Opposites, but Hall of Famers
Two legendary bowling figures, likely among the top five ever to compete on the Professional Bowlers Association tour, “retired” last week.
Walter Ray Williams Jr. (see below for a local note on him) and Pete Weber vowed that the World Series of Bowling XII in Tampa would be their final hurrah on the regular tour. Both left a little wiggle room, since they’re eligible for the limited-field Tournament of Champions, but the plan for Williams, 61, and Weber, 58, is to limit their future PBA bowling to regional and PBA50 tournaments.
It would be hard to find two more opposite, yet magnetic, figures in the sport.
Williams dominated the tour in his prime with a relatively simple game, honed from years of horseshoe pitching. He mostly kept his emotions within while rolling to a record 47 PBA titles. Williams treated his fans and the sport with respect.
When the PBA created a list of its top 50 bowlers for its 50th anniversary in 2009, Williams was No. 2, trailing only Earl Anthony.
Weber, who was No. 5 on that list, had to escape the humongous shadow of his late father, Dick, arguably the best performer of the PBA’S first two decades. The Weber offspring did things his own way, starting with his high backswing that pros in his dad’s era would discourage, and continuing with his open displays of emotion.
Pete wasn’t afraid to express his opinion, which got him suspended at least twice during his early days on tour, until the PBA realized it should embrace his personality. (The f-bomb he uncorked on the PBA’S live telecast Wednesday was vintage Weber. Good thing it was on cable.)
Love him or hate him, you knew where Weber stood, although it would surprise some that Pete is engaging off the lanes. “Pete is his own person,” his father once told me, “and I’m glad of that.”
Both Webers won titles in the Capital Region. Dick captured the 1960 Empire State Open at Schade’s Academy. Pete was victorious in the 2000 Parker Bohn III Empire State Open at Bowlers Club in Latham.
Sadly, neither center is around anymore, and, as of last week, neither are Williams or Weber, at least on the “kids tour.”
Local scene
For the fourth time in the past 13 months, Phil Drumm of Johnson City (suburban Binghamton) has won a major tournament in the Capital Region. Drumm defeated Jim Thomas of Binghamton 203-180 to prevail in the 18th Donato Scratch Singles at Towne Academy and win its $3,200 top prize. Drumm’s three other area victories came in doubles events with Ryan Galli. The top Capital Region finisher was Nick Galusha of Altamont, who lost to Drumm in the semifinals . ... Brian Leclair of Delmar won $520 for a 22nd-place finish in a PBA East Region tournament in Cheektowaga (suburban Buffalo). Drumm finished 40th and picked up $435. The event drew 127 entries. Tim Foy of Seaford, Del., was the winner.
Cian Dimezza of Canajoharie captured the second annual Town ’n Country Invitational with a 255-187 triumph (including handicap) over Dwayne Coonradt of Chatham in the final of the 64-player bracketed tournament . ... Ryan and Cindy Maxon won the Adult-child tournament at Barbecue with a 2,200 total, 135 pins ahead of Riley Hayes and Colin Cipperly.
Matt Hill had 32-of-36 strikes in an 867 series (289, 278, 300) in the Monday Men’s league at Hi-way. Two of the non-strikes were on fill balls . ... Chris Fawcett sandwiched 300 games around a 262 for an 862 triple in the Schenectady Dorp Mixed League at Sportsman’s.
PBA Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. is doing clinics Wednesday and Monday at East Greenbush. The latter is sold out, but there are a few spots available at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The cost is $80 and includes three hours of instruction, with video and one-on-one assistance with Williams. Sessions are limited to eight bowlers to allow for individual attention. Call 518-477-9306 to register. Williams is signed up to compete in the PBA50 East Region Crystal Lanes Open this weekend in Corning.
National news
Tom Daugherty got out of the gate fast in the 2021 PBA Player of the Year race by winning two World Series of Bowling events, including a major, but that he was competing in his home house of University Lanes in Tampa, Fla., tempers that feat somewhat. The next two tournaments — the USBC Masters and U.S. Open in early April — will be more telling.