Mark Baker, frustrated five previous times from the top-seeded position and recovering from a career threatening back injury, powered his way to his third PBA title with a 257-233 title game victory against David Ozio in the $127,500 Kessler Open. Baker, 26, from Garden Grove, Calif., who has been hampered by ligament damage in his lower back since finishing second in the 1986 Firestone Tournament of Champions, earned a ticket back to that tournament by striking in eight of the first nine frames of the championship match at Earl Anthony's Dublin Bowl. Ozio, Vidor, Texas, matched Baker with three straight strikes to start the match but was plagued by 10-pins in the fourth and sixth frames. Despite difficulties in carrying on the left lane throughout the evening, Ozio had worked his way past John Gant, Independence, Ky., 203-195, and Northern California lefthander Rusty Greiner, Richmond, 236-184, to earn a shot at the championship. Gant, shooting for his second title of the year, eliminated John Forst, Woodridge, III., 212-203, in the opening game of the stepladder finals. Baker had rolled 774 in his final three games of qualifying to earn 19th spot in match play. From there he climbed his way to the top, replacing Ozio who had led the tournament most of the way. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND | Pos. |  | Name, City/State | Total | Amount | | | 1 | | Mark Baker, Garden Grove, Calif. | 257 (1 game) | $18,000 | | 2 | | David Ozio, Vidor, Texas | 672 (3 games) | 9,500 | | 3 | | Rusty Greiner, Richmond, Calif. | 193 (1 game) | 7,000 | | 4 | | John Gant, Independence, Ky. | 407 (2 games) | 5,500 | | 5 | | John Forst, Woodridge, Ill. | 203 (1 game) | 4,500 | |
PLAYOFF RESULTS - Gant defeated Forst, 212-203; Ozio defeated Gant, 203-195; Ozio defeated Greiner, 236-193; and in the championship game, Baker defeated Ozio, 257-233.
42-GAME TOTALS | | | Name, City | | Pins | | Avg | | WLT | | + | | Tot | | Amt | | | 1 | | Mark Baker, Garden Grove, Calif. | | 9248 | | 220.2 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 9698 | | | | 2 | | Rusty Greiner, Richmond, Calif. | | 9274 | | 220.8 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9664 | | | | 3 | | David Ozio, Vidor, Texas | | 9333 | | 222.2 | | 10-12-2 | | 330 | | 9663 | | | | 4 | | John Gant, Independence, Ky. | | 9162 | | 218.1 | | 16-8-0 | | 480 | | 9642 | | | | +5 | | John Forst, Woodridge, III. | | 9107 | | 216.9 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 9557 | | | | +6 | | Eric Forkel, Van Nuys, Calif. | | 9122 | | 217.2 | | 14-9-1 | | 435 | | 9557 | | $4,000 | | 7 | | Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore. | | 9050 | | 215.5 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9470 | | 3,600 | | 8 | | Danny Broadway, Houston | | 9073 | | 216.0 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9463 | | 3,150 | | | | Mike Taylor, Carlsbad, Calif. | | 9043 | | 215.3 | | 13-9-2 | | 420 | | 9463 | | 3,150 | | 10 | | Randy Pedersen, Santa Maria, Calif. | | 9076 | | 216.1 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9436 | | 2,800 | | 11 | | Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y. | | 9023 | | 214.8 | | 11-10-3 | | 435 | | 9398 | | 2,600 | | 12 | | Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash. | | 8942 | | 212.9 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9362 | | 2,400 | | 13 | | Parker Bohn III, Freehold, N.J. | | 