July 4, 2021 Jerry Schneider

ODESSA, Texas – After taking top-qualifier honors Sunday for the PBA50 Odessa Open presented by Diamond Lanes, Amleto Monacelli compiled a 5-3 record and averaged 227 in the first round of match play to retain his lead heading into Monday’s final eight-game match play round.

The 59-year-old Monacelli, who finished with a 5,474 23-game pinfall, including 30 bonus pins for each match win, was able to hold off a late charge by No. 2 qualifier Floridian Dan Knowlton who was able to retain his position in second 48 pins behind Monacelli.

Monacelli had a strong start in match play with games of 245, 237, 279, 243, 193, and 248, but found the going a little more challenging later in the round finishing with games of 163 and 213.

“It was a long day when you bowl 13 games but everything was good and I accomplished what I wanted to do,” said Monacelli, who is trying for a 10th career PBA50 Tour title. “At the end of match play the conditions were a little tricky so I had to change to a ball that had a more predictable smooth roll farther down the lane.”

Trying for his first PBA50 Tour title, Knowlton, who averaged 228 in the first round of match play, finished with a 5,426 pinfall and a 5-2-1 match play record.

Rounding out the top five heading into Monday's final round were Brad Angelo, 7-1, 5,337; Warren Eales, 4-4, 5,225, and Mike Bailey, 5-3, 5,220.

The 16-player match field will return for the final round Monday at Noon Central which will determine the top five players for the stepladder finals at 6:30 p.m.

PBA50 Odessa Open Standings

(23-game pinfall totals. Includes match play record and total pinfall including 30 bonus pins for each match win and 15 for a tie. Field returns Monday for final 8-game match play round to determine five players for stepladder finals)

  1. Amleto Monacelli, 5-3, 5,474
  2. Dan Knowlton, 5-2-1, 5,426
  3. Brad Angelo, 7-1, 5,337
  4. Warren Eales, 4-4, 5,225
  5. Mike Bailey, 5-3, 5,220
  6. Rolando Sebelen, 4-4, 5,195
  7. Chris Barnes, 3-4-1, 5,119
  8. John Marsala, 5-3, 5,094
  9. Chris Warren, 4-4, 5,076
  10. Tony Lanning, 3-5, 5,068
  11. Bob Learn Jr., 5-3, 5,056
  12. Mitch Beasley, 3-5, 4,956
  13. Lennie Boresch Jr., 2-6, 4,950
  14. Paul McCordic, 3-5, 4,910
  15. Michael Haggitt, 3-5, 4,854
  16. Tommy Martin, 2-6, 4,852

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