Professional Bowlers Association

The labels "talented" and "potential star" have followed Rick Steelsmith since he joined the PBA in 1987. Finally, those accolades turned into a PBA title.

Steelsmith, Wichita, Kansas, won the PBA National Championship with a 218-190 victory over tournament leader Brian Voss. The win was the first singles title of his career (he won the 1991 Touring Pro/Senior Doubles with Teata Semiz) and his second win in a "major" (1987 ABC Masters). It also earned the former PBA Rookie of the Year $30,000 and a three-year exemption into the Brunswick World Tournament of Champions.

"This is an unbelievable feeling," said a very emotional Steelsmith. "It's been a long eight years of overcoming shoulder surgery and all kinds of other frustrations."

Fourth-seeded, the 32-year-old opened the ABC-TV televised championship round against one of the hottest players on tour, then had to defeat a former PBA Player of the Year in match two and a pair of PBA Hall of Famers in the semifinal and final matches.

In the title match, Voss started the match with an open frame after failing to convert the 2-4-7-8. Steelsmith never doubled in the first eight frames, throwing only three strikes, but never had an open frame.

Voss' first shot in the fifth frame found the channel, but fortunately he was on a strike and recovered by sparing on his next shot. Voss' final error came in frame seven when he did not convert the 2-5-8. Steelsmith finished with the last four strikes to seal the win. The win requalified Steelsmith for the 1998 Brunswick World Tournament of Champions.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Steelsmith defeated Criss, 211-201; Steelsmith defeated Duke, 222-203; Steelsmith defeated Webb, 237-197; and in the championship game, Steelsmith defeated Voss, 218-190.

56-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Brian Voss, Atlanta		12173		217.4		14-9-1		435		72608
2		Wayne Webb, Las Vegas		12068		215.5		16-8-0		480		12548
3		Norm Duke, Clermont, FL		12114		216.3		12-12-0		360		12474
4		Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, KS		12016		214.6		14-9-1		435		12451
5		Tim Criss, Bel Air, MD		12006		214.4		13-11-0		390		12396
6		Roger Bowker, Ocala, FL		11895		212.4		15-8-1		465		12360		$4,000
7		George Branham III, Indianapolis		12104		216.1		8-16-0		240		12344		3,800
8		Andy Neuer, Milton, PA		12037		214.8		9-15-0		270		12301		3,600
9		Parker Bohn III, Jackson, NJ		12010		214.5		9-15-0		270		12280		3,400
10		Harry Sullins, Roseville, MI		11856		271.7		14-10-0		420		12276		3,200
#11		Tommy Delutz Jr., Jamaica, NY		11854		211.7		14-10-0		420		12274		3,100
12		Butch Soper, Lake Havasu City. AZ		11762		210.1		16-8-0		480		12242		3,000
13		Dave Arnold, Gilbert, AZ		11884		212.2		10-14-0		300		12184		2,900
14		Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela		11834		211.3		11-12-1		345		12179		2,750
		Bob Spaulding, Greenville, SC		11789		210.5		13-11-0		390		12179		2,750
16		Steve Wilson, Tamarac, FL		11826		211.2		11-13-0		330		12156		2,600
17		Del Ballard Jr., N. Richland Hills, TX		11798		210.7		11-13-0		330		12128		2,500
18		Dale Traber, Cedarburg, WI		11660		208.2		13-10-1		405		12065		2,400
19		Ken McNeely, Morganton, NC		11683		208.6		11-11-2		360		12043		2,300
20		David Traber, Woodstock, IL		11740		209.7		9-14-1		285		12025		2,200
21		Don Genalo, Perrysburg, OH		11716		209.2		10-14-0		300		12016		2,150
22		Doug Spicer, West Bloomfield, MI		11683		208.6		11-13-0		330		12013		2,100
23		Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, NJ		11564		206.5		10-14-0		300		11864		2,050
24		John Bauerle Jr., Indianapolis		11516		205.6		10-14-0		300		11816		2,000

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
25		Billy Orlikowski, Grand Rapids, MI	$1,750
*26		Ed Richardson, Corpus Christi, TX	1,820
27		Jim Johnson Jr., Tampa, FL	1,650
28		Jimmy Davis, Houston	1,600
29		Bob Learn Jr., Erie, PA	1,550
30		Jeff Morin, Rockaway, NJ	1,500
31		Bryon Smith, Sutherlin, OR	1,450
32		Dennis Horan, San Diego	1,375
		Dave Wodka, Las Vegas	1,375
34		Jim Wolcott, Niles, OH	1,300
35		Eugene McCune, Munster, IN	1,250
36		Dale Albert, Kenton, OH	1,220
37		Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, KS	1,190
38		Pat Nolan, Las Vegas	1,160
39		Dale Strike, Saginaw, MI	1,130
40		Clinton Fairchild, Youngstown, OH	1,100
41		Philip Ringener, Big Spring, TX	1,080
42		Richard Wolfe, Falls Church, VA	1,060
43		John May, Iron Station, NC	1,040
44		Mark Williams, Beaumont, TX	1,020
45		Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, IL	1,000
46		Tom Baker, Buffalo, NV	980
47		Dennis Jacques, Brooklyn, NY	960
48		Doug Kent, Canandaigua, NY	950
49		Randy Pedersen, Hollywood, FL	940
50		Joe Firpo, Grapevine, TX	930
51		Joe Barket, Morro Bay, CA	920
52		Don Moser, Murrieta, CA	910
53		Mitchell Beasley, Benton, AR	900