PBA veterans attempt to climb Masters stepladder
Two 12-time PBA Tour champions will try to deny two higher seeds their first titles today in the finals of the U.S. Bowling Congress Masters at Cashman Center.
Danny Wiseman, a Baltimore resident who won the 2004 Masters, will bowl 2005-06 PBA Player of the Year Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C., at 10 a.m. to open the championship round on ESPN (Cable 30).
The winner will face Steve Harman of Camby, Ind. The 34-year-old will be making his first singles TV appearance in his second season on the tour.
Jones, 30, has won two tour majors and is seeking his first title of the season in the stepladder format that features all right-handers.
John Nolen, 29, of Waterford, Mich., will bowl in the championship match, seeking $60,000 and a two-year Tour exemption. He led Masters qualifying and was 6-0 in match-play competition.
"To lead wire to wire is amazing, and I just hope I can finish the job," said Nolen, who averaged 230.39 for 33 games. "I'm not competing out here every week just to make the show and go home."
At 40, Wiseman is the veteran of the group. After winning the 2004 Masters, he suffered an ankle injury in a car accident but is fully recovered.
"It's been a tough couple of years, and some things just haven't felt the same, but I've dealt with injuries before," said Wiseman, who will make his first TV appearance of the season.
Wiseman finished seventh last month in the Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Resort, and made the top 64 of the Masters by one pin when the field was cut Thursday.
"It's been a tough week, but I'm elated," he said.
• NOTE -- Admission is $10 for limited seating that must be filled by 9 a.m. Parking at Cashman Center is $3.
Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247. For more on the Masters, go to lvrj.com/bowling.