8970 | | 213.6 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9360 | | 2,200 | | 14 | | Derek Banks, Chicago | | 8899 | | 211.9 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9289 | | 2,050 | | # | | Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla. | | 8959 | | 213.3 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9289 | | 2,050 | | 16 | | Gary Skidmore, Albuquerque, N. M. | | 8998 | | 214.2 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 9268 | | 1,900 | | 17 | | Norm Duke, Ft. Worth, Texas | | 8852 | | 210.8 | | 13-10-1 | | 405 | | 9257 | | 1,800 | | 18 | | John Mazza, Mt. Clemens, Mich. | | 8965 | | 213.5 | | 8-16-0 | | 240 | | 9205 | | 1,700 | | 19 | | Anthony Figuiera, Waianae, Hawaii | | 8889 | | 211.6 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9189 | | 1,600 | | 20 | | Del Ballard Jr., Richardson, Texas | | 8829 | | 210.2 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 9099 | | 1,550 | | 21 | | Dennis Horan Jr., Santa Clara, Calif. | | 8683 | | 206.7 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9013 | | 1,500 | | 22 | | Brian Voss, Tacoma, Wash. | | 8724 | | 207.7 | | 8-15-1 | | 255 | | 8979 | | 1,450 | | 23 | | Brad Bohling, Brighton, Colo. | | 8646 | | 205.9 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 8946 | | 1,400 | | 24 | | Jeff Richgels, Madison, Wis. | | 8646 | | 205.9 | | 8-16-0 | | 240 | | 8886 | | 1,350 | |
OTHER CASHERS | Pos. | | Name, City/State | Amount | | | 25 | | Mal Acosta, Manteca, Calif. | $1,165 | | *26 | | Leroy Bornhop, St. Charles, Mo. | 1,305 | | 27 | | David Rosenburg, Rolla, Mo. | 1,150 | | 28 | | Mike Aulby, Indianapolis | 1,140 | | 29 | | Tony Westlake, Edmond, Okla. | 1,130 | | 30 | | Dennis Rakauskas, Clarks Summit, Pa. | 1,120 | | 31 | | Jeff Miller, Canal Winchester, Ohio | 1,110 | | 32 | | Rod Pasteur, Miami, Fla. | 1,100 | | 33 | | Del Warren, Lake Worth, Fla. | 1,090 | | 34 | | Jimmy Certain, Huntsville, Ala. | 1,080 | | 35 | | Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y. | 1,070 | | 36 | | Gary Dickinson, Burleson, Texas | 1,055 | | | | Harry Sullins, Roseville, Mich. | 1,055 | | 38 | | Jon O'Drobinak, Chicago | 1,040 | | 39 | | Casey Berry, Albuquerque, N.M. | 1,020 | | | | Mark Roth, Spring Lake Heights, N.J. | 1,020 | | | | Paul Gibson, O'Fallon, Ill. | 1,020 | | 42 | | Steve Larson, Manteca, Calif. | 995 | | | | Nick Melnikoff, Pacifica, Calif. | 995 | | 44 | | Mike White, Downey, Calif. | 980 | | 45 | | Jimmy Keeth, W. Palm Beach, Fla. | 970 | | 46 | | Andy Neuer, E. Longmeadow, Mass. | 960 | | 47 | | Joe Salvemini, Branford, Conn. | 950 | | 48 | | Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore. | 940 | | 49 | | Dave Arnold, Campbell, Calif. | 920 | | | | Ron Bell, Akron, Ohio | 920 | | | | Randy Lightfoot, St. Charles, Mo. | 920 | | 52 | | Jimmie Pritts Jr., Manchester, N.H. | 900 | | 53 | | Sam Maccarone, Glassboro, N.J. | 890 | |
* - Match play alternate. 18-game qualifying leader - David Ozio, 4254. 24th place - Derek Banks, 3857. 53rd place Sam Maccarone, 3758. + - John Forst and Eric Forkel tied for fifth place and Forst won the roll-off, 226-179, to advance to the championship round. # - Bill Swanson and Mike Edwards rolled 300 games ($100 each). PRO-AM CASHERS - Ted Hannahs, Casey Berry, Jon O'Drobinak, Parker Bohn III, Amleto Monacelli and Jim Murtishaw ($50 each).
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