By JILL WINTERS
PBA Communications
COLUMBUS – Larry Verble fulfilled a childhood dream Wednesday night at Columbus Square Bowling Palace.
The moment arrived in the championship match at the 2026 PBA60 World Championship against PBA Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli.
“You dream about this from the day you start bowling until you get in that position and it actually happens. Getting up in the 10th frame having a chance to win the tournament,” said Verble, a Mason, Mich., right-hander who also owns eight regional titles, including ones in Coshocton and during the PBA50-60 doubles at Park Centre Lanes in North Canton.
As the top overall seed, he wanted to finish the match first on the left lane. Working on a strike in the eighth, he doubled up with his first strike of the game on the right lane. He slapped his hands together and quickly tried to calm himself down by taking a rerack.
“I needed to compose myself. I get a little excited. Running them out, I know better than to do that, but I can’t stop myself,” said Verble, who has won PBA titles in five decades. “It was time to just settle down, get your self-thoughts under control, get your emotions under control. Just make a good shot, trust the process.”
He struck for the third straight time. After another rerack, he struck again before needing to get at least 7 on his final shot to shut out Monacelli.
Going down to one knee, Verble got eight for 213. That was enough for his first national title to be a major with a $15,000 first-place check.
“It took me until I was 61 years old to do it, but life gets in the way. You don’t get a chance to go out full-time. This is just topping my career in bowling,” Verble said. “It is extremely gratifying. This is proof positive that through God all things are possible.”
Verble is a full-time outside sales representative for DiLaura Brothers Bowling Supply. This was his second tournament stop of the year. He practices a lot on the oil patterns at JAX60 in Michigan to get himself tournament ready. That dedication continues to pay off.
The championship match got underway with Monacelli rolling an opening strike. Verble, who was making his fourth career senior stepladder show, decided to play the lanes unlike any of the bowlers before him.
“I was way farther left than anybody else. I found something there that nobody else really tried,” Verble said. “So, I felt like I was bowling by myself and I just needed to make a good shot with my great ball reaction.”
He made two straight spares before leaving the 8-10 split for an open frame. Monacelli made three straight spares before leaving the Greek church in the fifth frame for an open.
Back on his good lane, Verble struck in the fourth, sixth and eighth with spares in between on the right lane. In the sixth frame, Monacelli decided to loft the ball, which earned him a strike in the sixth and eighth frame. In the seventh, he kept himself in the match by converting the 2-4-8-10 split as the 8-pin took out the 10-pin. Monacelli finished his run with a double then nine for 210.
“Hard core prayer. When I wasn’t up bowling, I was praying because it calms the soul,” Verble said. “I have a wonderful support staff behind me. My wife, Laurie, and my daughter, Bethany. My coach Andy Schnebelt at JAX60. Andy helps me with my physical game. I always want to thank, Amleto. What a tremendously talented champion. He was behind me all the way just pushing me on. ‘Come on, make a good shot.’ ”
Verble was already on the roster for the final tournament of the year, the Johnny Petraglia BVL PBA50 Tournament of Champions, presented by Pleasant Day School in August. But first, he is bowling in a regional on Thursday in Bowling Green. He said earning any tournament win is his next goal.
Making his third show on the season in the opening match was No. 5 Brian LeClair against No. 4 Bill Rowe. Both players also were seeking their first PBA60 title.
LeClair began with a spare to Rowe’s double. LeClair missed a 2-pin then opened after leaving the 1-2-4-6-10. Rowe, who was making his fourth stepladder finals on the year, went spare, strike then four straight single-pins spares. LeClair struck in the fourth and made two straight spares.
LeClair made a ball change in the seventh frame and threw five out of six strikes to end his game with 194. Rowe struck in the ninth and on his first shot in the 10th frame to seal the win with 215.
Jack Jurek, who started Wednesday in the lead yet fell to third place, was in Match 2. Rowe got the match started with a strike, open frame then three straight strikes. Jurek, who won the Wayne Webb Championship to kick off the PBA60 World Series, got a strike, split for an open frame in the second, picked up the 3-pin then the 3-10 split. Jurek struck in the fifth then opened again in the sixth frame for a score of 94.
Rowe went high leaving the 4-7-9 split for an open frame, struck in the seventh then left a pocket 7-10 split for an open. Jurek went spare, strike, spare then delivered three clutch strikes for 184. Rowe spared in the ninth. Needing a double for the win, Rowe struck on the first shot then his delivery went wide right leaving a 6-count for 181.
The semifinal was a re-match of Saturday’s Webb final. Jurek covered the 4-7 followed by a strike and a pocket split for an open in the third. Monacelli opened in the first frame with the 6-7 split then doubled. Jurek struck in the fourth then spared and doubled in the sixth and seventh.
Monacelli went spare, strike then spare through six. Monacelli then threw six straight strikes for 238. Jurek finished his World Series of Bowling II run with spare, strike, spare and eight for 194.
Former Canton resident and pro shop owner Tony Johnson finished 14th overall.
Up next, is the PBA50 Akron Classic beginning Sunday at AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn. You can watch that tournament on BowlTV.
PBA60 World Championship Final Standings:
- Larry Verble $15,000
- Amleto Monacelli $8,000
- Jack Jurek $6,000
- Bill Rowe $5,000
- Brian LeClair $4,000
MATCH SCORES:
Match 1: Rowe def. LeClair 215-194
Match 2: Jurek def. Rowe 184-181
Match 3: Monacelli def. Jurek 238-194
Championship match: Verble def. Monacelli 213-210
See complete scores here: https://www.leaguepals.com/league-info?id=69a8d7336697fa4b03b1b2ae