Rash wins first career major at USBC Masters

Rash wins first career major at USBC Masters

Sean Rash remained unbeaten on television in his Denny's Professional Bowlers Association Tour career, defeating Steve Jaros of Yorkville, IL, 269-245, in the title match of the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Masters on Sunday, October 28 at Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers.

"You have to take advantage of opportunities on television and that's something I've been very good at doing," said Rash, who won his fourth career title and is now 7-0 on TV. "I had a Brooklyn in the third frame for a strike and took advantage of it. If you don't capitalize on those things, it's a lot harder to win."

Rash got off to a shaky start on the right lane in the championship match, leaving a 4-pin before tossing a Brooklyn, or crossover strike, on his next shot on that lane. In the fifth frame, he went high and left a 6-pin before striking out to lock up the title.

Jaros started the final match with spares on three of his first four shots and trailed by ten pins after five frames, a deficit that proved too much to overcome.

"My first victory still means the most to me, but this is just as important because it's a major," said Rash. "I will never forget my first title but bowling in a Major League Baseball park is amazing. I grew up playing baseball and always dreamed of one day hitting a home run in front of 40,000 people."

Jaros reached the championship match from the No. 4 seed, knocking out two players by shooting huge games to have the opportunity to bowl for the title.

In the opening match, Jaros started with six consecutive strikes before leaving a wobbling 7-pin in a, 279-254, victory over Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, FL. Next, Jaros overwhelmed Patrick Allen of Wesley Chapel, FL, 290-233. Jaros started by leaving a weak 10-pin and then threw 11 straight strikes.

Overall, Jaros shot 814 for three games on television and his first two games totaled 569, just one pin shy of the record for consecutive games on TV.

The 2007 USBC Masters featured 486 of the best professional and amateur bowlers in the world. A major on the Denny's PBA Tour, bowlers competed for a prize fund of more than $350,000.

For complete coverage of the Masters, visit bowl.com.