It was Independence Day for Bob Vespi, who forgot four previous frustrating trips to the championship round in 1992 by notching his first PBA title in the $125,000 Tucson Open at Golden Pin Lanes. There was good reason for fireworks after the explosive demonstration Vespi displayed in upsetting leading qualifier Ron Williams, 234-203, to collect the $18,000 first prize and a berth into the 1993 Firestone Tournament of Champions. Both players opened the championship game with strikes, and Vespi added two more strikes, while Williams didn't strike again until the fifth frame, when he was behind by 12 pins and never climbed any closer. Williams, Fort Worth, Texas, was making his second consecutive appearance among the final five and was seeking his third PBA title, but first in more than two years. He earned $9,500 as runnerup. The ABC Sports televised finals of the 31st annual Tucson Open (PBA's second oldest continuing venue, behind only Las Vegas' Showboat Invitational) began with Vespi topping 1980's PBA Player of the Year Wayne Webb, Beaumont, Texas, 244-225. Vespi then defeated David Traber, Woodstock, Ill., 259-226, and defending champion Norm Duke of Albuquerque, N.M., 244-187. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND | Pos. |  | Name, City/State | Total | Amount | | | 1 | | Bob Vespi, Plantation, Fla. | 981 (4 games) | $18,000 | | 2 | | Ron Williams, Fort Worth, Texas | 203 (1 game) | 9,500 | | 3 | | Norm Duke, Albuquerque, N.M. | 187 (1 game) | 7,000 | | 4 | | David Traber, Woodstock, Ill. | 226 (1 game) | 5,500 | | 5 | | Wayne Webb, Beaumont, Texas | 225 (1 game) | 4,500 | |
PLAYOFF RESULTS-Vespi defeated Webb, 244-225; Vespi defeated Traber, 259-226; Vespi defeated Duke, 244-187; and in the championship game, Vespi defeated Williams, 234-203.
42-GAME TOTALS | | | Name, City | | Pins | | Avg | | WLT | | + | | Tot | | Amt | | | 1 | | Ron Williams, Fort Worth, Texas | | 9899 | | 235.7 | | 18-6-0 | | 540 | | 10439 | | | | #2 | | Norm Duke, Albuquerque, N.M. | | 9912 | | 236.0 | | 17-7-0 | | 510 | | 10422 | | | | 3 | | David Traber, Woodstock, III. | | 9769 | | 232.6 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 10189 | | | | 4 | | Wayne Webb, Beaumont, Texas | | 9644 | | 229.6 | | 18-6-0 | | 540 | | 10184 | | | | 5 | | Bob Vespi, Plantation, Fla. | | 9620 | | 229.1 | | 16-8-0 | | 480 | | 10100 | | | | 6 | | Pete Weber, Florissant, Mo. | | 9658 | | 230.0 | | 13-10-1 | | 405 | | 10063 | | $4,000 | | @7 | | Michael Tountas, Tucson, Ariz. | | 9627 | | 229.2 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 10047 | | 3,600 | | 8 | | Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y. | | 9569 | | 227.8 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 10019 | | 3,300 | | 9 | | Gary Dickinson, Edmond, Okla. | | 9563 | | 227.7 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 10013 | | 3,000 | | #10 | | Bob Spaulding, Harrisburg, Pa. | | 9663 | | 230.1 | | 9-14-1 | | 285 | | 9948 | | 2,800 | | 11 | | Warren Nelson, Fresno, Calif. | | 9485 | | 225.8 | | 14-9-1 | | 435 | | 9920 | | 2,600 | | 12 | | Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela | | 9545 | | 227.3 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9905 | | 2,400 | | 13 | | Del Ballard Jr., Richardson, Texas | | 9483 | | 225.8 | | 12-11-1 | | 