Kettering native wins PBA60 title
It was a long time coming for Bill Peters.
Peters had his first PBA card from 1983-87 and has carried one for the past decade — since he turned 50. The 60-yearold has been close a few times but, now, he is a PBA champion. Peters won the PBA60 Kingsport Super Senior South Open in Tennessee last week.
“I’ve had a bunch of thirds but never got across the finish line,” he said. “This is a relief. Now the guys can stop making fun of me.”
Peters started strong as he was in fourth place after the first eight games of qualifying, easily advancing when the field was cut to the top third. The Kettering bowler jumped to the top of the standings in the four-game cashers round as the field was cut to the top eight bowlers. Peters stayed put in first place during the next four-game block, earning the top seed for the stepladder finals.
“You definitely want to be the leader — especially at my age — then you only have to bowl one game,” Peters said, smiling.
That one game was all he needed as Peters topped Sammy Ventura 259-181 to capture his first PBA championship.
While the win was definitely welcome, Peters was also pleased with his painfree play.
“I’ve been battling wrist pain for more than 20 years,” he said. “With ice, exercise and kinesiology tape, I have no wrist pain now.
“I’m stronger than I’ve ever been — as far as bowling.”
Peters bowls in just one league a week but spends plenty of time on the lanes, practicing and competing in tournaments.
“I like averaging 230 and bowling 300s like anyone else, but I need more of a challenge than league bowling,” he said.
Peters long ago lost track of his 300 games, but they likely number more than 80. He tallied three last season alone.
While he is happy to finally have a coveted PBA title, Peters hopes his relative youth — as a 60-yearold in the PBA60 ranks — might be an edge in upcoming tournaments.
“I’ve got two or three years to be the young guy,” he said.
Peters wasn’t the only local bowler to find the pocket at Warpath Lanes in Kingsport as Brookville bowler Ron Profitt placed fifth, just missing the stepladder finals and finishing the tournament with a 234 average.