Scott Norton wins second PBA Chameleon Championship in three years
11/12/12
Attorney Scott Norton (pictured left) of Costa Mesa, Calif., defeated defending champion Jason Belmonte (right) of Australia, 227-223, to win his second career PBA title and the $20,000 top prize in the PBA Chameleon Championship Sunday at South Point in Las Vegas.
The Chameleon Championship was the third "animal pattern" event of the fourth GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling.
Norton, who won his first career PBA title in the 2010 Chameleon Championship, was down by 20 pins heading into the last two frames. The 30-year-old son of USBC and PWBA Hall of Famer Virginia Norton struck on his last four shots to force Belmonte to strike on his first ball in the 10th frame to defend his title.
Belmonte, who won three of his five PBA titles in last year's WSOB, left a 10-pin standing, which sealed his fate. The Aussie still has a chance to win his sixth and seventh career title as he is the No. 2 seed in the PBA Scorpion Championship and the top seed in the PBA World Championships finals.
In the opening match of the four-player stepladder finals, Norton threw a four-bagger in frames 7 to 10 to eliminate Fawaz Abdulla (left), the first player from Bahrain ever to qualify for a PBA television final, 225-194.
Standing between Norton and the final was all-time PBA title leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. (right) of Ocala, Fla., who was looking for his record 48th PBA title. Williams, who earned his first Senior Player of the Year crown earlier this year, never missed the pocket but couldn't carry and left seven single pins standing. Norton threw two four-baggers to put the match away, 236-195.
Belmonte earned $10,000 for second place. Williams took $7,000 for third place and Abdulla garnered $5,000 for fourth place.
The ESPN stepladder final which was conducted on Sunday, Nov. 11, in the special arena setting in South Point’s Exhibition Hall area will air on Sunday, Dec. 30.
Jason Belmonte one win away from title defense in PBA Chameleon Championship
Ageless Walter Ray Williams Jr. leads PBA Chameleon Championship qualifying
2012-13 PBA Tour Schedule & Champions
South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev., United States (Nov. 5, 2012); ESPN finals in South Point Exhibition Hall (Nov. 11, 2012)
Championship Round:
1. Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 688 (3 games), $20,000
2. Jason Belmonte, Australia, 223 (1 game), $10,000
3. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 195 (1 game), $7,000
4. Fawaz Abdulla, Bahrain, 194 (1 game), $5,000
Playoff Results:
First Match: No. 3 Norton def. No. 4 Abdulla, 225-194
Second Match: Norton def. No. 2 Williams, 236-195
Championship: Norton def. No. 1 Belmonte, 227-223.
2012-13 PBA Tour #3
California attorney defeats three opponents including defending champion Jason Belmonte to win his second career PBA title
Attorney Scott Norton (pictured left) of Costa Mesa, Calif., defeated defending champion Jason Belmonte (right) of Australia, 227-223, to win his second career PBA title and the $20,000 top prize in the PBA Chameleon Championship Sunday at South Point in Las Vegas. The Chameleon Championship was the third "animal pattern" event of the fourth GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling.
Norton, who won his first career PBA title in the 2010 Chameleon Championship, was down by 20 pins heading into the last two frames. The 30-year-old son of USBC and PWBA Hall of Famer Virginia Norton struck on his last four shots to force Belmonte to strike on his first ball in the 10th frame to defend his title.
Belmonte, who won three of his five PBA titles in last year's WSOB, left a 10-pin standing, which sealed his fate. The Aussie still has a chance to win his sixth and seventh career title as he is the No. 2 seed in the PBA Scorpion Championship and the top seed in the PBA World Championships finals.
In the opening match of the four-player stepladder finals, Norton threw a four-bagger in frames 7 to 10 to eliminate Fawaz Abdulla (left), the first player from Bahrain ever to qualify for a PBA television final, 225-194. Standing between Norton and the final was all-time PBA title leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. (right) of Ocala, Fla., who was looking for his record 48th PBA title. Williams, who earned his first Senior Player of the Year crown earlier this year, never missed the pocket but couldn't carry and left seven single pins standing. Norton threw two four-baggers to put the match away, 236-195.
Belmonte earned $10,000 for second place. Williams took $7,000 for third place and Abdulla garnered $5,000 for fourth place.
The ESPN stepladder final which was conducted on Sunday, Nov. 11, in the special arena setting in South Point’s Exhibition Hall area will air on Sunday, Dec. 30.
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2012-13 PBA Tour Schedule & Champions
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PBA Chameleon Championship
South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nev., United States (Nov. 5, 2012); ESPN finals in South Point Exhibition Hall (Nov. 11, 2012)
Championship Round:1. Scott Norton, Costa Mesa, Calif., 688 (3 games), $20,000
2. Jason Belmonte, Australia, 223 (1 game), $10,000
3. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 195 (1 game), $7,000
4. Fawaz Abdulla, Bahrain, 194 (1 game), $5,000
Playoff Results:
First Match: No. 3 Norton def. No. 4 Abdulla, 225-194
Second Match: Norton def. No. 2 Williams, 236-195
Championship: Norton def. No. 1 Belmonte, 227-223.
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