by Jerry Schneider

For the first time since the second round, the Suncoast PBA Senior U.S. Open presented by Dexter has a new leader.

PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke compiled a 14-2 record over the first two match play rounds which helped him move ahead of fellow Hall of Famer Pete Weber who led the tournament since second round qualifying.

The PBA50 match play record for 24 games is 21-3 set by the late Barry Gurney in 1996. Duke will have to go undefeated in this afternoon’s round at the Suncoast Bowling Center to set a new mark.

With one more eight-game match play round remaining to determine the top four for this afternoon’s stepladder finals, Duke leads with a 9,950 pinfall total 135 pins ahead of Weber with 9,815. Weber has a 9-7 match play record after two rounds.

The top six positions heading into the final round are made up of Hall of Famers.

Two-time defending PBA50 Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr., a seven-time PBA50 Tour winner who has finished second in the Senior U.S. Open twice, posted a 10-5-1 match play record and finished the round third with 9,540.

Holding down the fourth spot is Brian Voss, whose best Senior U.S. Open was second in 2009. He has a 10-6 match play record for two rounds and a 9,446 pinfall.

The two Senior U.S. Open two-time champions hoping to become the tournament’s first three-time winner, Amleto Monacelli and Tom Baker, are in fifth and sixth respectively. Monacelli, the 2012 and 2013 winner, has a 9,365 pinfall and Baker, the 2005 and 2006 champion, is just six pins behind with 9,359.

The four-player stepladder finals are scheduled for 4 p.m. PT.