2-handed bowler wins record 3rd straight USBC Masters

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.