It was an ABC-TV telecast that started with the crowning of a "king" and ended with a milestone for one of the "nice guys" of the PBA. Tom Baker, a two-time winner of the PBA's Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award, captured his ninth PBA title at the Harrisburg Open with a 200-166 win over tournament leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. Williams started the telecast with a 213-204 win over Norm Duke in the first of four Showboat "King of the Hill" matches. Williams earned $9,500. The $18,000 first-place check was enough to push Baker past the $1 million mark in career earnings, becoming the 18th player in PBA history to accomplish the feat. "I'm glad I went over the $1 million mark in style," said Baker. "It puts my name in the same group as some of the greatest bowlers ever and hopefully that's how people will remember me." His win over Williams was less style and more determination. Through six frames, the two were tied at 92 atter they each suffered two open frames following splits and only managed one strike apiece. Baker, Buffalo, N.Y., secured the win with four consecutive strikes beginning in frame seven, while the best Williams, Stockton, Calif., could do was to convert four consecutive spares. Williams winnings left him $9,500 shy of the $2 million mark in career earnings. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND | Pos. |  | Name, City/State | Total | Amount | | | 1 | | Tom Baker, Buffalo, NY | 415 (2 games) | $18,000 | | 2 | | Walter Ray Williams Jr, Stockton, CA | 166 (1 game) | 9,500 | | 3 | | Eugene McCune, Munster, IN | 427 (2 games) | 7,000 | | 4 | | Norm Duke, Clermont, FL | 172 (1 game) | 5,000 | |
PLAYOFF RESULTS-McCune defeated Duke, 222-172; Baker defeated McCune, 215-205; and in the championship game, Baker defeated Williams, 200-166. KING OF THE HILL-Walter Ray Williams Jr. defeated Norm Duke, 213-204. Williams earned $10,000.
42-GAME TOTALS | | | Name, City | | Pins | | Avg | | WLT | | + | | Tot | | Amt | | | 1 | | Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, CA | | 9282 | | 221.0 | | 17-7-0 | | 510 | | 9792 | | | | 2 | | Tom Baker, Buffalo, NY | | 9080 | | 216.2 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 9530 | | | | 3 | | Norm Duke. Clermont, FL | | 9116 | | 217.0 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9506 | | | | 4 | | Eugene McCune, Munster. IN | | 9052 | | 215.3 | | 14-9-1 | | 435 | | 9487 | | | | #5 | | Doug Kent, Canandaigua, NY | | 9036 | | 215.1 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 9486 | | $4,000 | | 6 | | Steve Wilson, Tamarac, FL | | 9164 | | 218.2 | | 10-13-1 | | 315 | | 9479 | | 3,300 | | 7 | | Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, IL | | 9043 | | 215.3 | | 13-10-1 | | 405 | | 9448 | | 2,800 | | 8 | | Del Ballard Jr., N. Richland Hills. TX | | 9040 | | 215.2 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9430 | | 2,600 | | #9 | | Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO | | 8978 | | 213.8 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9398 | | 2,400 | | 10 | | Mark Williams, Beaumont, TX | | 8886 | | 211.6 | | 16-8-0 | | 480 | | 9366 | | 2,300 | | 11 | | Curtis Odom, Coldwater, MI | | 8965 | | 213.4 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9355 | | 2,200 | | 12 | | Mike Miller, Albuquerque, NM | | 8980 | | 213.8 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9280 | | 2,100 | | 13 | | Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, NY | | 8847 | | 210.6 | | 13-10-1 | | 405 | | 9252 | | 2,000 | | 14 | | Ron Williams, Fort Worth, TX | | 8983 | | 213.9 | | 8-15-1 | | 255 | | 9238 | | 1,900 | | 15 | | Brian Himmler, Cincinnati | | 8989 | | 214.0 | | 8-16-0 | | 240 | | 9229 | | 1,800 | | 16 | | Roger Bowker, Ocala. FL | | 8802 | | 209.6 | | 13-10-1 | | 405 | | 9207 | | 1,750 | | 17 | | Tim Criss, Bel Air, MD | | 8816 | | 209.9 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9146 | | 1,700 | | 18 | | Kelley Bennett, Auburn Hills. MI | | 8722 | | 207.7 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9142 | | 1,650 | | 19 | | Joe Firpo, Grapevine, TX | | 8817 | | 209.9 | | 9-14-1 | | 285 | | 9102 | | 1,600 | | 20 | | Mike Edwards, Oklahoma City | | 8856 | | 210.9 | | 8-16-0 | | 240 | | 9096 | | 1,550 | | 21 | | Mark Roth, Wall Township, NJ | | 8724 | | 207.7 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9054 | | 1,500 | | 22 | | Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, WA | | 8714 | | 207.5 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9014 | | 1,450 | | 23 | | Kelly Coffman, Topeka. KS | | 8615 | | 205.1 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 8915 | | 1,400 | | 24 | | Dennis Jacques, Brooklyn, NY | | 8647 | | 205.9 | | 6-17-1 | | 195 | | 8842 | | 1,350 | |
OTHER CASHERS | Pos. | | Name, City/State | Amount | | | *25 | | Dale Eagle, Lewisville, TX | $1,205 | | | | Danny Wiseman, Baltimore | 1,085 | | 27 | | Brian LeClair, Hudson, NY | 1,040 | | 28 | | Bob Learn Jr., Erie, PA | 1,020 | | 29 | | Don Sylvia, Vero Beach, FL | 1,010 | | 30 | | Jeff Lizzi, Sandusky, OH | 1,000 | | 31 | | Bob Benoit, Topeka, KS | 990 | | 32 | | Bob Spaulding, Greenville, SC | 980 | | 33 | | Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, KS | 970 | | 34 | | Anthony Lombardo, Lowellville, OH | 960 | | 35 | | Steve Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, FL | 950 | | 36 | | Chris Hooper, Maple Springs, NY | 940 | | 37 | | Philip Ringener, Big Spring, TX | 930 | | 38 | | David Ozio, Vidor, TX | 920 | |
*-Match play alternate. 18-game qualifying leader-Steve Wilson, 4028. 24th place-Demis Jacques, 3821. 38th place-David Ozio, 3744. #-Pete Weber and Doug Kent rolled 300 games ($100 each). PRO-AM CASHERS-Andy Neuer, Dave Arnold, Steve Jaros, Bob Spaulding, Bill Guthrie and Paul Koehler ($50 each).
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