BUCYRUS — The 56th Bill Rahm Invitational crowned its champion Saturday afternoon at Suburban Lanes.
Don McLaughlin, the winners’ bracket champion, defeated losers’ bracket champion, Mike Lear, 203-160 in a fifth game roll-off. It was the eighth straight year that the fifth game was needed to determine the champion.
Lear forced the fifth game by winning the four-game set, 1022-878. Lear rolled games of 249, 248, 290, and 235 to McLaughlin’s 212, 255, 212, and 199.
This year marked McLaughlin’s 16th consecutive appearance in the tournament field. He entered this year’s event with a 215.17 average and had averaged 230.07 in his previous 15 tournaments.
This was McLaughlin’s third title, having won in 2010 and 2013. He was runner-up in 2015 and 2020.
Lear made his fifth Invitational appearance. He won the championship in 2020 and was runner-up in 2021. Lear had averaged 227.41 for in his previous tournament appearance going into this year.
Each finalist received a trophy and a cash prize for their efforts. Prize money was paid out to the top six finishers.