HORNELL -- Rich Ferraro of Webster, who has enjoyed a measure of success as a non-exempt player on the Denny's PBA Tour this season, captured the first tourney victory of his young career Saturday by winning the second annual Tim Campbell Memorial Scratch Tournament at Maple City Bowl.
The 20-year-old left-hander defeated Bill Peterson of Chemung, 224-210, in the championship match to take home the $1,000 first prize. Peterson won $500.
The tournament attracted 62 entries; the top 16 made the cut and cashed.
“My game has been getting better every day,“ said Ferraro, who placed 17th for $2,200 in a PBA stop in Cheektowaga and also made the 64-bowler field in two other proferssional events. “The tour has helped me to understand transitioning; it helps with the little things.“
There was nothing little about Ferraro's scores Saturday as he averaged 251.8 for the five-game qualifying round and then added 196-277-228 in the second round to nail down the No. 1 spot for the step-ladder finals.
The pro shop managaer at Empire Lanes in Webster, Ferraro said he plans to bowl in “a lot“ of PBA Regional tournaments this summer.
Peterson, 35, beat Brian Chec of Wheatland, Pa., 257-218, to advance to the title match. Peterson moved up to the No. 2 slot by virtue of a 712 series in round two.
“This was only my third tournament all year,“ the right-hander said. “I might bowl some more now. I'll definitely be at Waverly (Valley Bowling Center) for the tournament there next week.“ He is a former champion on the Classic and Amateur Bowling Association tours.
Chec upended Dan Kinyon of Lockport, 236-176, after Kinyon opened the finals witha 220-205 victory over Pat Donaghue of Rochester. Donaghue rolled 279 in his eighth game to reach the finals.
Chec earned $300, Kinyon $230 and Donaghue $200.
Several sponsors from the Hornell area contributed an additional $1,000 to the prize fund, said Bill Scheiwer Sr., tournament director. The event (and a youth tournament scheduled for Sunday) is dedicated to the late Tim Campbell, a star bowler from Canisteo who died of leukemia in April 2006. A former PBA member, Campbell was 41.
Campbell's mother, Marjorie, who still lives in Canisteo, was on hand to congratulate Ferraro and all of the finalists.
Tournament results:
Qualifying (five games):
Rich Ferraro (Webster) 1259
Josh Weatherall (Lockport) 1220
Dan Kinyon (Lockport) 1210
Bill Peterson (Chemung) 1198
Mike Pettinella (Batavia) 1177
Russ Vallone (Rochester) 1172
Joe Lisi (Hornell) 1151
Brian Chec (Wheatland, Pa.) 1147
Pat Donaghue (Rochester) 1133
Dick Beyea (Shortsville) 1133
Bill Stoddard (Rochester) 1129
Rob Mayotte (Syracuse) 1123
Scott Culp (Honeoye Falls) 1120
Rich Luce (Brockport) 1091
Brian Cline (Depew) 1085
Steve Crandall (Andover) 1078
Kirk Adams (Friendsville, Pa.) 981 (senior spot).
Second round (three more games, top five advance):
Ferraro 1960
Peterson 1910
Chec 1859
Donaghue 1841
Kinyon 1840
Culp 1822 ($180)
Mayotte 1822 ($170)
Stoddard 1807 ($150)
Pettinella 1804 ($130)
Lisi 1788 ($115)
Vallone 1758 ($85)
Weatherall 1742 ($75)
Luce 1718 ($65)
Cline 1699 ($65)
Beyea 1692 ($65)
Crandall 1652 ($65)
Adams 1507 ($65).
Step-ladder finals:
Kinyon def. Donaghue, 220-205; Donaghue wins $200.
Chec def. Kinyon, 236-176; Kinyon wins $230.
Peterson def. Chec, 257-218; Chec wins $300.
Ferraro def. Peterson, 224-210; Peterson wins $500, Ferraro wins $1,000.