Professional Bowlers Association

Scott Devers labeled four game-ending strikes solid in the pocket to help defeat an advancing Marc McDowell, 234-206, to win his first Professional Bowlers Association title in the 140,000 Miller Lite Challenge.

Devers, a 25-year-old lefthander from Centerville, Ind., poured home the closing strikes to force McDowell, Madison, Wis., to roll a double and a seven-count for victory. McDowell's first attempt went high on the headpin for a 3-6 leave, relegating him to a runnerup finish after having qualified for the championship round in fifth lace.

McDowell had earned a spot on the live ESPN telecast by downing Rod Pasteur, 269-267, in the position round match the evening before. He maintained that momentum by ousting Tour superstar Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore., 266-198, in the first match of the stepladder finals.

Next, McDowell, the 1986 Sorting News PBA Rookie of the Year, took a huge lead early against veteran Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y., and coasted to a 234-189 win. In the semifinal game, Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., and McDowell traded strikes and spares until Miller was stopped by a 6-pin on his first shot in the 10th frame, paving the way for a 227-214 win by the 25 year-old McDowell.

Devers was the star of the show in match play at Tucson's Golden Pin Lanes, piling up a 411-pin lead over Miller on the strength of a 228 average and a 20-4 match play record. It was his second championship round appearance in three tournaments, having finished second to Parker Bohn III for the Columbia 300 Open championship in Seattle two weeks ago.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS - McDowell defeated Holman, 266-198; McDowell defeated Baker, 234-189; McDowell defeated Miller, 227-214; and in the championship game, Devers defeated McDowell, 234-206.

42-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Scott Devers, Centerville, Ind.		9574		228.0		20-4-0		600		10174
2		Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash.		9313		221.7		15-9-0		450		9763
3		Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y.		9312		221.7		14-9-1		435		9747
4		Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore.		9338		222.3		12-11-1		375		9713
5		Marc McDowell, Madison, Wis.		9305		221.5		12-11-1		375		9680
6		Rod Pasteur, Miami, Fla.		9187		218.7		14-9-1		435		9622		$4,000
7		Jeff Miller, Canal Winchester, Ohio		9124		217.2		13-10-1		405		9526		3,600
8		Billy Yinger, Arlington, Texas		9070		216.0		14-10-0		420		9490		3,300
9		Matt Surina, Tacoma, Wash.		9051		215.5		14-10-0		420		9471		3,000
10		Ken Johnson, Lewisville, Texas		9105		216.8		11-12-1		345		9450		2,800
11		Bobby Jacks, Hayward, Calif.		9163		218.2		9-15-0		270		9433		2,600
12		Norm Duke, Ft. Worth, Texas		9039		215.2		11-12-1		345		9384		2,400
13		Palmer Fallgren, Sacramento, Calif.		9062		215.8		10-14-0		300		9362		2,300
#14		Wayne Webb, Merritt Island, Fla.		8933		212.7		14-10-0		420		9353		2,200
15		Jim Pencak, Richmond Hts., Ohio		8937		212.8		13-11-0		390		9327		2,100
16		Philip Ringener, Big Spring, Texas		8977		213.7		11-12-1		345		9322		2,000
17		Purvis Granger, Lafayette, La.		8951		213.1		10-12-2		330		9281		1,900
18		Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore.		8968		213.5		9-14-1		285		9253		1,800
19		Daniel Eberl, Tonawanda, N.Y.		8937		212.8		10-13-1		315		9252		1,700
20		Bob Handley, Pompano Beach, Fla.		8915		212.3		9-15-0		270		9185		1,600
21		James Miller, Scottsdale, Ariz.		8902		212.0		7-14-3.		255		9157		1,500
22		Mike Jasnau, Wichita, Kan.		8813		209.8		11-13-0		330		9143		1,400
23		Eddy Kelley, Amarillo, Texas		8812		209.8		7-16-1		225		9037		1,360
24		Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, III.		8578		204.2		9-15-0		270		8848		1,320

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
*25		Tom Crites, Tampa, Fla.	$1,300
26		Craig Rourke, Santa Clara, Calif.	1,155
27		Ryan Shafer, Elmira, N.Y.	1,125
		Brian Voss, Tacoma, Wash.	1,125
29		Mike Taylor, Carlsbad, Calif.	1,110
30		Dave Arnold, Campbell, Calif.	1,095
		Del Ballard Jr., Richardson, Texas	1,095
32		Nick Melnikoff, Pacifica, Calif.	1,080
33		Jeff Richgels, Madison, Wis.	1,070
34		George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C.	1,060
35		Ron Palombi Jr., Erie, Pa.	1,050
36		Ken Ogden, Canandaigua, N.Y.	1,040
37		John Gant, Independence, Ky.	1,025
		Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla.	1,025
39		Warren Nelson, Fresno, Calif.	1,010
40		Andrew Neuer, E. Longmeadow, Mass.	1,000
41		Todd M. Thompson, Cypress, Calif.	980
		Robert Worrall, Flagstaff, Ariz.	980
		Steve Wunderlich, St. Louis	980
44		Mats Karlsson, Sweden	960
45		Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif.	950
46		Art Trask, Fresno, Calif.	940
47		Gil Sliker, Sarasota, Fla.	930
48		Gary Dickinson, Burleson, Texas	920
49		Pete McCordic, Houston	905
		Tony Westlake, Edmond, Okla.	905
51		George Branham III, San Diego, Calif.	890
52		Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla.	880
53		Ron Bell, Akron, Ohio	870