by Jerry Schneider August 5, 2011
By Lucas Wiseman, USBC Communications

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Dale Traber of Cedarburg, Wis., went undefeated in the double-elimination match-play bracket to win his second career United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters title Friday.

Traber, who also won the event in 2009, defeated USBC Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., 707-695 in the championship match at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl. He won a total of seven matches en route to the title.

“This is very unexpected and surprising, but breaks have to go your way at the right time to win a tournament like this,” Traber said. “For me, the stars all aligned at the right time.”

Traber said the victory was especially sweet because of his lack of success on the Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour this season.
“Trust me, I didn’t expect to win given the way I’ve been bowling,” Traber said. “I did my hotel reservation for this week night-by-night. I was planning to go to the stock car races tonight in Wisconsin, not be bowling.”

Williams actually took a one-pin lead, 238-237, after one game in the three games, total pins match, but Traber roared back 267-201 to take a 65-pin lead into the final game. Williams mounted a comeback, but came up short the final game, 256-203, failing to make up enough ground.

Williams finished as the runner-up for the second consecutive year at the Senior Masters, one of two majors on the PBA Senior Tour. He also finished second at this year’s other major – the Senior U.S. Open.

“This is the third major in a row where I have finished second,” Williams said. “I bowled really well this week, and I guess second isn’t that bad. It’s better than finishing 41st or something.”

Traber earned $14,000 for first place, while Williams took home $7,000. Defending champion Wayne Webb of Grove City, Ohio, finished third after losing in the semifinals to Williams, 666-600.

The USBC Senior Masters attracted a field of 249 of the top bowlers in the country age 50 and higher and featured a total prize fund of more than $110,000.

2011 USBC SENIOR MASTERS
At Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl, Columbus, Ohio

Friday’s results

MATCH PLAY
Double elimination, three-game matches decided by total pinfall
(Name/hometown followed by three-game pinfall total)

ROUND 5 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $1,500)
(20) Bill Henson, Westerville, Ohio, def. (37) Marty Berke, Allentown, Pa., 712-594
(1) Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., def. (56) Don Sylvia, Reno, Nev., 602-571
(49) Keith Sharp, Orlando, Fla., def. (55) Mike Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, 642-582
(62) Peter Thomas, Oklahoma City, def. (43) Ricky Beck, Box Elder, S.D., 615-562

ROUND 6 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $1,800)
Hensen def. (7) Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 588-540
(19) Charlie Tomey, Spartanburg, S.C., def. Croucher, 569-494
Sharp def. (61) Brad Snell, Mount Prospect, Ill., 623-573
(40) Ron Garr, Ridgedale, Mo., def. Thomas, 566-534

ROUND 7 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $2,400)
Tomey def. Henson, 636-572
Garr def. Sharp, 603-587

ROUND 8 LOSERS BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, tie for fifth, earn $3,200)
Webb def. Garr, 684-582
Tomey def. Fedden, 688-561

ROUND 5 WINNERS BRACKET
(Winner advances to championship match)
Traber def. Williams, 631-629

ROUND 9 LOSERS BRACKET
(Loser eliminated, finishes fourth, earns $4,200)
Webb def. Tomey, 701-628

ROUND 10 LOSERS BRACKET 
(Winner advances to championship match; Loser eliminated, finishes third, earns $5,500)
Williams def. Webb, 666-600

CHAMPIONSHIP
(Winner earns $14,000; Loser finishes second, earns $7,000)
Traber def. Williams, 707-695