Tom Baker sweeps 2005 PBA Senior Tour post-season awards
12/10/05
2005 PBA Senior Tour Awards
Becomes first bowler to win PBA Senior Player and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season
PBA Hall of Famer Tom Baker just made history. The PBA has announced Baker won both the 2005 PBA Senior Player of the Year award and the 2005 Senior Rookie of the Year award. He is the first bowler to earn both awards, voted on by PBA membership, in the same season.
Baker, 51-years-old from King, N.C., won his first career PBA Senior Tour title in just his sixth event bowled when he captured the 2005 PBA Senior U.S. Open at Sunnybrook Lanes in Sterling Heights, Mich.
His 226.97 season average set a new PBA Senior Tour record. Baker also led the Tour with $40,050 in season earnings and was second in points (171,034) and match play appearances (10).
"It's just a great feeling to win both awards," said Baker, who has nearly $1.5 million in career PBA earnings. "Anytime you're the Player of the Year it's something special, especially when it's voted on by your peers. You know they respect what you've done and that really means a lot."
The only Denny's PBA Tour exempt bowler eligible for the PBA Senior Tour, Baker tallied eight top-10 finishes during the 2005 PBA Senior Tour season, reaching the title match on three occasions. Besides his PBA Senior Tour accomplishments, he owns 10 Denny's PBA Tour titles, including the 2004 Denny's World Championship, which gave him a five-season Tour exemption through the 2008-09 season.
Baker edged Bob Glass, Lawrence, Kan., for PBA Senior Player of the Year honors. Glass, looking to win his PBA-record fourth Senior Player of the Year award, defended his title in last season's 2005 PBA Senior Chillicothe Open and led the PBA Senior Tour points list at season's end with 183,626 over 11 events.
Roger LeClair, Clackamas, Ore., was the runner-up in PBA Senior Rookie of the Year voting. LeClair finished 7th in points (96,762) and 8th in earnings ($15,450) with his best finish coming in the 2005 PBA Senior Lake County Open presented by Storm, where he was second to Gene Vincent.
Baker, 51-years-old from King, N.C., won his first career PBA Senior Tour title in just his sixth event bowled when he captured the 2005 PBA Senior U.S. Open at Sunnybrook Lanes in Sterling Heights, Mich.
His 226.97 season average set a new PBA Senior Tour record. Baker also led the Tour with $40,050 in season earnings and was second in points (171,034) and match play appearances (10).
"It's just a great feeling to win both awards," said Baker, who has nearly $1.5 million in career PBA earnings. "Anytime you're the Player of the Year it's something special, especially when it's voted on by your peers. You know they respect what you've done and that really means a lot."
The only Denny's PBA Tour exempt bowler eligible for the PBA Senior Tour, Baker tallied eight top-10 finishes during the 2005 PBA Senior Tour season, reaching the title match on three occasions. Besides his PBA Senior Tour accomplishments, he owns 10 Denny's PBA Tour titles, including the 2004 Denny's World Championship, which gave him a five-season Tour exemption through the 2008-09 season.
Baker edged Bob Glass, Lawrence, Kan., for PBA Senior Player of the Year honors. Glass, looking to win his PBA-record fourth Senior Player of the Year award, defended his title in last season's 2005 PBA Senior Chillicothe Open and led the PBA Senior Tour points list at season's end with 183,626 over 11 events.
Roger LeClair, Clackamas, Ore., was the runner-up in PBA Senior Rookie of the Year voting. LeClair finished 7th in points (96,762) and 8th in earnings ($15,450) with his best finish coming in the 2005 PBA Senior Lake County Open presented by Storm, where he was second to Gene Vincent.