Bowlers Journal International - November 2008 - (Page 40) ProBowling Results, Schedules and More A Tale of 2 Pro Tour Veterans Enjoying Life as Senior Stars Baker bags his fourth consecutive Player of the Year award, while Webb wins ‘Rookie’ honors. BY BOB JOHNSON into match play in order to retain his exemption — not an easy task, considering he had finished no higher than 13th all season, and 243 other bowlers also were entered. That tale had a happy ending, however: Baker not only made it through match play, but won the tournament, pocketed $120,000 and gained a five-year exemption that runs through 2008-09. While Baker was on top of the world, Webb seemingly had hit bottom. Fast forward to 2008. Between PBA Tour seasons, Baker hits the PBA Senior Tour for the fourth time, with three Senior Player of the Year honors already on T he last time Wayne Webb was seen by many bowling fans was in the movie, “A League of Ordinary Gentlemen.” He was playing the role of a down-on-his-luck former bowling star, struggling to make ends meet by hosting karaoke sessions. Sadly, the role he was playing was himself. The year in which that (fortunately) limited-release movie came out, Tom Baker’s touring days also appeared to be coming to an end. Going into the season-ending World Championship, he needed to advance deep Wayne Webb has a much better self-image now than in 2004, when his career as a professional bowler was on the skids. his resumé. Joining him on the Senior circuit for the first time is a new fiftysomething: none other than Wayne Webb. The statistics show that both players enjoyed solid summers. Baker once again topped the point standings, came close to winning two Senior majors, and even though he didn’t win a title, was voted Senior Player of the Year for an unprecedented fourth time in a row. “To win it at all is great,” Baker said upon learning of of the honor, “but to win it four times is unbelievable.” And what about Webb? Well, all he did was win the Senior U.S. Open, and lead the Senior Tour in average (224.08) and earnings ($30,575). Had he not skipped three of the nine events, he probably would have supplanted Baker from the top of the point list, which likely would have tipped the Player of the Year voting in his favor. Instead, he had to settle for Senior Rookie of the Year honors — still not bad, considering how far his star had fallen. “Obvously, it’s a great honor,” said Webb. “Being on the Tour for 30 years, then quitting for three years, and then coming back on the Senior Tour and doing as well as I did I kind of re-sparked my life with bowling again.” Welcome back, Wayne. Tom Baker, who credits his longevity in pro bowling to his fitness regimen, once again was voted Senior Player of the Year. 40 Bowlers Journal International | November 2008 www.bowlersjournal.com http://www.bowlersjournal.com
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