FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PBA Media Relations Professional Bowlers Association
Wesley Low Jr., at age 15, became the youngest bowler ever to win a PBA Regional title – breaking a 34-year-old record set by PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber in 1979 – when the two-handed competitor from Palmdale, Calif., defeated Deeronn Booker of Anaheim, Calif., 299-234, to win the PBA Non-Champion West tournament at South Point Bowling Center in Las Vegas on Friday, March 29.
Low, a member of Junior Team USA who was 29 days shy of his 16th birthday, lost his bid for a perfect game in the title match when he left an 8 pin on his final shot.
He does not get credit for a PBA title because he is not a member of the PBA, but his $1,500 in earnings will help build his USBC SMART scholarship fund. Weber won a PBA Midwest Regional title in St. Louis in 1979. Weber was a PBA member at that time, therefore earning credit for his title.
Low, who bowls with two hands from the left side of his body, finished third in the same non-champions event in 2012. The 2011 Teen Masters 14-Under champion defeated Chris Groom, Lancaster, Calif., 278-198, while Booker edged Rick Benard of Henderson, Nev., 225-217, in the semifinal round to set up the championship match.
On Sunday at South Point, amateur Andrew Graff of Las Vegas and Benard defeated amateur Gary Estep Jr. of Peoria, Ariz. and Andrew Cain of Phoenix, 477-447, to win the PBA Member/Non-Member West Doubles. The winners shared a $3,000 prize.