Professional Bowlers Association

Eric Forkel and Gene Stus, both winless since 1994, broke out of their respective slumps together by winning the Touring Pro-Senior Doubles Championship at East Providence Lanes, E. Providence. R.I.

Forkel and Stus defeated tournament leaders Jason Couch and Larry Laub, 231-201. The title was the fourth of Forkel's career and Stus's seventh senior crown.

"This year's been a struggle;' Forkel said. "But I think I've got it figured out now, I only win in even numberedyears. First 1992, then '94 And now '96."

Stus said, "I've been struggling, too. Eric helped me with my timing and it really helped me."

Forkel led off the title match by sparing, then the team put together four consecutive strikes. Laub struck to open the match, then his team converted two spares before Couch made the first mistake. He left the 2-4-6-7-8-10 split for an open frame in the fourth.

Couch said, "That was the match. After that, we weren't able to catch up."

After the split by Couch, Forkel spared in the seventh and then they reeled off three consecutive strikes to put the match away.

The opening match of the live ESPN telecast saw Rick Steelsmith and John Hricsina defeat Bob Belmont and Gary Dickinson, 257-234, before falling to Parker Bohn III and Pete Couture in match two, 245-204. Bohn and Couture lost to Forkel and Stus in the semifinal, 235-179.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Hricsina/Steelsmith defeated Dickinson/Belmont, 257-234; Couture/Bohn defeated Hricsina/Steelsmith, 245-204; Stus/Forkel defeated Couture/Bohn, 235-179; and in the championship game, Stus/Forkel defeated Laub/Couch, 231-201.

36-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Jason Couch, Clermont, FL Larry Laub ,Tucson, AZ		16557		459.9		12-6-0		580		17137
#2		Eric Forkel, Tucson, AZ Gene Stus, Allen Park, MI		16541		459.5		12-5-1		595		17136
#3		Parker Bohn III, Jackson, NJ # Pete Couture, Titusville, FL		16498		458.3		10-8-0		495		16993
4		Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, KS John Hricsina Sr., Franklin, PA		16358		454.4		12-6-0		600		16958
#5		Bob Belmont, Dunedin, FL Gary Dickinson, Edmond, OK		16398		455.5		8-10-0		420		16818
6		Danny Wiseman, Baltimore Don Helling, St. Charles, MO		16287		452.4		10-7-1		500		16787		$4,300
7		Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO Bob Shaffer, Barberton, OH		16214		450.4		11-7-0		535		16749		3,700
8		Jim Johnson Jr., Tampa, FL John Handegard, Las Vegas		16282		452.3		7-10-1		395		16677		3,300
9		Len Blakey, Tacoma, WA Rich Holden, Chinchilla, PA		16108		447.4		10-8-0		500		16608		3,000
10		Brian Voss, Atlanta Earl Chase, Havelock, NC		16067		446.3		9-9-0		460		16527		2,900
11		Justin Hromek, Andover, KS Sam Flanagan, Columbus, OH		16001		444.5		10-8-0		490		16491		2,800
#12		Tommy Delutz Jr., Jamaica, NY Dave Soutar, Bradenton, FL		15980		443.9		8-10-0		420		16400		2,700
#13		Jeff Hickenbottom, Tustin Ranch, CA Patsy DellaPenna, Palm Harbor, FL		15826		439.6		11-7-0		515		16341		2,600
14		Jess Stayrook, Tempe, AZ Chuck Pierce, Dallas		15904		441.8		7-11-0		390		16294		2,500
15		Mark Williams, Beaumont, TX Teats Semiz, Wanaque, NJ		15795		438.7		7-11-0		400		16195		2,400
16		Dennis Horan, San Diego, Mike Kilgannon, Valley Stream, NY		15874		440.9		4-13-1		240		16114		2,300
17		Curtis Odom, Coldwater, MI t Mike Lubera, Central Falls, RI		15513		430.9		6-12-0		320		15833		2,200
18		Steve Jaros, Bolin IL Paul Busch. Dover, DE		15420		428.3		6-12-0		255		15675		2,100

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
*19		Tim Criss, Bel Air, MD	$1,040
20		Jeff Lizzi, Sandusky, OH	890
21		George Branham, Indianapolis	880
22		Brian LeClair, Hudson, NY	870
#23		Richard Wolfe, Falls Church, VA	860
24		David Traber, Woodstock, IL	850
25		Norman Titus, Flemington, NJ	840
26		Don Best Jr., Canonment, FL	830
27		Del Ballard Jr., N. Richland Hills, TX	815
		Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela	815
29		Jimmy Davis, Houston	800

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
*19		Dale Eagle, Lewisville, TX	$950
20		Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, WA	790
21		Mike Williams, Winthrop, MA	760
22		Jim Russell, Palm Coast, FL	740
23		Phil Ware, Knoxville, TN	720
24		Sonny Dorstek, Schenectady, NV	700
25		Skip Hintz, Titusville, FL	685
		Darrell Storkson, Everett, WA	685
27		Roger Workman, Kenova, WV	670
28		Derek Smith, Hicksville, OH	660
29		Dan Roche, Downey, CA	650
30		Frankie May, West Reading, PA	640
31		Barry Gurney, West Hills, CA	630
32		Robert McDonald, Addison, IL	620
33		Paul Koeppel, Maumee, OH	610
34		Avery LeBlanc, Houma, LA	600
35		Bob Hart, Atlanta	585
		Lee Taylor, San Marcos, CA	585
37		Bob Man Syosset, NV	575