375 | | 9858 | | 2,200 | | 14 | | Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo. | | 9481 | | 225.7 | | 11-12-1 | | 345 | | 9826 | | 2,100 | | 15 | | Harry Sullins, Detroit | | 9334 | | 222.2 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9694 | | 2,000 | | 16 | | Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas | | 9311 | | 221.7 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9611 | | 1,900 | | #17 | | Tom Crites, Tampa, Fla. | | 9348 | | 222.6 | | 8-19-0 | | 240 | | 9588 | | 1,800 | | 18 | | Ron Palombi Jr., Erie, Pa. | | 9352 | | 222.7 | | 7-17-0 | | 210 | | 9562 | | 1,700 | | 19 | | Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas | | 9206 | | 219.2 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 9476 | | 1,600 | | 20 | | Steve Cook, Roseville, Calif. | | 9181 | | 218.6 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 9451 | | 1,500 | | #21 | | Jess Stayrook, Tempe, Ariz. | | 9173 | | 218.4 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 9443 | | 1,400 | | 22 | | Pete McCordic, Katy, Texas | | 9138 | | 217.6 | | 9-14-1 | | 285 | | 9423 | | 1,300 | | 23 | | Brian Berg, Edmond, Okla. | | 9112 | | 217.0 | | 8-16-0 | | 240 | | 9352 | | 1,250 | | 24 | | Kelly Coffman, Topeka, Kan. | | 9120 | | 217.1 | | 6-18-0 | | 180 | | 9300 | | 1,200 | |
OTHER CASHERS | Pos. | | Name, City/State | Amount | | | *25 | | Brad Snell. Elk Grove, Ill. | $1,190 | | 26 | | Mark Turney, Corpus Christi, Texas | 1,040 | | 27 | | Tommy Delutz Jr., Jamaica, N.Y. | 1,010 | | 28 | | Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y. | 980 | | | | Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore. | 980 | | 30 | | Scott Alexander, Gig Harbor, Wash. | 945 | | | | Steve Fields, Stockton, Calif. | 945 | | 32 | | Ray Edwards, Centereach, N.Y. | 930 | | #33 | | Larry Stephens, Los Angeles | 920 | | 34 | | Jim Pencak, Mayfield Hts, Ohio | 910 | | 35 | | Bob Benoit, Topeka, Kan. | 900 | | 36 | | Dave D'Entremont, Parma, Ohio | 890 | | 37 | | Billy Young, Edmond, Okla. | 880 | | 38 | | Bryan Goebel, Merriam, Kan. | 870 | | 39 | | Larry Laub, Tucson, Ariz. | 860 | | 40 | | Danny Wiseman, Lake Havasu City, Ariz. | 850 | | 41 | | Philip Ringener, Big Spring, Texas | 840 | | 42 | | Rodney Wallace, Eagle Point, Ore. | 830 | | 43 | | Roger Haskell, Kent, Wash. | 820 | | 44 | | Steve Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, Fla. | 810 | | 45 | | Ryan Shafer, Elmira, N.Y. | 800 | | 46 | | Paul Colwell, Tucson, Ariz. | 790 | | 47 | | Parker Bohn III, Freehold, N.J. | 780 | | 48 | | Don Moser, Wichita, Kan. | 770 | | 49 | | Charlie Standish, Kalamazoo, Mich. | 760 | | #50 | | Bob Laster, Anaheim, Calif. | 745 | | | | Thomas Young, Springfield, Mo. | 745 | | 52 | | Doug Kent, Canandaigua, N.Y. | 730 | | 53 | | Hugh Miller, Seattle, Wash. | 720 | |
*-Match play alternate. 18-game qualifying leader-Ron Williams, 4283. 24th place-Mark Williams, 4036. 53rd place - Hugh Miller, 3942. #-Bob Spaulding (2), Norm Duke (2), Larry Stephens, Bob Laster, David Ozio, John Cook, Jess Stayrook and Tom Crites rolled 300 games ($100 each). PRO-AM CASHERS-Philip Ringener, Pete Weber, Danny Wiseman, Bob Logel, Kelly Coffman, Chris Warren, Ryan Shafer and Dennis Jacques ($50 each). @-Non-PBA member.
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