Rookie senior bowler Burkett in second
Bowler John Burkett (green shirt) at the South Point Bowling Center during a tournament in 2014. (Courtesy Bill Vint/Professional Bowlers Association)
Former major league pitcher John Burkett is in second place behind Jack Jurek after first-round qualifying Monday in the PBA Senior U.S. Open at Suncoast Bowling Center.
Jurek sits atop the standings after averaging a six-game total of 1,402 on Monday for a 233 average.
Burkett, who pitched for 16 years with the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves and was a two-time all star,. was just 25 pins behind at 1,377.
Burkett is a rookie on the PBA50 Tour.
Rob Rice (1,355), Randy Peterson (1,353) and Henderson’s Eric Forkel (1,350) rounded out the top five. All 206 players will bowl six more qualifying games today and Wednesday before the field is cut to 48 players for match play on Thursday.
