Bellinger is brilliant in his first-time title win: PBA Senior: St. Petersburg/Clearwater Open

Jeff Bellinger of Columbia, S.C., helped keep an extraordinary effort by the Senior rookie class of 2004 alive when he became the fourth first-time Senior tour winner of the season, downing Gary Hiday, 2-1, in the championship round of the PBA Senior St. Petersburg/Clearwater Open at Seminole Lanes in Seminole, Fla. on August 11.

Bellinger, who went 13-3 in match play, downed Hiday in the first game of their championship match, 229-182. Both bowlers battled stubbornly through open frames in the second game, with Bellinger eventually taking control of the match, pushing through for a 196-158 triumph and taking home the first-place prize of $8,000.

"From pair to pair, I had to adjust out there. You had to play on pairs based on who you're bowling and what type of scores you need," said Bellinger, who had led qualifying earlier in the week. "I used four different balls today. There was really no definitive place to play from--it changed every round."

Bellinger advanced to the final round of the tournament by virtue of his 2-1 win over Don Patterson, who hails from Knoxville, Tenn., in the Round of 4.

Hiday, who earned $4,500 for his second-place finish, toppled eight-time PBA Senior tour titlist Dale Eagle, of Tavares, Fla., 2-1, to advance to the championship.

In the round of 16, Bellinger downed two-time Senior tour titlist George Pappas, 3-2. The victory was special for Bellinger, who was frank in expressing his admiration for the Senior stalwart Pappas.

"To me, George is the quintessential bowler," Bellinger said. "He wouldn't want to lose even a nickel to you, and you know he does everything to try and beat you."

Bellinger, who works for a company that maintains, installs, and refurbishes ATMs, has bowled in 10 Senior tour events and has advanced to match play each time.

"Unfortunately for me, I usually get all my pins when the lanes open up," Bellinger said. "When they do that, that is my best shot--I can put the ball through the front part of the lane and rev it up.

"That's my game. Here, there's fresh oil after every match play round, and that's not my game. I was working very hard each and every match to figure out what I can do best."

St. Petersburg/Clearwater Open

August 11, 2004
Seminole Lanes, Seminole, Fla.

Name                Avg./Games     Earnings

1. Jeff Bellinger   211.6/5/1        $8,000
2. Gary Hiday         204/5           4,500
3. Dale Eagle        215.3/3          3,500
4. Don Patterson     192.7/3          3,500

Championship Finals

Round 1        Hiday def. Eagle        2-1
Round 2    Bellinger def. Patterson    2-1
Final           Bellinper def.         2-0