.gif)
Eugene McCune defended his title at the Cheetah Open
(Photo courtesy PBA LLC)
McCune, who was the top qualifier for the stepladder finals, defeated PBA Hall of Famer and 35-time Tour titlist Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., 245-229, in the championship match for his third career win.
“Anytime I can play outside on the lane and throw it hard it plays in my favor,” said McCune who estimated he was throwing the ball at a little over 20 miles per hour. “It’s old school and that’s where I feel most comfortable.”
“When I bowl on this condition there’s a little pressure because I know I need to take advantage of it,” he added. “I was a little worried after the first two frames of the tournament when I had open frames but I went to a different ball and made a couple of other adjustments and got back on track.”
McCune was the first player to successfully defend a Tour title since Chris Barnes won back-to-back events in Columbus, Ohio, in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.
The landmark Cheetah Open was the first PBA Tour event streamed live exclusively on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel. Three more Xtra Frame events are scheduled during the remainder of the season.
“It was going to be a good match because he’s one of the best on this pattern and I match up real well in this house,” said Weber, who was trying for his 36th Tour title. “It was a good match for a while until I had a couple bad shots.”
On Sunday, Jan. 29, ESPN will air the finals of the Alka Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters live at 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT) from Sunset Station’s Strike Zone in Henderson, Nev. The second major championship of the 2011-12 PBA Tour season offers a $50,000 first prize along with a berth in the Round of 36 for the PBA Tournament of Champions. Tom Hess of Urbandale, Iowa, is defending champion.
PBA CHEETAH OPEN PRESENTED BY EBONITE
Fountain Bowl, Fountain Valley, Calif., Sunday
FINAL STANDINGS:
1, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., one game, 245 pins, $10,000.
2, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., three games, 714 pins, $5,000.
3, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., one game, 165 pins, $3,000.
4, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., one game, 226, $2,500.
PLAYOFF RESULTS:
Match One – Weber def. Duke, 237-226.
Semifinal match – Weber def. Blanchard, 248-165.
Championship match – McCune def. Weber, 245-229.
Broadway Sports Center
Jamestown Bowling Company
Rapids Bowling Center
Tonawanda Bowling Center
Transit Lanes
