Carlson Wins Stunner At PBA50 Jax 60 Classic
Carlson Wins Stunner At PBA50 Jax 60 Classic
In a stunning finish, Joel Carlson took advantage of a critical mistake by Brian Kretzer in the final frame Friday night to win the PBA50 Jax 60 Classic.
In a stunning finish, Joel Carlson took advantage of a critical mistake by Brian Kretzer in the final frame Friday night to win the PBA50 Dave Small’s Jax 60 Classic.
Carlson buried three strikes in the 10th frame for an improbable come-from-behind 259-255 victory in Jackson, Michigan, to win his second title of the season.
Finishing the match first, Kretzer needed just a mark to secure the title but went high and left a 3-6-10 combination. With the six pin slightly off spot to the left, Kretzer hit the 3-6 but the 10 didn’t go down for an open frame.
Watch: PBA50 Jax 60 Classic Stepladder Finals
Carlson took full advantage of the opportunity and delivered three perfect strikes in the final frame to lock up the title.
“That’s one thing I’ve learned and that is never give up,” Carlson said in a PBA release. “Once he got the strike in the ninth, I thought it was over and even in the 10th I fully expected him to make that spare. But when something happens and you get the opportunity you have to take it and prove you can win.”
Carlson, 57, won his first career PBA50 title earlier this season at the Hamilton Lanes Open and has now upped his career total to two titles. His first title featured a 279-279 tie with Ron Mohr, which Carlson won in a rolloff.
“It was unbelievable to win the first one and just as remarkable to win the second one,” Carlson said. “I’ve always felt I could win out here and I have the confidence. I don’t know if there’s anything like a normal way to win a match but it seems like every match I’ve bowled (in a stepladder) has had more than its share of excitement.”
As the fourth seed, Carlson bowled all four matches in the stepladder finals to claim the victory. He defeated Mohr, 236-213, in the opening match and then knocked off Doug Kent by the same score in the second match. In the semifinal, Carlson took down Charlie Tapp, 216-175.
The event was the final stop for PBA50 Tour bowlers this season and Eugene McCune’s 10th-place finish helped him lock up PBA50 Rookie of the Year honors. Walter Ray Williams Jr. secured the PBA50 Player of the Year award at last week’s event.