Sylvia becomes the first rookie to win a senior event in two years - PBA Senior: Manassas Open

Bowling Digest, Dec, 2003

Don Sylvia is the newest PBA Senior champion after beating Gary Hiday in two games in the PBA Senior Manassas Open. Sylvia eliminated Hiday, 224-179 and 203-182, to win his first PBA Senior title.

Sylvia was competing in only his sixth Senior tournament since turning 50 in November. The last player to win a title as a rookie was Mark Roth in 2001.

In the first match of the championship finals, Sylvia was in control until he opened in the 7th frame. Hiday, who only managed one strike in the first six frames, wasn't able to capitalize on Sylvia's misfortune and also left an open frame.

After leaving an open frame in the 1st stanza of the second game, Sylvia threw four consecutive strikes. He then left the dreaded 7-10 split in the 6th frame, and followed the split with a strike in the 7th. It was anyone's match until Hiday opened in the 9th, opening the door for Sylvia to capture the title. "Don bowled great throughout the tournament," Hiday said. "It would have been nice to get my first win, but I just wasn't getting the strikes." *

Manassas Open

August 5, 2003
Bowl America Manassas, Manassas, Va.

Name               Avg./Games   Earnings

1. Don Sylvia      207.5/5      $8,000
2. Gary J. Hiday   204.8/4       4,500
3. Robert Glass    179/2         3,000
4. George Pappas   202.5/2       3,000

Championships Finals

Semifinal   Sylvia def. Eagle   2-1
Semifinal   Hiday def. Pappas   2-0

Final       Sylvia def. Hiday   2-0