with new guys moving up every year, so you’ve got to get success when you’re younger.”
On a roll: Defending Dayton Classic champion Hugh Miller finished the first round of qualifying in first place in his squad and second overall with a 1,938 pin count and 242.25 average. Miller is fresh off his third career PBA Senior Regional title as the 55-year-old won the PBA Northwest Region Sunset Chevrolet Senior Open in Washington on Sunday.
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