WOOSTER — Charles “Butch” Ferrell had a specific game plan coming into Saturday’s qualifying round for the PBA50 J.D. Producing Inc.-Triway Lanes Central Open.
Stay inside and under control.
The plan worked out for the 52-year-old right-handed Painesville truck driver, who had the day’s high game of 287 en route to topping the 35-player field after eight games at Triway Lanes.
“I love to play in … that’s my wheel house, and people hate it when I have a look like that,” said Ferrell, who as a non-PBA member is bowling in only his second career professional event.
“I’m very comfortable playing deep … I’ve done it my entire life for the most part. When I get a little room like that and stay comfortable, it makes it so much easier.”
Ferrell finished with 1,849 total pinfall, an average of 231.13, and was the lone player in the field to shoot at least 200 for all eight games.
Freeport, Ill., right-hander Jeff Johnson is just four pins behind Ferrell with 1,845, followed by Ashtabula’s Jeff Cyphers (1,783) and Akron’s Don Hogue (1,753).
The top 12 qualifiers return at 9 a.m. Sunday for 12 games of match play, with bonus pins awarded for wins. Following the Game 12 position round, the field will be cut to the top four for stepladder finals.
Ferrell used a combination of the 900 Global Zen Soul and Roto Grip RST X-1 during the qualifying games.
“I tried five balls during (Friday’s) practice session, and each was a smidge different from the other,” said Ferrell, who consulted with friend and Canton left-hander Jason Gribble. “They were different to my advantage, but I pretty much used the Zen Soul for all eight games.”
After his big start, Lanes 1 and 2 were tougher for Game 2.
“I watched a couple of shots and Lane 1 was flying while Lane 2 seemed to be normal. I moved five and five (boards) left and was able to get it down the lane,” said Ferrell, who shot 212 that game. “Lanes 3 and 4 actually were a little tougher because they held more in the oil. I barely got to 200 that game.
“So I stopped trying a little bit and told myself to just relax and do my thing.”
Johnson had just 179 on Lanes 1 and 2 game for his lone game under 200.
“Lane 1 just skewed the pair. I was 10 and six (boards) on Lane 1, and I actually felt that played better for me,” Johnson said. “But I was able to grind it out. It ultimately cost me the top spot.
“This pattern always played a little softer as we used it, and my background on it is pretty good. I just start deep and play with it, and it developed like it has before.”
Johnson was never below third all day, taking the lead for Games 4 and 5 before Ferrell took over in Game 6 and led the rest of the way.
“I’m going to adjust surfaces tonight because this pattern never plays the same,” said Johnson. “I’ll probably bring in another couple of pin-down balls that shape OK for tomorrow.”
Ferrell, whose only prior PBA50 appearance was during last March’s PBA50 Strike Zone event in Canton, was pushed by Hogue to bowl more regional events.
“He felt I could compete out here and do very well. I may not be a kid, but I still compete with them. It’s nuts what you can do sometimes compared with other people,” Ferrell added. “I’m not as old as some of the other people out here, and I’m trying to use that to my advantage.”
Steve Kenyon earned the final match-play spot with 1,669, finishing just five pins ahead of Marion’s Robert Manning, who shot just 197 his final game to finish 13th.
So what is Ferrell’s game plan for his first match-play run?
“Go at it the same way, relax and, hopefully, get into my wheel house again,” Ferrell said. “They have to beat me, in my opinion.”
See complete qualifying results here: