Professional Bowlers Association

It came as no April Fool's Day surprise to Jeff Bellinger that he qualified for the championship round of the $200,000 Miller Lite Championship. After all, Bellinger had been among the top five finalists at Red Carpet Celebrity Lanes three of the last four years. But in topping leading qualifier Steve Cook, 204-183, for the $39,000 first prize, fourth-seeded Bellinger also kept alive a two-year lock he and roommate Tom Milton now enjoy in this tournament's winner's circle.

Cook recorded a 279 game in the position round to vault him into the top-seeded spot but struggled in the championship match. He opened with four spares, struck, and then didn't strike again until his eighth frame, yet had the opportunity to clinch by closing in the 10th with a double and six-count. Bellinger was clean throughout the final game and mustered four strikes, including a double in his sixth and seventh frames. However, Cook assured Bellinger of his second PBA title on his first ball of the 10th, leaving the 3-5-6-9.

Bellinger, Columbia, S.C., opened the finals with a 198-185 win against second-year pro Jeff Miller, Columbus, Ohio. In that match Bellinger survived three open frames, which proved to be the only blemishes of his four-game charge to the title.

Next up was Bob Benoit, Topeka, Kan., who was hoping to continue his "perfect" championship round experiences, coming off a 300 game in the final match of the Quaker State Open in January. This time Benoit went down 207-168.

Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore., next tested Bellinger and was frustrated in the semifinal, 224-193. Bellinger was not to be denied on this day.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS - Bellinger defeated Miller, 198-185; Bellinger defeated Benoit, 207-168; Bellinger defeated Husted, 224-193; and in the championship game, Bellinger defeated Cook, 204-183.

42-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Steve Cook, Roseville, Calif.		9431		224.5		17-7-0		510		9941
2		Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore.		9371		223.1		16-8-9		480		9851
#3		Bob Benoit, Topeka, Kan.		9343		222.5		16-8-0		480		9823
4		Jeff Bellinger, Columbia, S.C.		9306		221.6		16-8-0		480		9786
5		Jeff Miller, Columbus, Ohio		9261		220.5		13-11-0		390		9651
6		Ron Bell, Akron, Ohio		9196		219.0		14-10-0		420		9616		$6,000
7		Tom Crites, Tampa, Fla.		9172		218.4		13-11-0		390		9562		5,500
8		Tom Hinz, Joliet, III.		9146		217.8		13-11-0		390		9536		5,000
9		Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas		9123		217.2		13-11-0		390		9513		4,500
10		Parker Bohn III, Freehold, N.J.		9105		216.8		12-12-0		360		9465		4,000
11		John Fine, Irving, Texas		8981		213.8		15-9-0		450		9431		3,600
12		Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis.		9050		215.5		12-12-0		360		9410		3,200
13		Rod Pasteur, Miami, Fla.		9010		214.5		13-11-0		390		9400		3,000
14		Mark Baker, Garden Grove, Calif.		9061		215.7		9-15-0		270		9331		2,800
15		Jim Pencak, Richmond Hts., Ohio		8989		214.0		11-13-j		330		9319		2,600
16		John Mazza, Mt. Clemens, Mich.		8922		212.4		12-12-0		360		9282		2,500
17		Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan.		8924		212.5		11-12-1		345		9269		2,400
18		Ryan Shafer, Elmira, N.Y.		8894		211.8		8-15-1		255		9149		2,300
19		Harry Sullins, Sterling Hts., Mich.		8724		207.7		13-10-1		405		9129		2,200
20		Tom Adcock, Decatur, III.		8764		208.7		8-16-0		240		9004		2,100
21		Joe Merrill, Lancaster, Calif.		8729		207.8		9-15-0		270		8999		2,000
22		Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y.		8700		207.1		9-15-0		270		8970		1,900
23		Bill Beach, Sharon, Pa.		8575		204.2		9-14-1		285		8860		1,850
24		Randy Pedersen, Santa Maria, Calif.		8686		206.8		4-20-0		120		8806		1,785

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
*25		Gary Dickinson, Edmond, Okla.	$1,650
26		James A. Miller, Scottsdale, Ariz.	1,520
#27		Paul Ashby, Mentor, Ohio	1,510
28		Joe Berardi, Brooklyn, N.Y.	1,500
29		David Ozio, Vidor, Texas	1,490
30		Jeff Richgels, Madison, Wis.	1,475
		Mark Roth, Spring Lake Hts., N.J.	1,475
32		Marc McDowell, Madison, Wis.	1,460
33		Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J.	1,450
34		Tony Westlake, Edmond, Okla.	1,440
35		Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore.	1,430
36		Ron Williams, Cahokia, Ill.	1,420
37		Chris Warren. Dallas	1,410
38		Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif.	1,400
39		Nelson Burton Jr., Troy, Mo.	1,390
40		Jess Stayrook, San Diego, Calif.	1,380
41		Michael Karch, Tacoma, Wash.	1,370
42		David D'Entremont. Cleveland	1,360
43		Pete McCordic, Houston	1,350
44		Rowdy Morrow, St. Louis	1,340
45		Richard Orf. St. Louis	1,330
46		Stephen Hardy, Methuen, Mass.	1,320
@47		Jace Peterson, Oak Creek, Wis.	1,305
		Brian Voss, Tacoma, Wash.	1,305
49		Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela	1,290
50		Chuck Mogavero, Sun Lakes, Ariz.	1,280
51		Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y.	1,270
52		Pete Weber, Florissant, Mo.	1,260
53		Butch Soper, Windor, Ont., Can.	1,250