Old Mountain Lanes Special Cuts – Seniors, Women & Super Seniors
Old Mountain Lanes – Wakefield, RI – October 3, 2026
Event #1070
25 Entries | 6 Match Play Finalists
The New England Bowlers Association returned to Old Mountain Lanes in Wakefield, Rhode Island, for the 2026 Old Mountain Lanes Special Cuts, an event exclusively for women, seniors and super seniors.
A total of 25 entries competed for the championship, with six bowlers advancing to the single-game elimination match play finals.
When the final pins fell, Jim Savasta stood alone as champion, capturing the second NEBA title of his career and ending a championship drought that stretched back more than eight years.
Savasta's previous victory came in a doubles event in September 2018. This time, he returned to the winner's circle in singles competition, putting together an impressive championship run that included victories over two members of the NEBA Hall of Fame.
Among those standing in his way were tournament qualifying leader Chris Forry and Bill Webb, the third-winningest bowler in NEBA history. Savasta would need to defeat both to complete his long-awaited return to the winner's circle.
Competitors faced the 2022 USBC Senior Championships Sweeper #3 oil pattern, measuring 39 feet with 24.09 mL of oil and a 6.92:1 ratio.
As is often the case at bowling centers throughout New England, managing friction was a major factor in finding success, and Old Mountain Lanes proved to be no exception.
The 39-foot pattern required competitors to pay close attention to how their equipment responded to the lane surface, particularly as the condition began to transition throughout qualifying and into the finals.
Finding the right balance between controlling friction and maintaining enough energy for the ball to finish through the pins was essential. Bowlers who recognized changes in ball reaction and made timely adjustments gave themselves the best opportunity to stay competitive.
With just six spots available in the finals, there was little room for error during qualifying.
Leading the field was NEBA Hall of Famer Chris Forry, who posted an impressive 1,216 five-game total to earn High Qualifier honors and the top seed heading into match play.
Forry's performance earned him an additional $75 high qualifier prize and positioned him just two victories away from another NEBA championship.
The six qualifying finalists entered single-game elimination match play, with the top two seeds receiving first-round byes.
Savasta entered the finals as the No. 5 seed, needing to win three consecutive matches to capture the championship.
Jim Savasta defeated Michael Reale, 191–157.
Savasta opened his championship run with a 34-pin victory over Reale, advancing to face tournament top qualifier and NEBA Hall of Famer Chris Forry.
On the opposite side of the bracket, Tim Elsass defeated Sean Richard, 213–188, advancing to the semifinals against Bill Webb.
Jim Savasta defeated Chris Forry, 221–195.
Facing the tournament's qualifying leader, Savasta delivered one of his strongest performances of the day. His 221 was enough to eliminate Forry and send Savasta into the championship match.
The victory was particularly significant considering Forry's dominant qualifying performance and Hall of Fame credentials.
On the opposite side of the bracket, NEBA Hall of Famer Bill Webb defeated Tim Elsass, 205–197, earning his place in the championship match.
With both semifinals complete, the stage was set for Savasta to face another of NEBA's most accomplished competitors.
The championship match featured Jim Savasta, looking to capture his second career NEBA title and first singles championship, against NEBA Hall of Famer Bill Webb, who was seeking to add an incredible 23rd title to his already historic résumé.
Savasta opened the match with a 10-pin spare, while Webb wasted little time establishing an early advantage with a double. Jim responded with his first strike of the match before adding a light mixer for his second consecutive strike.
Webb continued his strong start by connecting for a third consecutive strike, but trouble arrived in the fourth frame when his ball picked up early, leaving a difficult 4-7-10 split and resulting in an open frame.
Savasta immediately capitalized, adding another strike to extend his string to three. However, his momentum came to an abrupt halt when a missed single-pin spare resulted in an open frame of his own, providing Webb with an opportunity to regain ground.
Unfortunately for Webb, a stubborn 10-pin prevented him from making up significant ground, and his struggles continued when a missed 3-10 split resulted in another costly open.
Savasta took advantage of the opportunity, catching a fortunate break when a tripped 4-pin gave him another strike. He followed with a 10-pin spare to regain a narrow advantage as the match moved into its later stages.
