by Jerry Schneider

PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke of Clermont, Fla., won the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Dexter Friday to become the first player to win a U.S. Open title on both the PBA and PBA50 Tours.

The 50-year-old Duke who is competing as a rookie on the PBA50 Tour this season, defeated fellow Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., 214-174, in the championship match at the Suncoast Bowling Center. It was Duke’s first major and second title of the season winning the UnitedHealthcare Sun Bowl In The Villages in April.

“Every U.S. Open is a fight the whole way and this was no different,” said Duke, who won the PBA Tour U.S. Open in 2008 and 2011. “I’m so physically and mentally drained right now that I’m having trouble recalling what just happened.”

Over their careers spanning more than three decades, both Duke and Weber have won 37 PBA Tour titles which ranks third on the all-time list. Weber was trying for his third PBA50 Tour title and first of the season. In winning PBA50 Rookie of the Year honors in 2013, Weber won two titles including the United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters.

“Whenever you beat Pete it’s something very special because you’re beating the best,” said Duke. “I knew that title match was going to be a struggle until the end — he just struggled a little more than I did.”

After both players threw nine-spare in the first frame of the championship match, Weber left the 4-6-7-9-10 split in the second frame which he failed to convert and never recovered after that. Meanwhile, Duke was able to avoid open frames and strung three consecutive strikes in the eighth, ninth and 10th frames to secure the win.

“I was trying to throw the ball as straight as possible to take away the splits,” Duke said. “I was satisfied with 9-spare and was just happy to get a few strikes along the way.”

The stepladder final began with a match between Hall of Famers Brian Voss of Alpharetta, Ga., and two-time defending Senior U.S. Open champion Amleto Monacelli of Venezuela. Voss, who finished second in the 2009 Senior U.S. Open, defeated the 52-year-old Monacelli who was trying to become the tournament’s first three-time winner, 263-194. Monacelli, a 19-time PBA Tour winner was trying for his fourth PBA50 Tour title and second of the season.

The 55-year-old Voss, who won 25 PBA Tour titles, advanced to the semifinal against Weber but lost his shot, losing the match 193-158.

The 51-year-old Weber, also trying to become the first to win U.S. Opens on both tours, has won the PBA Tour U.S. Open a record five times, most recently in 2012 where he gained nationwide attention for his “Who do you think you are? I am.” victory proclamation.

The PBA50 Tour moves across town to Las Vegas’ South Point Bowling Center for the United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters June 8-13.

SUNCOAST PBA SENIOR U.S. OPEN PRESENTED BY DEXTER

Friday’s Final Results At Suncoast Bowling Center Las Vegas

Final Standings: 1, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., $12,000. 2, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., $6,000. 3, Brian Voss, Alpharetta, Ga., $5,000. 4, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, $4,000.

Playoff Results: Match One – Voss def. Monacelli, 263-194. Semifinal – Weber def. Voss, 193-158. Championship match – Duke def. Weber, 214-174.