Duke leads finalists into today's USBC Masters finals
WAUWATOSA, Wis. - Norm Duke darted across 10 lanes, his fists in the air and his face turning bright red.
The Denny's PBA Tour superstar had just converted the 6-7 split to defeat amateur Art Brown of Lansing, Mich., to win the top seed at the United States Bowling Congress Masters. Or so he thought.
Needing just seven pins to secure a one-pin victory, Duke threw the ball straight up the lane, through the nose and left the 4-6-7-10 split. But half a second later, the 10 fell out giving Duke the top seed for Sunday's ESPN-televised finals with a 722-721 victory at AMF Bowlero Lanes in suburban Milwaukee.
"My intent was to leave the big four because you just can't do that," said Duke, who hails from Clermont, Fla. "You'll miss one way or the other and get nine every time, but I just pured it. I thought there is no way, now we are going to have to bowl another shot. Then the thing fell over like that."
The victory capped off an amazing run for the 1993 Masters champion. Duke, a PBA and USBC Hall of Famer, won six consecutive three-game matches in a left-handed dominated final field to earn the top seed.
Joining Duke on Sunday's telecast at U.S. Cellular Arena are three lefties - Brown, Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, and amateur Ken Muscato of Canadaigua, N.Y.
After his victory Friday, Duke said he is certain Brown will be a factor in Sunday's stepladder finals.
"The last thing he said to me was 'I will see you tomorrow,' " said Duke, who has 22 career PBA titles. "I could see the confidence in his eyes and the desire to have a rematch. Sometimes that is even more powerful than the motivation to win."
If Brown is to challenge Duke for the title, he'll have to win three matches Sunday. After falling to Duke, Brown suffered another heartbreaking defeat to Scroggins in a match to determine who would be the second and third seeds.
Brown threw a clutch strike on the first ball in the 10th and needing just six on the second shot and a spare, he left a 4-6-7-8-10 split, also known as the Greek Church. He picked up three to lose 708-705.
"He basically had me shut out," Scroggins said. "I'm more shocked than anyone that he Greek Churched. It's just one of those things."
In the opening match Sunday, Brown will take on Muscato. The winner bowls Scroggins for the right to take on Duke for the Frank K. Baker trophy and the $100,000 first-place prize.
Duke was one of the few players in the field who was able to take care of left-handers. He faced lefties in four consecutive matches to close out match play, defeating Parker Bohn III, Dennis Horan Jr., Scroggins and Brown.
"I thought I was in trouble each of the last four matches because they were four of the greatest lefties and all bowling really good," Duke said. "I took solace in the fact that no one would be throwing a shot on my side of the lane. If I could get dialed in, there is no one playing there messing up my shot.
"I knew that I was not the favorite in any of those matches, hence the reason I played a little better than I am supposed to," he said. "I really did career it today. I've been bowling very good but this week I really stepped it up."
The USBC Masters is the sport's most prestigious event, drawing nearly 500 of the world's best professional and amateur bowlers who are competing for an estimated prize fund of $350,000.
To purchase tickets to the finals at the U.S. Cellular Arena, visit ticketmaster.com or call (414) 276-4545. Tickets can also be purchased on-site Saturday or Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. each day.
By Lucas Wiseman USBC Communications
The Denny's PBA Tour superstar had just converted the 6-7 split to defeat amateur Art Brown of Lansing, Mich., to win the top seed at the United States Bowling Congress Masters. Or so he thought.
Needing just seven pins to secure a one-pin victory, Duke threw the ball straight up the lane, through the nose and left the 4-6-7-10 split. But half a second later, the 10 fell out giving Duke the top seed for Sunday's ESPN-televised finals with a 722-721 victory at AMF Bowlero Lanes in suburban Milwaukee.
"My intent was to leave the big four because you just can't do that," said Duke, who hails from Clermont, Fla. "You'll miss one way or the other and get nine every time, but I just pured it. I thought there is no way, now we are going to have to bowl another shot. Then the thing fell over like that."
The victory capped off an amazing run for the 1993 Masters champion. Duke, a PBA and USBC Hall of Famer, won six consecutive three-game matches in a left-handed dominated final field to earn the top seed.
Joining Duke on Sunday's telecast at U.S. Cellular Arena are three lefties - Brown, Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, and amateur Ken Muscato of Canadaigua, N.Y.
After his victory Friday, Duke said he is certain Brown will be a factor in Sunday's stepladder finals.
"The last thing he said to me was 'I will see you tomorrow,' " said Duke, who has 22 career PBA titles. "I could see the confidence in his eyes and the desire to have a rematch. Sometimes that is even more powerful than the motivation to win."
If Brown is to challenge Duke for the title, he'll have to win three matches Sunday. After falling to Duke, Brown suffered another heartbreaking defeat to Scroggins in a match to determine who would be the second and third seeds.
Brown threw a clutch strike on the first ball in the 10th and needing just six on the second shot and a spare, he left a 4-6-7-8-10 split, also known as the Greek Church. He picked up three to lose 708-705.
"He basically had me shut out," Scroggins said. "I'm more shocked than anyone that he Greek Churched. It's just one of those things."
In the opening match Sunday, Brown will take on Muscato. The winner bowls Scroggins for the right to take on Duke for the Frank K. Baker trophy and the $100,000 first-place prize.
Duke was one of the few players in the field who was able to take care of left-handers. He faced lefties in four consecutive matches to close out match play, defeating Parker Bohn III, Dennis Horan Jr., Scroggins and Brown.
"I thought I was in trouble each of the last four matches because they were four of the greatest lefties and all bowling really good," Duke said. "I took solace in the fact that no one would be throwing a shot on my side of the lane. If I could get dialed in, there is no one playing there messing up my shot.
"I knew that I was not the favorite in any of those matches, hence the reason I played a little better than I am supposed to," he said. "I really did career it today. I've been bowling very good but this week I really stepped it up."
The USBC Masters is the sport's most prestigious event, drawing nearly 500 of the world's best professional and amateur bowlers who are competing for an estimated prize fund of $350,000.
To purchase tickets to the finals at the U.S. Cellular Arena, visit ticketmaster.com or call (414) 276-4545. Tickets can also be purchased on-site Saturday or Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. each day.
By Lucas Wiseman USBC Communications