Don Sylvia (pictured) of Reno, Nev., defeated J.P. Muller of Gervais, Ore., 209-173, to win his third career Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour title in the PBA Senior Northern California Classic at Harvest Park Bowl Wednesday.

Sylvia, who won his last title in the Lake County Indiana Open in Hammond, Ind., three years ago, earned $8,000 while Muller, a non-titlist bowling in only his seventh Senior Tour event, won $4,500 as runner-up.

"I had a couple of bleak years, personally and with injuries," Sylvia said, "but I'm in a good place in my life now. I feel like things are back on track. I have a job, my problems with my arm, neck and wrist are finally under control, and I have a new lady in my life who has made me believe in myself again. All of the planets are in line again.

"I also worked at Harvest Park Bowl for a long time," he continued. "I've always had a great feel for this place. I couldn't ask for a better place to start my life over. It all feels like a dream."

Sylvia was nearly perfect in defeating Kerry Painter of Henderson, Nev., 289-187, in the semifinal round while Muller eliminated amateur Paul Danforth of Laguna Hills, Calif., 235-201.

In other featured matches, Ron Garr of Ridgedale, Mo., dispatched top qualifier Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, 3-0, in their best-of-five-game Round of 16 match. Painter ended Dale Traber's bid to defend his title in the Round of 24, 3-2.

Sam Ventura of Syracuse, N.Y., spoiled Walter Ray Williams Jr.'s Senior Tour return to the Northern California area where he spent most of his earlier career, 3-2, in the Round of 24. Ventura's 247-245 decision in their fifth game ended Williams' hopes.

The PBA Senior Tour now heads to Las Vegas, Nev., for back-to-back major championships. Wayne Webb of Columbus, Ohio, will try for his third consecutive Senior U.S. Open title June 6-11 at Suncoast Bowling Center on the north side of Las Vegas.

The following week, Dale Traber of Cedarburg, Wis., will try to defend his USBC Senior Masters title across town at South Point Bowling Center, June 13-18.

The Senior Tour will then go on hiatus until late summer when it returns to the Midwest to wrap up its year with the Senior Lake County Indiana Open at Olympia Lanes in Hammond, Ind., Aug. 9-12; the Senior Decatur Open at Spare Time Lanes in Decatur, Ill., Aug. 14-17, and the Senior Jackson Open at Airport Lanes in Jackson, Mich., Aug. 21-24.

 

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PBA Senior Northern California Classic

Harvest Park Bowl in Brentwood, Calif., United States (May 30 - June 2, 2010)

Championship Match
Don Sylvia, Reno, Nev. ($8,000) def. J.P. Muller, Gervais, Ore. ($4,500), 209-173

Semifinal Round (losers earn $3,000)
Sylvia def. Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 289-187
Muller def. Paul Danforth, Laguna Hills, Calif., 235-201

Round of 8 (best-of-three games, losers eliminated, $1,700 each)
Syvia def. Ron Garr, Ridgedale, Mo., 2-0
Painter def. Bob Chamberlain, The Villages, Fla., 2-1
Packard def. Paul Danforth, Laguna Hills, Calif., 2-0
Muller def. Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash., 2-0

Round of 16 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,300 each)
Garr def. Ron Mohr, Eagle River, Alaska, 3-0
Sylvia def. Noel Vazquez, Sacramento, Calif., 3-0
Painter def. Hugh Miller, Seattle, 3-2
Chamberlain def. Darryl Traber, Waterford, Wis., 3-1
Packard def. Tom Baker, King, N.C., 3-2
Danforth def. Sam Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 3-1
Muller def. Kevin Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore., 3-2
Schlegel def. Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Township, Mich., 3-0

Round of 32 (best-of-five games, losers eliminated, $1,050 each)
Kevin Foley def. Bob Brady, 3-0
Noel Vazquez def. Frank Gallo Jr., 3-2
Dale Traber def. Harley Trumbull, 3-1
Jim Joy def. Kenny Parks, 3-1
Rodney Garrick def. Junichi Yajima, 3-1
Sammy Ventura def. Dan Roberts, 3-0
Ted Staikoff def. Edward Silva, 3-2
Ron Profitt def. Tamaki Koichiro, 3-0