Eagle River bowler wins pro tourney

Mohr endured a couple marathon days of bowling to win the PBA's Senior Dick Weber Open, a victory he secured Wednesday night by beating a Hall of Fame bowler in the final match in Lansing, Mich.

Mohr defeated Tom Baker of King, N.C., to become the senior tour's only three-time winner this season.

With one tournament remaining, he ranks No. 1 in points, No. 1 in scoring average and No. 2 in total earnings, plus he's made it to the championship round in five out of 10 tournaments this season, three more times than anyone else.

Given all that, Mohr likes his chances of nailing down Player of the Year honors as he heads into next week's PBA Senior World Championship in Allen Park, Mich.

"Right now I feel really good. I would have to think that even a reasonable performance next week (will seal it)," Mohr said in a phone interview Wednesday. "There is no expectation that I would have to win. If I just go in and make the first cut, get a decent (paycheck), I would like my chances. Right now it's impossible for anyone else to win three times."

The award doesn't come with a big check or a gleaming trophy, but for a guy who didn't bowl professionally until he retired as an air traffic controller and joined the senior tour at the start of 2008 season, that doesn't matter.

"It's nothing other than recognition that of all the players out there this year, you had the best year," Mohr said. "That's good enough for me.

"... I'm bowling against guys I watched on TV for years, the guys I always recognized as being the best in the world. A retired air traffic controller from Anchorage, they just don't really expect you to come out and have this kind of year."

Mohr proved Wednesday that he belongs with the best.

He bowled 16 games in match play early in the day and was one of five men to advance to the stepladder finals. Because he was ranked fourth among qualifiers, he had to win four stepladder matches to earn the $8,000 first-place prize.

Mohr beat Harry Sullins 216-171 in the first match, topped Rick Minier 223-196 in the second, edged Mark Williams 196-186 in the third and defeated Baker 232-175 in the final. Each is a bowler Mohr has admired.

"Tom Baker and Mark Williams are Hall of Famers," Mohr said. "Rick Minier's an ex-PBA bowler. Harry Sullins holds the record for most consecutive PBA tournaments bowled.

"Probably 30 to 40 percent of the field each week are players who have advanced to the senior tour from the regular tour."

Not Mohr.

Though he represented the United States at several international competitions over the years, he never tried his luck on the PBA, opting for the security of a regular paycheck as an air traffic controller.

He retired in January 2008 to join the senior tour, and one year later he's contending for Player of the Year honors.

"I have the best of both worlds," he said. "When I'm back in Anchorage, I work for the contractor who trains the new (air traffic controllers)."

Mohr has earned $38,750 this season, which began in April and ends next week. Wayne Webb of Sacramento, who finished eighth this week in Lansing, leads money-winners with $39,400.

Mohr worked hard for his most recent winnings, bowling 52 games in four days, including 20 on Wednesday. He said his highest single-game score was somewhere around 257.

"There wasn't any single game to brag about. It was just remaining competitive on challenging lane conditions in a loaded field."

Mohr's wife Linda was on hand to help celebrate the big win, although after bowling 20 high-pressure games earlier in the day, Mohr didn't celebrate too long or too hard.

"I'm just completely spent," he said. "We're at the restaurant right now, I just finished my margarita and we'll walk back to the hotel and I'll just crash."

Find Beth Bragg online at adn.com/contact/bbragg or call 257-4309.