2017-18

Gibbons Wins Dramatically in Debut

It came down to a roll-off to decide the 2017-18 Senior Masters Titlist.

This year, the tournament was hosted by Village Lanes on Sunday, November 12, and conducted on the tournament house condition. Scoring was moderate with the field of 20 averaging about 207.3 for qualifying, though the scores did wane after game four. The cut to cash was +27, +37, +59, +78, +78, and ultimately +70. The cut to make the top four stepladder was +49, +73, +82, +128, +158, and finally +172.

There was one honor score on the day, a 800 series by Marc McDowell across his first three games of qualifying. Mac rolled 278, 257, and 279 for an 814.

McDowell led qualifying after one (he would lead all rounds), with his 278 followed by Terry Dunn (254), Dan Seppa (254), and Rick Erce (249).

Erce and Seppa were tied after two at +86, with McDowell still leading at +135. Brad Miller fired a 257 game to go to +73 and fourth place.

Chris Gibbons made his appearance in the top for after a 279 game put him at +79 and in third place. Erce was second at +121, with McDowell still leading after completion of his 814 supernational. Seppa rounded out the top four at +82.

After four games, McDowell was +242 and nearly 100 pins ahead of the field. Gibbons moved up to second at +146 and Erce to third just one pin behind. Herb Kimpel tossed an unusual 261 game and took over fourth place at +128.

After five, McDowell at +252 was still in command. Erce, +171, and Gibbons, +168 switch 2nd and 3rd places, and the inaugural Senior Masters winner Scott LaCoursiere moved into the top four at +158.

In the final game, McDowell was +276. Gibbons and Erce switched seats again, with Gibbons taking the second stepladder seed at +214 following a 246 final game. Erce shot 215 and qualified third at +186. LaCoursiere held onto the final spot at +172.

Rick Erce
Scott LaCoursiere

The first stepladder match featured the #4 qualifier Scott LaCoursiere versus #3 defending champion Rick Erce. Erce rolled the first five strikes to LaCoursiere’s three out of five and the match was close. While LaCoursiere split in the sixth, Erce spared – in what would be his only non-strike frame. Erce advanced, 279-192.

Rick Erce
Chris Gibbons

IN the semi-final, Erce didn’t have quite the same look and never got on track, rolling only three strikes en route to a 181 game. Gibbons shot 221 to take the match and advance to the final.

Chris Gibbons
Marc McDowell

Gibbons looked to salt away the tournament in the title match, striking in five of the six first frames – while McDowell did not strike once. Complicating matters for McDowell, was the frustration of leaving back to back pocket 7-10 splits in the fourth and fifth frames. In the seventh, Gibbons split and opened the door to at least a possibility of a comeback for McDowell. Indeed, Gibbons would only strike once again, finishing with a 212. McDowell went off the sheet for 212 – forcing a roll-off.

McDowell spared the first frame of the tie-breaker. Gibbons answered with a spare, then added a strike/spare for 40 pins. Forced to match, and double to win, McDowell stepped up in his 10th frame and left … another pocket 7-10. Gibbons won the roll-off 40-27 and earned the Senior Masters Title.

Prize List

Prize
1Gibbons, Chris$290.00
2McDowell, Marc$180.00
3Erce, Rick$150.00
4LaCoursiere, Scott$125.00
5Kimpel, Herb$110.00
6Truehl, Rollie$75.00
7Richardson, Bob$70.00

Stepladder Finals

Match 1: #3 Erce def. #4 LaCoursiere 279-192
Match 2: #2 Gibbons def. #2 Kimpel 258-224
Match 3: #2 Gibbons def. #4 Thompson 227-197

Qualifying

123456Total
1.McDowell, Marc2782572792282102241476
2.Gibbons, Chris2202132792342222461414
3.Erce, Rick2492372352242262151386
4.LaCoursiere, Scott2132362182582332141372
5.Kimpel, Herb1872222582612122041344
6.Truehl, Rollie2101972242681882211308
7.Richardson, Bob1772142102471952271270
8.Dunn, Terry2541742312192001881266
9.Barsness, Jeff2162211302062552361264
10.Seppa, Dan2542321961931782031256
11.Miller, Brad2162571751881992061241
12.Whitcomb, Jon1971762472152022011238
13.Smyth, Tom2331832132012041901224
14.Winn, Andy2272201592152071861214
15.Lockman, Dan1832251961732341641175
16.Thompson, Kevin2371722071981821711167
17.Chlebowski, Dale1581552361811662271123
18.Dennis, Bill1841911991541911791098
19.Roedner, Rob2061661791761361681031
20.Holzbauer, Bob1591551522011691741010