Bowling Digest: After three decades, Mazzanti Jr. is a PBA champion

Vince Mazzanti Jr. ended a 30-year chase when he won his first title in a PBA event in the Senior Lake County Horseshoe Casino Open. "I've been waiting for this for a long time," Mazzanti said. 'I had a good chance last year, but it wasn't enough--this is a dream."

Mazzanti, a PBA member since 1973, beat Charlie Tapp, 2-0, to take the $8,000 first-place check. He won the first game, 222-215, and nearly rolled a perfect game in the second, winning 287-254. "I lost track of the 300," he said. "I knew 280 was better than he could do and all I could think about was that I had just won a title."

Tapp struggled in the first game and in the second game was outplayed by Mazzanti. "He started with the front 10," Tapp said. "There was just nothing I could do to catch him."

Mazzanti came close to victory last season when he finished second in the PBA Senior Jackson Open. His second-highest finish of the 2002 season was at Olympia Lanes when he took seventh place. His season performance earned him Rookie of the Year honors.

Lake County Horseshoe Casino Open

August 20, 2003
Olympia Lanes, Hammond, Ind.

Name                Avg./Games   Earnings

1. Vince Mazzanti   246/4        $8,000
2. Charlie Tapp     240.8/4       4,500
3. James Brenner    233/2         3,000
4. Bill Henson      204/2         3,000

Championship Finals

Semifinal   Mazzanti def. Brenner   2-0
Semifinal   Tapp def. Henson        2-0

Final       Mazzanti def. Tapp      2-0