Tom Crites dodged a couple of bullets on his way to the championship match before putting it all together for a 276-202 title game victory against George Branham III in the $115,000 Seattle Open. Fourth-seeded going into the championship round at Skyway Park Bowl, Crites twice faced elimination opponents had come rough in the 10th frame. But in the end the Tampa, Fla., right-hander prevailed for the $16,000 top prize and his fourth Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) championship. Despite the sizable difference in the final score of the title match, Crites actually trailed Branham by two pins after four frames. The big swing occurred in frame five when Crites struck for a double while Branham, working on a double, left a disastrous 4-6-7-9-10 "Greek Church" and took a six count total in the frame Crites never gave Branham a chance to get back In the match, continuing to strike until the final ball of the game"Considering I didn't know if I could start the tournament, I feel quite fortunate," said Crites. "I've been having problems with my wrist and drilled up some 15 lb. equipment beforehand." CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND | Pos. |  | Name, City/State | Total | Amount | | | 1 | | Tom Crites, Tampa, Fla. | 901 (4 games) | $16,000 | | 2 | | George Branham III, San Diego, Calif. | 202 (1 game) | 8,250 | | 3 | | Randy Pedersen, Santa Maria, Calif. | 199 (1 game) | 6,000 | | 4 | | Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore. | 181 (1 game) | 5,000 | | 5 | | Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela | 175 (1 game) | 4,000 | |
PLAYOFF RESULTS - Crites defeated Monacelli, 184-175; Crites defeated Husted, 236-181; Crites defeated Pedersen, 205-199; and in the championship game, Crites defeated Branham, 276-202.
42-GAME TOTALS | | | Name, City | | Pins | | Avg | | WLT | | + | | Tot | | Amt | | | 1 | | George Branham III, San Diego, Calif. | | 9018 | | 214.7 | | 16-8-0 | | 480 | | 9498 | | | | 2 | | Randy Pedersen, Santa Maria, Calif. | | 9024 | | 214.9 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 9474 | | | | 3 | | Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore. | | 8944 | | 213.0 | | 17-7-0 | | 510 | | 9454 | | | | 4 | | Tom Crites, Tampa, Fla. | | 8942 | | 212.9 | | 17-7-0 | | 510 | | 9452 | | | | 5 | | Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela | | 9045 | | 215.4 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9435 | | | | 6 | | Warren Nelson, Fresno, Calif. | | 8993 | | 214.1 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9383 | | $3,500 | | 7 | | Bob Handley, Pompano Beach, Fla. | | 8913 | | 212.2 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9333 | | 3,000 | | 8 | | Art Trask, Fresno, Calif., | | 8803 | | 209.6 | | 16-8-0 | | 480 | | 9283 | | 2,800 | | 9 | | Brian Voss, Tacoma, Wash. | | 8875 | | 211.3 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9265 | | 2,600 | | 10 | | Marc McDowell, Madison, Wis. | | 8827 | | 210.2 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9217 | | 2,400 | | 11 | | Bob Benoit, Topeka, Kan. | | 8851 | | 210.7 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9181 | | 2,300 | | 12 | | Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif. | | 8841 | | 210.5 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9171 | | 2,200 | | 13 | | Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas | | 8860 | | 211.0 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9160 | | 2,100 | | 14 | | Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla. | | 8623 | | 205.3 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9043 | | 2,000 | | 15 | | Ron Bell, Akron, Ohio | | 8683 | | 206.7 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9013 | | 1,900 | | 16 | | Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind. | | 8766 | | 202.7 | | 7-16-1 | | 225 | | 8991 | | 1,800 | | 17 | | Dave Jacobson, Marysville, Wash. | | 8672 | | 206.5 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 8972 | | 1,700 | | 18 | | Sam Maccarone, Glassboro, N.J. | | 8599 | | 294.7 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 8929 | | 1,600 | | 19 | | Corey Groth, La Verne, Calif. | | 8643 | | 205.8 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 8913 | | 1,500 | | 20 | | Paul Renteria, Tucson, Ariz. | | 8552 | | 203.6 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 8882 | | 1,400 | | 21 | | Parker Bohn III, Freehold, N.J. | | 8602 | | 204.8 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 8872 | | 1,350 | | 22 | | Harry Sullins, Sterling Hts., Mich. | | 8519 | | 202.8 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 8849 | | 1,300 | | 23 | | Michael Clark, Tacoma, Wash. | | 8618 | | 205.2 | | 7-16-1 | | 225 | | 8843 | | 1,250 | | 24 | | Rick Jones, Spokane, Wash. | | 8527 | | 203.0 | | 8-16-0 | | 240 | | 8767 | | 1,200 | |
OTHER CASHERS | Pos. | | Name, City/State | Amount | | | *25 | | Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, U.S.A. | $1,050 | | 26 | | Matt Ballard, Phoenix, Ariz. | 1,005 | | | | Butch Soper, Windsor, Canada | 1,005 | | 28 | | Chris Warren, Dallas | 970 | | 29 | | Del Warren, Lake Worth, Fla. | 950 | | 30 | | Jon O'Drobinak, Hammond, Ind. | 940 | | 31 | | Chris Hyde, Muskogee, Okla. | 930 | | 32 | | Mike Taylor, Carlsbad, Calif. | 920 | | 33 | | Danny Broadway, Houston | 910 | | 34 | | Don Genalo, Perrysburg, Ohio | 900 | | 35 | | Jim Tilton, Huntington Beach, Calif. | 890 | | 36 | | Rowdy Morrow, St. Louis | 880 | | 37 | | Joe Conigliaro, Rosedale, N.Y. | 865 | | | | Jimmy Keeth, W. Palm Beach, Fla. | 865 | | 39 | | Vic Culbreth, Cordova, Tenn. | 850 | | 40 | | Jim Murtishaw, Vista, Calif. | 840 | | 41 | | Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, Ill. | 830 | | 42 | | Joseph Firpo, Lake Worth, Fla. | 810 | | | | Steve Martin, Kingsport, Tenn. | 810 | | | | Don Moser, Santa Clara, Calif. | 810 | | 45 | | Purvis Granger, Lafayette, La. | 790 | | 46 | | Paul Wolf, Las Vegas, Nev. | 780 | | 47 | | Brad Roseling, Riverside, Calif. | 770 | | 48 | | Jay Aono, Boise, Idaho | 760 | | 49 | | Ricky Corona, Diamond Bar, Calif. | 750 | | 50 | | Billy Young, Tulsa, Okla. | 740 | | 51 | | Del Ballard Jr., Richardson, Texas | 730 | | 52 | | Duane Fisher, Pennsauken, N.J. | 720 | | 53 | | Ulf Bolleby, Sweden | 355 | | | | Lowell Thomas, Old Town, Idaho | 355 | |
* - Match play alternate. 18-game qualifying leader - Eugene McCune, 3929. 24th place - Michael Clark, 3727 53rd place - Ulf Bolleby and Lowell Thomas, 3636. PRO-AM CASHERS - Mike Edwards, Kent Wagner, George Branham III, Jack Jurek, Billy Young Jr. and Jim Murtishaw.
|