In the final frame of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Memphis Open at Winchester Bowl on Oct. 27, Danny Wiseman issued a verbal challenge to his long-time nemesis Brian Voss - "two to win, brotha."
Voss, Atlanta, GA, answered the challenge with two solid strikes and defeated Wiseman, Baltimore, MD, 253-247, winning his 22nd career title along with the $40,000 top prize.
"It just doesn't get any better than when you get a win like that," said the 44-year-old Voss, who tied Marshall Holman for ninth on the all-time win list. "That's exactly what you spend your whole life preparing for. When you're a kid, you dream about throwing two strikes in the 10th to win."
Coming into the round, Wiseman possessed the ninth-best finals match record in PBA history (39-23, .629). Regardless, Voss has owned Wiseman in the championship round. He improved his record to 4-0 against Wiseman.
"He has one of the best percentages of anyone out here," Voss said about Wiseman. "It'd be even better if it wasn't for me."
If not for Voss, Wiseman would rank second all-time and trail only Jim Pencak (22-9, .710).
Wiseman knew the history, too. So the veteran tried to get into Voss' head.
"I knew his shot was deteriorating and he had to throw two big shots to win," said Wiseman. "But, he threw those shots so pure. That's why he's the best shot-maker in the world. He did what he had to do."
Both players started the match with a five-bagger followed by two spare conversions. Voss settled for another spare in the eighth while Wiseman extended his slim lead with a strike. Wiseman picked up a 7-pin in the ninth and finished with two strikes in the 10th. Voss set the stage with a foundation strike in the ninth. After two strikes in the 10th, he needed only four pins to seal the win. He got nine.
In the semifinals, Voss beat Bryon Smith, 237-213, and Wiseman knocked off Lonnie Waliczek, 257-216. Smith, Roseburg, OR, and Waliczek, Wichita, KS, finished tied for third and earned $10,000 each. In the wild card match, Smith pasted reigning rookie of the year Tommy Jones, 278-199. Jones, Greenville, SC, took home a check for $9,000 in fifth.
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