Professional Bowlers Association

Before the largest paid gate in PBA history and facing PBA's newest elected Hall of Famer, Dennis Horan's efforts seemed strengthened by the 4,000-plus fans at the Erie Civic Center en route to winning the $180,000 SplitFire Spark Plug Open.

Leading qualifier Horan, San Diego, fed off the crowd's contagious enthusiasm to post a 267-235 victory against Brian Voss of Atlanta. It was Horan's first PBA Tour title and earned him a berth into the Brunswick World Tournament of Champions, plus the $39,000 first prize.

Both finalists in the title game had no difficulty adapting to the overwhelming environment of AMF's four specially constructed synthetic lanes.

Second-seeded Voss came into the championship match after disposing of reigning PBA Player of the Year and defending champ Walter Ray Williams Jr., 255-214. Hardly intimidated, Horan matched Voss' opening six-bagger before leaving a 7-pin in his seventh frame. Voss struck again in his seventh, but finally misfired in his eighth frame to allow Horan the opportunity to jump back into it, which the 10-year PBA member Horan did impressively. Horan tossed a three-bagger starting in the eighth frame, while Voss finished with opens in his ninth and 10th. The ABC Sports telecast utilized 13 cameras, a huge supplemental lighting package and pre-telecast entertainment equal to the status of this spectacle.

In the first game, Brad Snell of Elk Grove, Ill., downed Dave Arnold, Gilbert, Ariz., 235-195. Williams then came from behind to defeat Snell, 248-211, and fulfill the "heavyweight" match-up against Voss the fans had anticipated.

Williams earned $12,000 for finishing third, Snell collected $9,000 for fourth and Arnold, who had jumped from seventh place to the fourth seed in the position round game, received $7,000.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Snell defeated Arnold, 235-195; Williams defeated Snell, 248-211; Voss defeated Williams, 255-214: and in the championship game, Horan defeated Voss, 267-235.

42 GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
#1		Dennis Horan, San Diego		9578		228.1		14-10-0		420		9998
2		Brian Voss, Atlanta		9537		226.9		15-9-0		450		9981
#3		Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, CA		9488		225.9		14-9-1		435		9923
#4		Dave Arnold, Gilbert, AZ		9427		224.5		16-7-1		495		9922
5		Brad Snell, Elk Grove, IL		9455		225.1		15-9-0		450		9905
6		John Ma-a, Shelby Township, MI		9658		230.0		8-16-0		240		9898		$6,000
7		Justin Hromek, Andover, KS		9398		223.8		15-7-2		480		9878		5,500
8		Bill Swanson, Palatine, IL		9540		227.1		11-13-0		330		9870		5,000
#9		Parker Bohn III, Jackson, NJ		9438		224.7		14-10-0		420		9858		4,500
#10		Bob Learn Jr., Erie, PA		9455		225.1		12-10-2		390		9845		4,000
11		Adam Colton, Coral Springs, FL		9405		223.9		13-9-2		420		9825		3,600
12		Bill Oakes, Lawton, OK		9447		224.9		11-13-0		330		9777		3,200
#13		David Traber, Woodstock, IL		9334		222.2		12-12-0		360		9694		3,000
14		Robert Lawrence, Austin, TX		9291		221.2		12-11-1		375		9666		2,800
15		Doug Kent, Canandaigua, NY		9161		218.1		14-10-0		420		9581		2,600
16		Kirk von Krueger, Pensacola, FL		9199		219.0		10-13-1		315		9514		2,400
17		Jeff Germann, Wheeling, WV		9221		219.6		9-14-1		285		9506		2,300
18		Gary Schluchter, Fremont, OH		9213		219.4		9-14-1		285		9498		2,200
19		Richard Wolfe, Arlington, VA		9128		217.3		12-12-0		360		9488		2,100
20		Todd Minotti, Orlando, FL		9111		216.9		10-13-1		375		9426		2,000
#21		R.J. Williams, Warren, PA		9017		214.7		11-13-0		330		9347		1,900
22		Charlie Standish, Kalamazoo, MI		8970		213.6		11-13-0		330		9300		1,800
#23		Ken Muscato, Canandaigua, NY		8921		212.4		7-15-2		240		9161		1,700
24		Eric Forkel, Chatsworth, CA		8929		212.6		5-18-1		165		9094		1,600

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
*25		Marshall Holman, Medford, OR	$1,570
26		Steve Wilson, Ft. Lauderdale, FL	1,400
27		Jim Johnson, Wilmington, DE	1,370
28		Derek Williams, Groves, TX	1,340
29		Jason Couch, Clermont, FL	1,320
30		Ron Williams, Ft. Worth, TX	1,300
31		Kelly Coffman, Topeka, KS	1,270
		Jess Stayrook, Tempe, AZ	1,270
33		Len Blakey, Tacoma, WA	1,250
34		Steve Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, FL	1,240
35		Dave D'Entremont, Midlbg. Hts., OH	1,225
		Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, NC	1,225
37		Scott Alexander, Seattle	1,205
		Mike Miller, Albuquerque, NM	1,205
39		Jeff Merin, Rockaway, NJ	1,180
40		Rich Dodge, Woodbridge, VA	1,180
41		Tim Criss, Bel Air, MD	1,170
42		Brian LeClair, Hudson, NY	1,160
43		Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO	1,150
44		Bob Vespi, Coral Springs, FL	1,140
45		Mark Mosayebi, Charlotte, NC	1,130
46		Ricky Ward, N. Fort Myers, FL	1,120
47		Stephen Asta, Avenel, NJ	1,105
		Bryan Goebel, Merriam, KS	1,105
49		Mark Scroggins, Amarillo, TX	1,090
50		Del Ballard Jr., Richardson, TX	1,080
51		Mike Shady, Ripon, WI	1,070
52		Philip Ringener, Big Spring, TX	1,060
53		Tony Ament, Garfield, NJ	1,050