by Jerry Schneider

Bill McCorkle of Westerville, Ohio, won the biggest tournament of his professional career Sunday by defeating PBA Hall of Famer and eight-time PBA50 Tour winner Johnny Petraglia in the championship match of the PBA50 Dick Weber Super Senior Classic presented by Storm.

In the inaugural event for PBA50 Tour players ages 60 and over, McCorkle defeated the top-seeded Petraglia 244-173 at Pro Bowl West in Fort Wayne to record his first PBA50 Tour title.

McCorkle got off to the early lead stringing the first five strikes while Petraglia struggled missing the 2-4-6-10 split in the first frame and the 1-3-6-7 washout in the fifth frame.

“I’ve been bowling in PBA competition for 40 years and never won at the national level so I’m a little overwhelmed,” said the 61-year-old McCorkle whose best previous PBA50 Tour finish was fifth. “I was fortunate to get off to a good start but then I had to remind myself to stay loose and continue to throw good shots.

“Toward the end of the match I started to get a little emotional but then I looked over at the Dick Weber trophy and thought what would Dick do, and at that moment I was able to get the inspiration I needed.”

McCorkle qualified second for the stepladder final thanks to a 11-1 record in match play.

“My goal was to make the top five,” McCorkle said. “I think I benefited from the tougher condition because it enabled me to throw harder which I like to do. The big games weren’t out there so there was a premium on making good shots.”

In the opening stepladder match one-time PBA50 Tour winner No. 4 seed Dave Patchen of Oregon, Ohio, defeated one-time PBA50 Tour winner No. 5 seed Mike Henry of Brunswick, Ohio, 258-190, and then went on to beat Don Blatchford of Santa Monica, Calif., 207-202, in the second match to eventually finish third. McCorkle defeated Patchen 212-195 in the semifinal to advance to the title match.

PBA50 Tour action continues Monday with the start of the PBA50 Pro Bowl West Fort Wayne Classic presented by Ebonite open to all PBA50 Tour players ages 50 and over. The first qualifying round will get underway at 10 a.m.

The Fort Wayne Classic can be seen on PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame. For subscription and schedule information click on the Xtra Frame logo on the pba.com homepage.

Sunday's Final Results At Pro Bowl West, Fort Wayne, Ind.

1, Bill McCorkle, Westerville, Ohio, $7,500. 2, Johnny Petraglia, Jackson, N.J., $4,000. 3, Dave Patchen, Oregon, Ohio, $2,500 4, Don Blatchford, Santa Monica, Calif., $2,000. 5, Mike Henry, Brunswick, Ohio, $1,700.

Match One – Patchen def. Henry, 258-190. Match Two – Patchen def. Blatchford – 207-202. Semifinal – McCorkle def. Patchen, 212-195. Championship match – McCorkle def. Petraglia, 244-173.