Mohr climbs ladder for Senior crown

Ron Mohr one-upped himself at the PBA Senior U.S. Open on Friday, and it earned him his first major professional bowling title.

One year after finishing second at the Suncoast Bowling Center, Mohr successfully climbed the stepladder finals of the PBA Senior Tour's most demanding event, beating Hall of Famer and top qualifier Walter Ray Williams Jr. 246-189 in the championship match.

It was the fifth career senior title for Mohr, of Eagle River, Alaska, who entered the stepladder finals as the fourth qualifier.

It was a victory Mohr dedicated to his wife, Linda, who died in January as the result of complications from surgery in 2010. Mohr had returned home to Alaska after finishing as runner-up to Mark Williams at last year's Senior Open to care for his ailing wife.

"She was my guardian angel and she was with me today," said Mohr, 55. "Both the support back home and out here on tour has been unbelievable."

In the opening stepladder match, Mohr defeated reigning Senior Player of the Year and PBA Hall of Famer Wayne Webb 265-258, thanks in large part to converting a 4-10 split in the sixth frame. Webb, who finished fourth, was trying to become the tournament's first three-time winner.

In the semifinal, Mohr defeated Harry Sullins in a back-and-forth 220-211 match. Sullins, trying for his third Senior Tour title to go along with his five PBA Tour wins, finished third.

The tournament win was especially satisfying for Mohr, who had to come from 67th place after the first round of qualifying Monday.

"It's probably one of the biggest moves I've ever had to make in a tournament," Mohr said. "I was concerned at that point but not overly worried. There was a lot of bowling left, and I wasn't that far out of the first cut (to 56 players)."

The Senior U.S. Open format is one of the most demanding in the sport. To get to the championship round, a bowler must get through four qualifying rounds and three match play rounds for a total of 51 games.