Bob Glass was cooling his heels at the Lunar Bowl in Blue Springs, Mo., on Wednesday afternoon, hoping against hope a PBA bowler would be a no-show.

Lawrence’s Glass, the reigning two-time PBA Senior Bowler of the Year, had hoped to go against younger competitors at this week’s Greater Kansas City Classic, but

“I forgot to send in my entry money,” Glass said, “so I’m hoping for an opening.”

How ironic. After all, Glass just cashed the biggest paycheck of his professional bowling career a $30,000 windfall for winning last week’s Brunswick Senior Open in Las Vegas, a non-PBA event that attracted the best senior bowlers in the nation.

“Man, that came at the right time. It’s been a dry year,” Glass said. “This will get me through until April.”

Curious numbers confronted Glass during the 10-stop PBA Senior Tour that ended in August. Glass compiled more points than any other competitor and his 221.56 average topped the pack as well. Too, he finished third in earnings with $31,135.

Yet he has little chance of rolling a turkey as PBA Senior Bowler of the Year because he didn’t win a single event on the Tour. Glass finished second three times, but that probably won’t be good enough for a third straight PBA honor.

However, the Bowling Writers Association of America could award him a third Male Senior Bowler of the Year title based on his PBA Senior Tour scores and his lucrative win in the Brunswick Senior World Open.

The $30,000 Glass won in Las Vegas topped the $20,000 he pocketed for capturing the ABC Senior Masters a couple of years ago.

“The key was it went 56 games,” Glass said of the Vegas tourney. “The longer the format the better I tend to do.”

In fact, Glass is a notoriously slow starter.

“My first game out there was a 144,” he said, “and I had to roll a turkey in the last frame to get that.”

Glass took charge during the first round of match play, winning seven of his first eight matches and averaging 238 for the round. He also rolled games of 279 and 300. Finally, Glass held off Steve Neff of Homosassa Springs, Fla., 234-227, by rolling four straight strikes to open the title match.

“I knew after four strikes I had it,” Glass said. “And it’s great. I needed the money.”

Glass, who will turn 55 a week from today, also has earned an invitation to the PBA’s most prestigious event of the year The Tournament of Champions on Dec. 13-15 in Uncasville, Conn. He’ll be one of only three seniors in a 32-man field that will be shooting for a first prize of $100,000.

“I’m in it for the first time, so I’m pretty excited about that,” Glass said.