Professional Bowlers Association

On the strength of four closing strikes, David Traber came from behind against leading qualifier Eric Forkel to claim the Greater Baltimore Open at Country Club Lanes.

Traber, Woodstock, Ill., earned the $18,000 first prize for his second PBA title, while Forkel, Chatsworth, Calif., was left with the $9,500 runnerup check and a 2-3 record as the top seed in PBA telecasts.

Second-seeded Traber started the championship game by failing to convert the 4-7-10 split and then spared in his second frame, while Forkel jumped to a 21-pin advantage after opening with a turkey. However, a missed 7pin in Forkel's fifth frame seemed to bolster Traber's comeback and subsequent late-frame heroics.

"This wins adds legitimacy toward proving I can make it out here," Traber said. "After 11 TV appearances I know the importance of making good shots. This also puts me out of the category of 'players who've won once and not done anything again,' " the 1994 PBA National Championship winner said.

The ABC Sports finals began with an "All Williams" non-family feud, in which two-time PBA Player of the Year Walter Ray bettered Mark, of Beaumont, Texas, 247-246. The PBA President next escaped with another one-pin victory, against reigning IOF/PBA Player of the Year Norm Duke, 235-234. In an equally hard-fought semifinal battle, Traber advanced past Williams, 203-197, and smacked his hands in emotional reaction at his rival.

Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif., took home $8,000 for third place, and was quite matter-of-fact in response to Traber's outburst, stating, "I guess he just wanted to win as much as I did." A political response, indeed.

Duke, Edmond, Okla., grudgingly accepted his $8,000 payday for fourth place and his surprisingly belated first N appearance of '95, and Mark Williams earned $4,000 for fifth.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS-W.R. Williams defeated M. Williams, 247-246; W.R. Williams defeated Duke, 235-234; Traber defeated W.R. Williams, 203-197; and in the championship game, Traber defeated Forkel, 217-214.

42-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Eric Forkel, Chatsworth, CA		9530		226.9		16-8-0		480		10010
2		David Traber, Woodstock, IL		9394		223.7		18-6-0		540		9934
3		Norm Duke, Edmond, OK		9363		222.9		14-9-1		435		9798
4		Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, CA		9379		220.9		17-7-0		510		9789
#5		Mark Williams, Beaumont, TX		9386		223.5		13-11-0		390		9776
6		Roger Bowker, Ocala, FL		9287		221.1		15-9-0		450		9737		$3,500
7		Butch Soper, Lake Havasu City, AZ		9285		221.1		13-11-0		390		9675		3,200
8		Mark Mosayebi, Charlotte, NC		9190		218.8		14-10-0		420		9610		3,000
9		Dennis Horan, San Diego		9214		219.4		9-14-1		285		9499		2,800
10		Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela		9061		215.7		14-9-1		435		9496		2,600
11		Parker Bohn III, Jackson, NJ		9015		214.6		15-9-0		450		9465		2,400
12		Tom Baker, Buffalo, NY		9190		218.8		9-15-0		270		9460		2,300
13		Del Ballard Jr., Richardson, TX		9110		216.9		10-13-1		315		9425		2,200
14		Tommy Delutz Jr., Jamaica, NY		9029		214.9		12-11-1		375		9404		2,100
15		Chris Warren, Dallas		9037		215.2		12-12-0		360		9397		2,000
16		Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Hts., OH		9136		217.5		8-16-0		240		9376		1,900
17		Ricky Ward, North Fort Myers, FL		9000		214.3		11-13-0		330		9330		1,800
18		Doug Kent, Canandaigua, NY		9008		214.4		10-14-0		300		9308		1,700
19		Bruce Hollen, Baltimore		8895		211.8		13-11-0		390		9285		1,600
20		Mark Scroggins, Amarillo, TX		8959		213.3		8-16-0		240		9199		1,500
21		Bill Oakes, Lawton, OK		8829		210.2		10-14-0		300		9129		1,400
22		Steve Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, FL		8848		210.7		B-16-0		240		9088		1,350
23		Eugene McCune, Munster, IN		8778		209.0		9-14-1		285		9063		1,300
24		Mark Bowers, Aberdeen, MD		8660		206.2		7-17-0		210		8870		1,250

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
*25		Bob Vespi, Coral Springs, FL	$1,190
26		Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, IL	1,040
27		Martin Letscher, Bel Air, MD	1,000
		Philip Ringener, Big Spring, TX	1,000
29		Curtis Odom, Winston-Salem, NC	970
30		Rick Berry, Lake Forest, CA	950
31		Richard Wolfe, Arlington, VA	930
32		Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, MD	920
33		Joe Firpo, Lake Worth, FL	910
34		Jeff Lizzi, Medford, NY	900
35		Bryon Smith, Winchester, OR	890
36		Brian Himmler, Cincinnati	880
37		Glen Ships, Owings Mills, MD	870
38		Dave Arnold, Gilbert, AZ	860
39		Bob Belmont, Dunedin, FL	845
		Bob Learn Jr., Erie, PA	845
41		Brad Hoffman, Camp Hill, PA	830
42		Chris Hooper, Maple Springs, NY	820
43		Mike Whittington, Arlington, VA	810
44		Kelly Coffman. Topeka, KS	800
45		Tim Criss, Bel Air, MD	790
46		Ron Papp, Bordentown, NJ	780
47		Tony Bochicchio, Jackson, NJ	765
		Don Moser, San Jose, CA	765
49		Kip Roberts, Richmond, VA	750
50		Bob Benoit, Topeka, KS	735
		George Branham III, Indianapolis	735
52		Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, TX	720
53		Howard Marshall, Baltimore	355
		Ryan Shafer, Elmira, NV	355