Mark Roth

Mark Roth was back in the game Oct. 5 after winning his 37th career title by defeating Dale Eagle 237-234 in the title match of the Generations Bowling Tour Bay City (Mich.) Open.

The Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer earned $13,500 for the victory at Bay Lanes. Eagle cashed for $8,800.

In the final match between the two division champions, Classic division (ages 50-59) winner Roth started with five strikes to open up an early lead. Legends division (60 and over) titlist Eagle came back to within 14 pins, but a 7-10 split in the eighth frame stopped his momentum. Eagle finished with four strikes forcing Roth to mark in the 10th. Roth left a 10 pin, spared, and then got an eight count good for the three pin victory.

"Winning this first GBT event means a lot to me, Roth said. "Believe me, just being out here with the guys I've bowled with for 30 years means a lot. I want to thank Steve Sanders for giving us this new tour and thanks to Richie Sposato at Lane 1 for believing in me."

In spite of an injured finger, Roth averaged 241 in the stepladder finals. Now he has three days to rest the injury before starting a new GBT event in Clinton Township, Mich.

"I got three days to live in the glory," Roth said. "Then, it's back to work."

"The lanes changed a little at the end," said Eagle. "I got a bad break on the 7-10, but Mark just bowled better. It's as simple as that."

In the matches to determine the two division winners, Roth beat top seed David Ozio 255-235. The opening matches of the finals saw Roth over Mark Weller 226-192. In the Legends division, Roy Buckley defeated Gary Dickinson 227-212, and Larry Hoffman 226-222. Eagle then defeated Buckley 226-224. The Detroit GBT Open at Imperial Lanes in Clinton Township runs Oct. 7-11. For more information about the tour, visit gbtour.com or call (888) GBT-BOWL.

GBT Bay City Open
Bay Lanes, Bay City, Mich.
Stepladder Finals

Championship Match - Mark Roth, Fulton, N.Y. ($13,500) def. Dale Eagle, Kingsport, Tenn. ($8,800), 237-234.

Classic Division
Roth def. Mark Weller, Jonesville, Mich. ($1,600), 226-167; Roth def. Dennis Psaropoulos, Lake Worth, Fla. ($2,000), 258-192; Roth def. David Ozio, Beaumont, Texas ($4,000), 255-235

Legends Division
Roy Buckley, Westerville, Ohio, def. Gary Dickinson, Edmond, Okla. ($1,400), 227-212; Buckley def. Larry Hoffman, Fountain Hills, Ariz. ($2,000), 226-222; Dale Eagle def. Buckley ($4,000), 226-224