Avenging his runner-up finish as the leading qualifier one week earlier, Ron Palombi Jr. defeated top-seeded Todd Thompson, 219-173, in the $125,000 Fair Lanes Phoenix Classic at Fair Lanes Squaw Peak. Palombi advanced from the fourth-seeded position to earn his fifth PBA title and $18,000 first prize against first-time finalist Thompson, Cypress, Calif. Palombi opened the championship round strong, then had more difficulty adjusting to his changing ball reaction as he progressed through the field. Against Thompson, Palombi started with a double, spared twice, then doubled again to lead by 24 pins after six frames and Thompson never moved closer. Palombi opened the finals by topping Bryan Goebel, Merriam, Kan., 233-222. Next was PBA Hall of Famer Jim Stefanich, Joliet, III., who bowed to Palombi 224-197, and then 1988 PBA Rookie of the Year Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., fell, 194-170, in the semifinal. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND | Pos. |  | Name, City/State | Total | Amount | | | 1 | | Ron Palombi Jr., Erie, Pa. | 870 (4 games) | $18,000 | | 2 | | Todd Thompson, Cypress, Calif. | 173 (1 game) | 9,500 | | 3 | | Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan. | 170 (1 game) | 7,000 | | 4 | | Jim Stefanich, Joliet, Ill. | 197 (1 game) | 5,500 | | 5 | | Bryan Goebel, Merriam, Kan. | 222 (1 game) | 4,500 | |
PLAYOFF RESULTS-Palombi defeated Goebel, 233-222; Palombi defeated Stefanich, 224-197; Palombi defeated Steelsmith, 194-170; and in the championship game, Palombi defeated Thompson, 219173.
42-GAME TOTALS | | | Name, City | | Pins | | Avg | | WLT | | + | | Tot | | Amt | | | 1 | | Todd Thompson, Cypress, Calif. | | 9332 | | 222.2 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9722 | | | | 2 | | Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan. | | 9294 | | 221.3 | | 13-10-1 | | 405 | | 9699 | | | | 3 | | Jim Stefanich, Joliet, III. | | 9248 | | 220.2 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 9698 | | | | 4 | | Ron Palombi Jr., Erie, Pa. | | 9247 | | 220.2 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 9697 | | | | 5 | | Bryan Goebel, Merriam, Kan. | | 9243 | | 220.1 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 9693 | | | | 6 | | George Branham III, Indianapolis | | 9227 | | 219.7 | | 15-8-1 | | 465 | | 9692 | | $4,000 | | 7 | | John Mazza, Mount Clemens, Mich. | | 9158 | | 218.1 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 9608 | | 3,600 | | 8 | | Marc McDowell, Madison, Wis. | | 9254 | | 220.3 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9584 | | 3,300 | | 9 | | Mike Taylor, San Diego, Calif. | | 9148 | | 217.8 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9568 | | 3,000 | | 10 | | Billy Orlikowski, Marne, Mich. | | 9105 | | 216.8 | | 13-10-1 | | 405 | | 9510 | | 2,800 | | 11 | | Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela | | 9059 | | 215.7 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9479 | | 2,600 | | 12 | | Joe Firpo, Lake Worth, Fla. | | 9116 | | 217.1 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9476 | | 2,300 | | | | Charlie Standish, Kalamazoo, Mich. | | 9101 | | 216.7 | | 12-11-1 | | 375 | | 9476 | | 2,300 | | 14 | | Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y. | | 9116 | | 217.1 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9416 | | 2,100 | | 15 | | Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla. | | 8997 | | 214.2 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9357 | | 2,000 | | 16 | | Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore. | | 8960 | | 213.3 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9320 | | 1,900 | | 17 | | Eric Forkel, Granada Hills, Calif. | | 8888 | | 211.6 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9248 | | 1,800 | | 18 | | Chris Warren, Dallas | | 8887 | | 211.6 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9217 | | 1,700 | | 19 | | Jess Stayrook, San Diego, Calif. | | 8849 | | 210.7 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9179 | | 1,600 | | 20 | | Billy Young Jr., Oklahoma City, Okla. | | 8874 | | 211.3 | | 9-14-1 | | 285 | | 9159 | | 1,500 | | 21 | | Rowdy Morrow, St. Louis | | 8861 | | 211.0 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 9131 | | 1,400 | | 22 | | Roger Haskell, Kent, Wash. | | 8856 | | 210.9 | | 8-16-0 | | 240 | | 9096 | | 1,350 | | 23 | | Kelly Coffman, Topeka, Kan. | | 8823 | | 210.1 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 9093 | | 1,300 | | 24 | | Joe Tillery, Moriarty, N.M. | | 8773 | | 208.9 | | 5-18-1 | | 165 | | 8938 | | 1,250 | |
OTHER CASHERS | Pos. | | Name, City/State | Amount | | | 25 | | Joe Salvemini, Oklahoma City, Okla. | $1,075 | | *26 | | Wayne Garber, Modesto, Calif. | 1,145 | | # | | Jerry Krupa, Richmond, Ind. | 1,025 | | 28 | | Richard Abboud, Omaha, Neb. | 980 | | | | Don Genalo, Perrysburg, Ohio | 980 | | 30 | | Tony Westlake, Edmond, Okla. | 950 | | 31 | | Wayne Webb, Beaumont, Texas | 940 | | 32 | | Ken Johnson, Garland, Texas | 930 | | 33 | | Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas | 920 | | 34 | | Butch Soper, Tustin, Calif. | 910 | | 35 | | Corey Groth, LaVerne, Calif. | 900 | | 36 | | Paul Wolf, Las Vegas, Nev. | 890 | | 37 | | Randy Pedersen, Sahta Maria, Calif. | 875 | | | | Brian Voss, Boca Raton, Fla. | 875 | | 39 | | Curtis Odom, Winston Salem, N.C. | 860 | | 40 | | Pete McCordic, Katy, Texas | 850 | | 41 | | Kevin McGerr, Lincoln, Neb. | 840 | | 42 | | Dave Bolles, Lodi, Calif. | 830 | | 43 | | Doug Kent, Canandaigua, N.Y. | 820 | | 44 | | Bruce Hamilton, Seattle, Wash. | 810 | | 45 | | John Graham, Columbus, Ohio | 800 | | 46 | | Larry Stephens, Hawthorne, Calif. | 790 | | 47 | | David Whitehead, Las Vegas, Nev. | 780 | | 48 | | John Forst, Woodridge, Ill. | 770 | | 49 | | Don Moser, San Jose, Calif. | 760 | | 50 | | Steve Wunderlich, St. Charles, Mo. | 750 | | 51 | | Wayne Wilkinson, Glendale, Ariz. | 740 | | 52 | | Charlie Tapp, Kalamazoo, Mich. | 730 | | 53 | | Philip Ringener, Big Spring, Texas | 720 | |
*-Match play alternate. 18-game qualifying leader-George Branham III, 4102. 24th place-Rowdy Morrow defeated Joe Salvemini, 205-198, in a roll-off after tying at 3921. 53rd place-Philip Ringener, 3823. #-Jerry Krupa rolled a 300 game ($100). PRO-AM CASHERS-Scott Devers, Bryan Alpert, Tom Crites, Justin Hromek, Mark Williams, Parker Bohn III, Joe Firpo, Dave Husted and Jim Pencak ($50 each).
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