2-handed bowler wins record 3rd straight USBC Masters

Published Feb. 8, 2015 6:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Australia's Jason Belmonte won his record third straight United States Bowling Congress Masters title Sunday, beating McKendree University senior AJ Johnson 202-157.

Using a unique two-handed delivery, Belmonte has 11 PBA Tour titles and four major victories. He earned $50,000 on Sunday at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley.

''I just think the Masters is just a brutal tournament to not just win, but just to make it to the TV show,'' said Belmonte, who joined Hall of Famer Mike Aulby as the only three-time winners in event history. ''This means more to me than anyone can possibly imagine - that a kid from Australia who bowls different than everyone else is now in the history books.''

Johnson is from Oswego, Illinois.

''I feel a little disappointed because I wish I would have bowled a better game in the final,'' Johnson said. ''The lanes got tough and it went by so fast that by the time I could settle down the game was almost over.''

Belmonte beat Hall of Famer Pete Weber 232-210 in the semifinal. Weber opened the stepladder final with 237-223 victory over Sweden's Martin Larsen and topped Mike DeVaney 211-204 to reach the semifinal.