Dream Team dominates finals field at USBC Masters
Sean Rash, Patrick Allen and Walter Ray Williams Jr., who were among those announced this week as the first group of professional bowlers to join Team USA in 2008, will be joined by Steve Jaros in the ESPN-televised finals at 1 p.m. Eastern on Sunday at Miller Park, the home of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Rash emerged as the top seed, going undefeated in match play and topping Allen 676-600 in a battle to determine the last unbeaten player.
"I think the people who made the Team USA selections will be awfully happy with what has happened so far," said Rash, who needs just one victory Sunday in the stepladder finals to claim the $100,000 first prize and Frank K. Baker trophy. "Three of us are on the team and the fourth guy on Sunday's show could just as easily be because he's pretty darn good."
The Masters finals features a star-studded group of players, all of whom are exempt players on the Denny's PBA Tour.
No. 1 seed Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan.: A member of Team USA in 2002 and 2004-05, Rash owns three Denny's PBA Tour titles and boasts a 6-0 record on TV. He became the first bowler in Tour history to win a title after qualifying for an event through the Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round when he won the 2006 West Virginia Championship as a rookie, earning an exemption for the 2006-07 season.
No. 2 seed Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla.: A nine-time winner on the Denny's PBA Tour, Allen was named the 2004-05 Player of the Year after winning back-to-back titles as well as the 2005 Denny's World Championship. That season, the left-hander finished in the top five in all four majors, including taking second at the 2004 USBC Masters held at Miller Park.
No. 3 seed Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla.: Arguably the greatest player in bowling history, Williams has seven career major titles and is a six-time Player of the Year. The PBA and USBC Hall of Famer has earned a tour record $3,896,091 in his career and has won at least one title in 14 consecutive seasons, tying him with Earl Anthony for the record.
No. 4 seed Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill.: Jaros, whose last Tour win was a career-saving victory at the 2005 Tournament of Champions, is searching for his eighth career Denny's PBA Tour title. The 42-year-old right-hander is in top form entering the season after a successful PBA regional stint this year that includes four titles. Jaros is tied for all-time regional victories with 40 titles. "There are three other guys on the show who know what it takes to win," Rash said. "It's going to come down to who gets the breaks and takes advantage of the opportunities presented to them. Anybody could win this thing."
The 2007 USBC Masters is a major on the Denny's PBA Tour and the athletes are competing for a top prize of $100,000 and an overall prize fund of $350,000.
For tickets to the finals, visit tickets.com, the Miller Park box office or call the Miller Park box office at (414) 902-4000. Tickets range in price from $12.50 to $77.50 and each ticket also includes admission to Bowlfest, a special event presented by Time Warner Cable to be held at Miller Park on Oct. 27 from 6-9 p.m.
TELEVISION FINALS (ESPN, Sunday, 1 p.m. Eastern, Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wis.)
Match 1: No. 3 Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., vs. No. 4 Steve Jaros, Yorkville, Ill. Match 2: No. 2 Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., vs. Match 1 winner Match 3: No. 1 Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., vs. Match 2 winner
10/26/2007
By Lucas Wiseman USBC Communications