Sean Rash
The wait is finally over for Anchorage’s Sean Rash.
After numerous close calls in the past, the 38-year-old won a World Series of Bowling title for the first time in his 11-year career.
Rash beat top seed EJ Tackett of Indiana 229-215 in the championship match of the WSOB event in Centreville, Virginia.
The Alaskan beat all three opponents in the stepladder finals on the day to secure his 16th career title on the PBA Tour, moving him into a tie for 24th on the all-time list.
“This one felt good,” Rash told pba.com. “Getting to check off that (WSOB) box on my career, to beat the best of the best in the world. That is one I have wanted for a long time.”
Rash, of Dimond High fame, had previously qualified for 15 WSOB TV finals without a win, losing four times in the championship match.
“The depth of the field at the World Series, with the best from so many countries taking part, is why winning means so much,” he said.
🎳😃 SEAN RASH CAPTURES HIS FIRST WSOB TITLE!! With this shot in the tenth, @sean_rash wins his first @PBATour World Series of Bowling title of his career. Congrats Sean on the gutsy win!! #TheRingingTen #InsideBowling #bowling pic.twitter.com/GgOxpg7t35
— #𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 (@InsideBowling) October 5, 2020
Rash’s road to redemption was not smooth as he navigated many obstacles along the way, surviving seven straight elimination games.
In qualifying, he beat Ryan Ciminelli in a one-game roll off to earn the last spot.
In the round of 16, he beat Matt McNiel in Game 5 of the best-of-five series.
In the round of eight, he again needed all five games, this time to defeat Kyle Troup.
In the finals, he was seeded fourth out of five, and won all four of his do-or-die games.
“I was supposed to be wiped out by now but found a way to stay alive,” Rash said.
This was Rash’s fourth title on the year and his second on the 2020 PBA Tour.