Professional Bowlers Association

Ernie Schlegel stunned a sold-out Robert Morris College Sewall Center crowd as he captured his sixth PBA title at the Bayer/Brunswick Touring Players Championship.

The 52-year old defeated Randy Pedersen m the true match, 237-236, to win the $40,U00 top' and his first "major title. He also earned a three-year exemption into the Brunswick World Tournament of Champions. Schlegel Vancouver, Wash., garnered the largest paycheck of his career in his 741st tournament. He holds the PBA record for most tournaments bowled.

"After being out here 28 years I finally captured my first 'major',"Schlegel trailed early in the title match after Pedersen opened with three consecutive strikes. Schelegel then took a one-pin lead in the fifth frame and never trailed. Pedersen stepped up in the 10th frame needing a strike and sixpins for the win. A perfect shot turned into a solid eight-pin and the match was Schlegel's. Pedersen fell to theground as Schlegel whipped the crowd into a frenzy as he proclaimed "I am the greatest...l am the greatest."

A dejected Pedersen pocketed $22,500 for second. It was the first time Pedersen lost from the top-seeded position in seven title matches. His 11th title came earlier this year in Louisville, Ky., from the top spot.

Schlegel advanced to the title match after narrowly getting past PBA Hall of Famer Brian Voss, 226-218 in the semifinal game. Voss could have won the match if he had struck in the 10th frame. Instead, he left the 4-10 split and settled for third-place money of $15,000.

The game before, Voss defeated fellow PBA Hall of Famer David Ozio, 280-247. Ozio, trying to become only the second player this ear to win back-to-back titles, won $10,000 for fourth.

In the opening game of the stepladder finals Ozio beat Brian Himmler, 264-164. Himmler was competing in his first championship finals and took home $7,500.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Voss defeated Himmler, 264-164; Voss defeated Ozio, 280-247; Schlegel defeated Voss, 226-218; and in the championship game, Schlegel defeated Pedersen, 237-236.

56-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Randy Pedersen, Hollywood, FL		12834		229.2		18-6-0		540		13374
#2		Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, WA		12882		230.1		15-8-1		465		13347
3		David Ozio, Vidor, TX		12679		226.4		14-10-0		420		13099
4		Brian Voss, Atlanta		12570		224.5		16-8-0		480		13050
5		Brian Himmler, Cincinnati		12601		225.1		14-10-0		420		13021
6		Mike Edwards, Oklahoma City		12580		224.6		14-10-0		420		13000		$6,500
7		Bob Learn Jr., Erie, PA		12677		226.4		10-14-0		300		12977		6,000
8		Len Blakey, Tacoma, WA		12468		222.6		15-8-1		465		12933		5,250
		Eric Forkel, Tucson, AZ		12513		223.5		14-10-0		420		12933		5,250
10		Mike Scroggins		12515		223.5		12-11-1		375		12890		4,600
11		Jess Stayrook, Tempe, AZ		12528		223.7		12-12-0		360		12888		4,200
12		Parker Bohn III, Jackson, NJ		12414		221.7		15-8-1		465		12879		4,000
13		David Traber, Woodstock, IL		12417		221.7		11-13-0		330		12747		3,800
14		Norm Duke, Edmond, OK		12393		221.4		11-12-1		345		12738		3,700
15		Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, CA		12459		222.5		8-16-0		240		12699		3,600
16		Mike Aulby, Indianapolis		12363		220.8		11-13-0		330		12693		3,500
17		Don Moser, San Jose, CA		12330		220.2		12-12-0		360		12690		3,400
18		George Branham III, Indianapolis		12400		221.4		9-15-0		270		12670		3,300
19		Butch Soper, Lake Havasu City, AZ		12354		220.6		10-14-0		300		12654		3,200
20		Richard Wolfe, Arlington, VA		12263		218.9		12-11-1		375		12638		3,100
21		John Mazza, Shelby Township, MI		12241		218.6		10-14-0		300		12541		3,000
22		Curtis Odom, Winston-Salem, NC		12263		218.9		7-17-0		210		12473		2,900
23		Mark Williams, Beaumont, TX		12223		218.3		8-16-0		240		12463		2,800
24		Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, IL		12224		218.3		7-17-0		210		12434		2,750

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
25		Bryan Goebel, Merriam, KS	$2,570
26		Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, OH	2,530
*27		Philip Ringener, Big Spring, TX	2,610
28		Dave Wodka, Las Vegas	2,460
29		Tom Baker, Buffalo, NV	2,440
30		Justin Hromek, Andover, KS	2,420
31		Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, KS	2,410
32		Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, NJ	2,400
33		David Carter, Glen Mills, PA	2,390
34		Harry Sullins, Ann Arbor, MI	2,380
35		Ed Richardson, Corpus Christi, TX	2,370
36		Ryan Shafer, Elmira, NY	2,360