By Gary Lloyd
Four-time PBA50 Player of the Year Tom Baker, of King, N.C., converted a spare and then bowled a nine-count on his fill ball in the 10th frame of the championship match to win the PBA50 Greater Birmingham Open by one pin Wednesday at Lightning Strikes in Trussville.
Baker defeated Bryan Goebel of Shawnee, Kan., 227-226, in the title match for his 10th career PBA50 Tour title and his first since winning the PBA Senior Pepsi Open in Decatur, Ill., in August 2010. His 10 PBA50 titles now matches his 10 PBA Tour titles
. Baker earned $7,500 for winning the tournament.
Goebel, trying for his first PBA50 Tour win, finished the match first with three strikes in the 10th frame, forcing Baker to at least get a spare and nine-count in the 10th for the win, which is just what he did.
Baker and Goebel advanced to the title match by being the top two scorers in the fifth eliminator round. Baker had a 525 two-game total and Goebel, 504, eliminating three-time PBA50 Tour titlist Hugh Miller (488) and PBA50 Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr. (427), who won last week’s Sun Bowl In the Villages.
Charles Allen Jr., of Pinson, failed to advance to the match play round of 32 bowlers.
For more results, visit www.pba.com.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.