Professional Bowlers Association

PBA President Marc McDowell bolstered his already-impressive resume another notch with his first "major" victory in the prestigious $300,000 Firestone Tournament of Champions at Riviera Lanes. McDowell, 29, of Madison, Wis., topped leading qualifier Don Genalo, Perrysburg, Ohio, 223-193, for the $60,000 first prize and a five-year exemption into future Firestones.

Third-seeded McDowell exhibited his presidential powers first against sentimental crowd favorite Danny Wiseman of Baltimore in the semifinal game of the ABC-TV finals. Wiseman had struggled with his emotions week-long in front of media witnesses who had discovered his father's terminal cancer diagnosis and knew this tournament could be father Albert's final opportunity to see his son succeed. McDowell out dueled Wiseman, 248-235, and a teary Wiseman then hugged his dad upon exiting, as did McDowell, which drew a standing ovation from those in attendance.

McDowell said, "Against Danny, I knew I'd have to throw great shots and that match was the key. I was surprisingly calm and really kept my emotions in check. I'm just coming into my prime now and if I can win the Firestone Tournament of Champions I can win any tournament."

The championship game was nearly anti-climatic, as McDowell began with five strikes and opened in his sixth frame, but by then held a comfortable 29-pin margin, and Genalo never threatened. Against Wiseman, McDowell had to come from behind and strung a six-bagger late in the game to knock Wiseman's TV record to 12-4. McDowell cited positive reinforcement tapes prepared by Wisconsin clinical hypnotherapist Jack Blumenthal for his calming and said, "I gave Jack's son lessons in exchange for his personalized tapes. I guess I owe the kid some more lessons now! It feels good to be considered the PBA Player of the Year favorite now, but I also was the leading candidate following the first week of 1992 (when he won the AC-Delco Classic at Torrance, Calif.). Now, I'm back where we started the year," he said. "Quite frankly, though, I don't think I was capable of winning this tournament last year.

Genalo was competing in just his third tournament of 1992 and summed up his disappointment simply by saying, "Thirty-three thousand dollars (amount of his second-place check) is a heck of a consolation prize." Genalo felt his positive mental outlook week-long accounted for his climb to the leading qualifier position.

The championship round began with two-time Firestone runnerup Tony Westlake outstriking first-time Tournament of Champions qualifier Ray Edwards, Centereach, N.Y., 255-225. Wiseman then began his personal mission and ousted Westlake, Edmond, Okla., 256-221. Wiseman earned $24,000 for third place, Westlake $18,000 for fourth and Edwards collected $12,000.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Westlake defeated Edwards, 255-225; Wiseman defeated Westlake, 256-221; McDowell defeated Wiseman, 248-235; and in the championship game, McDowell defeated Genalo, 223-193.

48-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Don Genalo, Perrysburg, Ohio		11063		230.5		15-9-0		450		11513
2		Marc McDowell, Madison, Wis.		10781		224.6		15-9-0		450		11231
3		Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, Md.		10725		223.4		16-8-0		480		11205
4		Tony Westlake, Edmond, Okla.		10757		224.1		14-10-0		420		11177
#5		Ray Edwards, Centereach, N.Y.		10816		225.3		12-12-0		360		11176
6		Pete Weber, Florissant, Mo.		10721		223.4		14-10-0		420		11141		$10,500
7		Eric Forkel, Chatsworth, Calif.		10761		224.2		12-12-0		360		11121		9,000
8		Bob Benoit, Topeka, Kan.		10656		222.0		15-9-0		450		11106		8,000
9		Jess Stayrook, Tempe, Ariz.		10729		223.5		12-12-0		360		11089		7,300
10		Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela		10700		222.9		12-12-0		360		11060		6,500
11		Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore.		10606		221.0		13-10-1		405		11011		6,500
12		Ron Palombi Jr., Erie, Pa.		10607		221.0		13-11-0		390		10997		5,500
13		Gary Dickinson, Edmond, Okla.		10600		220.8		12-11-1		375		10975		5,000
14		Jim Pencak, Mayfield Hts., Ohio		10671		222.3		10-14-0		300		10971		4,500
15		Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore.		10626		221.4		11-13-0		330		10956		4,000
16		Wayne Webb, Beaumont, Texas		10634		221.5		10-14-0		300		10934		3,600
17		Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y.		10585		220.5		11-13-0		330		10915		3,200
18		Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas		10533		219.4		11-13-0		330		10863		3,000
19		Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, 111.		10465		218.0		11-13-0		330		10795		2,800
20		Mike Aulby, Indianapolis		10389		216.4		13-11-0		390		10779		2,700
21		Steve Cook, Roseville, Calif.		10347		215.6		12-12-0		360		10707		2,600
22		Joe Berardi, Wellington, Fla.		10373		216.1		8-16-0		240		10613		2,500
23		John Mazza, Mt. Clemens, Mich.		10207		212.7		9-15-0		270		10477		2,450
24		Scott Devers, Richmond, Ind.		10207		212.7		6-18-0		180		10387		2,400

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
25		Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas	$2,180
*26		Norm Duke, Albuquerque, N.M.	2,270
27		Bryan Goebel, Merriam, Kan.	2,150
28		Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, USA	2,150
29		Gene Stus, Allen Park, Mich.	2,100
30		Mike Miller, Albuquerque, N.M.	2,100
31		Doug Kent, Canandaigua, N.Y.	2,100
32		Parker Bohn III, Freehold, N.J.	2,100
33		Tom Crites, Tampa, Fla.	2,050
34		Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan.	2,050
35		Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif.	2,050
36		Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa.	2,050
37		Mark Roth, Spring Lake Hts., N.J.	2,000
38		Del Ballard Jr., Richardson, Texas	2,000
39		Bob Handley, Pompano Beach, Fla.	2,000
40		Randy Pedersen, Santa Maria, Calif.	2,000
41		Hugh Miller, Seattle, Wash.	1,950
42		Alan Bishop, Louisville, Ky.	1,950
43		Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J.	1,950
44		Brian Voss, Boca Raton, Fla.	1,950
45		Robert Lawrence, Austin, Texas	1,900
46		Jimmy Keeth, W. Palm Beach, Fla.	1,900
47		Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y.	1,900
48		Bruce Hamilton, Seattle, Wash.	1,900
49		Kevin McGerr, Lincoln, Neb.	1,850
50		David Ozio, Vidor, Texas	1,850
51		Chris Warren, Dallas	1,850
52		Harry Sullins, Detroit	1,850