INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Wes Malott earned his sixth career PBA Tour title on Sunday, beating hometown favorite Ronnie Russell 248-195 to win the Etonic Marathon Open at Woodland Bowl.

Malott, of Pflugerville, Texas, won his third title of the year to claim the $35,000 first prize and take a commanding lead in the race for Player of the Year.

"That's the goal right now," Malott said. "This puts me in good position, but I can't slack off. There's Norm Duke, Patrick Allen and some others behind me so I've got to stay sharp."

The unusual tournament format consisted of 54 games — total pinfall with no match play — over four days contested on six different PBA Tour lane condition patterns leading up to the stepladder finals.

The long format and the use of PBA's Cheetah, Viper, Chameleon, Scorpion, Earl Anthony and Shark oil patterns tested the competitors' stamina and versatility.

As the tournament leader, Malott was given his choice of lane pattern for the final. He selected the Scorpion, which often demands a more direct line because of the extra oil applied to the lanes to a distance of 42 feet.

"I picked the Scorpion pattern because I've bowled well on it and I felt it would hold up the best during the course of the finals," the 32-year-old said.

Earlier this season Malott won the Tour's Versatility Swing, which consisted of six championships on the different PBA lane conditioning patterns.

The 29-year-old Russell had his best finish in an individual Tour event. He also finished second in last season's PBA Exempt Doubles Classic with Joe Ciccone.

Prior to losing to Malott, Russell defeated Bill O'Neill of Southampton, Pa., 245-190, and in the semifinal beat Hall of Famer Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., 248-216.

"For all three matches I felt exactly the same, but I probably needed to go to another ball, I'm not sure," Russell said. "I can't complain, I had a great week bowling in front of my family and all the hometown fans."