With the championship beginning to slip away, Webb needed to find another gear to apply pressure. Instead, the Hall of Famer was dealt a brutal pocket 7-10 split, resulting in another open frame. Webb followed with a spare, but the damage had given Savasta an opportunity to extend his lead heading into the final frames.
Savasta stepped up in the eighth frame and delivered a flush strike, then matched it with another strike in the ninth to put himself firmly in control of the championship.
Webb refused to go quietly, finishing his game with a triple, but his late surge proved to be too little, too late. Savasta entered the final frame with the championship all but secured and delivered a pair of packed strikes to put the finishing touches on an impressive victory.
With the win, Jim Savasta captured his second career NEBA title and first singles championship, adding another milestone to his competitive bowling résumé while denying one of NEBA's most decorated champions his 23rd career victory.
Thanks to the support of NEBA, the Old Mountain Lanes Special Cuts featured $500 in added prize money, bringing the total prize fund to $2,245.
| Finish | Bowler | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jim Savasta | $600 + Tournament of Champions Entry |
| 2nd | Bill Webb | $425 |
| 3rd | Tim Elsass | $310 |
| 3rd | Chris Forry | $310 |
| 5th | Sean Richard | $200 |
| 6th | Michael Reale | $200 |
All six competitors who advanced to match play earned a share of the prize fund.
Chris Forry also earned an additional $75 for leading qualifying with a five-game total of 1,216.
Two members of the NEBA Hall of Fame advanced to match play at the Old Mountain Lanes Special Cuts:
Bill Webb
Chris Forry
Both Hall of Famers played significant roles in the championship story.
Forry led the entire field through qualifying before falling to eventual champion Jim Savasta in the semifinals.
Webb, the third-winningest bowler in NEBA history, advanced directly to the semifinals with a first-round bye before defeating Tim Elsass to earn another championship match appearance.
Although neither Hall of Famer ultimately claimed the title, their continued success highlights the remarkable longevity and competitiveness of some of NEBA's most accomplished bowlers.
For Savasta, defeating both Forry and Webb made his return to the winner's circle even more memorable.
NEBA extends a sincere thank you to Old Mountain Lanes and Robert Toth for their continued support of competitive bowling throughout New England and for hosting another successful NEBA event.
We also thank the entire staff at Old Mountain Lanes for their hospitality and hard work throughout the tournament.
An additional thank you goes to NEBA for contributing $500 in added prize money, helping provide additional opportunities for women, seniors and super seniors to compete for a championship.
As always, we'd also like to recognize our 2026 season sponsors, Storm, Roto Grip and 900 Global, for their continued support of the New England Bowlers Association.
Their involvement helps NEBA continue providing competitive opportunities for bowlers throughout the region.
There is still time to qualify for the 2026 Cambridge Credit Invitational.
Bowlers need to compete in at least three regular-season NEBA events to become eligible for the season-ending Invitational.
The event features one of the largest added prize funds of the season, with the Top 8 point earners receiving automatic spots into the Invitational Finals, while still participating in qualifying.
Every remaining event on the 2026 schedule provides another opportunity to earn valuable points and secure eligibility for one of NEBA's most prestigious championships.
October 17–18, 2026
Yankee Lanes – Manchester, NH
$3,000 Guaranteed for First Place
$5,000 Added to the Prize Fund by Jeff Barden
NEBA heads to Yankee Lanes Manchester for another big weekend of competition, featuring a guaranteed $3,000 first-place prize and an incredible $5,000 contribution to the prize fund from Jeff Barden.
With one of the largest added-money contributions of the season, this event presents another outstanding opportunity for bowlers to compete for a NEBA championship.
NEBA extends a huge thank you to Jeff Barden for his continued generosity and dedication to growing competitive bowling throughout New England.
For tournament information and registration, visit BowlNEBA.com/Tournaments.
Congratulations once again to Jim Savasta on capturing the 2026 Old Mountain Lanes Special Cuts championship, earning his second career NEBA title and returning to the winner's circle for the first time since September 2018.
With victories over Hall of Famers Chris Forry and Bill Webb along the way, Savasta's championship run was a fitting way to end an eight-year wait for another NEBA title.
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