Mike Wolfe, a bowler from New Albany, Ind., took the lead Tuesday in the first round Professional Bowlers Association's Lumber Liquidators Marathon, which was played in Baltimore, and is the final event of the regular season.

Wolfe, who averaged 259.78, has won the title four times and missed the chance to break a scoring record set in 2004 by 29 pins Tuesday at AMF Country Club Lanes on Pulaski Highway. Wolfe beat Sean Rash, who averaged 259 and was the second-place finisher Tuesday, by only seven pins.

Nine games remain to be played in the open, in which 133 bowlers will compete.

The top five players will compete in stepladder finals, which will be aired at 1 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.